A26865:582
An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II.…
An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II. an answer to the accusations urged as reasons for the silencing of about 2000 by Bishop Morley ..., III. reasons proving it the duty and interest of the bishops and conformists to endeavour earnestly their restoration : with a postscript upon oral debates with Mr. H. Dodwell, against his reasons for their silence ... : written in 1668 and 1669, for the most of it, and now published as an addition to the defence against Dr. Stillingfleet, and as an account to the silencers of the reasons of our practice / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst and D. Newman, 1681
AN APOLOGY FOR THE SILENCED MINISTERS, Especially for their not cea… › Part › Accusation 30
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Accus. 30. Of mens injurious imputing to us the errors and faults of all the Sectaries.
The course that some Writers (that should have modesty and justice) take to defame us is, to jumble all sects (besides their own) together under the name of Nonconformists, and then to rake up the unwarrantable expressions of men of several parties, as the Nonconformists Doctrine; and so whatever they find written by an Antinomian, a Separatist, an Anabaptist, (and why not a Papist or a Quaker too) they lay at the Nonconformists doors. When 1. all men of reason know, that though affirmative titles use to signify some union, so do not negatives. To call a man a Papist or a Protestant, signifieth somewhat in which he agreeth with others. But to be no Papists, or no Protestants, agreeth to all other parties in the world.
The course that some Writers (that should have modesty and justice) take to defame us is, to jumble all sects (besides their own) together under the name of Nonconformists, and then to rake up the unwarrantable expressions of men of several parties, as the Nonconformists Doctrine; and so whatever they find written by an Antinomian, a Separatist, an Anabaptist, (and why not a Papist or a Quaker too) they lay at the Nonconformists doors. When 1. all men of reason know, that though affirmative titles use to signifie some union, so do not negatives. To call a man a Papist or a Protestant, signifieth somewhat in which he agreeth with others. But to be no Papists, or no Protestants, agreeth to all other parties in the world.
2. And if before Conformity was required (and so there were no Conformists) the several Sects were aliens to each others, surely they are so after, or else you may know who is the cause.