A26865:59
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 1
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.
10. We believe that those that ordain a Minister, cannot degrade him at their pleasure. As he that may baptize a child cannot unbaptize him again at pleasure; nor he that marrieth persons unmarry them.
11. Much less can every Bishop degrade at pleasure those whom other men ordained. Else every Minister might be degraded while there are so many disagreeing and angry Bishops in the world.
12. If the Magistrate forbid us to preach the Gospel, either our Preaching is necessary or unnecessary, and this is either notorious or doubtful. If our Preaching be notoriously unnecessary, we will obey him and forbear. If it be a doubtful case to us, we will use all the means which God hath appointed us to know the certain truth. And if yet it be doubtful, and our minds in suspense, we will stand to the judgment of the Magistrate and forbear. But if our Ministry be notoriously and undoubtedly necessary to the just ends, which is the edification of mens souls, we will obey God in Preaching as far as we are able, and humbly and patiently bear what is laid upon us by our Rulers.
12. If the Magistrate forbid us to preach the Gospel, either our Preaching is necessary or unnecessary, and this is either notorious or doubtful. If our Preaching be notoriously unnecessary, we will obey him and forbear. If it be a doubtful case to us, we will use all the means which God hath appointed us to know the certain truth. And if yet it be doubtful, and our minds in suspence, we will stand to the judgment of the Magistrate and forbear. But if our Ministry be notoriously and undoubtedly necessary to the just ends, which is the edification of mens souls, we will obey God in Preaching as far as we are able, and humbly and patiently bear what is laid upon us by our Rulers.