A26865:618
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
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.
Another Book called, A free and impartial Enquiry into the causes of that very great esteem and honour that the Nonconforming Preachers are generally in with their followers: in a Letter to H. M. Proceeding from the like spirit, useth the like (but more) Accusations. His first assigned cause is p. 36. A preaching up of an empty, formal, notional kind of Religion, and causing and encouraging men to build their hopes of heaven upon very easy and pleasing conditions. And p. 54. No men have ever given people ground to hope for the salvation of the spirit with less pain, trouble to the flesh, than these men have done.
Another Book called, A free and impartial Enquiry into the causes of that very great esteem and honour that the Nonconforming Preachers are generally in with their followers: in a Letter to H. M. Proceeding from the like spirit, useth the like (but more) Accusations. His first assigned cause is p. 36. A preaching up of an empty, formal, notional kind of Religion, and causing and encouraging men to build their hopes of heaven upon very easie and pleasing conditions. And p. 54. No men have ever given people ground to hope for the salvation of the spirit with less pain, trouble to the flesh, than these men have done.
Ans. Wonderful! that so many thousands should be so deceived! Make their hearers believe this, and they will soon forsake them. We know no one thing that causeth mens dislike of the Conformists ⟨p. 166⟩so much, as that they take them to be just such as he describeth the Nonconformists to be. We cannot express their opinion of too many of them in apter words. Nor do we know of any thing in the world that causeth men to like the Nonconformists so much, as that they judg them to be just contrary to this mans character. And have the people no sense, nor acquaintance with the persons? This is a charge which we meet with few of our enemies that believe. Let these evidences decide the case: 1. Which side hath (generally) the strictest followers? Which side are the generality of the Blasphemers, Whoremongers, Drunkards, and Debauched persons on? And which side hath the most serious, religious sort of persons?