A26865:621
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.
2. Why is it that the Nonconformists and their followers are commonly accused for preciseness and overmuch strictness, for being hypocrites, as counterfeiting more holiness and austerity of life than others?
3. How many of the Ministers were ever cast out for drunkenness, fornication, deceit, swearing, perjury, or any loose living or immorality? Not one of the 1800 that ever we heard of; but all for Nonconformity alone.
4. If you should turn your charge upon the Sectaries, who hath written more against the Antinomian loose opinions, than the Nonconformists have done? The many Volumes of Mr. Anthony Burges, the Writings of Mr. Richard Allen, Mr. Joseph Allen, Mr. John Howe, with many more of late, and of Mr. Hildersham, Mr. Ball, Mr. Dod, Mr. Greenham, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Perkins, and many more such of old, will tell posterity whether the Nonconformists preached loose licentious Doctrine.
5. But the fullest decision of this case will be from their cause it self. The Liturgy and Canon, 1. obligeth us to refuse no Child that is offered us in baptism. 2. The Rubric pronounceth the baptized Infants so dying certainly saved (not excepting any child of any Infidel or Atheist, or open denier of a life to come, or derider of Christ and the holy Scripture (of which there are now great store). 3. When the baptized Children can say the words of the Creed, Lords Prayer, &c. though they know not what they say, they are confirmed by the Bishop. 4. Being confirmed, they are to be admitted to the Lords-Supper, though they know not what it meaneth; yea they are compelled for fear of Imprisonment and ruin to communicate. 5. When they are sick, if