A26865:630
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.
3. His third Reason is p. 21. A very great specious seeming sanctity in carriage and common deportment; the sheeps clothing worn by the wolves, &c. Ans. 1. Will not even strangers from such words suspect that our adversaries own not, or have not at least so much as such a seeming sanctity of carriage? How else could this be noted as a difference? 2. And how knoweth he that knoweth not hearts, that this is but seeming? 3. And how do these charges of a loose doctrine and great seeming sanctity, well agree? 4. Would he have us not so much as seem holy (and so not seem Christians) ⟨p. 170⟩that we may escape such censures? 5. And how show we that we are Wolves? Christ meant that Wolves are known by their cruelty; and Paul saith, Acts 20. 29. that the grievous wolves that shall enter, will not spare the flock. We confess (v. 30.) that we ever expected, that from our own selves some would arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them, by reason of whom the way of truth should be evil spoken of, 2 Pet. 2. 2. and it hath accordingly come to pass with some; but with fewer of the Ministry than we might have feared according to the experience of the first ages of the Church. But sure it is not we that wearing white garments have bloody jaws; we persecute none, we silence not our brethren.
3. His third Reason is p. 21. A very great specious seeming sanctity in carriage and common deportment; the sheeps clothing worn by the wolves, &c. Ans. 1. Will not even strangers from such words suspect that our adversaries own not, or have not at least so much as such a seeming sanctity of carriage? How else could this be noted as a difference? 2. And how knoweth he that knoweth not hearts, that this is but seeming? 3. And how do these charges of a loose doctrine and great seeming sanctity, well agree? 4. Would he have us not so much as seem holy (and so not seem Christians) ⟨p. 170⟩that we may escape such censures? 5. And how shew we that we are Wolves? Christ meant that Wolves are known by their cruelty; and Paul saith, Acts 20. 29. that the grievous wolves that shall enter, will not spare the flock. We confess (v. 30.) that we ever expected, that from our own selves some would arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them, by reason of whom the way of truth should be evil spoken of,