A26865:631
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.
And let our enemies judg of our Accuser by his own words, p. 125. No men ever were better studied in all the little things that make a fair show in the sight of the vulgar, and carry with them any appearance of piety. No men ever were exacter at Oral and Gestural sanctity, than they are; what their hearts are, God and their own consciences know, we will not judg them (when yet the Book is an opprobrious judging them): What can be said more for us than this? and how contrary is it to the rest of their Accusations?
And let our enemies judg of our Accuser by his own words, p. 125. No men ever were better studied in all the little things that make a fair shew in the sight of the vulgar, and carry with them any appearance of piety. No men ever were exacter at Oral and Gestural sanctity, than they are; what their hearts are, God and their own consciences know, we will not judg them (when yet the Book is an opprobrious judging them): What can be said more for us than this? and how contrary is it to the rest of their Accusations?
4. His fourth Reason runs thus, p. 126. Another method by which these persons attract a great veneration from their followers, is the suffering a seeming persecution—They appear evidently on the suffering side, and providence hath cast them upon acting the sadder scene, the Laws are something smart against them—
Ans. 1. This man yet confuteth the former that maketh us gainers. 2. But what escape is possible from such Accusers? Did we make those Laws against our selves? Do we persecute our selves? Shall Clergy-men provoke Magistrates to make such Laws as he calleth smart, and then make our sufferings to be one of our methods? If this be the method to obtain Veneration, I doubt such as the Accusers will hardly learn it. 3. But in our experience the vulgar usually most honour the prospering and upper side, and set light by sufferers, as if their very usage proved their desert. It is like to be the better sort that are so compassionate, and so much value men that for conscience are vilified by others.