A26865:643
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.
The true Case of the Nonconformists Sufferings, which they are said to undergo through Covetousness of gain.
We affect not to be querulous (though nature inclineth them to it that are hurt), nor yet to bring our Superiors under the dishonourable title of Persecutors; else had we not so many years been silent as to our own defence: But when even our Sufferings are made our crime, and said to be chiefly from our Pride and Covetousness, faithfulness to the Souls of men that are thus led towards the guilt of calumniating the afflicted; and faithfulness to the interest and honour of our office, requireth us modestly to tell the truth.
1. When Gods marvellous Providence restored his Majesty, we were some of us in Parishes whence the Parliament had before ejected others, yet alive, who presently took possession of their places in 1660: This is none of the matter of our complaint. But on Aug. 24. 1662, we were by Law made uncapable of any station in the public Ministry, unless we subscribe, declare, and do the other Conditions required by that Law. Not one of us that ever we heard, was cast out as criminal, for any error that we preached, or any evil that we had done: But for not Subscribing, ⟨p. 176⟩Declaring and Doing, as aforesaid, about 1800 or 2000 were at once disabled and cast out. The penalty for every Sermon that they should Preach (besides the loss of all the Ministerial Maintenance or Benefice) was three Months imprisonment in the Common Jail, and 100 l. for Administering the Sacrament by any not ordained by a Bishop, though otherwise ordained when Bishops were deposed, and not to be had. Those Ministers who could bring their Consciences to hold all the things imposed to be lawful, did Conform. The rest being solemnly dedicated and vowed to the sacred Ministry (some by the Ordination of Bishops, and some of City and Country-Pastors) durst not lay aside their Office: Partly because of their Vow, conceiving it to be Sacrilege to alienate consecrated persons, and greater than to alienate consecrated things; and partly because of the notorious Necessity of the people; Multitudes being ignorant, and vicious, and ungodly, some Popish, or erroneous otherwise; and many Parishes not competently supplied, and the number of fit men both Conformable and not-conformable, too small in proportion to the peoples wants: Yet they concluded, that if once the Number and Quality of the Conformable Ministers were such as would make our labours unnecessary, we might either be silent, or go try to learn the language of some Foreign Land, where we might be of use: And we agreed, that the Magistrate having the power of the Temples, and public maintenance, we must lay no claim to either against his will: And that though our office might not lawfully be deserted, nor the peoples Souls, yet the circumstances of Time, place, and numbers of hearers, &c.