A26865:749
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.
Mark your Bishop Bilsons words of Christ. Subject. pag. 229. To Councils, such as the Church of Christ was wont by her Religious Princes to call, we owe communion and brotherly concord, so long as they make no breach in faith, nor in Christian charity: Subjection and servitude we owe them none: The blessed Angels profess themselves to be fellow-servants of the Saints on earth, Rev. 22. What are you then, that with your tribunals and jurisdictions would be Lords and Rulers over Christs inheritance?
2. The same Reasons which require you to agree only on necessary terms with foreign Churches, will oblige you to the like course at home. The judgments of Natives are of the same temper, and their differences will be as certain and constant, and your charity to them should be no less than to strangers. Only this we all confess, 1. That all the Churches must agree in their subjection to the same King. 2. And every particular Church must agree with their particular Pastors in the exercises of Communion. 3. And that Concord in one Translation, one Meter, and such like is desirable, not so much because we are under one King, as because we are neighbours, and of one language, and would be desirable if we were of several Kingdoms, in the same propinquity: But it is not to be procured at a price which is above its worth.
2. The same Reasons which require you to agree only on necessary terms with foreign Churches, will oblige you to the like course at home. The judgments of Natives are of the same temper, and their differences will be as certain and constant, and your charity to them should be no less than to strangers. Only this we all confess, 1. That all the Churches must agree in their subjection to the same King. 2. And every particular Church must agree with their particular Pastors in the exercises of Communion. 3. And that Concord in one Translation, one Meeter, and such like is desirable, not so much because we are under one King, as because we are neighbours, and of one language, and would be desirable if we were of several Kingdoms, in the same propinquity: But it is not to be procured at a price which is above its worth.