A26865:788
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.
How you gather out of this, or any words of ours, that Christ and his Apostles might not preach the Gospel without Cesar's delegations, and license from others, the Kings of the Countries whither they went, I see not, except you take the word [Supreme] for superior to Christ; all which standeth neither with our assertion nor intention, but is a very pestilent and impudent sophistication of yours—Marg. Bishops may preach without Caesars leave, if they submit themselves to Cesar's sword, as the Apostles did.
How you gather out of this, or any words of ours, that Christ and his Apostles might not preach the Gospel without Cesar's delegations, and license from others, the Kings of the Countreys whither they went, I see not, except you take the word [Supreme] for superior to Christ; all which standeth neither with our assertion nor intention, but is a very pestilent and impudent sophistication of yours—Marg. Bishops may preach without Cesars leave, if they submit themselves to Cesar's sword, as the Apostles did.
To this, I pray add his two pages, p. 233, 234. to prove that Patriarchs were not erected by Christ, but by the consent of Bishops; and that Archiepiscopal and Metropolitan Dignities were the gifts of Princes; and then consider how far that Office of Presbyters, which is of Christs own instituting, is to be forsaken in obedience to the command of a Metropolitan, or any power of mans ordaining.
Pag. 226. The charge which the Patriarchs and Bishops of England have over their flocks, proceedeth neither from Prince nor Pope, nor dependeth on the will or word of any earthly creature; therefore ⟨p. 231⟩you do us the more wrong to say what you list of us—By supreme Governors we do not mean Moderators, Prescribers, Directors, Inventors, or Authors of these things as you misconstrue us, but Rulers and Magistrates, bearing the sword to permit and defend that which Christ himself first appointed and ordained, and with lawful force to disturb the despisers of his will and testament. Now what inconvenience is this, if we say that Princes as public Magistrates may give freedom, protection and assistance, to the preaching of the Word, Ministering of the Sacraments, and right using of the Keys—Doth that prove that all Ecclesiastical power and cure of Souls do proceed and depend of the Princes right?