A26865:891
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
AN APOLOGY FOR THE SILENCED MINISTERS, Especially for their not cea… › Postscript › Section
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.
Obj But they are to judg who shall preach. The Gospel is not cast out, if two thousand of you be silenced. If there were not Preachers, there may be Readers, and the Liturgy.
Ans. Let them set up such competent Teachers in a sufficient number of Churches as will tell a sober conscience that all our labours are become unnecessary, and then we shall think further of the case. But is it so in London now? Or can any be ignorant that it is not so?
And God useth to work according to the aptitude of means; and too many Churches in the Countries have such Teachers as say over a few cold words as boys do their Lessons; and when experience telleth us how few are the better for them, we are afraid of being so hypocritically modest as to let souls perish for fear of seeming to undervalue your raw Lads, or scandalous ignorant Priests, and to overvalue our selves.
And God useth to work according to the aptitude of means; and too many Churches in the Countreys have such Teachers as say over a few cold words as boys do their Lessons; and when experience telleth us how few are the better for them, we are afraid of being so hypocritally modest as to let souls perish for fear of seeming to undervalue your raw Lads, or scandalous ignorant Priests, and to overvalue our selves.