A26911:162
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter of their nonconformity against Mr. J. Cheney's answer called The conforming nonconformist, and The nonconforming conformist : to which is added the second part in answer to Mr. Cheney's Five undertakings / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benjamin Alsop, 1680
A DEFENCE OF THE NON-CONFORMIST'S Plea for Peace, AGAINST Mr. J. CH… › Chapter 18
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.
§ 5. I have more reverence for the Ancient Christians, than to be a bold condemner of all their Actions, which I wish they had not done (and had they foreseen the Consequents, they would not have done). And I must, Fide humanâ, give some credit to those ancient Writers, specially such as Augustine, who tells us of Miracles adjoined to some use of the Cross: And considering how they used it, I find it was (when those things were done) as a private arbitrary professing Sign, such as it would have been to say by words [I am a Christian,] or [I trust in Christ,] or [I am not ashamed of a Crucified Saviour.] And if when one asked them of their Faith, or derided them for trusting in a Crucified Man, they answered by crossing, I judge them not for so doing: The occasions and Persons might excuse such a private professing Action. But if they would turn this into a public Church-Ordinance by a Law, and into a Humane Sacrament of the Covenant of Grace, requiring all to receive it as the common Badge of Christianity; I reproach not the approvers, but I dare not approve it, or so use it.
§ 5. I have more reverence for the Ancient Christians, than to be a bold condemner of all their Actions, which I wish they had not done (and had they foreseen the Consequents, they would not have done). And I must, Fide humanâ, give some credit to those ancient Writers, specially such as Augustine, who tells us of Miracles adjoyned to some use of the Cross: And considering how they used it, I find it was (when those things were done) as a private arbitrary professing Sign, such as it would have been to say by words [I am a Christian,] or [I trust in Christ,] or [I am not ashamed of a Crucified Saviour.] And if when one asked them of their Faith, or derided them for trusting in a Crucified Man, they answered by crossing, I judge them not for so doing: The occasions and Persons might excuse such a private professing Action. But if they would turn this into a publick Church-Ordinance by a Law, and into a Humane Sacrament of the Covenant of Grace, requiring all to receive it as the common Badge of Christianity; I reproach not the approvers, but I dare not approve it, or so use it.
§ 6. You say, [We must reduce what is said in the Canon to the words in the 39 Articles, and the Liturgy, for they contradict not themselves.]