A26911:236
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 20
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.
XXI. If a Minister will prosecute at the Bishops Court all that he hath cause to keep from the Sacrament (as he must do within fourteen days) 1. It will take him off all his Ministerial studies almost, in many great and wicked Parishes. It will be work enough to travel long journeys as an Informer. 2. It will spend all his Benefice, in the charge of journeys, Proctors, and bringing witnesses ⟨p. 66⟩so far. 3. He shall but get the hatred of sinners, and never be like more to do them good: Whereas, had he power to use true Pastoral Discipline with them, his love and tenderness might possibly melt them into repentance, which a Chancellor's Court, so like a Civil Judicature, and putting them to great expenses and danger, is unlike to do. Nor did I ever in my whole life know one sinner brought to Repentance seemingly serious, by their Courts.
XXI. If a Minister will prosecute at the Bishops Court all that he hath cause to keep from the Sacrament (as he must do within fourteen daies) 1. It will take him off all his Ministerial studies almost, in many great and wicked Parishes. It will be work enough to travel long journeys as an Informer. 2. It will spend all his Benefice, in the charge of journeys, Proctors, and bringing witnesses ⟨p. 66⟩so far. 3. He shall but get the hatred of sinners, and never be like more to do them good: Whereas, had he power to use true Pastoral Discipline with them, his love and tenderness might possibly melt them into repentance, which a Chancellor's Court, so like a Civil Judicature, and putting them to great expences and danger, is unlike to do. Nor did I ever in my whole life know one sinner brought to Repentance seemingly serious, by their Courts.
XXII. To conclude, If the Minister have power to keep any from the Sacrament for fourteen days, till he prosecute them, they will as members, have all other Communion with that Church even in Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, and the Baptizing of his Child, &c. Albaspineus (that great and notable describer of the Churches Customs) tells us, that the Old Excommunication did shut them out of all other Church-Communion, as well as the Sacrament; even their oblations were not accepted.