A26911:243
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.
Ans. What Order is it that binds us to this? If you mean Christ's Order, we must do it: If you mean the Churches, where shall we find it? This is like the Rubric new Article of Faith, which will Silence us all who are not certain by God's ⟨p. 69⟩Word, that Baptized Infants (without exception) are undoubtedly saved; and yet that Charity was wanting that should but once have cited the Text that maketh it undoubtedly certain. A short labour for so great an End. So when you might know how very far it would go to reconcile me to our Prelacy, could I but prove what here you say, yet you will not so much as tell me where to find it: Nay, if you that have studied the Law, would but have told me how to escape, when I am accused for doing it.
Ans. What Order is it that binds us to this? If you mean Christ's Order, we must do it: If you mean the Churches, where shall we find it? This is like the Rubrick new Article of Faith, which will Silence us all who are not certain by God's ⟨p. 69⟩Word, that Baptized Infants (without exception) are undoubtedly saved; and yet that Charity was wanting that should but once have cited the Text that maketh it undoubtedly certain. A short labour for so great an End. So when you might know how very far it would go to reconcile me to our Prelacy, could I but prove what here you say, yet you will not so much as tell me where to find it: Nay, if you that have studied the Law, would but have told me how to escape, when I am accused for doing it.
§ 5. But your next is too apt to provoke Laughter, viz. [Suppose you honestly tell the Ordinary, that the uncapable are too many to be presented, lest Violence make them worse, and Excommunicating them signify nothing, but endanger them to rise in Rebellion, or Mutiny, and turn you and us out of Place (that reason is considerable) or quite leave our Assemblies, and turn Quakers, Papists, Infidels, and precipitate Souls to Hell by Obstinacy and Viciousness: But if you will leave it to me, I will Christen their Children and keep them within the Church; (Is that Excommunicating them?) as Hearers, and Learners, and Candidates, &c. Do I not then honestly perform the Law?