A26911:274
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 21
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. When King Henry the Eighth was called Head of the Church, to avoid the Papists calumnies, Queen Elizabeth and King James have published their disclaiming of that power of Word and Sacraments, called that of the Keys; and if my Ears deceived me not, I have heard our present King profess the same.
5. When King Henry the Eighth was called Head of the Church, to avoid the Papists calumnies, Queen Elizabeth and King Iames have published their disclaiming of that power of Word and Sacraments, called that of the Keys; and if my Ears deceived me not, I have heard our present King profess the same.
6. The judgment and practice of the Churches of all Ages and places since Christ, is against you; I think Helvetia it self not excepted. And should this be nothing to you, who call on us to reverence the Old Conformists?
7. The reason of the Institution fully satisfies me. It was not meet so great a trust should be placed in unfit men: As in case of Ordination, it must be men that are able to try the persons, as to skill and life, that must be trusted with so weighty a business; and also such that can have leisure to attend it; and therefore as an Office are empowered for it, and separated to it, lest it miscarry; so as to Baptism, Absolution, Excommunication, it must be done by men, 1. That are capable of full acquaintance with the person, witnesses and cause. 2. And that can try and judge of it. 3. And especially of the persons Faith and Repentance; (for it is on these that the sentence must pass:) No Baptism without Faith: No Excommunication without obstinate Impenitence: No Absolution without Repentance.) 4. It must be by men fit to exhort them to Faith and Repentance, and confute their Errors, and pray for them that God would give them Faith and Repentance. 5. And it is so great a part of the world, and all the Church of Christ, that this, or much of this must be done for,