A26911:425
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 30
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.
§ 2. You say, [Though there be in this Volume which we call the Common-prayer-Book, many Matters, Sentences, and Words bound all ⟨p. 113⟩together, yet do we Assent and Consent to no more but that which goes under the name of the Service of the Church, and the Rules and Orders touching the same, and the Rites and Ceremonies thereof.
Ans. If you say [All things contained in it] means not [all things] indeed, tell us what difference there is between the Equivocations of the Jesuits, and this of yours. So one tells me, that [when we profess to Assent to all in the Bible,] the meaning is [To all the Precepts, Promises, and Words of God in it, but not that there is no Humane Errors in Numbers and Chronology, Genealogy, History, or Citations.] And so you may say, [I will swear not to endeavour any alteration of the Government of the State, but I mean not to alter Monarchy.] And what may not one thus say and swear?
Ans. If you say [All things contained in it] means not [all things] indeed, tell us what difference there is between the Equivocations of the Jesuits, and this of yours. So one tells me, that [when we profess to Assent to all in the Bible,] the meaning is [To all the Precepts, Promises, and Words of God in it, but not that there is no Humane Errors in Numbers and Chronologie, Genealogie, History, or Citations.] And so you may say, [I will swear not to endeavour any alteration of the Government of the State, but I mean not to alter Monarchy.] And what may not one thus say and swear?
2. But yet I think it is no great number of [Matters, Sentences, and Words] which are neither (Service, Rules, Orders, or Rites.) Rubrics and Calendars, and some Prefaces belong to these. But it is a strange Interpretation which would exclude Doctrinals, such as the Article of Faith, of the certain Salvation of all Infants baptized, and dying before actual Sin. Your Citations signify nothing for your purpose, but tell us what you would have them signify.