A26911:650
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
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.
1. He granteth that none are to each other, Pastor and People against their Wills. Good still. And yet do I err? [But (saith he) as Christ is Christ, and a Saviour by Office whether Sinners will or not: So faithful Ministers are Pastors by Office, whether the People accept them or no.] Reader, it is not the least blemish of my Writings, that on divers occasions I oft repeat the same things: And many a time have I distinctly said, 1. That the Ordainers judge who shall be a Minister of Christ in general. 2. The Magistrate is judge whom he will Countenance, Maintain, or Tolerate. 3. And the People must be consenting judges to whom they will trust the conduct of their Souls: As it's one thing to be a Licensed Physician, and another to be Physician to this Hospital, or Person. If this Brother mean otherwise, what meant he by saying, that No Man can be a Pastor to a People against their will? Doth he say, and unsay in the next Lines? Is Christ any Man's actual Saviour whether they believe in him, and accept him or not? I have oft said, that in divers Cases, the People may be bound in duty to Consent, as all are bound to be Christians: But they are no Christians, or Church-members, till ⟨p. 162⟩they do Consent: What then is it that he meaneth as our Difference?
§ 4. Yes: He saith, [No more is necessary to the being, or well-being of a particular Church than this; A company of Christians met together in public for the Solemn Worship of God by Jesus Christ, having a Pastor or Minister with them to guide and govern the Congregation, and edify himself and them by the Word and Sacraments; where there is no Assembly of Pastor and People there is no Church, and no longer than the Assembly lasteth are they a Church.]
§ 4. Yes: He saith, [No more is necessary to the being, or well-being of a particular Church than this; A company of Christians met together in publick for the Solemn Worship of God by Iesus Christ, having a Pastor or Minister with them to guide and govern the Congregation, and edifie himself and them by the Word and Sacraments; where there is no Assembly of Pastor and People there is no Church, and no longer than the Assembly lasteth are they a Church.]