A26911:655
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.
§ 6. He saith, [When the Assembly breaks up, the Church for that time ceaseth till the Meeting be renewed, till which time they remain Christian Inhabitants, Neighbours, Families, Parishioners, or Sojourners, the Pastor of the place dwelling among them.] Ans. In your Equivocal sense of a Church, this is true. In the Political sense they are a Church still; as the Parliament, Citizens, Soldiers, are a Parliament, City, Army, when they Assemble not. If your wrangle be de re, do you deny their continued Relation? If it be de nomine, let the Scripture and all Nations judge, whether the name Church belong to them no longer than they are Assembled.
§ 6. He saith, [When the Assembly breaks up, the Church for that time ceaseth till the Meeting be renewed, till which time they remain Christian Inhabitants, Neighbours, Families, Parishioners, or Sojourners, the Pastor of the place dwelling among them.] Ans. In your Equivocal sense of a Church, this is true. In the Political sense they are a Church still; as the Parliament, Citizens, Souldiers, are a Parliament, City, Army, when they Assemble not. If your wrangle be de re, do you deny their continued Relation? If it be de nomine, let the Scripture and all Nations judge, whether the name Church belong to them no longer than they are Assembled.
1. Then all that stay at Home, or are Sick, are no Church-members.
2. Then the Bishop or Pastor, hath no Church but while Assembled: And he hath no Duty to perform for his Church, but while Assembled.