A26924:1194
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
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.
Q. 47. Who is it that was, or is able to cure all these our divisions? It never was in our power, nor yet is, unless damning our souls by wilful sin must be the cure: For we have oft offered our Oaths that nothing but fear of sin shall hinder us from conforming. If our fear come from ignorance, do the Churches suffer none more ignorant than we? But how easy were it with others, without sin, or cost to cure all?
Q. 47. Who is it that was, or is able to cure all these our divisions? It never was in our power, nor yet is, unless damning our souls by willful sin must be the cure: For we have oft offered our Oaths that nothing but fear of sin shall hinder us from conforming. If our fear come from ignorance, do the Churches suffer none more ignorant than we? But how easy were it with others, without sin, or cost to cure all?
Q. 48. Is it not God's great Mercy to our Land, that we have had twenty years peace, while other Lands have been miserable by Wars? And if it be the Preachers of the Gospel that yet will give the Land no peace, but cry out, execute, prosecute, suffer not, strike home, and their judgment be the executioners encouragement, who say, The Clergy tells us it is our duty; I had rather answer them with tears than words.
Q. 48. Is it not God's great Mercy to our Land, that we have had twenty years peace, while other Lands have been miserable by Wars? And if it be the Preachers of the Gospel that yet will give the Land no peace, but cry out, execute, prosecute, suffer not, strike home, and their judgment be the executioners encouragment, who say, The Clergy tells us it is our duty; I had rather answer them with tears than words.
Q. 49. Should not the long and universal experience of the Christian World be some warning to us, which these thousand years hath been broken into shreds, by the contentions of the Clergy, and their Magisterial needless impositions, and by forsaking the Primitive purity and simplicity?