A26924:13
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.
If all the Justices and Ministers of England, who censure us, and prosecute us as intolerable Sinners, for our fearing these as Sin, have impartially tried all these Points, and Reasons, or yet will do, and can find no Sin in any one of the Fifty two, and it prove so indeed, I must say that all the Two Thousand Ministers that in 1662. were Silenced, were as unhappy and strangely blinded Men, as most in the World that are true Christians; that after all their Study and Prayers, they should affright themselves into so calamitous a State, against all the reason of their Worldly Interests, as well as against the welfare of the Church, and their Duty to God: 2. But I must say, past doubt, that the accusing Clergy are deeply guilty of it, who these Twenty one years have no better ⟨image 3⟩answered the Reasons of our fear, nor used more Wisdom and Charity for our just Conviction. For our Consciences are of such a temper, as will not be convinced with a Scorn or a Jail, nor take all Writings or Words as satisfactory, that are poured out with supercilious Confidence, and called Satisfactory by the Self-esteeming Authors.
If all the Iustices and Ministers of England, who censure us, and prosecute us as intolerable Sinners, for our fearing these as Sin, have impartially tryed all these Points, and Reasons, or yet will do, and can find no Sin in any one of the Fifty two, and it prove so indeed, I must say that all the Two Thousand Ministers that in 1662. were Silenced, were as unhappy and strangely blinded Men, as most in the World that are true Christians; that after all their Study and Prayers, they should affright themselves into so calamitous a State, against all the reason of their Worldly Interests, as well as against the welfare of the Church, and their Duty to God: 2. But I must say, past doubt, that the accusing Clergy are deeply guilty of it, who these Twenty one years have no better ⟨image 3⟩answered the Reasons of our fear, nor used more Wisdom and Charity for our just Conviction. For our Consciences are of such a temper, as will not be convinced with a Scorn or a Iail, nor take all Writings or Words as satisfactory, that are poured out with supercilious Confidence, and called Satisfactory by the Self-esteeming Authors.