A26924:46
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
Chapter 1: THE True CASE OF THE English Nonconformity. In a DIALOGUE between A Silenced MINISTER a…
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.
L. Why have you not in Writing given the World just satisfaction if you are guiltless? What sin have you proved to be in the Conformity required of you? I see no such proof.
M. You know what penalties the Law layeth on any that deprave the Common-Prayer Books, and that all are Excommunicate ipso facto, that do but affirm any thing to be against Gods Word, in any Office of your Church Government, in any Word or Ceremony in your Liturgy, &c. Can. 5. 6, 7, 8. And you know what follows Excommunication here. And you know that till of late years the Press was shut up to us: But have you seriously read and studied what is written by us? I my self have told you; 1. In a Book called A Plea for Peace, what things they be which Nonconformists take to be sinful in Conformity, and how great and heinous the sin is which they fear; and what separation is unlawful and what is necessary. 2. In a full Treatise of Episcopacy I have showed what Episcopacy we are for, and what we are against, and why, and what Antiquity held hereabout, and what we have to say to most of the Learned Men that have written for that Diocesan form, which we cannot approve 3. In an Apology, I have proved it our duty to Preach, though forbidden, as far as we are able, and mens necessities require it. 4. In a second Plea for Peace, I have fully given the World an account of our Doctrine, of Magistrates Power and Subjects Duties in matters Civil and Ecclesiastical, &c. 5. In a Treatise ⟨p. 3⟩of Church Concord, I have fully proved that the Primitive simplicity in things divine, few, plain and sure is the only possible matter of Universal Christian Unity and Concord. I know not of any one of these that are Answered, or any thing like an Answer to them written, save that to some part of the first, some mere impertinent noise was made by some one that is confuted.
M. You know what penalties the Law layeth on any that deprave the Common-Prayer Books, and that all are Excommunicate ipso facto, that do but affirm any thing to be against Gods Word, in any Office of your Church Government, in any Word or Ceremony in your Liturgy, &c. Can. 5. 6, 7, 8. And you know what follows Excommunication here. And you know that till of late years the Press was shut up to us: But have you seriously read and studyed what is written by us? I my self have told you; 1. In a Book called A Plea for Peace, what things they be which Nonconformists take to be sinful in Conformity, and how great and hainous the sin is which they fear; and what separation is unlawful and what is necessary. 2. In a full Treatise of Episcopacy I have shewed what Episcopacy we are for, and what we are against, and why, and what Antiquity held hereabout, and what we have to say to most of the Learned Men that have written for that Diocesan form, which we cannot approve 3. In an Apology, I have proved it our duty to Preach, though forbidden, as far as we are able, and mens necessities require it. 4. In a second Plea for Peace, I have fully given the World an account of our Doctrine, of Magistrates Power and Subjects Duties in matters Civil and Ecclesiastical, &c. 5. In a Treatise