A26924:710
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 44: Of Lay Conformity. Point I. Whether all Men must trust their Souls only on the Pastoral…
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. But they all Preach the same Word of God.
M. Do you think the mysterious Invisible things of Faith, and the multitude of hard Cases in Obedience, and the many dangerous Distempers of a carnal, worldly, dead Heart, have not need of as skilful a Helper, as the Profession of Law and Physic hath? How vast a difference is there between an ignorant Prater, and a skilful Lawyer or Physician? And as I have more care of my Soul than of my Body, so mens Laws have less power over it.
M. Do you think the mysterious Invisible things of Faith, and the multitude of hard Cases in Obedience, and the many dangerous Distempers of a carnal, worldly, dead Heart, have not need of as skilful a Helper, as the Profession of Law and Physick hath? How vast a difference is there between an ignorant Prater, and a skilful Lawyer or Physician? And as I have more care of my Soul than of my Body, so mens Laws have less power over it.
L. I do not think the World hath a better Clergy than the Church of England.
M. I do challenge oft any to name that Nation under Heaven out of the Kings Dominions that hath two thousand worthier Ministers than those that were here silenced, and reviled, and hunted like Rogues. But I pray you tell me, 1. Do you know how many, and what sort of men the Patrons in England are that choose them? The Conformists oft say that many of them are Simonists: It's well known that many of them are taken for the famousest Papists in the Country. Tho' they have the wit and faculty to keep off Legal Conviction, or else to manage their Advowsons by Trustees. And O how well were it with England if none or few of them were Worldlings, Gluttons, Drunkards, Whoremongers, or Haters, or Prosecutors of serious godly men? Is there any Body doubts whether there be such? And tho' good and sober Lords and Gentlemen will promote good and sober men, the propagation of the species is the most natural Appetite; and an evil Tree will bring forth evil Fruit, and a Hater of Godliness is unlike to choose a godly Pastor. And any man that hath Money, be he never so bad or erroneous may buy an Advowson or Presentation. And must all poor Souls have no other Pastors than these men will chuse? And quo jure? how came they by a right to choose Pastors for all the and? Did God ever give it them? The People at first sinfully gave it them, in blind gratitude, for Building and Endowing Temples. But Mens Grant many hundred years ago, being sinful, hath no power to bind our Consciences: Our Fore fathers might give their Lands from their Posterity; but they could not give away Gods Ordinances, nor the means of our Salvation. If Patrons might ill dispose of Temples and Tithes, that's nothing to prove that they may choose Pastors for all men against their wills.