A26965:272
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacify such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacifie such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benj. Alsop, 1679
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.
XLIX. 17. If Princes or Prelates shall unjustly silence or depose so great a number of faithful Pastors or Preachers, as shall leave people destitute of a necessary Preaching and Pastoral help, it is no Schism, but a great duty, for such Ministers to preach, and pastorally guide such people; otherwise by the same reason, one man might put down Christianity in an Empire at his pleasure; or dissolve the Churches.
L. If it be said, that it's true, if he put down all, but not if he silence but a minor part. We answer, that the reason is the same to those to whom the Ministry is necessary, if he put down Ministers to them. The supply of the Churches, e. g. in one City of a Kingdom, is no supply to the other Cities: And if a Parish have 10000, or 30000, or 50000, or 60000 souls, its no supply to all the rest if 3000 of these have the benefit of a Preacher and Pastor. The same power which may deny a Pastor to ten parts of a Parish, may deny him to the eleventh part, that is, to all. So if competent Pastors be set over half the Parishes in a Kingdom, and the other half hath incompetent men; or if nine parts of a Kingdom were competently supplied, and but the tenth part had not such to whom the people may lawfully commit the Pastoral Care of their souls, it is no Schism, but a duty for those that are destitute, to get the best supply they can; and it is no Schism, but a duty, for faithful Ministers, though forbidden by superiors, to perform their Office to such people that desire it. ⟨p. 84⟩Their General Ordination, with the peoples Necessity and Consent added to God's General Commands to all his Ministers to be faithful and diligent, are a sufficient obliging Call to such Ministration, without the will of (prohibiting) Superiors; yea against it.
L. If it be said, that it's true, if he put down all, but not if he silence but a minor part. We answer, that the reason is the same to those to whom the Ministry is necessary, if he put down Ministers to them. The supply of the Churches, e. g. in one City of a Kingdom, is no supply to the other Cities: And if a Parish have 10000, or 30000, or 50000, or 60000 souls, its no supply to all the rest if 3000 of these have the benefit of a Preacher and Pastor. The same power which may deny a Pastor to ten parts of a Parish, may deny him to the eleventh part, that is, to all. So if competent Pastors be set over half the Parishes in a Kingdom, and the other half hath incompetent men; or if nine parts of a Kingdom were competently supplied, and but the tenth part had not such to whom the people may lawfully commit the Pastoral Care of their souls, it is no Schism, but a duty for those that are destitute, to get the best supply they can; and it is no Schism, but a duty, for faithful Ministers, though forbidden by superiours, to perform their Office to such people that desire it.