Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

and having made my self theirs, I dare not rob them of my Labours, nor neglect them to attend on others that are no part of my Charge, nor will be. If you say, that if they did become Members of my Charge, I must then as much neglect others for them; I answer, but then I could do it innocently, when I have ⟨p. 161⟩the same Relation to them, and Obligation to help them, as others. If I were your Steward, and you trust me to distribute Money or Bread to all that are under my Stewardship, if there were but few I must give it them all; and if many they can have but all. If I had ten Children, and had but ten Pounds to give them, I might justly give them but each one a Pound: But if I had but two, I should think the whole little enough for them two. I am first bound to watch over my Flock, and if they be never so many they can have no more of me than I have: But if they were fewer, each one might have more of my help, and might challenge it as their due before another that is not of my Charge. The sum of all then in two Words is this; 1. I dare condescend to give the Sacrament kneeling, and into the hands of those that live orderly under Christian Discipline; that is ordinarily to those of my own Charge; and occasionally to those of another Mans. 2. But I dare not (I profess seriously I dare not) ordinarily at least) give the Sacrament to those unruly scandalous Persons, that will live under no just Discipline, and I dare not defraud my Charge of my Labours, while I attend ordinarily upon those that are not of my Charge. If any should say that their coming to Church and receiving the Sacrament is a sufficient Signification that they take us for their Pastors, and therefore they will do no more: I answer, 1. Many Strangers receive the Sacrament that are not of my Charge, and many that are Members of another Church, or no particular Church, do ordinarily come to our Assemblies. This therefore is no certain Sign. 2. And though it were a probable Sign heretofore, yet when we have called our Parishes to a plain discovery of their Minds, and they refuse to signify their Consent, so much as by a Word of their Mouths in Public, then the former ceaseth to be any probable Sign of Consent.

and having made my self theirs, I dare not rob them of my Labours, nor neglect them to attend on others that are no part of my Charge, nor will be. If you say, that if they did become Members of my Charge, I must then as much neglect others for them; I answer, but then I could do it innocently, when I have ⟨p. 161⟩