A27035:1023
A second true defence of the mere nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and…A second true defence of the meer nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and…
A second true defence of the mere nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and history of Dr. Edward Stillingfleet ... clearly proving that it is (not sin but) duty 1. not wilfully to commit the many sins of conformity, 2. not sacrilegiously to forsake the preaching of the Gospel, 3. not to cease public worshipping of God, 4. to use needful pastoral helps for salvation ... / written by Richard Baxter ... ; with some notes on Mr. Joseph Glanviles Zealous and impartial Protestant, and Dr. L. Moulins character.A second true defence of the meer nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and history of Dr. Edward Stillingfleet ... clearly proving that it is (not sin but) duty 1. not wilfully to commit the many sins of conformity, 2. not sacrilegiously to forsake the preaching of the Gospel, 3. not to cease publick worshipping of God, 4. to use needful pastoral helps for salvation ... / written by Richard Baxter ... ; with some notes on Mr. Joseph Glanviles Zealous and impartial Protestant, and Dr. L. Moulins character.
London: printed for Nevil Simons, 1681
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.
10. Is not he as like to be a sincere man who asketh forgiveness of his faults (rash censures and words) as he that repenteth of his former duties, his Pacificatory principles and Writings. Surely to repent of evil is a better sign than to repent of good.
11. Because you call us to acquit our selves by disowning Dr. Moulin, may we not disown both his faults and our own, without disowning ⟨p. 187⟩God's grace and mens piety and worth? would you be so disowned for your own faults? 2. And how should I disown his rashness better than to write what I wrote against him, and say what I said to him? would you have a Synod called to reprove every rash word?
12. Because you justly value mens repentance, I will be thankful to you to further mine, and give me leave to further yours. Only I foretell you that your words shall not offend me by their hardness, if they have but truth, and you call me to repent of my sin and not of serving God. I do not repent of defending Truth and Duty: nor of seeking to save the Reader from the infection of false accusation and arguings which would destroy his charity and innocency, by the fullest manifesting the falsehood and evil of the words and deeds which are the Instruments. I take it to be a wrong to those that I would preserve, to extenuate the danger of the snare or poison, on pretence of gentleness to the Writer. But I deal with the Cause and desire none to hate the person: nor would I diminish the honour due to him for his parts or virtues; but rather have all men love and magnify all the good, while they dislike the evil; and would save the Reader at as easy a rate to the Writer as I can: But that he should not be related to his false or sinful words or deeds is not in my power to effect. But though I repent not of necessary truth, if I any where mistake, or speak more truth than is profitable, or in language by sharpness more apt to do hurt than good, of this I repent, and ask forgiveness of God and man; As I do if I speak so short of truth, as with Eli to make sin seem smaller than it is.