A27035:259
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.
Its true that there was then a greater scarcity of Preachers than now: And that was the Nonconformists argument with the Bishops when they pleaded for public liberty: But its as true that they had far greater hopes of that Liberty, which it had been folly to cast away, for less: But it is not so with us; we are a greater number than they, and have new Laws to shut us out not only of the Churches, but of Corporations, and Bishops that will give us no such liberty.
Its true that there was then a greater scarcity of Preachers than now: And that was the Nonconformists argument with the Bishops when they pleaded for publick liberty: But its as true that they had far greater hopes of that Liberty, which it had been folly to cast away, for less: But it is not so with us; we are a greater number than they, and have new Laws to shut us out not only of the Churches, but of Corporations, and Bishops that will give us no such liberty.
§ 6. And indeed so many were the unlearned Parish Priests, and so bad, in Queen Elizabeths days, being many of them lately silly Mass Priests, that the shame of the Church and the cry of the Protestant people forced the Bishops to tolerate most of the Nonconformists in some public Church, especially those that were moderate and did not publicly oppose them. Dr. Humphrey was allowed Regius Professor in Oxford: Dr. John Reignolds President of Corpus Ch. Col. Mr. Perkins, Lecturer in Cambridge, Mr. Paul Bath after him, so Dr. Chadeorto• there, &c. some tell men that these were all Conformists, and of the Church; And yet I am none that am of the same mind. The truth is, they were for submitting to kneeling at the Sacrament, Surplice and most of the Liturgy, rather than cease Preaching: But they were against subscription, and the English sort of Diocesan Bishops and Government, and the imposed use of the Cross, as it is in Baptism: As Tradition tells us, and as you may partly see in Dr. Reynolds Letter to Sir Francis Knowles, in Mr. Baynes, Diocesans Trial, his Letters, and in Fuller and other Histories, And Mr. Deering, Mr. Greenham, Mr. John Fox, Mr. Marbury, Dudley, Fenner, Mr. Knewstubs, yea I think six or ten to one, were endured ⟨p. 40⟩