A27035:296
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.
I doubt the Dr. is far more a Separatist than I, and such as I; for I am for Communion with all Christians, as far as they separate not from Christ; and I hate the false accusing of any Church as if it were none, or its Communion unlawful. I can be but in one place at once, but in heart I join with all Christians on earth except in sin; and locally I join where I see greatest reason for it, preferring that which I judge most agreeable to Gods word, so far as I may without greater hurt. But the Canonical Conformists, unchurch all the Churches here but their own, and utterly refuse Communion with them, even with those that refuse not Communion with them. And some think that forcible silencing, fining, excommunicating, and imprisoning, is not the gentlest sort of separating.
I doubt the Dr. is far more a Separatist than I, and such as I; for I am for Communion with all Christians, as far as they separate not from Christ; and I hate the false accusing of any Church as if it were none, or its Communion unlawful. I can be but in one place at once, but in heart I joyn with all Christians on earth except in sin; and locally I joyn where I see greatest reason for it, preferring that which I judge most agreeable to Gods word, so far as I may without greater hurt. But the Canonical Conformists, unchurch all the Churches here but their own, and utterly refuse Communion with them, even with those that refuse not Communion with them. And some think that forcible silencing, fining, excommunicating, and imprisoning, is not the gentlest sort of separating.
But doth he in all his Book do any thing to satisfy any mans Conscience, that would know from what Churches he may or may not separate? Not a word that I can find, that decideth such a doubt. His two words here used are [Agreement in Doctrine, and substantials of Religion,] whereas 1. Religion is in Acts and Habits, and hath no proper substance, and what ⟨p. 52⟩his term [substance] meaneth, till he tells us, none can know. It must be either an essential part, or an integral part, for an Accident I suppose it is not. If only an essential part, what Christian dare say that I may sin against all the mere integrals of Religion rather than go from the Church that imposeth such sin upon me. If it be all the integrals that we must agree in, then we differ in no one part of Religion; for Accidents are not parts: And then who contradicts him? When men differ in no part of Religion, they will not separate unless merely locally: Are all the things named in my first Plea, no parts of Religion? It may be by [Substance] he meaneth only the greater sort of Integrals, but how shall we know where to six our measures; what duty is so small that I may omit it, or what sin so small that I may commit it for Communion.