A27035:324
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.
Sect. 2. The matter of fact must first be notified: 1. I ever distinguished the National, Diocesan, Parochial, and Segregate Churches: And the National as supposed organized, or an Ecclesiastically political Society, from the National as a Christian Kingdom, and as an agreeing Association of Churches, without any Governor of the whole (Single or Aristocratical.) And I distinguished Diocesans that are as Arch-Bishops over lower Bishops, and those that are like ours, infimae speciei: and I distinguished Parish Churches that have true Pastors, from those that have none but uncapable men, through insufficiency, heresy, malignity, or as usurpers are not truly called.
Sect. 2. The matter of fact must first be notified: 1. I ever distinguished the National, Diocesan, Parochial, and Segregate Churches: And the National as supposed organized, or an Ecclesiastically political Society, from the National as a Christian Kingdom, and as an agreeing Association of Churches, without any Governor of the whole (Single or Aristocratical.) And I distinguished Diocesans that are as Arch-Bishops over lower Bishops, and those that are like ours, infimae speciei: and I distinguished Parish Churches that have true Pastors, from those that have none but uncapable men, through insufficiency, heresie, malignity, or as usurpers are not truly called.
2. Accordingly I concluded, 1. That the Parish Churches in England that have true Pastors, are true political governed Churches. 2. That though some would make them none, by denying to the Pastors an essential ⟨p. 60⟩part of their office, and make the Bishop the sole Pastor, and the rest but his Curates, and the Parishes no Churches as having no Bishop, but to be only as Chapels, part of the lowest governed Church (Diocesan) and so give up the cause to the Brownists called Separatists; yet truly such Parishes are true political Churches, because the ordainer being but the investing Minister, the office is not essentiated as he willeth or saith, but as God the Instituter willeth and saith. As the power of the Husband over the Wife is not what please the Priest that marrieth them, but what pleaseth God who giveth it by his Law; and as the Lord Mayor's power is not what please the Recorder, or he that giveth him his Oath or Insignia, but what the Kings Charter giveth; and the Kings power is not what he will that Crowneth him and giveth him his Oath, but what he hath right to by the constitution of the Kingdom; so that the truth of the Parish Churches is soundly maintained by the Nonconformists, and overthrown by many of the Diocesans: But if the Parish Minister himself consent not to the essentials of his own office, his Ministry may be valid to others while he is in the place, but he is, himself, no true Pastor.