A27035:344
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.
Stretch not my similitude beyond my meaning: If a Gentleman of the game should by wilful sin, get the Lues Vener••, and the case be disputed whether his wife may separate from him, or if he beat her once a week; if ⟨p. 63⟩she will not daily eat that which makes her grievous sick, and he doth it to exercise his Authority, another may better plead against her departure than he: If it be a fault in her so to save her self, what is it in him to destroy or abuse her?
If we be forbidden to take poison, and one will causelessly command us to take a doubtful thing, as Nightshade, Hemlock, A•ripigmentum, &c. and then condemn us as disobedient for refusing, he is the unfittest person to condemn us. If it be lawful to avoid a house that hath the Plague, a man is excusable that mistakes the spotted Fever for it.
If we be forbidden to take poyson, and one will causelesly command us to take a doubtful thing, as Nightshade, Hemlock, A•ripigmentum, &c. and then condemn us as disobedient for refusing, he is the unfittest person to condemn us. If it be lawful to avoid a house that hath the Plague, a man is excusable that mistakes the spotted Fever for it.
Were your Congregations but full of persons that had the scabs of the small Pox not dried away, and one went to a sounder Congregation for fear of infection, not at all condemning you, he might be born with. If in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign, when abundance of Papist Priests staid in the Churches for their Benefices, a man had quietly gone from them to the Nonconformists, I could not blame him; though he had not been sure that they were not changed.