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…

Sect. 14. P. 99. He saith [This is Mr. Baxter's own Case—when he is pinched with the Point of Separation, thus he declares, that his hearers are ⟨p. 73⟩the same with ours; at least ten or twenty for one.—If this be true, then what such mighty help is this to our great Parishes, what colour or pretence is there from the largeness of them, that he should preach to the very same men that come to our Church.—Then how come they to be lawful when few or none of those many thousands ever come.—to speak softly this pretence is not becoming Mr. Baxters Sincerity.

Ans. what hope of Justice from such Judges? Or what hope of profiting such Readers by Dispute, as cannot answer such as this themselves. When I began to preach at St. James's the neighbours assured me, that many of the hearers had been at no Church of four years; but they were Members of the Parish-Church, and that some of them got into the Church, but rarely: and some liked it not so well as to be forward seekers. When I was driven thence, I preached a while where Mr. Wadsworth was in Southwark: There were some people that had adhered to their old ejected worthy Pastor, and some that I knew not. Since then I preach once on the Lords day in another mans Pulpit, as near St. James's as I could, and the same persons that heard me there do (many of them) come hither, and some others: of all whom I know very few, but by report. On Thursdays I preach a Lecture in another mans Pulpit to persons of whom I know not many: but report saith, that some of them join not ordinarily with the Parish Ministers, and some do, and most judge it lawful, and sometime, but seldom practise it: And those are of two sorts: some that prefer the Nonconformists Ministry, and some that finding the Parish Churches crowded, and many present are out of hearing, do seldom go thither, though they are of the Parish Churches, and dissent not from their Ministry or Worship: some say [we have no Seats and cannot stand:] some say [we cannot hear the Minister:] some say, Thousands stay away that can get no room, and will go no whither else, and when we can go elsewhere, we will not crowd in first to keep them out, that so much need Others must be out if we be in. These are your own Church-Members: they hear you sometimes, but seldom. Others that hear you constantly on the Lords days, will think that a Sermon on the week days may be needful to them whatever you think or say against it. And is it inconsistent with Sincerity here to plead the peoples necessity. It's well that our Sincerity is not to stand or fall to your judgment. Did I say that my hearers are constant hearers in your Churches?