A27035:433
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. 23. p. 127. He repeats the Incapacities named by me, (viz. in Knowledge and Utterance, by Heresy, &c.) and saith, Of all these the people are judges, and so many separate: Thus no settled Church can subsist, &c. Answ. 1. It's a hard case that in such a Volume as this, he will not tell us his own Judgment, further than the accusing of ours intimateth it (which if we tell him of, he can say, [It was not his sense.] Will he openly say that the people have not a private Judgment of discretion in order to their own practice, whether the Preacher be an Heretic, Papist, Infidel, Idolater, or not? but must take him for their Pastor be he what he will? I know he will not say it. What then would he be at? Why doth he accuse us for that which he dare not contradict? Doth he any where tell us, in what cases and how far they must judge? No, he shuns all such Questions as tend to bring the cause into the light: put twenty and he will answer few or none of them. If he did, perhaps we should be agreed whether he will or not.
Sect. 23. p. 127. He repeats the Incapacities named by me, (viz. in Knowledge and Utterance, by Heresie, &c.) and saith, Of all these the people are judges, and so many separate: Thus no setled Church can subsist, &c. Answ. 1. It's a hard case that in such a Volumn as this, he will not tell us his own Judgment, further than the accusing of ours intimateth it (which if we tell him of, he can say, [It was not his sense.] Will he openly say that the people have not a private Judgment of discretion in order to their own practice, whether the Preacher be an Heretick, Papist, Infidel, Idolater, or not? but must take him for their Pastor be he what he will? I know he will not say it. What then would he be at? Why doth he accuse us for that which he dare not contradict? Doth he any where tell us, in what cases and how far they must judge? No, he shuns all such Questions as tend to bring the cause into the light: put twenty and he will answer few or none of them. If he did, perhaps we should be agreed whether he will or not.
But (Reader, bear these tiring Repetitions as I must do) 1. He knoweth that it is the Ordainers and not the people whom I make judges who shall be a Minister. 2. That it is the King and Patrons that I make the only Judges who shall be tolerated, and maintained by them, and have the Tithes and Temples. 3. And that though the Universal Church was many hundred years, for the peoples Election, I plead ad esse relationis for no more as necessary but consent, who shall be the Pastor, to whom they will trust the conduct of their Souls: And this is but Judicium discretionis & privatum non publicum regentis, only guiding each mans own obedience to God. 4. He knoweth (if he will know) that I. say and say again, that the advantages of the Laws and Rulers Favour, and the