A27035:866
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.
Answ. A Calumny made up by setting together two scraps of remote sentences. 1. Because I say it's lawful to pray in a room where pictures (not any) are before me, for meet ornament, therefore he feigns me to say, It's lawful to kneel before a Crucifix. 2. And elsewhere I say, It is lawful to be excited to a good thought by seeing a Deaths-head, or any of Gods works, and so it is by seeing a Crucifix; (which no sober Christian doubts of) he feigns me to make it an exciting sign to him that kneels before it.
§. 11. Yea he makes so much use of his own calumny as p. 354. to prove me strangely partial, Allowing it to be lawful to pray before a Crucifix as a medium excitans, as an object that stirs up in us worshipping affections, and so excuse all Papists from Idolatry that profess they use a Crucifix for no other end.
Answ. Mere repeated forgery, not becoming his profession. I never spake for praying before it, much less as an object to stir up worshipping affections: But only that I am not bound to fly at prayer from a room that hath only ornamental pictures; and that as in the Geneva Bible there be Historical pictures, and few but Turks are against them, it is lawful (I say not kneeling before them at prayer, but out of cases of scandal and danger) to be excited by them to good affections, and indeed good affections are worshipping affections. Dare any Christian say that it is a sin to think reverently of God when we see his works, or see but a picture of Scripture History (as Abraham offering Isaac, Christ dying and rising, &c.) Nonconformists have still taken them for Liars that said they were against Historical pictures; and showed it in the Geneva Bible. I have seen in many pious country Houses all the story of Dives and Lazarus painted over their Tables, and never heard the good use of it accused. But I desire the Reader to peruse my words, which he citeth, Quest. 113. and judge with what honesty we are accused. I there say, 1. It is unlawful to make any Image of God. 4. It is unlawful to make, place or use an Image as is like to do more hurt than good, or to tempt to