A27035:94
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.
Page. 290. [The distance then being so great as it is, it is a very necessary enquiry what the Cause of it is, and where the main fault lies: and it being acknowledged that there is a possibility that corruptions may get into a Christian Church, and it being impossible to prove that Christianity obligeth men to Communicate with a Church in all those corruptions its communion may be tainted with, it seems evident to reason that the cause of the breach must lie there, where the corruptions are owned, and imposed as conditions of communion. For can any one imagine it should be a fault in any to keep off from communion, where they are so far from being obliged to it, that they have an obligation to the contrary from the principles of their common Christianity? And where men are bound not to communicate, it is impossible to prove their not communicating to be Schism. For there can be no Schism; but where there is an obligation to communion; Schism being nothing else but a wilful violation of the bonds Christian communion. And therefore whenever you would prove the Protestants guilty of Schism, you must do it by proving they were bound to communicate with your Church in those things which they are Protestants for disowning of, or that there is so absolute and unlimited an obligation to continue in the society of your Church, that no conditions can be so hard, but we are bound rather to submit ⟨p. 4⟩to them, then not join in Communion with you.
Page. 290. [The distance then being so great as it is, it is a very necessary enquiry what the Cause of it is, and where the main fault lies: and it being acknowledged that there is a possibility that corruptions may get into a Christian Church, and it being impossible to prove that Christianity obligeth men to Communicate with a Church in all those corruptions its communion may be tainted with, it seems evident to reason that the cause of the breach must lie there, where the corruptions are owned, and imposed as conditions of communion. For can any one imagine it should be a fault in any to keep off from communion, where they are so far from being obliged to it, that they have an obligation to the contrary from the principles of their common Christianity? And where men are bound not to communicate, it is impossible to prove their not communicating to be Schism. For there can be no Schism; but where there is an obligation to communion; Schism being nothing else but a willful violation of the bonds Christian communion. And therefore whenever you would prove the Protestants guilty of Schism, you must do it by proving they were bound to communicate with your Church in those things which they are Protestants for disowning of, or that there is so absolute and unlimited an obligation to continue in the society of your Church, that no conditions can be so hard, but we are bound rather to submit