A27035:991
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.
But when I saw this Rag called a Letter left behind him, my grief for him was doubled: And I saw what cause we have all to fear the snares of a flattering world, and what cause to pray for Divine preservation, and for an unbiased mind, and a humble sense of our own frailty, that we may neither over-value prosperity, nor our own understandings.
But when I saw this Rag called a Letter left behind him, my grief for him was doubled: And I saw what cause we have all to fear the snares of a flattering world, and what cause to pray for Divine preservation, and for an unbyassed mind, and a humble sense of our own frailty, that we may neither over-value prosperity, nor our own understandings.
I did not think that he that had wrote the Vanity of Dogmatizing could so soon have come to persuade men in power, that dissenting from our Churches dogmatizing and imposed words, forms and ceremonies was worthy of so severe a prosecution of us, as he describeth: and that all their danger is from the forbearing such prosecution of us; and that (though for their own ends he could abate us some little matters) the only way to settled peace is vigorously to execute the Laws against us.
I did not think that he that had wrote the Vanity of Dogmatizing could so soon have come to perswade men in power, that dissenting from our Churches dogmatizing and imposed words, formes and ceremonies was worthy of so severe a prosecution of us, as he describeth: and that all their danger is from the forbearing such prosecution of us; and that (though for their own ends he could abate us some little matters) the only way to settled peace is vigorously to execute the Laws against us.
He that can think the silencing, and imprisoning of about 2000 such Ministers, is the way to bring this Land to Concord, hath sure very hard thoughts of them in comparison of Conformists. And that you may see how little his judgment against such should weigh with others, who is so lately changed from himself, I will give you here one of several Letters which I had from him, and leave you to judge whether he have proved that he was much wiser at last than when he wrote this? or whether his character of me agree with his motion to silence and ruin all such? I am so far from owning his monstrous praises, that I fear I offended him with sharply rebuking him for them. But lest his wit and virulence here do harm, I give it you to show the unconstancy of his judgment: or if he would have excepted me from his severities, I must profess that I believe the most of the Nonconformable Ministers of my acquaintance are better men than my self; and therefore his excessive praise of me, is the condemnation and shame of his persecuting counsel.