A27066:121
Mr. Baxter's vindication of the Church of England in her rites and ceremonies, discipline, and church-orders as faithfully taken out of his own writings, without either false citation, or fraudulent alteration : to which is prefixed his epistle to the non-conformists, being a just and true abstract of his book entitled, A defence of the principles of love.
London: printed for Walter Kettilby, 1682
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.
13. All our sins will be fathered on God, as if the second Commandment, and the Scripture-perfection required all this, and taught Children to disobey their Parents and Masters, and say your Prayers and Catechisms are Images and Idols, &c.
14. It will rack and perplex the Consciences of all Christians, when I must take my self for an Idolater, till I can find a particular Law in Scripture for every Tune, Metre, Translation, Method, Vesture, Gesture, &c. that I use in the worshipping of God; when Conscience must build only in the Air, and rest only on a word which never was.
14. It will rack and perplex the Consciences of all Christians, when I must take my self for an Idolater, till I can find a particular Law in Scripture for every Tune, Metre, Translation, Method, Vesture, Gesture, &c. that I use in the worshipping of God; when Conscience must build onely in the Air, and rest only on a word which never was.
15. It will have a confounding influence into all the affairs and business of our lives.
Lastly, It will fright poor people from Scripture and Religion, and make Us, our Doctrine and Worship ⟨p. 35⟩ridiculous in the sight of all the World.
These are the consequences (which Mr. Baxter shows very well at large) of that impracticable and erroneous doctrine of demanding a particular Text of Scripture for the Ceremonies and Circumstances of Gods worship.
These are the consequences (which Mr. Baxter shews very well at large) of that impracticable and erroneous doctrine of demanding a particular Text of Scripture for the Ceremonies and Circumstances of Gods worship.
Mr. Baxter having recited the seven several kinds of false Worship, acquits the Church of England from all, and proves at large (in the Pages here cited) that it is not guilty of false Worship in any kind or any acceptation whatsoever, any more than Mr. Bagshaw (whom he there speaks particularly to) or the rest of the Non-conformists are in their extemporate Prayers.
To do it (i.e. to use, as he calls it, an unreformed Liturgy) out of choice, is one thing; to do it as a duty put upon us by Gods providence and our Governors, when we can do no better, is another thing: it is God that hath pulled down our liberty and opportunity to serve him better, and we must obey him. It is no ⟨p. 36⟩faulty mutability to change our practice, when God by changing our condition doth change our duty; no more than it was in Augustine, who professeth that he would worship God, as to Forms and Ceremonies, according as the Church did with which he joined, where-ever he came.
To do it (i.e. to use, as he calls it, an unreformed Liturgy) out of choice, is one thing; to do it as a duty put upon us by Gods providence and our Governours, when we can do no better, is another thing: it is God that hath pulled down our liberty and opportunity to serve him better, and we must obey him. It is no ⟨p. 36⟩faulty mutability to change our practice, when God by changing our condition doth change our duty; no more than it was in Augustine, who professeth that he would worship God, as to Forms and Ceremonies, according as the Church did with which he joined, where-ever he came.
The Doctrine of the Church of England is so sound, that the Independents and Presbyterians have still offered to subscribe to it, in the 39. Articles.
Thus hath Mr. Baxter copiously vindicated the Church of England in almost every point of Conformity which is any thing material; which shows that Non-conformists themselves do not really believe what they have suggested to, and imposed upon the belief of their Followers concerning the sinfulness of Conformity.
Thus hath Mr. Baxter copiously vindicated the Church of England in almost every point of Conformity which is any thing material; which shews that Non-conformists themselves do not really believe what they have suggested to, and imposed upon the belief of their Followers concerning the sinfulness of Conformity.
And that what they except against in Conformity, is not upon the account of its Sinfulness, but Inexpediency only; which neither the Law of God, Nature nor Nations did ever allow the People to be Judges of, but the Rulers ⟨p. 37⟩only: and therefore ought in point of Christianity and right Religion, to be submitted to, for the sake of those great Christian duties, Peace, Unity and Obedience to Magistrates; for the conviction of our religious Enemies, for the good and prosperity of the Church, for the safety, honour, and welfare of the King and three Kingdoms, for the credit of Christianity, and for the glory of God, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
And that what they except against in Conformity, is not upon the account of its Sinfulness, but Inexpediency onely; which neither the Law of God, Nature nor Nations did ever allow the People to be Judges of, but the Rulers ⟨p. 37⟩onely: and therefore ought in point of Christianity and right Religion, to be submitted to, for the sake of those great Christian duties, Peace, Unity and Obedience to Magistrates; for the conviction of our religious Enemies, for the good and prosperity of the Church, for the safety, honour, and welfare of the King and three Kingdoms, for the credit of Christianity, and for the glory of God, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
