A27068:130
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly…
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholic communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholick communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
3. The Theological writings and labours of the Nonconformists in all other points showed, that they were men of incomparable more light than the Separatists; and is it like that God would give men such rare light only in church ▪ communion, that had so little comparatively in the rest of Divinity; except Ainsworth's skill in Hebrew, (in other things by Paget laid too naked) how few old Separatists have left any considerable fruits of great light unto the church? Read the writings of Cartwright, Dudley Fenner, Hildersham, John Reignolds, Dod, Perkins, Bai•, Parker, Ames, Bradshaw, &c. Besides Scots▪ and all Foreigners, such as Calvin, Beza, Zanchy, Sadeel, and hundreds more; and compare these with the Writings of the Separatists, and judg who had greater light.
3. The Theological writings and labours of the Nonconformists in all other points shewed, that they were men of incomparable more light than the Separatists; and is it like that God would give men such rare light only in church ▪ communion, that had so little comparatively in the rest of Divinity; except Ainsworth's skill in Hebrew, (in other things by Paget laid too naked) how few old Separatists have left any considerable fruits of great light unto the church? Read the writings of Cartwright, Dudley Fenner, Hildersham, John Reignolds, Dod, Perkins, Bai•, Parker, Ames, Bradshaw, &c. Besides Scots▪ and all Foreigners, such as Calvin, Beza, Zanchy, Sadeel, and hundreds more; and compare these with the Writings of the Separatists, and judg who had greater light.
4. Since 1660. all the London Ministers, and others with them t•at offered the King to set up in the parish churches the old Liturgy with some alterations, were men (except my self) who showed in their Writings and preaching as much light as the Separatists have showed, even Brown, or John Goodwin himself, (that wrote Prelatical Preachers are no Teachers of Christ): Where do they now show greater light than others? this boast to me deserveth pity more than confutation: Anabaptists, and others say the same, but I find much less light in them both, when I read and hear them; tho I truly love and honour all that is good in them: If you have so much more light than we and all the Reformed churches, show it us in other excellencies.