A27068:169
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.
XLIX. What he saith about unlawful terms of Communion, p 21. &c. in the instances of kneeling, putting off the hat, standing up, &c. I answer, 1. The Author all along seemeth to forget, that I am not accusing him, not telling every man his duty, but only giving the Reasons of my own and such others practice: so they make a long ado, to vindicate him whose Manuscript I answered, and say, His question was only, whether it be lawful to communicate with the churches as settled by Law, and not in other respects? When I ever told them, I meddle with none of their Questions, but my own, viz, 1. Whether I and such other do well or ill in that communion we hold with the Parish Churches? 2. Whether all Protestants in England are bound in conscience to renounce and avoid Communion in the Liturgy with all Parish Churches and Chapels, and rather to give over all church worship?
XLIX. What he saith about unlawful terms of Communion, p 21. &c. in the instances of kneeling, putting off the hat, standing up, &c. I answer, 1. The Author all along seemeth to forget, that I am not accusing him, not telling every man his duty, but only giving the Reasons of my own and such others practice: so they make a long ado, to vindicate him whose Manuscript I answered, and say, His question was only, whether it be lawful to communicate with the churches as setled by Law, and not in other respects? When I ever told them, I meddle with none of their Questions, but my own, viz, 1. Whether I and such other do well or ill in that communion we hold with the Parish Churches? 2. Whether all Protestants in England are bound in conscience to renounce and avoid Communion in the Liturgy with all Parish Churches and Chappels, and rather to give over all church worship?
I only gave my Reasons, why that Manuscript (divulged and boasted of as unanswerable) changed not my Judgment; and I answered that in his Arguments, which went further than the question put by them, and assaulted my own assertions; having before in my Christian Directory, and cure of Church divisions (without naming him) fully answered his printed Reasons, to prove it unlawful to use an imposed form or Liturgy, especially because Ministers must use their own gifts.