A41330:35
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner,…
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entitled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templars sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entituled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templers sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1681
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Dedication: To the Reverend, and my much Honoured Brother, Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Pa…
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.
In your Epistle to your Rational Account, &c. dedicated to the King, you tell his Majesty, that the Church of England in the late confusions suffered an Eclipse, but since his Majesties Restoration she hath recovered her lustre, &c.
In your Epistle to your Rational Account, &c. dedicated to the King, you tell his Majesty, that the Church of England in the late confusions suffered an Eclipse, but since his Majesties Restauration she hath recovered her luster, &c.
Sir, we observe when the Sun riseth, it doth not suddenly go into an Eclipse, but gradually, so that common people do not mind it until the light of it be sensibly obscured; so, nor doth it come out of its Eclipse suddenly at once, but gradually; but it will not cease its motion till it appears in its glory. It is the same with the Gospel-Church, it did not presently, suddenly fall into that dark Eclipse, which it suffered under the Antichristian Papal power, but it got into it by degrees, the Churches not discerning it; the mystery of iniquity wrought, it is no fancy of mine, but the Apostles express words. The subtle serpent, he wrought among the Churches under fair pretences; in the second Century some addition made to Worship and Government of the Church; in the third Century more; in the fourth Century more; so increased the Eclipse, still under fair reasons, till the Serpent had got the man of sin into his Throne, and the Prediction fulfilled. So hath the Churches coming out of the Eclipse been but gradual, in Doctrine, Government, Worship, by our worthy Reformers; but as the evil spirit deceived then, by Gods permission, to bring about the Prophecy; so the Spirit of Christ in the hearts of our first Reformers wrought powerfully, and so doth the same Spirit still work, and will work, till the Church be quite out of her Eclipse, and comes to be satisfied with the Sovereignty and Wisdom of Christ declared in the simplicity of the Gospel; let men call it schism, fanaticism, or what they please.
Sir, we observe when the Sun riseth, it doth not suddenly go into an Eclipse, but gradually, so that common people do not mind it until the light of it be sensibly obscured; so, nor doth it come out of its Eclipse suddenly at once, but gradually; but it will not cease its motion till it appears in its glory. It is the same with the Gospel-Church, it did not presently, suddenly fall into that dark Eclipse, which it suffered under the Antichristian Papal power, but it got into it by degrees, the Churches not discerning it; the mystery of iniquity wrought, it is no fancy of mine, but the Apostles express words. The subtil serpent, he wrought among the Churches under fair pretences; in the second Century some addition made to Worship and Government of the Church; in the third Century more; in the fourth Century more; so increased the Eclipse, still under fair reasons, till the Serpent had got the man of sin into his Throne, and the Prediction fulfilled. So hath the Churches coming out of the Eclipse been but gradual, in Doctrine, Government, Worship, by our worthy Reformers; but as the evil spirit deceived then, by Gods permission, to bring about the Prophesie; so the Spirit of Christ in the hearts of our first Reformers wrought powerfully, and so doth the same Spirit still work, and will work, till the Church be quite out of her Eclipse, and comes to be satisfied with the Soveraignty and Wisdom of Christ declared in the simplicity of the Gospel; let men call it schism, fanaticism, or what they please.