A41330:44
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.
5. As those 39 Articles were believed by that Clergy, so they did defend them, and Preached them; but this Clergy can both print and preach against them, I mean the great and sound Doctrines in them, (I do not say all of them.) I put the question to one of your Clergy, and asked him in earnest what he thought of this Clergy as to the Doctrine of the Church of England contained in these Articles? he answered me, Divide them into three parts, he thought two of the three were fallen from it.
6. In that Church there were abundance of godly plain-hearted Ministers, whose Religion was not confined to a Pulpit, but walked among their people as became Ministers, seeking the good of their souls. I deny not but God hath some such now; but for the generality of them, I say nothing my self, only I can tell you what others have said. A learned and pious Divine, so far a friend to Conformity, that I doubt not but he hath subscribed; he told me, Though your Church would give him a Living, he would not take it, because he would not have such an occasion to bring him among your Clergy. And discoursing with another of your Clergy, (whom for learning, wit and piety, I do honour) about Mr. A's Book, and his Dialect, which you call uncomely writing, said he, Truly we have such a frothy, vain Clergy, gone off from that solidity and gravity that become Divine things, that if Books come not out in this dress, they will but scorn them; but in that Book, besides wit, there is good matter. Pridentem dicere verum, &c. This was his sense of Mr. A's Book.
But. Sir, if such as these be thrust upon us, must we own them for our Ministers? What, Sir, will you deny the peoples power of Election, ⟨image 6⟩which the Papists grant the people had till Charles the Great, or till Lewis his Son, about 830 years? See, I pray, Pamelius his Annotations upon these words of Cyprian, Epist. 68. Quando ipsa (plebs) maxime habeat potestatem vel eligendi dignos sacerdotes, vel indignos recusandi. How could a man write plainer for the peoples power of Election? But our Protestants tell us, that only from the time of Frederick the second, who died Ann. 1250, or there about, were the people excluded from the power of choosing Pastors, and it was the deed of Gregory the ninth, as Krantzius reporteth.