A41330:535
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.
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.
3ly. All the Popish Ceremonies are indifferent in their own nature, and may plead as much for the use of them all, as you do for yours. Yea, take their Pictures; being in a Papists house, I saw the Picture of a very Old man, I thought nothing of it, the Cloth, the Paint or ⟨p. 61⟩Colours, the Effigies, the frame, were all indifferent in their nature; but when one told me that Picture was to represent the Ancient of Days, then I understood sin enough in it.
4ly. The Papists put no necessity upon their Ceremonies, as witness their Master Lombard, that tells you Baptism, i. e. Water applied in the Name, &c. the Elementum & Verbum, meeting together, make the Ordinance perfect without any Ceremony.
But since they are thus indifferent, as you say, and Mr. Car blaming us for making a Schism, because of these, which he terms thus, Trifles, poor needless things, such as scarce come nigh to touch the fringe of Christs vesture. But to us they appear sinful; and did we not so apprehend the things imposed upon us, but that we might be acceptable and pleasing to God in our Conformity to them, we protest in his presence who searcheth our hearts, and will judg both you and us, we would not stay one day from Conformity. The Question is, Whether you may better lay by these things, and not impose them, being so indifferent, or may we better take them up, who at least suspect them to be sinful, and cannot with a clear conscience yield unto them?
But since they are thus indifferent, as you say, and Mr. Carre blaming us for making a Schism, because of these, which he terms thus, Trifles, poor needless things, such as scarce come nigh to touch the fringe of Christs vesture. But to us they appear sinful; and did we not so apprehend the things imposed upon us, but that we might be acceptable and pleasing to God in our Conformity to them, we protest in his presence who searcheth our hearts, and will judg both you and us, we would not stay one day from Conformity. The Question is, Whether you may better lay by these things, and not impose them, being so indifferent, or may we better take them up, who at least suspect them to be sinful, and cannot with a clear conscience yield unto them?