A41330:678
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.
Our Brethren of the Presbyterian judgment, I suppose, yield the question, they may and ought to unite, to make up one Governing Church; but I do not fully understand their meaning. Suppose twenty Parishes and Congregations that meet together to worship God, and twenty Ministers belonging to them, are these twenty Parishes distinct Churches as to Word and Sacraments, so that he that is Pastor in one Church, hath nothing to do in another Parish, as to feeding them with Word and Sacraments, but as to Government and Jurisdiction one Minister with the rest of the Classis have power over them all? if this be the meaning, I am not satisfied in it.
Dr. Stilling fleet hath declared his judgment, they may unite. I wish he had pleased to have opened his mind fully about it.
If he will yield but this, That constitution of a Church wherein a Pastor cannot possibly feed with Word and Sacraments, watch over and govern his flock according to Christ, be it Diocesan or Parochial, that constitution is not according to Christ, and consequently unlawful, (as Scripture-light, and nature's light will prove it) I should, it may be, come ⟨p. 78⟩up to him, to perform our duty by Substitutes; this may please them who make their own brains, not Gods word, their rule, and such we little regard.