A41330:780
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.
That the Doctor intended out of this Text to prove such a Visitation as was then when he Preached, and so in England when Bishops visit, I presume; else he deceived him to whom he dedicates it, and the four Doctors that Licensed it. See how the Text will force it.
The Proposition or Antecedent is this: Paul and Barnabas, two Apostles, Act. 14.14. Persons of extraordinary mission, commission, and qualifications for the office, having by their Preaching converted many people from Heathenism to the Faith of Christ, gathered them into Churches, and set Elders over them. These Elders and Churches being but all young Converts, and through the relicts of corruption in them, and the malice of Satan and his Emissaries without them, being in danger to miscarry in Doctrine or manners, these two Apostles go to visit the Churches, which they had planted.
Therefore one Prelate but of ordinary mission, commission and qualification, that never converted one Church, (may be not one person in truth), shall have power over many Elders and Congregations where he never Preached; over so many, that if he Preached every Lord's day, he could not preach once in a year to them; yea so many, that if he Preached every day in the year, he could not preach once in a year to them, (some Dioceses are so large.) This consequent from such an Antecedent, my dull Intellect cannot reach I deny the Consequence.
Therefore one Prelate but of ordinary mission, commission and qualification, that never converted one Church, (may be not one person in truth), shall have power over many Elders and Congregations where he never Preached; over so many, that if he Preached every Lordsday, he could not preach once in a year to them; yea so many, that if he Preached every day in the year, he could not preach once in a year to them, (some Diocesses are so large.) This consequent from such an Antecedent, my dull Intellect cannot reach I deny the Consequence.