P A RT II. Reverend Mr. RichardBaxter. 255 6. Nor are we against any fuch Refponfals as are fit to the Ends you mention : If ours are all fuch ( upon impartial Examination), let them stand. 7. But the Queftion is, r. Whether the Greek and Latin. Churches in the three first Ages, or thofe of later Ages, be more imitable: 2. And whether the other, Reformed Churches have not more imitated the ancienteft of thole Churches: though we havemore imitated thelatter and more corrupt. ;. And whether our first workbe to flop the PapiftsMouths by pleating them,or coming too near them, when we know they that are likeft them in all their Corruptions pleafe them belt. Yet are we not for any unneceffarydifference from them, or affectation of cauflels fingularity. As to the Reformed Churches Teftimony of our Liturgy,_ fhall their very Cha. rity become ourSnare ? If they had liked our Form of Prayers beft, they would fome of them have imitated us. And our Martyrs no doubt, they honouredas we do, not as fuffering for the Modes and Ceremonies of that Book, as oppofte to the Reformed Churches Mode (for fo they fuffered not) ; but as fuffering for the Sound DodtrineandTrue Worship of thé Proteftants as opposite to Popery and the Mafs. § 19. Your Reafons to prove your Impofitions not too rigorous, are I. Becaufe they are by Law : If we tell you that fo is the Spanish Inquisition; you'! fay, we Compare our Law - givers to the Spaniards : If we fay that your New mentioned Martyrs 'were burnt by Law in England, you'! fay that we compare them to Pa- pists. But all these are Laws : And fo are thofe in Reformed Countreys which are againft Bithops and Ceremonies : Do you therefore think them nor too rigorous ? 2. Yourother Reafon is, that the Rigour is no more then rr necefary to make the Impofiti- ondares. Younever fpake words more agreeable to your hearts,as far as by your Practices we can judge of them. Either you mean effettuai to change Mens Judg- ments, or offolival to make them go again; their Judgments, or effettuai to rid them out of the Land or World. The firstyou know they are unfit for : if you think other- wife, would you that your Judgments should have fuch kind of helps to have let them right? The fecond way they will be effe&ual with none but wicked Men and Hypocrites, who dareSin againfltheir Confciences for fear of Men: And is it worthfo much ado to bring the Children of the Devil into your Church ? The third way of Efficacy, is but to kill or banish all the Childrenof God that are not of your Opinion : for it is they that darenot Sin again!! Confcience whatever they fuffer : And this is but fuch an Efficacyas theSpanish Inquisition, and Queen Mary's Bonfireshad, to fend thofe toGod whom the World is not worthy of. You know every Man that is true to his God and his Confcience , will never do that which he taketh to be Sin, till his Judgment is changed : and therefore with fuch it can be no lower thanBlood, or Banishment, orImprifonment at least, that is the Efficacy which youdelire : And if no fuch rigour be too much, its pity the French, that murthered g0000 or¢0000 at their Bartholomew days, or as Dr. Peter Moulin faith a00000 within a few Weeks, and the Irish that murthered z00000 had not hada better Caufe: For they took the molt effettuai way of rigour. But when God maketh Inquiftion for the Blood of his,Servants, he will con- Vince Men that filch rigour was too much, and that their Wrath did not fulfil his Righteoufnefs. You !hew your Kindnefs to Men's praying in the Pulpit without your Book: Make goodwhat you fay, that fuch Praying is of no great Antiquity, and we will never contradiCt you more ! Or if we prove it not the Ancienteft way of Praying in the Chriflian Church, we will give you free leave to hang or banish us, for not Subfcribing to theCommon Prayer Book : which the Apofiles ufed,and which was impofed on the Churchfor Come hundred years. But it feems you think that we are beholden to meer Sufferance without Law or Canon for conceived Prayers : How long then it will be fuffered we know ,not ; if we mutt live by your Pati- ence. § 20. It feemeth that our Converse and yours much differ: The molt that we knowor meet with had rather bewithout the Liturgy : and you fay, That the Peo- ple generally are wellfatisfred with it. By this time they areof another Mind. If it were fo, we take it for no great honour to it ; confidering what the greater Number are inmolt places, and of what Lives thofe Perlons are ( of our Parishes and Ac- quaintance generally or forthe moil part) who are for it: Or what thofe are that are against it, and whom for its fake you defire your effettuai rigour play beexercifed again!:. The Lord prepare them to undergo it innocently, § 2r.
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