Parc ll. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 55 before defcribed by the manner ofExercife. Otherwife the Words would be worfe than Non -fenfe. z. Becaufe if tl e Words be not fo interpreted, then theyniuft condemn all our Church Meetings for having abovefour. As if they had faid .[ where Five aremet, it is contrary to the Liturgy of the Church] which cannot be. If it be faid, That fcr above Four to meet in a Houle is not allowed by the Church.] I Anfwer I. That is a Matter which this Aft meddleth not with, as is proved by the forefaid diftinguilhing themanner OfExereife, from the number of Perfons. z. Nor Both the Aft fpeak of private Hodes,. or put any difference between. them and Churches, but equally reftraineth Meetings in Churches, which arefor difallowed ExercifesofReligion. 3. Nor is it true in it felf, that the Church difallovieth the number of Five in privateHoufes, as isproved before. But it contrarily requireth, that at private Communions there lhali be [Neighbours got to Communicate] and not fewer than three or two.] And at private Baptifms, and other occafions, the number is not limited by the Church at all. 3. Becaufe the AB is direfted only again!: feditious Seaaries; and their Conventicles. Becaufethe Words of the Aft !new, that the Law -makers concur with the fence of the Church of England which is no where fo ftri& againft Nonconformity as in the Canons: And in thefe Canons, viz. 73, and n. A, Con- venticle ispurpofely and plainly defcibed to be fuels [other Meetings, Affem- blies or Congregations, than are by the Laws held and allowed, which challengeto themfelves the Name of true dud lawful Churches :] Or elfe fecret ,Meetings of Priefts or Minifters to confult',upon anymatter,or courfe tobe taken by them, or upon their motion or direftionby any other, which may any way tend to the impeachment, or deprivingofthe DoctrineoftheChurch of Englandor thebook of Common-Prayer,or of any part ofthe Government andDifcipline] of the Church. So thatwhere there is no fachConfalration of Miniflers,nornoAffem- blies that challenge to themfelves the Name of true and Lawful Churches, diftinftfrom the allowed Affemblies, there are no Conventicles in the fence of the Canons of the Church of England, which this Aftprofeffeth to adhere to. The fame hence isexpreft .alto in Can. e o.which defcribeth Schifmaticks : [Who- foever !hall affirm that fuch Minifters as refufe to fubfcribe to the Form and man- ner of God's Worlhip iii the Church of England, prefcribed in the Communion'. Book, and their Adherents may truly take unto them, the Name of another Church, not eltablilhed byLaw ; and dare prefume to publifh, thatthis pretended Church bath long groaned under, And in the 9th Canon, where the Authors of Schifm are thus defcribed; [Whofoever (hall feparate themfelves from the Communion of Saints, as it is ap- proved by the Apoftle's Rules in the Churchof. England, and combine themfelves together inanew Brotherhood, accounting the Chriftians who are conformable to the Doctrine, Government, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Church of England, to be prophane, and unmeet for them to join with in Chriftian Profef- Son:-] Pro. 3. If our mannerof Religious 'Exercifes did differ in fume meer degrees or Círcumftances from that which is allowed by the Liturgy, and Praftice of the Church it ought notno betaken tobe the thing condemned in this Aft. - Arg. i. Otherwife the Juftices themfelves, and almoft all his Majefty`sSubjetis, either arealready obnoxious 'to the Mul&s, Imprifonments, and Banilhments, or may be they know not how foon. Arg. 2. And otherwife no Subjectmull`dare to go to Church, for fear of incur- ring Imprifonment or Banilhment. The reafon ofboth is vifible. r. Almoú all conformable Minifters do either by fameomolBons ofPrayers, or other parts of the Liturgy, or by fame alterati- onns,
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