Primary Source

The English Nonconformity Under King Charles II and King James II

Name: The English Nonconformity Under King Charles II and King James II
Author: Richard Baxter

Richard Baxter 1689

Baxter's historical account of English nonconformity under Charles II and James II, documenting persecution and urging rulers toward religious toleration.

EEBO-TCP A26924 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 12309358; STC/Wing Wing B1259; ESTC R2816

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

An Instance of the ACCUSATIONS which call for our Defence; (besides those in the Act for Banishment from Corporations, &c.)

Devon ss. Ad General. Quarterial. Session. Pacis Dom. Regis tent. apud Castr. Exon. in & pro Comitat. praed. Secundo die Octobris, Anno Regni Dom. nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defensor. &c. Tricessimo quinto, Annoque Dom. 1683.

WE have been so abundantly convinced of the Seditious and Rebellious Practices of the Sectaries and Phanaticks, who through the Course of above One hundred years since we were first infested with 'em, have scarce afforded this unhappy Kingdom any interval of rest from their Horrid Treasons, as that we must esteem 'em, not only the open Enemies of our Established Government, but to all the common Principles of Society and Humanity it self. Wherefore, that we may prevent their Horrid Conspiracies for the time to come, and secure (as much as in us lies) our most Gracious KING and the GOVERNMENT from the Fury and Malice of 'em, we resolve to put the Severest of the Laws (which we find too Easie and Gentle, unless enlivened by a vigorous Execution) in force against 'em.

1. We Agree and Resolve, in every Division of this County, to require sufficient Sureties for the good Abearing and Peaceable Behaviour of all such as we may justly suspect, or that we can receive any credible Information against, that they have been at any Conventicles and Unlawful Meetings, or at any Factious or Seditious Clubs; or that have by any Discourses discovered themselves to be disaffected to the present Established Government, either in Church or State; or that have been the Authors or Publishers of any Seditious Libels; or that shall not in all things duely conform themselves to the present Established Government.

2. Because we have a sort of False Men, and more perfidious than professed Phanatiques, who either wanting Courage to appear in their own shape, or the better to bring about their Treasonable Designs, privately Associate with, and encourage the Seditious Clubs of the Sectaries, and with them Plot heartily against the Government; and yet, that they may pass unsuspected, sometime appear in the Church with a false shew of Conformity, only to save their Money, and the better to serve their Faction: that we may (if possible) distinguish and know all such dangerous Enemies, we will strictly require all Church-wardens and Constables, at all our Monthly Meetings, to give us a full account of all such as do not every Sunday resort to their own Parish-Churches, and are not at the beginning of Divine Service, and do not behave themselves Orderly and Soberly there, observing all such decent Ceremonies as the Laws enjoyn: And that they likewise Present unto us the Names of all such as have not received the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in their own Parish-Churches Thrice in the Year.

3. Being fully satisfied, as well by the clear Evidence of the late Horrid PLOT, as by our own long and sad Experience, That the Nonconformist Preachers are the Authors and Fome◊◊ers of this Pestilent Faction, and the implacable Enemies of the Established Government, and to whom the late Execrable Treasons, which have had such dismal effects in this Kingdom, are principally to be imputed, and who by their present obstinate refusing to Take and Subscribe an Oath and Declaration, That they do not hold it Lawful to take up ARMS against the KING, and that they will not endeavour any Alteration of Government either in Church or State; do necessarily enforce us to conclude, that they are still ready to engage themselves, (if not acutally engaged) in some Rebellious Conspiracy against the KING, and to invade and Subvert his GOVERNMENT: wherefore we resolve in every Parish of this County, to leave strict Warrants in the hands of all Constables, for the Seizing of such Persons. And as an encouragement to all Officers and others, that shall be instrumental in the apprehending of any of them, so as they may be brought to Justice, we will give and allow Forty shillings, as a Reward, for every Nonconformist Preacher that shall be so secured. And we Resolve to Prosecute them, and all other such Dangerous Enemies of the Government, and common Absenters from Church, and Frequenters of CONVENTICLES, according to the Directions of a Law made in the Five and Thirtieth Year of the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH, Entituled, An Act for the keeping Her Majesties Subjects in due OBEDIENCE.

Lastly, That we may never forget the infinite Mercies of Almighty God, in the late Wonderful Deliverance of our Gracious KING, and his Dearest BROTHER, and all His Loyal Subjects, (who were designed for a Massacre) from the Horrid Conspiracy of the Phanatiques, and their Accomplices; and that we may perpetuate as well our own Thankfulness, as their Infamy, that the Generations to come may know their Treachery, and avoid and never trust men of such Principles more; and also, that we our selves may perform our publick Duty to Almighty God, before we enter upon the Publick Service of our Countrey: We Order, Resolve, and Agree, with the Advice and Concurrence of the Right Reverend Father in God, our much Honoured and Worthy Lord BISHOP, to give and bestow for the Beautifying of the Chappel in the Castle of EXON, and for the erecting of decent Seats there, Ten Pounds: And we will likewise give and continue Six Pounds to be paid yearly to any one of the Church of Exon, whom the said Lord BISHOP shall appoint, to read the DIVINE SERVICE, with the Prayers lately appointed for the day of Thanksgiving on the Ninth of September last, and to Preach a Sermon exhorting to OBEDIENCE, in the said Chappel, on the first day of every general Quarter-Sessions of the Peace held in the said Castle, to begin precisely at Eight of the Clock in the Morning.

And may the Mercies of Heaven (which are infinite) always protect our Religious and Gracious KING, his Dearest BROTHER, and every Branch of that ROYAL FAMILY; and may all the Treasonable Conspiracies of those Rebellious Schismaticks be always thus happily prevented.

Keep reading

Full text search, AI synthesis across 1,234 Reformed primary sources, and seamless reading — all in one place.

Start Free Trial to Read

The Preface.
An Instance of the ACCUSATIONS which call for our Defence; (besides those in the Act for…
THE True CASE OF THE English Nonconformity. In a DIALOGUE between A Silenced MINISTER and…p. 1
CHAP. II. The things presupposed as agreed on.p. 6
CHAP. II. What our Nonconformity is not?p. 10
CHAP. IV. A brief enumeration of the things imposed on us which is the matter of our…p. 17
CHAP. V. I. Of Re-Ordination.p. 23
CHAP. VI. II. Of the Covenant and Oath of Canonical Obedience to our Ordinary or Bishop.p. 30
CHAP. VII. II. Of the restraint of Ordained Ministers from Preaching, and expounding any…p. 39
CHAP. VIII. IV, and V. Of subscribing and declaring Assent and Consent.p. 42
CHAP. IX. Point VI. Of the Article of Baptized Infants Salvation.p. 48
CHAP. X. Point VII. Of the English sort of Godfathers at Baptism.p. 57
CHAP. XI. Point VIII. Of refusing to Baptize without such Godfathers.p. 69
CHAP. XII. Point IX. Of the Cross in Baptism.p. 72
CHAP. XIII. Point X. Of denying Baptism to them that refuse the Cross.p. 75
CHAP. XIV. Point XI. Of rejecting from Communion all that dare not kneel in the act of…p. 77
CHAP. XV. Point XII. Of Consenting to the false Rule to find out Easter-day in the…p. 81
CHAP. XVI. Point XIII. Of Pronouncing all saved that are Buried, except the Vnbaptized…p. 83
CHAP. XVII. Point XIV. Of Consenting to Read the Apocrypha.p. 86
CHAP. XVIII. Point XV. Of Assenting to Mistranslations, and Subscribing that they are not…p. 87
Chap. XIX. Point XVI. Of Consenting to reject all from Communion, who desire not our…p. 97
Chap. XX. Point XVII. Of Consenting to all the Ornaments of Church and Ministers that…p. 102
Chap. XXI. Point XVIII. Of giving an Account to the Ordinary of all that we keep from the…p. 103
Chap. XXII. Point XIX. Of Publishing the Lay-Chancellors Excommunications and Absolutions…p. 105
Chap. XXIII. Point XX. Of Publishing Excommunications according to the 4th Canon.p. 106
Chap. XXIV. Point XXI. Of Publishing Excommunications according to the Fifth Canon, about…p. 109
Chap. XXV. Point XXII. Of Publishing the Sixth Canons Excommunications.p. 111
Chap. XXV. Point XXIII. Of Publishing the Seventh Canons Excommunications.p. 112
Chap. XXVII. Point XXIV. Of Publishing the 8th Canons Excommunications.p. 114
Chap. XXVIII. Point XXV. Of Publishing the Excommunications of Canon 9th, 10th, 11th. Of…p. 116
Chap XXIX. Point XXVI. Of Executing Canon 27. rejecting Nonconformists from Communion.p. 117
Chap. XXX Point XXVII. Of refusing Communicants from other Parishes, Canon 28.p. 117
Chap. XXXI. Point XXVIII. Of Canon 38. Excommunicating Ministers that repent of…p. 118
Chap. XXXII. Point XXIX. Of the Execution of the 57th Canon.p. 119
Chap. XXXIII. Point XXX. Of Canon 58. that maketh the Surplice necessary to Ministration.p. 121
Chap. XXXIV. Point XXXI. Of Christening all Children without Exception, according to…p. 121
Chap. XXXV. Point XXXII. Of Can. 72. Against Fasts and Prayer.p. 122
Chap. XXXVI. Point XXXIII. Of the Excommunication of the three last Canons.p. 123
Chap. XXXVII. Point XXXIV. Of renouncing all Obligations from the Covenant, as on me or…p. 125
Chap. XXXVIII. Point XXXV. Of the Oxford Oath, that we will never endeavour any…p. 130
Chap. XXXIX. Point XXXVI. Of Subscribing and Swearing against the Position as Traiterous…p. 134
Chap. XL. Point XXXVII. Of Assenting and Consenting to the Damnatory Clauses of…p. 145
Chap XLI. Point XXXVIII. Of Saying Common-Prayer twice a day every day in the Year…p. 146
Chap. XLII. Point XXXIX. Of forcing the unwilling Parishioners to the Sacrament, and…p. 147
Chap. XLIII. Point XL. Of forsaking our Ministry, and ceasing to Preach the Gospel, and…p. 151
Chap. XLIV. Of Lay Conformity. Point I. Whether all Men must trust their Souls only on…p. 163
Chap. XLV. Point II. Whether Parents have not more right than our Patrons to chuse…p. 169
Chap. XLVI. Point III. Of forcing Men to Schism, by renouncing Communion with true…p. 173
Chap. XLVII. Point IV. Of obliging the Laity to live without any more benefit of…p. 176
Chap. XLVIII. Point V. The discountenancing the fear of sin, and the practice of serious…p. 182
Chap. XLIX. Point VI. The Laity denied Baptism, who refuse the foresaid way of…p. 186
Chap. L. Point VII. Of Denying Baptism to them that dare not submit to the use of the…p. 187
CHAP. LI. POINT VIII. Of Rejecting not-Kneelers from Communion.p. 193
CHAP. LII. POINT IX. Of denying Lay-men Communion in a Neighbour Parish Church, when they…p. 194
CHAP. LIII. POINT X. Of Swearing never to endeavour any alteration of Government in the…p. 196
CHAP. LIV. POINT XI. Of Swearing an Abhorrence of taking Arms against any Commissionated…p. 198
CHAP. LV. POINT XII. Whether all Trusted in Corporations may declare, That there is NO…p. 199
CHAP. LVI. Of many agreed Tremendous Circumstances and Principles which affright many…p. 208
CHAP. LVII. Of the Reasons for Conformity.p. 213
CHAP. LVIII. Whether Communion with so Faulty a Church be Lawful.p. 224
CHAP. LIX. A Draught of ten Articles containing that which the Non-Conforming Reconcilers…p. 233
A Breviate of the Ten Articles desired by such Non-Conformists as…p. 234
The TEST, or Profession of the Maintain'd Ministers (supposing the…p. 239
CHAP. LX. The Reasons of these ten Articles.p. 244
CHAP. LXI. Whether the Extirpation of the Non-Conformists, be not rather to be attempted…p. 260
CHAP. LXII. Fifty Questions to unjust Silencers.p. 285
The Questions to be well Considered.p. 289
ENGLANDS SLAVERY.p. 304