An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II.…

And if it be said that our forbearing the work of our Ministry is not sacrilege, when we do it in obedience to our Rulers, that also is to be answered afterward.

And if it be said that our forbearing the work of our Ministry is not sacriledg, when we do it in obedience to our Rulers, that also is to be answered afterward.

If there be no Law extant which can disoblige us from our undertaken office and work, then if we forbear we are sacrilegious Villains, and liable to the curse and doom of the unprofitable servant that hid his talent, Mat. 25. Forgive us if we had rather venture on the clamour of many Volumes and tongues, and on your sharpest censures, and on a prison, than venture on that dreadful doom.

If there be no Law extant which can disoblige us from our undertaken office and work, then if we forbear we are sacrilegious Villains, and lyable to the curse and doom of the unprofitable servant that hid his talent, Mat. 25. Forgive us if we had rather venture on the clamor of many Volumes and tongues, and on your sharpest censures, and on a prison, than venture on that dreadful doom.

2. We cannot be ignorant of the necessities of the people; which answereth all that is said against us. I say we cannot be ignorant of them, if we would. We can talk with those learned men that are ignorant of it; with some that think the grosslyest ignorant, and senseless, and mindless of the life to come, to be better than we, if they will but be for Bishops, Liturgy and Ceremonies; and that think little more Religion than to hurt no body, belongeth to the Laity or common people. And with some that have been bred up only at the University, and never knew the ignorance of the vulgar. And with some that have lived among them, and know them not, because they never conversed with them otherwise, than in the Pulpit, or at a Feast, or a common meeting. But their ignorance will not make us ignorant. The Intellect is oft informed necessarily per modum naturae. Though I thank God that our information hath been voluntary. It was our practise while we were suffered to do our office, to Catechise all the Families of our Parishes (that did not refuse it), Family by Family, and to try the knowledge of them all, and to discern what they thought of the Essentials of Christianity, and of the things that Christ hath made necessary to Salvation. By which we found that multitudes that come all their life-time to Church, and bear up the reputation of discreet intelligent persons, are utterly ignorant of many Articles of the faith, while they speak the words; so ignorant, that it's hard for Scholars to believe it, that have not tried it. And we have found that multitudes of them will be brought to learn over all the words of the Catechism that never consider or understand the sense, much less the power and practice of what their tongues recite; but like Parrots rest in the utterance of the words. Either this much will bring them to Salvation, or it