It amazeth me to hear wise and godly men say, [It is Popery that is coming in upon us; Ergo, Let us all forsake the Parish-Churches, Quasi die. The Enemy will take the City within these few years; Ergo, Let us all go out of it to day. Like him that killed himself for fear of dying some years hence. Dementation goeth before Perdition. Who knoweth not that the Religion of the Parish-Churches is like to be the National Religion? And shall we persuade Protestants to leave them all? Passion provoked by some mens badness, hath too much conquered Love to Conformists in some mens minds, so that they scruple not too uncharitable opinions and words of them. This is contrary to Christian Love. I doubt not but there are hundreds of godly Conformable Ministers in England, On Aug. 24. 1662. Seven thousand or more did Conform, that had been kept in, in the Parliaments time; were all those seven thousand tolerable the year before, and ungodly the next year? Many Conformists now in London were taken for very good men in 1659. At once the other extreme, most study to get them out; and shall we also call all men on pain of hazarding their Souls to forsake them? A very great Church-man above 40 years ago was heard say to his Brethren; The Non-conformable Puritans are Snakes: We have the Law against them, and can tread them down when we will: But it is the Conformable Puritan that is the Devil of England, to be cast out: And shall we second this, and that as in opposition to it? Grace is lost as far as Christian impartial Love is lost. And they that lose Religion themselves, which lieth in Love, are like to be no good Keepers of it in the Church. If a good Man that we value become a danger to the truth, we are angry if his Error be but contradicted, lest his Name be blemished: But some dare say the Conformists are all false, ready to betray the Church to Papists: who now do far more to keep them out then we do. This is against Jam. 3. 17. If there be any such Conformists high or low, I am none of their Advocate; God will find them out, and judge them: But I am confident that it is also Conformists (by the advantage of their Possession) that will do more to stop their desired success, than Nonconformists can do. I am sure Bishop Jewel, Usher, Morton, Hall, Downame, Davenant, &c. were far from Popery. And what man living hath written stronglier against it, than Dr.
It amazeth me to hear wise and godly men say, [It is Popery that is coming in upon us; Ergo, Let us all forsake the Parish-Churches, Quasi die. The Enemy will take the City within these few years; Ergo, Let us all go out of it to day. Like him that killed himself for fear of dying some years hence. Dementation goeth before Perdition. Who knoweth not that the Religion of the Parish-Churches is like to be the National Religion? And shall we persuade Protestants to leave them all? Passion provoked by some mens badness, hath too much conquered Love to Conformists in some mens minds, so that they scruple not too uncharitable opinions and words of them. This is contrary to Christian Love. I doubt not but there are hundreds of godly Conformable Ministers in England, On Aug. 24. 1662. Seven thousand or more did Conform, that had been kept in, in the Parliaments time; were all those seven thousand tolerable the year before, and ungodly the next year? Many Conformists now in London were taken for very good men in 1659. At once the other extream, most study to get them out; and shall we also call all men on pain of hazarding their Souls to forsake them? A very great Church-man above 40 years ago was heard say to his Brethren; The Non-conformable Puritans are Snakes: We have the Law against them, and can tread them down when we will: But it is the Conformable Puritan that is the Devil of England, to be cast out: And shall we second this, and that as in opposition to it? Grace is lost as far as Christian impartial Love is lost. And they that lose Religion themselves, which lyeth in Love, are like to be no good Keepers of it in the Church. If a good Man that we value become a danger to the truth, we are angry if his Errour be but contradicted, lest his Name be blemished: But some dare say the Conformists are all false, ready to betray the Church to Papists: who nowdo far more to keep them out then we do. This is against Iam. 3. 17. If there be any such Conformists high or low, I am none of their Advocate; God will find them out, and judge them: But I am confident that it is also Conformists (by the advantage of their Possession) that will do more to stop their desired success, than Nonconformists can do. I am sure Bishop Iewel, Usher, Morton, Hall, Downame, Davenant, &c. were far from Popery. And what man living hath written stronglier against it, than Dr.
