Is it seemly for them who are the fathers of the flock and should excel the people in Love and lowliness, in patience and gentleness and meekness, to be so proud and passionate, as to storm against the most conscientious persons, if they do but set light by us and cast off our Ministry, though perhaps they hear and submit to others who are as able and as faithful and more profitable to them than we? When we can •asi•er bear with a swearer or drunkard or the families that are prayerless and ungodly, than with the most religious, if they do not choose our Mini••••y, but pr••er some others before us ⟨p. 339⟩as more edifying? When we can bear with them that have no understanding or seriousness in Religion at all, but make the world or their lusts their idols, but cannot bear with the weak irregularities of the most upright and devout? If they were never so irregular in preferring us before others, and in leaving others to follow us, we can easily bear with them, and think their disorders may be well excused: And to show the height of our pride, we still are confident (whether we are uppermost or undermost, whether we have public liberty or are forbidden to preach) that we are the persons only that are in the right, and therefore that all are in the right that follow us, and all are in the wrong that turn away from us; That it is Unity and duty to follow us and adhere to us, and all are Schismatics who forsake us and choose others. And thus the selfishness and Pride of the Pastors, making an imprudent and impatient stir against all who dislike them, and applauding all how bad soever who adhere to them and follow them, is as great a cause of the disorders of the Church, as the weakness and errors of the people.
Is it seemly for them who are the fathers of the flock and should excel the people in Love and lowliness, in patience and gentleness and meekness, to be so proud and passionate, as to storm against the most conscientious persons, if they do but set light by us and cast off our Ministery, though perhaps they hear and submit to others who are as able and as faithful and more profitable to them than we? When we can •asi•er bear with a swearer or drunkard or the families that are prayerless and ungodly, than with the most religious, if they do not choose our Mini••••y, but pr••er some others before us ⟨p. 339⟩as more edifying? When we can bear with them that have no understanding or seriousness in Religion at all, but make the world or their lusts their idols, but cannot bear with the weak irregularities of the most upright and devout? If they were never so irregular in preferring us before others, and in leaving others to follow us, we can easily bear with them, and think their disorders may be well excused: And to shew the height of our pride, we still are confident (whether we are uppermost or undermost, whether we have publick liberty or are forbidden to preach) that we are the persons only that are in the right, and therefore that all are in the right that follow us, and all are in the wrong that turn away from us; That it is Unity and duty to follow us and adhere to us, and all are Schismaticks who forsake us and choose others. And thus the selfishness and Pride of the Pastors, making an imprudent and impatient stir against all who dislike them, and applauding all how bad soever who adhere to them and follow them, is as great a cause of the disorders of the Church, as the weakness and errours of the people.