The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…

§ 3. I confess, if ever I had been thought tolerable under our Prelates, and had thought my self able (as I do not) for the care of some of ⟨p. 68⟩the smaller Parishes, I should have most trusted to the New Liturgy for my power to keep away some of the grossly Ignorant [as being not ready to be Confirmed,] because they know not the Catechism. But now I perceive by you, this were not like to serve my turn; for you say, [It is only for those that never yet Communicated,] when as multitudes of the Aged are grossly ignorant of the Essentials that have long Communicated. 2. And divers of these grossly ignorant Persons are Confirmed long ago. Bishop Morton was one of the Learnedst and best Bishops, that ever I knew: And when I was fourteen or fifteen Years old, I and my School-fellows, and abundance of Boys and Girls, when he came into the Country, went as to some Spectacle, and without any certificate, or question to us, or instruction of us, we all kneeled in a long row in a Church-yard, in the Path-way, and as he went by, he laid his Hands on every one, and huddled over a short Collect, of which I scarce understood one sentence that he said; and I was never the wiser, nor fitter for the Sacrament that I perceived.

§ 3. I confess, if ever I had been thought tolerable under our Prelates, and had thought my self able (as I do not) for the care of some of ⟨p. 68⟩the smaller Parishes, I should have most trusted to the New Liturgy for my power to keep away some of the grosly Ignorant [as being not ready to be Confirmed,] because they know not the Catechism. But now I perceive by you, this were not like to serve my turn; for you say, [It is only for those that never yet Communicated,] when as multitudes of the Aged are grosly ignorant of the Essentials that have long Communicated. 2. And divers of these grosly ignorant Persons are Confirmed long ago. Bishop Morton was one of the Learnedst and best Bishops, that ever I knew: And when I was fourteen or fifteen Years old, I and my School-fellows, and abundance of Boys and Girls, when he came into the Country, went as to some Spectacle, and without any certificate, or question to us, or instruction of us, we all kneeled in a long row in a Church-yard, in the Path-way, and as he went by, he laid his Hands on every one, and huddled over a short Collect, of which I scarce understood one sentence that he said; and I was never the wiser, nor fitter for the Sacrament that I perceived.