A26911:6
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter of their nonconformity against Mr. J. Cheney's answer called The conforming nonconformist, and The nonconforming conformist : to which is added the second part in answer to Mr. Cheney's Five undertakings / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benjamin Alsop, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE PREFACE.
Reader,
Too many of the contentions of this age do tell the world how much the several parties differ in Piety and Malignity, Humility and Pride, Love and Malice, Meekness and Cruelty; But I think verily the controversy here managed between this brother and me, doth but tell you how weak and fumbling a thing mans understanding is here in the flesh, and what great diversity of apprehensions all men have in many things, who agree in the main; and how diversity of Lights or appearances, ⟨image 3⟩may cause great and confident contrariety of judgments, yea, and changes in the same person. The difference between Paul and Barnabas, and Peter and Paul. Gal. 2. tell us how far the best of mortals are from perfection. Our difference I think is not caused by contrariety of worldly Interests, (which yet divided even Abraham's family and Lot's, and much worse, Joseph's brethren from him) For as neither of us have any great matters of worldly wealth, but our daily bread (which is enough,) so I am persuaded that he seeketh no such thing, and I am sure I cannot if I would, who daily expect to give up my account, and carry about me a thorn in the flesh, enough to cure at least the expectation of fleshly and worldly pleasure and prosperity.
TOo many of the contentions of this age do tell the world how much the several parties differ in Piety and Malignity, Humility and Pride, Love and Malice, Meekness and Cruelty; But I think verily the controversie here managed between this brother and me, doth but tell you how weak and fumbling a thing mans understanding is here in the flesh, and what great diversity of apprehensions all men have in many things, who agree in the main; and how diversity of Lights or appearances,