A26964:39
The nonconformists advocate
The nonconformists advocate, or, A farther account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written principally in vindication of A letter from a minister to a person of quality, showing some reasons for his nonconformity, modesty answering the exceptions of two violent opposers of the said reasons.The nonconformists advocate, or, A farther account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written principally in vindication of A letter from a minister to a person of quality, shewing some reasons for his nonconformity, modesty answering the exceptions of two violent opposers of the said reasons.
London: printed for Thomas Simmons, 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.
Something was spoken further by me, about laying aside the use and custom of signing with the sign of the Cross, to distinguish our selves from the Idolatrous Papists, who superstitiously adore the Cross, foolishly, fondly, and wickedly signing themselves with it, upon every occasion, putting no little confidence in it, to free them from evil, and to furnish them with all good. But upon this score, to leave off Crossing, you call it vanity and affectation, 1which is peculiar to the Pharisees, and some other people who are very like them. I understand your Elegant Periphrasis, and the biting Sarcasm in it: Oh how sweet are your lips! Honey and Milk are under your tongue; yet what is the reason of all this rancour and bitterness? what is the cause ye cannot speak peaceably of us, or to us? what is our desert? what our provocation? are we not abased sufficiently? have ye not all in possession? do ye envy our being and breathing amongst you? Death hath eased you of many of us already; and cannot you quietly expect a little longer, and we shall all retire, and trouble you no more? I grieve, and am sad to see you of this spirit, but rejoice and am glad my Soul is not under your power; for if it were, I might fear unplacable wrath, never to be appeased, would never forgive me, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.2 But to come to our business; you say, I am much mistaken in the temper of the Church of England, (verily I am not at all mistaken, for I see it evidently in her Children, the Sons of the Church, especially if all be of your temper) for the Church of England neither does any thing, 3nor leaves any thing undone, merely for a note of distinction and separation. I know not what weight and stress you put upon the word merely, or else as good a Church, and better than ever the Church of England was, notwithstanding its Grandeur and Glory with the Pomp of that name, has (and that too by the counsel and command of infinite wisdom and reason) upon the account of distinction and separation from others, not more idolatrous and sinful than the Papists in their worship, left off several Rites and Customs, ⟨p. 18⟩not only sinful and unlawful, (so some will dare to say of signing with the Cross) but in themselves otherwise innocent and harmless.