A27014:216
Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…
Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated, against the reasonings of a confident questionist, in a book called Toleration not abused; with counsel to the nonconformists, and petition to the pious conformists / by one that is consecrated to the sacred ministry, and is resolved not to be a deserter of it ...Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated, against the reasonings of a confident questionist, in a book called Toleration not abused; with counsil to the nonconformists, and petition to the pious conformists / by one that is consecrated to the sacred ministry, and is resolved not to be a deserter of it ...
London : s.n., 1672
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.
HE next confesseth that [most of us have hitherto held some measure of Communion with the Church of England] And now [if we depart and fall quite away] (when we purpose to go no further from them, but rather come nearer if they will give us leave) then saith he [You will publish to the World, that your compliance ⟨p. 76⟩with us before the Toleration, was not out of sense of Duty, or love of Peace and Unity, or any other good end; but merely out of slavish fear of Punishment, &c.]
HE next confesseth that [most of us have hitherto held some measure of Communion with the Church of England] And now [if we depart and fall quite away] (when we purpose to go no further from them, but rather come nearer if they will give us leave) then saith he [You will publish to the World, that your complyance ⟨p. 76⟩with us before the Toleration, was not out of sense of Duty, or love of Peace and Unity, or any other good end; but meerly out of slavish fear of Punishment, &c.]
Answ. 1. We will not reflect by recrimination, because we would not provoke you more than needs.
2. As far as I can promise, we will judge of you no worse than we have done, nor deny any Communion with you which we have used, and can use without neglecting our own work. As I constantly join in my Parish-Church in Liturgy and Sacraments, so I hope to do while I live (if I live under as honest a Minister,) at due times. But what if I had leave without Conformity to preach in the next Parish-Church? I cannot then be in yours at the same time. He that preacheth not, may hear you constantly: But he that may preach himself, must not cease his Ministry, to be still one of your Flock. We long ago published our Judgments, that It is a sin not to join with a less-worthy Minister, and a less-orderly Mode of Worship, when we can have no better; And that it is a sin to tie our selves ordinarily to such when we may have better lawfully, that is (consideratis considerandis) upon terms whereon it will not do more hurt than good. You see then on what terms we may vary our practices, without the crimes recited by you.