A27014:233
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.
3. Over value not your own Preaching▪ and under value not other mans, because they are Conformists. The number and necessities of the ignorant and ungodly indeed do make your labours necessary, were you less fit than many of the Conformists: but that proveth you not more able, or your preaching better than theirs. Partiality may make some of your own mind, think all well that you say, and all weak that others say: but the rest of men ⟨p. 88⟩will the more despise you. Be not wise in your own conceit; Look not every man at his own gifts and worth, but at the gifts and worth of others: In honour prefer one another: Pride is the first born of the Devil: and pride of knowledge and goodness is more common and pernicious, than pride of Comeliness, Wealth, or Greatness. Mark that Preacher Conformable or Non-conformable, who striveth hardest for his own honour, and would raise it by dishonouring others, and is most impatient of all that cloudeth him, and is only for those that set him up; and look out no further for a mark of badness, but take that man for one of the worst, how well soever he preach or pray. Except Christs Apostles had bin converted to the teachable humble state of little Children, they could not have entered into the Kingdom of Heaven, Math. 18. 3. You wear not the Livery of Christ, if you are not humble, and apter to think meanly of your own gifts and doings, proportionably, than of other mens. How unsavoury is it to hear a Non-conformist come from a profitable Sermon of a Conformist, saying (to hinder the peoples benefit,) This is poor dry stuff, and carping at every incongruous word; as much as to say, I can do much better: Through Gods Mercy, some Conformists preach better than many of you can do.
3. Over value not your own Preaching▪ and under value not other mans, because they are Conformists. The number and necessities of the ignorant and ungodly indeed do make your labours necessary, were you less fit than many of the Conformists: but that proveth you not more able, or your preaching better than theirs. Partiality may make some of your own mind, think all well that you say, and all weak that others say: but the rest of men ⟨p. 88⟩