A27014:238
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.
5 If you live where the Conformable Parish Minister is faithful (truly endeavouring the salvation of his Flock) I charge you in the ⟨p. 90⟩name of Christ Do not only, if possible, as much as in you lieth, live in love, familiarity and peace with him, but also do all that you can to maintain his honour, and promote his work. Be not Strangers to him: Distance breedeth uncharitable thoughts. If you hear or see any thing that you dislike, go privately and lovingly, and tell him of it: If any behind his back dishonour him, rebuke them. If he look for some superiority over you, and some observance from you, deny it not: It is a duty to submit to one another. You can tell a Prelate, that he that will be the greatest, must be the Servant of all: Practice as you preach. He that scorns to stoop is proud, as well as he that would have Men stoop to him. Live with him as a Brother and as a Servant, in meekness, humility, and gentleness of behaviour: And do not like our young passionate Persons, trample upon him, as if his Conformity had put him, as a sinner, below you as more Holy than he, and under the Magistery of your Reproof. You and I think that he hath sinned: But he thinks that it is we that sin: And he that is without sin, let him cast the first stone. I charge you Love him, as your selves, and behind his back say nothing, and do nothing, but what is fit to testify such love. Let all men thus know that you are Christs Disciples; For all your Nonconformity, you are no better ⟨p. 91⟩than he, if you be not more Charitable than he. If you set your selves in a dividing way, secretly to rejoice at his Disparagement, and to draw as many from him as you can; you are but Destroyers of the Church of God: Call your selves what you will, I will call you Destroyers if you are Dividers. Yea much that else would be your Duty, must be omitted to avoid Division. The work of God, the good of Souls, the Defence of the Protestant Religion against Papists, require your most conjoined strength. And you are be rayers of all these, if you are Dividers. Suppose your selves as Chapel Curates under the Parish Ministers, and so in concord perform your work.
5 If you live where the Conformable Parish Minister is faithful (truly endeavouring the salvation of his Flock) I charge you in the ⟨p. 90⟩