A27014:242
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.
First, Because the people cannot hear and digest four Sermons a day, nor three well: and those that hear you twice, will not go to the Parish Church; and so you will but draw them away, from that which might profit them as well as yours. And it is preaching well that more affecteth people, then Preaching long or often.
Secondly, Because, alas, you will hardly live, where some Neighbour Parish hath not so bad a Minister, as that the people have ⟨p. 93⟩more need of help; and the rest of your pains may be bestowed on Week-day Lectures, as the people have leisure.
9. Therefore I greatly desire, that in such places you would bestow the greater half of your labour in private, in skilful exhorting people from house to house? If you did not so before you were silenced, repent betime; If you did, you have found the benefit of it. This is it, which few Conformists do, and in this you may best live as their true Assistants. Public hearing without personal conference, seldom bringeth men to understand well what you say. Brethren, let me ask you, as before God: Why hath no more of this bin done while you were silenced? Is it not too much Hypocrisy, to cry out against them that forbid us Preaching, which is one half of our duty, and in the mean time wilfully to neglect that part which none forbade us? I speak not of them that were driven from all Cities and Corporations where their acquaintance enabled them, and forced to live where they had no such opportunity; nor of them that through poverty had not time. But most men might have done more this way than was done; This way the Papists have done their work. And it is very considerable, that most that come to your Chapel Meetings, are such as you take for the least needy, as being already turned unto God ⟨p. 94⟩