A27014:255
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.
2. And that I confess to you I think your day is short; and that it is now of more importance, what the future effects of your course will be to posterity, or those to come, than how it will take with your present followers. And when the History of this Age is written, do that now which you would have there recorded. My chief meaning is, This will be a controversy when we are dead and gone: Do that now, which being recorded may best tend to the right decision of it then. Leave to Posterity now you have liberty, that example (as well as words) which thou would have them follow. Tempt not future Contenders to plead that all Forms are unlawful by your examples.
2. And that I confess to you I think your day is short; and that it is now of more importance, what the future effects of your course will be to posterity, or those to come, than how it will take with your present followers. And when the History of this Age is written, do that now which you would have there recorded. My chief meaning is, This will be a controversie when we are dead and gone: Do that now, which being recorded may best tend to the right decision of it then. Leave to Posterity now you have liberty, that example (as well as words) which thou would have them follow. Tempt not future Contenders to plead that all Forms are unlawful by your examples.
If any say, We shall thus loose our people, and the Separatists, who will cherish all such humours, will have them all: I answer, We have too long tried the pleasing way already, and see that we cure not, but cherish their disease. Take Gods way, and let us deny our selves, as well with the humorous people as we have done with the Conformists, and then leave the issue to God. And if they will follow Separatists, it is fitter that they be mislead by such erroneous persons, than by you.
If any say, We shall thus loose our people, and the Separatists, who will cherish all such humours, will have them all: I answer, We have too long tryed the pleasing way already, and see that we cure not, but cherish their disease. Take Gods way, and let us deny our selves, as well with the humourous people as we have done with the Conformists, and then leave the issue to God. And if they will follow Separatists, it is fitter that they be mislead by such erroneous persons, than by you.