A27045:23
The successive visibility of the church of which the Protestants are the soundest members…
The successive visibility of the church of which the Protestants are the soundest members I. defended against the opposition of Mr. William Johnson, II. proved by many arguments / by Richard Baxter ; whereunto is added 1. an account of my judgement to Mr. J. how far heretics are or are not in the church, 2. Mr. Js. explication of the most used terms, with my queries thereupon, and his answer and my reply, 3. an appendix about successive ordination, 4. letters between me and T.S., a papist, with a narrative of the success.The successive visibility of the church of which the Protestants are the soundest members I. defended against the opposition of Mr. William Johnson, II. proved by many arguments / by Richard Baxter ; whereunto is added 1. an account of my judgement to Mr. J. how far hereticks are or are not in the church, 2. Mr. Js. explication of the most used terms, with my queries thereupon, and his answer and my reply, 3. an appendix about successive ordination, 4. letters between me and T.S., a papist, with a narrative of the success.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1660
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.
When words are too cheap, it either proves ⟨p. 6⟩them worthless, or makes them so esteemed. The sentence of an Orator, and the very syllables of a Disputant should be short. There should be no more dishes then are necessary for the meat: nor no more straw then is necessary to sustain the grain. Frugality of speech, and sermonem habere rebus parem, do show and make our speeches valuable. Truth would be adorned, but not covered: attended, but not crowded; proclaimed, but not buried in an heap of words. Arguments are like money, that is valuable according to the metal and the weight, and not according to the number of pieces, or curiosity of the stamp.
When words are too cheap, it either proves ⟨p. 6⟩them worthless, or makes them so esteemed. The sentence of an Orator, and the very syllables of a Disputant should be short. There should be no more dishes then are necessary for the meat: nor no more straw then is necessary to sustain the grain. Frugality of speech, and sermonem habere rebus parem, do shew and make our speeches valuable. Truth would be adorned, but not covered: attended, but not crowded; proclaimed, but not buried in an heap of words. Arguments are like money, that is valuable according to the mettal and the weight, and not according to the number of pieces, or curiosity of the stamp.
And a third thing that made me the willinger to this task, was; that the assaults of Jugglers, that thought to catch me under the names and mask of Seekers, Behmenists, and such other sects, had possessed me with so much indignation and distaste, that I was glad to meet with a bare-faced Papist, that was not ashamed of his Religion, but would profess himself to be what he is. I could never hear that the Papists won so many, and so considerable persons this threescore years, by open dealing, as I have cause to think they have won by fraud under the visor of Seekers, and ⟨p. 7⟩