An humble apology for non-conformists with modest and serious reflections on the Friendly debate…

Answ. I have heard of some Preachers indeed who preach down preaching, but I take them to be never a whit the better Preachers, nor the better Christians for that; I acknowledge the Homilies to contain wholesome and very profitable ⟨p. 64⟩Doctrine, and think I should spend my time better to heat one of them read, than to hear some Preachers now-a-days. But if ability to read the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Homilies, be all the Book-Learning necessary for a Minister, 'tis to be feared that some Princes or Parliaments may come, before many Ages pass who may be so thrifty as to be willing to save the needless expense of a million or two millions a year in Church-Maintenance; and think 20 l. per annum enough for men of such Parts, Education, and Learning.

Answ. I have heard of some Preachers indeed who preach down preaching, but I take them to be never a whit the better Preachers, nor the better Christians for that; I acknowledge the Homilies to contain wholsom and very profitable ⟨p. 64⟩Doctrine, and think I should spend my time better to heat one of them read, than to hear some Preachers now-a-days. But if ability to read the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Homilies, be all the Book-Learning necessary for a Minister, 'tis to be feared that some Princes or Parliaments may come, before many Ages pass who may be so thrifty as to be willing to save the needless expence of a million or two millions a year in Church-Maintenance; and think 20 l. per annum enough for men of such Parts, Education, and Learning.

Quest. Is not Catechising the younger people in the afternoon, a very profitable and a laudable practice?