Answ. If any there be who scorn or mock at grave, godly, sober persons, for their reading the Liturgy, or for their Cassocks, Girdles, and the like, Take them Donatus for me. Suppose some few rude persons should slight a Minister for his Cassock, are there not others that mock and jeer at those that want the Canonical Habits? How many are there that preach not, except they have a fling at Nonconformists? Are not Nonconformists scorned and scoffed at on the Stage, from the Press and from the Pulpit? How are they jeered at, and made a May-game, by this in name Friendly (but really Unfriendly) Debate. 'Tis to be thought the Author of it did never seriously consider that saying, Non est major confusio quam serii & joci; and that other of my Lord Bacon, That it is an inlet to Atheism to bring the exercise of Religion into contempt, in the persons of sundry Preachers. ⟨p. 91⟩Fol my part, I esteem it a point of serious and solid Godliness, to love, honour, reverence Piety, Gravity, Learning, and true Worth, whether in Conformists or Nonconformists: I look upon it as no good evidence that a man is of the higher form in Religion, to magnify and multiply the weaknesses or miscarriages of a few Dissenters, to the vilifying and reproach of all or the generality of them. As 'tis an argument of an unjust Steward, instead of an hundred to write fourscore or fifty, so is it of a false and bad Accountant, instead of twenty to set down fifty, fourscore, or an hundred. 'Tis the method and way of God, whom we ought to imitate, to overlook the failings of them that are sincere, to observe and note the little good he sees in his servants, and to pass by or over-look the evil: So the holy Scripture teacheth us in the case and carriage of Sarah to her Husband; of Rahab concerning the Spies; and of the Egyptian Midwives, Exod. 1. 'Tis not the part of a Bee, but of a Fly (we know) and that not of the best sort, to pass over a goodly Garden of sweet Flowers, and at last to light on a galled Back, or a heap of Dung. And 'tis but a dirty business to rake the Kennels, and throw dirt in the face of Passengers.
Answ. If any there be who scorn or mock at grave, godly, sober persons, for their reading the Liturgy, or for their Cassocks, Girdles, and the like, Take them Donatus for me. Suppose some few rude persons should slight a Minister for his Cassock, are there not others that mock and jeer at those that want the Canonical Habits? How many are there that preach not, except they have a fling at Nonconformists? Are not Nonconformists scorned and scoffed at on the Stage, from the Press and from the Pulpit? How are they jeered at, and made a May-game, by this in name Friendly (but really Unfriendly) Debate. 'Tis to be thought the Author of it did never seriously consider that saying, Non est major confusio quam serii & joci; and that other of my Lord Bacon, That it is an inlet to Atheism to bring the exercise of Religion into contempt, in the persons of sundry Preachers. ⟨p. 91⟩Fol my part, I esteem it a point of serious and solid Godliness, to love, honour, reverence Piety, Gravity, Learning, and true Worth, whether in Conformists or Nonconformists: I look upon it as no good evidence that a man is of the higher form in Religion, to magnifie and multiply the weaknesses or miscarriages of a few Dissenters, to the vilifying and reproach of all or the generality of them. As 'tis an argument of an unjust Steward, instead of an hundred to write fourscore or fifty, so is it of a false and bad Accomptant, instead of twenty to set down fifty, fourscore, or an hundred. 'Tis the method and way of God, whom we ought to imitate, to overlook the failings of them that are sincere, to observe and note the little good he sees in his servants, and to pass by or over-look the evil: So the holy Scripture teacheth us in the case and catriage of Sarah to her Husband; of Rahab concerning the Spies; and of the Egyptian Midwives, Exod. 1. 'Tis not the part of a Bee, but of a Flie (we know) and that not of the best sort, to pass over a goodly Garden of sweet Flowers, and at last to light on a gall'd Back, or a heap of Dung. And 'tis but a dirty business to rake the Kennels, and throw dirt in the face of Passengers.
