A55307:109
The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must…The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must…
The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must heal the church together with the way or means to do it / by a country gentleman who goes to common-prayer and not to meetings.The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must heal the church together with the way or means to do it / by a country gentleman who goes to common-prayer and not to meetings.
London: printed for Tho. Simmons, 1682
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.
11. If the Governors of the Church shall think fit to Commend a Christian Institution, or Form of Doctrine to the Clergy, for the Direction of their Sermons, and Public Discourses, I know no hurt in it, it may have its Advantages and ⟨p. 67⟩Utilities; but the Imposing such a thing is to me an Aversion. I know not what to compare it to better, than a Rack, where mens Joints & Limbs are retched and extended to their very great torment and vexation. To Impose a large Confession, containing many and uncertain Propositions, and such as have exercised the Wits of Learned men for many Ages, and are like to do so to the Worlds end, is to set mens Minds upon the Tenters, and to exercise an insupportable Tyranny over their Judgments and Consciences, to the breaking of the Peace of Christians, and the Ruin of multitudes of good, and pious, and holy men, and this to the great detriment of Religion, and the Souls of men, and the Joy of the Devil and his Angels. And I do protest, I cannot but wonder, by what fate even some good and excellent men are engaged in favour of Impositions; Is it not as evident as that the Sun shines at Noon, that they have Rent, and Torn, and Divided the Churches of God in all Ages for these 1300 years, and have engaged them in those Heats and Animosities against each other, that by mutual Censures and Excommunications they censure the whole Universe of Christians unto Hell? I doubt not but that God will be more kind to them all, then they are to each other, or else I know not what will become of them, and where their Portion must fall. But this is one of the happy Effects of Impositions, which I can hardly mention without Indignation, and yet some ⟨p. 68⟩good men seem to be mightily in Love with it, and hug and embrace it as an excellent Instrument of Union and Peace. Je demand que nous distinguions soigneusement enter le's Doctrines si clairement estabilies en la parole de Dieu, que tous less Chrestiennes sont obliges de les recevoir; & celles qui ont besoin, pour leur eclaircissement, du travail & de la Meditation des homes pour less eclaircir; que nous n'en admettions point d'autres que less premiers pour fondamentales & invariables; & que quant aux autres nous puissons nous dispenser de les recevoir sans prejudice du salut, qui ne doit dependre que des premiers.
11. If the Governours of the Church shall think fit to Commend a Christian Institution, or Form of Doctrine to the Clergy, for the Direction of their Sermons, and Publick Discourses, I know no hurt in it, it may have its Advantages and