A55307:117
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.
18. As the Personal Inspection of Bishops would advance the Reputation of the Clergy, by promoting Knowledge, Wisdom, and Sobriety among them; so the Wisdom, Good Conversation, and Esteem of the Clergy, would mightily advance and increase Piety, Virtue and Godliness among the Laity. There's nothing that I know of, unless it be the Influence and Assistances of the Divine Grace, that contributes more to the making of men good, than the Wisdom and Piety of those that Preach the Gospel. For although in all places there are some, yea many, that are incurably wicked, and so perverse, and crooked, that nothing will make them straight; yet there are more Good and Pious men to be found, where the Gospel hath been preached, by Wise and Pious Preachers, than in any other places whatsoever. The Ignorant and Impious seldom or never convert Souls (at least in my Observation.) Animum non faciunt, qui non habent, Like begets its Like. Those that are themselves strangers to Godliness and Virtues are not likely to make others so. I do not absolutely deny that a wicked man may be an Instrument of another man's Conversio and Reformation; but I do ⟨p. 77⟩believe 'tis very seldom, and of rare experience, [Greek or Hebrew]. Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 1. p. 277.
18. As the Personal Inspection of Bishops would advance the Reputation of the Clergy, by promoting Knowledge, Wisdom, and Sobriety among them; so the Wisdom, Good Conversation, and Esteem of the Clergy, would mightily advance and encrease Piety, Virtue and Godliness among the Laity. There's nothing that I know of, unless it be the Influence and Assistances of the Divine Grace, that contributes more to the making of men good, than the Wisdom and Piety of those that Preach the Gospel. For although in all places there are some, yea many, that are incurably wicked, and so perverse, and crooked, that nothing will make them straight; yet there are more Good and Pious men to be found, where the Gospel hath been preached, by Wise and Pious Preachers, than in any other places whatsoever. The Ignorant and Impious seldom or never convert Souls (at least in my Observation.) Animum non faciunt, qui non habent, Like begets its Like. Those that are themselves strangers to Godliness and Virtues are not likely to make others so. I do not absolutely deny that a wicked man may be an Instrument of another man's Conversio and Reformation; but I do ⟨p. 77⟩