A55307:149
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.
But if the Toleration that I have proposed, and pleaded for, should be thought a Means of increasing the Separation from the Public Congregations; I reply; Let care be taken (as I said) that the Clergy, who officiate in them, be Men of Worth, Ability, and good Conversation; that is, such as preach and live Piously, and love the Honour of God, and the Souls of Men: And let some Discipline be restored to particular Churches under the Inspection of the Bishops, and difference be made between the Precious, and the Vile, by the Exercise of it; that none be reputed and accounted Christians, and admitted to all the Privileges of Christians, that know nothing but the Name of Christianity, and live in open Defiance to all the Laws thereof: And ⟨p. 105⟩if these two things were done, there would be no great danger of increasing the Separation by Tolerating some Dissenting Churches; but on the contrary, I do think that Separate Churches would be drained and emptied, and in a few Years almost quite dissolved thereby. For in my Observation, 'tis the Ignorance and Profaneness of Clergy-Men, and the Corruption and Impurity of Churches, that began and doth continue the Divisions, and Separations, that have been, and still are among us: Let the Cause be removed, and taken away, and the Effect will cease.
But if the Toleration that I have proposed, and pleaded for, should be thought a Means of increasing the Separation from the Publick Congregations; I reply; Let care be taken (as I said) that the Clergy, who officiate in them, be Men of Worth, Ability, and good Conversation; that is, such as preach and live Piously, and love the Honour of God, and the Souls of Men: And let some Discipline be restored to particular Churches under the Inspection of the Bishops, and difference be made between the Precious, and the Vile, by the Exercise of it; that none be reputed and accounted Christians, and admitted to all the Priviledges of Christians, that know nothing but the Name of Christianity, and live in open Defiance to all the Laws thereof: And ⟨p. 105⟩if these two things were done, there would be no great danger of encreasing the Separation by Tolerating some Dissenting Churches; but on the contrary, I do think that Separate Churches would be drained and emptyed, and in a few Years almost quite dissolved thereby. For in my Observation, 'tis the Ignorance and Prophaness of Clergy-Men, and the Corruption and Impurity of Churches, that began and doth continue the Divisions, and Separations, that have been, and still are among us: Let the Cause be removed, and taken away, and the Effect will cease.