A55307:150
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.
Nay, suppose some single Persons, few in number, should leave the public and Allowed Congregations, on occasion of this Toleration, and join themselves to separate Assemblies; What great hurt is there in it, and why should any Public Preacher be offended at it? What hurt or wrong is it to my Physician, if I leave him, and go to another, if he cannot cure me, or I do not like his Methods and Prescriptions? Hath he any Reason to be offended, if another do that which he cannot do? I know the Minister of my own Parish does oftentimes meet some or other of his Parishioners, going to their Conventicles, when he hath been going to Church, and the like in his and their Return; and yet I never heard that he grew into any Passion or Displeasure with them about it, much less that he prosecuted them at Law for it: But ⟨p. 106⟩he hath been heard to say, That if they learned the Way to Heaven at their Private Meetings (as he hoped they did, at least some of them), he did, and would rejoice: And why others may not do so too, I see no reason, nor understand any thing to the contrary. Must Men die, if I cannot cure their Diseases? Must they perish, if my Pills and Potions will not recover them? Must Men be damned, if the public Preacher cannot persuade them to Faith and Repentance, or teach them the Way to Heaven? Surely, methinks those that know the Worth of Souls, should rejoice in their Salvation, whoever be the Means of it.
Nay, suppose some single Persons, few in number, should leave the publick and Allowed Congregations, on occasion of this Toleration, and joyn themselves to separate Assemblies; What great hurt is there in it, and why should any Publick Preacher be offended at it? What hurt or wrong is it to my Physician, if I leave him, and go to another, if he cannot cure me, or I do not like his Methods and Prescriptions? Hath he any Reason to be offended, if another do that which he cannot do? I know the Minister of my own Parish does oftentimes meet some or other of his Parishoners, going to their Conventicles, when he hath been going to Church, and the like in his and their Return; and yet I never heard that he grew into any Passion or Displeasure with them about it, much less that he prosecuted them at Law for it: But ⟨p. 106⟩he hath been heard to say, That if they learned the Way to Heaven at their Private Meetings (as he hoped they did, at least some of them), he did, and would rejoyce: And why others may not do so too, I see no reason, nor understand any thing to the contrary. Must Men die, if I cannot cure their Diseases? Must they perish, if my Pills and Potions will not recover them? Must Men be damned, if the publick Preacher cannot perswade them to Faith and Repentance, or teach them the Way to Heaven? Surely, methinks those that know the Worth of Souls, should rejoyce in their Salvation, whoever be the Means of it.