A55307:151
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.
I will add, that Interest hath so powerful and mighty an Influence upon Mens Judgments, that were nothing but things absolutely necessary to Salvation imposed, and a Form of wholesome words commended to those that are admitted to the Public Congregations, and Preferments of the Church, I am very much inclined to believe, that in a few Years it would be hard to find Persons to officiate in separate Congregations: Most Men would believe those Doctrines which have public Approbation, and which make them capable of Livings and Advancements; and others would silence their particular Apprehensions, and make no opposition unto them, that they also might share in them, and where to find Persons to minister in holy things, at Separate Churches, would peradventure be no easy thing. And if at His Majesty's Restoration ⟨p. 107⟩some few, plain, necessary things had been imposed, and all the rest only commended and countenanced, I do believe, that where there is now Ten Dissenters, there would not have been above One. 'Tis these numerous and unnecessary Impositions, that are the Plague of the Christian World, as well as the Church of England; and have both made and continued all the Breaches, and Separations, that our Ears have heard, and our Eyes have seen. Qui naturam Religionis prae•ipue Christianae, quae tota Spiritualis est bene perspectam habuerit, facile animadvertet vim & coa•tionem non esse idoneum ad eam promovendam medi•m. Nec enim Equulei aut gladii, aut ignes quibus •orpor a cruciantur quicquam in animum valeant. Cur•el. in Institut. l. 7. p. 589. Sed nec Religionis est •ogere Religionem, quae sponte suscipi debeat, non vi; Cum & hostiae ab animo libenti expostulentur. Ita & si nos compuleritis ad sacrificandum nihil praesta•itis Diis vestris, ab invitis enim sacrificia non desi•erabunt. Tertul. in lib. ad Scapulam. p. 447. At the first Conversion of this Land to Christianity by Austin, it is said, That the King (E••lberthus) embraced all that came into him, but he compelled none. Didicerat enim & a Doctoribus •uctoribusque suae salutis, servitium Christi voluntarim non coacticium esse. Bede Eccl. Hist. Ang. Gen. 1. c. 25.