A70766:10
Moderation a virtue, or, A vindication of the principles and practices of the moderate…Moderation a vertue, or, A vindication of the principles and practices of the moderate…
Moderation a virtue, or, A vindication of the principles and practices of the moderate divines and laity of the Church of England represented in some late immoderate discourses, under the nick-names of Grindalizers and Trimmers / by a lover of moderation, resident upon his cure ; with an appendix, demonstrating that parish-churches are no conventicles ... in answer to a late pamphlet entitled, Parish-churches turned into conventicles, &c.Moderation a vertue, or, A vindication of the principles and practices of the moderate divines and laity of the Church of England represented in some late immoderate discourses, under the nick-names of Grindalizers and Trimmers / by a lover of moderation, resident upon his cure ; with an appendix, demonstrating that parish-churches are no conventicles ... in answer to a late pamphlet entitled, Parish-churches turned into conventicles, &c.
London: printed for Jonathan Robinson, 1683
To the reader: To the Reverend Clergy, and Honoured Gentlemen, who are Truly Moderate.
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.
The last Summer, when I saw the Title of the Remarks upon the Growth of Nonconformity, I earnestly desired to read it for my Information. When I came to peruse it carefully, I can say no less, than I think it written both to deceive, and to provoke the Magistrate, in the Spring-time of the Heat and Ferment. ⟨image 3⟩And as if the Justices had not Work enough to do in Conventicles, moderate Conformists, under a reverend Nickname of Grindalizers, from the most Reverend Arch-Bishop Grindal, and more odious Marks, are falsely represented, and accused as dangerous to the Government.
The last Summer, when I saw the Title of the Remarks upon the Growth of Nonconformity, I earnestly desired to read it for my Information. When I came to peruse it carefully, I can say no less, than I think it written both to deceive, and to provoke the Magistrate, in the Spring-time of the Heat and Ferment. ⟨image 3⟩And as if the Justices had not Work enough to do in Conventicles, moderate Conformists, under a reverend Nickname of Grindalizers, from the most Reverend Arch-Bishop Grindal, and more odious Marks, are falsly represented, and accused as dangerous to the Government.
Some that saw my Marks upon him, dissuaded from publishing due Castigations of him, because there was little or no notice taken of it, (tho since some give other Accounts of it.) But since that, I was often and earnestly desired to write a Vindication of moderate Conformists, as being seasonable and desired, as necessary to check the Humour that breaks out about the Mouths of many, opened against moderate Men.
When I heard of the Sermon of Moderation before the Lord-Mayor, I did (as I perceive others did) desire to see it, and give it welcome, as being a great Stranger, and much beloved, without the least design to take any thing ill. I read it with some pleasure, till I came to the Application, which seems not to be the same Pen (tho it is) that wrote the Doctrinal Part, but almost incredible it should be preached and written with the same Spirit that would take that Text in hand. I have read of some eminent Preachers, that first meditated the Application, and took their Aim at that, throughout the Text and Doctrinal Part: I cannot say this was so contrived; if it was, then we know where the Life of it doth appear.