A70766:137
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
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.
There are many Occasions for an honest, wise, conscientious Minister to show Moderation, not only such as our Brother allows to Dissenters, in Words and Passion, but in Fact, or he sins more by a courteous refusal to yield, than by a prudent occasional Compliance; If not, then moderate Men cannot conform, but must abide without, among Dissenters. And our rigid Interpreters of the Laws do furnish them with an unanswerable Argument against Conformity, viz. That Conformity which leaves no room for Moderation, cannot be submitted to without Sin: but such is this rigid Conformity.1
There are many Occasions for an honest, wise, conscientious Minister to shew Moderation, not only such as our Brother allows to Dissenters, in Words and Passion, but in Fact, or he sins more by a courteous refusal to yield, than by a prudent occasional Compliance; If not, then moderate Men cannot conform, but must abide without, among Dissenters. And our rigid Interpreters of the Laws do furnish them with an unanswerable Argument against Conformity, viz. That Conformity which leaves no room for Moderation, cannot be submitted to without Sin: but such is this rigid Conformity.1
- 1Ergo.
The Proposition is proved, because we as Christians and Ministers, are bound to let our Moderation be known to all Men: and this Moderation is not only a Moderation of good Language, and abstinence from Passion, but in Fact and Deed. But let us try the strength of the Premises, and if they be removed or shaken, his Inference and Superstructure will fall with all his Confidence. And first, let us see if such Words be contained in, or drawn from our Subscription to the second Article of the 36 Canon; wherein the Subscriber doth promise that he will use the Form prescribed in the said Book, in public Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and no other. (And no other shall be explained afterwards.) The Promise is a general Promise, and because general, is capable of a Latitude, and that, nothing less than Strictness and Exactness, and a close constant Conformity,