A70766:169
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.
To conclude this Particular; I make bold to ask any Man, 1. Did the Law-givers foresee all Accidents that might happen, and conclude all Occurrences of Providence within their fore-sight? and to make an invariable Rule for all particular Times and Occasions? I believe none of our Law-givers will say so, for they know they are but Men. No Law-makers, being Men, can foresee, or set down all Cases that may happen, saith Mr. Perkins of Christian Equity. 2. Did they foresee that some Ministers cannot maintain Curates or Readers to help them? that many Parishes cannot maintain, or have not a Minister entire to themselves? that we have not Organs to make the Service easy and delightful, as some have? That in some Countries, Parishes are of a large Extent, and the People cannot come together so early as in London and Market-Towns? that Catechising and Preaching must take up time? and foreseeing the Weakness and Age of Ministers, that must do all themselves; that many Offices of Baptizing, Churching, Burying (which I have known all to be performed at one Assembly) and yet require a strict, exact, constant Duty of reading all, and every word? Did they foresee, that if the Word be not constantly and duly preached, the greatest part of our People will not come to Church, some thinking they may be idle and lazy as well as their Ministers; and others will go where they may hear and profit; and for all this, did they require a strict, constant, exact Conformity of Ministers, notwithstanding Age and Infirmities, to ⟨p. 43⟩read, perform all Offices, and preach besides? I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice, saith God; but what say such hard Masters as these? 3. Did the Law-givers foresee, that in great and crowded Churches, it is either impossible or inconvenient, and indecent, where the Fashion is for Men and Women to sit promiscuously in Pews, for all to kneel at Prayer, and yet enjoin them to kneel at the Confession, Absolution, and Lord's Prayer? &c. Did they foresee that Deacons do baptize, and yet say in the Margin of that Book, Here let the Priest make the sign of the Cross? If there be no Equity of Construction, a Deacon cannot lawfully use the Cross in Baptism. 4. Did they foresee the Resolution of the Dissenters to persist? the great Danger to the Protestant Religion by our Divisions, and Penal Prosecutions of them?
To conclude this Particular; I make bold to ask any Man, 1. Did the Law-givers foresee all Accidents that might happen, and conclude all Occurrences of Providence within their fore-sight? and to make an invariable Rule for all particular Times and Occasions? I believe none of our Law-givers will say so, for they know they are but Men. No Law-makers, being Men, can foresee, or set down all Cases that may happen, saith Mr. Perkins of Christian Equity. 2. Did they foresee that some Ministers cannot maintain Curats or Readers to help them? that many Parishes cannot maintain, or have not a Minister entire to themselves? that we have not Organs to make the Service easy and delightful, as some have? That in some Countrys, Parishes are of a large Extent, and the People cannot come together so early as in London and Market-Towns? that Catechising and Preaching must take up time? and foreseeing the Weakness and Age of Ministers, that must do all themselves; that many Offices of Baptizing, Churching, Burying (which I have known all to be performed at one Assembly) and yet require a strict, exact, constant Duty of reading all, and every word? Did they foresee, that if the Word be not constantly and duly preached, the greatest part of our People will not come to Church, some thinking they may be idle and lazy as well as their Ministers; and others will go where they may hear and profit; and for all this, did they require a strict, constant, exact Conformity of Ministers, notwithstanding Age and Infirmities, to