A70766:216
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.
5. Because they are Matters that occasion too much Scandal; they who do them, offend the Weak that scruple them; and they who omit or refuse them, offend them that require them. And suppose that some that are now weak, may out-grow the weakness of Understanding and Judgment, yet there is a Succession of weak Ones, following one another, of Babes that have need of Milk; and by consequence there must be a continual Exercise of Moderation and Condescension.
6. We cannot deny them the Benefit of our Moderation, because there are matters of as great, and greater moment to the Life and ⟨p. 53⟩Honour of Religion passed over, or not punished in some that are most averse from them, as any thing which they hold and insist upon, and make the reason of their dissent from us.
7. If there be any Pity in us to poor erring Souls, we must show it in Moderation; Know we not that we our selves are subject to Errors? That many err unwillingly? that all have not a Capacity to judg? nor means and leisure to be informed? that many are prepossessed, prejudiced, melancholy, overturned by Passions? Do not we know the power of a scrupulous Conscience? That there may be Honesty of Heart in loving God and Holiness, in hating Sin, and desiring to please God in his Worship, that cannot dispute, nor understand an Argument▪ nor our Distinctions? How can we save some with Fear, making a Difference, but by Moderation? O how merciful and indulgent is our Heavenly Father to many weak, froward, pettish, complaining, sickly, staggering Children! And should not we be like him! If we cannot convince them by clear, and to us satisfying Reasons, by Love and Beneficence, by all Courtesy and Endearments, by Painfulness in our Callings, commending our selves to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God, by Holiness, and Exemplary Lives, we are at a loss; the Weapons of our Warfare being only spiritual: we will commend them heartily to God, and if we cannot gain them, we will be very careful to give them no just cause to depart from us, by denying any thing within our Power to grant them.