A70766:297
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. He hath a respect to the Customs of Churches, which commonly are fitted to the Genius of their Countries, while they retain their Innocency. He can use Ceremonies, well washed from Superstition, in his own Mind and Practice, by sound Doctrine. He is not ceremonious in the Use of Ceremonies, as religious divine Things commending him to God; and yet there is no Man more ceremonious than he, for he useth them but as Ceremonies, with respect to Men, as human Things ordained by Man's Authority. Artic. of the Church 34.
5. He hath a respect to the Customs of Churches, which commonly are sitted to the Genius of their Countries, while they retain their Innocency. He can use Ceremonies, well washed from Superstition, in his own Mind and Practice, by sound Doctrine. He is not ceremonious in the Use of Ceremonies, as religious divine Things commending him to God; and yet there is no Man more ceremonious than he, for he useth them but as Ceremonies, with respect to Men, as human Things ordained by Man's Authority. Artic. of the Church 34.
6. He doth not wonder that some Men are zealous for them, when he considers their Reasons; nor why others are against them, when he considers theirs. If he can give himself a Reason for their Use, he may use them upon his own Reason, tho not upon other Men's: But he cannot see a Reason, why they who cannot bring their Reasons to them, should be compelled to use them, should be buried alive, or excommunicated for their Non-observance of them. A Diversity of Ceremonies makes not a Diversity of Religions; they that think so, are tainted with Superstition.
7. He cannot see how our blessed Reformers could well do otherwise than they did, considering they were but few, not enabled with the Gift of Miracles, the gracious King young, the Nobility factious, the Priests and Popish Bishops numerous, the People superstitious, and the Government had enough to do to preserve it self; a moderate Course was necessary to be taken (which is highly applauded by the Learned Mr. Hales, in his Sermon of Dealing with erring Christians,) with respect to the Papists. And now, if he may be so bold as to speak his Opinion, it is Moderation, and it is but Moderation, that respect should be had to the present Times, and the Dispersion of Protestants dissatisfied all over the Land. These are not the Things that will ever bring in Papists; for they have more of them than we have; and if they came over to us for the sake of these Things, it would be so much the worse for us to bring in Papists, except they leave all that was meant by the old Word Papistry behind them.