A70766:300
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.
8. He takes the whole Text together, All Things are lawful for me; (i.e. all Things indifferent, neither good nor evil in their own Nature) But all Things are not expedient. All Things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the Power of any. 1 Cor. 6.12. When they manifestly prove inexpedient, or when any Soul is brought under the Power of ⟨p. 67⟩any of those Things in themselves lawful, in their Use they cease to be so. He observes and uses Things lawful, when they are enjoined by lawful Authority; but when he finds them inexpedient, and do not further the Gospel, or when Souls are become subject to them, he cannot but wish the Things in debate were left out of the Laws, or left at Liberty. And now he cannot but stand indifferent to Things that are indifferent.
III. Lastly; Lest I should forget my self, take the last Sight of a Moderate Christian, and you see him to be the happiest Man alive:
1st, Happy in himself, and happy with respect to others. He is happy in the best Temper of Mind, happy in a clear discerning and Judgment, happy in well-governed Passions, not hurried, inflamed, and transported, not blinded by Partiality to self. He maintains and keeps up the Banks of Sobriety, against the Breaches of Intemperance; he lies dry, when others are under Water. He is a Lover of Peace, a Moderator of Strifes, and by that means there is Peace in his Borders, when others are in Wars and Contention; yet he is not so tame, as to be run down with Insolence, or turn his Back upon true Religion, and leave it to the Abuses of Atheists, Papists, Heretics. He is happy in the large and quiet possession of Contentment.