A70766:54
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.
We have staid long enough in the Haven, let us now launch out into the open Sea of his Discourse, and wish a safe Passage, for indeed the Water is very shallow.
These are they (saith he) which down with Oaths, &c. No Sir, not down with all Oaths; Oaths to the Pope will not down, nor of Canonical Obedience to Italian Bishops, or any like them, nor Subscriptions to the Trent-Council. I hope, Sir, we have swallowed none yet but what you think safe and wholesome: and I beseech you, most candid and charitable Sir, be pleased to give me leave to ask you, Whether we swallow first, and mince afterwards? or do we mince first, and swallow afterwards? We swallow all whole, say you, in Subscriptions; All what? All Oaths and Subscriptions. By what Hocus Pocus, I pray, swallow all whole, in Subscriptions? what our Hands, Pen, Ink, Paper? what all whole, without dividing Letters, Syllables, Words, Sentences? You say, we conform to all seemingly, but hypocritically ▪ Now really, forgetful Sir, if we conform to all seemingly, we conform to all visibly and apparently; and if we down with all that is required, and conform to all seemingly, what's the reason why you call us Half-Conformists, and but half? Because we conform to all seemingly, but hypocritically? If we do all seemingly, how do you know it is hypocritically? But now, Mr. Acuteness, if seemingly […] more than hypocritically, why have you made an opposition between them by your But? If they are opposite, then seemingly is […] really, and if I may so speak, outwardly sincere; ⟨p. 12⟩and so it must be, or else your But is no Adversative. Seemingly is sufficiently for the cognizance of your Court. We mangle the Common-Prayer, &c. Then first, we do not mince it: We mangle! let all Men judg who are the greatest Manglers, you or we: We read all entirely, except the Peoples Part; you read Venite, Te Deum, and the Psalms by parts; you take one Verse, or a piece of an entire Sentence, and the Clark, and a few Men and Women, and Children, take the other, and share it among themselves, hindering the rest of the Congregation, especially them who cannot read, or go along with them, from edifying by a distinct and audible reading of them. This is a plain Disorder in many Congregations, and therefore to be forborne. We read entirely; and you, and perhaps a few in some great Congregations, go away with a Wing or Leg of a Sentence; which is likest mangling?