A70766:62
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.
2. Per modum of open Compliances with the Enemies. Now here we fail in our Cunning, that we carry it openly.
3. Per modum of Gallionism. You tell us what you mean by Gallionism, and I tell you, that when we come into the Place of Gallio, to be Deputies, we will take care that there be no Insurrections against Paul; and if any Sosthenes be beaten, he shall be heard and vindicated: But we are almost all laid aside, and if Paul and Sosthenes, we cannot help them. When the proportion of Zeal is stated due to Ceremonies, we will be just, and pay it to an hair; but we cannot rail for Ceremonies, nor divide the Church for them, nor raise a War for them, nor cast our Brethren into Prisons for them, nor die Martyrs for them.
4. We are known, by our hearing with patience the Interest, Honour, and Peace of the Church run down by swaggering Sectaries. Sir, is this an Indictment, or an Accusation against us? If it be, wo ask, Will you swear to the Truth of it? or will you pawn your Verbum Sacerdotis upon it? Were you ever a Witness of our Patience, &c. in this Case? or can you produce Witnesses of it? If you can, inform against particular Persons; if not, we know upon what foot to charge this Account of us. As cunning as we are, we will not conceal, that we can distinguish between the true and real Interest of the Church, and the private Interest of some particular Men; we can ⟨p. 15⟩distinguish between the Honour of the Church, and the Humour of some who honour themselves with the Stile and Title of the Church. We can with patience hear or read what Dissenters have to say, and think Swaggering on either side is not the way to defend or overcome. We are heartily concerned for the Peace of the Church, which we seek by Moderation, by qualifying Heats, and taking away all Matters of Contention, if it were in our Power. We think the Peace too great and precious a Thing to be hung and ventured upon Goats-hair, or any Cobweb-Devices spun out of some Mens Brains, or hung at the rotten Girdle of the Superstitious. We are for Peace upon Catholic Terms, of our Lord's making, and not private Articles of dogmatizing, proud, or melancholy Men. Diotrephes knows we concur not with him. We are careful to maintain the just Bounds of Authority, and if ever we sit upon, we will with patience bear all just Claims to Liberty. We would not lay the Vineyard waste, nor open, nor enclose it with a Thorn Hedge, to make a Separation, or exclude any that have good Right to inter-commune with us. We are for following Peace with all Men, and for parting with all that may well be spared, for precious Peace, which is of greater worth and virtue. We are so earnest to maintain the Civil Peace, that we are grieved at the unkind remembrance of our unnatural Wars, except for Caution, or Humiliation; and had rather sit cold in our Studies, than inflame our Auditors into blind Passion and Fury, or hope to warm our selves in Preferments, by temporizing Declamations. If at any time we hear Sectaries swagger, as you call it, we rebuke them: