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…

There is another Person of a more excellent Temper, a Man of Consideration and Worth, Mr. John Evans, Rector of St. Ethelbert, London: I did with some earnestness of desire procure his Sermon before the Lord-Mayor, for the Arguments sake, to see if I could find such a Man, as would solidly and wisely handle, and openly commend a great Duty out of fashion, and in a Time when they who profess it look very oddly, and are pointed out to be avoided. I found the Reverend Preacher to set about his Work like a Workman; and tho he pitched upon too narrow a Notion of Moderation, yet the clearness of his Mind and Style, the Honesty, Openness, and Candour of Spirit, did much gain upon me. After he had spoken of what he takes to be the true Notion of Moderation, in his Doctrine, he delivers the common Notion of it in his Inference, affixing it to Laity and Clergy, pag. 36. and takes it off again from the Clergy, pag. 41. I declare I am not acquainted with any of the Moderate, nor can I of my own knowledge accuse any Minister whatsoever. All that I shall say upon this Point is this, That if there be any such, I am very sorry for them. And after he had given this little satisfaction to them, who for ought ⟨p. 24⟩he knew were injured, he could not forbear to say, or write, pag. 48. Give me the Man that is honest, and constant to his Principles, and to what he professes, whatsoever Party or Persuasion he is of; he is much more valuable to me, than he that plights his Faith to the Church, and gives all the Security that can be given for his Conformity to it; and then after he hath wound himself into its Communion and Preferments, plays Booty, and acts like a Nonconformist. These are treacherous Friends, that like Vipers prey upon the Bowels of their Mother, and betray her, as Judas did our Lord, with a Kiss. Of all sorts of Men, the Non-conforming Conformists are the least to be valued, as most unfit for Society.

There is another Person of a more excellent Temper, a Man of Consideration and Worth, Mr. John Evans, Rector of St. Ethelbert, London: I did with some earnestness of desire procure his Sermon before the Lord-Mayor, for the Arguments sake, to see if I could find such a Man, as would solidly and wisely handle, and openly commend a great Duty out of fashion, and in a Time when they who profess it look very odly, and are pointed out to be avoided. I found the Reverend Preacher to set about his Work like a Workman; and tho he pitched upon too narrow a Notion of Moderation, yet the clearness of his Mind and Style, the Honesty, Openness, and Candor of Spirit, did much gain upon me. After he had spoken of what he takes to be the true Notion of Moderation, in his Doctrine, he delivers the common Notion of it in his Inference, affixing it to Laity and Clergy, pag. 36. and takes it off again from the Clergy, pag. 41. I declare I am not acquainted with any of the Moderate, nor can I of my own knowledge accuse any Minister whatsoever. All that I shall say upon this Point is this, That if there be any such, I am very sorry for them. And after he had given this little satisfaction to them, who for ought