A70766:88
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. If the Words are capable of a mild sense, we are taught that is the sense of the Law: A moderate Man will put a moderate charitable Sense upon them; and if the Words will bear it, he is as honest to the Church, that gives her security in a moderate sense, as he that takes it in a rigorous.
2. If the Words are capable of a mild sence, we are taught that is the sence of the Law: A moderate Man will put a moderate charitable Sence upon them; and if the Words will bear it, he is as honest to the Church, that gives her security in a moderate sence, as he that takes it in a rigorous.
3. How a Conformist, that hath wound himself into the Communion and Preferment of the Church, can act like a Nonconformist, both in her Communion and Preferment, is such a way of acting, as we never yet learnt, nor can well understand, except he allow that a Nonconformist can act like a Conformist, and then 'tis pity he did not share in the Communion and Preferment, the one as well as the other.
4. Any Man that is honest and constant, of any Party and Persuasion, not excepting an ignorant superstitious Papist, (for the more ignorant, the more honest) or Quaker, or any other Sect, is more to be valued than a moderate Conformist, (of whom he speaks). But why a moderate Conformist may not be as honest, and as constant in his Moderation, as any Man that is high and rigorous, or any ⟨p. 25⟩other Sect, no other Reason can (I suppose) be given, but because the Rule of Laws of Conformity cannot stand with a moderate Construction: And if that were true, we moderate Men must keep out of the Communion and Preferments of the Church, and be professedly Nonconformists; for one of both we must be: And if we cannot be exact Conformists in the severest sense, and act according to it upon all occasions, we must be Nonconformists. How much ease would it be to the Minds of our Brethren, to be rid of these Vipers, that prey upon the Bowels of their Mother?