3. Besides these, there are some that are tractable and of willing minds, that by their expressions seem to be ignorant of the very Essentials of Christianity; which yet I find to have obscure conceptions of the truth, when I have condescendingly better searched them, and helped them by my enquiries. These also (as weak in the Faith) we receive.* 4. Some there are that are of competent understandings, and of lives so blameless, that we durst not reject them; but they hold off themselves, because they are taught to question, if ⟨p. 159⟩not to disown our Administrations; for all that, we give liberty to all that in tolerable things do differ. 5. Some there are, that are secret Heathens, believing with Aristotle, that the world was from Eternity; making a scorn of Christ, and Moses, and Heaven, and Hell, and Scripture, and Ministers, and all Religion; thinking that there is no Devil, no Immortality of the Soul, or Everlasting Life: But this they reveal only in secret, to those that they find capable, by viciousness, unsettledness, or any malignity, or discontent against the Godly, or the Orders of the Church: And yet for the hiding of their minds, they will hear and urge us to baptize their children, and openly make the most Orthodox Confessions, and secretly deride it when they have done, as I can prove. And this is the only differing party among us, in Judgment and design, that is in danger of leavening many,2 that God forsaketh. 6. many there are that have tolerable ⟨p. 160⟩knowledge, and live in some notorious, scandalous sins: some in gross Covetousness, and these will not be convinced: some in common drunkenness, and those will confess their faults, and promise amendment a hundred times over, and be drunk within a few days again; and thus have spent the most part of their lives: some in as constant •ipling, drinking as great a quantity, but bearing it better away: some in ordinary swearing, cursing, ribaldry, whoredoms sometimes. Many in neglect of all Family-duties, and the Lords Day: and some in hateful, bitter scorns at Prayer, holy Conference, Church-Order and holy living, and the people that use it; sometimes rising up in tumults against the Officers ⟨p. 161⟩that endeavour to punish a drunkard, or Sabbath breaker, and rescuing them, and seeking the ruin of the Officers. 7. Some there are that are of more tractable dispositions, but really know not what a Christian is:
3. Besides these, there are some that are tractable and of willing minds, that by their expressions seem to be ignorant of the very Essentials of Christanity; which yet I find to have obscure conceptions of the truth, when I have condescendingly better searcht them, and helped them by my enquiries. These also (as weak in the Faith) we receive.* 4. Some there are that are of competent understandings, and of lives so blameless, that we durst not reject them; but they hold off themselves, because they are taught to question, if ⟨p. 159⟩not to disown our Administrations; for all that, we give liberty to all that in tollerable things do differ. 5. Some there are, that are secret Heathens, believing with Aristotle, that the world was from Eternity; making a scorn of Christ, and Moses, and Heaven, and Hell, and Scripture, and Ministers, and all Religion; thinking that there is no Devill, no Immortality of the Soul, or Everlasting Life: But this they reveale only in secret, to those that they find capable, by viciousness, unsetledness, or any malignity, or discontent against the Godly, or the Orders of the Church: And yet for the hiding of their minds, they will hear and urge us to baptize their children, and openly make the most Orthodox Confessions, and secretly deride it when they have done, as I can prove. And this is the only differing party among us, in Judgment and designe, that is in danger of leavening many,2 that God forsaketh. 6. many there are that have tollerable ⟨p. 160⟩knowledg, and live in some notorious, scandalous sins: some in gross Covetuousness, and these will not be convinced: some in common drunkenness, and those will confess their faults, and promise amendment a hundred times over, and be drunk within a few daies againe; and thus have spent the most part of their lives: some in as constant •ipling, drinking as great a quantity, but bearing it better away: some in ordinary swearing, cursing, ribaldry, whoredomes sometimes. Many in neglect of all Family-duties, and the Lords Day: and some in hatefull, bitter scorns at Prayer, holy Conference, Church-Order and holy living, and the people that use it; sometimes rising up in tumults against the Officers ⟨p. 161⟩that endeavour to punish a drunkard, or Sabboth breaker, and rescuing them, and seeking the ruine of the Officers. 7. Some there are that are of more tractable dispositions, but really know not what a Christian is:
- *Of this fourth sort I hope are many that truly fear God, that some on one pretence, and some on an other, forbear to join with us in the Communion of the Church, in the Lords Supper: but yet hear, and live in love and peace with us. And some do join with us (on the grounds as godly strangers may be admitted) sometime in the Lords Supper; that yet expressly own not a membership in the particular Church.Of this fourth sort I hope are many that truly fear God, that some on one pretence, and some on an other, forbear to ioyn with us in the Communion of the Church, in the Lords Supper: but yet heare, and live in love and peace with us. And some do joyn with us (on the grounds as godly strangers may be admitted) somtime in the Lords Supper; that yet expresly own not a membership in the particular Church.
- 2As I would not have mentioned the faults of any of my Parishioners, but on this necessity of opening the state of the Nation de facto, so they have no reason to take it ill of me. For 1. I accuse none by name, much less the Generality. 2. The Innocent do themselves know, and bewail the sins that I mention. 3. I am so far from making them worse then other Parishes, that I un•eigne•iiy proses, that I do not know a•y other in England of so much Godliness, and tractableness; which testimony is true, and more to their honour, then the mentioning of the remnants of ignorance and ungodliness is to their dishonour. If it be thus, here, how much worse is it in most parts of the ••nd?As I would not have mentioned the faults of any of my Parishioners, but on this necessity of opening the state of the Nation de facto, so they have no reason to take it ill of me. For 1. I accuse none by name, much less the Generality. 2. The Innocent do themselves know, and bewail the sinnes that I mention. 3. I am so far from making them worse then other Parishes, that I un•eigne•iiy proses, that I do not know a•y other in England of so much Godliness, and tractableness; which testimony is true, and more to their honou•, then the mentioning of the remnants of ignorance and ungodlyness is to their dishonour. If it be thus, here, how much worse is it in most parts of the ••nd?
