A97353:728
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their principles about civil and ecclesiastical authority and obedience ... : mostly written many years past, and now published to save our lives and the kingdoms peace, from the false and bloody plotters ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
59. Yea moreover, If the Diocesans will but (not talk, but really) fill up the vacancies in the Kings Dominions with persons who for Quality, diligence and numbers, may sufficiently ⟨p. 166⟩supply the peoples wants, so that in the eye of any knowing experienced person, that careth for souls, and believeth the Gospel, our Ministry shall not be palpabl[…] and notoriously needful, to the instructing, edifying and saving of many thousand (or hundred thousand) souls, we do solemnly as before God and man profess, that we will not only cease our Ministration, but quietly live in private communion with the Churches, and take it for the joyfullest day, that ever did shine upon us since we were born. But alas, what frivolous talk is this!
59. Yea moreover, If the Diocesans will but (not talk, but really) fill up the vacancies in the Kings Dominions with persons who for Quality, diligence and numbers, may sufficiently ⟨p. 166⟩supply the peoples wants, so that in the eye of any knowing experienced person, that careth for souls, and believeth the Gospel, our Ministry shall not be palpabl〈…〉 and notoriously needful, to the instructing, edifying and saving of many thousand (or hundred thousand) souls, we do solemnly as before God and man profess, that we will not only cease our Ministration, but quietly live in private communion with the Churches, and take it for the joyfullest day, that ever did shine upon us since we were born. But alas, what frivolous talk is this!
60. Though we ought not to be void of compassion to those faithful and pious Ministers, and private Christians, who have suffered long imprisonments; nor of their case who want their daily bread, for themselves and families, who might have lived as plentifully as their neighbours, if they had not been consecrated to the sacred Ministry, but betaken themselves to a secular life; yet so small a matter is the hunger, or imprisonment of Ministers, in comparison of the miseries of the souls of men, that for my part I would never mention it, nor meddle in an apology or such displeasing writings for them, if their own greatest corporal sufferings were the worst; and the punishing the souls of the ignorant and ungodly, called not louder for pity and relief.