The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

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.

61. And those of us that (through Gods mercy) want not necessaries, find small temptation from the world and flesh, to desire ever to exercise our Ministry more. For my own part, if I had not other ways had more than ever I received any way for my ministerial work & office, I must have lived in it (to others, though not to my self) at far lower rates than I did: And we are few of us such dullards I think, but by Law, Physic, trading or other secular means, we might live in more plenty and less obloquy than we do. When I gave men Medicines for their bodies, ⟨p. 167⟩they thanked me for it, and none rose up against me for it with displeasure, as many have done for ministerial fidelity: we have flesh and blood as well as others, and know what belongeth to our ease and fleshly interest: How glad would our fleshly part be to be eased of this unthankful work, which brings the revilings and threats of men (and more) about our ears? He that hath such list to talk, that he is contented to suffer all this, that he may but hear himself speak, or be heard and applauded by such as do applaud us, verily he hath a poor reward, and I account him worthy of all his sufferings.

61. And those of us that (through Gods mercy) want not necessaries, find small temptation from the world and flesh, to desire ever to exercise our Ministry more. For my own part, if I had not other ways had more than ever I received any way for my ministerial work & office, I must have lived in it (to others, though not to my self) at far lower rates than I did: And we are few of us such dullards I think, but by Law, Physick, trading or other secular means, we might live in more plenty and less obloquy than we do. When I gave men Medicines for their bodies,