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

24. The most credible way to show which party is the foolisher and the ungodlier, is to make strict Laws against an Ignorant, insufficient, vicious, sensual, scandalous and negligent Ministry; and whoever is proved guilty, of which side soever, let them be cast out: This we refuse not; this we would earnestly beg upon our knees.

24. The most credible way to shew which party is the foolisher and the ungodlier, is to make strict Laws against an Ignorant, insufficient, vicious, sensual, scandalous and negligent Ministry; and whoever is proved guilty, of which side soever, let them be cast out: This we refuse not; this we would earnestly beg upon our knees.

25. We are so far from desiring the disgrace even of vicious or worldly Pastors, that have laudable parts, that we thank God that the learning even of such hypocrites, is made any way serviceable to the Church; And we would promote and not cloud their due reputation. But we had far rather have experienced, truly Godly Pastors, to watch over the peoples souls, as in many and great respects to be preferred.

26. And he that writeth this professeth for himself, that when the people cry out [We cannot in Conscience hear an ignorant man, a silly empty sayer of a Sermon, nor a Ministry that openly justifieth Perjury, or renounceth a necessary reformation, &c.] if he had not a far larger charity to stop such persons mouths with, and to hide or excuse greater faults, than such as some now aggravate, ⟨p. 196⟩he must be oftener silent, and a greater Separatist, than now he is. I confess I would have them to use some little Charity, who have need of much; And till they have better washed off the accusation of a leprosy, I would not have them too loud in the defamation of him that hath a boil. I justify not the Accusers clamour, but still rebuke them: but I as little justify the ingenuity of such, as have skill to aggravate a weakness, and not to avoid a crime.