A97353:830
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.
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.
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 til they have better washt off the accusation of a leprosie, I would not have them too loud in the defamation of him that hath a boile. I justifie not the Accusers clamour, but still rebuke them: but I as little justifie the ingenuity of such, as have skill to aggravate a weakness, and not to avoid a crime.