A97353:832
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.
27. And he further sincerely professeth, that (being almost a constant hearer of their Ministers,)1 if of many and many that he hath heard and been under in certain years or months past, he could have had the happiness to have lived under one that were but near as judicious, and able to manage holy things, for matter, method and expression, as many of those ploughmen and poor shopkeepers be, that are now called, Our Nonconformable followers, he should have greatly rejoiced in the peoples felicity and his own. And for the homely stile so much complained of I never heard one Presbyterian use such homely words and similes as good Bishop Latimer in his Sermons useth.
27. And he further sincerely professeth, that (being almost a constant hearer of their Ministers,)1 if of many and many that he hath heard and been under in certain years or months past, he could have had the happiness to have lived under one that were but near as judicious, and able to manage holy things, for matter, method and expression, as many of those plowmen and poor shopkeepers be, that are now called, Our Nonconformable followers, he should have greatly rejoyced in the peoples felicity and his own. And for the homely stile so much complained of I never heard one Presbyterian use such homely words and similies as good Bishop Latimer in his Sermons useth.
- 1This was written when I lived out of London.
28. Yet we are so far still from thinking that the better sort of Christians have not many faults, that it is one of the greatest and most continual sorrows of our hearts, to think how too little they excel the better part of unbelievers, and how great and common failings are amongst them, and how much their faults do dishonour their blessed Master and holy profession: and what a hinderance this is to the conversion of the Infidel and Heathen world: and what a malignant influence it hath upon the Church by corrupting, troubling and dividing it; and upon the peace of Kingdoms many times, and always on their own peace and true felicity: Especially through the common sin of being overconfident of their own opinions.