Page 15
LETTER.
For let us consider further, What the Effects and Consequences of our Reading the Declaration are likely to be, and I think they are Matter of Conscience too, when they are Evident and Apparent.
This will certainly render our Persons and Ministry infinitely Con∣temptible, which is against that Apostolick Canon, Let no man de∣spise thee, Tit. 2. 15. That is, so to Behave himself in his Ministe∣rial Office, as not to fall under Contempt; and therefore this obliges the Conscience, not to make our selves Ridiculous, nor to render our Mi∣nistry, our Counsels, Exhortations, Preaching, Writing, of no effect, which is a thousand times worse than being Silenced: Our Sufferings will Preach more effectually to the People, when we cannot Speak to them: But he who for Fear or Cowardize, or the Love of this World, betrays his Church and Religion by undue Compliances, and will cer∣tainly be thought to do so, may continue to Preach, but to no purpose; and when we have rendred our selves Ridiculous and contemptible, we shall then quickly Fall, and Fall unpitied.