may escape the offending others? not sure because we more esteem
the judgments of the latter, for by the Apostles rule the wea∣ker
men are, the more care must be taken, that they be not offen∣ded.
2. I shall suppose that their Liturgy, or their having none
at all, may possibly offend us, and then demand why they shall
not be as much obliged to change for the satisfying of us, as we
of them? I am ashamed to presse this illogicall discourse too
farre, which sure never foresaw such examination, being meant
only to give the people a formall specious shew for what is
done, a heap of popular Arguments, which have of late gotten
away all the custome from Demonstrations, and then, Si populus
vult decipi, decipiatur, if the tame Creature will thus be taken, any
fallacy, or Topicke doth as well for the turn, as if Euclid had de∣monstrated
it. In pursuit of this popular Argument it followes,P. . that by this
means, i. e. of the Liturgy, divers able and faithfull Ministers
were debarred from the exercise of their Ministry, and spoyled of
their livelyhood, to the undoing of them and their Families. To
which I answer, 1. That if this be true, it is very strange that
so few of this present Assembly were of that number. For of
them I may surely say many, very many in proportion, were not
debarred of the exercise of their Ministry, were not dispoyled of
their livelyhood, &c. And if any one was, which I professe I know
not, I believe it will be found, that the standing of Liturgy
brought not those inflictions upon him. The conclusion from
hence will be, that either these present Assemblers concurred
not in judgment with those many able and faithfull Ministers
(and then why do they now bring their Arguments from them,
whose judgement they did not approve and follow?) or else
that they were not so valiant, as to appear when sufferings ex∣pected
them, or else that they had a very happy Rainbow hang∣ing
over their heads to avert from them that common storme.
But then 2. It might be considered, whether those mentioned
penalties have not been legally, and by act of Parliament, infli∣cted
on those who suffer'd under them, and then whether that
will be ground sufficient to abolish a Law, because by force there∣of
some men that offended against it have beene punished. 3.
Whether some men did not choose non-conformity as the more in∣strumentall
0
|