Why Nonconforming Ministers Judge it Sinful, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
The Concluſion of the diſcourſe, nothing ſaid againſt any particular forms. No judging or condemning of thoſe who judge otherwiſe in the caſe. No unlawfulneſs concluded to join with thoſe who uſe pious forms. It is reaſonable to propoſe, and recommend ſome forms leaving them at liberty. This the onelyonly mean of Comprehenſion.
§. 1 THat we may not be miſunderſtood in this diſcourſe, we hope every ingenuous Reader will eaſily underſtand, That we have not levelled any thing in this diſcourſe againſt any particular forms or books of Prayers. In the preſent queſtion we ſuppoſe Forms as good, and perfect as the wit, and piety of men can make, and diſpute their ſtate in worship i. e. Whether they may be indiſcriminatively impoſed or lawfully uſed by ſuch miniſters as God hath bleſſed with the Gift of prayer? We have an equal Reverence for the Firſt compilers of the English Liturgy, as the later compilers of the Directory, believing they both did famouſly in their generations. We onelyonly think, The forms miſtaken, in their opinion of the lawfulneſs of an univerſall impoſing, or uſe of them in publick worship.
§. 2 Nor do we judge our ſelves infallible in our ſententiments in this caſe, but as we believe, ſo we ſpeak, ſo we muſt practice. We condemn not our brethren that judge otherwiſe and accordingly practice. We truſt God will either to us or them reveil his mind that we shall at length know who are miſtaken. Let not them judge and condemn us, we are in our diſſents in the caſes anothers ſervants: And that other we take to be our common Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt. Let us foreign according to the Apoſtles precept, ſtrive for truth, & walk in what we apprehend to be truth, yet walk in love.
§. 3 We do not think it unlawful to join with another praying by the uſe of forms, provided the matter be good, and pious. We have in ſuch praying nothing to do but to ſay, Amen. Whether he who ordinarily doth ſo, doth his miniſterial duty? We confeſs, That we queſtion. But that we may do our duty, though he faileth in his, we do not queſtion. If any Nonconformiſts amongſt the miniſters, or people, judge otherwiſe, it muſt be upon ſome principle forreign to this diſcourſe; ſuch as that of ſcandal, &c. Which is not our buſineſs here to argue.
§. 4 We do think it not onelyonly lawful but Reaſonable, That ſome Forms of Prayer (or Directions at leaſt) should be propoſed, and commended, by the approbation of our Superiours and left at liberty. That thoſe may uſe them for ſome time at leaſt who have not attained to the gift of prayer, or may diſtruſt themſelves, or not have their uſual natural liberty to expreſs themſelves in prayer. And indeed, this is the onelyonly medium we can fancy for a juſt Comprehenſion, and reſtoring to an uſe in the church of all Valuable Diſſenters. We humbly leave our thoughts in this caſe, and the Candor of our Spirits to the Judgment of all, Whether our ſuperiors or Brethren in this famous church.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Collinges, Why Nonconforming Ministers Judge it Sinful (1679)