Friendly Debate with Non-Conformist, Imprimatur – To the reader
IMPRIMATUR,
Nov. 7 1668. Tho. Tomkyns, Reverendisſimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, Dom. Gilb. Arch. Cantuar à Sacr. Dom.
A Friendly Debate Betwixt two Neighbours, The one A CONFORMIST, The other A NON-CONFORMIST, About ſeveral weighty matters.
Publiſhed for the benefit of this City, by a Lover of it, and of pure Religion.
Prov. 15.32.
He that refuſeth inſtruction deſpiſeth his own ſoul: but he that heareth reproof getteth under ſtanding.
To the Reader.
Reader,
DO not throw away this little Book as ſoon as ever thou meeteſt with ſomething that offends thee; but ſit down rather, and conſider upon what account thou art offended. If it be onelyonly becauſe the Author contradicts thy Opinions, and perhaps accuſes them of folly, thou haſt cauſe to turn thy displeaſure from him upon thy ſelf, for preſuming ſo much of thy own infallibility: which if thou wilt not pretend unto, then read on further, and conſider whether he contradicts thee with reaſon, or without: and howſoever it prove, thou wilt not repent thee of thy pains. For if he reprove thy Opinions without reaſon, thou wilt be more confirmed in them; if with reaſon, thou maiſt exchange them for better. It is poſſible, indeed, that ſome things may ſeem to be expreſſed too tartly and ſeverely, and others too lightly and merrily: but let not that put thee out of humour neither, nor make the reaſon which is offered leſs conſiderable. For the Author (I can aſſure thee) hath no gall in him, nor was in any paſſion when he write theſe things: but intended onelyonly (as naturally as he could on a ſudden) to expreſs ſuch Diſcourſe as Neighbours are wont to have in their private converſation; in which if there be nothing that is ſmart or pleaſant, they can ſcarce keep one another from ſleeping. He is very well aware under what great prejudices we all labour; and conſiders how hard it is to diſpoſſeſs an Opinion, though falſe, nay ridiculous, which a man hath ſuck'd in with his mothers milk, and which hath been impreſsed on him by education, confirmed by cuſtom, much encouraged by the conſent and practice of thoſe with whom he daily converſes, and hath perhaps his complexion and natural temper to befriend it, and incline him to it. Ʋpon ſuch conſiderations as theſe he cannot be angry with thoſe againſt whom he writes; but rather pities them, and is ſorry they conſider not ſuch things themſelves; and ſo repreſs that heat and paſſion wherewith they advance their own private late inventions, againſt publick Decrees and ancient Conſtitutions. One ſort of men (he confeſſes) are apt a little to move his indignation, who pretend to the greateſt niceneſs of conſcience, and have handled the matter ſo as to b… thought the moſt religious of all others; and yet make no ſcruple to do thoſe things continually which are utterly contrary to good conſcience. (So, I believe, an underſtanding Heathen or Turk would reſolve, were he made judge in the caſe, and had firſt their Principles, and then their Practices, laid before him.) Such the Author thinks deſerve to be rebuked; and if there be any thing ſpoken with ſharpneſs in the enſuing Diſcourſe, it is when he hath to do with them. Yet in that caſe he hath uſed due moderation, not ſtudying to vex men, but onelyonly to awaken and convince them. For he is very ſenſible that when we go about to displace any Opinion, and introduce another in its room, we uſually loſe our labour, if we either fail to propound our mind dexterouſly, or uſe not ſuch meekneſs as may ſhew we have a good will to thoſe from whom we differ. Where theſe are wanting, inſtead of inviting men to receive a Truth, we find they are commonly further alienated from it. Now he hath ſome confidence he is not much defective in the first, having taken care to expreſs his mind clearly and in plain words, and contrived his Diſcourſe into the form of a Dialogue, to make it more eaſily apprehended. As for the Later, he cannot but think that he hath done his duty, and testified his kindneſs every where, even to thoſe againſt whom thou mayeſt think him moſt ſevere. But if thou judgeſt otherwiſe, then he earnestly beſeeches thee to overlook it and paſs it by, as an inconſiderate and haſty expreſſion; and to weigh rather what Truth is here preſented to thee, than in what manner it is delivered.
In ſhort, If it had not been to fill up ſome vacant pages, he had made almoſt as ſhort a Preface as thoſe words of the Son of Sirach (according to which he expects the ſucceſs of his labour) Ecclus. 21.15. If a skilful man hear a wiſe word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but as ſoon as one of no underſtanding heareth it, it diſpleaſeth him, and he caſteth it behind his back.
Examine all things, and judge righteous judgment.
Octob. 20. 1668.