58 The LIFE of the Part III, and their Council are of this mind: For none of them take this Oath at the Seffions; andtherefore none ofthemthink theyarebound to take it. Note it is to be taken unoffered ; and that on the Penaltyof 4o 1. if they comewithin five Miles of their Charge, though they were never fowillingto take itafter. Objection t. The Conformifts needit not, becaufe they keep no Conventicler. Anfie. r. They are commanded manyprivate Meetings, as privateVifitations of the Sick, Baptifms, Communions, Perambulations in the Rogation-Week ( when theyufe in Houfes by the way to fpend the time inPious Initrudtions, Prayers, doc.) Andmany of them repeat their Sermons in their Houfes, which is as muchPreaching asany thing I have ever done. z. And there are fewpublick Affemblies, where fbme-what is not donecontrary to the Liturgy, by Omiffions, Crc. 3. And every Manbathfome Enemy, who maySwear that thefe are unlawful Af- femblies. Obj. 2. The Conformilts have already Subfcribed. Anfw. t. That roveth that thisA8 intendeth themdot, (and therefore not me, who Conform as far asany Law requireth me.) 2. It is one thing to [fay I am of Opinion) and another thing to [Swearthatfo it is.] 3. 1 may fay that [ the Covenant bindetb .me not to endeavour any Alterationof Church-Government] eaHier thanSwear [That I s1(3 never at any time endeavour it) when we once already fo far endeavoured itby Command, 1660.- as Nis Majefty's Gracious Declaration about Ecclef. Affairs expreffeth ; even while contrary Laws were in force. § i zg. While I flayed in Prifon I taw fome-what to blame my felf foe, and force-what to wonder at others for, and Tome-what to advife my Vifitors about. r. I blamed my Self that I was no more fenfthle of the Spiritual partofmy Af- lliftion, fuck as was the interruptionof my Work, and the poor Peoplefromwhom I was removed, and the advantage Satan had got againit them, andthe lofs of my own publick Liberty, for worlhipping in the Affemblies of hisServants. z. I marvelledat force who fuffered no more than I, (as Mr. Rutherford, when he was confined to Aberdeen) that their Sufferings occafioned them fogreat Joys as they exprefs ! which fure was from theFree Grace of God to encourage others by their Examples, and not that their own Impatience made them need it much more than at other times. For furely fo fmall a Suffering needethnot a quarter of the Patience, as many poor Nonconformable Minifters, ( and Thoufands others) need, that areat liberty ; woofe own Houfes, through Poverty, aremade far worfeto them, thanmy Prifon was tome. 3. Tomy Vifitors I found Reafon, t. To intreat toy Aldon-Neighbours, not to let their Paffion againft their Parton, onmy account, hinder them from a dueregard to his Doctrine, nor from anyofthe Theywhich they owed him. z. To blameforce who aggravatedmy Sufferings, andto tell them, That. I had no mind tofancy my felf hurt before I felt it : I efedat home to confine my, felf volun- tarilyalmoft as much: I hadten-foldmore publick a Life here, and converfewith my Friends, than I hadat home : If I had been to take Lodgings at London for fix Months, and had not known that this had been a Prifon, andhadknock'dat the Door and ask'd for Rooms, I should as foon have taken this which I wasput into, as moft in Town (fare only for the Interruptionof my Beep:) That it Iheweth great weaknefs to magnifie a fmall Suffering, and much worfe to magnifieour felves and our own Patience, for bearing fofmall a thing; (thanwhich molt poor Men in England bear more everyDay.) I foundCaufeto defire myBrethren, that when they fuffered, they wouldremem- ber that the defign of Satan was more againft their Souls than their Bodies; and that it was not the leaft of his hopes to deftroy their Love, which wasdue to thofe by whom they fuffered, and to dilhonour Superiours, and by aggravating our Suf- ferings, to render them odious to the People : As alfg to asakeus take fach a poor Suffer/4
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