AND NEGLIGENT PRACEICE. 29 rnent, anathema, and proscription, is rejoiced when he afterwards nds it means no more than a little censure, and not a little ridicule ; the latter perhaps more frequently drawn on them by their quaint phrases, injudicious language, and oddity of manner, than meant to express any contempt of religion itself. We do 'not pretend to say, that there is not still to be encountered that lighter species of persecution which consists in reproach, suspicion, and contempt ; that there is not still an inferior kind of spi ritual martyrdom, which those who would live godly in Christ Jesus must be con- tent to suffer ; a persecution which touches not the life but the fame : but this affects only Christians of a higher strain than those whom we_are consider- ing ; persons who do not draw on them- selves censure by their indiscretion, but by their elevation in principle, and their superiority in practice. This reproach, however, they esteem a light evil, and are contented that as it was with the
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