sing to conform, twofold more scandaliseth the Papist
than conformity; for he doth far more insult to see a godly minister
thrust out, and with him all the truth of God pressed, than to see him
wear a surplice, &c. _Thirdly_, he saith, It twofold more scandaliseth the
Atheist, libertine, and Epicure, who, by the painful minister's deprival,
will triumph to see a door opened for him without resistance, to live in
drunkenness, whoredom, swearing, &c. Now, for answer to his second and
third pretences, we say, 1. Mr Sprint implieth indirectly, that when
non-conforming ministers are thrust out, Papists, Atheists, libertines,
and Epicures, expect but small opposition from those conforming ministers
who come in their rooms. Our opposites have a skilful proctor (forsooth)
of Mr Sprint. And, indeed, if Papists and Atheists were so afraid of
Conformists as of Nonconformists, they would not thus insult. 2. We must
distinguish betwixt deprivation and the suffering of deprivation. Papists
insult indeed, that their assured friends, the prelates, are so powerful,
as to thrust out from the public ministry the greatest enemies of Popery.
But as for the ministers' suffering of themselves to be thrust out, and
deprived for refusing of conformity, it is so far from giving to Papists
any matter of insulting, that it will rather grieve them and gall them to
the heart, to understand that sundry powerful, painful, and learned
ministers are so averse from Popery, that before they conform to any
ceremony of the same, they will suffer for refusal; and that their
constancy and courage, in suffering for such a cause, will confirm many
professors in the persuasion of the truth of their doctrine, which they
taught against conforming unto popish ceremonies. But to go on.
_Fourthly_, saith he, It twofold more scandaliseth such an one as doth
truly fear the name of God, who could be more contented to enjoy the means
of his faith and salvation, with a small inconveniency of some ceremonies
which he grieveth at, than to lose his pastor, the gospel, and the
ordinary means of his faith and salvation. _Ans._ 1. Mr Sprint supposeth
that such an one, as for no respect whatsoever would be contented with the
practice of some inconvenient ceremonies, doth not truly fear the name of
God. And who is the Puritan now? Is not Mr Sprint, who standeth in such a
huge distance from all who are of our mind, and so far preferreth himself
and his followers to us as if we did no