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Handout #202 |
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English Dissent |
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A Dissenter's testimony
Edmund Calamy (1671-1732 A.D.) achieved fame as the first historian of those who had suffered from the Anglican reaction in 1662 A.D. Here he reflects on the trials and privileges of being a Dissenter. Nor can it be thought unreasonable for us to prize out liberty yet the more, because it comes to us as the fruit of the prayers and tears, the sufferings and hardships, the conflicts and vows of our fathers before us. Some of us, I doubt not, may well remember that in the course of our education, in the midst of their most sorrowful complaints of their own hard usage, they to prevent our being disheartened would freely entertain us with the hopes they had for better things reserved for us. These better things through the great mercy of God we have in good part lived to reach. And therefore we should take heart, cheerfully following them as far as they followed Christ: adhering firmly to the cause of truth and purity, liberty and charity in conjunction and trusting God with the sequel. Edmund Calamy, A Continuation of the Account ... of the Ministers ... ejected (1727). |
