Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/154

136 nor the satisfaction of the people, nor to clear their own reputation from so foul a scandal could ever yet persuade Dr. Patrick to answer his paraphrases, Dr. Stillingfleet, his Preface to the Jesuit's Loyalty, Dr. Burnet, his Dialogues, Dr. Sherlock, his Case of Resistance, his Sermons, &c. They have indeed advanced themselves to posts of preferment by clean contrary doctrines, which they preach, and preach over and over, but the other old doctrines stand still uncancelled, and have not been delivered away by any direct act and deed. They own and preach up other doctrines, but they will neither formally renounce these, nor yet reconcile them to their new opinions and practices; and there is good reason for both, to reconcile them is impossible, and to renounce them inconvenient: for there may a time come when such doctrines may be in fashion again, even as heretofore." Alluding to certain attacks on Sherlock, which he designated libels, Leslie retorts: "These gentlemen had need talk of libels when they have taken such extraordinary pains to libel themselves. Dr. Patrick's Paraphrases are a notorious libel against him: and Dr. Stillingfleet's Preface to The Jesuit's Loyalty, is a terrible libel against him; and Dr. Sherlock's Case of Resistance, and all his books and sermons before the Oath are venomous and inveterate libels against him, and against all that he hath preached and written since. These are libels, and perpetual libels, and will remain everlasting monuments of their infamy, except they can persuade the people to burn all their books, and forget all their sermons. So that (to give these