In the Septuagint of Sixtus 5. his Edition Pro. 27.21 . you haue this sentence , which is not in our Bibles , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . An honest and vpright heart will quickly seek after knowledge and information of the Lord. Howsoeuer then the scornefull take pleasure in scorning , and the fooles hate knowledge . Pro. 1.22 . yet bee sure thou apply thine heart to instruction and thine eares to the words of Knowledge . Pro. 23.12 .

GOod Reader , ther bee now some yeares past , since I gaue the onset to the Translation of this Booke , a Booke of small volume , but of great valour , of a little price , but very precious . The Author himselfe is famous , well known to haue been a man rarely qualified , and beautified with admirable endowments , the characters whereof are to be seene in his writings ; a man , by whose exquisite skill and exact endeauours I perswade my selfe we should haue had ( if the thred of his life had beene a little more lengthned ) that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Fathers dreamed of liuely portayed , fully perfected . But I list not to stand any longer on this theame , this only I will adde , that it is hard to say whether the Authour doth more commend the Workes or the Workes the Author . In this little Theologicall Tract ( wherein summarily are deliuered the heads of Christian Religion ) I haue trac'd his steppes with all diligence and faithfulnesse , and that out of a longing desire from my hearts roote in Christ Iesus , to further the simplest of my Country-mens grouth in all godlines , wishing that they would not think light of my labours In templo Dei offert vnusquisque quod potest aurum , argentum & lapides prociosus , alii byssus & purpura & coccum offerunt nobiscum benè agitur , ●●tulerimus pelles & caprarum pilos , et tamen Apostolus cōtemptibiliora nostra magis necessaria 〈◊〉 Hier. in prolog : Galeato . ( slender though they be ) for whose sakes they were primarily vndertaken . And those are all vnlettered and Ignorant persons , which are either such as haue liued vnder the Gospell , and that so long , that Heb. 5.12 for their time they might haue beene teachers , but by reason of their grosse and dull eares they be but babes in vnderstanding , and haue neede to be instructed in the very first Principles of Religion ; or they bee such as do liue in the bondage and captiuitie of more then Egyptiacall darkenesse of Popery , who being beclouded with the myst of erroneous doctrine , haue not as yet had the cleare beames of the Gospell shining in their hearts . With the former sort , or at lest such of them who seek for knowledge as for gold , Pro. 2.4 . my paines ( whatsoeuer it bee ) I am perswaded will not altogether be lost . But for the latter I am a fear'd , I shall but be accounted to sing a song to deafe cares . For such ( alasse ! ) is the bewitching Cup of that Whore of fornications , Reu. 17.1.2 although her vanity and vilenesse be as open as the Sun , that shee not only keepeth fast in bondage whom shee hath once lull'd asleepe , D.D. Halls Quo vadis ? p. 15 1. edition entangleth also euery day more and more louers , the Lord of Heauen permitting , the Diuell of Hell seducing , the Locusts of the infernall pit assayling both by Sea and Land to gaine vnto them Proselytes . Such is the impudence of this whorish presumptuous woman of Rome , Iere. 3.3 . Ezec. 16.30 that she doth not after the manner of other women . For other Harlots are wooed , Ezec. 16.3 Ezec. 23.4 but shee doth wooe ; others haue gifts sent vnto them from their Louers , but she sendeth to her Louers gifts and faire promises of preferments and promotion ▪ if they will take part in her whoredomes . And this ( to giue one instance for all ) that learned and Religious Doctour thinkes to haue beene the chiefest motiue of D D. Carriers Apostacie , D D. Hakewels Answ: to the 2. letter , pag. 25. in that perceiuing his ambitious hopes to quaile at home , he would try his fortune there , where Abbyes and Bishopricks , and perhaps , Cardinalships are promised to such as with more diligence then others negotiate for the Pope . Her Proctors and Factors shee sets about this worke , are the Iesuites and Seminaries , men that haue deuoted themselues to all ill seruices , Liu. alicubi . Quibus qu●stui sunt animi superstitione capti , that is , as Saint Peter seems to me elegantly to expresse it , Through couetousnesse with fained words make merchandise of mens soules , 2 Pet. 2.3 . and so in fine , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely peruerting , but subuerting sillie soules , as the word imports , Act. 15.24 . And surely such as the mistresse is , such are her messengers , she of a most impudent face , they of most impudent carriage : she a strumpet queane , they her bastadly brood . These DD. Hals Quo●vadis ? Page 70. Panders to their owne Mother , for the enhansing of her power , and the enlarging of her pompe , according to their commission , get themselues with all ill-speede to forraine Nations . What State is not haunted with these ill spirits ? yea what house ? yea what soule ? &c. DD. Halls Censure of Trauell , Pag. 57. We see the proofe of their importunity at home . No bulwarke of Law , no Barres of Justic● ( though made of three trees ) can k●epe our rebanished fugitiues from returning , from intermedling . Id. Ibid. Pag. 56. His Holinesse knowes full well what a sweete morsell he lost , when this Kingdome shakt off his tyrannicall yoake , and therefore for regaining hereof , Reu. 16.13 hee blowes ouer whole Iesuites like Apricocks heretofore , here and there one succored in a great Mans house , now you may haue them in euery Countrie village , I. D so that wee may say ( I feare me ) of them , as Rob. Grosthead , a good B. of Lin● . in Hen. 3. dayes , said of the Popes Legats . So many disguised daily come into the Realme , that the very names of them recited , wold be tedious for any man to heare . Fox Mar. p. ( mihi ) 326. swarmes of these Locusts into England , where sitting theeuishly in blind corners of our streets they entrap the simple folke , and lurking in their secret dens of darknesse they ensnare the poore and wauering minded , making them , being once caught in their grin Mat 21 15 two times more the Chidren of darknesse then they themselues are . Which indeed how can it otherwise fall out , sithence their doctrine and their doings bee both of darknesse The Doctrine of the Papists , a doctrine of darknes . Their doctrine as it is a hotchpotch of beggerly rudiments ; like a beggers cloake full of patches , some of Iudaisme , some of Turcisme , some of Paganisme , some of Pelagianisme ( and in some what is it else but a Vt quicquid passim in variis regionib . est sordium , tandem per diuer so flumina in mare vnum deportatur : it a quicquid blasphemiarum in variis ac diuersissimis sectis reperitur , totum id confluxit in Romanam colluuiem . Tilleman Hesbus . compound of errours ? ) so in nothing more does it bewray it selfe to be raked out of the pit of darknesse , then that it will not abide the light of Gods Word to bee tryed by . For what 2 Cor. 6.14 . Communion hath darkenesse with light ? are not these two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Heereupon , well knowing what would betide them Iuel Apolog pag 116. The Religion of Papistrie is like a Curtaine made to keepe out the light . B.R. if the Gospell should cleerely shine forth in al mens hearts ; they muffle the vnderstanding of the simple people , giuing them to wit , that all is Oracles that they speak , not giuing them once leaue or leasure , yea , which is more , interdicting them to search the holy Scriptures with the Act. 17.11 Noblemen of Beraea , and to see whether those thinges bee so as they speake them . Let our late worthies , who haue descried the imposture of the Church of Rome , let them speake in this case and heare their verdict . Nos luci fidimus , ( saith blessed Apolog. ecclesiae Anglic pag. 147. Iewell ) isti tenebris , Wee trust and desire to bee tried by the light of Gods Word , they put their confidence in darkenesse , Vt latro crucem , ita isti horrent verbum Dei . Iuel . wherupon it is that a thiefe stands not in more feare of the Gallowes , then they doe of the Scriptures : We labour to plant knowledge in all ( saith the reuerend , and my much honoured My Lord of Chichester in his Preface to his Booke entituled , Directions to know the true Church . Lord of Chichester ) and are desirous that euery man may know the things needfull for his saluation ; they labour to hold all in ignorance : their hope is not in the goodnesse of their cause , for they see the ruines of Babylon falling eueryday ; onely their care is to blind you , and keepe you Ignorant . Jf the light of knowledge might freely shine to the world , Popery would soone bee ashamed of it selfe , saith D D. Halls Que vadis ▪ p. 3● ▪ 1. Ed●● . another worthy in our Church . And not to bee infinite in this kinde , M. Anton. de Dominis ( who was once welcommed by vs from the Tents of Antichrist , and is ours still , if couetousnesse , the roote of euill , and hypocrisie , the colour of good hath not put out both his eies ) confesseth in that little book wherein he expresseth the reason of his departure out of the Ch. of Rome ; the Prodromus to his larger and more fruitfull labours , that this closing vp of the Scripture from the people , gaue him occasion to suspect their Religion , and to feare his estate , and to thinke on conuersion ; freely professing there in these tearmes , Scripturae summa apud nos ignoratio , M. Anton. de dominis Archiep. Spalat . that there is nothing whereof the Papists are more ignorant , then of the Scriptures . Nay , a certaine Bishop of Italy was not ashamed to tell Claudius Espencaeus , Master Sheldon ex Claud. Espenc . Coment in cap 1 Epist. ad Titum . a famous Pontifician , that the learned men of Italy it selfe were afraid to study the holy Scriptures , least thereby they should become Heretiques , and that therefore they employed themselues in commenting vpon the Popes Law bookes , Decrees , and the Decretalls : the which Booke , though full of lies , contradictions , impertinences , yet because it is the Popes booke it must bee respected , whilest the holy Scripture lieth as it were in the streets neglected . And therefore to barre their ●educed followers vtterly from this godly exercise of reading , they beare them in hand that to reade the Scripture is very perillous Quia experimento manifestum est , si sacra Biblia vulgari lingua passim sine Discrimine permittantur , plus inde ob hominum temeritatèm ditrimenti quam vtilitatis oriri , idcirco &c. Index lib. prohibit confect . a deput . Concilii Trident. reg. 4. Quid quod populus non solum caperet fructum ex Scripturis , sed etiam caperet detrimentum acciperet enim facillime occasionem errandi tum in doctrina fidei , tum in praeceptis vitae & morum . Bellarmin . Lib. 1. de verbo Dei . cap. 15. see DD. Hakewells Answer Likewise to D D. Car. second letter , Pag 11. and the cause of erring from the faith . Sed execratione ac detestatione dignior est ista vox quam responsione . Hiper . de quotid . ●lectione S. Script lib. 1. pag. 175. Wicked impostores ! as if God our heauenly Father , who hath made his Will and Testament , and hath reuealed it by writing vnto vs his Children , would not haue it Vehementer ab istis dissentio , qui nolint ab idiotis legi diuinas literas in vulgi linguam transfusas , fiue quasi Christus tam inuoluta docuerit , vt vix â pauculis theologis possint intelligi , siue quasi religionis Christanae prasidium in hec situm fit sinesciatur , &c. Erasm . in Paracles . ad Christian philosophiae studiu● read and vnderstood b● vs ? Blasphemous wrethes ! ● if God , who can neither b● deceiued nor deceiue , ca● sing his holy Will to be pe●ned , both as touching h● owne Worship , and also ● touching the meanes of ma● Saluation , and that so powe●fully , and yet plainely wit● all , that hee should seeke her● by to Neque adeo 〈◊〉 humanus suit Deus , vt voluerit huius rei ignor● tione per omnes aetates homines torqueri , cum 〈◊〉 que vllum in Sacris Scripturis passus est esse locu● quem si accuraté pensitemus , interpretari non pos●mus . Aug. Steuchius in Genes. cap. 2. entrap and enfold h● glorious Creature Man , t●● Creature of his good-wil● with the mists of Ignoran● and Errour ? Farre be it fro● the thought of euery go●● Christian , once to thinke th● from such a good tree shou●● Woe vnto you ( saith Christ ) that take away t●● Key of knowledge , Luke 11.52 . ●●me such bad fruit , that from ●●ch a blessed cause should proceed such a dissastrous ef●●ct , that from the light should ●●ow darknesse , Dei ordinatio non potest esse peccatorum obstetri● . Cyprian . from the re●erend reading of the Scrip●●res , errours . The Papists doings workes of darknesse . Iohn 8.44 . As for their ●oings , that they also are of ●●rkenesse , it would ( if I ●ould particularize them ) re●uire a large Volume . But 〈◊〉 single out , and to instance 〈◊〉 one , wherein they much re●●mble their prince of darke●esse , the Deuill , who hath ●eene a murtherer from the ●eginning . Let their cruell ●nd barbarous butchering of 〈◊〉 many Saints of God , meere●● in the matter of Religion ; ●t the bloodie stabbing , and ●iolent murdering of so good ●nd gracious Kings , which ●hewed themselues like good ●Zechias , forward and bent to reformation ; Though wee bee in DD. Carriers bookes no lesse than Schismatiks for obiecting the hainousnes of this horrible Treason , yet we will not leaue to obiect it , but cry and thunder against it , being as his sacred Maiesty hath rightly obserued , not only a crying sinne of blood , but a roaring and thundering sinne ● fire and brimstone . DD. Hakw Answere to DD Carrier , Ca. 2. Sect. 13 See likewise the worthy S● F. Bacon ( now Lord Saint Albon ) his Essayes , Pa● 2. Ess. 1. Of Religion . Let the Deuill in the Vault , who was the contriuer of that matchlesse Treason , and the Powder . Pioners , that should haue bee● the Actors of the intende● Tragedie ; let all these speak● if they belong not to darkenesse , if they be not the sonne of the night ? Iohn 13.2 . They th● digge through houses in the darke , &c. Iob 2● 16 , 17. Qui malè agit odit lucem . Aske the Powder plotters , if they hated no● and shunn'd the shining ligh● least their deedes should hau● beene reprooued , censured condemned as they were , an● as it fell out happily to thi● State and Countrey by th● watchfull eye of his Prouidence , who is the Psalm ▪ 121.4 . Keeper ● our Jsrael , and neuer slumbers nor sleepes , but is alwayes ready at hand to shend and defend his people , whom hee hath set his loue vpon , euen for his owne mercie & goodnesse sake ; howbeit wee haue by our sinnes deserued to bee cassier'd out of his fauour , to be ouertaken with imminent dangers , and to be ouerturned with the power and powder , the fire and fury of our enemies . But euer loued and blessed be his mercifull goodnesse and patience , Psal. 124.6 . that hee hath not giuen vs ouer as a pr●y vnto their teeth . Their snare was broken , and our soule was deliuered . O let this mightie and wonderfull deliuerance bee written on the postes of our gates ; let vs bee euer talking of it to our neighbours and friendes , to our children , and strangers , that all with ioynt mouth , and consent of heart , may praise the Lord God of Israel for euer .

Now I doe from my soule desire , that the blind-folded Papists , and ignorant Catholiques ( as they will bee tearmed ) would but a little consider of these Doings , of this Doctrine , Hispan . reformat . C. 10. and then tell mee if they bee not nuzled in most pernitious heresie , and most tyrannically helde vnder the , very power of darkenesse it selfe . Quod si illi haec omnia tranquillo animo et ad audiendum discendumque comparate spectare velint non tantum probabunt institutum nostrum , qui relictis erroribus Christum eiusque Apostalos secuti sumus sed ipsi etiam â se deficient , se que vltro aggregabunt ad partes nostras Iuel . Apolog. pag. 148. See the occasion● of Mr. Copleys conuersion , and among the rest you shall find the Powder-plor . Copl . Doct. & Mor. obseruat . cap. 2. sect. 6. They that haue but the least spinke of ingenuitie , will bewray betime , and will timely bewayle their woefull estate . These ( to vse the words Ezech. 20.43 . of the Prophet ) shall remember one day their wayes , and ●ll their doings , wherein they ●aue beene defiled , and they ●hall loath themselues in their ●wne fight for all their e●ils that they haue commit●ed . And they shall know that ●he Lord is GOD , when hee ●ath wrought in them this con●ersion for his owne Names ●ake , not according to their wicked wayes , nor according ●o their corrupt doings ▪ Such desperate ones as Ieremy describes , Iere. 18.12 Noluerun● veritati consentire nec victi . et Quod volumus , sanctum est . August . vincent Epist. 48. But for the ignorant , obstinate , ●bdurate Papist , who wil not ●eare and vnderstand , and bee ●onuerted , who spurnes at the ●ery motion of Reformation , Quaerimus vos qui a perist● , vt de inuentis gaudeamus , de quibus perditis dolebamus , August . Vincent . Epist. 48. ●nd being settled on his lees , groweth bold and impudent ●n the cause , ( for who so bold ●s blind Bayard ? ) Let him be ●gnorant , let him bee misted , ●et him bee misse lead still These men shall one day know , that there hath beene many Prophets among them who are cleare from the bloo● of all men ; Si saepitis , benè et rectè , si autem non sapitis , non vestri curam gessisse non pa●it●bit . August . lib. 3. contra Epist. ●e●● an . c. 59. ad finem . Pr●l●ps . and they shall fin● that their blood must rest vp on their owne hard hearts , an● stiffe neckes .

What Sir ? may some o● them say , doe you so hastil● include vs all in the pitt o● confusion , because wee pr●fesse another Religion ? I te● you truely , wee haue as goo● hope to come to Heauen a● your selfe . Doe wee wal● in any other saue in the step of our — with them still , Custome hath borne must way , and euer will , And good or bad , what their Forefathers did . They 'l put in practice too , ( else God forbid . ) G. W. forefathers , a●● progentors ? D● we professe an● other R●ligion , Tantum se isti debent inscitia ac tenebris superiorum temporum , luel . Apol. pag. 138. then that which the bequeath'd vnto vs , & whic● we will liue and dye in too The Moales speech in Mast . Scots Vnio . pag. 37. of his Philomythology . Wee our forefathers customes still obey , Doe as they did , and follow their blinde way : Not striuing busily our wits t' approue By searching doubts , but rather shew our loue , By louing euen their errours that are gone . Or reuerently beleeuing they had none .

True , it is like enough you will doe so , whatsoeuer bee said to the contrary . For as the wise King saith of a foole , Prou. 27.22 Bray a foole in a morter , and he will neuer bee the wiser . The holy Spirit hath branded those people with blacke , who practized that long since , which you plead for now . 2 King . 17 41. v. Mr. Scots Vnio . in the Epimythium . p. 48. So those nations feared the Lord , and serued their Images too : So did their children , & their childrens children : as did their fathers , so doe they vnto this day . It was but a Pagans argument to Theodosius the Emperour ; Seruanda est tot seculis fides nostra , Ex Ambros . Epist lib. 5. Epist. 30. & sequendi sunt maiores nostri , qui secuti sunt foeliciter suos . And the Emperours Letter to the States of Germany assembled at Wormes against Luther , sounds and runnes in the same tenour . Fox Martyrol . pag. 851 col. 2. Our predecessors were obedient to the Romish Church , and therefore we cannot without great infamy and stain● of honour , degenerate from the examples of our elders , but will maintaine the ancient Faith , and giue ayd to the See of Rome . But heere first of all wee desire no better aduocate for our selues then Gratian : I wil set down his owne words . Si consuetudinem fortassis opponas , Disti●ct . 8. cap. ● . duertendum quod Dominus dicit , egosum via & veritus . Non dixit , egosum consuetudo , sed veritas ▪ Etcer●● ( vt beati C●priani vtamur fantētia ) qualib●t consuetu●do quant●●is vetusta , quantumuis vulgata veritati omnino est postponenda , & vsus , qui veritati contrarius est , abolendus . Secondly , M. Caluins note on the fourth of Iohns Euangell , and the 20. vers , Ioh. Caluin in Euangel. Ioh. is here worth the noting Verae pietatis desertoribus solenne est , vt patrociniu sibi ex Patrum exemplis quarant . It is a very ordinary thing with Sectaries and Apostates from Religion , to vrge for their doings their fathers examples . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Acts 7.51 . Oh yee Apostaticall generation , which doe as much as in you ●es , to resist the Holy Ghost , as your Fathers haue done , so will you doe too .

This is the practise of some in France , obserued out of Caluin , by Reg. on the artic. of Religion , Art. 21. Your Fathers haue stepped awry in some points of doctrine , and you hauing once entred their by pathes will needs runne into the desert of errour . Your Fathers liuing in the stinking ayre of Popery , could not choose but bee tainted with some infection of Heresie . What then ? Dare you say they died in their pollution ? Did God reueale vnto you the time , the houre of their conuersion ? Do you not know that God might haue his secret working performed vpon them , euen at the very last gaspe ? Doe you not acknowledge that God can saue such as are not pertinatious in their Heresies , euen , Jnter pontem & fontem ? When there is no sensible hope ? When their foule is at the pits brink , hee can call it backe againe , that the pit shall not shut its mouth vpon it . I haue often greatly wondred ( saith M. D. Luther ) how that in all the time of that tyrannizing Sect of the sonne of perdition , Luther in epist. ad Galat. ca. 2. tom. 5. operum fol. 311 for so many hundreths of yeares together , the Church should subsist in the midst of such gret darkenes , and in the throng of so many errours . Afterward , I conceiued that there were certaine called of God by the Word of his Gospell and Baptisme , who walked in the simplicitie and humilitie of their heart , thinking the Monkes onely , and such as were anointed of Bishops to be holy men and Religious , but themselues to be profane and irreligious , and in no wise to bee compared with the other . Whereupon finding themselues emptie of all good workes and merit● which they might oppose to the displeasure , and rigour of Gods Iustice , they clung close to the passion and death of Christ , and in that simplicitie were saued . Neither was this the case of simple ones onely , but euen of their deepe Doctors , 1 Ioh , ● . 19 their holy Hermits , their sanctified Monkes , of whome I may truly say , That howsoeuer they liu'd among them , yet were they not o● them , Which assertion though it might haue beene doubte● of all their life time , their habits , and cooles , & manner of liuing , colouring it out to the world that they were Papists , yet the point of death approaching put the matter out of question ; when for all their regularities and obseruances , as Monkish as euer for all their comport and carriage , as superstitious as euer : for all their meanes and manner of liuing , We do iustly conclude that many Papists especially our Forefathers , laying their whole trust vpon Christ and his merits at their last breath , may be , and oftentimes are saued . as Popish as euer could be deuised , they will be found to haue dyed true Protestants , casting from them all trust and relyance on their owne works , and putting their whole trust and affiance in the mercies of God through Christ Iesus . Such was that good Hermit Agatho , good in name , and in truth good . Such was that blessed Saint Bernard , the best Monke that euer was . Both which on their death-beds to haue renounced themselues vtterly , v. His Maieties speach in the Parliam. 1605. De Agatho ne vide Luther vbi supra fol. 313. De Bernar in 4 cap. ad Galat. fol. 400. tom. 5. and to haue had recourse onely vnto Christ , you may reade in that worthy Authour afore cited . And I think verily ( saith Luther ) that Ierome and Gregory , and many other Fathers and Hermites were after the same manner saued . And the ground of this his thus reasoning is , for that we are not to doubt , but that euen in the Old Testament , many of the Kings of Israel , and other Idolaters likewise were saued , for because it pleased God euen in the houre of death to turne their hearts , causing them to cast away all their vaine confidence they put in their Idols , and to apprehend that promise of God as concerning that seede of Gen. 22.18 Abraham which was to come , to wit , Christ , in whom all the Nations of the world should be blessed . Vide in hanc sententiam D D. Hake● in his answ. to DD. Carier an English Italionated Doctor . c. 2. sect. 19 p. 127. Potens est dominus miserecordia sua indulgentiam dare . Non tamen quia aliquando erratum est , ide● semper errandum est . Cyprian epist. 73. v. etiam , Directions to know the true Church , pag. 83. Non intelligendi viuacitas sed credendi simplicitas tutissimos facit . Aug. Apostolus de iudais dicit zelum Dei habent sed non secundum scientiam : pares estis omnino exceptis duntaxat illis , quicunque in vobis sunt , scientes quid verum sit , & pro animositate sua peruersitatis , contra veritatem etiam sibi notissimam dimicantes . August . Vincent . epist. 48. Hence proceede our charitable censures of such of your Fathers , who liuing in the darkenesse of superstition , could not so well see the way to heauen , and to reformation in their life time , as their meeke hearts could haue wished . But as for those obstinate wretches , furious spirits , branded with the marke of the Beast , and therefore firebrands of hell , too too headstrong in their erroneous opinations , as the Lord gaue them vp to a reprobate sense , that they should not receiue the loue of the truth and so be saued , and they now fry for it : So assure your selues , if yee insist in their steps and resist all good admonitions , you can neuer flye their Mat. 23.33 punishment . For it is iust with God , that those which haue beene Quos similis culpa coinquinat par quoque paen● constringer . Gregor. pares culpa , shall be also pares pana . Bee partakers of their sinnes , you shall certainely be sharers in their punishment ▪ O then yee Mat. 3.7 generation of Vipers bee forewarned of the heauy vengeance to come . Doe not with the deafe Adder alwaies stop your eares to all godly and Christian admonitions , but take them at length to heart , and say not with your selues , Wee haue had ranke Papists to our Fathers , we haue had such as haue derided and mocked your Orthodoxe Religion , for our patternes and presidents : for I dare boldly affirme in the words of our Sauiour , that vnlesse yee repent and be conuerted , you shall likewise perish . Be not like them in Saint Austine , Verum est quod dicitis , to professe all true , that wee say , Non est quod respondeatur , and that you haue nothing to say against it , Aug. Vincent epist. 48. Sed durum est nobis traditionem Paretum relinquere ; but it seemeth a hard thing vnto vs to forsake the faith and tradition of our Fathers . For ( consider it well in your hearts ) why should your Fathers examples mislead you into errour !

Shall the vaine conceit of your Fathers worth , Ezech 20.18.19.20 . Quos Christus vocat secum in aternum mansuros , pater forsā reuocat secum in aeternum arsuros . vid Bern Epist. 2. weigh downe Gods holy Word ? Will you conferre , nay preferre man to God ? If the Fathers of your bodies leade you one way , and Father of Spirits bid you goe another , haue you not learn'd to obey God rather then men ? will you not grant that which reason hath alwaies held for certaine and grounded truth , Demosth . contra Aristocrat . Viuendum est legibus non exemplis ? Goe to then , thinke not to shrowd your doings with your Fathers exemplarie dealings . For as it is well vttered by the Heathen Oratour , Jmpudens est Oratio dicere , sic factum est . But let the bright and cleere Law of God shine in your hearts , let it dwell in you plentifully in all wisedome , here the Word of God from others , Si non dedignentur legere , malè mihi sit , ita enim in tanta causa iurare ausim , nisi tandem capiantur . Petr. Mart. Loc. com . c. 6. clasi 1. sect. 14. reade it by your selues , Ab eo speranda est intelligentia , qui & pulsantibus aperiet , & querentibus demonstrabit , & petentib . non denegabit . Hilar. in Ps. 125. Multum domini de tua bonitate praesumo , quoniam tu ipse docet petere , quarere , pulsare , & tu domine , qui iubes petere , fac accipere : consulis quarere , da & inuenire : doces pulsare , aperi pulsanti : & confirma nie infirmum , restaura nie perditum , suscita mè mortuum , &c. August . Meditat. cap. 39. sect. 9. pray to God for a right vnderstanding of it , marke it well , ponder it in your heart , and examine all your tenents and courses by it , and then the Lord opening your eyes to see your owne mis-doings , and your Fathers mis-leadings , you will confesse your Fathers follies , wherein you haue liued , and professe to leaue them with all speedie reformation in new obedience vnto Gods holy will and Commandements . And this I pray God , that of his infinite goodnesse , he will grant vnto you , that so , by the conuersion of your soules , his holy Name may be glorified , his Angels gladded , his faithfull confirmed , ● our hearts comforted , and the borders of Christs Church enlarged ; and that for the merits of Chrst Iesus , his onely true naturall Sonne , our alone all-sufficient Sauiour and Redeemer , Amen .

DA veniam Scriptis — remembring that of the ●postle , 1 Cor. 12.7 . The ma●festation of the Spirit is gi● to euery man to profit with● The Spirit , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 th●● is the g● and graces of the ●pirit of 〈◊〉 are bestowed vpon vs , no● bee wrapt vp in a Napkin 〈◊〉 hid in the earth , but for ma●festation . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whereupon the a●ent Greekes well expressed 〈◊〉 and light by one common na● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Plutarch shews in the ●●futation of that common M● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and what our Sauiour spake with a primary direction to his Apostles : Vos estis lux mundi , Yee are the lights of the world , may in a secondary application be affirmed of euery Christian , or else Saint Paul would not say , Among whom yee shine as lights in the world . Now least any one should exempt himselfe , therefore euery one is put in the ●ext . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For as there are none furnished with all gifts , so there are none but they haue some gift , and the doner will looke for his owne with aduantage . As euery man therefore hath receiued the gift , so let him minister thereof to others , for the good of others . Looke not euery one on your owne things , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but euery one on the things of other . A good lesson for this incroaching and Monopolizing world , wherein euery man is for himsefe , as the prouerbe saith , and as the Apostle

— In your Translation you haue laboured , that they that will read may haue delight ; and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might haue ease ; and that all into whose hands it commeth might haue profit . 2 Ma● . 2.25