SOme months have now past , since I made my joynt Reply both to the Catholick Gentleman his Answer to the tract of Schism and to Mr H.T. his Appendix to his Manuall of controversies , and thereon I had grounded some just hope , that either I should receive a fair Christian Rejoynder to that Reply , or else being permitted to retire from these agones , be allowed some respite for thoughts and offerings of peace ; But before some other importunities had permitted me to enter on the least injoyment of this calme , this {αβγδ} ( to me I am sure ) most naturall habitude , Nonnus {αβγδ} . p. 137. as Epicurus call'd his {αβγδ} , I finde my self again ingaged ( by one who hath chosen to be so reserved , as to give me but two Letters , S. W. to know him by , and so little to take notice of these lower transactions , as not to own the having heard of that Reply ) and there under the title of Disarmed Schisme , I meet with as copious a collection of scoffes , and contumelies , as I ever remember to have seen contrived within so narrow a compasse . To these the Romish Factor hath , in the name of the Stationer , pleased to give the stile of Drolery , and Piquant sauce , but the Author himself , who was fittest to have the naming of his own births , hath in his Epistle to the Reader , allowed them the plainer titles of Rude blowes , and twitchings by the beard : now because the one businesse of that Epistle is not to excuse but to justifie this dealing , to avow and defend the Authors just title to the scorners chaire , and profestly to plead to it , producing such evidences , as he is confident may secure his possession , and agreeably the Publishers care , and wit hath so particularly conformed , that to the syllabus of the Chapters , he hath solemnly annext a list of the contumelies , three and thirty pickt out by specialty out of the farre greater number , ( as if Goliah's cursing of David had been the disarming and discomfiting him ; as if the language that the King of Moab would have bribed Balaam to use , had been a certain inchantment against Israel , as if every reproach wherewith Rabshakeh adorned his challenge to Hezekiah were indeed a severall victory over him ) It is therefore reasonable that I should thus far comply with my disarmers method , as to begin with an examination of that spirit which hath suggested , of those reasons , which are thought competent to defend this manner of managing controversies in Religion .

And herein the matter under examination being already as notorious , and confest , as the flagrant fact , and the Authors justifying thereof can render it , the sentence is long ago pronounced by the Apostle , 1 Cor . 5.11 . and 6.10 . I shall need onely to recite it , In the former place , {αβγδ} . If any that is called a brother , by name or profession a Christian , be a railer or reviler , {αβγδ} , with such an one no not to eat , the Christians of Corinth must have no society with him , {αβγδ} {αβγδ} , saith the scholiast . He hath onely the name , not the reality of a Christian , and {αβγδ} , he is for this fault a detestable person , and as such fals under the censures of the Church , v. 12. and he that is thus ipso jure excommunicate , is no very competent Juror or witness in a question of Schisme , such as that which we have now before us . In the latter the {αβγδ} , railers , revilers , contumelious persons again , are reckoned as a speciall sort of {αβγδ} unrighteous , which continuing such unreformed , shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven , and do but flatter , and deceive themselves , if they hope they may ; and such sure are not qualified to condemn others , and exclude them from heaven , being none of those Saints , who clave non errante shall judge the world .

Beside these , which alone might have discouraged any sober Christian from this adventure , many other unhappy characters are ready to fall upon it . 1. That it is by our Saviour noted to be the very Dialect , which the obstinate Jews used toward the true Prophets of God , {αβγδ} , and {αβγδ} , reproachings and every evill word , Mat . 5.11 . and such withall as will to the sufferer be matter of triumph ( {αβγδ} and {αβγδ} v . 12. amounts to that ) in case it shall finally prove that causelesly or falsely , and for defence of the truth it hath fallen upon him .

2dly That in case it should not in fine prove thus , yet it is that , which an Angel , the most highly dignified and most importunely provoked ( so was Michael Jude 9. ) would not make use of against the Devill himself , when ingaged in the most malicious dispute against the true Church of God ( for such I suppose I have elsewhere shewed was meant , in that place , by the body of Moses ) And that it should now adayes against all lawes of Religion be admitted to an office ( such I think should be a dispute ) of Religion , what is it but the imitation of Hercules's sacrifices at Lyndus , which were celebrated by execrations and maledictions , any {αβγδ} or word of civility , though unwarily let fall , being deemed the violation of the festivall .

3dly . That as nothing hath a more direct and particular opposition , and unreconcileablenesse to that spirit of meeknesse wherein we are commanded by Saint Paul , to 2 Tim . 2.25 . instruct , to 1 Cor . 4.21 . chastise , to Gal. 6.1 . reduce opposers to that supernall wisedom in St. James , which being first pure , is next peaceable , then gentle and {αβγδ} , so it cannot proceed from that divine Spirit , whose fruits among others are reckoned to be love , peace , long-suffering , gentlenesse , meeknesse , in opposition to hatred , variance , ●mulations , wrath , strife , envyings , and such like , Gal. 5. and the biting one another , v. 16. all characters of the Gnostick heresie at that time .

Lastly , that as this is a most unskilful diviation from all rules of art , aswell as civility , and St. Hierome notes it as a great errour in Helvidius that he took railing for eloquence , so it is not imaginable how so much learning and abilities , as this Disarmer is believed to have , should admit so great a mixture of rudenesse and scurrility , had it not appeared necessary to assist in the counterpoise , to supply some other defects , and been usefull , as Hierocles saith of oaths , {αβγδ} , to fill up the chasmes or vacuities in the discourse , that same prudent Philosopher having given us this Aphorisme , that confidence of skill conduces much to the infusing meeknesse into our debates : Thus Nat. Hist . l. 29. c . 4. Pliny and Tetrab . 4. sec. 1. c . 34. Aetius tell us of the Graecian serpents , that have no killing facultie of their own , born with them , they are fain to feed on noxious herbs ( {αβγδ} ) or else they are able to hurt no body . And thus is S. W. put to it , to highten his confuting powers ; he submits to a sad diet , and then Aelian . l. 6. c . 4. {αβγδ} , having armed himself with these strengthening plants , he becomes , Hom. Iliad . {αβγδ} . v. 93. {αβγδ} , very triumphant at least , if not victorious over his adversary .

This therefore is no excellent indication of S. W. his perswasions of his own performances in this combat , that he deemed it necessary Claud . paneg . 1. — geminare venenis vulnera , thus to anoint his shafts , as the Ethiopians do their * little arrowes , which having thus imbibed high vertues , {αβγδ} . Heliod . Aethiop . {αβγδ} , make very quick work , are very killing , or in my Disarmers phrase , beyond all possible confute ; For ( besides this conscience of his own wants ) what rational account can be assigned , that such a last reserve should be drawn out so soon , that {αβγδ} which the Orator makes the effect of the disputants being nonplust , and cannot be more commodiously rendred then in the Authors style , of rude blowes , should be the refuge so early , and so constantly , that this ultimus conatus , last plunge of a gasping cause ( as when art is at an end , Hippocrates puts off his desperate patient to the {αβγδ} ) should so long forestal the {αβγδ} , and dishearten his friends and servants ( in which number , if but upon that one score of having received injuries from him , I am by Christs Law obliged to include my self ) and shut out all hope of receiving benefit from any future applications , The Divine being allowed to have that skill in symptomes , which Irenaeus , as well as Gallen hath taught us , that the profusest laughter is the worst indication in the affections of the spleen , {αβγδ} .

HAving from that Obligation of Charity , which is most particularly required of me by Christ to the despightfullest enemy , Mat . 5.44 . said thus much to my unknown Disarmer , It is a second necessary method of the same Charity , to endeavour his conviction , by examining that one account , which he gives of the rudenesse of his blowes , by exacting an answer from his Reader to this question , How he would take it if one should spit in his face , and justifie the affront because his breath is sweet , or what he would say to him that ruins his estate by perjury , & defends himself , that he held up his eyes to heaven , and swore demurely ] adding , that whatsoever answer he gives , it will perfectly clear S. W. his behaviour towards the Doctor . ]

Herein all the Reply that can be expected from me , is to answer his double Question , and to do it according to the certain rules of Christs Divine Precepts , and not the uncertain , mutable practices , or humors of the passionate world . To the first , which mentions spitting in the face , be the breath that accompanies it either sweet , or otherwise , my answer is , That this I should look on as a contumelie of the nature of that which Christ mentions , Mat . 5.39 . {αβγδ} , Whosoever shal strike thee on the right cheek , which , supposing no wound , or permanent pain to the body , was a fit instance to express reproaches , and contumelies and such like supportable injuries of all sorts , parallel to which are all the scoffings and revilings , which were thought necessary by S.W. for the Disarming of Schisme ; And if the Tract to which he replies had any such in it , either toward the Church of Rome , or any particular member of it ( as I know there is not one in the whole Book , and the very confession of the sweet breath , the courteous style , the civil adversary makes it needlesse to contest it ) the duty in respect of the sufferer is evident in Christs Sermon , {αβγδ} , turn to him the other also , rather adventure more of the like injuries than ever think of acting revenge on that . There is but one farther care beyond this , which can be seasonable , {αβγδ} , To pray for them that thus despightfully use you , and that it may not be {αβγδ} , a sluggish unactive , and so uneffectual sacrifice , ( that {αβγδ} , in Hierocles ) the assistant endeavour , and diligence of fraternall admonition , and reproof is to go along with our Prayer , Mat . 18.15 . and this is all the revenge that is allowed to any private Christian in this case . And so that must serve for answer to his first question ; Let him now consider what arts wil avail to make up the parallel betwixt this duty , and his practice , when he that gave the Law , shall come to exact account of the performance of it .

The other Question founded in the more unsupportable injurie of ruining the estate by perjury , must have another answer , that in that case , it is very lawfull to use all lawfull means to discover the perjury , and to defend the estate : What those lawfull means are I shall not need to enumerate , but onely assure him , that rude blowes which avail nothing to either of these ends , twitchings by the beard , declamation and satyre , ( before any attempt of proof ) are none of these justifiable lawful means , but are on the contrary that most unjust , unskilful , as wel as unchristian revenge , the {αβγδ} in the Stoick , the doing the most we can to be like him , whom we most dislike . Mean while , to bring this home to the case before us , 't is certain and visible , that as the defending the Church of England from Schisme , bears no proportion to the ruining S. W. his estate ( if he hath no other tenure in his earthly , or heavenly possessions , but the worlds believing , that we are Schismaticks , he hath been very negligent of his deeds , and a little charity were his much better way to mend his assurances ) so surely , neither is there any oath incumbent on us , which can be pretended to be violated by casting off the Romish yoke , neither hath there been any the least perjurious tampering discoverable in any part of my defence , he might as truly have said , that I offered sacrifice to Idols , that I consulted with Necromancers , to rob him of his Christian patience ) and if he mark , his style , which was robust in the mention of perjury , is grown much fainter , when he comes to the {αβγδ} , pretends to no more than perverse meaning and abusive treating matters of religion ; But I trust it shall appear that this was but the language of interest , or passion also , and that there is not one single falsity in that whole Tract of Schisme ; If there be , I shall , when it appeares , be content to deliver it up to the force of his proofes , but not till then , to the charme of his scoffes . If I must be humbled for my misfortune , as he styleth it , in handling controversies so meanly , 't is not yet , I suppose , the season for it , till I have lost my own , or ●elt the keennesse of his weapons , in whom it is ( in the interim ) a transgression of the rules of Art , as well as Justice , no other than the meanest begging the question , to suppose that guilt , which he was to prove , to assume so early , in the Epistle to the Reader , what he must ( but hath not yet so much as attempted to ) demonstrate .

I have done with S. W. his Epistle to the Reader , his very uneffectuall defence of a very great , and evidently the principall part of his Book , that which comprehends all the scoffes and revilings in it , and having said so much in this place , shall not adde one word more on that subject , how oft soever it sollicite me , in the future debates .