A01760:8
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our own arguments [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the answers and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Morton ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our ovvne argumemts [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the ansvveres and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Mortoune ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.
Leiden: printed by W. Christiaens, 1637
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
He, who only studieth to have the praise of some witty invention can not strike upon another anvil. The silly Idiot, (with eAbsaloms two hundred) goeth in the simplicity of his heart, after his perverse leaders. The lapped Nicodemite, holds it enough to yield some secret assent to the trueth, though neither his profession nor his practise testify so much. He, whose mind is possessed with prejudicate opinions against the truth, when convincing light is holden forth to him, looketh asquint, and therefore goeth aw•y. The Pragmatical A diaphorist with his span-broad faith, and elve-broad conscience, doth no small harm: the poor pandect of his plagiary profession, in matters of faith, reckoneth little for all, and in matters of practise all for little. Shortly, if an expurgatory Index were compiled of those, and all other sorts of men, who either through their careless and neutral on looking, make no help to the troubled and disquieted Church of Christ, or through their nocent accession, and overthwart intermeddling, work out her greater harm! alas. How few feeling members were there to be found behind, who truly lay to heart her estate and condition? Nevertheless in the worst times, either of raging persecution, or prevailing defection, as God Almighty hath ever hitherto, so both now and to the end he will reserve to himself a remnant according to the election of Grace, who cleave to his blessed Trueth, & to the purity of his holy worship, and are grieved for the affliction of Joseph, as being themselves also in the body. In confidence whereof, I take Boldness to stir you up at this time, by putting you in remembrance. If you would be rightly informed of the present estate of the reformed Churches, you must not acquiesce, in the parge ting verdict of those who are wealthy and well at ease, and mounted aloft upon the uncogged wheels of prosperous fortune (as they call it.) ⟨image 3⟩Those whom the love of the world hath not enhanced to the serving of the time, can give you the soundest Judgment. It is fnoted of Dionysius Halicarnasseus (who was never advanced to magistracy in the Roman Republic,) that he hath written far more truly of the Romans, then Fabius, Salustius, or Cato, who flourished among them with riches and honours.