Honest and understanding Reader; (if neither, hands off) I never saluted thy General name by a special Epistle, till now: and now, perhaps, soon enough: but if Honesty be Usher to thy understanding, and understanding Tutor to thy Honesty; as I cannot fear, so I need not doubt, or treat with thee for Truce: Truce, of what? of Suspense, not of Suspension; it belongs to our Betters: Suspend thy censure, do not suspend me by thy censure. I do not call thee aside, to ask, with what applause this Sermon passeth, but (it is all, I would have and hear) with what benefit. I had rather convert one soul, then have an hundred praise me. Whereof, if I were (so besotted to be) ambitious, by this I could not hope it: for it pulls many tender and tendered sins out of their downy nests; and who strikes vice, and is not stricken with calumnies? I must rather think, it hath passed from one press to another, to a worse, hazarding it self to be pressed to death with censures: which yet (though I lowly hope better) I cannot fear; since it speaks no more, nor other, then justifiable truth. What hath been objected already, I must briefly answer. It is excepted, that I am too merry, ⟨image 4⟩in describing some vices. Indeed, such is their ridiculous nature, that their best conviction is derision; yet I abominate any pleasantness here, but Christian; and would provoke no smile but of Disdain: wherein the gravity of matter, shall free my form of words from lightness. Others say, I am other-where too Satirically-bitter. It is partly confessed: I am bitter enough to the sins, and therein (I think) better to the sinners, more charitable to the persons. Some wish I would have spared the Church-thieves, because it is not yet generally granted, that Impropriations of Tithes, are appropriations of wrongs; but if there be a competent maintenance to the Minister, and not to him neither, except of worthy gifts, (provided, that they judge of his gifts and competency) it is enough: well, if any such be grieved, let him allow his Minister a Sufficiency, under which he cannot live, without want to his family, or disgrace to his profession (at least, so taken.) and hereof certified, I will take counsel to draw the books, and put his name out of the Catalogue of Thieves:
HOnest and vnderstanding Reader; (if neither, hands off) I neuer saluted thy Generall name by a speciall Epistle, till now: and now, perhaps, soone enough: but if Honesty be Vsher to thy vnderstanding, and vnderstanding Tutour to thy Honestie; as I cannot feare, so I need not doubt, or treat with thee for Truce: Truce, of what? of Suspense, not of Suspension; it belongs to our Betters: Suspend thy censure, doe not suspend me by thy censure. I doe not call thee aside, to aske, with what applause this Sermon passeth, but (it is all, I would haue and heare) with what benefite. I had rather conuert one soule, then haue an hundreth praise me. Whereof, if I were (so besotted to bee) ambitious, by this I could not hope it: for it puls many tender and tendred sins out of their downy neasts; and who strikes vice, and is not stricken with calumnies? I must rather thinke, it hath passed from one presse to another, to a worse, hazarding it selfe to be pressed to death with censures: which yet (though I lowly hope better) I cannot feare; since it speakes no more, nor other, then iustifiable truth. What hath beene obiected already, I must breefly answer. It is excepted, that I am too merry, ⟨image 4⟩in describing some vices. Indeed, such is their ridiculous nature, that their best conuiction is derision; yet I abominate any pleasantnesse heere, but Christian; and would prouoke no smile but of Disdaine: wherein the grauitie of matter, shall free my forme of words from lightnesse. Others say, I am other-where too Satyrically-bitter. It is partly confest: I am bitter enough to the sins, and therein (I thinke) better to the sinners, more charitable to the persons. Some wish I would haue spared the Church-theeues, because it is not yet generally granted, that Impropriations of Tythes, are appropriations of wrongs; but if there bee a competent maintenance to the Minister, and not to him neither, except of worthy gifts, (prouided, that they iudge of his gifts and competencie) it is enough: well, if any such be greeued, let him allow his Minister a Sufficiency, vnder which he cannot liue, without want to his family, or disgrace to his profession (at least, so taken.) and heerof certified, I will take counsell to draw the bookes, and put his name out of the Catalogue of Theeues:
