A10659:261
Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…
Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life of Christ. Being the substance of several sermons preached at Lincolns Inn: by Edward Reynolds, preacher to that honourable society, and late fellow of Merton College in Oxford.Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life of Christ. Being the substance of severall sermons preached at Lincolns Inne: by Edward Reynoldes, preacher to that honourable society, and late fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Robert Bostocke, 1631
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.
First, when thou art in disputation, engaged upon a just quarrel to vindicate the truth of God from heresy and distortion, look unto thy heart, set a watch over thy tongue, be ware of wild-fi•e in thy zeal, take heed of this1 madness of thi•e evil nature. Much advantage the Devil may get even by disputations for the truth. When m•n dispute against those that oppose themselves, as the Disciples against the Samaritans, with thunder and fire from heaven, with railing and reviling speeches, such as the Angel durst not give unto Satan himself, when men shall forget the Apostles rule to instruct those that oppose 2themselves with meekness, and to restore those that are fallen with the spirit of meekness. When tongue shall be sharpened against tongue, and pen poisoned against pen, when pamphlets shall come forth with more teeth to bite, then arguments to convince, when men shall follow an adversary, as an undisciplined Dog his game, with barking and bawling more then with skill or cunning, this is a way to betray the truth, and to do the Devil service under Gods colours. It is a grave observation which Sulpitius Severus makes of the council at Ariminum, consisting of four hundred Bishops whereof eighty were Arians,3 and the rest Orthodox; when after much treaty and agitation nothing was concluded but either party kept immovable to his own tenet, It was at last resolved that the sides should severally dispatch an embassage to the emperor of ten men apiece, who should make relation of their faith and opinions. And here now grew the disadvantage; for saith he, the Arians sent Aged men, cunning, and able to manage their employment to the best; but on our part, there were young men sent of little learning, and of strong passions who being vexed and ⟨p. 173⟩provoked by the adverse party, spoiled their own business, though far the better, with imprudent, and intemperate handling.
First, when thou art in disputation, engag'd upon a just quarrell to vindicate the truth of God from heresie and distorsion, looke unto thy heart, set a watch over thy tongue, be ware of wild-fie in thy zeale, take heed of this