What inward joy my heart conceived, as oft as I have had the happiness to be present at such seasons, I forbear to utter: only I will say with Job; that dthe ear which heard you blessed you, and the eye which saw you, gave witness to you. But of all other things which I observed, your singular dexterity in detecting the frauds of the Romish Church, and untying the most knotty arguments of the Sophisters of that side, was it (I confess) that I admired most. especially where occasion was offered you to utter your skill, not in the word of God alone, but also in the Antiquities of the Church: wherein ⟨image 4⟩you have attained such a measure of knowledge as (with honour to God, I trust I may speak it, & without flattery to you) in a well studied Divine we would account very commendable, but in such a Monarch as your self almost incredible. And this is one cause (most Gracious Sovereign) beside my general duty, and the many special obligations whereby I am otherwise bound unto your Majesty, which hath emboldened me to entreat your patience at this time, in vouchsafing to be a spectator of this combat, which I am now entered into with a Jesuit, who chargeth us to disallow many chief articles, which the Saints and Fathers of the Primitive Church did generally hold to be true; and undertaketh to make good, that they ⟨image 4⟩of his side do not disagree from that holy Church, either in these, or in any other point of Religion.
VVhat inward joy my heart conceived, as oft as I have had the happinesse to be present at such seasons, I forbeare to utter: onely I will say with Job; that dthe eare which heard you blessed you, and the eye which saw you, gave witnesse to you. But of all other things which I observed, your singular dexteritie in detecting the frauds of the Romish Church, and untying the most knotty arguments of the Sophisters of that side, was it (I confesse) that I admired most. especially where occasion was offred you to utter your skill, not in the word of God alone, but also in the Antiquities of the Church: wherein ⟨image 4⟩you have attained such a measure of knowledge as (with honour to God, I trust I may speake it, & without flatterie to you) in a well studied Divine we would account verie commendable, but in such a Monarch as your selfe almost incredible. And this is one cause (most Gratious Soveraigne) beside my generall duty, and the many speciall obligations wherby I am otherwise bound unto your Majestie, which hath emboldned me to intreat your patience at this time, in vouchsafing to be a spectator of this combate, which I am now entred into with a Iesuite, who chargeth us to disallow many chiefe articles, which the Saints and Fathers of the Primitive Church did generally hold to be true; and undertaketh to make good, that they ⟨image 4⟩of his side doe not disagree from that holy Church, either in these, or in any other point of Religion.
- dJob 29.11.Iob 29.11.
