But alas: these men, have they taken the arguments into serious consideration? have they laboured to search & examine the strength of them? have they propounded them to such who are held most able, & judicious, of the other opinion, who do not find themselves, yet persuaded? Alas here is deep silence? where is that ancient rule: Audi alteram partem? where is that ⟨image 18⟩charge of the Apost: try all things. Is it not likely the man should be persuaded by his author,1 who resolves before-hand never to question any thing in him? He must needs be of his authors faith, who purposeth to believe all he says, or not to doubt of what he says. And while I was penning this preface, there was one curious prank of cleanly conveyance of a declining heart, brought to hand, & it was this: pressures growing heavy upon such, that would not conform them selves, The Court censures of the Commissary, proceeding to excommunication of such as refused, & adding aggravations thereunto: to wit,2 forbidding to buy or sell with such, that were so excommunicate, upon pain of excommunication: one amongest the rest was not able to undergo the burden: to profess he could not suffer, was too shameful, & therefore he professeth his judgment was changed by D. Burgess his book: & therefore he need not, nay he should not suffer. Some of his partners or consorts, desiring satisfaction with him, entreat that he would point at the place, express the argument, or arguments, in this book, that prevailed with him. To which he answers: no particular, or particulars, in the book, persuades, but the whole: The English of which speech & practise is this: I am ⟨image 19⟩resolved to conform: & I vvill be persuaded by Doctor Burgess his book to it; but neither I, nor you shall know, what persuades me; that so my grounds not being know, they cannot be answered, nor I unsettled any more: oh the desperate folly of a declining heart, to betray & deliver up it self unto the delusions of Satan!
But alas: these men, have they taken the arguments into serious consideration? have they labored to search & examyne the strenght of them? have they propounded them to such vvho are held most able, & judicious, of the other opinion, vvho doe not fynd themselves, yet persvvaded? Alas here is deepe silence? vvhere is that ancient rule: Audi alteram partem? vvhere is that ⟨image 18⟩charge of the Apost: trye all things. Is it not likely the man should be persvvaded by his author,1 vvho resolves before-hand never to quaestion any thing in him? He must needs be of his authors fayth, vvho purposeth to beleive all he sayes, or not to doubt of vvhat he sayes. And vvhyle I vvas penning this preface, ther vvas one curious prank of cleanly conveyance of a declining heart, brought to hand, & it vvas this: pressures grovving heavy upon such, that vvould not conforme them selves, The Court censures of the Commissary, proceeding to excommunication of such as refused, & adding aggravations therunto: to vvit,2 forbidding to buy or sell vvith such, that vvere so excommunicate, upon payne of excommunication: one amongest the rest vvas not able to undergoe the burden: to professe he could not suffer, vvas too shamefull, & therfore he professeth his jugdement vvas changed by D. Burgesse his book: & therfore he need not, nay he should not suffer. Some of his parteners or consorts, desiring satisfaction vvith him, entreat that he vvould poynt at the place, expresse the argument, or arguments, in this booke, that prevayled vvith him. To vvhich he ansvvers: no perticular, or perticulars, in the book, persvvades, but the vvholl: The English of vvhich speech & practise is this: I am ⟨image 19⟩resolved to conforme: & I vvill be persvvaded by Doctor Burgesse his book to it; but neither I, nor you shall knovv, vvhat persvvades me; that so my grounds not being knovve, they cannot be answered, nor I unsetled any more: oh the desperate folly of a declining heart, to betray & deliver up it self unto the delusions of Satan!
- 11. Thest. 15 23.
- 2This was done at Leicester:This was done at Lecester:
