Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

What History is Credible, and what not.

VVhat History is Credible, and what not.

AS the Holy Ghost saith, Believe not every spirit; I may say, Believe not all Reports, or History. It was not only Ahab's Prophets, in whose mouths Satan was a lying spirit: As lying and deceiving is his work in the world, for the destroying of Holiness, and of Souls, even when he turneth himself into an Angel of Light; so is it the work of his Ministers, when they seem to be Ministers of Righteousness; when it is oft said (Be not deceived) and [Let no man deceive you with vain words;] it is more necessary advise, and hardlier followed, than most men understand. As Truth is Gods means to work the will to holy love, and lead us in a holy life, so Lying is the Devils means to oppose them: and of all Liars, none are more pernicious than lying Historians, and lying Preachers. It is a sad perplexity to the world, that when men read and hear, even the more confident and plausible Histories and Reports, they know not whether they are true or false; and if they believe that to be true which is not, the effect is worse than this perplexity. I will tell you what I take to be credible, and what not.

AS the Holy Ghost saith, Believe not every spirit; I may say, Believe not all Reports, or History. It was not only Ahabs Prophets, in whose mouths Satan was a lying spirit: As lying and deceiving is his work in the world, for the destroying of Holiness, and of Souls, even when he turneth himself into an Angel of Light; so is it the work of his Ministers, when they seem to be Ministers of Righteousness; when it is oft said (Be not deceived) and [Let no man deceive you with vain words;] it is more necessary advise, and hardlier followed, than most men understand. As Truth is Gods means to work the will to holy love, and lead us in a holy life, so Lying is the Devils means to oppose them: and of all Lyars, none are more pernicious than lying Historians, and lying Preachers. It is a sad perplexity to the world, that when men read and hear, even the more confident and plausible Histories and Reports, they know not whether they are true or false; and if they believe that to be true which is not, the effect is worse than this perplexity. I will tell you what I take to be credible, and what not.