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

Heylin and such other reproach as Presbyterians and Puritans, to be the most serious, conscionable, practical, sober, and charitable Christians that ever I knew, yea verily the knowledge of them hath been a great help to the steadfastness of my Faith in Christ: Had I known no Christians but carnal, worldly, and formal men, who excel not Heathens in any thing but Opinion, it would have tempted me to doubt whether Christ were the Saviour of Souls, as I should think meanly of the Physician that doth no cures: But when I see holy mortified persons, living in the love of God and man, I see that Faith is not a dead fancy: And when I have lived in intimate familiarity with such, from my Childhood, to the sixty fifth year of my age, and known their integrity, notwithstanding their infirmities; and then read such Histories as represent them as the most odious, flagitious persons, I see it is not for nothing that some men are called [Greek or Hebrew] in the Scripture, and the Children of their Father the Devil, who was from the beginning a lying malignant Murderer.

Heylin and such other reproach as Presbyterians and Puritans, to be the most serious, conscionable, practical, sober, and charitable Christians that ever I knew, yea verily the knowledge of them hath been a great help to the stedfastness of my Faith in Christ: Had I known no Christians but carnal, worldly, and formal men, who excel not Heathens in any thing but Opinion, it would have tempted me to doubt whether Christ were the Saviour of Souls, as I should think meanly of the Physitian that doth no cures: But when I see holy mortified persons, living in the love of God and man, I see that Faith is not a dead fancy: And when I have lived in intimate familiarity with such, from my Childhood, to the sixty fifth year of my age, and known their integrity, notwithstanding their infirmities; and then read such Histories as represent them as the most odious, flagitious persons, I see it is not for nothing that some men are called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in the Scripture, and the Children of their Father the Devil, who was from the beginning a lying malignant Murderer.

Two Crimes I have long ago heard the Rabble charge on those whom they called Puritans, Lying and Covetousness; whereas near two thousand Ministers are cast out, and suffer, which they could mostly escape, if they durst but lye; and if I ask money for the Poor (of what party soever) I can sooner get a Pound from those called Puritans, than a Shilling from others far richer than they. Can I take any men to be other than malignant liars who would make men believe that such men as Hildersham, Dod, Rogers, Ball, Paul Bagne, Ames, Bradshaw, &c. were Rogues and seditious Rebels, or that revile such as Usher, Hall, Davenant, &c.? Reader, believe not a word of any of the revilings or odious characters and stories, which any aspiring worldly factious Clergy man writeth of such as are his Adversaries: lying is their too common language; yea, if they do but once set themselves eagerly to seek Preferment, I will never trust them, or take their words: It hath been so of old, the same man that was a Saint to his Acquaintance, hath been described as wicked, or a Devil by others: How bad were Origen and Chrysostom to Theophilus, Alexand. and Epiphanius? And how bad was Theophilus to the Historians that write his actions? How excellent a person was Cyril Alex. to the Council of Colcedon, and how bad a man was he to Theodoret, Isidore, Pleus. &c. Ignatius Const. was a Saint to Nicetas, and many others, and to Photius he was an Antichrist, and wicked limb of the Devil: Photius was a holy man to his Party, and a wicked wretch to Nicetas, and others: Yea, see the credit of worldly Prelates; the same Bishops one year cry down Ignatius as a wicked man, and call Photius a holy person, and the next year, or shortly after, cry down Photius for a Rogue, and cry up Ignatius; yea, and upon the next turn cry up holy Photius whom they had anathematized: These doings were familiar with carnal Prelates.