And lately came out a Book of one Mr. Troughton's of the same temper with the rest. He alarmeth the Nation, as if the Enemy were at the Gates. He is a man that hath been blind from his Infancy or early Childhood, and I suppose never read a Book, but hath had ⟨image 8⟩some one to read to him, and he undertaketh to tell the sense of Protestant Writers, and Fathers, and the words and sense of Mr. Hotchkis and me, and such others, whom be fiercely assaulteth as his and the Churches Adversaries: And the good man heapeth up untr•••s in matter of fact in false reciting his Adversaries words and sense. Besides his Libertine false Doctrine, (as that the Covenant or Promise of Justification hath no Conditions, no not Faith, and such like,) and abuseth the Authors whom he citeth. I thought once to have bestowed two or three days work in answering him, but I desisted, partly because he was one of those that had written at the rate of some former Adversaries, who had so formed their Assaults, that they had left me little to answer but a Mentiris, which is so unpleasing a task, that they that most deserve it cannot bear it. And it hath been my lot since 1662. in which the powerful Ringleader Morley began, to have so many such Books written against me, and such reports divulged of me, as if the Devil had been studying to prove, Rom. 3.4. that every man is a Liar, to be true in a sense beyond the meaning, and to bring all History at least of Disputers into discredit, and to make it become a valid consequence [It is said and written by a domineering, or an ambitious, or an erroneous, or angry Adversary; Ergo it is false.] And also I was loth to say that against the man that his Book required: For I hear he is a very honest man, and not only blind, but a sufferer for Nonconformity with the rest; and when he was a Child, his Grand-father, Grand-mother, and other kindred in Coventry were my hearers and loving friends, and godly people: His Father and Mother my very near Neighbours, and weekly, and almost daily company, have asked my Counsel, what they should do with a blind Boy that was much inclined to Learning, and I encouraged them to further him, not foreseeing his ⟨image 9⟩snares. 3. And I perceive that judicious Readers have no need of an Antidote against so weak a Poison. He that gave me the Animadversions answered in the end, told me, He had scarce patience to read him.
And lately came out a Book of one Mr. Troughtons of the same temper with the rest. He allarmeth the Nation, as if the Enemy were at the Gates. He is a man that hath been blind from his Infancy or early Childhood, and I suppose never read a Book, but hath had ⟨image 8⟩some one to read to him, and he undertaketh to tell the sense of Protestant Writers, and Fathers, and the words and sense of Mr. Hotchkis and me, and such others, whom be fiercely assaulteth as his and the Churches Adversaries: And the good man heapeth up untr•••s in matter of fact in false reciting his Adversaries words and sense. Besides his Libertine false Doctrine, (as that the Covenant or Promise of Justification hath no Conditions, no not Faith, and such like,) and abuseth the Authors whom he citeth. I thought once to have bestowed two or three days work in answering him, but I desisted, partly because he was one of those that had written at the rate of some former Adversaries, who had so formed their Assaults, that they had left me little to answer but a Mentiris, which is so unpleasing a task, that they that most deserve it cannot bear it. And it hath been my lot since 1662. in which the powerful Ringleader Morley began, to have so many such Books written against me, and such reports divulged of me, as if the Devil had been studying to prove, Rom. 3.4. that every man is a Lyar, to be true in a sense beyond the meaning, and to bring all History at least of Disputers into discredit, and to make it become a valid consequence [It is said and written by a domineering, or an ambitious, or an erroneous, or angry Adversary; Ergo it is false.] And also I was loth to say that against the man that his Book required: For I hear he is a very honest man, and not only blind, but a sufferer for Nonconformity with the rest; and when he was a Child, his Grand-father, Grand-mother, and other kindred in Coventry were my hearers and loving friends, and godly people: His Father and Mother my very near Neighbours, and weekly, and almost daily company, have asked my Counsel, what they should do with a blind Boy that was much inclined to Learning, and I encouraged them to further him, not foreseeing his ⟨image 9⟩snares. 3. And I perceive that judicious Readers have no need of an Antidote against so weak a Poison. He that gave me the Animadversions answered in the end, told me, He had scarce patience to read him.
