The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

and whereas they that were such, pretended to be the most excellent servants of Christ, and to speak more sublimely and spiritually, for greater edification and advancement ⟨p. 57⟩of Knowledge than the Apostles did, it was no ill censoriousness to judge, that being the Causes of Divisions and offences, contrary to Christs doctrine of Love, Unity and peace, they did not serve the Lord Jesus (whose great and last command was Love, which he made the Nature and character and badge of his true disciples) but by those good words and fair speeches deceived the hearts of the simple and deceivable. Here there are four words especially to be noted: 1. [Greek or Hebrew], which we translate good words, is commonly translated flattery; but as Beza well noteth, it signifieth a speaking of things that are plausible in themselves for some good that is in them, and that are pretended to be all spoken for the hearers good; as Satan pretended when he tempted Eve; yea, perhaps to be necessary to their salvation, or to make them the most knowing and excellent sort of Christians. 2. [Greek or Hebrew], which signifieth both to Bless them as ministers do that desire their happiness, and to praise them and speak well or highly of them: And so almost all sects and divided bodies are gathered by flattering the hearers into a conceit that thus they shall become the surest and most excellent Christians; and all others are far inferior to them. 3. [Greek or Hebrew], It is the Hearts of such hearers that are deceived, and not their heads or reason only or chiefly: For the good words first take with them by moving their Passions or affections; And then the Praise, fair promises and speeches kindle a kind of secret spiritual pride and ambition in the heart, as Satan's words did in Eve to be as Gods in Knowledge: And the Heart thus infected and puffed up promoteth the deceit of the understanding. 4. And this is [Greek or Hebrew], hominum minime malorum, as Beza translates. It is not simple fools, but such simple persons as we call harmless or ⟨p. 58⟩innocents, (as the Vulgar Latin translates it), well meaning men, or not ill men: People that fear God and have good desires and meanings, are for want of Judgement and watchfulness overcome by dividers.

and whereas they that were such, pretended to be the most excellent servants of Christ, and to speak more sublimely and spiritually, for greater edification and advancement