THE usual vice of humane nature, to be weary of good things, when they grow old and common, and to call for novelties, is especially discernible in mens esteem and use of Books. Abundance of old ones are left neglected to the worm• and dust, whilst new ones of far less worth are most of the Book-sellers trade and gain. It is not easy to give a reason of it, but it is not to be denied, that this age hath few such Writers as the last, either controversial or Practical. Even among the Papists, there are now few such as Suarez, Vasquez, Valen•••, Victoria, Penottus, Ruiz, Alvarez, Bellarmine, &c. And among us, too few such as Jewel, Whittaker, Reignolds, Field, Usher, White, Challoner, Chillingworth, &c. which the Papists understanding, would fain have the monuments of these worthies forgotten; and are calling for new answers to the schism ⟨image 3⟩that have been so long ago confuted; to keep those old unanswerable writings, from the peoples hands. And thus doth the envious enemy of holiness, by the Practical writings of those holy men who are now w•th God. The solid, grave, and pious labours of Rich. Rogers, Perkins, Greenham, Deering, Dent, Smith, Dod, Hildersham, Downame, Sam. Ward, Hall, Bolton, Dike, Sto•ke, Elton, Tailor, Harris, Preston, Sibs, Ball and many more such, are by the most neglected, as if we were quite above their parts; But it were well if more injudicious or undigested writings possessed not their room. Though I may hereby censure my self as much as others, I must needs say, that the reprinting of many of our Fathers writings, might have saved the labour of writing many later Books, to the greater commodity of the Church.
THE usual vice of humane nature, to be weary of good things, when they grow old and common, and to call for novelties, is especially discernable in mens esteem and use of Books. Abundance of old ones are left neglected to the worm• and dust, whilest new ones of far less worth are most of the Book-sellers trade and gain. It is not easie to give a reason of it, but it is not to be denyed, that this age hath few such Writers as the last, either controversal or Practical. Even among the Papists, there are now few such as Suarez, Vasquez, Valen•••, Victoria, Penottus, Ruiz, Alvarez, Bellarmine, &c. And among us, too few such as Iewel, Whittaker, Reignolds, Field, Usher, White, Challoner, Chillingworth, &c. which the Papists understanding, would fain have the monuments of these worthies forgotten; and are calling for new answers to the schisme ⟨image 3⟩that have been so long agoe confuted; to keep those old unanswerable writings, from the peoples hands. And thus doth the envious enemy of holiness, by the Practical writings of those holy men who are now w•th God. The solid, grave, and pious labours of Rich. Rogers, Perkins, Greenham, Deering, Dent, Smith, Dod, Hildersham, Downame, Sam. Ward, Hall, Bolton, Dike, Sto•ke, Elton, Tailor, Harris, Preston, Sibs, Ball and many more such, are by the most neglected, as if we were quite above their parts; But it were well if more injudicious or undigested writings possessed not their room. Though I may hereby censure my self as much as others, I must needs say, that the reprinting of many of our Fathers writings, might have saved the labour of writing many later Books, to the greater commodity of the Church.
