Ne suitor ultra crepidam, or, Brief animadversions upon the New-England Anabaptists late fallacious narrativeNe sutor ultra crepidam, or, Brief animadversions upon the New-England Anabaptists late fallacious narrative

SECT. III.

In the next place▪ we have an Epistle to the Reader, to usher in the Narrative▪ Dignum patelâ op rculum. If strangers will needlessly be meddling, they must thank themselves if they get a blow. They tell us, they •eave the ensuing Apology to plea• •o it self (But it had been friendly to have spoke a word for it, it being able to speak so ⟨p. 4⟩little for it self) yet they are willing to give in their testimony how that one and the same spirit in Christians makes them in passions and affections present, though locally distant, and extends a fellow-feeling with the members of the same body) and if that were proper to sincere Christians, or characteristical of them, they had said something: But experience lets us know, that a spirit of Error is as diffusive, as that of sincerity, and a common cause (though bad) can tie men up in a combination and conspiracy: hence they do well to subjoin that plea from their perfect agreement in matters of Faith and worship] for if so, then self interest also obligeth them to take part with their Brethren: and they do it to purpose, having squeezed the quintessence of the Book into their Epistle. The intendment of it is to accuse this Government and these Churches of Persecuting the Saints and Servants of Christ: and they begin with the Churches, where (wisely taking the Question for granted, which might have put them to some difficulty to have proved) they endeavour to aggravate our guilt by divers Arguments.

In the next place▪ we have an Epistle to the Reader, to usher in the Narrative▪ Dignum patelâ op rculum. If strangers will needlesly be medling, they must thank themselves if they get a blow. They tell us, they •eave the ensuing Apology to plea o it self (But it had been friendly to have spoke a word for it, it being able to speak so