Five disputations of church-government and worship

I confess when I heard a through passed preacher in the Prelates reign, experience taught me presently to expect three great infirmities in him, viz. stumbling, spotling, and tiring: stumbling either in doctrine, conversation, or both; especially in a stony way: spotling even the clearest of his Brethren, and that both in the Pulpit, and behind their backs. For most of the wounds we have from such are in our back parts, though we never fled. They can most effectually confute us when we do not hear them. As one of them that I knew, divided his Text into one part, and so do many of them their Disputations: they are best at Disputing alone, when there is none to contradict them. They are better gun-men then sword-men: Eminus fortissimi; cominus — more valiant a far off than near at ⟨image 102⟩hand: and making more use of powder then of bullet; the noise exceeding the execution: and being nearest themselves, it is a wonder that their Consciences start not at the report. It is the reward of these pugnacious souls, to be cried up as victorious, and to have their triumph attended by their like: and it is enough to prove them victors that th•y can but crow and erect the christ. And if they are soon ti•ed we must not wonder; for they preach at too high rates to hold out long. Junkets are not for full meals; and feasting must not be all the year. When they preached but seldom, they justified it by telling us, that one of their sermons was worth ten of theirs that preached so often: and half a crown was as good as •iv• six pences.

I confess when I heard a through pased preacher in the Prelates re•gn, experience taught me presently to expect three great infirmities in him, viz. stumbling, spotling, and tiring: stumbling either in doctrine, conversation, or both; especially in a stony way: spotling even the clearest of his Br•thren, and that both in the Pulpit, and behind their backs. For most of the wounds we have from s•ch are in our back parts, though we never fled. They can most effectu•lly confute us when we do not hear them. As one of them that I knew, divided his Text into one part, and so do many of them their Disputations: they are best at Disputing alone, when there is none to contradict them. They are better gun-men then sword-men: Eminus fortissimi; cominus — more valiant a far off than neer at