IT is very expedient that there should be heresies among us, that thereby those which are indeed of the truth might be made manifest; and also that the doctrine of GOD, and his Son JESUS CHRIST, might the more cast forth its lustre and glory. For the Truth is of that nature, that the more it is opposed, the more glory it appears in; and the more the adversary objects against it, the more it will clear it self: which doth give me and all that stand for it, and doth plead on its side in the wisdom of the Spirit, much boldness and encouragement, to venture without any slavish fear upon those that have already, or shall hereafter stand up to oppose it. I did some few weeks past put forth a small Book, called, Some Gospel-Truths opened, and so forth; and the thing I looked for from them was, namely opposition from the adversary, which hath been accomplished in that; as I did look for it, so it did happen: not that it daunted me, for had it so done, it might have made me kept those Truths within my breast, which are now made manifest by me (as well as others) to the world. Now I have not only met with some opposition from others face to face in secret, but there is one Edward Borough (as I heard ⟨p. 2⟩his name is so, by some of themselves) that hath ventured to stand up against the Truth, with the rest of his companions, and hath published a book, called, The true Faith of the Gospel of peace contended for; in which book of his, there is a very great number of heresies cunningly vented by him, and also many things there falsely reported of me; which things in this my discourse I shall very plainly discover, and the way that I shall take, shall be First, by laying down some of thy expressions, and also some of mine; and by inquiring into the truth of one, and the error of the other, through the assistance of the Spirit of CHRIST, and according to the Scriptures. Only by the way, I think good to mind thee of thy clothing thy self with the words of the Prophets and Apostles, against whom thou doest fight (as will appear in my following discourse) and also of thy endeavouring to wrest the sword out of the hands of the Saints, and art fighting against them bitterly, with a parcel of scolding expressions. But I wish thee to learn (if thou canst) to be sober, and to keep under thy unruly spirit, and do not so much appear (at least not so grossly) a railing Rabshakeh:
IT is very expedient that there should be heresies among us, that thereby those which are indeed of the truth might be made manifest; and also that the doctrine of GOD, and his Son JESUS CHRIST, might the more cast forth its lustre and glory. For the Truth is of that nature, that the more it is opposed, the more glory it appears in; and the more the adversary objects against it, the more it will clear it self: which doth give me and all that stand for it, and doth plead on its side in the wisdome of the Spirit, much boldnesse and incouragement, to venture without any slavish fear upon those that have already, or shall hereafter stand up to oppose it. I did some few weeks past put forth a small Book, called, Some Gospel-Truths opened, and so forth; and the thing I looked for from them was, namely opposition from the adversary, which hath been accomplished in that; as I did look for it, so it did happen: not that it daunted me, for had it so done, it might have made me kept those Truths within my breast, which are now made manifest by me (as well as others) to the world. Now I have not onely met with some opposition from others face to face in secret, but there is one Edward Borrough (as I heard ⟨p. 2⟩his name is so, by some of themselvs) that hath ventur'd to stand up against the Truth, with the rest of his companions, and hath published a book, called, The true Faith of the Gospel of peace contended for; in which book of his, there is a very great number of heresies cunningly vented by him, and also many things there falsly reported of me; which things in this my discourse I shall very plainly discover, and the way that I shall take, shall bee First, by laying down some of thy expressions, and also some of mine; and by inquiring into the truth of one, and the errour of the other, through the assistance of the Spirit of CHRIST, and according to the Scriptures. Onely by the way, I think good to mind thee of thy cloathing thy self with the words of the Prophets and Apostles, against whom thou doest fight (as will appear in my following discourse) and also of thy endeavouring to wrest the sword out of the hands of the Saints, and art fighting against them bitterly, with a parcel of scolding expressions. But I wish thee to learn (if thou canst) to be sober, and to keep under thy unruly spirit, and do not so much appear (at least not so grosly) a railing Rabshakeh:
