B07586:16
A Christian letter
A Christian letter, containing a grave and godly admonition to such as make separation from the church assemblies in England and elsewhere. Written in Latin, by that most Reverend and learned man, Master Francis Junius, divinity reader at Leiden in Holland, and translated into English, by R G..A Christian letter, containing a graue and godly admonition to such as make separation from the church assemblies in England and elsewhere. VVritten in Latine, by that most Reuerend and learned man, Master Francis Iunius, diuinitie reader at Leyden in Holland, and translated into English, by R G..
London: printed for Robert Dexter, 1602
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Concerning your faith and doctrine something may be said, if you expound it, and if the thing be done in order. For touching the accusation of your countrymen, and of matters passed to and fro; no wise man by my consent, will take upon him the burden of judging. And for Gods sake, consider the event of ⟨image 7⟩this fact. For I pray you whom would it profit if that were done which ye desire? Certainly neither would it profit you nor them, nor these with whom ye sojourn, nor the Church of God. Contrariwise whom would it not hurt? This thing would set you more on fire: it would more alienate them whom ye injuriously traduce to be estranged from you. For this is not the way of teaching, nor of informing, nor of seeking reconciliation. To rent the good men whose hospitality ye do commodiously use, or to divide them from you, or amongst themselves (which duty they have not deserved of you by their hospitality) will make that impudent man which should usurp this authority a scorn to ill tongues, while good men would pity his vain labour, and your vain expectation. Lastly (that I may also add this, mark brethren, how sincerely and brotherly I deal with you) albeit you might and would lawfully both of your faith which ye declare and also to give sentence of the fact of the accusation which ye bend against your Countrymen: Yet ye by this course and manner of dealing have taken from me that which ye require touching your fact. Ye will marvel perhaps at that which I say, and yet it is so. For you do so require my judgement as you do also require the judgement of all Students and Universities in common; then you do not desire that I should do it alone: but if particularly, do you think that any of us will be so mad, that when the judgement of so many good men and diligence is desired, some one Palaemon should take upon him the chiefest parts: and should by him self speak of that thing, which is required of so many as learned, yea better learned, and better furnished with piety, judgement, and experience, which requireth a serious consultation, an holy communication, and a ripe in offensive judgment. But of the third thing what shall I say? touching the conclusion which you draw from thence, that is, from those premisses, if I shall yet determine any thing on either side, it were utterly unjust. Wherefore?
Concerning your faith and doctrine something may be said, if you expound it, and if the thing be done in order. For touching the accusation of your countreymen, and of matters passed to and fro; no wise man by my consent, wil take vpon him the burthen of iudging. And for Gods sake, consider the euent of