B07586:3
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.
❧ To the Christian Reader.
SUCH as of late years have rent themselves from the holy service of God, used in the public congregations and Churches of England, being destitute of any sound warrant from the word of God, have sought from time to time so much the more earnestly (as the manner of such is) to shroud themselves under the shadow of humane authority. Hence it came to pass that master Francis Junius, a man of great learning and godliness, was solicited by some of them (as may appear by these letters ensuing) in the year 99. to be a favourer of their erroneous opinions and of their unchristian disordered and undutiful proceedings: whose answer, being delivered by himself to a religious and worshipful knight, and so coming to my hands, I have presumed to communicate with thee, by the motion of some godly and well disposed, hoping that through the blessing of God, and thy prayers it may prove a good means to stay such as are wavering, to confirm such as do stand, and to recover such as are fallen. For although he do not enter into an exact discussing ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 4⟩of the question with arguments, objections, and answers: yet he useth a very grave and godly admonition, which is oftentimes of greater fruit, then a long and learned disputation. And whosoever doth diligently study the book of God, shall find, that the holy Prophets & Apostles do in many places insist upon a plain & simple asseveration of the truth rather the upon multitude of proofs & arguments. Besides, if we observe the story of the holy Martyrs of our own Church & others, we may perceive that by the sound profession of their faith, and suffering for the same, they have glorified God and advanced the kingdom of Jesus Christ aswell as others have done by arguments and reasons. And yet notwithstanding if thou do well observe these letters of master Junius, thou shalt find in them not vain and empty words: but weighty and sound reasons grounded upon the holy Scriptures of god. Thus praying thee to take these first fruits of my poor labours in this kind in good part, and beseeching god to give a blessing hereunto; I bid thee heartily farewell in the Lord.