To the Christian Reader.

To the Christian Reader.

READER,

Thou canst not be such a stranger in our Israel, as that it should be necessary for me, to acquaint thee, with the first sowing and spreading of these Tares in the Field of the Church, much less to declare, what divisions and thoughts of heart, what open bitter contentions, to the loss of Ecclesiastical peace, have been stirred up amongst us about them: only some few things relating to this my particular endeavour, I would willingly premonish thee of.

THou canst not be such a stranger in our Izrael, as that it should be necessary for me, to acquaint thee, with the first sowing and spreading of these Tares in the Field of the Church, much lesse to declare, what divisions and thoughts of heart, what open bitter contentions, to the losse of Ecclesiasticall peace, have beene stirred up amongst us about them: onely some few things relating to this my particular endeavour, I would willingly premonish thee of.

First, Never were so many prodigious errors introduced into a Church, with so high a hand, and so little opposition, as these into ours, since the nation of Christians was known in the world, the chief cause I take to be, that which Aeneas Sylvius gave, why more maintained the Pope to be above the Council, then the Council above the Pope, because Popes gave Archbishoprics, Bishoprics, &c. but the Councils sued in forma pauperis, and therefore could scarce get an Advocate to plead their cause: the fates of our Church having of late devolved the government thereof into the hands of men tainted with this poison, Arminianism became backed, with the powerful Arguments, of praise and preferment, and quickly prevailed, to beat poor naked truth into a corner: It is high time then for all the lovers of the old way, to oppose this innovation, prevailing by such unworthy means, before our breach grow great like the Sea, and there be none to heal it.