BROM'ITON. 221' Germany, where he had many disputations. with Jews and Papists. Previous, however, to his departure, he wrote a letter, dated March 27, 1590, to his worthy friend Lord 13urleigh, desiring permission to go abroad, particularly with a view to make use of King Casimir's library ; and he no doubt obtained the favour." He was always firm and courageous in the defence of truth ; onwhich account he sometimes brought himself into danger, by openly exposing the errors and superstitions of popery.. He had a public disputation with Rabbi Elias, a learned Jew in the syna- gogue at Frankfort. They disputed under an oath, that God might immediately strike him dead who should, on that occasion, speak contrary to the dictates of his conscience: In the conclusion, the Jew departed not without someproofs of advantage, desiring to be taught by his writings. An account of this conference was carried to Constantinople, where it excited very considerable attention among the Jews.+ Not only did Mr. Broughton's arguments in favour of christianity make a deep impression upon Rabbi Elias ; but he also adds, " After my return from Zurich, two Italian Jews came thither, and seeing what I had printed, especially upon Daniel, believed and were baptized, and came to Basil to see me." " Another," says he, " is now in England, as I hear; who, by my occasion, embraced the gospel."1-. In the year 1591, Mr. Broughton returned fromGermany, particularly with a view to settle the controversy betwixt himself and Dr. Rainolds. He had an earnest but absurd desire to have the dispute settled by public authority. In one ofhis addresses to the queen, he says, " Your majesty's signification of your princely determination would break young braving students, whom reason in such unexpected soils cannot bend." Speaking of himself and his opponent, he. says, " His fame of learning, and my more confident resistance, maketh many think that the scripture is hard, where our long labours differ. The fault is intolerable, either in him or in me ; and the faulty should be forced to yield, that none may think amiss of God's word.. While divines jar in their narrations, faith is weakened, and all study of scripture ; and old confirmed errors have disgraced all the holy story, that without the enforcement of authority, students will hardly yield to the truth." He solicited the queen to command the archbishops, and both universities, Baker's MS. Collec. vol. iv. p. 03. f Clark's Lives, p. 6. t Biog. Britan. vol. ii. p. 608.
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