V EC AV. Jl. caufe that praif< is fwecr,which arifcs from rbc difgraceofanvall, therefore this ho. A ly focietie hath, befides, ever wont to honour it felfe by the brokage of lhameldle ur.truths againft the adverfe part ; not caring how probable any report is, but how odious.A jull volume would not containe thofe willing lies, wherewith they have purpofely loaded Religion, and us; that the multitude might firft h:tte us, and then inquire :and thefe courfes are held not tolerable, but meritorious. So the end may be attained, all meanes are juft, all waies ftraight. Whom we may, we fatisfie : but wounds oncegiven are hardly healed without fome fcarres : and cornmonly accufations arevocaii,Apologies dumbe.How eafie is it to make any caufe good,ifwe may take liberty oftongue and confciencc! Yet left fome glimpfc ofour truth and innocence lhould perhaps lighten the eyes of fome more inquifitive Reader,they have by ftri~ prohibitions, whether ofboo)<s, or confereoce, reftrained all poflibility ofrrue B informations: Yea their ownc writings, wherein our opinions arc reported with confutation, are not allowed to the common view; ldl ifit lhould appeare what we hold, ourmeeropinion lhould prevailemorethen theirfubtilcft anfwer. Butabove all,the rdlrainc ofGods booke bath gained them moft: Ifthat might be in the hands ofmen, their religion could not be in their hearts 1 now, the concealment of Scriptures breeds ignorance, and ignorance fuperllition. But becaufc forbiddance dotll but · whet defire, and worke a conceit of fome fecret excellence in things denied; therefore have they devifed to affright this dangerous curiolitie, wirh char cruell,butcher. ly, hellilh Inquilition1wherein yet there is not leffe craft then viol<nce. For fince they have perceived the blood ofMartyrs to be bur the feed ofthe Church, and that thefe perfumes are more difperfed with beating ; they have now learned to murder with- C out noife, and to bring forth (ifat leall they lill fometimes to make the people privy to fome examples ofterronr)not men,butcarcaffes. Behold, the conlhntconfeflions ofthe dying Saints, hnc made them weary of publike executions :none but bare wals {hall now tellific the courage and faith ofour happyMartyrs.A difguifed corpfe is onely brought forth to the multitude, either forlaughter, or feare. Yet becaufc tile very dead fpeake for truth in a loud filence, thefefpe~acles are rare; and the graves ofh<retikes arc become as clofcas their death. Yet loll (fince neither livingmouthes, nor faithful! pens may be fuffered to infinu. are any truth) thole fpeeches lhould perhaps be received from the Ancients,which in uswere heretical!; the monuments ofunpartiall anciquitie mull bedepraved; all wit· neffes that might fpeake againft them mull be corrupted, with a fraudulent violence1 D and fame of them purged to the death.So while thofe aredebarred,and the Ancients altered, pollerity lhallacknowledge noadverfary. What lhould I fpeak ofthofe plaulibledevices,which they have invented, to make luper!Htious and foolilh Ptofelytes ~Their proud vaunts ofantiquity, univerfalitie, fucceflion,and the name oftheir fore-fathers, do not onely perlwade, bot amaze and b<fotan ignorant heart. The glorious lhewes of their proceflions, rhegaudy ornamenrs oftheir Altars, the pompe and magnificence ofthe places, and maneroftheir Services, toe triumphs of their great Fellivals, are enough to bewirch any childitb, limp!<, or vaine beholders. Who know<> not that nature is moll led by fenfe ~ Sute, children and fooles(fuch asare all natural!men) cannot beofany otherReligion. Befides all thefe,their per!onall underllandings, what for cunning, what for bold- E nelfe, could promife nothing but fucceffe, they can transforme themfelves into •ll lbapes, and in thefe falfe formes thrull themfdves into all Courts, and companies, not oftoer changing their habi_c, then their name. They can take the bell opporrunities to worke upon thofe wh1ch are either moll unable to refill, or moll like to beftead them. That I may not fpeake ofthe wrongs ofunfi:afonable traveU 1 wherein many unfc:lled heads have met dangers, and follicited errors,who like fond and idle Dit•ahs, going abroad to gaze, have beeneravilhed ere their returne. Never was any bird fo laid for by the nets and cals ofthe fowler, as the great heire of fome noble family, or fome fiery wit, is by thtfc: impoftors. They know that greatneffc is both lawleffe and commanding; if not by pr.cept, yet by example : their very 61ence is perfwafory, and imperious. But alas for that other fo:x : Still the Devil! begins with Evt;
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