Siml'ftm •liU un b~btrt~tt focif( fAX ,,.. cttftrttllr,BtU. lkr!trit.lib.t. The Epiple Dedicatory. now it deferveth one. But hearing ofthe infultation of fome Popilhly A affeB:ed, who glotied and triumphed in this A eH 1 LLES proCatholicis, I addrelfedmy !elfto theWork,with no little indignation,and no lelfe fpeed:Tlut my [elf-conceited Adverfary,and his feduced abettors,may fee how little awel-orderedMariage is guilty ofdeading our fpirits,or flacking our hands. At the beginningof this Summers Progrelle, when it pleafed his facred Majefiy to take notice ofthis fory Libel! ; and to qudl:ionwith me concerning it, I had not fo much as read it over, fo newly was it come to my hands; ere his happy returne,(be it fpokcn to B the only glory ofhim that enahled me)I had not only finilhed this Anfwer, but twice written it over withmine own hand;andyet made this but the recreation oftheweightier bufineile ofmy Calling,whichnow did more then ordinarily urge me. It was my purpofe to have anfwered(as befcemeth the perfon a quo, not adquem) mildely according to my knownedifpolition : but upon betterdeliberation,I found rhe infolency ofmyrefuter fuch,thatlcould not favor him, and not be cruel! to my caufe. . If therefore for many (it is his owne art and word) r<lative Pages , he receive from my un- C willing and enforced Pen now and then,though not a Relative to fuch anAntecedent,yet perhapsfome drop oflharperVineger,thenmy lnke ufcth to be tempered withall,he may forgive me,and mull: thank himfelfe:What needed this caufe fo furious an lnveCl:ive?As ifthekingdom ofheaven,& all Religion confifted in nothing butMaidenhead orMariage? Cardinal! Bellarmine,whcn he fpeaks ofthe Gree/t Church,wherin a maried Clergie i• both allowed and required,lhurs up moderately; That ifthis wer~ all the dilterence betwixt them,&the KomaneChurch, they ihould foone be at peace. Ifmy refuter had !o thought, this had D not been his firfl: Controverfie : Both efl:atesmeet in Heavcn.Jofm the Virgin refis in the bofome ofmaried Abraham; This inordinate heatc thcrfore ofprob:ution rifes from faaion,not from holy Zeale:Hence it was that my Adverfary cunningly finglet! out this point from many others,ranged in my poor Difcourfes;as that wherein(in Bilhop Jewel.t confeffion) he might promife to himfelf the likeliefl: advantage ofAn- ' tiquity; and how glorioufly doth he vant himfelfin the oftentation of Fathers and Councds! Which vain flourilh how little it avails him,the procelfe lhalllhew; where it lhall appeare upon what groundsno fmall E •· 'h'"""'· piece ofAntiquity was partiall to Yirgin~ty,and over harlh toMariag~, -''t·'~· nm- as Beatm R.henamu,a learned and mgcnious Papift confelfeth. But this hm.c4l. rm. we IJ!ay boldly fay , that ifthofe holy men had our-lived the bfoudy times,and feen the fearefull inconvenienceswhichwould(after afetled ~1ft.;;s SJlviMJ 141111T11Uran. D11rWw. PtrtfiJU. MO!Illlrttlll. peace) cnfue upon theambition, orconfiraintofa denicdContinency, they had doubtlelfe changed their note; ant! ;with the moderate and wifefl: fpiritsofthe latter times,pleaded for that liberty which the Re· formed Church now enj~yeth. The univerfall conceffionwherof(after • , the
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