Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

The `Preface. 31 he oppofeth (' though frequently c ' ding the advantage of his Style and ,; .: __., Reinforcement; I (hall reduce the whole unto a few Heads which feem to be of the greateft importance. I- {hall leave him without difturbance unto the fatis- faaion he hath in his own Love, Moderation, and Condefcenfion, expreffed in his Preface. Others may poffibly call forme things in it unto a farther Account. But the firft Part of his `Boos is caft under twoHeads ; I. A Commendationofthefirf Reformers and their ie- formation, with force Refle&ions upon all that acquiefce not therein, as though they efteemed themfelves wifer and better than they. From this Topick proceed many fevere Refle&ions and Tome Reproaches. The other confifts in a f ory of the 'ife and Progref of Separation from the Chnrch of England, withgreat Mifcarriages a- mong themwho firft attempted it, and the Oppofition made unto them by thofe who were themfelves Non- conformifis. The whole is doled with the Difference and Debate, between theDivines of the .A2ffembly of the Presbyterianway, and the ditnting Brethren, as they were then called. Concerning there things the Difcourfe is fo prolix, and fo fwelled with long Quotations, that I fcarce believe any man would have the Patience to read over a particular Examination ofit ; efpecially confider- ing how little the Caufe in hand is concerned in the wholeStory, whether it be told right or wrong, can- didly or with a Deign to make an Advantage unto the Prejudice of others. I (hall therefore only mark fome- thing with refpeec untoboth thofe heads ofthe first Part of theBook, which if I miftake not will lay it aide from being ofany Ufe in our prefent Caufe. I. As

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