A Preface to the Reader.

FOr ſuch a one I ſuppoſe my ſelf ſpeaking un­to; one, who knoweſt thy ſelf concerned in all the affairs of Chriſtianity: and upon that ground art the Lords Remembran­cer at the Throne of Grace, not only for thy ſelf, but for all others alſo, who are partakers of like precious faith with thee; and hast powred out many a prayer and tear for the peace and proſperity of Jeruſa­lem. Thou art, it may be, lately come out of thy cloſet, where thou hadſt ſweet communion with him whom thy ſoul loveth: and thou ſawest ſo much of his comelineſſe and beauty, that thy heart was taken therewith more then ever: and then thou hadst many ſuch holy breathings as theſe; Whom have I in Heaven but thee, & c? I will ſuppoſePſal. 73. 25. this to have been thy last exerciſe (as it is ſometimes if thou art a Chriſtian indeed.) Let me intreat thee then to retire to thy cloſet again, and after thy former raptures and extaſies, let it not ſeem unſeaſonable, to reflect a little with ſad thoughts and weeping eyes upon the great diſtra­ctions in the Church the ſpouſe of Christ. Spirituall joy doth not uſe to ſtreighten the heart, but enlarge it, and make it the fitter and freer to mourn; nor doth it dry up the eyes, but rather open the fountain of tears. Beleeve me this would be a ſeaſonable exerciſe, nay it is the mark of a Saint: The gracious ſoul, as he grieves more, for that he hath ſinned against his God, than for any Croſſe, which reacheth his perſon or estate: ſo alſo he is much more troubled for the ſchiſmes and hereſies, wherewith the Church of God is rent and torn, than for his own private afflications. If thou haſt a publike ſpirit, and eſteemeſt the honour of Chriſt, and the promoting of Religion far more dear unto thee then thine own intereſt, credit or preferment; Tell me, Would it not be lamented, if poſsible, with tears of bloud, that the good Spirit of God ſhould be grieved by reaſon of thatEph. 4. 30, 31. Ut excontextu patet. bi•terneſſe, and wrath, and anger, which are ſecretly fo­mented, and too often break out into clamours and evil ſpeakings of Chriſtians one againſt another? Se•meth it unto thee a ſmall matter, that the joy in the heart of Chriſt Jeſus now in Heaven ſhould be diminiſhed, by reaſon of the decay of love in thoſe who are his members? CertainlyJoh 15. 10, 11, 12. Quondam eſt illud gaudium Chriſti in nobis, niſi quòd ille di natur gau­dere de nobis? Aug. in loc. when Chriſtians are fruitfull in their lives, and abound in love one towards another, Chriſt rejoyceth over them even in Heaven. And I ſee no reaſon, why the contrary may not be implied, viz. That when the love of the bretheren ſhall grow cold one towards another (as wofull experience ſufficiently ſheweth, that difference of opinion doth, if not make a breach, yet ſecretly withdraw affection) the joy in Chriſts heart over them is leſsened; which how great an evilit is, I leave to them to judge, who love the Lord Je­ſus in ſincerity. Again, Is it nothing to thee, that the Dia­monds of the Lord cut one another? That the ſervants of Chriſt ſhould, as it were, ſet the Spirit againſt it ſe•f miſ­imploying thoſe precious gifts, which they received from him for mutuall help and furtherance, in bitter invectives, unſavoury diſcoveries of each others infirmities, fruit­leſſe and endleſse logomachies; ſo that inſtead of com­poſing, they widen the breach; and inſtead of terminating, rather perpetuate ſtrife and contention? Canſt thou with­out a ſigh remember, how by this means our Religion ſuf­fers in its reputation abroad, our profeſſion is ſcandalized, our hopeful Reformation flouted; as if the holy endeavours of our Reverend Aſſembly had all this while produced a ſolemne Nothing; or (which is worſe) had midwived on­ly to the birth, of that monstrous brood of errors, which now ſwarm and roar among us? Doth not thy heart bleed to conſider how the common enemy danceth at our diſcord, which makes a pleaſing harmony to them? how the Jeſuites triumph in our diviſions, feeding them­ſelves with aſſured hopes of prevailing againſt us, accord­ing to their old principle, Divide & impera? How much1 Pet. 5. 8. 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. the Kingdom of Satan is hereby promoted? How many ſouls he hath drunk up? how the power of godlineſs is al­moſt laid aſide, and working out our ſalvation turned into talking, praying into diſputing, and preaching into railing? How much dirt hath been cast into the face of the moſt glorious Miniſtry that ever (next to the Apoſtles) the Church of Chriſt enjoyed? And how ſome of them, who at leaſt pretended to the Ministry, have cowardly ſhrunk from their ſtation, nay traiterouſly run to the enemy, and (as it is ſaid of the Janizaries, that they are the worſe enemies to Chriſtianity, for having been once Chriſtians, ſo) theſe are the moſt eager and violent ſticklers againſt the Miniſtery. Reader, here are conſiderations, which if thou hast a tender and gracious ſpirit, may well make thee cry out, My bowels!

Conſider further, how few faithfull labourers there are in the Lords harveſt: How many deceivers and im­postors are newly ſtarted up? What hideous blaſphemies are now vented? What a multitude of errours and here­ſies are now broached, which are obtruded upon the ſedu­ced people under the ſpecious name of New-lights, where­as in truth they are but Old darkneſſe: There is ſcarce an errour, that ever had inventor or fautour amongst that great number which Antiquity hath left upon record, mar­ked with the black note of heretiques, but now it is pluckt out of the dunghill, and ſent abroad it may be with a new dreſſe put upon it to make it paſſe. So that in this re­ſpect we may truly ſay, that this our age is the very draught, into which all the ſtinking opinions which ever have paſſed thorow the exulcerated bowels of all the he­retiques of ſo many by-paſt ages, are caſt and deſcended. For the more ſpeedy diſſeminating of which errours (grief to behold!) the devil hath the preſſe at command. Here­ticall books are printed by thouſands, and diſperſed into all parts of the Land. Nor are they contented to frame and deviſe new of their own, but they alſo tranſlate out of other languages. Not to ſpeak of others, I have ſeenHe that is minded to ſee ſome of his Divinity, may pleaſe to reade Wendeline in his Epiſtle Dedicatory his Theologia Chriſtiana. Gen. 43. 30. the works of Wrigelius printed in Engliſh. A more blaſphemous heretique the earth never bare. Thus they will traffique with any body, yea, with hell it ſelf, ſo they may have variety of baits and ſnares to deceive the more, I hope I need not uſe motives to thee (Chriſtian Reader) to bewail before the Lord the ſins and blaſphemies of this Age; nor ſet any ſpur to thy ſide, to ſtir thee to that to which thou haſtest already: Thou art by this time in Jo­ſephs caſe, who ſought where to weep. So thou, to pour out thy heart as water, before the Lord. Yea, thou takeſt up a reſolution to be the Lords Remembrancer, and never to ſtand before him with any petition, but this ſhall be the chiefeſt, That God would chain up Satan, that he deceive no more; That he would powerfully rebuke the ſpirit of errour, that it diffuſe it ſelf no further; Spee­dily diſcover, and ſpread dung upon the faces of all de­ceivers; give unto this people a ſpirit of diſcerning, that they may try them which ſay, they are Apoſtles, andApo. 2. 2. ere not, and finde them lyars; Put it into the hearts of our learned, wiſe, and pious Governours to reſtrain the licentiouſneſse of theſe Seducers, and put a ſtop to the growth of hereſies; Encourage his ſervants the Mini­ſters, and give them a mouth and wiſedom, that they may mightily convince and muzzle gainſayers, reclaim〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Jer. 6. 16. every ſeduced brother, ſettle every ſtaggering ſpirit, and confirm every one that loves the truth in the good old way, in which alone reſt is to be found to a weary ſoul. And certainly never was there more need of prayers and tears then now; never did greater exigency call upon us to wreſtle with God by the omnipotency of prayer. I amEſt quaedam precum omni­potenia. Luth. perſwaded this mercy is come to the birth: it wants but an Eſay, who with his effectuall fervent prayers might be in stead of a^**Iſa. 37. 3. man-midwife to bring it forth. And oh that God would put into the hearts of all, eſpecially Mi­niſters, a a reſtleſſe importunity; ſuch a ſpirit of prayer as would be turned off with no deniall! There have been ma­ny deſires breathed heaven-ward, many prayers and tears already treaſured up for this very thing by the Samuels and Eſays of theſe and former times: But this mercy is ſo great, that it calls for yet more prayers, yet more tears, more ſtruglings and wrestlings to fetch it down. Oh then when God is willing to give, and to this purpoſe hath the mercy already in his hand, let not us be backward in asking?

For mine own part it's true, I have not ſo much as be­came me, laid to heart theſe ſad diſtractions in the Church; nor multiplied petitions, tears and groans at the Throne of grace, ſo much as one of my place ſhould have done; yet I have had ſome ſad and ſerious thoughts about them. As who is there, whoſe care and deſigns are not terminated wholly in himſelf, who hath not with good Nehemiah been ſad both in countenance and heart, to conſider, what a glorious Sun-ſhine of truth was breaking out upon us, which now is clouded with fogs of errours: To remember what a comfortable day of reformation dawned upon us, which now is cloſed up again: (Surely we are not worthy of it, we are not fitted for it, nay, the moſt diſtast it) To think how many Wolves are crept in among us in ſheep-cloa­thing, which worry the flock: what a generall defection there is from obedience to the truth, even of thoſe who ran with the foremost heretofore, and eſteemed, at leaſt in ſhew, the feet of them very beautiful that preached the Goſpell, the good and glad tidings of peace: what a phrentique wantonneſse hath poſſeſſed thouſands, who of looſe ignorants became Sceptiques, Sciſmaticks, Atheists? But that which may more trouble us, is, to obſerve how many ſouls who had received ſlight common illumination, whoſe hearts were become ſomewhat pliable and tender, like wax, fit to receive any impreſſion, theſe the devil, (who as one ſaid, is a good Biſhop in his Dioceſſe,Latimer. carefull of looſing, watchfull to win ſouls) ſtrikes in with, and before any right ſeeds of ſaving knowledge were cast in, ſows tares in the ground of their hearts, which indeed was rather ſcratched with the harrowing thoughts of death, hell and judgement, then broken up with the plough of ſound contrition? And which was yet a grea­ter grief, ſome, who dated themſelves Profeſſors ſome years before, Old Diſciples, were carried away with the errour of the wicked, and fell from their ſtedfaſtneſſe.

And yet in the midſt of ſo many ſad thoughts, which every of theſe occurrents did multiply in me, I was not without ſome comfortable conſiderations, which did both raiſe and confirm my dejected and ſometimes (I am not a­ſhamed to confeſs my weakneſſe) ſtaggering ſoul. To omit many, the chief were,

1. In that Satan raved and bestirr••himſelf ſo much. it was a ſign that his Kingdom began to totter. When his time is but ſhort, he roars to purpoſe. When he ſaw ſuch light breaking forth, maugre all his malice, and devices to•uppreſs it, which would ſurely diſpell the darkneſſe wherein he beares ſway, then he falls to his old ſh•ft: if he cannot wholly extinguiſh it, he will dim it. Hereupon he opens the bot•omleſſe pit, whereout comes ſmoak of errours, darkening the Sun of truth, and wholſomeApo. 9. 2. ayr of found doctrine. Thus he did in Germany, when Luther had (I do not ſay lighted, but) brought the candle of truth out of the dark lanthorn, and ſet it on a candleſtick: how did Satan ſtrain his lungs to blow it out? When he failed of that, what endeavours did he uſe to cast a miſt about it? Then alſo, and not till then, ſwarmed thoſe Anabaptiſticall locuſts which did ſo much miſchief. So here, when Popery was not only lopt, but even taken away branch and root, and religion ceaſed to be in ſhew only, and began to flouriſh in the power thereof, how hath Satan laboured to blaſt the bl•ſſome of it with helliſh fum•s, and to eat away the very leaf thereof with infer­nall locuſts? Hence my ſoul hath ſtrongly concluded, That as when the Sun in its riſing is darkened with miſts, it port•nds the faireſt day: So, the Sun of the Goſpel preſent­ly after his extraordinary bright riſing in our Horizon, being clouded, puts us in an aſsured hope, that after he miſts are once diſpelled, it will break forth with a more dazeling luſtre, ſhining more and more unto the per­fect day.

The ſecond thing which refreſhed me was a clear diſco­very of much good already wrought and working by theſe unlikely means of diviſions. How many ſparks of truth have been beaten out by the colliſion even of flints? How much precious flowre of wholſome doctrine hath been clean purged from its bran by the ſomewhat violent ſhaking thereof in the ſcarce of diſputations? It was obſerved as one good effect of the claſhings of ancient times, in that thereby the ſpirits of ſome Worthies then living, were ſtirred up more fully to clear the truth. The quarelling of the Anti-trinitarians quickned holy Auguſtines learned diligence, and produced his Book de Trinitate. And there hath not wanted an Auguſtine in our times, whoD^r Channell. upon the ſame grounds hath done the like, whoſe name is hereby made precious, and will doubtleſse be ever menti­oned with honour in the Churches. Above all that moſt vexed queſtion of Infant baptiſm, upon what weak grounds hath it hitherto ſtood: In oppoſing whereof Satan and his Inſtruments have been moſt forward and cunning; and have concluded their objections irrefragable. But how fully and unanſwerably hath that truth been aſserted (as by o­thers, ſo chiefly) by learned Baxter? That God, who com­manded light to ſhine out of darkneſſe, doth often pro­duce the beſt effects out of the worſt cauſes. Adde to this, that hereby many hypocrites, unſound hollow-hearted pro­feſsors, have been clearly diſcovered, even by their falling off to errour. And thoſe who are faithfull unto the Lord, are made manifeſt. Reade and compare 1 Cor. 11. 19. and 1 Joh. 2. 19.

It is notoriouſly known to all that are not ſtrangers in our Engliſh Iſrael, how far the gangrene of errour hath prevailed and ſpread among us theſe ſeven years laſt past. I meddle not with what I have heard or read of in other Counties, (as doubtleſs all have had their ſhare, the diſeaſe being Epidemicall) theſe Weſtern parts ſeem to have not the least infection. We confeſs to our grief, the ſeducers have had more advantages over us, then poſsibly they could have otherwhere. They found generally an ignorant and credulous people, and therefore apt to be deceived: and the rather, becauſe many flocks are without a ſhepheard; or have a dumb dog, that cannot bark; or a blind watch­man that cannot ſee; or an hireling, that fleeth, when the wolf cometh. Hence they have ſeduced hundreds, unſetled thouſands, distracted and grieved all. Their impu­dent audaciouſneſs is ſuch, that they have interrupted and diſturbed many Miniſters in their publike exerciſe: and it is ordinary to come with a gang of ſouldiers, and prate on a tomb-ſtone, while the Minister preacheth in a pulpit. Nay they are grown to that height of confidence, as to chal­lenge learned Miniſters to publike diſputes; but with what ſucceſs, I preſume good Reader, thou art able to ſay, though I were ſilent.

Such a relation I am now to give thee of a diſpute, or ra­therHere are the ſigns and marks of an Apoſtle. jangling, had at Wiviliſcombe in the County of Somerſet, May 4. 1652. between three or four young de­ſpiſed Miniſters, and the whole ſtrength of the adverſary. I was an eye and ear witneſs of all, or the moſt, that paſſed: and becauſe I was preſent there, yet none of the number of the Lecturers, they deſired me to write, what I have, to give thee ſome light in the following Sermon and Narrative. I remember what Thales anſwered to one demanding, How far Truth was diſtant from a lye; As much〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. (ſaith he) as the eyes from the ears: Meaning that the eye was a faithfull ſpectatour, and authentique witneſs of things; but the ear was open to lies, and by it fictions and untruths had their entrance into the mind: and there­fore we ſhould credit their relations, whoſe ſeeing eyes had obſerved all paſſages; but worthily ſuſpect them, who were only able to give a blinde teſtimony. And there­fore I challenge belief from all ingenious Readers. I am not ignorant of the lying practiſes of Sectaries, who cry Victoria among their injudicious proſelytes, and it may be have prepoſſeſſed thee with ſome un­true relation: and therefore my Diſcourſe ſhall bring thee into the place, and (with the help of the enſu­ing Narrative) preſent to thy view the chief paſſages there.

Firſt I muſt tell the occaſion thereof. Thou must know,1. Occaſion. good Reader, that there is a weekly Lecture at Wiviliſ­combe aforeſaid: The Lecturers there unwilling that their meeting at the ordinary ſhould be without fruit, agreed among themſelves, that at ſet times they would, for their own better ſatisfaction, diſcuſse ſome of the moſt [at this day] vexed queſtions in Divinity. And becauſe hereſies grew apace, and many of thoſe parts fell away daily, they thought it meet to acquaint their hearers there­with, that all that would, might reſort to the place, and hear them.

The firſt Queſtion, propounded ſome weeks before, that the defendant might have ſome time to prepare himſelf, was, An juſtificatio ſit uno actu, ſimul & ſemel? Whether a beleever be actually justified from all his ſins, paſt, pre­ſent, and to come, at once, namely, upon the firſt act of faith, which he puts forth. This M ^r Fullwood, the Au­thor of the enſuing Sermon, held in the Negative: the reſt oppoſed. In the cloſe they all profeſſed their unanimous conſent to what had been made appear to be truth. At the next meeting was the Queſtion about the lawfullneſs of Infant baptiſme to be diſcuſſed; which M ^r Wood, the Miniſter of the place, held in the Affirmative. Their au­d•ence was now much increaſed, even to a chamber-full. In•he end the major part ſignified their being fully ſatisfi­ed about the lawfullneſs thereof. But all were not, or rather would not be ſatisfied. And here were the firſt ſparks out of which aroſe the after flame: the fewel whereof was the intemperate heat and ind•ſcretion of ſome, who threatned to bring Collier to the next meeting, if he were withinAn infamou­ſly famous Se­ctary. many miles of the place; and the courage of others, who promiſed to defend that, or any other Point, againſt him. The third Queſtion (which M ^r Howe held in the Affir­mative) was, Whether the now Miniſters of the Church of England, be the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt Excluſively? This was to be stated and diſcuſſed May 4. It ſeems that this aſſertion had as much offended thoſe ſeduced and turbulent ſpirits, as that of Infant baptiſme ▪ Hereupon ſwift notice was gi­ven to all or the most part of the Sectarians of the Weſt. In the mean time many threatn•ng and in­ſulting ſpeeches were given out by that party; as that no Presbyterian Miniſter durſt ſhew his head there, with much to that purpoſe. Nor was any thing more rife in every mans mouth, then the future diſpu•e at Wivili•­combe.

The day being come, and a great Congregation aſſem­bl•d, the diſcourſe, which hereafter is preſented, was pub­likely delivered, yet as a Lecture-Sermon only: however thou maiſt eaſily perceive by the drift thereof, that the Preacher intended it as an Antidote againſt Errour, and as a Muzzle for the mouthes of them that came to oppoſe. While he was praying before Sermon, Collier comes in, guarded as it were, with ſome ſouldiers, and a great company of his furious diſciples. It was much wondred, that he ſhould ſo patiently hear out ſo un­pleaſing a Diſcourſe; but we have cauſe to think, that the ſtrength of reaſon there urged and delivered, did ſo daunt and confound him, that he durst not in­terrupt; his courage being much quailed, and his minde diſtracted through fear, leaſt he ſhould not in all that daies diſpute, raze out that deep impreſsion, which that Sermon had made in the hearers. After Sermon ended, he ſtood up and ſignified his not being ſatisfied with what was ſpoken; and here began the di­ſpute.

2. Thou expecteſt an account, how it was carried on;2. Manner. but this as to the matter thereof is exactly and faithfully ſet down in the Narrative; thither therefore I ſhall remit thee: but ſome paſſages obſervable in the manner of it, I ſhall relate.

1. Obſervable: was the cunning craftineſs of theſe deceivers, which as it was diſcernable to an obſervant eye thorowout the whole action, ſo it more plainly ap­peared,

1. In the beginning: For as if their hearts had been of stone, and their browes of ſteel, they began the buſineſs with ſuch an impudent majeſty, as muſt needs ſtrike a kinde of horrour into fools; yea and strangely amuſe even honeſt men of the ſimpler ſort, who had ne­ver been acquainted with the impudent boldneſs of hereticks.

2. They would not ſuffer M^r Howe to ſtate the que­ſtion intended to have been d•ſcuſſed by the Miniſters: they feared belike, that he was too well provided for them: but with eager importunity required M^r Full­wood to maintain what he had delivered. They hoped to have foyled him, who had been tyred with a two hours preaching, and came nothing prepared for the diſpute, which they intended. For

3. Collier after ſome velita•ions, like a crafty ſoul­dier, drawes M^r Fullwood into the ambuſh of Infant-baptiſm, where they think themſelves invincible. But yet notwithstanding the diſadvantage of the question, and the confidence of the adverſary, they were charged ſo home, that they were beaten out of their place of ſtrength, and utterly routed, as the Narrative will ſhew.

4. They would ever and anon appeal to the people, eſpecially when their arguing was plauſible and ſpecious, or if there had been ſome verbal faultrings in any of the defendants. For they well know, that a Stentorean voice, and plauſible ſpeech, do much more prevail upon ignorant ſouls, then the ſtrongest reaſon or the most for­cible Argument. The Apostle hath given them this Character, Coloſ. 2. 4. And Tertullian (cited by Davenant upon the place) ſpeaks of hereticks; that Priùs perſuadent, quám edo­cent: (veritas autem docendo ſuadet, non ſua­dendo〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. docet.) It is the artifice of deceivers, firſt to perſwade, and afterward to inſtruct: but truth doth not ſo.

2. Obſervable: was Colliers notorious hypocriſie. When I had upon the deſire of the defendant given in my Greek Teſtament, that the Original might be ſearched about the true reading of a Scripture brought to prove the lawfullneſs of Poedobaptiſme, the defendant gave it into Colliers hand to read the place; who takes the book, and looking thereon, moves his lips, as if he had indeed read it. Is it not likely, good Reader, that he is skilled in the Greek, who inſtead of Primum mobile, wrote PrimumCollier in a Letter to M. Rob. Gorges of Oxford. obilum?

I might fill much paper, and waſt much time in reckon­ing up their non-ſenſe, abſurdities, poor and empty ſhifts and evaſions, to which they were driven; which were ſometimes ſo palpable, that the whole Aſſembly did more then once break forth into loud laughter. But I leave them to be conceived by the judicious Reader, who may, without fear of enlarging too much, gueſs at the reſt, by the enumeration of theſe few. But this I cannot omit, which I make

3. Obſervable: That Collier in my apprehenſion (and I think that I have five ſenſes) was put to ſilence more then once. But then, when the matter in queſtion was driven to an head, and he over-powred with ſtrength of Argument, and ſo non-pluſt, break­ing all the laws of diſputation, he would begin again, run­ning back to his Argument. And here alſo his fellowes would he•p him at a dead-lift; when he knew not what to ſay, they would fill up that vacancy with clamours against one or other.

4. Moſt obſervable was the good hand of God upon us, who there did cleerly own our Righteous cauſe: mightily ſupporting the ſpirit of M^r Fullwood, ſo that though he had preached two hours, yet he held out ſeven hours diſpu­tation more, without moving from the place, powring contempt upon Collier and his adherents; oh how vile were they in the eyes of the moſt! much ado to refrain hiſ­ſing them out of the place; There was often breaking out into cachinnations, inſomuch that Collier himſelf ſeemed much to be daunted! giving the Miniſters favour in the eyes of the people, yea of their very adverſaries, ſo that (which I look upon as no inſignificant demonſtration of the goodneſs of our cauſe) Collier himſelf (what wreſted it from him I know not,) ſpake openly to M^r Fullwoods com­mendation. Report alſo ſaith, that the adverſaries them­ſelves have ſince confeſſed, that they never met with ſuch oppoſition. Thanks be unto God, for his unſpeakable guift.

3. And what need I now ſpeak of the ſucceſs of this di­ſpute? 3. Succeſſe. The adverſaries themſelves know to their ſorrow, and we to our comfort, that then and there the Lyons skin was pluckt off from the Aſſe, which had made him for­midable before: And that, though there were their whole strength, yet, they received the greateſt foil that ever they did. And indeed what can any one conceive will be the ſucceſse of ſuch a conteſt, when the father of lies ſhall conteſt with the ſpirit of truth? When ignorance ſhall cope with learning, hypocriſie with piety, errour with truth? When an ignorant caviller ſhall diſpute with a prudent Logician? I confeſſe indeed their ſtrange cavils and ſophiſtry, made me not a little to marvell: ſo that I thought there had been a〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉or a tranſmigration of the ſouls of ſome Jeſuites into their bodies; or as if they had been principled by ſome Old Loyoliſt: Surely they never learned them at the Plough: But they were all ſo ſoundly elided, and their falſity ſo plainly demonstrated, that the people profeſſed themſelves to have received full ſatisfaction. So that by the goodneſse of God that daies a­ction wan great credit to the truth, reputation to the Ministry, an encreaſe to that [formerly] thin and very diſcouraging lecture, reclaimed ſome deceived ſouls, confirmed many; and is interpreted by ſome as a pledge of the fullfilling of that Promiſe, 2 Tim. 3. 9.

Some men may poſſsibly diſlike the action it ſelf, and queſtion the prudence and diſcretion of the Miniſters, who would ſo much undervalue themſelves as to conteſt with ſuch ignorant wranglers. But the happy ſucceſſe thereof may alone ſufficiently anſwer whatſoever may be objected againſt their ſo doing; to ſay nothing of the great ſuffer­ings of truth which were there likely to have been, had there wanted ſtrong oppoſition.