Concerning a Book by Christopher Lawne, Title page – To the reader
AN ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNING A BOOK LATELY PVbliſhed by Christopher Lawne and others, againſt the Engliſh exiled Church at Amſterdam.
By Richard Clyfton Teacher of the ſame Church.
Pſal. 57.4.
My ſoule is among Lyons: I lye among them that are ſet on fyre: even the ſonnes of men, vvhoſe teeth are ſpeares and arrovves, and their tongue a ſharp ſvvord.
Eſa. 50.6.
I gave my back vntounto the ſmyters, & my cheeks to them that plucked off the hayre: I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting.
Mat. 10.24.25.
The diſciple is not above his maſter, nor the ſervant above his Lord. It is ynough for the diſciple that he be as his maſter is, and the ſervant as his Lord. If they have called the maſter of the houſe Beelzebub, hovv much more them of his houſhold?
PRINTED In the yeare of our Lord, 1612.
The Preface to the Reader.
CHriſtian Reader, it is not unknowen, that when Thomas White publiſhed his Book, called A Diſcoverie of Browniſme, (as now againe of late, Chriſtopher Lawne & others with him have done theirs) that there was an Inquirie & Anſwer thereof written by the Paſtour of this Church, wherein he followed the particulars from point to point. In which regarde it may be thought leſſe needefull to write any thing about this latter Book, being of like matter and argument with the other. Yet in ſome reſpects, we have thought it not amiſſe, now to give thee this ſhort advertiſement, and the few obſervations following, about the contents of this latter Book alſo, eſpecially about that poynt of the diviſion made lately among us, and the articles given out thereabout. Concerning which there was not ſuch occaſion before, eyther in that Anſwer to Thomas VVhite, or in any other of our writings, to publiſh ſomewhat thereabout, as there was about the other matters cōteyned in this Book of theirs. And therefore for thy better ſtay and information, is the advertiſement following now given thee about theſe things: where they are more at large (though yet but briefly) ſpoken of. Which thou ſhal… do well to conſider of indifferently, and be not caried from the truth or againſt it by any ſiniſter meanes uſed to that purpoſe, but remember what hath ben the lot of the truth and ſervants of God in all ages. And as thy love is to the Lord Ieſus Christ, ſo let it appeare in the imbracing of his truth revealed, and i… giving witneſse unto the ſame. And the Lord our God increaſe in thyne hart, the riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding to knowe the myſterie of God,Col. 2.2. even the father, and of Chriſt, and to rejoyce in the faith and order preſcribed in his word. And he give thee to diſcerne thereof aright, that the entiſeing words of mans wiſdome, deceive thee not: but goe to the lavv and to the teſtimonie, if they ſpeak not according to this vvord, it is becauſe there is no light in them. Eſa. 8.20. So mayeſt thou ſoundly judge of things that differ. And the Lord give thee underſtanding in all all things. 2 Tim. 2.7.