The Subtle Sophistry of Watsons Sermons before Queen Mary, Preface
TO THOMAS WATSON Doctor of Diuinitie, Robert Crowley, Student of the ſame: vvysheth as to hymſelfe, the holy Spirite of God to direct him in all Godly ſtudie.
TWO THINGES CHIEFLYE, moued me to take in hande, to aunſwere your two Sermons, which you preached before Queene Marie, and cauſed to be ſet forth in print, in the yere of our Lorde. 1554. One is, for that the estimation that you hauehave in the Popes Church is ſuch: that whatſoeuer is knowne to be of your doing, is of that ſort thought to be ſo learnedly done, that none can be founde amongst vsus, able to aunſwere any part thereof. I therefore (much inferior to many of my minde in Religion) hauehave enterpriſed to encounter with you: hauing now (by Gods prouidence) a time of more leaſure therevnto, than at any time ſince my returne out of Germanie I hauehave had. Wyſhing that you hauing the lyke leaſure, might be licenced to replie to this aunſwere as you are able: that by the trauaile of vsus two nowe being at leaſure, the truth of the matters that you entreate of, might be made plaine to ſuch as woulde reade our wrytings, and ſeeke for knowledge by our labours.
The other is the ſubtile handling of the matters that you intreate of: which may eaſily diſceyue the ſimple Reader, and astunniſh the learned that hath not ſeene and weighed the places that you alledge for your purpoſe. The ſubtiltie whereof, I hauehave ſet open in ſuch ſort: that none can be diſceyued by you, but ſuch as be perſwaded that it is vnpoſsible for you to lye, or for me to write a truth. I knowe, we may both erre: and therefore, I would wiſhe that the readers of our writings ſhould ſet aſide all affections, & giuegive credit to neyther of both, further then they ſhall by our wrytinges he made vnderstand, that it is the truth that we teach.
As touching your perſon, you are to me vnknowne, as I thinke, I am to you: but what minde you were of in religion, when you made theſe Sermons, I can not but know, by reading and conſidering of the ſame, as you alſo muſt needes know, what minde I am of, if you will in like maner read and conſider this mine aunſwere.
According as Ieſus Christ hath taught, I doe louelove both your ſoule and body: and doe wiſhe both to be ſaued, by the bloud of that vnſpotted Lambe, that by his death and bloudſhedding, hath paide a ſufficient raunſome for the ſinnes of the whole worlde.
The errours that you hauehave taught, I doe vtterly abhorre, as detestable and damnable: wyſhing you and all other to doe the ſame. Embraceing now at the laſt, the knowne truth: which hath bene long time hid by ignoraunce, from the greateſt number that bare the name of Chriſtians, and is nowe by the knowledge of the holye worde of God, made knowne, to as many as will knowe it, and be not wilfull blinde.
Such truth as you hauehave taught, I doe wyllingly embrace: and doe not any thing at all, miſlike with any thing, for the Authors ſake. But my miſliking is, with the matter that is not to be lyked. And when I doe at any time ſeme to miſlike with the Author, it is for that his words hauehave no grounde in the holy worde of God, which is as the touchſtone to trie all mens writings by.
Let vsus both pray for the ſpirite of Humilitie, that we may thereby be made meete to receyue and retaine the knowledge of the truth: which God will neuer giuegive to the prowde, and ſuch as thinke themſelues peereleſse, and therefore diſdaine the brotherly admonitions of ſuch as in their ſight are to ſimple, to be teachers of ſuch as they be.
The Lorde Ieſus graunt that ſpirite to as many as profeſse his name: that we may once be of one minde in the houſe of the Lorde, to his glorie, and the confuſion of Satan. Amen.
FINIS.