Gangrena Part 1 and 2, Letter 3
An Extract of a Letter sent me from a worthy and godly Minister out of the Country.
Friend,
YOur last together with the Book, I received. I must confesse when I first saw your Title, I said it was none of those Aulus Gellius calls Illecebra… ad ligendum, &c. For what is a Gangraene but an abundance of corrupted bloud inflamed, &c. and yet for your sake I not run but read over the text, and found it every way answerable: And that you were indeed the Master of that Art, which (appointing the cure according to the cause) wisely prescribes cutting and flashing, scarifications, washings, not only with mulsum or water, but Vineger and Salt, unguentum E…yptiacum, burning Trochiskes, Ars…nicon sublimatum, and much more then you have yet applied, considering not only the creeping of this Canker, but that danger the whole body is in of no lesse then that Sphacelus of Atheisme, which not only good and godly Master Greenham, but old Bishop ☞ Lake himselfe long since prophesied would most probably over-runne this Realm, rather then Papisme; And why then should any speak of a Toleration, except à tollendo potius quam tolerando. Obsta principiis, &c. is one of the best Aphorisms of all the sons both of Hippocrates and Galen that I know. 'Tis sad, very sad to see our Anglia (as Spalatensis complains of his Rome) turned into Africa, new monsters every day, such horrid blasphemies, intolerable wickednesses, &c. Shall Vipers still be suffered to eate up the very bowels of their mother? I could tell you many a sad story of some that preach, pray, and prate, what not? Independents all, yea and Scholars, nay Ministers, yet not by Ordination. The people they say make Ministers, quoting Ezek. 33. v. 2. The Scriptures say they are obscure, no Assemblies, Synods, nor generall Councells more likely to teach the truth then the Sanctuary a particular Congregation, &c. These words were used praying for England. O blessed God, we have often already prayed in thy Sons name; now let us pray unto thee for thy Son—clothe thus all his enemies with shame, but, &c. An usuall strain in their prayers, is as followes, That God would pardon the Reformed Churches their great prophanation of the Lords day; and why is this used but to make them odious? Another strain, Who hath gained? Who hath given you so many victories, but the Independents? Liberty of Conscience Lord, &c. and all in our own Kingdom. The Millenary conceit is the common subject of Sermons, and a Church on earth without so much ☞ as an Hypocrite. Publike thanks was given to God, for that the London Petition for settling &c. took no better. A thousand such, and other passages of no small note, you may hear if you please but to visit your friends in these parts, whose very souls are so vexed, that I for my part am resolved (if it may be) to burie my self at my study, and stirre as little as I can to hear or see such, or the like abominations. And where now is Sodom, as some of their Brethren call'd old-England when they went off our shore to sea using that expression, farewell, farwell Sodom, &c. And what are they but Babell-Builders, whose tongues are so divided, that I doubt not of the downfall of their Babylon, which by interpretation saith Origen, signifies that confusion Christians should out of. Courage friend, let Divels that must be disposest, cry out, we torment them before their time. If ever the Jesuite will be at the hight, I suppose he is very neer now; who say no more but security if any thing will slay us, which God forbid. Thus with best salutes I rest, though in haste yet heartily
Yours March 30 1646▪