Letter Entreating a Friends Judgment, Title page – Encomium
A SHORT LETTER Modeſtly intreating a Friends judgement upon Mr Edwards his Booke, he calleth an Anti-Apologie: With a large but modeſt Anſwer thereunto. Framed (in deſire) with ſuch evenneſſe of hand, and uprightneſſe of heart, as that no godly man might be offended at it: And with ſoule-deſire alſo, That they, who are contrary-minded, might not be offended neither, but inſtructed.
Optimè locutus eſſet ſi non in fratres peſsimè.
The man had ſpoken very well, if not againſt his Brethren, very ill.
Mel. Ep.
foreign.
Chryſoſt.
There is ſomething unholy in His holy ones. His Angels he has charged with folly, &c.
Job. 4. 18.
1 COR. 4. 5. 1 COR. 11. 31.
Judge nothing before the time: except your ſelves, that ye may not be judged.
1 THES. 5. 21.
Prove all things: hold faſt that which is good.
LONDON, Printed according to Order. 1644.
Worthy Sir;
I Have heard of Mr Edwards Anti-Apologeticall Book, as I muſt needs doe, for all the City and Parliament rings of it. The most of them cry it up, and ſome few cry it downe; Truly Sir I could cry too, but neither up nor downe: For my heart is big with weeping, and I could wiſh my head a fountaine of teares, to bewaile the ſad effects which are likely to follow upon theſe differences of Religion, which are fallen out amongst Brethren. But that I may know alſo your affections, let me intreate you to caſt your eyes not careleſly over a few leaves but the whole Booke, that we may be inſtruments by the grace of God of healing thoſe breaches. Sir, your freedome of judgement hath not deceived me this 16. yeares in other matters of higheſt concernement, nor is it like to doe now ſince ſo many gray haires have covered the ſeate of it. Thus beſeeching the God of Truth and Peace to aſsist both your judgement and affections, I take my leave, remaining alwayes
Sir, Your many wayes obliged and moſt affectionate friend to ſerve you, SAM. HARTLIP. From my houſe in Dukesplace in great haſte Aug 5.