Male Audis, Preface
THE Preface to the Reader.
AS I did not beginne this preſent Controverſie, ſo I doe not deſire to hold up the Ball of contention: yet having appeared in it (neither alone nor without a calling and opportunity offered) I hold it my duty to vindicate the truth of Chriſt, the ſolemne League and Covenant, the Ordinances of Parliament, the Church of Scotland, and my ſelfe; for this end was I borne, and for this end came I into the world, that I might beare witneſſe to the truth. Wherunto I am ſo much the more encouraged, becauſe it appeareth already in this debate, that magna eſt vis veritatis, great is the force of truth, and ſo great, that my Antagoniſts (though men of parts and ſuch as could doe much for the truth, yet) while they have gone about to doe ſomewhat againſt the truth, they have mired themſelves in fowle errors; yea (ſo farre as in them lieth) have moſt dangerouſly ſhaken and endangered the authority of Magiſtrates, who are Gods Vice-gerents, and particularly the authority of Parliament, and of Parliamentary Ordinances; they have ſtumbled and fallen, and ſhall not be able to riſe, but by the acknowledgement of the truth.
In this following Reply, I have not touched much of the argumentative part in Maſter Huſſey his plea for Chriſtian Magiſtracy, reſerving moſt of it to an other worke, unto which this is a Prodromus. (howbeit much of what he ſaith, is the ſame with what I did confute in my Nihil reſpondes, and his Booke comming forth a monethmonth after, takes no notice of that ſecond peece of mine, but ſpeaketh onelyonly to the firſt) Meane while, let him not believe that his bigge-looking Title can like Gorgons head, blockify or ſtonify rationall men, ſo as they ſhall not perceive the want or weakeneſſe of Argument: It hath ever beene a trick of Adverſaries to calumniate the way of God and his Servants, as being againſt authoritie. But, I will by Gods aſſiſtance) make it appeare to any intelligent man, that the Reverend Brother hath pleaded very much againſt Magiſtracy, and ſo hath fallen himſelfe into the ditch which hee hath digged for others, whiles I withall eſcape.
But now what may be the meaning of MaſterMath. Martinius in lexi philol. Maledico, malum loquor ſive juſte ſive injuria. Colemans Cabbaliſticall Title, male dicis maledicis: Great philologs will tell him, that maledico is taken in a good ſenſe, as well as in a bad, according to the difference of matter and circumſtances. If any kind of malediction be juſtifiable, it is maledicere maledicis, to ſpeake evill to evill ſpeakers; for as he loved curſing, ſo let it come unto him: as he delighted not in bleſſing, ſo let it be farre from him. But, he doth worſe, and his Title with a tranſpoſition of letters, will more fitly reflect upon himſelfe male dicis de amicis: you Sir ſpeake evill of your friends, and of thoſe that never wronged you: For my part, I have not ſhared with him in evill ſpeaking, nor rendred revilings for revilings. I am ſorry that he is ſo extreamly ill of hearing, as to take reaſon to be railing, and good ſayings to be evill ſayings. He applyeth to himſelfe the Apostles words, Being reviled, we bleſſe. But where to finde theſe bleſſings of his, thoſe unwritten verities, I know not. I am ſure he had ſpoken more truly, if he had ſaid, being not reviled, we doe revile.
For the matter and ſubſtance of his Reply, there are divers particulars in it which ſerve rather to be matter of Mirth, then of Argument, as, that a Parliament paraſite cannot be called an abuſer of the Parliament, and that paſſage; How can a clauſe delivered in a poſt ſcript concerning my opinion of my way, be abuſive to the Parliament? A great priviledge either of poſt-ſcripts, or of his opinions, that they can not be abuſive to the Parliament. Many paſſages are full of acrimony: many extravagant and not to the point in hand: many void of matter; concerning ſuch Lactantius Lib 2. c. 4.gives me a good rule, otioſum eſt perſequi ſingula; It is an idle and improfitable thing to proſecute every particular. And much more I have in my eye the Apoſtles rule, let all things be done to edifying; 1 Cor. 14. 26I have accordingly endeavoured to avoid vaine jangling, and ſuch debates as are unprofitable and unedifying, making choice of ſuch purpoſes as may edifie, and not abuſe the Reader.
Peradventure ſome will think I might have wholly ſaved my ſelfe this labour; I confeſſe I doe not looke upon that which I make Reply unto, as if it were like to weigh much with knowing men, yet the Apoſtle tells mee that ſome mens mouths muſt be ſtopped, and Hierome tells me, there is nothingHieron. Euſtochio. written without skill, which will not find a Reader with as little ſkill to judge, and ſome men grow too wiſe in their owne eyes, when they paſſe unanſwered. Beſides all this, a vindication and clearing of ſuch things as I mentioned in the beginning, may by Gods bleſſing anticipate future and further miſtakes. Reade therefore and conſider, and when thou haſt done, I truſt thou ſhalt not think, that I have loſt my labour. I pray the Lord that all our controverſies may end in a more cordiall union, for proſecuting the ends expreſſed in the Covenant, and eſpecially the Reformation of Religion, according to the word of God, and the example of the beſt reformed Churches, and more particularly the practicall part of Reformation, that the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt may be kept from pollution, prophanneſſe and ſcandals ſhamed away, and pietie commended and magnified.