The Cure of Misprision, Title page – Introduction
The Cure of MISPRISION: Or Selected Notes, upon ſundry queſtions in controverſie (of main concernment)▪
Betwen The Word, and The World.
Tending to Reconcile mens judgements, and Unite their affections.
Compoſed and Publiſhed for the common good: as being A probable means to Cure Prejudice, and Miſpriſion: in ſuch as are not paſt Cure.
by R. Junius.
Woe unto you when all men ſhall ſpeak well of you for ſo did their Fathers of the falſe Prophets.
Luke 6. 26.
LONDON.
Printed, by Tho. Paine, for Benjamin Allen, and are to bee ſold at his ſhop in Popes-Head Alley, 1646.
To the Reader.
COurteous Reader,
The diſeaſe to which this Cure is applyed, is epidemicall. The hearts of men beeing anatomized, it will bee found, that the grand cauſe of their alienation from, and oppoſition unto the waies of God: is a ſecret obſtruction, ariſing from that which as the ſeed of it, the Author calls Miſpriſion. This Book deſcribes the diſeaſe very lively, in the Symptomes of it, and preſcribes the Cure in a very artificiall method; laid downe in great variety of matter, and elegancy of conveyance. The receipt is made up of well choſen ingredients: ſtrong, and therefore likely to be operative; ſweet, & thereby inviting the patient to take it. If the Jaundies be removed out of thy eye wherby the things of God have been repreſented to thee in a falſe colour: Let the chief Phyſitian have all the glory of thy recovery, which is all the reward the confectioner expects for his paines.
THO: GOODVVIN. JO. ARROVVSMITH. RICHARD VINES.
To all ſuch, as ſpeake evil of the Way of Truth, and of the things, which they underſtand not. 2. Pet. 2. 12. by way of Preparative.
WEc deſire to heare of thee, what thou thinkeſt; for as concerning this Sect; wee know that every where it is ſpoken againſt, Acts 28. 22.
They cal evil good, and good evil; put darknes for light, & light for darknes; bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter; They iuſtifie the wicked, and take away the righteouſnes of the righteous from him. Iſay 5. 20. 23.
By honour and diſhonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, 2 Cor. 6. 8.
They think it ſtrange that ye runne not with them: unto the ſame exceſſe of ryot; therefore ſpeake they evil of you. 1 Pet. 4. 4.
Theſe things will they do unto you for my names ſake: becauſe they have not known the Father, nor me. Job. 15. 21. and 16. 3.
We ſpeake the wiſdom of God in a myſtery; even the hidden wiſdome which God ordain'd before the world, unto our glory; wch none of the Princes of this world knew, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8.
Becauſe they received not the love of the truth, tha… they might be ſaved, for this cauſe; God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould beleeve a ly; that they all might be damned; who beleeved not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſnes. 2 Theſ▪ 2. 10▪ 11. 12.
And this is the condemnation; that Light is come into the World: and men loved darkneſſe, rather then Light▪ becauſe their deeds were evil. For every one that evil doth hateth the light; leaſt his deeds ſhould bee reprooved. John 3. 19▪ 20.
Should men hold their peace at thy Lyes; and when thou mockeſt others, ſhall none make th…e aſhamed Job. 11. 3
We would have Cured Babylon, but ſhee would not be cured, Jerm. 51. 9.
This peoples heart is waxed fat, and their ears are dull of hearing; and their eys they have cloſed; le…t they ſhould ſee with their eyes, & hear with their eares; and ſhould underſtand with their hearts, and ſhould bee converted, and I ſhould heale them. Matth. 13. 15.
Conſider what I ſay, and the Lord give you underſtanding in all things. 2 Tim. 2. 7.