The Unreasonableness of the Separation Made Apparent, Title page – To the reader
THE VNREASONABLENESSE of the ſeparation.
Made apparant, by an examination of Mr. Iohnſons pretended reaſons, publiſhed an. 1608. Wherby hee laboureth to iuſtifie his ſchisme from the Church Aſſemblies of England.
1. Tim 1.5.6.7.
The end of the commandement is charitie, out of a pure heart, and of a good conſcience, and of fayth vnfayned. From which ſome hauing ſwa…ed, hauehave turned a ſide vntounto vaine Jangling, deſiring to bee teachers of the Law, vnderſtanding neither what they ſay, nor wherof they affirme.
AT DORT, Printed by George Waters. 1614.
TO THE WELL meaning Reader.
THink not euill, if thou meaneſt well, wee intend not to inſult over him that is downe, or to purſue a man that is flying of himſelfe: but to lend him a hand that knoweth not well which way to take. Mr. Iohnſon in deed, is rather to bee pitied, then much oppoſed: wee need but ſtand ſtill as lookers on: hee falleth willingly on his owne ſword but that his fall may bee a riſing againe, not onelyonly to himſelf, but to others alſo, both armour-bearers & followers of his: it was iudged neceſſarie, to guide them a litle while their heads are dizzy, & bring them fairly from of the bogge they hauehave ſtood on.
It is not Mr. Johnſon that is dealt with alone for change the name onelyonly, and put in Mr. Ainſworth, or any ſuch: themſelues will not ſay but the reaſons are theirs, and the anſwer, to them, as well as to him. Jt may bee that they hauing leſſe acquaintance with logicall formes of diſpute, will looke for large diſcourſe, or heaped quotations out of ſcripture. But reaſon will tell them, that many words doe rather hide them vntie the knot of a ſyllogiſme: and much quoting may proue ſome-thing, but anſwereth not directly to any thing. Now the wrighters meaning was, not to gather proofes, but to poynt at the weakneſſe of ſuch as theſe men hauehave gathered. Read therfore with vnderſtanding, and learn a mean betwixt All and Nothing.