8s. NEWTOWN TO MONTGOMERY, 



But at tlie fame ume that he combated enthu- 

 fiafm in his writings, his aflions proved that he was 

 himfelf an enthiifiaR. — Vv hen his treatife " De Ve- 

 ritate'* was finifhed, he long doubted whether it 

 ought to be given to the world, as, though he dill 

 confiders revelation of no utIHty, yet this differed 

 from all his other writings concerning the difcovery 

 of truth. 



" Being (fays he) thus doubtful in my chamber, 

 one fair day in the fummer, my cafement being 

 opened towards the fouth, the fun fhining clear, and 

 no wind ftirring, I took my books De Veritate in 

 my hand, and kneeling on my knees devoutly, faid 

 thefe words; ' O thou eternal God, author of the 

 light which now fliines upon me, and giver of all 

 inward illuminations^ I do bei'eech thee of thy inlinite 

 goodnefs to pardon a greater requeft than a fmner 

 ought to make ; I am not fatisfied enough whether 

 I fliatl publifli this book Be Veritate: if it be for 

 thy glory, I befeech thee give me fome figa from 

 Heaven, if not, I fhall fupprefs it.' I had no fooner 

 fpoken thefe words, than a loud, yet gentle noife, 

 came from the heavens (for it was like nothing on. 

 earth}, which did fo comfort and cheer me, that I 

 took my petition as granted,, and that I had the fign 

 I demanded. Whereupon alfo I refolved to print 

 my book. This, (how ftrange foever it may feem,) 

 I proteft, before the eternrjl God, is true ; neither 

 am I any way fuperflitioufly deceived herein, fmce I 

 did not only clearly hear the noife, but, in the 

 6 fereneil 



