AN ADVERTISEMENT TOUCHING 



THE CONTROVERSIES OF THE CHURCH 



OF ENGLAND- 



IT is but ignorance, if any man find it strange, 

 that the state of religion, especially in the days of 

 peace, should be exercised and troubled with contro 

 versies: for as it is the condition of the Church mili 

 tant to be ever under trials, so it cometh to pass, 

 that when the fiery trial of persecution ceaseth, there 

 succeedeth another trial, which, as it were, by con 

 trary blasts of doctrine, doth sift and winnow men s 

 faith, and proveth whether they know God aright ; 

 even as that other of afflictions discovereth whether 

 they love him better than the world. Accordingly 

 was it foretold by Christ, saying, &quot; that in the later 

 times it should be said, Lo here, lo there is Christ :&quot; 

 which is to be understood, not as if the very person 

 of Christ should be assumed and counterfeited, but 

 his authority and pre-eminence, which is to be the 

 truth itself, should be challenged and pretended. 

 Thus have we read and seen to be fulfilled that 

 which followeth, &quot; Ecce in deserto, ecce in pene- 

 tralibus:&quot; while some have sought the truth in the 

 conventicles and conciliables of heretics and sectaries ; 

 others in the external face and representation of the 

 Church ; and both sorts have been seduced. Were 

 it then that the controversies of the Church of Eng 

 land were such, as they did divide the unity of the 

 spirit, and not only such as do unswathe her of her 



