OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 33 



quam serii et joci.&quot; There is no greater confusion 

 than the confounding of jest and earnest. The ma 

 jesty of religion, and the contempt and deformity of 

 things ridiculous, are things as distant as things may 

 be. Two principal causes have I ever known of 

 atheism ; curious controversies, and profane scoffing : 

 now that these two are joined in one, no doubt that 

 sect will make no small progression. 



And here I do much esteem the wisdom and re 

 ligion of that bishop which replied to the first pam 

 phlet of this kind, who remembered that a fool was 

 to be answered, but not by becoming like unto him ; 

 and considered the matter which he handled, and 

 not the person with whom he dealt. 



Job, speaking of the majesty and gravity of a 

 judge in himself, saith, &quot; If I did smile, they be 

 lieved it not :&quot; as if he should have said, if I diverted, 

 or glanced upon conceit of mirth, yet men s minds 

 were so possessed with a reverence of the action in 

 hand, as they could not receive it. Much more 

 ought not this to be amongst bishops and divines 

 disputing about holy things. And therefore as much 

 do I mislike the invention of him who, as it seemeth, 

 pleased himself in it as in no mean policy, that 

 these men are to be dealt withal at their own wea 

 pons, and pledged in their own cup. This seemed 

 to him as profound a device, as when the cardinal 

 Sansovino counselled Julius the second to encounter 

 the council of Pisa with the council of Lateran ; or 

 as lawful a challenge as Mr. Jewel made to confute 

 the pretended catholics by the Fathers : but those 



VOL. vn. D 



