OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 55 



time, and in the beginning of her majesty s reign, 

 was but in the cradle; and the bishops in those 

 times did somewhat grope for day-break, but that 

 maturity and fulness of light proceedeth from them 

 selves. So Sabinius, bishop of Heraclea, a Macedo 

 nian heretic, said, that the fathers in the council of 

 Nice were but infants and ignorant men : that the 

 Church was not so perfect in their decrees as to re 

 fuse that farther ripeness of knowledge which time 

 had revealed. And as they censure virtuous men 

 by the names of civil and moral, so do they censure 

 men truly and godly wise, who see into the vanity 

 of their affections, by the name of politics ; saying, 

 that their wisdom is but carnal and savouring of 

 man s brain. So likewise if a preacher preach with 

 care and meditation, I speak not of the vain scho- 

 lastical manner of preaching, but soundly indeed, 

 ordering the matter he handleth distinctly for 

 memory, deducting and drawing it down for direc 

 tion, and authorising it with strong proofs and 

 warrants, they censure it as a form of speaking not 

 becoming the simplicity of the gospel, and refer it to 

 the reprehension of St. Paul, speaking of the &quot; en 

 ticing speech of man s wisdom.&quot; 



Now for their own manner of preaching, what is 

 it ? Surely they exhort well, and work compunc 

 tion of mind, and bring men well to the question, 

 &quot; Viri, fratres, quid faciemus ?&quot; But that is not 

 enough, except they resolve the question. They 

 handle matters of controversy weakly, and &quot; obiter,&quot; 

 and as before a people that will accept of any thing. In 



