OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 57 



loose where God hath bound ? Amongst men it is 

 commonly as ill taken to turn back favours, as to 

 disobey commandments. In this kind of zeal, for 

 example, they have pronounced generally, and with 

 out difference, all untruths unlawful ; notwithstand 

 ing, that the mid wives are directly reported to have 

 been blessed for their excuse ; and Rahab is said by 

 faith to have concealed the spies ; and Solomon s 

 selected judgment proceeded upon a simulation ; and 

 our Saviour, the more to touch the hearts of the two 

 disciples with an holy dalliance, made as if he would 

 have passed Emmaus. Farther, I have heard some 

 sermons of mortification, which, I think, with very 

 good meaning, they have preached out of their own 

 experience and exercise, and things in private coun 

 sels not unmeet ; but surely no sound conceits, 

 much like to Parsons &quot; Resolution,&quot; or not so good ; 

 apt to bread in men rather weak opinions and per 

 plexed despairs, than filial and true repentance 

 which is sought. 



Another point of great inconvenience and peril, 

 is to entitle the people to hear controversies, and all 

 kinds of doctrine. They say no part of the counsel 

 of God is to be suppressed, nor the people defrauded : 

 so as the difference which the Apostle maketh be 

 tween milk and strong meat is confounded : and his 

 precept, that the weak be not admitted unto ques 

 tions and controversies, taketh no place. 



But most of all is to be suspected, as a seed of 

 farther inconvenience, their manner of handling the 

 Scriptures ; for whilst they seek express Scripture 



