222 The Duchess of Newcastle 



THE LADY PURITAN AND THE PREACHERS 



Madam, — ^The pure lady, or Lady Puritan, is so godly, 

 as to follow all those ministers she thinks are called 

 and chosen by the Holy Spirit, to preach the word of 

 God, whereas those ministers preach more their own 

 words, than God's, for they interpret the Scripture 

 to their own sense, or rather to their factious humours 

 and designs; and after their sermons, their female 

 flocks gossip Scripture, visiting each other to confer 

 notes and make repetitions of the sermons, as also 

 to explain and expound them. For, first the minister 

 expounds the Scripture, and then the women-hearers 

 expound the sermon; so that there are expoundings 

 upon expoundings, and preaching upon preaching, 

 insomuch as they make such a medly or hash of the 

 Scripture, as certainly the right and truth is so hidden 

 and obscured that none can find it; and surely the 

 Holy Spirit, whom they talk so much of, knows not 

 what they mean or preach, being so much and such 

 nonsense in their sermons, as God Himself cannot 

 turn to sense. But howsoever, it works on some to a 

 good effect, and causes as much devotion amongst 

 many, as if they preached learnedly, eloquently, 

 and interpreted rightly, and to the true sense and 

 meaning; for many sorrowful and penitent tears are 

 shed. But whether they be bottled up in Heaven, I 

 know not : certainly Mary Magdalen could not weep 

 faster for the time, or fetch deeper sighs, or stronger 

 groans for her sins, than they do, which shows that 

 they have been grevious sinners; but whether their 

 sins were of the same kind as hers were, I cannot tell, 

 and I think they would not confess, for confession 

 they account Popish. But truly, and verily, the Lady 



