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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B22558	The Popish labyrinth wherein is made manifest, that the Papists are entangled in the fundamental article of their faith, that the church cannot erre / written in Dutch by ... Dr. Simon Episcopius, unto which is added, The life and death of the author ; as also, The life and death of James Arminius, both of them famous defenders of God	Episcopius, Simon, 1583-1643.; Bertius, Petrus, 1565-1629. Oratio in obitum reverendi & clarissimi viri D. Jacobi Arminii. English.; Chardon de Courcelles, Etienne, 1705-1775? Short and compendious history of Simon Episcopius.	1673 (1673)	Wing E3163	56,195	122

of the Word of God endeavour to instruct him and so we expect that Time wherein the Lord God and Jesus Christ the only Judge of the Quick and Dead will pass Award of Life and Death By this means Consciences will be free Christians all quiet and peaceble and the Word of God the only Rule and Square of all Mens Actions FINIS JAMES ARMINIUS For Learning Mildnesse and for Sanctitie Few ever had with him Equalitie The Life and Death OF JAMES ARMINIVS AND SIMON EPISCOPIVS Professors of Divinity in the University of Leyden in Holland Both of them famous Defenders of the Doctrine of Gods Universal Grace and Sufferers for it Now published in the English tongue The memory of the just is Blessed Pro. 10.7 LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliff and Nath. Thompson for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar 1672. THE PREFACE Courteous Reader THe Title-page of the Book presented here to thy view does sufficiently inform thee what in the general thou art to expect therein The book is so little and may be read over in so short a time that it is altogether needless to give a further account of its Contents A large Preface me thinks would be uncomely as being unproportionable to the Building And indeed thou hadst not at all been troubled with any Proem how short soever If I had not a few words to speak touching my work in this English Narrative Although I was much perswaded and well assured in my self that a Work of this kind might be of great advantage to those of my Countrey men who have ears for no other but their Mother tongue especially to them who have been abused by the Tongues or Pens of any that have exposed to obliquy and reproach the venerable names of these two reverend men which alas many have done especially as to Arminius for the other I mean Episcopius has not been so generally taken notice of and his name was not here so publickly known till the Doctrine which both of them contended and suffered for was more commonly known and received amongst us Yet was it far from me to undertake of meer choice this endeavour being not so well conceited of mine own abilities as to thrust my self into this Imployment nor so destitute of work as to need this for securing and keeping my self out of idleness but by the importunate solicitation of some good men I was prevailed with and drawn unto it The Historie of Dr. Arminius is nothing else but that Elegant Latin Oration here turned into plain English which learned Bertius delivered in such an Assembly where he could not deliver untruths and remain undetected I have indeed scarce pleased my self in translating so Grammatically and verbatim the Testimonies there produced Yet have so done that some might not be displeased who deem such a translation in such cases to be at least convenient That which thou hast here touching Episcopius is taken chiefly out of that excellent and large Preface prefixed to one of the Volumes of his Works and written by Stephen Curcellaeus of blessed memory In what I have done in the whole I am not conscious to my self of any unfaithfulness neither am I unwilling to constitute mine Enemies judges of the performance in case they be fit to examine and not resolved to be unrighteous in judgment Reader I shall no longer detain thee from the profitable exercise of reading the following Narrative which God almighty bless to thy use Farewell J. K. THE ORATION of Peter Bertius concerning the life and death of that Reverend and most Famous Man Mr. James Arminius which after his sad funeral was delivered in a Theological Auditory * the Divinity School in the Universi●y of Lyden Octob. 22. 1609. Magnificent Reverend Most noble Most learned Auditors AS heretofore I have oft experienc'd how hard and how difficult a thing it is to speak of Excellent persons in an assembly of Renouned men So now especially I have thereof a sensible knowledge it being my task at present to speak in this place concerning that Reverend man Mr. James Arminius Dr. of sacred Theologie and this after the sad solemnity of his Funeral For sith that a good man is the rule and measure of things he therefore that would describe to others such a person must be carefull to choose out and offer such things to their view by which humane life may receive advantage in the study of vertue Good things that lie in secret must be brought on the stage and made publick and those things which either Modesty hath concealed or Envy diminished or Calumny defamed or which others through want of skill have not observed those things I say when the curtain 's drawn back and a light brought in must be shown openly and declared by words that all may behold what in every one is most praise worthy and what is fit for their imitation Whence it comes to pass that the greater every ones vertue is the more difficult it is to act the Orotors part in speaking of him for the greatest Envy keeps company with the greatest Vertue And sith that a wife man doth nothing without Reason and it being difficult to explicate and unfold at every turn the principles and causes of particular actions on which the judgment to be made of every thing does depend it must needs be very difficult to judge of excellent persons all whose life is full of diverse examples for the well instructing of others how to judge how also to live And this also may be added that he who takes upon him this imployment must very frequently have recourse from the law to a mans life and from his life to the law for these need each the other and as the law gives notice what must be done so what may be done the life sheweth Now a wise man hath both these in himself just after the example of Christ our Lord and Saviour who first said Learn of me and of his Apostle who thus admonisheth Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ And as heretofore Polycletus not contenting himself that he had written a book wherein he had noted all things to be observ'd by him that would artificially make the image or statue of a man did himself afterwrrds make the statue of a man lest he should seem to prescribe that to others which himself hap not observed and this statue made publick he call'd the Canon or Rule commanding that the lineaments of art should be fetch'd thence as from a law of direction So a good man when he hath admonish'd others what they must doe does first himself perform what he prescribes to others Now it is hard either to bring all a wise mans actions to their proper rule and law or in one to find the Examples of all laws But as for me who am at this day to speak in this honourable assembly of learned men concerning the life and death of that Reverend and Incomparable man

SIMON EPISCOPIUS This Pictur 's Substance was a matchlesse wight In Learning boldnesse and a life Upright THE Popish Labyrinth Wherein is made manifest That the Papists are entangled in the Fundamental Article of their Faith That the Church cannot Erre Written in Dutch by that holy and learned Man Dr. SIMON EPISCOPIUS Vnto which is added The Life and Death of the Author As also The Life and Death of JAMES ARMINIUS Both of them famous Defenders of God's Universal Grace and Sufferers for it Now published in the English Tongue By J. K. The memory of the Just is blessed Prov. 10.7 LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange and at the same sign first Shop without Temple-Bar 1673. Christian and pious Readers IF you have but to any considerable measure conversed with the Writings of our Protestant Writers either of late or formerly against the Papists you will find that they have abundantly proved them to be if not an apostatical and false yet at least an erroneous and Schismatical Church and one that hath little cause so to boast and magnifie her self upon her pretended Priviledges of Truth and Infallibility above others as she doth That many Worthies of the Protestants both of former times and of late have written sufficiently to have convinced the Popish Partie of their gross and palpable Errors and to prove that they are nothing less than what they pretend to viz. Infallible or such as are not nor can be obnoxious to mistake any one that hath read their Writings and is but master of an ordinary measure of Reason Ingenuity and Impartiality will confess That many Worthies of the Protestants both of former and latter Times have sufficiently yea abundantly proved the Church of Rome if not wholly an apostatical and false yet at least a most grosly erroneous and corrupt Church no man of ordinary Ingenuity and Reason will deny To wave what hath been written for their Conviction by those more Ancient one would think that what some excellent Men of late Mr. B. Dr. Tiliotson and Dr. Stillingfleet have written against them would have put to utter silence their Ignorance and Folly And that they would not have had a word to plead for their Infallibility who have been found to err so grosly and palpably concerning the Faith in many the weightiest Doctrines of the Gospel as they have done but that they would have acknowledged the mighty Power of Truth and have said it is worthy to prevail But so little prevalent with them is the Light of Truth though shining never so bright both in the Scriptures and Reason that their Folly though never so much brayed thereby will not depart from them They still hold as fast as stiffly their grosly irrational and anti-scriptural and absurd Doctrines of Image-worship Transubstantiation Indulgencies Angel-worship Saint-worship or Invocation of them Purgatory c. as ever and will do All Arguments drawn from Scripture and Reason yea from common Sense it self are but as Brass with the Leviathan they esteem them all but as rotten Wood. But you will say Whence or how came this Spirit of Infatuation upon them Why the Apostle will tell you 2 Thes 2.10 But you will say This is an hard saying No not at all If men shew themselves so absurd as not to be ruled by any thing whatsoever that God hath appointed for their right-Ordering and Guidance it is evident that they are wicked as well as absurd 2 Thess 3.2 But you will go on to ask How comes this Infatuation to be so inveterate with them and impossible to be removed This our excellent Author in this little Treatise will tell you 1. They take it for an undeniable Maxime than which yet there is nothing more false that the true Church cannot err 2. They assume which is also as hard yea impossible to prove and so as false as the former that they are that true Church which cannot err or is so infallible Whilest they hold these two Positions you were as good dispute with a Post as go about to convince them of Error let them commit Errors if it were possible Seventy times seven more in Number and more gross and absurd in their Nature than they do Well then what shall or can be done for them for their recovery and for preventing others from incurring the like Distemper of Absurdity and Unreasonableness I answer By following the Directions here brieffly given and taken dextrously from them accordingly these two Maximes Now this you will effectually do if you put them to prove or but to shew you 1. What is that Church that cannot err and who is the Head of it This you you will find an impossible Task for them to perform 2. Put them likewise to prove if they could assign him as they cannot that the Head of their Church cannot err either from Scripture Reason or Fathers and you will find them at the same Loss And indeed no better help will they find from Succession and Antiquity than from the former for that proof of their first Maxime 2. As to the second Maxime that falls of it self viz. That they are that true Church that cannot err For if they cannot tell what is that Church that cannot err or who is the Head of it then cannot they say they are that Church For so they would say they know not what But enough of this For your Prevention and mine own reade this most excellent and learned Treatise written in Dutch by the pious and renowned Dr. Simon Episcopius from thence translated into Latin and now rendred into English which with the Blessing of God upon your serious Perusal may tend to your Reducement from any Hankerings after Popish Trumpery and Establishment in the Truth which is after Godliness And the Blessing of God goe along with it Amen The Popish Labyrinth c. CHAP. I. Of two sorts of Men with whom it is in vain to dispute THere is no Labour that is undertaken with greater Wearisomness and les● Profit than a dispute undertaken with those men who either will not be taught better or as it were being willing to learn better and breathing after the best and clearest Truth dispute of no other things but those which after they have been fully disputed leave the Disputants at as great an uncertainty as they were before whether the certain and necessary truth be found or no. The first are willing to remain in Ignorance The second though they would not seem on purpose and deliberately to love their Ignorance yet do they waver to and fro with uncertainty concerning the Truth yea and that oftentimes then too when after many and difficult Labours sustained they shall seem to have obtained the Victory in Dispute To desire to dispute with either of these two sorts of Men is all one as if one should plow the Sea-shore or beat the Air. To desire indeed to deal with those men with Reasons who

alone onely can and ought to do it CHAP. XI What may be the Cause or Original of the Popish Labyrinth BUt some one will say by this Means the Business indeed is made intricate but there is no way shewed to untie this Gordian Knot But say I the Way to unty this Knot is not so hard if we mind the Fountain and very Original of it For it ariseth hence that Men in this World desire an outward Ease and Peace an easy and delicate Religion the which to obtain they seek for an infallible Judge speaking in the Church who Authoritatively may decide all Controversies and to whose Award and Judgment the Consciences and Tongues of all should be obliged or bound so that it shall not be lawful to contradict it and if any refuse to acquiesce in his Judgment he ought to be subdued by Force under Pain of Death and his highest Displeasure In a word they endeavour of the Church of Christ to make a wordly Policy and for that End forbid the Laicks and common People of the reading the Sacred Scripture lest Confusion arise in the Church and the Clergie that are admitted thereunto they command that they read not the Scripture upon any other Terms or condition but to understand and interpret it according to the Mind and Sense of this Judge or upon an express Proviso added that they will not understand it otherwise although they do understand it otherwise This is the Spring and Original of this Evil as long as this is not withstood the Labyrinth of Errours will remain I grant indeed that at the first Veiw it doth not seem so unreasonable that some Judge should be appointed in the Church because otherwise there can be had no end of Questions and Controversies about Religion But in very Deed and in Truth it is but the Device and Appointment of those men who either endeavour to introduce a Tyranny being desirous of Rule Or study their own Accommodation being indeed Lovers of Ease more then of the Truth Or at least shelter themselves partly under a Desire of the Churches Tranquillity partly under the Pretence of Simplicity Piety and Humility The Matter is clear For if God or the Lord Jesus Christ had thought it necessary or useful that there should be alwayes such a Judge speaking in the Church they would have declared it even expresly and not only that but they would withal clearly and palpably have pointed out who and where that Judge should alwayes be that we might not be deceived And so might have Recourse unto him as unto a Place of Refuge Yea farther Christ would first and chiefly have taken Care of this and the Apostles would have prest it before all the Articles of Faith because all Things ought necessarily there to issue For by such a Judge all things might have been decided and composed But indeed on the Contrary because neither Christ nor his Apostles have done this it cannot but be an humane Device and Project built upon a wordly and outward Tranquillity and Conveniency and favouring of Tyranny and usurped Domination For for any one of his own Head to appoint such a Judge is a piece of over-great boldness and the highest Treason against the divine Majesty that can be again and fit or apt to enslave the whole World under everlasting Errours and Condemnation As to what they say That Christ delivered or gave the Keys to Peter it is too light to build the whole Office of a Judge upon it For seeing this is a Business so hard and so highly concerns the whole World even Christ who came to save the World would have declared that this was the Sense of his Words saying since I grant this Power and Priviledge to Peter I will that all the rest of the Apostles be excluded and furthermore that those who succeed Peter not at Antioch or at Jerusalem but only at Rome should inherit that Right or Priviledge of Supream Judicature and that all Christians should be bound or tyed to this Judge even to the worlds End or Consummation of Ages Thus Christ would have roundly and clearly exprest his Mind and Menning and indeed who in a matter so arduous would have expected other from Christ who is a Lover of Men Although the whole Scripture from Head to Foot had been nothing but a far-setcht Allegory and continued Obscurity it could nothing haue prejudiced us because the Judge of the Sentence thereof would be known this one Thing if it were clear and undoubted all other Articles although seemingly difficult would be most easily understood CHAP. XII That the judging of Truth according to or out of the Word of God belongeth to every private Man BUt Now because we see the Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles have in the holy Scripture clearly and plainly exprest all Things necessary for a Christian to believe hope and do and will that the said Scriptures be with all diligence read over and inquired into by all that are desirous of Salvation and the Way that leads thereunto and that withal with an accurate Examination and Tryal of all things and Spirits whether they be of God under the Pain of eternal Condemnation and there be no one tittle any where in all their Writings extant of any such infallible speaking Judge alwayes to be in the Church much less where he is to be found We cannot but judge that those who desire such a Judge in the Churches are moved thereunto by Considerations far otherwise then Divine and that they render themselves guilty of the greatest sin and crime to wit of Dominion and Tyranny or abitrary Power over the Word of God and the Consciences of Men. That in wordly Concerns there are appointed Judges by whose Judgment and Award we must stand the Case is far different For to their Judgment the Consciences of Men are not bound it is free for every man to believe or judge of their Awards Judgments and Decisions as he please The Award of the Judges is to be commended with our Mouth not to be approved without Hearing Withall oftentimes their Judgments and Awards a long while after are by contrary Judgments and Awards null'd or corrected But when the Business is about Conscience Religion Salvation eternal Life or eternal Condemnation there ought to be no Judge there but God or he to whom God hath expresly and in Terms committed and given this Power that a man may most rightfully say if God hath given this Priviledge to the Church of Rome it is the best yea the only Church and on the contrary if it be evident that God hath not given this Right it is the most abominable pernicious and filthiest Church that can be again upon the Earth But you will say what End will there be then This say I that the Word of God be impune and freely read by all that no mans Conscience be tyed to the Judgment of others that one man love another and by the best Means out

Doctor James Arminius not only those difficulties which I have now mentioned stand in my way but many others also My Grief yet fresh for the loss of a friend presseth me the consideration of a sad family an afflicted wife nine fatherless children disturbs me the Lamentation of the University moves me but I am astonished to think of the Church and Common wealth deprived of a man so greatly usefull All which things in a wound so fresh not yet skinn'd over may easily put to a loss the most eloquent and the wisest man whosoever he be To what hath been spoken may be added That he himself whilst he liv'd greatly dislik'd all pompous funeral solemnities for he knew that the first step to the veneration and worshiping of Saints was hence and he deem'd that it unbecomes us to desire and use such Solemnities that had such hazards attending on them But seeing our present condition seems to be such that we need not in the least to be afraid of this for alas hitherto are we come that henceforth it may seem needfull to use diligent care rather to bring in devotion than drive superstition out And sith that it concerns all men that examples of vertue being drawn forth should be proposed for all to look upon I have according to the custom through the request of friends and the Senate willing it undertaken that difficult task which I could not refuse without the violation of Christian charity and the breach of the obligation of that friendship which I have maintain'd with him from my very youth Which things being so I hope there will no reprehender of this my duty be found in this assembly of excellent oratours in which there is no one but is able more gravely and elegantly to perform this charge than my self Notwithstanding I beseech and most humbly intreat you Magnificent Reverend and most learned Auditors to suffer the things I shall speak to be of credit and account with you We have committed to the bosom of the earth the body of that Reverend man Mr. James Arminius or rather the temple of the holy Ghost which has been shaken worn broken with labours watchings conflicts diseases troubles We have committed it I say in certain hope of a blessed resurrection which he himself whilest he liv'd believ'd and unto which he directed all his thoughts and purposes The place of his birth was Oldwater a little Town long since made famous by the interflowing river Isala and the pleasantness with the fruitfulness of the adjacent country and the frugality with the industry of its Inhabitants He in this Town first saw the Sun in the year 1560. in which year the Conference at Possiack in France began in which conference our Deputies pleaded the cause of two thousand one hundred and ninety Churches that did humbly and earnestly desire of the King peace and tranquility and the liberty of professing their faith This year this Oldwater as another Sparta gave Arminius as another Lacon to the world which Town notwithstanding at other times brought forth John de Oldwater Cornelius Valerius and that excellent old man whom ye here behold Mr. Rudolphus Snellius the ornament not onely of his native place but also of this whole University and especially of them who are of the Senatorie rank and quality Arminius whilest an infant lost his father His mother a widow burthened with three children lived all her life long in a mean estate but honestly There was then in that Town a certain Priest a man honest and grave Theodore Aemylius by name whose memory by reason of his singular learning and holiness of life is yet blessed among the living He when he had got a tast of a better and more pure doctrin in Religion determin'd with himself that he would not once more celebrate the abominable sacrifice of the Mass therefore he oft changed his place of abode and lived sometimes at Paris sometimes at Lovane sometimes at Colon sometimes at Vtrecht He therefore took care that this fatherless child James Arminius so soon as his age was capable of instruction might be furnished with the first rudiments of the Latin and Greek tongue and with the principles of true piety and religion And when he perceiv'd in him some appearances of an excellent disposition to vertue he oft times exhorted him that all considerations of earthly things being layd aside and contemned he would give up himself to follow after God and his conscience He told him that the time of mans life here is but short that there follows a condition after this life which should be estimated not by outward adversity or prosperity but by the Eternity of happiness or death This Exhortation afterwards confirmed by a diligent reading of the holy Scriptures and pious meditations was setled upon his heart And so he through the hope of that life underwent every labour all hazards with a glad and chearful mind But after he had for some years thus liv'd o● Vtrecht an unexpected calamity did oppress him by means of the death of that good old Religious man which the merciful God did suddenly mitigate for presently upon his death Mr. Snellius who long before flying the Spaniards tyranny went to Marpurg came as it hapned out of Hassia into that Countrey He therefore carried away with him into Hassia in the year 1575. this his Country-man Arminius now destitute of all humane help and succour He was scarce set down there when in the Moneth of August the report of his Countreys desolation is brought thither He hears that the Town was taken by the Spaniard that the Garrison were slain that the Townsmen were kill'd and the Town burnt With this report he was so much stricken at the heart and so greatly troubled that he spent 14 whole days in continual weeping and tears Therefore as one impatient he left Hassia and went with speed into Holland being determined either to see the ruines of his Country or to loose his life When he was come thither he found nothing but where the Town stood and the ruines of it and understood that most of its Inhabitants were finally slain together with his Mother his Sisters his Brothers and his Kindred He therefore returned even on foot out of his own Country to Marpurg in Hassia In the mean while this new Ac●demy was erected and opened by the authority of the most Illustrious Prince of Orange which as soon as he understood he prepar'd for a journey home He came therefore to Roterdam to which place were come from Amsterdam many faithfull Exiles and most of Old-waters Inhabitants that had escaped the sword of a cruel enemy At that time my Father Peter Bertius was the Pastor of that Church but Mr. John Taffinus was the Princ's French Preacher and Counsellor both these were wonderfully pleased with the young mans towardliness readiness and wit Now seeing it was long before my Father was acquainted with learning for he was 30. years old before he had

been said by the Professors Subscribed John Kuchlinus Regent And thus indeed these things passed at that time Afterwards the Senators of the High Court by the will of the illustrious States at the Hague took cognisance of those things that were reported What their opinion of the whole matter was I should now relate but that I think all here present have the knowledge thereof But whilest Christs Champion thus wrastles he was at the length laid on his sick bed by a disease which by his labours continual sitting constant studies and conflicts incurting without any discharge he had at the last contracted Now what wonder is it if he were moved and troubled at that which might expose to lose his good name his salvation and his labours sith that nothing is of more account to a good man than his good name nor to a Christian than his salvation nor to a Dr. of Sacred Theology than demonstrations taken out of the Scripture Oppression saith Solomon makes a wi●e man mad That same brought him grief his grief brought his disease and this was the cause of his death Oh horrible evil and viperous and raised from the lowest part of Hell How oft have we heard him privately crying out even with sighing in the words of the Prophet Wo is me my mother that thou hast born me a man of contention to the whole earth I have neither lent on usury nor any hath lent to me on usury and yet all men curse me Notwithstanding he himself recalled himself to the inclosures of reason and tranquility being always couragious always patient and gentle towards his brethren for whose sake he was ready to suffer patiently or as it were to devour any reproaches whatsoever from the malevolent and to forget or concoct them not with a Cato's stomack but that which was wrought in him by the Spirit of Christ But his disease lurking in his bowels brake out especially on the 7th of Feb. this year which at that time so discovered it self that the Physicians forthwith judged that there was need of a slow and cautious curation Now although at the begining of his sickness he could hardly move himself Notwithstanding when he could having now and then some ease and respite he omitted not the labours of his lectures and vocation nor was he wanting to his cause when need was Therefore again and again being called he with speed went to the Hague and there publish'd a famous profession of his faith before many witnesses and after that last friendly conference he with this one thing after God and the testimony of his own conscience comforted himself that in a common assembly of all Holland he was patiently heard by his most gentle Masters to whose prudence he attributed so much that if he should dye he did hope that there would not be those wanting that would defend by the patronage of their wisdom and favour the equity of that cause which they once heard debated Being carryed home from the Hague he had scarce set himself to that which his masters commanded viz. To write out that exactly which he had proposed in the friendly conference but the force of disease again assaulted him by so much the more vehemently by how much the more it had increased by delay and the weakness of his strength Therefore being pressed with his disease he by letters written to the illustrious States modestly excused himself that he could not at the day appointed obey their will saying That by sickness he was for●t to keep his bed that he had written a great part which God so willing it he was now compell'd to break off from That he had been at another time heard and that the whole matter was then exhibited in writing that that might be as much as necessity required Notwithstanding if they should at all desire those same things he had written that he would take care that they should have them either full and perfect if he by the grace of Christ should be restored or abrupt and broken if he should die Moreover tha he was so far from doubting any whit of that confession he had published that on the contrary he did stedfastly judge that it agreed in all things with the holy Scriptures Therefore that he did persist therein That he was ready at that very moment to appear with that same belief before the tribunall of Iesus Christ the Son of God the Judge of the quick and dead In the mean while the force of his disease daily increased whilst the most famous and most expert Physicians Dr. Pavius Dr. Sebastian Egbert Dr. Henry Sael Dr. Reener Bont resisted it as much as was possible by Art and. Industry and pleasingly allured natures forces but in vain for the untamed obstinacy of the disease scorned art it self For it was deeper planted than to be plucked up it stirred up daily new Symptomes Fevers the cough the extension of the hypoconders difficulty of fetching of breath oppression after meat troublesome sleeps an atrophie the gout and gave to him no intermission of rest Afterwards came the Iliac passion and the Colick with an obstruction of the left optick nerve and an obfuscation or dimness of the same eye In the mean while calumny was as cruel and abated nothing of its accustomed fierceness of which I shall here mention a cruel unworthy and abominable instance which is fit to be recorded for after ages When that dimness of one of his eyes was known there were some that durst account this among those punishments which God threatens to his enemies and wicked contemners of his name and did affirm even from this punishment that he was very wicked beyond others And that there might not be wanting a pretext and colour to this so filthy and cruel a deed the sacred Books are consulted with which a Christian may not approach without reverence and prayer A place is found in the Prophet Zechary concerning the consumption of the eyes and the whole body sounding thus And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet and their eyes shall consume away in their holes and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth Zech. 14.12 And another place Wo to the Idol shepheard that leaveth the flock the sword shall be upon his arm and upon his right eye His arm shall be clean dried up and his right eye shall be utterly darkened Chap. 11.7 This place was wrested against this holy servant of Christ who indeed was afflicted in body but in his soul always happy but now even most happy and blessed I tremble at the remembrance of so enormous and detestable and ungodly deed Who art thou oh man that condemnest thy brother for whom Christ shed his blood What dost thou revile that servant of God with oracles fetched as it were from heaven it self whom they that shall come after us

and shall not be ungratefull will acknowledge to have exceeding well deserved of the whole Church of Christ Why dost thou take unjustly to thy self a power of condemning thy brother whom the Lord hath commanded thee to love Hear him Neither this man hath sinned nor his parents but these things are done that the works of God may be made manifest Hear him again Judge not that ye be not judged Hear the Apostle It is with me a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of mans judgment He that judgeth me is the Lord Therefore judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart And then shall every man have praise of God Art thou so assured of what shall happen to thy self as to know for certain that thou thy self shalt not be tormented with more bitter pain and dolour And yet 't was not his right eye that was amiss neither was it blindness but only a dimness and his arm was not dried up but swelled His tongue truly even to the last moment of his life readily discharged its office Thus things above things below things on the right hand things on the left things divine things humane wait together on these wretched Hierophants Expounders of divine mysteries to serve them when they will There were somes who playing on his name devised Vani orbis amicus i. e. A friend of the vain world as if impiety was not sometime bold to do the same on the sacred name of Christ Go your wayes for beetles the unprofitable things of the world What will ye not attempt to do on the servant who have not spared God himself and the Lord of life But I return to that which I made digression from He although tired with all these evils yet notwithstanding kept a stedfast courage and quiet mind He therefore never abated any thing of the pleasantness and comely gracefulness and accustomed cheerfulness of his countenance and candor of heart his most ardent prayers ascending to God for himself and the concord of the church How frequent how fervent in his sickness were his ejaculations to Jesus Christ What joyes did he promise himself With what perseverance of faith did he expect his last day in the world If the brethren did compose themselves to prayers and he himself was hindred by pain he now and then desired them to stay till he should come to himself that he might together with them perform this brotherly office These few forms of prayers among many more were noted OH great Shepheard of the sheep who by the blood of the everlasting covenant wast brought again from the dead Oh! Lord and Saviour Jesus be present with me thy weak and afflicted sheep Oh Lord Jesus the faithfull and mercifull High priest who wast willing to be tempted in all things like unto us but without sin that thou learning by experience it self how hard it is to obey God in sufferings mightest have compassion on us in our infirmities have pity on me and succour me thy servant who am sick an pressed with many afflictions Oh God of my salvation make my soul fit for thine heavenly kingdom my body for the resurrection Now when upon the increasing of his disease he was admonished by the physicians that by reason of the doubtfullness of his life he would set his house in order and that if any thing were to be given in charge by his last will and testament he would take care to do it he then composed himself for death with such great quietness of mind that friends standing by who had observed the whole manner of his life admired at his so great and so heroick moderation in the last act and they took from him the last example of dying blessedly of whom long before they had learned many things for the well ordering of their lives He then perceiving that the time of his dissolution was at hand and not being ignorant of the Devils stratagems took speciall care when he made his will to give a brief Account of his designs and of his life This because it contains the duty of a faithfull Teacher I shall recite for an Example and for a Testimony Out of his will or Testament BEfore all things I commend my soul when it shall depart out of its body into the hands of God its Creator and faithfull Saviour before whom I witness that I have with a good conscience singly and sincerely walked in my charge and calling taking heed with much solicitousness and carefulness not to propose or teach any thing which I had not found by a diligent search out of the holy Scriptures to agree exactly with the same Scriptures and that I have taught those things which might conduce to the propagation and amplification of the truth the Christian religion the true worship of God common piety and holy conversation among men Lastly to tranquility agreeing to the Christian profession and peace according to the word of God excluding from among these Papacy with which no verity of faith no bond of piety and Christian peace can be kept These things being thus finished some days were spent in the invocation of Christ and in thanksgiving and the meditation of a better life In which time Mr. Jo. Vtenbogardus and Mr. Hadrian Borrius did more frequently visit him then others did Both of them were his old and most faithfull friends But Mr. Borrius was even always present in the daily performance of prayer with his sick friend Now at length on the 19th of October about noon this faithfull servant of God being discharged of his warfare having finished his course fought the good fight kept the faith did render his soul now weary of cares now glutted with the miseries of this world now desiring deliverance now having a fore-tast of the joys of the Saints now seeing Christ his God and redeemer did I say with his eyes lifted up to heaven render quietly among the holy prayers of them that were present his soul to God the Father his creator to the Son his redeemer to the Holy Ghost his sanctifier all crying out Let me dye the death of the righteous Thus even this our Sun did set thus that just man dyed of whom this world was not worthy thus the father of so many prophets was taken away thus James Arminius by the charet of Israel and horsemen thereof was carryed from us into heavenand now is free and delivered from miseryes hath the crown sought for by so many labours by so great holiness and enjoys the heavenly Jerusalem in the great assembly of many thousands of Angels and the Church of the first-born that are written in heaven and he sees the Judge of all and the Spirit of just men made perfect and Jesus the mediator of the new Testament and the blood of sprinkling speaking better then that of Abel But he expecteth