you finde that our Saviour would have it used for a pattern Min. In the sixt chapter of the Gospel written by Saint Matthew and the nineth verse where it is written that our Saviour said After this manner pray you Our Father which c. ANSWER I would that all in your book could have been as well approved as this for here you speak both the words of sobernesse and truth and I commend you for it DIALOGUE Gent. Why will not the witch acknowledge Christ to be the Lord Min. Because the Devill would have her to take Him and not Christ for her Lord. ANSWER This is mentioned to great purpose I promise you is it not I am loath to trifle away the time in these passages I should else go neer hand to tell you that as Simon Magus was taken for some great one because he had a long time bewitched the people with sorceries so you perhaps would be thought some great one too for your profound knowledge in what passeth between the Devill and witches of which you have so often told us But whilest you are so busie in the Theory of their trade and apply your speculations no better you doe but shew your selfe in your colours to please a company of frantick and mis-perswaded people wilfull and wandring soules who are led with an intemperate spirit as well as you The simple saith Solomon Prov. 14.15,16 beleeveth every word but the prudent man looketh well to his going A wise man feareth and departeth from evill but the foole rageth and is confident Ch. 16. v. 29 30 A violent man entiseth his neighbour and leadeth him into the way that is not good He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things moving his lips he bringeth evill to passe Ch. 15.2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright but the mouth of fooles bableth out foolishnesse And I pray good Sir doe you a little work upon that DIALOGUE Gent. Why doe some say that the Priest and Clarke when they doe Church a woman are like to a couple of players acting their parts Min. Because the Priest doth skip over these words But deliver us from evill and doth leave them to the Clark to say for his part c. ANSWER Before he was like to a Witch but now he and his Clark are likened to Players you will one day be ashamed of this I feare unlesse you act a better part before you leave the stage your present Plaudite may deceive you the future is that which is most materiall But le ts goe on and see what followeth DIALOGUE Min. And then as soon as the Clark hath said them the Priest saith Lord save this woman thy Servant then the Clark comes in again with his part saying which putteth her trust in thee then the Priest as though he would not have the woman to put her trust in him turns her over to the Clark and bids him be unto her a strong Tower then the Clarke answereth and sheweth wherein saying from the face of her enemy ANSWER Oh desperate wickednesse dares any man be so bold as to utter such impieties The first words Lord save this woman thy servant will stand as a sentence against this prophane babler to witnesse against him be he whom he will He a Minister more fit to make a rayling Rabshakeh or a scoffing Michal Let him therefore in time look well unto it lest with prophane Esau he loose his birth-right and be deprived of his heavenly Fathers blessing As well may he tell us that we are to have no other God but the Minister because the Minister reads the first Commandement as vent this thus concerning the Priest and Clark in their Churching of women DIALOGUE Gent. This is a very strange kinde of giving of God thankes for womens safe deliverance from the great pain and perill of Childe-birth Min. It is indeed and no small griefe to honest women not only because there is no thanks given to God for their safe deliverance from the pain and perill of Child-birth but also because thanksgiving is turned to a Jewish kind of Purification For they must come with a vaile to cover their faces after the Jewish manner signifying thereby that by childe-bearing they were made uncleane and that they were ashamed of their uncleannesse or that they had played the Harlots and were ashamed to shew their faces and Juda thought that Thamar was an Harlot because her face was covered with a vaile Gen. 33.14.15 It is a great offence not only to honest women but also to every true Christian man to see his wife goe to the Church like a Jew or like an Harlot ANSWER You have a fine faculty in moulding of matters I see and in fashioning of things according as your selfe thinks good to fancy One while you say it is a strange giving of thanks another while it is no giving of thanks and then again it is a giving of thanks but turned to a Jewish kind of Purification You would make a pretty Proteus I perceive But I will reprove thee and set before thee the things that thou hast done Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickednesse and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit according to that of the Psalmist with which you dallied but even now Can I tell how to say otherwise Is here no giving of thanks I marvaile that you blush not nor be ashamed to wrest things contrary to the evidence of open sight I have lifted up mine eyes unto the hills from whence commeth my helpe words sure of thankfulnesse Nay the whole Psalme is an Hymne of Prayse and thanksgiving fitly chosen for such a purpose 2 Chr. 29,30 Moreover Hezekiah the King and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the Seer and they sang prayses with gladnesse and they bowed their â—eads and worshipped 2 Chro 29.30 The Church then you see goes on in a right way and repaires to a worthy store-house for a fitting form But I perceive your drift as if you aymed like T. C. your great Goliah to have no publike thanks in such a case as this because it comes too neer the Jewish kinde of Purification Wherefore I shall answer in more particular and tell you that although that Law as concerning the Ceremony be ceased yet the righteousnesse thereof is to be fulfilled in those which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8.4 For in all things we are commanded to give thanks 1 Thess 5.18 And must offer the Sacrifice of prayse unto God Heb. 13.15 And if for other benefits thanks and praise be due then for this preservation which in Melancthons phrase is Magnum miraculum a great miracle insomuch that if the Childe when he comes to know it will not stick to say with David Psal 139.13 I will give thanks to thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made then may the Mother not refuse who