A shield of defence against the arrovves of schisme shot abroad by Iean de L'escluse in his advertisment against Mr. Brightman Here vnto is prefixed a declaration touching a booke intituled, The profane schisme of the Brovvnists. By Iohn Fovvler. Clement Saunders. Robert Bulvvarde.

44.

BVt he proceedes yet further to amplify his commendations & prayses of the zeale and religion in the Brownistes which as he sayth are seene in them and among them both privately and publiquely: Yea in such measure as that I am fully perswaded that they are and shalbe if they continue faithfull vnto the end, that people by which chiefely Antichriste the man of sin shalbe rooted out.

Behold here the proude conceit that the Brownistes have of thēselves without all reason, it is much that such fantasies should enter into the head of Delescluse, it is more that they should be rooted therein with such full perswasion as he speakes of, it is yet more that he should not be ashamed to vtter, yea & in print to publish this his arrogant opinion, but most of all that his fellowes & his bre∣thren should allow or tolerate in him this strange dreame or vision of vanitye: for whereas the Lord in his holy word hath noted vnto vs those honourable instru∣ments by whom cheefely Antichriste is to be overthrowne, we desire Delesclu∣se to shew vnto vs where the Brownistes are numbred among them: VVe see in the booke of the revelation that as the Lord in sundry visions hath there decla∣red vnto vs the speciall instruments whereby Antichriste was to be exalted, so hath he also in other visions there described vnto vs those worthies and blessed in¦strumentes by whom cheefely he is againe to be cast downe: By the consent of the best ād learnedest interpreters there are noted out vnto vs in the Apocalyps di¦vers estates both ecclesiasticall & civill that have wounded Antichriste, but no interpreter that ever yet could finde the Brownistes among them: VVe read of divers angelles fighting against Antichriste, Rev. 14. 6. 7. 8. 9. And these do fitly declare vnto vs such as Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Husse, Hierome of Pra∣ge, Martin Luther & such like, but where be the angelles that may fiftly re∣present vnto vs Robert Browne, H. Barow, Francis Iohnson etc. VVe reade of divers that have obteyned sundry victories, conquestes and tri∣umphes against Antichriste. Rev. 11. 15. 16. and 14. 14. 17. and 16. 1. and 17. 16. For the further vnderstanding whereof we desire the reader to

consider & weigh Mr. Brightmans exposition of those places; But where is the lot and roome of the Brownistes? VVere is their atchievement registred among these cheefe instruments of the Lord?

Secondly, whereas he telles vs that this his full perswasion dependes vpon a condition viz. If they continue faithfull vnto the end, whereas also Mr. Iohnson & his followers doe now in the account of Delescluse slide back from their ancient faith & are already proved vnfaithfull, Mr. Robinison also halting betwixt them in some thinges, these thinges duely considred the full perswasiō of Delescluse may quickly turne into a faint perswasion and his vaine confidence into a wan-hope.

Notes

• ••••vertis. 14.
• ••••sw. 1.
• 2.