An epistle sent vnto tuuo daughters of VVarwick from H.N., the oldest father of the Familie of Love ; with a refutation of the errors that are therein, by H.A.

To the Christian reader, wisdome & grace.

AS ther are many enimies of the truth of the gospel, and many that write to broach and spread their errors: so is it needful that some write against them, least troden truth be quite forsaken; and silly sowles be wrapped in error, vnto perdition. It is not easy for al men to espie Satans subtilties, nor the deceitful sophismes of his ministers: both he & they, can trāsforme themselves like Angels of light. Such therfore as discern them through the grace of God, should give warning vnto others; that as the foolish womā is† 1.1 troublesome, babling & lowd, inviting her ghests to the depth of hel: so the* 1.2 maidens of wisdom, may lift vp also their voice; and make their crie be heard, on the highest places of the citie.

What wormwood and bitternes & even deadly poi∣son, is sparsed abroad in Henry Nicholas his writings, (who caleth himself the | 1.3Father of the Family of Love;) the chil∣dren of wisdome that do read the same, may by the light of Gods law soon perceive: yet with faire and flattering speeches, he hath beguiled many vnstable sowles; & such as have had no love to the truth, have been givē over vn∣to his lies. And never had Satan a fitter time to work his malicious wil on the sons of Adam: then in these last evil dayes, when Atheisme and iniquity, doe so much abound. Never had he a fitter religion for Atheists and carnal hypocrites, then that which H. N. out of his cor∣rupt and fleshly hart hath set abroach. It taketh away the crosse of Christ, & persecution for righteousnes sake: and teacheth men to cōmunicate with al religions, servi∣ces and ceremonies; so as they cleave in hart to his feigh∣ned

service of the Love; It maketh them pure and without al syn, in their own foolish imaginations; yea (more then which the Serpent himself did never teach,) it deifieth them with God. In a word, it bringeth a fretting lepro∣sie vpon al religion, & overthroweth the grounds of faith layd in holy scriptures, which H. N. by foolish allegories, perverteth to the destruction of himself and his Family. And for the principles of theologie, he hath written more blasphemously and absurdly then ever did Mahomet in his Alcoran. For this cause, in answering this his letter, (as I was requested by some that heard how much it was boasted of, among the Nicholaitans;) I have touched by the way some of the impious heresies that are in his other writings, without knowledge wherof, his frawd in this Epistle cannot easily be perceived. For as a child of dark∣nes, he laboureth to be obscure in his words, y^t men may admire the deepnes of Satan by which he speaketh; and himself when he is folowed, & can no other way escape, may have this for his last refuge, that men vnderstand him not. But* 1.4 al things when they are reproved of the light, are manifest: for the light is that which maketh al things manifest. Now the | 1.5word of the Lord is a lantern, & his Law a light; by it therfore have I assayed to discover the snares of this seducer: not doubting but God, who cau∣seth the Morning to know his place, that it may take hold of the corners of the earth, † 1.6& that the wicked may be shaken out of it; wil, notwithstanding al the dark delphick speeches, and glozing allegories of these falsers, declare their works and manifest their impieties, and wil | 1.7turn the night, (in the darknes wherof they think to be shrowded) and they shalbe destroyed.

Let therfore the prudent reader, make trial of that

which on both sides is said, by the word of truth: least, as the serpent beguiled Evah through his subtilty, so their harts be withdrawn from the sincerity of Christ. And the Lord give them vnderstanding in al things; and pre∣serve them ‡ 1.8from this generation for ever; for the wicked walk on every side, whiles vilenes is extolled among the sons of Adam.

Henry Ainsworth.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Pro 7. 11. & 9. 13. 18
• * 1.2

  Pro. 9. 3.
• | 1.3

  1 Exhort. cap. 11. See. 1.
• * 1.4

  Ephe. 5. 13.
• | 1.5

  Ps. 119. 105 Pro 6. 13.
• † 1.6

  Iob. 38. 13
• | 1.7

  Iob. 34. 25.
• ‡ 1.8

  Ps. 12. 7. 8.