A tract of the soueraigne iudge of controuersies in matters of religion. By Iohn Cameron minister of the Word of God, and divinity professour in the Academie of Montauban. Translated into English by Iohn Verneuil. M.A.

To the Reader.

I present vnto your censure this tract of Monsieur Cameron in English; I know the skill of many for translating out of French to bee farre better then mine owne: but my request is, that you re∣spect my desire to do good, and not my imperfecti∣ons. I hold it a matter altogether impossible to draw a picture fully to the life: let Poets tell of painters, and of birds deceiued by the exactnesse of their skill; yet an originall ever looseth some lustre and grace, though the translatours care be never so great. Howsoever consider I intreate you, the author of this little tract: for the worke of any man is now∣adayes esteemed, as the workeman is, and men care most for reading that whose authours they esteeme. For the Author I will say this little: during his natu∣rall life his reputation was great in France, and so great, that all the Iesuites there did seeke, and at last obtained to haue him banished, nor was there any o∣ther cause thereof then his great learning,* 1.1 the Iesu∣ites in their conferences being not able to withstand him.

Quoniam aemulare non licet, nunc in••ides.

He had his refuge here, where by the speciall care of that great fauourer of learning K. Iames (of blessed memory) he was provided for in Scotland, his natiue coūtry, but so great was his harty loue to France, that by the effectual mediatiō of those honorable Ambas∣sadors then in France, he gat that envious sentence re∣versed,

which being done he immediately conveigh∣ed himselfe to Montauban to bee professour there, where he ended his dayes, to the great losse of Gods Church, and that Vniversity. Now seeing the fer∣uent loue that hee had in doing good to my owne natiue Country, I haue endeauoured (as much as ly∣eth in mee) to requite his loue, and to make his French worke speake English. If this tract bee fauou∣rably receiued, and that I shall perceiue my English phrase tollerably to be approued, your kind accep∣tance shall encourage mee to a greater worke: my na∣ture abhorreth idlenesse, and beeing in such a place, I loue to be doing, and to imploy my selfe, for feare to be worse imployed*.* 1.2 Enjoy this as a prodromus, till by your prayers God of his infinite grace and mercy enable mee to end my greater worke now in hand. Farewell.

Thine in the Lord IOHN VERNEVIL.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plantus ••in mi∣lite. Act. 3. scena 2. v. 29.
• * 1.2

  Quem diabo∣lus non inve∣nit occupatum ipse occupat.