EXCEPT. III. He alloweth himself a great and masterly liberty, to call his brethren fierce, self-conceited dividers, feaverish per∣sons, &c.

Answ. IF there be none such, or but a few, I will joyfully confess my error;* But if all ages of the Church have had such, and if this Kingdom have been so troubled by such, as all men know; and if they yet live in this sin to their own trouble and ours, why should it be contrary to meekness to mention it? Should I hate my Brother, in suffering sin to lie upon him.

Every paragraph almost inviteth me to remember Christs words to the two fierie Disciples, and to say, O how hard is it to know what manner of spirit we are of. Tell me Rea∣der, whether this be not true? that if I had called the Bishops sacrilegious silencers of a faithful Ministry, murderers of many hun∣dred thousand souls, perjurious, proud, tyran∣nical,Page  20covetous, formal hypocrites, malignant haters of good men, &c. I might not very easily have come off with many of these an∣gry brethren, without any blame for want of Meekness? Nay, whether they would not have liked it as my zeal? when as such a gentle touch upon themselves, doth intol∣lerably hurt them. Is there not gross par∣tialitie in this.

Note also that these brethren that plead for Libertie do call it a masterly Libertie in me, thus to name their faults. And do you think that they would not have silenced my book, if it had been in their power? Note then whether the silencing imperious Spirit, be not common to both extreams.