had done long before him. As for the Lutherans, I should think Wendelin in his Divinity, Cap. de Reprobatione, had written enough to stop their mouths; for he there pro∣duceth out of Luther (whom his Followers will scarcely ac∣knowledge ever to have written a word amiss) several pla∣ces, in which the word Horribile is used in the same sense that here it is by Calvin. As to Dr. Heylin and Mr. Pierce, I wonder why they should go about to perswade the World that Calvin by Decretum Horribile, intended a Cruel and Hor∣rible Decree. Are Horribile & Crudele alway equivalent? God is not cruel, but righteous in all the torments that he hath laid on the fallen Angels: yet, I hope, one might venture to call them Horribiles Cruciatus. Who would construe Horri∣bile supplicium, which sometimes occurreth in good Authors, Cruel Punishment? The clamor that is made against Mr. Cal∣vin for using the word Horribile, brings to my mind a pranck that was plaid by some Sectaries in Bark-shire against their Minister, (a man of good parts and unblameable life;) They come and ask him, What was the meaning of the Psalmist in that phrase, so he giveth his Beloved rest? He unawares re∣plied, It was a plaguy hard place; meaning, doubtless, no more, than that It was an huge hard place. But upon this, these malignant Sectaries, betake themselves to the Com∣missioners for ejecting of ignorant and scandalous Ministers, and put in a complaint against their Parson, and make this one Article, That he had spoken blasphemously, or at least irre∣verently of the holy Scriptures. Some colour had these Secta∣ries for their simplicity or malice, because the word plaguy doth male sonare: but so doth not Horribile; signifying no more, than that which doth incutere horrorem. Therefore the outcries against Calvin for using it, and applying it to the Decree of Reprobation, are very vain, and apparently, ••rivolous and malicious.