Story of their Conversion is such, as may make a man justly suspect there hath scarce
yet been ever a true Christian of that race. Yet I speak, in my Conjectura de Gogo
& Magogo, of a General Conversion only, not of a Conversion of some few or of
some small and scarce considerable part in regard of the Vastness of the whole.
2. To your Case of Conscience I answer thus. Though the teaching of a School
be in some sort reducible to a Sacred Function, as it may be managed and intended;
yet for Titius to leave a Pastoral charge for it, when he hath been once dedicated
to that Sacred Office, I hold an inexcusable Sacrilege, unless perhaps in a case of
Necessity. I would rather therefore advise the continuance of both, than to forsake
the one for the other.
3. For that of the Ark of the Covenant, what do you mean? There is nothing
more indubitate in Scripture, than that the Ark was under the wings of the Cheru∣bins
in the Sanctum Sanctorum or most Holy place; as Exod. 26. 33, 34, 1 Kings 8.
6, &c. and Heb. 9. Or do you mean (for I have not the Bishop's Book) that it was
not there when Hilkiah found the Book of the Law? That place of the Chronicles
indeed (if it be rightly translated) should argue it had been taken thence during
Manasseh's prophanation of the Temple, and that, it may be, by the true worshippers,
(for what fellowship had the Ark of God with Idols?) and so not restored again to
his place till Iosiah purged the Temple. Or what if Manasseh himself had caused it to
be taken thence when he dedicated the Temple to his Idols, lest it might serve them
as it once did Dagon? But Tremellius or Iunius turns the place otherwise; and
yet methinks somewhat forcedly. Videsis.
4. How often is the Resurrection of the Vnjust mentioned in the Epistles, either
together with that of the Iust, or by it self? And where both are mentioned else∣where,
it is not said, they should be together, though they be mentioned together;
for there is difference between mentioning and being. As for the Last Trump, it
proves nothing until you define what is the First Trump, yea what Trump is. It is
no where said, The Resurrection of the dead shall be in a moment; but that those who
are alive shall be changed in a moment. And what though the Resurrection in respect
of each Individuum be in a moment? Yet would it not follow that all that rise shall
rise in one and the same moment. To that of the 25 of Matthew you shall have
a sufficient answer when you have made progress enough to understand it. (For out
of chap. 24. (which you cite) I see not any thing toward your purpose. For those
in ver. 39. are not the dead, but the living; nor is the Resurrection at all mentioned
in that Chap. but at the most implied only.) In the mean time I send you the Co∣pie
of an Epistle written once to Mr. Chappel, to satisfie a friend of his who had
desired him to know my Answer to certain Quaere's and Objections somewhat like
those of yours: His Letter being directed to Mr. Chappel, and not to me, I made my
Answer accordingly as you see. Keep it clean, and send me it again when you have
done with it; and as I see occasion, I may perhaps send you some more of the like Argument.
5. For reading the Service at the Altar, &c. was it not enough to give you the
Premisses, but I must put the Conclusion into your mouth? I add now, That the
Priest or Deacon came down from the Altar to read the Gospel, unto the Ambo or
other eminent place where he might be seen and heard of the people. And in such
place were all Lessons of Scripture read whosoever read them and not at the Altar. The
Altar was the place to speak to God at; the Ambo or Pulpit (or such like place) to speak
to the People. Besides those Prayers at the Altar, whereto the People were to say Amen,
were read in a high distinct and singing tone, which might be heard and understood at
great distance of all the people. That submiss reading in Churches sine cantu, which we
use now, was not then in use. If it had, it could never have been heard of half the
Congregation in so large Churches, and where some stood so far off, as the Catechume∣ni,
Auditores, Penitentes, who were to be partakers of the Readings and Sermons, and
nothing else, and yet stood at the remotest distance from the place both of it and Prayer.
I love not to answer to things in Hypothesi, but in Thesi. The world is right on no side.
Let them look to the hypothesis whom it concerns. Quo jure ego qui Thesin tantùm de∣fendo,
ad hypothesin praestandam adigerer?
6. Concerning the Book written mediately or immediately by the B. of Lincoln;
It is written very ably and with much variety of Learning; and where that Coal lay
open to the lash, (as it did in some things very fouly) he pays him soundly and very
magisterially. Yet I may tell you that in the Discourse concerning the Antiquity of
the Name Altar, there is parùm aut nihil sinceri aut sani: And though his Adversary