A confutation of certaine articles deliuered vnto the Familye of Loue with the exposition of Theophilus, a supposed elder in the sayd Familye vpon the same articles. By William Wilkinson Maister of Artes and student of diuinitye. Hereunto are prefixed by the right reuerend Father in God I.Y. Byshop of Rochester, certaine notes collected out of their Gospell, and aunswered by the Fam. By the author, a description of the tyme, places, authors, and manner of spreading the same: of their liues, and wrestyng of Scriptures: with notes in the end how to know an heretique.

Rochester.

THe greatest part of this boke is nothyng but a brief dis∣course either a rehearsall of the story of the Bible, as ap∣peareth frō the .5. chapter, to the .27. & .28. chapters. And his collectiō is none other, but such as any meanly learned may gather by diligēt readyng of the Scriptures.

The Familie of Loue.

HOw well soeuer the greatest part of the booke bee iudged by you to be nothyng, but a bare brief dis∣cours or rehearsall of the histories of the Bible: whiche any meanly learned (as you say) might do the like yet sée∣meth it to me to be of greater force neither haue I euer in my tyme heard or by readyng perceiued that the greatest learned among the prudent wisenesse (which rest groun∣ded more on y^e litterall knowledge of the Christiā verifie then on the beyng of the same)* 1.1 haue atchiued the like or

brought the match therof to light (all thyngs considered.) For it is not onely an euident declaration of the singular good will and operations of God towardes his creatures in respectyng and tenderyng their saluation,* 1.2 darckly figu∣red foorth in the Bible: but also and expresse manifesta∣tion of the approchyng of tyme, wherein the purpose of the Lord drawen a long and begon as the tyme state and age of the worlde would permit the same touchyng the disposing of the wicked world with her ministers and ad∣herentes, & the erectyng of the righteous world to florish there ouer in vigour for euermore becōmeth as he there testifieth. Full accomplished through the same seruice of God, or ministrations of his loue expressed or mencio∣ned in the same booke accordyng to the promises. To the which ministration God hath chosen the Authour as he there alledgeth to be a right minister, and prepared him thereto, in the fourme and sorte mencioned in the head of his booke,* 1.3 vnto which like function and holy annoyntyng no conceited Scripture learned or Doctour of the letter, that I can any way marke or perceiue hath in these dayes attained or reached. And whether that be a pretendyng of the Ghost or no, that will well appeare and be séene in his tyme by the sequele thereof (to wéete) in the perseue∣raunce and foorth goyng of the same among and with all such as shall endure to sée the triall therof. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No booke of a∣ny wrighter like HN. his E∣uangelye.
• * 1.2

  HN. his Euan∣gelie in Exposi∣tion of darke fi∣gures in the Bi∣ble.
• * 1.3

  No learned mā in these dayes like HN.