[An apology for the treatise, called A triall of faith. Concerning the precedency of repentance for sinne, before faith in Christ for pardon]

To the Author.

GOOD Sir, I haue perused your little Treatise, or Apology, which you committed to me, and I see no cause why you may not safely send it abroade into the world with his fellowes, that haue seene the light allready, for as for your conclusion (in mine opinion) it is sound and orthodox, and as you explaine it (to my thinking) not much different from theirs, who in wordes seeme to speake contrary. And for your proofes and answeres though I hold not euery particula•• to be demonstra∣tiue and certaine: yet (I thinke) there is enough in them, to evict the cause you stricte for.

Notwithsta••ding you must not make ac∣compt, that all men should presently yeeld to be of your opini••n: for sober minds may dissent from you and you from them, with∣out b each of charity or loue; and fierie spi••its will dissent from you, if it be for

no other cause, but only for that Salaman∣ders cannot liue out of the fire. But I would wish you to consider of that Rule of ••he Apostle, If any man seeme to bee ••ontentious, wee haue no such custome, ••or the Churches of GOD, and (as much as may bee) to imitate the stayed ••iscretion of wise Trauailers, who for ••eare of letting their iourney, will not ••tand still, and strike at euery dogge that ••arketh at them.

For (as a Learned Writer vpon the ••ormer wordes of Saint Paule notes to ••ood purpose) There will neuer bee an ••nd of quarrelling, if you labour to get he mastery of him that is contentious, ••ecause though hee bee an Hundreth ••imes foyled, yet will hee neuer bee ••earied.

Wee haue all worke enough to doe in ecessary things, and therefore howsoeuer kinde of necessity for satisfying the world aue forced you thus farre, as to cleare hat hath beene obiected allready: yet if ••ere shall come any new repetition of ••d Arguments, or any futher friuo∣••us cauills, your good howers may per∣••ps bee better spent then in pursuing ••ngling disputes: which mine opinion not∣withstanding,

I leaue to your discretio•• to doe as occasion shall require; and s•• I leaue you and your labours, to GODS blessed Protection and Mercy,

Yours euer in the Lord Iesus. Henry Maso••

Notes

• 1 Cor. 11.16.
• Nunquam enim contentionum erit finis, si cer∣tando velis ho∣minem pugna∣cem vincero, qui centies vi∣ctus nunquam fatigabitur. Cal. in. 5. Cor. 11.16.