A collection of the choicest epigrams and characters of Richard Flecknoe being rather a new work, then [sic] a new impression of the old.
Flecknoe, Richard, d. 1678?
Page  39

Of an Eager Disputant.

HE has left off Learning, to betake himself to Controversie, and comes from breaking Pris∣cians head, to breaking yours. He thinks it brave to have his discourse composed of several pieces of Greek and Latine, when it is onely Cloathing Eloquence in Motly. He confounds himself with distinctions, and his adversary with noise, and thinks to carry it by raisig his voice a tone higher than his, whilst he labors more to maintain his opinion than the truth. Impatient of contradicti∣on, and contradicting every one, he grows out∣ragious at last; and from question of things, comes to question of names, and at last to the misnaming them, calling every indifferent one, Superstition, Idolatry, and Abomination; they being, in fine, such Disputants as these, who have so Rent the Church with their Disputations, and made the breach so wide, as that, which at first, like North and South, was onely separated perhaps by an In∣dividual Line, is become at last the whole Heavens distant by their undiscreet going to the extremity of either Pole.