Experience, historie, and divinitie Divided into five books. Written by Richard Carpenter, vicar of Poling, a small and obscure village by the sea-side, neere to Arundel in Sussex. Who being, first a scholar of Eaton Colledge, and afterwards, a student in Cambridge, forsooke the Vniversity, and immediatly travelled, in his raw, green, and ignorant yeares, beyond the seas; ... and is now at last, by the speciall favour of God, reconciled to the faire Church of Christ in England? Printed by order from the House of Commons.

CHAP. III.

GGD hath brought me home with a mighty hand. Had I sailed from Rome one day sooner, as my purpose was; I had certainely beene carried away by the Turkish Gallyes; which swept away all they met the day before I passed. I was dan∣gerously sicke in my journey towards En∣gland, at Ligorne: but, God restored me. The Ship in where I was, ranne a whole night laid all a long upon one of her sides: And another time, began to sinke down∣right: I fell into the hands of theeves by the Sea-shore, that would have killed mee: and all in my journey towards England. And after all this, and much more, I am a convert to the Church of England, in a time which needs a man of a bold heart, and a good courage like my selfe▪ to resist the craft, encroaching, and intrusion of Popery. Let a great Papist remember his ordinary saying, that he beleeved God would worke some great worke by me. And I have great

hope that the Church wilbe pleased to look upon me, and fixe me, where I may best be seene; and most be heard. I am not of their minde, that move, and sue, and labour, in the atchievement of that, which ought to bee cast upon them. The Lord knowes, that although the Church of Rome accu∣seth mee of ambitious thoughts, a small being in a fit place, is the top of all my wishes. A Councell said: Meminisse oportet, quia columba est in divinis Scripturis Ecclesia appellata, quae non unguibus lacerat, sed alis pie perculit: We ought all to remem∣ber, that the Church is stiled in holy Scrip∣ture, an innocent Dove for her gentlenesse; which chides rather, then teares, and having chid, is friends again presently, and receives with all gentlenesse. Yet▪ I am bold to say, that it would be a noble worke, to provide for the present reliefe, and entertainment of Shollers, who shall afterwards desert the Church of Rome, and cleave to us. The Church of Rome doth exceedingly bragge of her charity in that part; when (it is certaine) their common aime (if not their chiefe aime) is the strength, and benefit of their private body; wherein they are all as one, that they may stand the faster. I owe my prayers, and in a manner, my selfe, to many great personages. The Lord pay

them againe what I received of them, in that money which goes in Heaven. And persons of ordinary condition, refreshed me above their condition. Let him, for whose sake they were so pious, reward them: I would the Levite had beene as ear∣nest as the Samaritane.

Notes

• Con. Aqus∣gr. can. 134 The Councel of Aix.