The confident questionist questioned: or, the examination of the doctrine delivered by Mr. Thomas Willes in certain queries.: Published by Mr. Jeremiah Ives. Examined by counter-queries. By N.E. with a letter of Mr. Tho. Willes.

POST-SCRIPT.

REader, I thought it necessary to advertise thee of a few things.

1 That to mee it is a great sign that that is a Truth, and a Truth of great concernment, which when it is as∣serted, or taught, men of corrupt minds, are enraged at, and oppose: They would have the Servants sleep, that being their time of sowing Tares: therefore it is very ob∣serveable, that when ever godliness was most likely to en∣crease, when the Ministry have been most famous and active, then the Devil hath stirred up deadly enemies and opposers: this hath been in all ages, this wee sadly ex∣perience in our daies. Was there ever a more learned, pious, famous Ministry in England, than now there is? I challenge even its enemies, and amongst them Mr. Ives to contradict it if they can: And (shall wee not sigh at it) had ever the Ministry of England so great and so many Designers to undermine it? But the Father of Truth usually so blesseth his own cause, that it gets by op∣position; thus wee can say of this truth of Ordination of Ministers, which in my knowledge hath gotten ground by these late Broyles. Gather your selves together, and you shall bee broken in peeces, for the Lord is with us, Isa. 8.9, 10. Mat. 28.20.

2 That those that have Designs against the Truth, have usually some plausible pretence to carry them on: the Devil hath got the Art now adaies to wrap himself in a Prophets Mantle; to appear as an Angel of light in his choycest Instruments, who usually with a seeming religi∣ous

garb footh up with soft words till they may opportunely change their Court-ships into calumnies. Hath not Mr. Ives worthily shown himself for Ordination of Ministers, as hee pretends) that would make the world beleeve that the present godly Ministry is Antichristian if hee could? and that hath thus thrust himself into a quarrel against it?

3 That those that design the propagating of their er∣rours, will for the most part oppose: their hands will bee against every man; but seldome assert their own opinion, and prove it: is it not, because it is easier to quarrel with truth, than to prove an errour? and because that is a time to break in, when the ranks are first shattered; to broach errours when men are staggered in the truth? or is not this the end, viz. to bee alway accusing of others, that they themselves may never bee questioned or called to ju∣stifie their own practices? Hath not Mr. Ives plaid his part in this, by opposing every man not of his own way, that wee might beleeve what hee asserts to bee truth? Hath hee not done so in these Queries? where doth hee bring the least positive truth, or one Argument to justifie his own practice, or to state what is right? Hath hee brought one probable Argument to prove that gifted brethren may preach? or that people may hear them? that the Church ought to ordain, and not Ministers? hath hee unfolded any of those independent Riddles, viz. that a company of those that are baptized, and owne their Baptisme, are not Members of a Visible Church? Or that a Minister being such in relation to his Church, acts no longer as in Of∣fice, than to his Church, and that at one and the same time and place hee preacheth as a meer gifted Brother to those that are not of his Church, and as a Minister to those of his Church? thus thou mayest see his spirit of Opposition,

and his design, to cry out on others, that none may suspect his cause; as cut-purses, that they may may not bee accu∣sed: Ought hee not to do otherwise the next time?

4 That this task I have here undertaken is the first, and therefore may bee guilty of mistakes, of which I begge thy pardon, and do promise thee, that nothing but what is more than ordinarily material shall provoke mee to spend my own time in writing, or thine in reading. Bee zea∣lous for the truth; pray for its progress; and bee thank∣ful to God for any satisfaction thou shalt receive by him who is,

thy concealed Friend N. E.

FINIS.