The shield single against the sword doubled. To defend the righteous against the wicked. Whereby are waved those cuts and blows, which Mr Erbury deals to the righteous; and wherein also is shewed, that his now-new-light is no-light, but blackness of darkness. By Henry Niccols, minister of the word in South-Wales.

To the READER.

Christian Reader,

BEfore ever I read any of Master Erburies books, I had read in other mens works of his dan∣gerous, and erroneous principles, not of, but against Religion; whereupon hearing of a Book of his come forth, bearing the Title of the Sword doubled, &c. I earnestly desired the sight of it, which having had, and seriously perused, I found that it did fully answer the report that was given of him, and his pernicious way, by reason whereof the way of Truth is now so evil spoken of. Hereupon considering that moving Speech of So∣lomon, If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death, &c. If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, doth not he which pondereth the heart, consider it? &c. Prov. 24.11,12. And seeing that too great a portion of the professing part of our dear Native Country, are ever ready to be slain, and drawn to a worse death, then that of the Sword, I have (by way of An∣swer to some particulars in that Book) endeavoured the compo∣sure of an Antidote against that spreading canker, and infection, that may endanger the souls of such as shall embrace the things delivered in it; Had I preferred the enjoyment of my own peace, above the Truth of God, I might (as some others do) have taken no notice of it, and by sitting down in silence, have suffered the Truth to fail; But the love of the Truth of that living God, (of whose saving grace and mercy, I have had a sweet taste, and experience) constrains me to declare to the world, that I am not ashamed of him, and his Gospel; and that my heart bleeds to hear the Person of Christ undervalued, or his bloud-offices, and soul-saving rigeteousness blasphemed: I had rather men should wound, and stab me, spill my blood, and kill my body, then give such new and fresh wounds to the Lord Jesus, whose precious blood, was the price of my souls redemption; One of Master

Erburies familiar friends told me not long ago, That the flesh of Christ, was sinful flesh, and Master Erbury himself saith as much in effect in his Book; let such men take heed; The blood of Abel had a loud cry against Cain, the blood of Christ cries louder against those that thus tread it under foot; Ʋpon this ac∣count have I put pen to paper, and (according to my weak abili∣ties) vindicated the purity, and spotless innocency of a Lamb without blemish: The work (such as it is) hath been ready long ago (as some of his own party knows who have even challenged the edition of it) but living at a great distance from the Press, I could not conveniently get it printed sooner; if it may be ser∣viceable to the Cause of Christ, I shall rejoyce, I could wish the canker might be rather healed, then exulcerated, but I desire to be faithful to Christ, and his peoples souls, to prick the hearts, ra∣ther then to scratch the itching ears of men; For if I yet plea∣sed men, I should not be the Servant of Christ, Gal. 1.10. The Lord stir up his servants that are sound in the faith, to con∣tend earnestly for that faith, which was once delivered to the Saints: So prayeth

Thy Christian Friend and Servant in the Gospel of Christ, HENRY NICCOLS.