Independencie no schisme. Or, An answer to a scandalous book, entituled, The schismatick sifted: written by Mr. John Vicars.: Which may serve also for a reply to Master Edwards his Gangræna. Wherein is discovered the vanity of those unjust slanders cast upon the dissenting brethren, whom they call Independents. With some hints added about gospel-government. / By M.N. med. pr.

TO THE READER.

Good Reader,

HAve a little patience; for I must needs throw away some Ink upon this Paper-worme, this great benefa∣ctor to the Magazine of waste paper.

As a further explanation of his mind, he cals his Pam∣phlet by another Name: The Picture of Independents freshly and fairly washt over again, wherein the Sectaries, the principall seducers to that dangerous and subtile schisme of Inde∣pendencie, are lively set forth, &c.

That you may know whom he means by the principall Sectaries and Seducers, &c. he places these Names follow∣ing in the Front:

• Master William Greenhill.
• Master Thomas Goodwin.
• Master Philip Nye.
• Master William Bridge.
• Master Ieremiah Burroughs.
• Master Sydrach Sympson.
• Master William Carter.

Men of excellent Gifts, absolute Integrity, and profound Know∣ledge in the mysteries of God in Christ, yet here blotted in his pernicious Pamphle: with the worst of slanders; whom to vindicate were in a manner to wrong them, their known perfections soaring above the reach of impious scandal.

By washing over again, you must understand that Mr. Vi∣cars drew a Picture of the Independents not long since, which he now washes over again, and he (good man) thinks he hath done very well: yet sure he is but an ill Picture∣drawer that needs Spectacles, and borrows deceitfull Colours from others, as Mr. Vicars doth, whom I will now present to you in his own picture, with every lineament of his folly.