De adiaphoris Theological and scholastical positions, concerning the nature and vse of things indifferent. Where also is methodically and briefely handled, of ciuill and ecclesiasticall magistrates, of humane lawes, of Christian libertie, of scandall, and of the worship of God. A vowed worke, destinated (by the grace of God) to appease the dissentions of the Church of England. Written in Latine by M. Gabriel Powel, and translated into English by T.I.

III.

In the daies of the noble and renowmed Queene Hester, all the Iewes should haue been swallowed vp by the tyrannie of Haman, had not that vertuous Queene, by aduenturing her owne life, deliuered her people from destruction. But I hope the Sup∣pliants do not thinke our Church to be in so despe∣rate a state, neither outwardly, nor spiritually: and if they do, yet none can be so foolish as to beleeue it.

The Defender replieth. May we feare nothing to our whole Church and Kingdome, for the hard dealing of the Pre∣lats towards the soules of many thousands of our owne Nation? Let no man deceiue vs with vaine words; Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies. There is danger in securitie, there is much more safetie in a godly feare. As for the spirituall danger of the

Church, it appeareth by the decay of the spirituall beautie, and by the encrease of the spirituall deformitie, that is, of ignorance and of impietie in those places already which are depriued of their good Ministers.

But what is this, to proue that the example of Q. Hester was rightly alleadged by the Suppliants, to prouoke the high Court of Parliament, to speake for the refractarie Mi∣nisters? The danger of the Church in Hesters time was ve∣ry great and imminent: The danger of ou•• Church (GOD be thanked) is but an exstaticall imagination of the Suppliants and Defenders braines. Oh, but the hard dealing of the Pre∣lats towards many thousand Soules, ought to cause vs to feare continually. What? Is the remouing of SCHISMATIQVES, and the stopping of the mouthes of such clamorous wrang∣lers, as stirre vp dissention and discord in the Church, hard dealing towards mens soules? Who will say so, besides the Refractaries, and their abettors, the Brownists? But how doth this Elymas peruert that saying of Scripture, Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies, (Pro. 28.14.) Is this feare meant of the feare of punishment? Nay, let him remember, that GOD will send FEARE vpon the wicked, where no feare is: that such as obserue not Gods commandements, shall feare day and night, (Deut. 28.66.) that the same which the Wicked feareth, shall come vpon him, (Prou. 10.24.) As for his slandering our Church with decay of Spiritual bew∣tie in those places, which are depriued of their good Mini∣sters; if it be so, then woe vnto them by whom the offence commeth, that so easilie gaue place vnto the Wolfe: But I maruell he was not ashamed, so impudently to auerre that, which all the Land and daily experience testifie to be an impious Calumnie.

Notes

• Answere.
• Reply.
• Ephes. 5.6. Prou. 28.14.
• Reioynder.