It was admired of old that Aphraates, who lived in the cottages of the wilderness all his time, yet once was found in the streets of Antiochia, in the days of the Emperor Valens. He excused the change of his former behaviour by the similitude of a modest virgin, lurking quietly in the secret corners of her father’s house, so long as it is in safety; but if it be set on fire, it is a hurtful modesty to lurk any longer, necessity forces her to run abroad that she may give warning of the imminent danger. This example of Aphraates might sufficiently excuse mine unaccustomed boldness to set forth my head, which hath been lapped up so long in hurtful silence. For now the power of darkness increaseth; and (as the prophet saith) ‘Woe unto us! for the day declineth, and the shadows of the evening are stretched out,’ (Jer vi. 4;) ‘yea the shadow of Mount Athos reacheth to the Isle Lemnos, a sure forerunning token of the going down of the sun.’ And, therefore, now it is time to creep out of our subterraneal caves, that we may give notice to quench the fire in time, before it spread further, and bring greater desolation to the house of our God. Papists are become insolent of late days, (like unto serpents in summer weather, taking courage, and biting the heels of horses that the riders may fall,) not sparing, both in word and writ, to reproach our religion as not countenanced by antiquity; and our ministry as altogether naked and void of the knowledge of ancient learning. Shall we now stand still (as idle men in the market-places) one looking upon another? I had rather ()then we should sustain such apparent damage and hurt, through untimely silence) step forth with the Lacedemonian soldier impotent of his legs, and neither apt to fight nor able to flee; having this comfort, (as he had), that happily I may blunt the edge of the enemies sword, and make others ashamed who are more fit for fighting than I am. And although whose who have undertaken to write compends have found therein great difficulty, being so invironed with straits, that they find it very hard either to satisfy themselves or others, (for if the compends be short, they seem obscure; if written at large, they seem to have need of other other compends to abridge their prolixity.); yet, notwithstanding all these difficulties, it is better to set forward by doing some good, either to ourselves or others, than to spend our time in idleness, lest our cogitations (like unto the upper and lower millstones, which lacking good grain to grind upon, rub upon one another until both be broken) not being well-exercised, but, spent upon vain things, become hurtful both to our souls and bodies.

Take in good part the goats” hair and the rams’ skins which I present to cover the tabernacle of our God. I refer the ornaments of gold, silver, and precious stones, for beautifying the inner parts of the tabernacle, to others, upon whom God hath vouchsafed greater gifts. The hose of God is large and ample; and as it hath need of bright-shining torches for the halls, parlous, and chambers; so it hath need of smaller lights for cellars and office-houses. If my father candle give light in the lowest cellar of the house by God, my heart is fully content.

Farewell.

Thine in the Lord.

P. Symson.

Patrick Simpson’s epistle dedicatory to “The historie of the Church since the days of our Saviour Jesus Christ, until this present age. Divided into four books.”

It was admired of old that Aphraates, who lived in the cottages of the wilderness all his time, yet once was found in the streets of Antiochia, in the days of the Emperor Valens. He excused the change of his former behaviour by the similitude of a modest virgin, lurking quietly in the secret corners of her father’s house, so long as it is in safety; but if it be set on fire, it is a hurtful modesty to lurk any longer, necessity forces her to run abroad that she may give warning of the imminent danger. This example of Aphraates might sufficiently excuse mine unaccustomed boldness to set forth my head, which hath been lapped up so long in hurtful silence. For now the power of darkness increaseth; and (as the prophet saith) ‘Woe unto us! for the day declineth, and the shadows of the evening are stretched out,’ (Jer vi. 4;) ‘yea the shadow of Mount Athos reacheth to the Isle Lemnos, a sure forerunning token of the going down of the sun.’ And, therefore, now it is time to creep out of our subterraneal caves, that we may give notice to quench the fire in time, before it spread further, and bring greater desolation to the house of our God. Papists are become insolent of late days, (like unto serpents in summer weather, taking courage, and biting the heels of horses that the riders may fall,) not sparing, both in word and writ, to reproach our religion as not countenanced by antiquity; and our ministry as altogether naked and void of the knowledge of ancient learning. Shall we now stand still (as idle men in the market-places) one looking upon another? I had rather ()then we should sustain such apparent damage and hurt, through untimely silence) step forth with the Lacedemonian soldier impotent of his legs, and neither apt to fight nor able to flee; having this comfort, (as he had), that happily I may blunt the edge of the enemies sword, and make others ashamed who are more fit for fighting than I am. And although whose who have undertaken to write compends have found therein great difficulty, being so invironed with straits, that they find it very hard either to satisfy themselves or others, (for if the compends be short, they seem obscure; if written at large, they seem to have need of other other compends to abridge their prolixity.); yet, notwithstanding all these difficulties, it is better to set forward by doing some good, either to ourselves or others, than to spend our time in idleness, lest our cogitations (like unto the upper and lower millstones, which lacking good grain to grind upon, rub upon one another until both be broken) not being well-exercised, but, spent upon vain things, become hurtful both to our souls and bodies.

Take in good part the goats” hair and the rams’ skins which I present to cover the tabernacle of our God. I refer the ornaments of gold, silver, and precious stones, for beautifying the inner parts of the tabernacle, to others, upon whom God hath vouchsafed greater gifts. The hose of God is large and ample; and as it hath need of bright-shining torches for the halls, parlous, and chambers; so it hath need of smaller lights for cellars and office-houses. If my father candle give light in the lowest cellar of the house by God, my heart is fully content.

Farewell.

Thine in the Lord.

P. Symson.

Patrick Simpson’s epistle dedicatory to “The historie of the Church since the days of our Saviour Jesus Christ, until this present age. Divided into four books.”