1 " Ad te quod attinet, animo es tu quidem ad omnem doctringe rationem, ac veritatis investigationem nato, magna remim sopliisticarum cognitio, orator summus, et theologus insignis, linguas tenes maxime Latinam, ut possis cum proscipuis totius Europaj ingeniis certare."— Marcel. Squarcialup. Ep. ad. Faust. Socin.
' " Aliud interim in Latina lingua erratum, gravius quam istud sit, a me est commis- Bum, quod scilicet relativo reciproco ubi nuUus erat locus usus sum." — Ep. 4 ad Valent. Smalc. p. 521.
3 " Memini te mihi hujns rei solutionem cum esses Kacoyire afFerre, sed quns mea est tarditas, vel potius stupiditas, non bene illius recordor." — Ostorod. Ep. ad Faust. Socin. p. 45fi. . . , .
* " I'ibi significo me ni fallor invenissc viam quomodo verum esse possit, quod Chris- tus plane libere ct citra omnem neeessitatem Deo perfectissime obediret, et tamen ne- cessarium omnino fuerit ut sic obediret ; quosnam ista via sit, nisi earn ipse per te (ut plane spcro) inveneris, postea tibi aperiam : volo enim prius tuum hoc in re et Statorii ingeniura expcriri, tametsi vereor ne jam eam illi indicavcrim."— Ep. 4 ad Ostorod. p. 472.
* " Do quoe.stione tibi proposita non bene conjocisti, nee quam aflfers solutionem ea probari ullo modo potest."— Ep. 6 ad Ostorod. p. 473.
« " Pcrlecto scripto tuo contra Volanum animadverti argumenta ejus satis accurate a te refutata, locaquc scripturse pleraque examinata, ac elucidata, verum non sine masrore (no quid gi-avius addam) incidi inter legendum in quoddam paradoxon, Scripturae
THE PREFACE TO THE READER. 39
which one abominable figment lies at the bottom of his whole doctrine of the justification of a sinner. The case is the same about his judgment concerning the invocation of Christ, which was, " That we might do it, but it was not necessary from any precept or otherwise that so we should do."
And this was nine years after his coming into Poland, as appears from the date of that epistle; so long was he in getting his opinions to be entertained among his friends. But though this man were a little wary, and held out some opposition unto him, yet multitudes of them were taken with this snare, and freely drank down the poison they loathed, being tempered with that which they had a better liking to. But this being discovered, he let the rest of them know that though he was entreated to write that book by the Eacovians, and did it in their name,^ yet, because he had published somewhat of his own private opinions therein, they might if they pleased deny, yea, and forswear, that they were written by their appointment.
And this was with respect to his doctrine about the satisfaction of Christ, which, as he says, he heard they were coming over unto ; and it is evi- dent from what he writes elsewhere to Balcerovicius that he begged this employment of writing against Volanus, it being agreed by them that he should write nothing but by public consent, because of the novelties which he broached every day. By this readiness to appear and write in their defence, and so commending his writing to them on that account, it is incredible how he got ground upon them, and won them over daily to the residue of his abominations, which they had not received.
3. To these add, as another advantage to win upon that people, the course he had fixed on in reference to others ; which was, to own as his, and of his parti/ of the church, all persons lohatever that, on any pretence whatever, opposed the doctrine of the Trinity and forsook the reformed church. Hence he dealt with men as his brethren, friends, and companions, who scarcely retained any thing of Christians, some nothing at all ; as Martin Seidelius, who denied Christ ; with Philip Buccel, who denied all differ- ence of good and evil in the actions of men ; with Eramus Johannes, an Arian ; with Matthias Eadecius, who denied that any could believe in Christ without new apostles ; — indeed, with all or any sorts of men what- ever that would but join with him, or did consent unto the opposition of the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was the principal Avork which he engaged in.
4. Unto these and the like advantages the man added all the arts and suhtilties, all the diligence and industry, that were any way tending to his end. Some of his artifices and insinuations, indeed, were admirable, though to them who now review them in cold blood, without recalling to mind the then state of things, they may seem of another complexion.^
By these and the like means, though he once despaired of ever getting his opinions received amongst them, as he professeth, yet in the long con- tinuance of twenty-four years (so long he lived in Poland), with the help of Valentinus Smalcius, Volkelius, and some few others, who wholly fell in
sacrce contrariiim ac plane horrenclum, (lum Christum in morte sua sive in cnice, sacri- ficiutn obtulisse pernegas, miror quid tibi in nientem venerit, ut tarn confidenter (no quid aliud dicam) contra nianifesta sacrae Scripturaj testimonia pugnare, contrariamque sententiam tucri non timcas." — Ep. 1 Job. Nieniojev. ad Faust. 8ocin. p. 19f5._
' " Rogavit me dciminiis Schomanus, dominus Simon Ronembergius, et alii, ut ad pa- itenesin Andraj Volani responderem, volui ut si quid in hac responsione vobis minus recte dictum vidcretur, non bona conscicntia tantum, sed jure etiam, eam semper eju- rare possetis." — Ep. ad Mar. Balcerovicium, p. 336.