[11] Vincentii Panurgii epistola tribus impostoribus, ad clarissimum virum Joannem--Baptistam Morinum Medicum. [12] Isaac de Peyrere published his Pre-Adamite doctrine in 1655. This set of fanatics, who were persuaded by their lenders that the general race of mankind had lost nothing of their innocence by the fall of Adam, made their appearance, (both men and women) in the streets of Munster, and elsewhere, in the same robeless condition as our first parents were, when they wandered in the bowers of Paradise before the eating of that forbidden fruit, which "Brought death into the world and all our woe." The magistrates of the city attempted to put them down but failed; and the military had some difficulty in extinguishing this absurdity.--Translator's Note. [13] Monstrum illud hominis, diis inferis a secretis scelus, nefarii illius tractatus de tribus impostoribus author quantumvis ab omni Religione alienus, adeo ut nec Judaeus, nec Turca, nec Christianus fuerit, plane tamen athoeus non erat. [14] Consult Bayle's Dictionary on this subject, article, "Trabea." [15] Quid vel hac sola dubitatione in Christiana schola cogitara potest perniciosius? [16] Nefarium tillud rium impostorum commentum sen liber contra Christum, Moisem et Mahometan Capomi nuper ab illis qui Evangelo Calvini so adductissimos profitentur typis excussus est. [17] Hinc Boccaccius in fabellis probare contendit non posse discerni inter legem Christi, Moisis et Mahometis, quia eadem signa habent uti tres annuli consimiles. [18] F. I. S. D. namely, Fredericus Imperator Salutem Dicit Othoni illustrissimo amico meo carrissimo. [19] Quod de tribus famosissimis nationum deceptoribus in ordinem jussu meo digessit doctissimus ille vir quorum sermonem de illa re in museo meo habustiæ exscribi curavi; atque Codicem illum stylo aeque vero ac puro scriptum ad te quam primum mitto; etenum, &c. [20] There is a measure in every thing. [21] This phrase is frequently employed to express ecclesiastical criticism. Its first application however had a more pungent meaning.--The individual here alluded to having boldly assailed the errors of the Church was attacked one evening by an assassin. Fortunately the blow did not prove fatal; but the weapon (a stylus, or dagger, which is also the Latin name for a pen) having been left in the wound--on his recovery he wore it in his girdle labelled, "The Theological Stylus," or Pen of the Church. The trenchant powers of this instrument have more frequently been employed to repress truth, than to refute argument. [22] Moses put to death in one day 24,000 men, because they resisted his laws. [23] We read in the Book of Kings, chap. xxii, v. 6, that Ahab, the King of Israel consulted 400 prophets who were all false, as the result of their vaticinations showed. [24] Genesis, chap. iv, v. 7. [25] I. Samuel chap. xv, v. 11. [26] Jeremiah, chap. xviii, v. 10.