g in weight. But above all other motives, some better,
some worse, too many love to hear themselves speak; and
imagining vainly that they please others, because they please
themselves, make long orations when a little were too much.
Some excuse their tediousness, saying, that they cannot speak
shorter; wherein they both say untruly, and shame themselves
also; for it is all one as if they said that they have
unbridled tongues, and inordinate passions setting them a-work.
_I have been many times drawn so dry, that I could not well
speak any longer for want of matter: but I ever could speak as
short as I would._"

The remainder of this volume is occupied by "A Defence of the Doctrine
propounded by the Synod at Dort", able, full of close reasoning and
Scripture exposition, and worthy of careful perusal, whether the
conclusions be admitted or not.

The second volume is occupied with Robinson's greatest controversial
work, "A Justification of Separation from the Church of England," &c. It
is elaborate and complete; and, besides vindicating the separatists of
that day, pronounces on many questions on which dissenters have yet to
make up their minds. In this work he classes himself with the Brownists;
from which it may be inferred, that his advice to the pilgrims, to
"shake off the name of Brownist," is not to be interpreted very largely,
as has sometimes been the case. It is the _name_ that he chiefly
abjures. The following passage from the introduction to this performance
will illustrate the manner in which Robinson vindicated his
co-religionists from the misrepresentations of that age:

"The difference you lay down touching the proper subject of the
power of Christ, is true in itself, and only yours wherein it
is corruptly related, and especially in the particular
concerning us, as, that where 'the Papists plant the ruling
power of Christ in the Pope; the Protestants in the Bishops;
the Puritans,' as you term the reformed churches and those of
their mind 'in the Presbytery;' we whom you name 'Brownists,'
put it in the 'body of the congregation, the multitude called
the church:' odiously insinuating against us that we do exclude
the elders in the case of government, where, on the contrary,
we profess the bishops or elders to be the only ordinary
governors in the church, as in all other actions of the
church's