Editing Joseph Hall (bishop) (section)

===Controversy===
Hall's initial work of religious controversy was against Protestant [[separatists]]. In 1608 he had written a letter of remonstrance to [[John Robinson (pastor)|John Robinson]] and [[John Smyth (Baptist minister)|John Smyth]]. Robinson, who had been a beneficed clergyman near [[Great Yarmouth|Yarmouth]], had replied in ''An Answer to a Censorious Epistle''; and Hall published (1610) ''A Common Apology against the Brownists'', a lengthy treatise answering Robinson paragraph by paragraph. It set a style, tight but rich using [[animadversion]], for Hall's theological writings. Hall criticised Robinson, the future pastor of the ''[[Mayflower]]'' congregation, alongside [[Richard Bernard]] and [[John Murton (theologian)|John Murton]].{{sfn|Perry|1890|p=76}}<ref>{{harvnb|Bremer|Webster|2006|p=216}}.</ref>

In Hall's ''Via media, The Way of Peace'' (1619), he did his best to persuade the two parties (Calvinist and Arminian) to accept a compromise. His later defence of the English Church, and [[episcopacy]] as Biblical, entitled ''Episcopacy by Divine Right'' (1640), was twice revised at Laud's dictation.

{{Portal|Christianity}}

This was followed by ''An Humble Remonstrance to the High Court of Parliament'' (1640 and 1641), an eloquent and forceful defence of Hall's order, which produced a retort from the syndicate of Puritan divines, who wrote under the name of [[Smectymnuus]]. This was followed by a long controversy to which [[John Milton]] contributed five pamphlets, virulently attacking Hall and his early satires.

Other controversial writings by Hall include:

*''The Olde Religion: A treatise, wherein is laid downe the true state of the difference betwixt the Reformed and the Romane Church; and the blame of this schisme is cast upon the true Authors'' (1628)
*''Columba Noae olivam adferens'', a sermon preached at St Paul's in 1623
*''A Short Answer to the Vindication of Smectymnuus'' (1641)
*''A Modest Confutation of (Milton's) Animadversions'' (1642).