scien

1658: John Milton, To the Evangelick Cities of the Switzers; reprinted in:

It ſeems to be only in your Power, next under God, to prevent the extirpation of this moſt antient Scien of the purer Religion, in theſe remainders of the Primitive Believers; whoſe preſervation, now reduc’d to the very brink of utter ruin, if you neglect, beware that the next Turn be not your own.