Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	answer_v	scripture_n	word_n	1,678	5	4.1153	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96686	Hypocrisie unmasked: by a true relation of the proceedings of the Governour and company of the Massachusets against Samuel Gorton (and his accomplices) a notorious disturber of the peace and quiet of the severall governments wherein he lived : with the grounds and reasons thereof, examined and allowed by their Generall Court holden at Boston in New-England in November last, 1646. Together with a particular answer to the manifold slanders, and abominable falshoods which are contained in a book written by the said Gorton, and entituled, Simplicities defence against seven-headed policy, &c. Discovering to the view of all whose eyes are open, his manifold blasphemies; as also the dangerous agreement which he and his accomplices made with ambitious and treacherous Indians, who at the same time were deeply engaged in a desperate conspiracy to cut off all the rest of the English in the other plantations. VVhereunto is added a briefe narration (occasioned by certain aspersions) of the true grounds or cause of the first planting of New-England; the president of their churches in the way and worship of God; their communion with the Reformed Churches; and their practise towards those that dissent from them in matters of religion and Church-government. / By Edw. Winslow. Published by authority.	Winslow, Edward, 1595-1655.; Gorton, Samuel, 1592 or 3-1677.; Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683.	1647 (1647)	Wing W3037; Thomason E409_23; ESTC R204435	90,941	117

after of the Virgin Mary and suffering c. was but a manifestation of his suffering c. in Adam Another of them said that the Sabbath was Christ and so was borne of the Virgin Mary They called Magistracy among Christians an Idol yet they did acknowledge a Magistracy in the world to bee subjected to as an Ordinance of God but onely as naturall as the father over his wife and children and an hereditary Prince over his subjects Their first appearance before the Court was upon the Lecture day at Boston before a very great Assembly where first the Governour declared the cause and manner of all the proceedings against them and their Letters were openly read and they had liberty to object and answers were given as followeth First to their plea That they were not within our Jurisdiction it was answered 1 If they were not within ours yet they were within the Jurisdiction of one of our confederates who had referred them to us 2 If they were within no Jurisdiction then was there none to complaine to for redresse of our injuries in way of ordinary Justice and then we had no way of relief but by force of Ar●es Secondly to their plea Of persecution for their Conscience c. It was answered that wee did not meddle with them for their opinions otherwise then they had given us occasion by their owne Letters and free speeches amongstus for wee wrote to them about civill Controversies onely and gave them no occasion to vent their blasphemies and revilings against the Ordinances of Religion set up with us Thirdly for their title to the Indians lands wee had divers times desired them to make it appeare but they alwayes refused even to our Commissioners whom according to their owne motion wee sent last to them and since they were in prison wee offered them to send for any witnesses they would name to us for that end but this also they refused So that our title by the Indians surrender appeareth good and having regained possession we need not question them any further about that Their Letters being read and their Subscriptions acknowledged they were demanded severally if they would maintaine those things which were contained therein Their answer was that they would in that sense they wrote them and so were returned to prison The next day they were brought before the Court severally to be examined upon particulars many of the Elders being desired to bee present because they had said they could give a good interpretation of every part of their Letters But the Interpretation they gave being contrary to the words they were demanded if they would then retract those words so plainely different from their pretended meanings But this they refused to doe saying that then they should deny the Truth for instance in one or two Their Letters were directed one of them To their Neighbours of the Massachusets and the other To the great honoured Idoll Generall of the Massa●●usets and by a messenger of their owne delivered to our Governour and many passages in both Letters particularly applyed to our Courts our Magistrates our Elders c. and yet upon their examinations about their meanings in their reproachfull passages they answered that they meant them of the corrupt estate of mankinde in generall and not of us So whereas in their Letter they charged it upon us as an errour that we teach That Christ dyed Actually onely when he suffered under Pontius ●ilate and before onely in Types c. upon their examination they said that their meaning was that his death was actuall to the faith of the Fathers under the Law which is in effect the same which we hold Yet they would not retract their words they had written The Elders conferred many houres with them before the Court and by occasion thereof they discovered divers blasphemous opinions which they maintained we will instance one which was mentioned before delivered by Gorton viz. that the Image of God wherein Adam was created was Christ and Adams loosing that Image was the death of Christ and the restoring of that Image in the Regeneration was the resurrection of Christ and so the death of him that was borne of the Virgin Mary was but a manifestation of the former Master William Tompson one of the Elders had spent some time with them before in the prison about the opinions which they held forth and they had professed their agreement with him for substance in every point so as he came to the Court with a purpose to speak in their behalf but when he heard themselves discover thus upon their publique examinations he shewed how he had beene deluded by them For they excell the Jesuites in the art of equivocation and regard not how false they speake to all other mens apprehensions so they keepe to the rules of their owne secret intentions Being asked why they spake against the Ordinances of the Ministery Sacraments c. seeing the Scripture allowes them They answered that they were ordained onely for the time of Nonage but after the Revelation was written they were to cease because we finde no mention of them in that booke They were unlearned men the ablest of them could not write true english no not in common words yet they would take upon them to interpret the most difficult places of Scripture and wrest them any way to serve their owne turne As for instance Mr. Cotton pressing Gorton with that in Act. 10. Who can forbid water why these should not be baptised c. He interpreted thus who can deny but these have beene baptised seeing they have received the Holy Ghost c. so he allowed them to have beene baptised This shift ●e was put to that he might maintaine his opinion viz that such as have beene baptized with the Holy Ghost need not the baptisme of water Divers dayes were spent both by the Court and the Elders in labouring to bring them to repentance but all in vaine They continued obstinate Whereupon they agreed to sentence them but first they brought them in publique before a great Assembly and there out of their Letters and Speeches they laid upon them this charge viz. they were found to be blasphemous enemies of the true Religion of our Lord Jesus Christ and of all his holy Ordinances and likewise of all Civill Government among his people and particularly within this jurisdiction Then they were demanded if they did acknowledge this charge to be just and would submit to it or what exception they had against it They answered they did not acknowledge it to be just but they fell into some cavilling speeches so they were returned unto prison againe Being in prison they behaved themselves insolently towards their keeper and spake evill of the Magistrates so as the keeper was forced to threaten them with Irons to keepe them quiet After all meanes used to reclaime them and not prevailing they were brought before the Court to receive their sentence which was this Gorton and

hath been disproved that they were sent out from those places from whence they came for Religion neither are they medled with here for any such matter but rather that they themselves in their bravery are more ready to meddle with others 3 They themselves and others of their followers have rather been troublers and persecutors of the Saints of God that lived here before they came and doe but waite their opportunity to make themselves manifest in that they intend Ergo it cannot bee truly said of any that any persecution is offered by us unto them if it could possibly be said of them that they are Saints Obj. But if it be further objected that we doe not give them the liberty of men neither doe wee afford them the bowells of mercy to give them the meanes of livelihood amongst us as some have said Answ To this I say 1 there is no State but in the first place will seeke to preserve its owne safety and peace 2 Wee cannot give land to any person by vertue of our combination except wee first receive them into our state of combination the which wee cannot doe with them for our owne and others peace-sake c. 3 Whereas their necessity have been so much pleaded it is not knowne that ever they sought to finde out a place where they might accommodate themselves and live by themselves with their friends and such as will follow after them where they may use their liberty to live without order or controule and not to trouble us that have taken the same course as wee have done for our safety and peace which they doe not approve nor like of but rather like beasts in the shape of men to doe what they shall thinke fit in their owne eyes and will not bee governed by any State And seeing they doe but here linger out the time in hope to get the day to make up their penny-worths in advantage upon us we have just cause to heare the complaints of so many of our Neighbors that live in the Town orderly amongst us and have brought in their complaints with many reasons against them and not to admit them but answer them as unfit persons to bee received into our meane State c. Now if these Reasons and much more which have been truly said of them doe not satisfie you and the rest of our neighbours but that they must be received into our Towne-state even unto our utter overthrow c. then according to the order agreed upon by the Towne I doe first offer my house and land within the liberty of the Towne unto the Towne to buy it of mee or else I may and shall take liberty to sell it to whom I may for mine advantage c. William Arnold A PARTICVLAR ANSWER TO THE Manifold Slanders and abominable Falsehoods contained in a Book called Simplicities defence against Seven-headed Policy Wherein Samuel Gorton is proved a disturber of Civill Societies desperately dangerous to his Country-men the English in New-Engl and notoriously slanderous in what he hath Printed of them WHEN first I entertained the desires of the Countrey to come over to answer the complaints of Samuel Gorton c. and to render a reason of the just and righteous proceedings of the Countrey of New-Engl in the severall parts of it against him being a common disturber of the peace of all Societies where hee came witnes New-Plymouth 2 Roade-Island 3 Providence and lastly the Massachusets being the most eminent I little thought then to have appeared in print but comming into England and finding a Booke written by Mr. Gorton called Simplicities defence against Seven-headed policy or A true complaint of a peaceable people being part of the English in New-Engl Old-England against cruell persecutors united in Church-Government in those parts I then conceived my selfe bound in duty to take off the many grosse and publike scandalls held forth therein to the great amazement of many tender consciences in the Kingdom who are not acquainted with his proud and turbulent carriage nor see the Lion under his Lambe-skinne coate of simplicity and peace The Lord knowes how unwilling I was personally to engage and I trust hee will also guide mee in answering his booke as I shall bee farre from bitternesse t is true time was when his person was precious in mine eies and therefore I hope and desire onely to make a righteous and just defence to the many unworthy things by him boldly ignorantly proudly and falsly published to the great dishonour of God in wronging and scandalizing his Churches which the Lord Jesus Christ will not leave unpunished I know the world is full of controversies and t is my great griefe to see my dear native Country so engaged in them especially one godly person against another 'T is my present comfort I come not to accuse any but to defend New-England against the injurious complaints of Samuel Gorton c. but as it comes to passe oftentimes that men wound others unavoidably in defending their persons from the violent assaults of such as draw upon them which otherwise they would never have done so if Mr. Gorton receive any such hurt which is unavoidable hee becomes an accessary thereunto by forcing mee to defend the Country without which I should bee unfaithfull I know the world is too full of bookes of this kinde and therefore however I am unfitted of many things I have and could procure at home would well become a relation of the late and present state of New England yet I shall now onely with as great brevity as may bee give answer to such injurious complaints as hee maketh of us And however his Title Preface and every leafe of his booke may bee justly found fault with I shall clearely answer to matters of fact such as hee chargeth the severall Governments withall so as any indifferent Reader may easily discerne how grosly wee are abused and how just and righteous censures were against him for disturbing the civill peace of all societies where hee came in such a manner as no Government could possibly beare and for the blasphemies for which hee was proceeded against at Massachusets they fell in occasionally by his owne meanes without any circumstance leading thereunto And first whereas hee accuseth us in the first page of his booke to got over to suppresse ●ereticks 'T is well knowne we went thither for no such end laid downe by us but to enjoy those liberties the Lord Jesus Christ had left unto his Church to avoid the Episcopall tyranny and the heavy burthens they imposed to which sufferings the kingdome by this ever to bee honoured Parliament have and doe beare witnesse to as religious and just And that wee might also hold forth that truth and ancient way of God wherein wee walke which Mr. Gorton cals heresie Next in the same Pag. hee chargeth us with affection of Titles c. To which I answer either we must live without Government or if wee have

to the Nanohiggansets In that troublesome time viz. being one cast out of the Church Mr. Cotton should preach It was all one to take counsell of a witch and that those that did it were worthy to die Upon which Mr. Wilbour one of the messengers was ready to die saith hee for feare hee should have been hanged This I cannot beleeve for these two Reasons 1. Because all men that know Mr. Cotton know his moderation wisdome and piety to bee such as such an expression was not like to drop from him 2. The strictest Government in New-Engl that I know takes no advantage in the law at a mans person for being excommunicated insomuch as if he have an office he holds it neverthelesse and this I know practised and therefore his relation unlike But that the Messengers were directed to another for their interpreter I know and that some took offence at their practise I know also but upon different grounds which I forbeare to mention being now to answer Mr. Gorton and not Mr. Williams In pag. 93. which is the last page in his Booke that I shall need to make answer to and the thing hee there brings against us is an answer to a doctrine one of their wives should heare delivered at Massachusets when shee came to visit them from Matth. 24. 29. and alluding to Hebr. 12. 26 27. briefly this doctrine there delivered should make the doctrine of the Apostles and the Churches in their times to ●ee but darkness● That the Ministery of the Apostles was and should be removed c. which I desire the Reader to turne to but bee assured through Gods mercy by meanes of the late Bishop of Canterburies persecutions of the godly here wee are so excellently furnished with shining Lights of the Gospel as no such blasphemous trash as this could bee there delivered and so many able hearers as if it should have been delivered by any the Lord with-drawing his presence from him it would have been forthwith excepted against and published to the world But I am confident if such a thing were there heard it was either from one of their owne company or disciples made by them And therefore I will passe by the answer also as not concerning any difference between him and us and so the rest of his writings to that end and could wish that Narcissus-like hee were not so much in love with his owne shadow lest it prove his ruine there needing no other matter against him then his owne words and writings to render him odious to the State here as well as to New-England from whence he came AND now that I have finished what I conceive necessary concerning Mr. Gortons scandalous and slanderous Bookes let me briefly answer some objections that I often meet withall against the Country of New-England The first that I meet with is concerning the rise and foundation of our New-England Plantations It being alledged though upon a great mistake by a late Writer that division or disagreement in the Church of Leyden was the occasion nay cause of the first Plantation in New-England for saith the Author or to this effect when they could no longer agree together the one part went to New-England and began the Plantation at Plymouth which he makes the mother as it were of the rest of the Churches as if the foundation of our New-England Plantations had been laid upon division or separation then which nothing is more untrue For I perswade my selfe never people upon earth lived more lovingly together and parted more sweetly then wee the Church at Leyden did not rashly in a distracted humour but upon joynt and serious deliberation often seeking the minde of God by fasting and prayer whose gracious presence we not onely found with us but his blessing upon us from that time to this instant to the indignation of our adversaries the admiration of strangers and the exceeding consolation of our selves to see such effects of our prayers and teares before our pilgrimage here bee ended And therefore briefly take notice of the true cause of it 'T is true that that poor persecuted flock of Christ by the malice and power of the late Hierarchy were driven to Leyden in Holland there to beare witnesse in their practise to the Kingly Office of Christ Jesus in his Church and there lived together ten yeares under the United States with much peace and liberty But our Reverend Pastor Mr. John Robinson of late memory and our grave Elder Mr. William Brewster now both at rest with the Lord considering amongst many other inconveniences how hard the Country was where we lived how many spent their estate in it and were forced to return for England how grievous to live from under the protection of the State of England how like wee were to lose our language and our name of English how little good wee did or were like to do to the Dutch in reforming the Sabbath how unable there to give such education to our children as wee our selves had received c. They I say out of their Christian care of the flock of Christ committed to them conceived if God would bee pleased to discover some place unto us though in America and give us so much favour with the King and State of England as to have their protection there where wee might enjoy the like liberty and where the Lord favouring our endeavours by his blessing wee might exemplarily shew our tender Country-men by our example no lesse burthened then our selves where they might live and comfortably subsist and enjoy the like liberties with us being freed from Antichristian bondage keep their names and Nation and not onely bee a meanes to enlarge the Dominions of our State but the Church of Christ also if the Lord have a people amongst the Natives whither hee should bring us c. Hereby in their grave Wisdomes they thought wee might more glorifie God doe more good to our Countrey better provide for our posterity and live to be more refreshed by our labours then ever wee could doe in Holland where we were Now these their private thoughts upon mature deliberation they imparted to the Brethren of the Congregation which after much private discussion came to publike agitation till at the length the Lord was solemnly sought in the Congregation by fasting and prayer to direct us who moving our hearts more and more to the worke wee sent some of good abilities over into England to see what favour or acceptance such a thing might finde with the King These also found God going alongwith them and got Sir Edwin Sands a religious Gentleman then living to stirre in it who procured Sir Robert Nawnton then principall Secretary of State to King James of famous memory to move his Majesty by a private motion to give way to such a people who could not so comfortably live under the Government of another State to enjoy their liberty of Conscience under his gracious protection in America where they would endeavour

the advancement of his Majesties Dominions and the enlargement of the Gospel by all due meanes This his Majesty said was a good and honest motion and asking what profits might arise in the part wee intended for our eye was upon the most Northern parts of Virginia 't was answered Fishing To which hee replyed with his ordinary asseveration So God have my Soule 't is an honest Trade 't was the Apostles owne calling c. But afterwards he told Sir Robert Nawnton who took all occasions to further it that we should confer with the Bishops of Canterbury and London c. Whereupon wee were advised to persist upon his first approbation and not to entangle our selves with them which caused our Agents to repair to the Virginia Company who in their Court demanded our ends of going which being related they said the thing was of God and granted a large Patent and one of them lent us 300 l. gratis for three yeares which was repaid Our Agents returning wee further sought the Lord by a publique and solemn Fast for his gracious guidance And hereupon wee came to this resolution that it was best for one part of the Church to goe at first and the other to stay viz. the youngest and strongest part to goe Secondly they that went should freely offer themselves Thirdly if the major part went the Pastor to goe with them if not the Elder onely Fourthly if the Lord should frowne upon our proceedings then those that went to returne and the Brethren that remained still there to assist and bee helpfull to them but if God should bee pleased to favour them that went then they also should endeavour to helpe over such as were poore and ancient and willing to come these things being agreed the major part stayed and the Pastor with them for the present but all intended except a very few who had rather wee would have stayed to follow after The minor part with Mr. Brewster their Elder resolved to enter upon this great work but take notice the difference of number was not great And when the Ship was ready to carry us away the Brethren that stayed having againe solemnly sought the Lord with us and for us and we further engaging our selves mutually as before they I say that stayed at Leyden feasted us that were to goe at our Pastors house being large where wee refreshed our selves after our teares with singing of Psalmes making joyfull melody in our hearts as well as with the voice there being many of the Congregation very expert in Musick and indeed it was the sweetest melody that ever mine eares heard After this they accompanyed us to Delphs Haven where wee were to imbarque and there feasted us againe and after prayer performed by our Pastor where a flood of teares was poured out they accompanyed us to the Ship but were not able to speake one to another for the abundance of sorrow to part but wee onely going aboard the Ship lying to the Key and ready to set sayle the winde being faire wee gave them a volley of small shot and three peeces of Ordinance and so lifting up our hands to each other and our hearts for each other to the Lord our God we departed and found his presence with us in the midst of our manifold straits hee carryed us thorow And if any doubt this relation the Dutch as I heare at Delphs Haven preserve the memory of it to this day and will inform them But falling with Cape ●od which is in New-England and standing to the Southward for the place wee intended wee met with many dangers and the Mariners put back into the Harbour of the Cape which was the 11. of November 1620. where considering Winter was come the Seas dangerous the season cold the winds high and being well furnished for a Plantation we entered upon discovery and setled at Plymouth where God being pleased to preserve and enable us wee that went were at a Thousand pounds charge in sending for our Brethren that were behinde and in providing there for them till they could reape a crop of their owne labours And so good Reader I have given thee a true and faithfull account though very briefe of our proceedings wherein thou seest how a late Writer and those that informed him have wronged our enterprise And truly what I have written is far short of what it was omitting for brevity sake many circumstances as the large offers the Dutch offered us either to have removed into Zealand and there lived with them or if we would go on such adventures to goe under them to Hudsons River where they have since a great plantation c. and how they would freely have transported us and furnished every family with cattle c. Also the English Merchants that joyned with us in this expedition whom wee since bought out which is fitter for an History then an answer to such an Objection c. I trust will be accomplished in good time By all which the Reader may see there was no breach between us that went and the brethren that stayed but such love as indeed is seldome found on earth And for the many plantations that come over to us upon notice of Gods blessing upon us whereas 't is falsly ●aid they tooke Plimouth for their president as fast as they came 'T is true I confesse that some of the chiefe of them advised with us comming over to be freed from the burthensome ceremonies then imposed in England how they should doe to fall upon a right platforme of worship and desired to that end since God had honoured us to lay the foundation of a Common-weale and to settle a Church in it to shew them whereupon our practice was grounded and if they found upon due search it was built upon the Word they should be willing to take up what was of God We accordingly shewed them the Primitive practice for our warrant taken out of the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles written to the severall Churches by the said Apostles together with the Commandements of Christ the Lord in the Gospell and other our warrants for every particular wee did from the booke of God Which being by them well weighed and considered they also entred into Covenant with God and one with another to walke in all his wayes revealed or as they should bee made knowne unto them and to worship him according to his will revealed in his written word onely c. So that here also thou maist see they set not the Church at Plimouth before them for example but the Primitive Churches were and are their and our mutuall patternes and examples which are onely worthy to be followed having the blessed Apostles amongst them which were sent immediately by Christ himselfe and enabled and guided by the unerring Spirit of God And truly this is a patterne fit to bee followed of all that feare God and no man or men to bee followed further then they follow Christ and them Having