A CENSURE OF THREE Scandalous Pamphlets I. A Defence of Dr. Crisp against the Charge of Mr. Edwards of Cambridg by Esquire Edwards in Wales II. Reflections on the Authors of the late Congregational Declaration against Antinomianism and Trepidantium Malleus by the A. Club. III. A Sermon preached Jan. 30. last by Canon Gilbert in Plimouth with a tedious Preface of Mr. J. Y. Haud timeo si jam nequeam defendere crimen Cum tanto commune viro Vlys Gen. 19.7 I pray Brethren do not so wickedly LONDON Printed and are to be sold by A. Baldwin in Warwick-lane 1699. A Friendly Epistle to Esquire Edwards concerning his Defence of Dr. Crisp against the just Charge of Mr. Edwards of Cambridg that Orthodox moderate Conformist GREAT SIR THAT you are a Gentleman a studious one and of unusual Accomplishments natural and acquired cannot and therefore shall not be denied but chearfully granted by me I meddle not with your late large Book with its superfluous Branches Baxterianism Barefac'd for which fault Dr. Chamry was against its publication as we are credibly informed I and other zealous Anti-Baxterians are both troubled and ashamed when we see 1. That any Advocate for Dr. Crisp should thus appear against Baxterianism For which sound Calvinists will give you no thanks knowing you often oppose not Error with Truth You confirm these Men in their Notions when they read your more wild ones 2. That you in that Book drop such words as these They the Baxterians like the Writers against Dr. Crisp mistake Mens sense and misrepresent their words Thus you became rather their Compurgator than Censurer 3. That you should charge Mr. Baxter as a Writer against sound Conformists and Nonconformists about Justification c. and yet vindicate Dr. Crisp much more corrupt than he and more opposite to the Authors you cite This fills us all with amazement that you so strangely forget your self 4. That you have impos'd on us in citing some Authors against Mr. Baxter particularly Bishop Vsher's Body of Divinity p. 58. when it is well known Bishop Vsher told Dr. Bernard on his Death-bed He was not the Author of that Book but that much of it was taken out of Mr. Crook 's Catechism That there were excellent things in it and if any one would be at the pains to cut off some Excrescencies and make some good Additions he might take the credit of the whole See Bishop Vsher's Life By the way was it like a Disputant to write against Mr. Baxter's Doctrin of Vniversal Redemption to tell us plainly That you never saw that Book of his bearing that Title tho you heard it was printed since his death Yes by Mr. Read Again you bring in Mr. Baxter's Objections Christ did not for us do the Duty of a Husband or Wife or Father and cite Mr. Traughton to less purpose when you might do it to better P. 116. Christ says that blind seeing Man that had the Eyes of Angels tho not of Cats and Dogs was habitually dispos'd to do all the Work and perform every Duty for us in that Relation in which it pleas'd the Father to put him and this was virtual Obedience c. Luther Rediv. Part. 2. Was not also your tedious endless Citation of Mr. Herbert Palmer's Memorials of Godliness inexcusable Almost all the Book You say he was an old Presbyterian Puritan and an abhorrer of Baxterianism which say you is a Paradox among some tho not all of them Why a Paradox I know not above four Baxterians among the Ministers in a County where once Providence cast my Lot 5. That you seem to treat Mr. Baxter with less rudeness than Mr. Edwards What is an unexceptionable Calvinist worse with you than a Neonomian And which is worse you damn the Baxterians and little less Calvinists as if lost by a Covenant of Works Yet we are glad seeing you would meddle in these matters 1. To see so many good Strokes in that Book and in a better Style than in some other Books Many things you mention are too bad too true You say right of Barkly the Learned Quaker He linkt the Papists and Baxterians together and himself with both about Justification P. 22. Let others answer for themselves and Master this is not my Work 2. That you are so good an Example to our Gentry who spend their time in Pleasure Hunting Whoring Drunkenness When you are so sober so serious so contemplative I take you to be a pious but melancholy Man 3. That you are so zealous against Quakerism in your Comparison between Quakerism and Baxterianism I hope now the fit or temptation to turn Quaker so much talk't of is over I leave that Book and apply my self to you about your Defence of Dr. Crisp against Mr. Edwards of Cambridg bound up with it You Sir call this famous Divine and so all of us that own the sound Doctrine he pleads for a Self-Justitiary and tell us That the Truth and that in Fundamentals hath been from Dr. Crisp 's Works maintâ—…n'd and defended fully That Mr. Edwards 's Doctrin Justification by Faith justifies the Papists Charge against us of Schism from the Church of Rome and Council of Trent and that you will maintain that any Jesuit might unequivocally and safely as well as gladly subscribe What Man is Justification by Faith Popery What shall I do To cite is to confute and therefore I will save the Reader 's Time and Money not to answer such little very little trifles Your Discourse of Fountain Vnion in Election virtual by Redemption manifestative in effectal Calling is unlearnedly and too much Crispianly exprest tho it is true you tell us before of being made actual Members of the Head in time I should think you being a sober Gentleman had written this Book too soon after a fit of Sickness or the Vertigo or the Calenture or had you been a profane Gentleman after a Night's Debauch P. 3. You say Our Author Mr. Edwards and his Jesuitical Fraternity jumble Justification and Sanctification together promiscuously That the Doctor Dr. C. separates them not but as to their Ends and Designs No! why were they sanctified too from Eternity from the Womb in the height of all Wickedness Manasseh when he used familiar Spirits Saul when he breathed out Slaughter against the Church What is imputed Sanctification good Doctrine already This is beyond Crisp Why such a trite Proverb so often repeated Ab Equis ad Asinos What is it from the Baxterians to the Crispians I pray our late Preachers of imputed Sanctification to consider as Christ's Righteousness is so imputed to us for Justification that no subjective Righteousness of ours can justify So if Christ's Righteousness be imputed to us for Sanctification no subjective Righteousness of ours could sanctify There would be no room for inherent Righteousness Sanctification or Holiness were the Elect in the height of all their Wickedness in a state of Unregeneracy sanctified as well as justified was there
before they go on 2. Let me know one way or other my Accusers and for what a Posse Comitatus is rais'd against me by Men baptized into Crisp Is it because I cry of his Book as the Prophet There is Death in the Pot Call it not Sirs a savoury Book What Savour but that of Death can it send Or is it that I have cautioned you against a Jack as dangerous and more ignorant Let these Men please themselves they do not much disturb me and I doubt not some will think I am now with Domitian meanly imployed Paul no doubt was a dull Legal Preacher to him for whose sake Mattocks are brought to erase the Foundation of the Ministerial Function He is for a while honour'd by them as a King but is he not what is said of the King of Spain Rex Asinorum I doubt not but in a little time these little Animals will rise up in Rebellion against their little Man and he shall be the Rogue Drunkard These are Men of crazy Intellectuals tho said to be some of Christ's best sound Members One reply'd They have been well fluxt to be sound Are they more like Epicurus his Swine or Christ's Sheep O sad Case that when some Ministers were followed they could not take a Cup without trouble Now is a time of Liberty Have not some made their Antinomianism a Cloak for Deism or Atheism To say There is nothing in Religion worth suffering for cost One dear in the City who after in terror of Mind did stare with drops of Sweat at his Fingers-ends and so rav'd till he cut his Throat and died Simon Thorvy as Baker in his Chronicle and others tells us boasted that by his Wit he should make void any Law of Christ God so afflicted him with a fit of Sickness that his Animal Spirits were so wasted that after his Recovery he was forced to learn to read Letters again like a Child Some say there is no need of much Wit to be profane but this is not always true we see Give one another good Counsel yet be sober more ways than one study that famous Book of Mr. Perkins Dedicated to some of you viz. To all ignorant Persons in the Kingdom of England You see what it is by the poor Draper for Men not to move within their own Sphere or for you to interfere with other Mens Work You could not meddle with the substrate matter or Doctrine of the Book you revile no more than your Lord and Master This Christ-Exalter is like Pilate a Christ-Crucifier who said What I have Written I have Written and so what he hath said he hath said without giving any reason to any that fairly and privately desire it Is this your Gamaliel at whose Feet you sit and hear Impudence and Folly pass for Sense and Demonstration If ever I am printed as a Lunatick by these Men more as twice already I intend to print the ingenious Lampoon mention'd in my Apology about the Draper's Birth and Life who now refuse to sheâ— it to any Man And for these Libellers let them remember the old Romans hanged Men that could not give a satisfactory Account for not payment of Debts and a piece of their Bodies were given to their Creditors let not Men talk of suffering for their Consciences who suffer for their God-pieces None of these trouble themselves with the Learning of Antichrist's Doctors as Mr. Vnworthy Branch phraseth it The old Antinomians as Thomas Taylor in that valuable Book Regula vitae describes them pretended to act as if the Golden Age say I were return'd again Sponte sua sine lege fidem rectumque colebat but soon were Ranters as if Subjectum Pelion Ossae scandalous Men on a sudden come to have Peace not of God's sending no doubt their building on their sandy Foundation will fall to the Ground in the day of Trial their Lamps without Oil will soon go out For Men who are in the chase of worldly Pleasures to cry not indeed Lord Lord but Christ Christ will have a woful repulse I know you not you workers of Iniquity These Men perpetually declaim against the Baxterians and damn them to boot O horrid Censoriousness and Wickedness and yet at the same time corrupt the Doctrine of Justification much more than they in denying the presence of Faith as well as instrumentality in Justification as Crisp doth in plain words Reader it is worth thy Consideration to remember that Arminius himself owned Calvin's Doctrine of Justification as he tells the World in his just Man's Defence and I knew a great Arminian defending this Doctrine against an accurate Baxterian opposing it That for my part I cannot forbear thinking and saying that Arminian sound here was less Corrupt tho he denied Predestination irresistible Grace in Conversion and Perseverance than the Baxterian sound in all these Points but corrupt in this one of Justification which toucheth the very heart of Religion and true Christianity However we three managed our Controversy not in the London but Christian way and Manner without Bitterness or Uncharitableness But my Work is now with the Crispians and about their making Repentance no Duty but Sin One of the most ingenious favourers of Dr. Crisp told me lately He knew not what to say to the three Pages I censure about David and shaking his Head said I know not what to say for the Doctor there And I hope every Man of sense must grant me this that if Repentance be a necessary indispensable Duty without which no Man can be saved Dr. Crisp is one of the foulest Hereticks that ever appear'd in the World worse much worse say I again and again than Socinus If Repentance or having Sin a burden be legal and abominable and Faith only a perswasion we are Justified Rantism comes next Mr. Williams that Man of a sounder Heart than Head is so well pleas'd with the Congregational Declaration against Antinomianism that he hath lately writen his End to Discord wherein he like a Christian and Gentleman that is to say like Mr. Williams tells them he is sorry he or others suspected them guilty of Antinomianism and that they have now purg'd themselves of any such Charge and tells them had they done this sooner many late Books against them and Controversies had been prevented And therefore now no doctrinal Controversies between Presbyterian and Congregational Brethren remain to justify any further Division This is his Opinion I am sure he owns always and to all Men as he hath done in print that the giving of the first Grace is not Conditional and where that is given there is promis'd Perseverance Now let such Men talk what they will of Conditions they must be sound in sense whether in Phrase or no they are hedged in they cannot help it Mr. Lob and he met together some Months since and as I hear were agreed to write one against another no more Mr. Lob put him on this last Work and no doubt had
had his Common-Prayer-Book in the Flames and there hug'd it I will not say I wish Dr. Crisp had had his there too but I could wish his Book had been committed there by his own hand as one when forced so to do said Parve nec invideo sine me liber ibis in ignem I would not say as a stander-by did to him Hei mihi quod Domino non licet ire tuo Had Dr. Crisp been by David he had taught him or the Spirit rather to have given us better Psalms where Sin should not be confest as a Burden Had Alphonses been by God when he made the World it had been better done as he blasphemously said I pray our considering Congregational Brethren to consider what Confusion they have brought things into by giving the People so much Power Mr. Neuton of Taunton told Mr. Ben of Dorset when he complain'd how bitter his Life was through the intolerable Insolencies of his People Brother you would put the Keys into their Hands and they jingle them about your Ears None talk more of the Judgment of Discretion then Jack and Tom that have no Discretion at all What Confessions came Dr. Owen to before he died Lived he or died he at last more like an Independent or Presbyterian These Ships without Ballast are driven before the Winds they bite the Shell but cannot come at the Kernel Who shall compare Ministers to Tinkers have such any work for the Tinker for it is high time to mend their brazen-faces must such into a Pulpit Christ kept his Disciples long at his Feet before he sent them out to preach Workmen such should be that need not be ashamed what Trade could they live by but by this To hear Men of no natural Logick of no Distinctions talk with such Ignorance and Confidence is intolerable I was painted out in the Pulpit as is fam'd as a Drunkard in Coffee-houses that hardly ever drink there Another is call'd an Adulterer A Congregational Friend of mine Mr. C. a Poet whom I had not seen this 25 Years lately coming to visit me he told me he liv'd in Dublin when Mr. Williams liv'd there I ask'd him whether he was suspected to be guilty of any Immoralities He told me no tho his Doctrine he liked not and therefore would not hear him They that tell the Story of the Woman in all its basest Circumstances acknowledg the Fact not done I challenge any one to shew me one Story in History or that they knew of that a Man so vile as they say he is and a Woman so lewd as they and she confess'd she was went so far and there stop'd O Jesus say to these Storms Peace be still When God set up a Tabernacle in the Wilderness he imployed wise Men about it Exod. 31.3 God fill'd them with Wisdom and Knowledg in all manner of Workmanship He gave them Ver. 6. Wisdom to make all God commanded Moses What a Tabernacle had they had if bunglers had had the making it like a Drapers Church Is this a proper Expression in Prayer O God we would not have been without our Corruptions for a World that Free-Grace may be exalted I fear Rantism is come to the birth again Had not his Highness the Protector sent timely the Levellers had overrun all I fear some hope for Winstanley's new Law of Righteousness That he that wants a Horse or a Sheep should go for them to any Field where he can get them See his Book so call'd Thus may they turn Winstanley's Neonomians at last tho not Mr. Baxter's But it may be some will say what have we to do with Dr. Crisp If he set Repentance at nought we justify him not 1. If you have nothing to do with Dr. Crisp I have nothing to do with you I charge you not but the Guilty 2. If calling his Book one of the best Books in the World next to the Bible if flying in the Faces of his Censurers and loading them with all the Ignominy imaginable be not justifying him I pray what is To say at last I never read him will not excuse I and others have and therefore speak These Men here set up for as great zealots for Infant-Baptism and take liberty of Reflecting on me for my Conversation with Antipedobaptists and say they believe They will wâ—… me at last I assure them the Anabaptists here expect it not And I am not a little disturb'd to see the unfair Management of the late Portsmouth Dispute To cleaâ— my self once more I have reason to believe so wise a Man as Mr. Leigh never there talk'd of the Eunuch's Children tho another blunderer Mr. H. did elsewhere That the Eunuch was in a Journey and his Wife and Children might be a hundred Miles of Did ouâ— Men talk so weakly and one so strongly as is represented Time will undeceive Men about so vain a Story I am ready to prove to our Brethren the Anabaptists 1. That the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not to Plunge exclusive of any other way of Washing 2. That there are no certain Circumstances to prove any one Person Plunged by John the Disciples or Apostles but strong ones to make it probable that many were not or could not be plunged 3. As consequent upon all this that their common way of Plunging is so far from being a Duty and necessary that to most Persons and in most Circumstances it becomes a Sin and unwarrantable 4. That if Plunging were a Duty the Anabaptists perform it not for if every part must be baptiz'd because every part is Corrupted and must be Mortified as they say then this Washing must be the Administrator's Work Now their Men and Women go up a great way in the Water not as a part of Baptism for the Word and Element make the Sacrament and the Minister puts in the other part If I saw my Shirt put in by my Maid in a washing Tub and the Sleeves hang out and I put them in do I plunge my Shirt Besides is it true that there is a Washing with Water Then I say the Anabaptists wash not with Water but in it if with there must be an Application of the Water to the Person not the Person to the Water And to say Is sprinkling Washing I know none that do sprinkle if they did it might be justified Is Sirs taking a little bit of Bread a Supper the Lord's Supper A Man may make a hundred such Suppers in an Evening and go to Bed an hungry when all is done And whereas it is said They went down into the Water I think the Holy Ghost anticipates the Anabaptists Objection by telling us they not he and again both Phillp and the Eunuch was the Baptizer plung'd I pray How many times when we were Boys did we go down into the Water when we never put off our Coats or Breeches only wash'd our Feet and came out again and so many Women in some places often do They that say it was
our Prefacer of K. Charles He did no Evil Perhaps he could do none for so Sir Orlando Bridgman in the Trial of the Regicides urged it The King can do no Man wrong He that can do no Man wrong can he do any Man right Was it some may say that when the Father's Head was on the Block the two Son's Heads had not been there too I am not more confident of any one thing I ever studied of History then that K. Charles was a Popish Perjur'd Bloody Arbitrary Tyrant As for our Prefacer's Citations 1. Some I doubt are untrue and others want proof 2. Men will too much talk like Courtiers whose Minds cannot be known by their words 3. Some very good prudent Men did think favourably of K. Ch. the 1st's Cause and Family 1. Till the Discovery of â—hat deep Plot by Dr. Oates declared by the Parliament to be true 2. Till they saw the after Proceeding of K. Charles the â—d and his Death 3. Till they saw the open defiance of our Laws by K. James I would appeal to the Consciences of some Men if I thought they had any whether they do or â—an believe what they write of that worst of Kings C. 1st tho â—ot Men. 4. Besides when Men are in Misery as the King was in the Isle of Wight they then are like wild Beasts taâ—ed So he might talk honestly and piously and easily decoy well meaning credulous Persons who are then through pity ready for such impressions 5. Yet I think their fluid Charity perhaps not fix'd is more justifiable than their Prudence or mature Judgments So it hath been as before with the Censurers of Dr. Crisp his Doctrine some close all They hope he was a good Man 6. Yet after all I care not what any Man said but what he ought to say I therefore â—o to the merits of the Cause And for the Church-Men who are angry with 〈◊〉 of us that hope Oliver is in Heaven or the greateâ— Parliamentarian Fighters they themselves must haâ—… own'd so much over their Graves if but lately Deaâ— tho they justified themselves and proceedings to thâ— last If the common Plea be good here That is 〈◊〉 that is in the least degree a remove from Despair and thâ—… you may say of any Man You hope he is in Heaven thâ—… you are not sure to be in Hell Say next you hope the greaâ—… Turk when he dies will go there That you hope to 〈◊〉 till a hundred Years old and to find a great prey not â—…ing sure to the contrary I will not digress else I woâ—… lay open the vanity of this Notion or blind Charity I care not for Milton's Iconoclastes tho I think he haâ—… written a great deal of Truth but whether honestly 〈◊〉 no I leave others to judg I do believe both he and 〈◊〉 Lord Lambert were Roman Catholicks or Scepticks aâ—… Deists doing the work of such I once conversed with 〈◊〉 Lord Lambert in his Garden on the Island nigh Plymoâ—… and could hardly tell what he would be at in Religion 〈◊〉 when I saw him on the 15th Psalm I there found a Behâ—… menistical strain and believ'd he intended to bring our Râ—ligion into Contempt What Bedlow swore is well knoâ—… and he said he brought him Letters from Thâ—… Milton lost his Paradise the Protestant Religion but neâ— reâ—ain'd it more But did nothing that Rushworth saâ—… deserve our Prefacer's Consideration Obj. But it shall be done in time When It is high tiâ—… if ever And he might have let alone this magisterial dogâ—…tical Assertion till that time that we might see all in a pieâ—… What is a Machin when taken in its parts for my paâ—… I not only can but do hear patiently any Man that shâ—… talk two or three Hours together to prove the infamâ—… Martyr-maker to be a glorious Martyr if he so belieâ—… but for Men to assert and assert without proof and be 〈◊〉 patient of hearing Objections they are not fit for Converâ—… â—o doubt this destroyer of his Country doubted not but â—ishop Williams of Ossery his Prophesy should be fulfill'd in â—is Book against Non-Resistance written in the 2d Year of the War That the King should reign till he had put all his Enemies â—…der his Feet God heard the K. when he said if I have â—…ed innocent Blood let my Honour be laid in the Dust As for the keen severe Reflections our Prefacer makes â—n those who mâ—ke a Calves head Feast every Martyrâ—om day I justify them not but if I must be either at â—heir Feast or some Mens Fast that day I know which 〈◊〉 would choose for good chear sake tho I will not tell eâ—ery Body much less the Prefacer lest I should be reâ—ected on in his next Turkish-slavish-Book His other â—rother N. Y. that true English-man lately dead is beâ—ond his Censure now This Sermon being printed must never be preach'd â—ore tho with a new Text how often soever it hath been â—reach'd already Must two hundred Pounds a Year be â—…id to a repeater of Sermons tho his own and the Trade â—…ntinue durante Vita He that preach'd his Daughters Diâ—…nity once about standing in â—inging Psalms let him â—…nsult her again and it may be he will no longer up â—…d down preach Pro and Con and turn his Cap as the â—ind blows Will not his Head when he dies serve for â—other thing now on the Steeple Hath the Martyr-â—aker's Picture before the Pulpit set up by Mr. Prefacer â—ade them both giddy That King Charles was the Author of his Image is â—utly asserted by our Prefacer as stoutly denied by Men 〈◊〉 all Parties but never was by me for 1. Colonel Crook told me he saw the Copy of it under 〈◊〉 King 's own hand and he never doubted him the Auâ—…or Now tho I confess this proves him not the Auâ—…or yet it is a great help and confutes some who â—…estion whether ever the King saw it The Testimoâ—… of an Adversary goes far he was one of the greatest Enemies the King had and one of the best Friends his Highness the Protector had 2. What will the denyers get by this who cannot deny the Conference between the King and Mr. Hindersham and other Epistles of his which prove he was a good Scholar and so far a wise Man What if his Brother Juliaâ— and his Brother Trajan were both great learned Men doth that excuse their Tyrannies and other Villanies No tho their good Morals be added to all as not given to Women or Wine c. Their learning unsanctified not enthusiastically manag'd was but as Judas and the Jews Lanthorns and Torches by which Christ was betray'd 3. Doth any Man that knows Bishop Gauden's Stile think this like it And for what a late Writer says Mr. T. of the Earl of Anglesy leaving it under his hand in a Book That he knew it was not the King 's c. and this Mr. Millington testifies 1. Is it likely King Charles the first and