AMYNTOR OR A DEFENCE OF Milton's Life CONTAINING I. A general Apology for all Writings of that kind II. A Catalogue of Books attributed in the Primitive Times to JESUS CHRIST his Apostles and other eminent Persons With several important Remarks and Observations relating to the Canon of Scripture III. A Complete History of the Book Entitul'd Icon Basilike proving Dr. GAUDEN and not King CHARLES the First to be the Author of it With an Answer to all the Facts alledg'd by Mr. WAGSTAF to the contrary and to the Exceptions made against my Lord ANGLESEY's Memorandum Dr. WALKER's Book or Mrs. GAUDEN's Narrative which last Piece is now the first Time publish'd at large DI quibus imperium est animarum umbraeque Silentes Et Chaos Phlegethon Loca Nâ—cle tacentia late Sit mihi fas audit a loqui Sit numine vestro Pandere res alta terra caligine mersaâ— Virg. Aen. 6. London Printed and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster M. DC.XC.IX   Errors Amendments Page 5. line 1â— hose those 20. 5. Christ his Christ his 21. 4. Ceretum Ceretium 37. 19. Cophtic Coptic â—8 3. of of the 53. 15. Matâ—hies Matthias 57. 15. Ex mple â—xample 65. 15. may be be any 66. 17. â—ittgius â—â—itigius 101. 23. hop'd o hop'd to 105. 5. Consciences Conscience 113. 20. somtime Som time 131. 16. this his 137. 8. Mediations Meditations * In the Margin of Pag. 57 after Eusâ—bius 〈◊〉 lib. 3. and 〈◊〉 of first read fifth THE AUTHOR TO A FRIEND THE Public is so seldom interested in the Debates of privat Men and I am so little concern'd at the Malice or Mistakes of my Adversaries that without som better Motive I would never presume to trouble the World with any thing merely personal But if the Subject in question be of extraordinary Weight and Consequence and that on the certain Decision of it should depend the Tranquillity of a considerable number of People then I think a Man is indispensably oblig'd to appear for the Truth and so while he 's endeavoring to serve others no body will say he ought to neglect his own Defence Whether the Treatise I now send you be of this Nature is submitted to your equal Iudgment And unless I really design'd a Nobler End by it than the Iustification of one Person neither you nor any body else should lose your time in reading no more than I my self would be at the Pains of writing it which yet I 'll count the highest Pleasure if I understand it has never so little contributed to the Satisfaction of a Gentleman of such undisputed Learning and Merit March 30. 1699. J. T. AMYNTOR OR A DEFENCE OF Milton's Life WHEN I undertook to write the Life of the most celebrated MILTON I was far from imagining that I should ever much less so soon be oblig'd to make an Apology in justification of such a Work both harmless in it self and greatly desir'd by the World There was no positive Law or Custom against publishing the particular History of this extraordinary Person consider'd in any respect whatsoever for the Lives of Good Princes and Tyrants of Orthodox and Heretical Divines of Virtuous and Wicked of Public and Privat Men are indifferently perus'd by every body of which it would be superfluous to alledg Examples the thing being so commonly known by all that have learnt to read Nor without such a Liberty could we possibly form a true Taste or have any certain Knowledg of Affairs since the Excellence or Imperfection of all Matters best appears by opposing 'em to one another And I was sure which I find was no Mistake that the Learning and Sentiments of JOHN MILTON were too considerable not to deserve the highest Commendation or Dislike according to the Judgment or Affection of the Readers SINCE therefore it was equally lawful for me to write whose Life I pleas'd when my Hand was in the first Charge against me one would think should have bin that I had not fairly represented my Hero But very far from that the great Crime whereof I am arraign'd consists in telling more than som People would have me or discovering Truths not fit to be known and the Manner of my Relation is to them altogether as offensive and displeasing as the Matter of it 'T is strange that Men should be found of a Judgment weak enough to make a Crime of such Proceedings in a Writer who labors to keep himself wholly independent from the Fears or Engâ—â—â—ments of any Party and who â—â—ofess'd in the very beginning of his Book that being neither provok'd by Malice nor brib'd by Favor he would as well dare to say all that was true as scorn to write any Falshood But the rude Opposition with which I have met notwithstanding such plain Declarations convinces me more than ever how much I was in the Right by following the peculiar Method I propos'd to my self in compiling MILTON's Life and which I partly declar'd in these Terms In the Characters of Sects and Parties Books or Opinions I shall produce his own Words as I find 'em in his Works that those who approve his Reasons may owe all the Obligation to himself and that I may escape the Blame of such as may dislike what he says Now what could be more impartial than this or more likely to secure me from all Imputations whatever should be the Reception of MILTON from the Public Yet if by adhering religiously to this Rule so loud a Clamor was raised against me it is apparent how much worse I might expect to be treated had I trod in the common Road. For if like most Historians I had in my own Words tho' with never so much Candor related the Actions or Sentiments of my Author my Adversaries would presently have told the World that this was not the true MILTON but one of my own Creation whom I promted to speak what I durst not own and by whose Mouth I had publish'd all hose Opinions which I would recommend to other People Well knowing therefore the ordinary Temper and Artifices of these Men I did partly on that Account produce his own Words to obviat their Sophistry and Calumnies their two principal offensive Weapons and also to spare my self the Pains of Quotations afterwards to prove I had neither injur'd him nor abus'd my Readers Besides this particular Regard to them I am also of opinion that this is the best and only good way of writing the History of such a Man And had the Ancients always follow'd it our Modern Critics would have been less exercis'd to discern their real Sentiments nor wou'd they be so often oblig'd to examin whether they understood or mis-represented their Authors BUT instead of any Objections like these I am expresly told that I ought not to meddle with MILTON's Books nor to revive his Sentiments or the Memory of those Quarrel 's wherein he was engag'd which is only in other Words that I
Reason after his Death They were not concern'd so much for his Honor as their own Interest and having contriv'd this Forgery to carry their Cause they thought themselves afterwards oblig'd to support it Mr. WAGSTAF affirms that there is no presumtion that the Royal Brothers communicated this Affair to any other Person besides my Lord ANGELSEY which is a negative Argument and proves nothing 'T is possible enough that my Lord ANGLESEY himself told of this to others tho' they may be since dead or are not willing to tell it again If the Royal Brothers had spoke of it to no body else it follows not that a Secret was never committed to one because it was not to more as if it were necessary for a Man to call Witnesses that he imparted a Secret to his Friend But we shall presently alledge more than a Presumtion that both King CHARLES the Second and the late King JAMES declar'd thier Opinion to other People besides my Lord ANGLESEY that Icon Basilike was not their Father's Book By such nice Cavils against the Memorandum we can easily judg of the Exceptions we may expect to Dr. WALKER's Account That GAUDEN hop'd o make a Fortune by this Book as well as to promote the Cause of the Church ought by no means to be counted strange for who is it pray that serves the King any more than God for nought Have not most of the Bishops and other Clergymen of those times that either liv'd depriv'd here in England or that accompany'd CHARLES the Second in his Exile pleaded their Loyalty and magnify'd their Services at the Restoration as many others would questionless do if King JAMES should ever return again Were not great Persons employ'd to solicit and make an Interest for them And in a Word are not Divines observ'd to make the same Steps and take the same Measures that all other sorts of Men do to get Preferment I should rather doubt that Dr. GAUDEN was not the Author of this Forgery if he had not expected a Reward for it from CHARLES the Second for 't is certain that the Credit of Icon Basilike contributed more to his Establishment than any other single Motive whatsoever But 't is well known that this Prince was not the kindest in the World to his Father's Friends who would too often forget his own and that it was not the Interest of som People to have this business unravell'd tho' their impolitic Conduct has bin since the occasion of divulging what every body suspected before THE Immorality of this Forgery is urg'd as an Argument against it and if it could by any means hold Water is indeed an Argument worth a Million Then it would clearly follow that because it was a most immoral thing to ly for God and to forge Books Epistles or the like under the Names of CHRIST and his Apostles there were therefore never any such Pieces and that because it was an ill thing to feign Miracles or to destroy Mens Lives for the Advancement of Religion there never was therefore any Priestcraft nor any of these infamous Practices known in the World But if the contrary be as clear as the Day I believe Men might be found that would make as bold with the Name of King CHARLES as others have don with that of King JESUS Mr. WAGSTAF knows tho' Mr. BLACKHALL does not that TERTULLIAN tells us of a certain Presbyter of Asia who when he was accus'd of having forg'd a Book containing the Travels of PAUL and THECLA confest the Fact and alledg'd that he did it for the love of PAUL and I say that Dr. GAUDEN wrote Icon Basilike for the Church's sake the King 's and his own AS for the plausible Accounts given in that Book of the King 's Secret Intentions his particular Trobles his Remorses of Consciences and the like it is very ridiculous to alledge 'em as an Argument of the Genuinness of it when the Book was written for that very end For the Design of the Author was to give such a Color to all the King's Actions and to tell such fine things of his gracious Purposes as would beget a better Opinion of him in the Readers Mind and move his Indignation against the Parliament or Compassion of his Misfortunes But that Dr. GAUDEN has frequently made the King's Thoughts to contradict his Actions is evident to any Man that has both read Icon Basilike and the History of those times And this Subject is thro'ly handled by JOHN MILTON in his Iconoclastes to which I refer those who want Satisfaction BUT there is an Objection still behind and as strong be sure as any of the rest which is that Dr. WALKER did not see Dr. GAUDEN write this Book nor tells us that it was in his own Hand But I believe Mr. WAGSTAF is the only Man living that questions whether Dr. WALKER meant Dr. GAUDEN's own Writing when he says that before the whole was finisht Dr. GAUDEN was pleas'd to acquaint him with his Design and shew him the Heads of diverse Chapters with som of the Discourses written of them and that Mr. GIFFORD transcrib'd a Copy of it This is all that can be said of any Author in the World and if Dr. WALKER had said more expresly or rather superfluously that it was likewise D. GAUDEN's Hand-writing we should then have bin told that it was a Transcript from the King's Copy in the Hands of Mr. SYMMONDS of which more hereafter WE proceed now to those Pieces commonly call'd Mr. NORTH's Papers he being the Discoverer Chancellor HYDE in his Letter to Dr. GAUDEN tells him as was said before That the Particular he mention'd had indeed bin imparted to him as a Secret which he was sorry he ever knew and that when it ceast to be a Secret it would please none but Mr. MILTON Was there no other Secret in the World but this says Mr. WAGSTAF that the divulging of it would gratify Mr. MILTON Yes doubtless but I believe not one that would please none but Mr. MILTON as the Chancellor expresses it For he having particularly question'd the Genuinness of this Book and offer'd a fair Proof of the Spuriousness thereof from intrinsic Evidence only without any further Light would be extreamly pleas'd to find his Reasonings and Judgment confirm'd by undeniable Matters of Fact Nor does any indifferent Person in the World understand this Passage otherwise that weighs Dr. GAUDEN's Pretences with Mr. MILTON's Concern and considers that Mrs. GAUDEN put this and the other Papers relating to Icon Basilike in one Bundle together with her own Narrative for the Information of her Son Besides that all those who ever saw other Writings of the Chancellor own this to be his Hand and particularly his eldest Son the present Farl of CLARENDON as Mr. WAGSTAF himself acknowledges BUT he says That my Lord CLARENDON from whom he had it in a Letter by leave of the King and Queen preparing to attend his Father in France in the beginning
a good deal of the Book was written afterwards be the Author who you please And they should have told us likewise how General FAIRFAX durst send one part of his Papers to the King when he sent the rest to the Parliament or since they would make us believe he was so kind to the King why he did not restore him all the Papers when 't is very evident that those which the Parliament order'd to be publish'd were infinitely of greater consequence and made him a world of Enemies which oblig'd the Author of Icon Basilike to write a Chapter on this very Subject whereas the Papers in question would probably mollify som of his Opposers But now when all is don tho' General FAIRFAX was afterwards against putting the King to death yet he was not at that time dispos'd to grant him any Favors and acted with as hearty Zeal against him as any in the Nation which appears by all the Histories of those times as well as by his own and the Memoirs of the Lord HOLLIS As for Major HUNTINGTON Dr. WALKER assures us That he told him when he heard such a Book was publish'd and confidently reported to be the Kings all he said was that he surely believ'd those were the Papers he saw him so usually take out of his Cabinet and that he never read one Line or Word of them This and Sir WILLIAM DUGDAIE'S Testimony are diverse from that of Mr. RICHARD DUKE of Otterton in Devon who writes the following Letter to Dr. GOODAL famous for his Zeal on the behalf of Icon Basilike Sir I confess that I heard Major HUNTINGTON to say more than once that whilst he guarded CHARLES the First at Holmby-House as I remember he saw several Chapters or Leaves of that great King's Meditations lying on the Table several Mornings with a Pen and Ink with which the King scratch'd out or blotted som Lines or Words of som of them Upon which I must also confess that I concluded they were originally from the King but others have drawn a contrary Argument from the King 's correcting the Papers Yet I put this under my Hand that the Major told me that he did suppose them originally from that learned Prince which is the Totum that can be intimated from Sir your humble Servant RICHARD DUKE Then one Mr. CAVE BECK writes to Dr. HOLLINGWORTH That Major HUNTINGTON at Ipswich assur'd him that so much of the sa'd Book as contain'd his Majesty's Mediations before Naseby-â—ight was taken in the King's Cabinet and that Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX deliver'd the said Papers to him and order'd him to carry them to the King and also told him that when he deliver'd them to the King his Majesty appear'd very joyful and said he esteem'd 'em more than all the Jewels he had lost in the Cabinet This Major HUNTINGTON was a strange Man to vary so often in his Story and to tell so much more or less to every body that enqâ—â—r'd of him but indeed 't is no great Wonder that these Gentlemen should so widely differ from one another both as to Time and Place as well as to Matters of Fact when Sir WILLIAM DUGDALE has printed under Major HUNTINGTON's Name quite another Story from the written Memorial out of which he had it In his short View he positively says as we read before that the Manuscript was written with the King 's own Hand But in his Warrant for this it is only said as Mr. WAGSTAF himself acknowledges that all the Chapters in it were written by the Hand of Sir EDWARD WALKER but much corrected with Interlineations of the King's Hand and that the Prayers were all so NOW to shew further how cautiously People should rely on Sir WILLIAM DUGDALE and Historians like him we shall produce another remarkable Instance In the Book before-quoted he expresly writes That Mr. HERBERT did often see the Icon Basilike while he waited on the King in the Isle of Wight wheras all that Sir THOMAS for he was Knighted after the Restoration has said in the Manuscript which Sir WILLIAM perus'd and wherof Mr. WAGSTAF has printed an Abstract is that he had there the Charge of the King's Books and that those he most read after the Sacred Scriptures were Bishop ANDREWS's Sermons HOOKER's Ecclesiastical Policy VILLALPANDUS on EZEKIEL SANDY's Paraphrase on the Psalms HERBERT's Poems the Translation of GODFREY of Bulloign by Mr. FAIRFAX of ORLANDO FURIOSO by Sir JOHN HARRINGTON and SPENCER's Fairy Queen to which he might have added PEMBROKE's Arcadia And at this time it was as is presum'd continues Sir THOMAS that he compos'd his Book call'd Suspiria Regalia publish'd soon after his Death and entitul'd The King's Portraiture in his Solitudes and Sufferings which Manuscript Mr. HERBERT found among those Books his Majesty was pleas'd to give him those excepted which he bequeath'd to his Children hereafter mention'd In regard Mr. HERBERT tho' he did not see the King write that Book his Majesty being always privat when he writ and those his Servants never coming into the Bed Chamber when the King was privat til he call'd yet comparing it with his Hand-writing in other things he found it so very like as induces his Belief that it was his own having seen much of the King's Writings before Here Sir THOMAS only presumes the King might write the Book in the Isle of Wight and directly says he never saw the King write it nor the Book it self till after his Death but Sir WILLIAM affirms from these very Papers for they are said to be written at his Request by Sir THOMAS that he often saw it in the Isle of Wight when he waited on the King in his Bed-Chamber 'T is to be observ'd that the Title of Suspiria Regalia is as agreeable to Mrs. GAUDEN's Narrative as the rest of the Particulars are different from Sir WILLIAM's Relation BEFORE we examin the Force of Sir THOMAS's Testimony we must first consider what is said by Mr. LEVET who attended the King at the same Time and Place In short he says That of his own certain Knowledg he can depose the Book was truly the Kings having observ'd his Majesty oftentimes writing his Royal Resentments of the bold and insolent Behavior of his Soldiers when they had him in their Custody That being nominated by his Majesty to be one of his Servants during the Treaty in the Isle of Wight he had the Happiness to read the same oftentimes in Manuscript under his Majesty's own Hand being pleas'd to leave it in the Window of his Bed-Chamber And that when the King was remov'd to Hurst-Castle he had the Charge of this Book and a Cabinet of other Papers which at the said Castle he deliver'd again to his Majesty where by the way he does not inform us if the Book was distinctly given him from the Cabinet or that he only concluded it was in it Here are several very observable Circumstances As First that altho' Mr. HERBERT who was of the
King's Bed Chamber never saw him write a Syllable of this Book his Majesty he says being always in privat when he wrote and his Servants never coming into his Bed-Chamber till he call'd yet Mr. LEVET a Page of the Back Stairs often saw him write knew what he wrote and could read the Book when he pleas'd Then that the King who is said to value this Book more than all his Jewels should so carelesly leave it in his Bed-chamber when he was abroad and where Mr. HERBERT and others nay the very Soldiers might see it as well as Mr. LEVET is not very likely And lastly that the King should have so much leisure to mind this Book during a Treaty with his Subjects or would lose any time in writing of it when the Business in agitation concern'd no less than his re-establishment or Abdication is not credible besides that there is nothing particularly written concerning the Insolence of the Soldiers in all Icon Basilike And I have talk'd with Persons of Quality and good Reputation now alive who had much more of his Majesty's Company and Confidence in the Isle of Wight than Mr. LEVET either shar'd or could reasonably expect but yet they neither dreamt of this Business then nor believ'd a jot of it afterwards as well knowing how the King spent his time in that place But now supposing Mr. LEVET's Relation to be all true yet it is very from amounting to a Proof that King CHARLES the First was was the real Author of Icon Basilike which is the Point in question and not whether he interlin'd or transcrib'd it which he ought to have don if he had a mind it should pass for his own besides that Dr. GAUDEN sent it to him for that very purpose to be corrected allow'd or laid aside as his Majesty should think fit But tho' the King in all reason might and I really believe did correct or interline a part and perhaps transcribe the whole Book yet I can by no means be persuaded that he could find Leisure enough to write so many Copies of it in his Solitudes and Sufferings in the midst of Treaties in the Hurry of Removals while he meditated his Escape and was strictly observ'd by his Guards But these Gentlemen tell us of as many Copies as the Papists shew Heads of St. JOHN BAPTIST or Quarts of the Virgin MARY's Milk Mr. HERBERT had one left him by the King for a Legacy CHARLES the Second as Dr. CANARIFS writes to Mr. WAGSTAF shew'd another to Mr. WOOD a Commishoner from the Scotish Kirk at Breda and who knows which of these or whether it was either of them that Mr. LEVET deliver'd to the King at Hurst-Castle But why in the Name of God is none of these ever since produc'd How came this Prince's Autographs to be thus neglected when his Day is so strictly observ'd This is a Piece of Respect that 's usually paid to less considerable Persons and I believe either of the Universities would readily give Five Hundred Pounds to have such a Copy plac'd in their Library tho' if they had the Manuscript it would make nothing at all for their Purpose NOW let us consider the the Force of all those Testimonies join'd together which is that one saw the King write he knew not what but believ'd it might be this Book another observ'd him writing his Resentments against the rude Behavior of the Soldiers and so was ready to depose of his certain Knowledge that Icon Basilike was his own a third presumes the King might write it because he read a great many Books and they unanimously conclude that he was the genuin Author because the Book was written with his own Hand all which Testimonies considering the Promises prove no more nor less than that the King could write and read which was never deny'd by any that I know IT is further urg'd by the Admirers of this famous Book that Mr. ROYSTON had it to print as from the King in which all sides are agreed and signifies nothing to the Merits of the Cause for be sure the Bookseller was not made privy to the Secret And as for the Anonymous Authors of two Books which are alledg'd by Mr. WAGSTAF we shall hear and examin them when they 'll please to tell us their Names tho' all they have to say is answer'd already When Dr. HOLLINGWORTH tells us who are his sufficient Witnesses we shall likewise consider their Evidence for such Affirmations must go for nothing in proving a Fact of this Nature and may well serve for a Flourish but not for an Argument no more than several more Assertions of his concerning this Maâ—ter which were exploded by other Hands and not defended by Mr. WAGSTAF MR. LE PLA Minister of Finchingfield writes to Dr. GOODAL that one WILLIAM ALLEN who collected his Tythes for two Years and was formerly a Servant to Dr. GAUDEN affirm'd to him That the Doctor told him he had borrow'd the Book and was oblig'd to return it by such a time that besides what other time he might imploy in it he sat up one whole Night to transcribe it that he sat up in the Chamber with him to wait upon him to make his Fires and snuff his Candles and Mr. LE PLA thinks for he 's not positive it was from Mr. SYMMONDS of Rayne that he said the Doctor had borrow'd the Book Dr. HOLLINGWORTH has formerly affirm'd this Story of SYMMONDS's who indeed assisted afterwards in printing the Book at London but was so far at this time from living at Rayne in the Neighborhood of Bocking where Dr. GAUDEN dwelt that as Dr. WALKER shews Mr. SYMMONDS was long before sequestred for his Loyalty fled to the King's Quarters and one Mr. ATKINS plac'd in his room by the Parliament Nor is it credible that Dr. GAUDEN whether he meant a a Fraud or not should give an Account of his Studies much less discover the Secret of this Book for no Reason in the World to never so trusty a Servant especially to one that was to look after his Fire and snuff his Candles NOW we com to the late King JAMES's Letters Patents to Mr. CHISWEL for Liberty to print his Father 's Works for they are urg'd as an Argument that he thought Icon Basilike genuin tho' this Book be not specially mention'd in these Letters which are general and refer not to those of his Brother in 60. But here I must beg Leave to relate a Story that will give som Light to this Matter In the Year 1677 the House of Commons having voted two Months Tax for the more dccent Interment of CHARLES I. and to raise a Monument for him Mr. CHISWEL being Mr. ROYSION's Son in law thought of a Project that would answer the End of the Parliament and not be unserviceable to his Father with whom he was concern'd in Trade and it was that a Part of that Sum might be appropriated towards bearing the Charge of an Impression of the King's Works
ought not to write his Life at all For what I pray is the principal Part of a Learned Man's Life but the exact History of his Books and Opinions to inform the World about the Occasion of his writing what it contain'd how he perform'd it and with what Consequences or Success I have no Reason from my own second Thoughts the Opinion of better Judges or the Fortune of the â—â—ok to be dissatisfi'd with my Conduct on this Occasion And had this Method as I said before been strictly observ'd we might have more Knowledg and fewer Critics AY but say these Gentlemen you have made an Inroad on our Persuasion and directly attack'd the sacred Majesty of Kings the venerable Order of Bishops the best constituted Church in the World our holy Liturgy and decent Ceremonies the Authority of Councils the Testimony of the Fathers and a hundred other things which we profoundly respect and admire nor are we the only Sufferers for almost all other Sects and Parties have equal Reasons of Complaint against you Well be it so then but good Sirs betake your selves for Reparation to JOHN MILTON or if he is not to be brought to easie Terms defend your Castles and Territories against him with all the Vigor you can For I assure you I am no further concern'd in the Quarrel than to shew you the Enemy and to give a true Account of his Forces And all this if you were of a peaceable Disposition you might learn from these plain Words in the Conclusion of the Life 'T is probable that you as well as I or any other may disapprove of MILTON's Sentiments in several Cases but I 'm sure you are far from being displeas'd to find 'em particulariz'd in the History of his Life For we should have no true Account of Things if Authors related nothing but what they lik'd themselves One Party would never suffer the Lives of TARQUIN or PHALARIS or SYLLA or CAESAR to appear while another would be as ready to suppress those of CICERO of CATO of TRAJAN or BRUTUS But a Historian ought to conceal or disguise nothing and the Reader is to be left to judg of the Vâ—tues he should imitat or the Vices he ought to detest and avoid THIS might serve for a sufficient Answer to all that has bin yet objected to MILTON's Life if any Reply were thought necessary For the trivial and scurrilous Libels of mercenary Fellows I shall never regard they being already sufficiently neglected by the World and making themselves as little by this Practice as any of a more vindictive Temper could desire Besides that to answer 'em in their own Dialect I must first learn to speak it which is absolutely contrary to my Genius and below the Dignity of Human Nature since no body openly approves it even at Billingsgate I shall as little consider the censorious Tongues of certain more Zealous than Religious People who judge of others by their own narrow Schemes and despise all Knowledge in comparison of their privat Imaginations wherein they exceedingly please themselves a Happiness no body envies them Nor should I if that were all think my self concern'd in making any Return to the obliging Complements of those Gentlemen who as Father PAUL formerly said of himself remember me oftner in their Sermons than in their Prayers tho' som of them are apt to say that when they mention Turks Iews Inâ—idels and Heretics they do not forget me But when I am openly accus'd before the greatest Assembly in the World the Representative Body of the People of England let the Charge be never so frivolous in it self or to be slighted on any other Occasion yet such a Respect is due to the Dignity of those to whom it was exhibited that I hold my self oblig'd to convince 'em of my Innocence and to remove all Suspicion far from me of what in its own Nature is acknowledg'd to be Criminal or by them might be reputed Indecent THE Matter of Fact is this On the Thirtieth of Ianuary Mr. OFSPRING BLACKHALL who stiles himself Chaplain in Ordinanary to His Majesty Preacht a Sermon before the Honorable House of Commons wherein after exclaiming against the Author of MILTON's Life for denying Icon Basilike to be the Production of King CHARLES the First he pursues his Accusation in these Terms We may cease to wonder says he that he should have the Boldness without Proof and against Proof to deny the Authority of this Book who is such an Infidel as to doubt and is shameless and impudent enough even in Print and in a Christian Country publicly to affront our Holy Religion by declaring his Doubt that several Pieces under the Name of Christ and his Apostles he must mean those now receiv'd by the whole Christian Church for I know of no other are supposititious tho' thro' the remoteness of those Ages the Death of the Persons concern'd and the decay of other Monuments which might give us true Information the Spuriousness thereof is yet undiscover'd Here is indeed a Charge of a very high Nature I will not say in his own mean Language an impudent and a shameless one tho' if it be not better prov'd I cannot hinder others from calling it what they please or the thing deserves But before I proceed to make Observations on it I shall insert the intire Passage of my Book which he has taken the liberty of abridging and so joining the Words of two widely different Assertions as if they were but one About this little Artifice however I shall make no difference with him for I can easily determin our Controversie without using all the Advantages I might otherwise take AFTER stating the Proofs therefore that Dr. GAUDEN and not King CHARLES was the true Author of Icon Basilike I added a very natural Observation in the following Words When I seriously consider how all this happen'd among our selves within the Compass of Forty Years in a time of great Learning and Politeness when both Parties so narrowly watch'd over one anothers Actions and what a great Revolution in Civil and Religious Affairs was partly occasion'd by the Credit of that Book I cease to wonder any longer how so many supposititious Pieces under the Name of CHRIST his Apostles and other great Persons should be publish'd and approv'd in those Primitive times when it was of so much Importance to have 'em believ'd when the Cheats were too many on all sides for them to reproach one another which yet they often did when Commerce was not near so general as now and the whole Earth entirely over-spread with the Darkness of Superstition I doubt rather the spuriousness of several more such Books is yet undiscover'd thro the remoteness of those Ages the death of the Persons concern'd and the decay of other Monuments which might give us true Information Here then in the first place it is plain that I say a great many spurious Books were early father'd on CHRIST his Apostles and other great Names
of the Christians and not of the Jews who when there 's occasion will afford as large a Catalogue XV. Of the Gospels of the Hebrews and the Egyptians with som general Pieces 1. The Gospel of the twelve Apostles Origen Homil. 1. in Luc. Ambros in Prooem Commentar in Luc. Theophylact. Comment in cap. 1. v. 1. secundum Lucam c. But this Piece was I believe Originally the same with 2. The Gospel of the Hebrews Ignat. in Epist. ad Smyrnaeos Clem. Alex l. 1. Stromat Origen tract 8. in Matt. Idem Homil. 14. in Jerem in Comment ad Joan. Epiphan Haeros 30. n. 13 22 c. Hieronym in Catalogo Script Eccles. c. 4. alibi Passim This Gospel several have maintain'd to be the Original of St. Matthew 3. The Gospel of the Egyptians Clem. Rom. Epist. 2. ad Corinth c. 12. Clem. Alex. l. 3. Stromat ld ibid. Origen Homil. in Luc. Epiphan Haeres 62. n. 2. 4. The Apostles Creed tho' of late Years it begins to be call'd in question 5. The Doctrine and Constitution of the Apostles Euseb. Hist. Eccles. l. 3. c. 25. Athanas. in Synopsi Epiphan Haeres 80. n. 7. 45. n. 5. 70. n. 10. 75. n. 6. Idem in Compendiaria fidei expositione n. 22. Incertus de Aleatoribus inter Scripta Cypriani There are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Doctrines both attributed to every one of the Apostles singly and also to their Companions and immediat Successors too long to insert particularly These Doctrins were bound with the other Books of the New Testament as appears by the Stichometry of Nâ—ephorus and Anastasius tho' it was not always pretended that they were Original Pieces but rather Collections of what the Companions and Successors of the Apostles either heard or pretended to hear from their own Mouths 6. We need not produce our Authorities for the Canons and Constitutions of the Apostles since so many learned Members of the Church of England have written large Volums to prove 'em genuin 7. The Precepts of Peter and Paul This Book lies in Manuscript in the Great Duke's Library in Florence if we believe Ludovicus Iacobus a Sancto Carolo in his Bibliotheca Pontificia l. 1. pag. 177. 8. The present Cophtic Christians have a Book of Doctrins which they believe was compos'd by the twelve Apostles with the Assistance of St. Paul c. 9. The Gospel of Perfection Epiphan Haeres 26. n. 2 10. The Acts of all the Apostles written by themselves Epiphan Haeres 30. n. 16. Isidor Pelus l. 2. epist. 99. Varadatus in epist. ad Leonem Imp. Tom. 4. Concil Labbaei col 978. Io. Malala Chronograph l. x. 11. The Itinerary of all the Apostles as well as of every one of â—em singly was formerly extant XVI Of the Writings of the Disciciples and Companions of the Apostles OF the Books ascrib'd to the Disciples and Companions of the Apostles and which are still extant som are thought genuin and of great Authority at this time Every one were approv'd at som time or by som Party And yet I am of Opinion that it is the easiest Task in the World next to that of shewing the Ignorance and Superstition of the Writers to prove them all Spurious and fraudulently impos'd on the Credulous Those I mean are the Epistles of Clemens Romanus to the Corinthians his Recognitions Decretals and other Pieces bearing his Name All the Epistles of Ignatius the Epistle of Polâ—carpus to the Philippians with his other Writings The Acts of the Martyrdom of Ignatius and Polycarpus The Pastor of Hermas The Epistle of Barnabas The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite The Epistle of Marcellus Peter's Disciple to Nereus and Achilleus and his Treatise of the Conflict of Peter and Simon Magus The Life of Saint Iohn by Prochorus The Petition of Veronica to Herod on the behalf of CHRIST The Passion of Timothy by Polycrates The Passions of Peter and Paul in two Books by Linus The two Epistles of Martial of Limousin and the Life of the same by Aurelianus The Gospel of Nicodemus The History of the Apostolical Conflict by Abdias who is said to be appointed first Bishop of Babylon by the Apostles The Passion of Saint Andrew written by the Presbyters of Achaia The Epistle of Evodius entitul'd the Light the Altercation of Iason and Papiscus The Acts of Titus compos'd by Zena St. Paul's Companion with a multitude of other Acts and Passions The Gospel of Barnabas the Revelation of Stephen the Passion of Barnabas and the Epistles of Ioseph the Arimathean to the Britons are quite lost and were they extant would probably appear to be as foolish and fabulous as the rest XVII Of Pieces alledg'd in favor of Christianity which were forg'd under the Name of Heathens 1. The Works of Trismegistus and Asclepius extant 2. The Books of Zoroaster and Hystaspes 3. The Sibyllin Oracles cited so frequently and with such Authority by the Primitive Fathers that Celsus takes occasion from thence to nick-name the Christians Sibyllists extant 4. The Letter of Pontius Pilat to Tiberius with the Speech of Tiberius to the Senat. extant 5. The Epistle of Lentulus giving a Description of the Person of CHRIST extant 6. The Epistles or Orders of Adrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius in favor of the Christians extant in Iustin Martyr c. c. c. HERE' 's a long List for Mr. BLACKHALL who 't is probable will not think the more meanly of himself for being unacquainted with these Pieces nor if that were all shoul'dâ— I be forward to think the worse of him on this Account but I think he is to blame for denying that there were any such because he knew nothing of 'em much less should he infer from thence that I deny'd the Scriptures which Scandal however because manifestly proceeding from Ignorance I heartily forgive him as every good Christian ought to do TO explain now therefore the several Members of the Passage in MILTON's Life In the first place by the spurious Pieces I meant tho' not all yet a good parcel of those Books in the Catalogue which I am persuaded were partly forg'd by som more zealous than discreet Christians to supply the brevity of the Apostolic Memoirs partly by designing Men to support their privat Opinions which they hop'd to effect by virtue of such respected Authorities And som of 'em I doubt were invented by Heathens and Jews to impose on the Credulity of many wel-dipos'd Persons who greedily swallow'd any Book for Divine Revelation that contain'd a great many Miracles mixt with a few good Morals while their Adversaries laught in their Sleeves all the while to see their Tricks succeed and were rivetted in their ancient Prejudices by the greater Superstition of such Enthusiasts IN the second place by the Books of whose Spuriousness I said the World was not yet convinc'd tho' in my privat Opinion I could not think 'em genuin I meant those of the other
great Persons or the suppos'd Writings of certain Apostolic Men as they call 'em which are at this present as well as in ancient times read with extraordinary Veneration And they are the Epistle of BARNABAS the Pastor of HERMAS the Epistle of POLYCARPUS to the Philippians the first Epistle of CLEMENS ROMANUS to the Corinthians and the seven Epistles of IGNATIUS These are generally receiv'd in the Church of Rome and also by most Protestants but those of the Church of England have particularly signaliz'd themselves in their Defence and by publishing the correctest Impressions of them The Ancients paid them the highest Respect and reckon'd the first four of 'em especially as good as any part of the New Testament The Epistle of BARNABAS is by CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS and ORIGEN not only reckon'd genuin but cited as Scripture tho' he says in express Terms That the Apostles before their Conversion were the greatest Sinners in Nature which if believ'd would rob us of an Argument we draw from their Integrity and Simplicity against Infidels to say nothing now of the many other ridiculous Passages in BARNABAS The Pastor or Visions Precepts and Similitudes of HERMAS who is suppos'd to be the Person mention'd by PAUL in his Epistle to the Romans is cited as Canonical Scripture by IRENAEUS CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS ORIGEN and others and was for such receiv'd by several Churches tho' I think it the sillyest Book in the World The Epistle of POLYCARPUS the suppos'd Disciple of St. JOHN was read in the Churches of Asia and is quoted by IRENAEUS EUSEBIUS and others The Epistle of CLEMENS ROMANUS whom they would have to be the same that 's mention'd by PAUL in his Epistle to the Philippians is cited by IRENAEUS CLEMENS ALEXANRINUS ORIGEN EUSEBIUS and others The Epistles of IGNATIUS are quoted by IRENAEUS EUSEBIUS with several more but particularly by ORIGEN who says that in one of 'em he found it very elegantly written That the Virginity of MARY was a Secret to the Devil which Virginity with her Delivery and the Death of our Lord IGNATIUS says were Three famous Mysteries wrought in the Silence of God These Words may be now read in the Epistle of IGNATIUS to the Ephesians Now these are the Books of whose Genuinness and Authority I took the Liberty to doubt notwithstanding the better Opinion which is entertain'd of 'em by others My present Business is not to insist on this Subject but to clear my self of an Imputation which I thought no body could infer from my Words Yet since many were less knowing than I imagin'd tho' Mr. BLACKHALL alone has the Candor of publishing his Weakness to the World I assure 'em all that I alluded to these Books and I hope they will be just enough in allowing me best to explain my own meaning and prove so tender of their own Reputation as to consider well of it before they censure me another time BUT tho' I will not as I said enter now into a particular Discussion of these Writings yet I shall offer one thing to the Consideration of their Defenders Either they really believe the Epistles of BARNABAS and CLEMENS for Example to be theirs or to be supposititious If not theirs there 's a speedy end of the Dispute and I have attain'd my End without more Argumentation But if they think 'em genuin why do they not receive 'em into the Canon of Scriptures since they were the Companions and Fellow laborers of the Apostles as well as St. MARK or St. LUKE If this Quality was sufficient to entitle the two last to Inspiration why should it not do as much for the two first And if this be not all the Reason pray let us know the true one having never heard of any other To say that tho' the Books are authentic yet they ought not to be receiv'd now into the Canon because the Ancients did not think fit to approve 'em is but a mere Evasion For 't is well known that till after EUSEBIUS'S time neither the second Epistle of PETER nor that of JAMES or JUDE with som others were approv'd as Canonical and yet they were afterwards receiv'd by the whole Church Wherefore then may not we as well at this time establish the Epistles of CLEMENS and BARNABAS if they be undoubtedly theirs which I shall be persuaded their Patrons believe when they quote 'em as Scripture and then I know where to have them and how to deal with ' em But of this enough I SAID above that by the spurious Pieces I meant only a great part of the Books which are recited in the Catalogue for others of 'em do not seem to deserve so mean a Rank and I am so far from rejecting all those Books of the New Testament which we now receive that I am rather solicitous lest as in the dark Ages of Popery those we commonly call Apochryphal Books were added to the Bible so at the same time and in as ignorant Ages before several others might be taken away for not suiting all the Opinions of the strongest Party Nor is it unworthy observation that most of these Books are condemn'd by the Decree of Pope GELASIUS How many true and spurious Gospels or Histories of Câ—RIST were extant in St. LUKE's time God knows but that there were sâ—veral may be evidently infer'd from his own Words who tells THâ—OPHâ—LUS that many had undertaken the same Work before him and as if he alluded to som spurious Relations assures him that he 'll write nothing but what he receiv'd from such as had a perfect knowledg of thâ—se Matters from the beginning That there should be first and last but just the number of Four I never heard of any that wâ—nt about to demonstrat except 〈◊〉 the sam'd Successor of the Apostles and he positively affirms that there cannot be more nor fewer than Four Gospels Fo says he there be Four Regions oâ— this World wherein we live with Four principal Winds and the Church is spread over all the Earth But the Support and Foundation of the Church is the Gospel and the Spirit of Life Therefore it must follow that it has Four Pillars blowing Incorruptibility on all sides and giving Life to Men. Then he corroborats his Argument from the Four Cherubims and the Four Faces in EZEâ—Iâ—L's Vision to wit of a Lyon an Ox a Man and an Eagle which is the Reason by the way why the Four Evangelists are painted with these Emblems in the Mass-Book and in our Common Prayâ—r-Book So he concludes at last That they are all vain unlearn'd and impudent who after this would assert that there were more or sewer than 4 Gospels Where we may observe that Mr. BLACKHALL has the Warrant of an ancient Father for giving hard Names to such as contemn precarious Reasoning And indeed it is but too manifest to be dâ—ny'd that no Order of Men have more violated the Rules of Dâ—cency and Civility in their Writings
than those whose Business it is to teach others Moderation Patience and Forgiveness nor was there ever any Cause more defended by the Dint of Calumny than that of Religion which least needed it of any other SEVERAL of these Books whereof I now treat are quoted to prove important Points of the Christian Religion by the most celebrated Fathers as of equal Authority with those we now receive and the Testimony of these Fathers was the principal Reason of establishing these in our present Cannon and is still alledg'd to that purpose by all that write in defence of the Scriptures Of so much weight is this Testimony that EUSEBIUS rejects the Acts Gospel Preaching and Revelation of PETER from being Authentic for no other Reason but because no Ancient or Modern Writer says he has quoted Proofs out of them But herein EUSEBâ—US was mistaken for the contrary appears by the Testimonies maâ—kt in the Catalogue and which any body may compare with the Originals In another place he says That the Gospels of PETER THOMAS MATTHIâ—S and such like with the Acts of ANDREW JOHN and the other Apostles are spurious because no Ecclesiastic Writer from the time of the Apostles down to his own has vouchsaf'd to quote them which is absolutely false of som as we have already shewn So that Mr. BLACKHALL is not the only Man I find who makes his own Reading the Measure of all 〈◊〉 and a Thousand to One but now 〈◊〉 justifies this Practice since he can prove it from Antiquity 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 got the Authority of 〈…〉 Had 〈…〉 Piecâ—s 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 Orthodox Writâ—â—s he would have own'd them as the genuin Productions of the 〈◊〉 and admitted them as we say into the Canon but having mâ—t no sâ—ch Citations he presently 〈◊〉 there were none which made him reject those Books And I say what I have already 〈◊〉 that Proofs 〈◊〉 quoted out of som of 'em long before so thâ—â— they might still 〈…〉 to the Canon for all 〈◊〉 TO these Considerations two Objections may perhaps be made First It is unlikely theyâ—ll say that EUSEBIUS should not have read the Ancients nay that the contrary appears by his many Citations out of them and that consequently those Works of the Fathers which we have now in our Hands are not the same which were read in his time or that at least they are strangely adulterated and full of Interpolations With all my Heart But then let us not be urg'd by their Authority in other Points no more than in this since in one thing they may as well be altâ—r'd and corrupted as in another and indeed by a common Rulâ— of Equity being found charg'd in som places they ought to be So reputed in all the râ—st till the contrâ—ry be evidently prov'd THE 〈◊〉 Objection 〈◊〉 That altho' 〈…〉 have bin 〈…〉 the Writings of those Apostles whose Names they bear at certain times and in som Churches yet they were expresly rejected by others To this I answer That there is not one single Book in the New Testament which was not refus'd by som of the Ancients as unjustly father'd upon the Apostles and really forg'd by their Adversaries which as no body thinks it now a good Reason to disapprove them so I see not how it should any more conclude against my Opinion But because the various Sects of those early Days did like us condemn one another for damnable Heretics and the admitting or refusing the framing or corrupting of certain Books were som of the Crimes which were mutually imputed I shall nâ—w insist only on the Epistle to the Hebrews that of JAMES the second of PETER the second and third of JOHN the Epistle of JUDE and the Revelation These seven Pieces were a long time plainly doubted by the Ancients particularly by those whom we esteem the soundest part and yet they are receiv'd not without convincing Arguments by the Moderns Now I say by more than a Parity of Reason that the Preaching and Revelation of PETER for Exâ—mple were receiv'd by the Ancients and ought not therefore to be rejected by the Moderns if the Approbation of the Fathers be a proper Recommendation of any Books THE Council of Laodicea which was held about three hundred and sixty Years after CHRIST and is the first Assembly wherein the Canon of Scripture was establisht could not among so great a variety of Books as were then abroad in the World certainly determin which were the true Monuments of the Apostles but either by a particular Revelation from Heaven or by crediting the Testimony of their Ancestors which was always better preserv'd and convey'd by Writing than by Oral Tradition the most uncertain Rule in Nature witness the monstrous Fables of Papists Rabbins Turks and the Eastern Nations both Christians and Idolaters But of any extraordinary Revelation made to this Council we hear not a Word and for the Books I defend I have the same Testimony which is usually alledg'd in the behalf of others However I shall not be too hasty to make a final Decision of this 〈◊〉 with my self least I incur the 〈◊〉 Curse which the Authâ—r of the Revelation pronounces 〈◊〉 such as shall add or take away from that Book Let Mr. BLACKHALL be assur'd that if he must needs have me to be a Heretic I am not unteachable tho' I would not have it reputed Obstinacy if I should not surrrender without satisfactory Reasons Instead therefore of censuring and calumniating which ought not to be reckon'd Virtues in any Order of Men and least of all in the Ministers of the Gospel let such as are better enlighten'd endeavor to extricat the Erroneous out of these or the like Difficulties that they may be able to distinguish truly and that in such an extraordinary number of Books all pretending equally to a Divine Origin they may have som infallible Marks of discerning the proper 〈…〉 they unhappily misâ—â—ke the false one for the true HOW necessary it is to have the Canon of Scripture sâ—t in its due light we may 〈◊〉 from the Ancient as well as our Modern Unbelievers CELSUS exclaims against the too great Liberty which the Christians as if they were drunk says he took of changing the first writing of the Gospel three or four or more times that so they might deny whatever was urg'd against 'em as retracted before Nay as low down as St. AUGUSTIN's time was there not a very considerable Sect of the Christians themselves I mean the Manichaeans who shewed other Scriptures and deny'd the Genuinness of the whole New Testament One of these call'd FAUSTUS after shewing that his Adversaries disapprov'd of several things in the Old Testament thus pursues his Argument You think says he that of all Books in the World the Testament of the Son only could not be corrupted that it alone contains nothing which ought to be disallow'd especially when it appears that it was neither written by himself nor his Apostles but a
in the Catholic Church whose Authority must ever after serve to determin Matters of Faith neither were the spurious Pieces of Heretics yet rejected nor were the faithful admonisht to beware of them for the future Likewise the true Writings of the Apostles us'd to be so bound up in one Volum with the Apocryphal that it was not manifest by any Mark or public Censure of the Church which of 'em should be prefer'd to the other We have at this Day certain most authentic Ecclesiastic Writers of those times as CLEMENS ROMANUS BARNABAS HERMAS IGNATIUS and POLYCARPUS who wrote in this same Order wherein I have nam'd 'em and after all the other Writers of the New Testament except Iuâ—â— and the two JOHNS But in Hâ—RMâ—S you shall not meet with one Passage or any mention of the New Testament Nor in all the rest is any one of the Evangelists call'd by his own Name And if somtimes they cite any Passages like those we read in our Gospels yet you 'll find 'em so much chang'd and for the most part so interpolated that it cannot be known whether they produc'd them out of ours or som Apocryphal Gospels nay they somtimes cite Passages which it is most certain are not in the present Gospels From hence therefore it is evident that no difference was yet put by the Church between the Apochryphal and Canonical Books of the New Testament especially if it be consider'd that they pass no Censure on the Apochryphal nor leave any Mark whereby the Reader might discern that they attributed less Authority to the spurious than to the genuin Gospels from whence it may reasonably be suspected that if they cite somtimes any Passages conformable to ours it was not don thro' any certain design as if dubious things were to be confirm'd only by the Canonical Books so as it is very possible that both those and the like Passages may have bin borrow'd from other Gospels besides these we now have But what need I mention Books that were not Canonical when indeed it does not appear from those of our Canonical Books which were last written that the Church knew any thing of the Gospels or that Clergy-men themselves made a common use of ' em The Writers of those times do not chequer their Works with Texts of the New Testament which yet is the Custom of the Moderns and was also theirs in such Books as they acknowledg'd for Scripture for they most frequently cite the Books of the Old Testament and would doubtleâ—â— have don so by those of the New if they had then bin receiv'd as Canonical St. PAUL cites a Saying of our Lord in the Acts of the Apostles which if he had it out of any Writing was not certainly out of these we now have The Gospels continu'd so conceal'd in those Corners of the World where they were written that the latter Evangelists knew nothing of what the Precedent wrote Otherwise there had not bin so many apparent Contradictions which almost since the first Constitution of the Canon have exercis'd the Wits of learned Men. Surely if St. LUKE had seen that Genealogy of our Lord which is in St. MATTHEW he would not himself have produc'd one wholly different from the other without giving the least Reason for this Diversity And when in the Preface to his Gospel he tells the occasion of his Writing which is that he undertook it being furnisht with the Relations of such as were Eye-witnesses of what he writes he plainly intimats that the Authors of the Gospels which he had seen were destitute of this Help So that neither having seen themselves what they relate nor with any Care or Diligence consulted such as had seen them their Credit was therefore dubious and suspected whence it must necessarily follow that the Writers of those Gospels which LUKE had seen were not at all the same with our present Evangelists So far Mr. DODWELL and excepting the Genuinness of the Epistles of CLEMENS BARNABAS and the rest for they are incontestably ancient I agree with him that the Matters of Fact are all true tho' I am far from drawing the same Inference from 'em as he has don that there is an equal Proof for Episcopacy as for the Canon of Scripture which is the Testimony of the Fathers of the Second and Third Centuries and that the Disciplin was better known and preserv'd than the Doctrin of the Apostles Whoever has an Inclination to write on this Subject is furnisht from this Passage with a great many curious Disquisitions wherein to shew his Penetration and Judgment as how the immediat Successors and Disciples of the Apostles could so grossly confound the genuin Writings of their Masters with such as were falsly attributed to them or since they were in the dark about these Matters so early how came such as follow'd 'em by a better Light why all those Books which are cited by CLEMENS and the rest should not be counted equally Authentic and what stress should be laid on the Testimony of those Fathers who not only contradict one another but are often inconsistent with themselves in their Relations of the very same Facts with a great many other Difficulties which deserve a clear resolution from any capable Person tho' none may safely propose 'em but Mr. DODWELL who I heartily wish were always as free and unprejudic'd as he is really learned THUS have I defended and explain'd my self against Mr. BLACHALL's Accusation nor do I question but I have given entire Satisfaction to all impartial Men and lovers of Truth But there 's another sort of People whom I despair of ever contenting These never fail of finding in the Writings of their Adversary not what is there but what they have a mind should be so to represent him odious or dangerous All the Protestations in the World can signifie nothing with them nor is it more safe than otherwise to prove the contrary of what is laid to one's Charge for they are sagacious enough to discover the hidden Poyson of every Word and will be sure to give loud warning of the Danger to shew where the Snake lies in the Grass and to tell what 's in the Belly of the Trojan Horse But I shall not be in great pain how such People apprehend me if I have the Happiness to please the moderat and discerning part of Mankind The Complete HISTORY OF Icon Basilike MR. BLACKHALL who by a public Provocation would needs engage me in a Controversie about spurious Books has not confin'd me to expose the Impostures of Antiquity alone tho' it be pretty plain that this is Employment enough for one body but he likewise accuses me of not being more favorable to a Modern Saint as he is pleas'd to stile King CHARLES the First That excellent Book which he says was compos'd by himself in the time of his Distresses will he supposes be an everlasting Evidence of his profiting under his Sufferings to after Ages notwithstanding the Endeavours
and this says my Lord is all the Account I can give of it What is become of the Manuscript I know not and what will become of his Majesty God knows Upon this my Husband told my Lord Marquiss That in his Opinion there was no way so probable to save his Majesty's Life as by endeavouring to move the Hearts and Affections of the People as much as might be towards him and that he also thought that that Book would be very effectual for that purpose Then my Lord bad my Husband to do what he would in regard the Case was desperate Then immediately my Husband resolv'd to print it with all speed that might be he having a Copy of that which he sent to the King and that he printed was just the same only he then added the Essay upon their denying his Majesty the Attendance of his Chaplains and the Meditation of Death after the Votes of the Non-addresses and his Majesty's close Imprisonment at Carisbrook Castle Now the Instrument which my Husband employ'd to get it printed was one Mr. SIMMONDS a Divine and a great Sufferer for his Majesty and he got one Mr. ROYSTON to print it which ROYSTON never knew any thing but that it was of his Majesty's own penning my Husband did then alter the Title of it and call'd it Icon Basilike Now when it was about half printed they who were in power found the Press where it was printing and likewise a Letter of my Husbands which he sent up to the Press whereupon they destroy'd all that they then found printed but could not find out from whence the Letter came in regard it had no Name to it Notwithstanding all this my Husband attempted the printing of it again but could by no means get it finish'd till som few Days after his Majesty was destroyed When it was com out they who were then in Power were not only extremely displeas'd at it but also infinitely solicitous to find out the Author of it thinking it very improbable that his Majesty should write it in regard of the great Disturbances and Troubles which for many Years he had suffer'd or at least impossible that he should have writ it all for after the Attendance of his Chaplains was deny'd him and he a close Prisoner they well understood that he could not write any thing without their Discovery They also took that very Manuscript which my Husband had sent his Majesty and saw that it was none of his Majesty's Hand-writing Upon this they appointed a Committee to examin the Business of which my Husband having notice he went privatly in the Night away from his own House to Sir JOHN WENTWORTH'S who liv'd near Yarmouth and him he acquainted with the Business and the great Danger he was then in when Sir JOHN did not only promise to conceal him but also to convey him out of England it being in his Power to give Passes to go beyond Sea About this time Mr. SYMMONDS was taken in a Disguise but God in his Providence so order'd it that he sickned immediatly and dy'd before hâ— came to his Examination nor could the Committee find out any thing by any means whatever which alter'd my Husband's Resolutions of going out of England Now besides these Circumstances to aâ—â—ert the Truth of what I say I can produce som Letters which I am sure will put it out of all Dispute My Husband continâ—â—d at Boâ—king till the return of his Majesty King CHARLES the Second and upon his Restoration knowing his Princely Disposition did not unjustly expect a suitable Reward for his Endeavors to serve his Majesty's Father and himself in that Book And meeting with Dr. MORLEY he fell into Discourse how sensible he was of the great Service which he had don his present Majesty and the Royal Family in composing and setting forth that excellent Piece call'd the King's Book and also assur'd him that it had bin very effectual not only at home but abroad to move the Hearts and Affections of People towards his Majesty instancing in several Persons who were most exceedingly affected with it and so advantageous he said it had bin to his Majesty that according to his great Merit he might have what Preferment he desir'd Dr. MORLEY also told him That he had acquainted Sir EDWARD HYDE with the Business and that he did very much commend and admire it but we have not said he acquainted his Majesty with it but did assure him that his Majesty did set a high Value upon the Book and had commanded Dr. EARL to translate into Latin som having taken the Pains to put it into other Languages before My Husband being encouraged by this Discourse of Dr. MORLEY'S and shortly after meeting with Dr. SHELDON who he knew was not ignorant that he was the only Author of the foremention'd Book he told Dr. SHELDON that since he had bin inform'd that his Majesty out of his Princely Disposition would without doubt when once acquainted with it reward that Service which he had endeavor'd to do his Father and himself he thought it most convenient for himself and also that he might be serviceable to his Majesty in the Diocess of London a Place where he was well known if it would please his Majesty to make him Bishop of that See Dr. SHELDON was pleas'd with a great deal of Gravity to tell him that was a great Leap at first Whereupon my Husband desisted and was resolv'd to leave his Preferment to God's dispose Soon after this the King being still ignorant of what he had done he was by the Mediation of a Person perfectly ignorant of his Merit as to this Matter made Bishop of Exeter all the considerable Bishopricks being otherwise dispos'd of Not long after this it pleas'd God to visit my Husband with an Infirmity which he had great cause to fear would as it did prove mortal to him This made him resolve to acquaint the King with the whole Matter and the rather because he saw som Persons who were privy to it desir'd nothing more than to have it conceal'd and bury'd in Oblivion but my Husband was not willing it should be so in regard he had at that time four Sons living and they he thought if he should die might be capable of his Majesty's Favour Besides the Duke of Somerset was dead and the Bishop of Winchester the Person who was best able to attest it was very ill These Considerations made him go to his Majesty and having the Opportunity of discoursing privatly with him he told him the whole Matter as I have related it and for the Truth of it appeal'd to Dr. DUPPA then Bishop of Winchester and formerly his Majesty's Tutor The King then was pleas'd to entertain som Discourse with my Husband about it and said that he did often wonder how his Father should have gotten Time and Privacy enough in his Troubles to compose so excellent a Piece and written with so much Learning BY the Extract that was publish'd of
long time after by certain obscure Persons who lest no Credit should be given to the Stories they told of what they could not know did prefix to their Writings partly the Names of the Apostles and partly of those who succeeded the Apostles affirming that what they wrote themselves was written by these Wherein they seem to me continues he to have bin the more hainously injurious to the Disciples of Christ by attributing to them what they wrote themselves so dissonant and repugnant and that they pretended to write those Gospels under their Names which are so full of Mistakes of contradictory Relations and Opinions that they are neither coherent with themselves nor consistent with one another What is this therefore but to throw a Calumny on good Men and to fix the Accusation of Discord on the Unanimous Society of CHRIST's Disciples The same FAUSTUS a little after accuses his Adversaries who had Power enough to be counted Orthodox in these express Words Many things were foisted by your Ancestors into the Scriptures of our Lord which tho' mark'd with his Name agree not with his Faith And no wonder since as those of our Party have already frequently prov'd these things were neither written by himself nor his Apostles but several Matters after their Decease were pick'd up from Stories and flying Reports by I know not what Set of Half Iews and these not agreeing among themselves who nevertheless publishing all these Particulars under the Names of the Apostles of the Lord or of those that succeeded them have â—eign'd their own Lyes and Errors to be written according to them Since therefore the Manichaeans rejected the whole New Testament since the Ebionites or Nazarens who were the oldest Christians had a different Copy of St. MATTHEW's Gospel and the Marcionites had a very different one of St. LUKE's since St. JOHN's was attributed to CFRINTHUS all the Epistles of St. PAUL were deny'd by som a different Copy of 'em shewn by others and that the seven Pieces we mention'd before were rejected a long time by all Christians almost with universal Consent it had much more become Mr. BLACKâ—ALL's Profession to appear better acquainted with these things and commendably to spend his time in preventing the Mischievous Inferences which Heretics may draw from hence or to remove the Scruples of doubting but sincere Christians than so publicly to vent his Malice against a Man that never injur'd him and who appears so little to deserve the Imputation of Incredulity that his Fault if it may be does rather consist in believing more Scripture than his Adversaries WHAT need had Mrâ— BLACKHALL to inform that August Assembly how little he knâ—w of the History of the Canon A History of the greatest Importance as well as containing the most curious Enquiries and without an exact Knowledge whereof it is not conceivable that any Man can be sit to convince Gainsayers or to demonstrat the Truth of the Christian Religion which I suppose he will not think fit to deny is one of the principal Duties of a Minister How little soever he knew before he cannot be ignorant any longer that there were a Multitude of other Pieces attributed to CHRIST and his Apostles besides those now receiv'd by the whole Christian Church He might at his Leisure have learnt so much from the Fathers or at least from others that had study'd 'em such as RIVâ—T Father SIMON DUâ—PIN â—ITTGIUS Dr. CAVF ERNâ—STUS GRABIUS who has lately publish'd som of those Fragments at Oxford and several others tho' he has occasionâ—d me to prâ—sent him now with a much larger Catalogue than was publish'd by any of these I could add more not there mentioned and other Authorities for those which are there but I have already don more than enough to prove a thing whereof till the last thirtieth of Ianuary I thought few Lay-men wholly ignorant much less any one of the Clergy Indeed I never thought the History of our Canon so impartially handled or so fully clear'd as a Matter of such great Importance deserves and I despair of Mr. BLACKHALL's giving the World any Satisfaction in their Doubts concerning it But I hope som abler Person of his Order may particularly write on this Subject which if I see neglected also by them I shall think it no Intrusion on their Office to undertake it my self and if I ever write it I promise it shall be the fairest History and the only one of that kind that ever appear'd For I shall lay all the Matters of Fact together in their natural Order without making the least Remark of my own or giving it a Color in favor of any Sect or Opinion leaving all the Word to judge for themselves and to build what they please with those Materials I shall furnish ' em I CONCLUDE this Point with one Observation to shew with what Malice I am treated by some People while others pass with them for the most Orthodox Men in the World who have said infinitly more in plain and direct Words than they could infer with all their Art from a few Expressions of mine and which the most ignorant of my Adversaries could make no more than Insinuation at the worst I talkt of spurious Pieces and have now as well shewn what those Pieces were as put a Distinction between 'em and such as I thought genuin But let us hear what a Person says who were he as much given to the World as many of his Friends would make a more considerable Figure considering his great Services to the National Church and the Respect he reciprocally receives from it I mean the famous DODWELL who alone tho' a Lay-man understands as much of Ecclesiastic History as the Divines of all Churches put together His Words are these The Canonical Writings lay conceal'd in the Coffers of privat Churches or Persons till the later Times of TRAJAN or rather perhaps of ADRIAN so that they could not com to the Knowledg of the whole Church For if they had bin publish'd they wou'd have bin overwhelm'd under such a Multitude as were then of Apocryphal and Supposititious Books that a new Examination and a new Testimony would be necessary to distinguish 'em from these false ones And it is from this New Testimony whereby the genuin Writings of the Apostles were distinguish'd from the spurious Pieces which went under their Names that depends all the Authority which the truly Apostolic Writings have formerly obtain'd or which they have at present in the Catholic Church But this fresh Attestation of the Canon is subject to the same Inconveniencies with those Traditions of the Ancient Persons that I defend and whom IRENAEUS both heard and saw for it is equally distant from the Original and could not be made except by such only as had reacht those remote Times But 't is very certain that before the Period I mention'd of TRAJAN's time the Canon of the Sacred Books was not yet fixt nor any certain number of Books receiv'd