heart to read such lines from Mr. Henry Burton against his quondam fellow-sufferer Doctor Bastwicke I medle not with your Arguments about Presbyterian dependant and Presbyterian independant but I question the selfeishnes the false accusing the fiery spirit the aspersing Language which you have scattered in severall pages of your booke against your fellow-sufferer Sir God hath bestowed on Doctor Bastwicke your selfe and others extraordinary gifts for to you it was given not onely to believe but to suffer for his sake yea and to suffer at one time yea and at that time for one cause your judgement then being different to that it is now so that there was an onenesse in the cause and sufferings O then why maintaine you not this onenesse still at least in your affections but page the second you seeme your selfe to insinuate this question for say you How comes it to passe that my two fellow-sufferers and my selfe should fall at this ods was it by any divine providence ominated or presaged by your two standing on one Pillory and mine alone on the other that we should come upon one Theatre to become spectacles to the world by mutuall digladiations as if the one Pillory should contend with the other thus you Sir before I answer your question I beseech you in all christian love give me leave to advise you O take heed take heed how you harbour such a thought as to charge divine providence with your humane frailties and self seeking Vindications make not God the author of your divisions who is a God of unity peace and love it is true by way of permission there is no evill in a City that the Lord hath not done Amos 3.6 and the Scripture tells us it must needs be that offences come but woe be to that man by whom the offence cometh and therefore I cannot but deale ingenuously with you and for answer to your question tell you what Godly holy selfe-denying men not onely converts in part as you censure all of a contrary judgement to your selfe to be but some of your owne judgement have said which is this That it came to passe by your unadvised thrusting your self in to contend with Mr. Prynne by name one of your quondam fellow sufferers whereas according to all rules of friendship you were the unfittest man for that worke of any there being many other sober minded christians besides Mr. Henry Burton and as some of your owne party have said more able to defend and maintaine their cause then your selfe but for my part I question not your abilities but this is very cleare that you and you onely did make this odds with your fellow-sufferer and so primarily and originally you have caused all the difference betweene you by proclaiming all of a contrary judgement to your selfe though otherwise never so godly to be enemies to the government of the Lord Iesus Christ which opinion Doctor Bastwicke Learnedly and Christianly confuted and reproved naming no man Sir I honour you and in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ beseech you who am a fellow-sufferer with you and that in as deepe a measure as any though not to blood lay this to heart that you have had a hand in causing offences in the Church by your unchristianing and censuring the dear people of God O pull downe every high thought that exalteth itself and humble your selfe before the Lord for this miscarriage lest you be lyable to that woe pronounced Mat. 18.7 Thus in christian love I have faithfully and truely as in the sight of God answered your question But you will say how make you good that charge in the beginning of your Letter Sir I shall doe it from your owne writings for I find in them that your chiefe labour and paines is spent to vindicate and exalt your selfe for the Arguments of difference they are but coldly and unsatisfactorily handled but when you come to your selfe who you say have beene unsufferably wronged then you are so heated that while you seem to blame the Doctor you forget your promise page 2. where you say you will answer him in sobernesse and in the spirit of meeknesse and love and you fall into unadvised unseemly unbrotherly Language and false accusations against Doctor Bastwicke But you have beene provoked not a litle for say you the Doctor speakes of a grave man with a white basket-hilted beard though not naming any yet you were the man aimed at Why good Sir if you were Here is gravity acknowledged which speakes a reverence borne to the man though a dislike of his uncharitable and unwarrantable writings But the Doctor expresseth himselfe with a scurrilous Epithite say you I deny it for it is but a harmelesse jest and no other it can never hurt you and truely a meeke hearted Moses would have passed it by and have taken no notice of it nor have made such acclamation about a merry word But it is a disgrace which you cannot beare O! Oh! selfe appeares exceedingly in all your lines and because you have made such an out-cry and make a man an offender for a word take a view of your owne Language to your quondam fellow-sufferer worthy Doctor Bastwick but before I give you in your Catalogue of unsavory words I here protest in the presence of God who knowes the secrets of all hearts and from whose eyes nothing can be hid that neither Doctor Bastwick nor any mortall man as yet doth know of this Letter unto you for the noble Doctor did ride into the Country before your booke came forth and is not yet returned so that he hath never seene your booke therefore no instigation from him hath procured me to write but when I saw how all along your booke you falsly accused that deserving Gentleman labouring to take away his good name which Solomon saith is better then precious oyntment Ecclesi 7.1 And I having had such experience as none in England hath had more of the Doctors worth Zeale for Gods glory and Christian Conversation it made me that I durst not be silent lest I should be partaker with you in your sinne And for the Doctors expressions in his bookes which you make so much adoe about I assure you the many affronts the base unworthy Language that he hath from time to time undergone from many both men women of your judgement vilifying reviling scorning him to his face some of them being of no mean account amongst you was the cause of them for before he had published any booke onely they heard he was writing against their opinion they dayly abused him most unworthily for which he privately in Christian love reproved them but when he saw that his silence and patience did no good this caused him to make his Postscript and the other booke truly relating their unchristian Carriage and laughing at their unreprovable folly And doth not God laugh at the wicked who will go on in their sinfull and perverse wayes and will not be reproved see
INNOCENCY CLEARED True worth Predicated AGAINST FALSE ASPERTIONS IN A LETTER SENT To Mr Henry Burton From a Christian Friend In Defence of Dr Bastwick one of his Quondam Fellow sufferers Rom. 2.1.3 Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that Judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy selfe for thou that judgest dost the same things And thinkest thou this O man that judgest them that do such things and doest the same that thou shalt escape the Judgement of God James 4.10 11. Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Speak not evill one of another brethren he that speaketh evill of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evill of the Law and judgeth the Law but if thou judge the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a Judge Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. London Printed by John Macock 1645. To the impartiall Reader Christian Reader I Delight not to shew my self in Print yet as it is my duty to admonish a brother which in this insuing Letter I have done so the like obligation lyes upon me to publish it that I might clear the innocency and predicate the worth of that Godly Learned Gentleman Dr. Bastwick A man on whom the Independents have privately and publikely laid loads of defamations for it satisfied them not to give him reproachfull language to his face which was sad to hear and even a shame to repeate but they set forth in Print known untruths premed tated Lyes to make him odious to the World witnesse Lieut. Col. John Lilburne his book accusing him for an ungratefull man which is a vice not onely hatefull to God and all good men but to the very heathens which charge of his against the Doctor was most falfe I hen came out another under the name of a Presbyterian but whether in truth or thew for feme particular benefit may be suspected and he accuseth him to be a proud selfe-conceited man c. yea he taketh the boldnesse to lay this deep charge upon him in the name of all his godly Presbyterian friends which accusation all the Doctors godly Presbyterian friends and acquaintance that I know and I am no stranger to the most of them do utterly disavow and for this Presbyterian if one for I do not think he is he drives the Innependents designe as may be proved for when this Letter was framing an Independent said to some that I know that he and others of his parry were to meete that day to draw a moderate Letter to be sent to Doctor Bastwick But the Letter was never sent unto him onely a day or two after this meeting a booke-feller brought a written booke made ready for the Presse and shewed it to the Doctor saying as a neighbour and a friend he gave him a fight of it for he was to put it in Print then this was no Letter sent unto him as on the frontispice of his book he falsely pretends but at is plaine the Author thereof call him what they will consulted with the Independents about this Letter and they and he together framed it after such a manner as they supposed would make their designe no way suspected yet by the course he took and the printing but not sending it to the Doctor every man may perceive this Letter was writ and published meerly to defame Doctor Bastwick And that comming forth under the name of a Presbyterian it might render him the more infamous But this wrought not effectually and therefore one of his quondam fellow-sufferers he comes out against him and with his full strength aiming at his head that so if possible he might strike him downe in the opinion of all men never to rise again but the hand is too feeble he presented this holy worthy learned Doctor to the people as a mad man casting many reproaches upon him and amongst his accusations p. the 24 He complaines of stinging netles in the Doctors Booke but one sharper then all the rest whatsoever construction he makes of the Doctors words there they are no more but this Doctor Bastwick out of his pious zeale for Gods glory and carnest desire of the Churches peace and tranquility writ against Independency and exhorts magistrates masters of families and parents of children to labour to keepe the people from errour that are under their charge and with faithfull Abraham to instruct their families in the knowledge feare and worship of the true God and with holy Joshua Josh 24.15 to see that they and their house do serve the Lord surely this is no bad Councell nor will never sting a well grounded setled established Christian For if a father presents wholsome food that which he knowes is good for his child but the child either out of ignorance of wantonesse refusech to taste of the meet because he seeth variety of other dishes and so set out and garnished that they seeme pleasant to the eye and to be desired like to the forbidden fruite Gen. 3.6 And if a learned Phisitian tell the father that those dishes which seem so pleasant to the eve are mingled with such ingredients as will prove very pernicious to his childs health he is a slâ—p father and not a loving father that causeth not his child to forbeare to tast of any of those dishes and that persuadeth him not to eate of such food as he knowes is wholsome and good for nourishment and that 〈◊〉 is no Incendiary for advising the father for the welfare of his child this is the result of all and directly Dr Bastwicks case Courteous Reader it may be some will censure me for being too large but Seneca and many excellent Authors have delivered their mindes in Letters far more prolixâ—◠〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 a Petitioner unto thee for a license to adde a few words more to let thee know that I perceiving the Independents grand designe is to use all meanes publikely to reproach disgrace 〈…〉 and falsly accuse this worthy sufferer and faithfull servant of the Lord who the glory of God the ultimate end of all his endeavours I could do no lesse then present to the publike view of all men the reall worth and unfamed goodnesse which I know to be in the Gentleman This I have done in faithfullnesse without flattery and I assure thee in the presence of the Lord who knowes all things I speake the truth I lye not that Dr. Bastwick nor 〈◊〉 on living and know of this Letter untill it was sent to Mr. Burton neither doth Dr Bastwick yet know that there was any such Letter writ sent or is to be published I beseech thee read consider judge impartially Farewell Thine in the Lord B. S. To the Reverend and Honoured Mr Henry Burton c. SIR SOme few dayes since a book intituled Vindiciae Veritatis came into my hand subscribed with your name which deliberately I perused and was grieved at
Prov. 1.25.26 Truly Mr. Burton I am confident had you beene so provoked by the Contrary party as Doctor Bastwick hath beene by your party your spirit would not have brookt it with so much patience as he hath done Sir this by the way being premised I beseech you now take and peruse the catalogue of all your unbrotherly Invectives against your quondam fellow-sufferer You render him to the world an Hypocrite pag. 17. one that hath but faire flourishes of holinesse pag. 18. You conclude him an Adversary to Christs King dome and an open enemy and persecuter of the Church Pag. 20 you charge him with doing wrong and walking scandalously to the great offence and shame of the very name of Christian Religion Pag. 21. You make him to be worse then a naturall Heathen a base and barbarous man Pag. 25. You averre and do seem to take upon you to prove him one of the greatest Incendiaries in the Land Pag. 28. You speak of him as of a dishonest man and subtily calling him Serpent You then run your selfe out of breath with calumnies pag. 29 telling him he is a hollow-hearted man hath a shallow brain which in plain English is a Foole And that not only his heart is divided but his head c. So that by your railing Rhetorick you present him to the world a mad man You say not as Ioab he hath smote you in the fift rib but I dare say and affirme it you have unchristianly and causlesly laboured to wound him in the head the most excellent part of man And all this hot and furious pursuit after the good Doctor is for nothing else but because he plaid with your Beard But pag. 28. you seem to have a further charge against your brother in that he speaks of some that did set in the frontispieces of their Books Christs words Mat. 10.34 35 36. And because he out of respect to the Author named no man but with Christian wisdome reproved the unseasonablenesse of applying that place of Scripture in a time when divisions are already so great and many amongst brethren insomuch that every man especially such a one as you should improve all your time graces knowledge wit and learning to make up these breaches and to compose the sad differences For certainly to urge such places of Scripture in a time of so great distractions will give too too much incouragement to the ruder sort of your party who are not afraid to do whatsoever seems good in their eyes and to say they will have liberty of conscience now they have the sword in their own hands for thus some of them have said yea where they think themselves strong if a Minister preach against their way they rise up against that man to destroy him This I speak of because pag. 24. you mention a late mis-rule at Colchester but you do not say it was your party that was so unruly you call it the Doctors Town of Colchester The Doctor indeed for many yeares lived in that Town and did much good among the people and there I had the happinesse to enjoy his society very frequently But the Prelate of Canterbury by his Purseuvants fetcht him from thence above eleven yeares agone and cast him into prison since which time he was never in Colchester But you say upon his Books and T.E. his preaching this mis-rule happened Sir the mentioning of this disorder in my judgement discovers some weaknesse in you for it may be a great disadvantage to your Cause and ratifies what the Doctor hath said of your party for because a Gentleman hath written against their way and that the Ministers do preach against it conceiving there is not any ground for it in Gods word was this a sufficient warrant for them to rise and make a tumult wherefore did they come into the Congregation for they knew before they came that Mr. T.E. was of a contrary judgement to them and they at other times will not endure to heare any other Ministers but their own so that it is plain they then came on purpose to make a disturbance in the Congregation I heare in that Town severall Opinions do increase and this action of theirs speaks loud in the eares of every sober-minded Christian Where that party is strong they will not suffer any of a contrary opinion to write or preach any thing against their way Sir I never heard of this uprore untill I read of it in your Book but the last night I spake with some that were at Colchester at that time when the Independents so molested the people to the shame indeed of the very name of Christian Religion And they told me That had not the Magistrates aided the Minister it was feared they would have kill'd him We see what it is like to come to where they have power Sir you preach and write and other of your Ministers preach publikely against the Presbyterian way and you are not in danger of your lives nor are you molested when you preach publikely and yet as with one consent you have of late set your selves to preach up your way where ever you come truly it is time for a setled Government when your party comes to this height that they will not suffer any thing to be preached or writ against their way but they wil rise they will give Laws at last if this goon I know there are some truly Godly that are different in judgements but there are we see by this president and that tumultuous Company that abused Doctor Bastwick at Westminster many of your judgement that misaply our Saviours words Mat. 10.34 5 36. And therefore I am of this mind and many who are godly and wise do agree with me and the Doctor herein that this was not a time nor leason for such as desire the peace of Gods Church to urge that Scripture so that all things considered you complaine causlessely against the Doctor still O Mr. Burton I humbly intreate you bethinke your selfe what you have done you blame bitter speaking and it is blame worthy in any but you know the Apostle saith he is inexcusable whosoever he be that judgeth another and doth the same thing Rom. 2.1 This is your case the Lord lay your sinne open before your owne face as it lies open to the view of all men and to every impartiall Christian Sir I would draw to an end but I cannot with the discharge of a good conscience conclude untill I have declared unto you the truth of what I know concerning Doctor Bastwick with whom I have had the honour to enjoy intimate acquaintance above this twenty yeares and if I should say no more of him then this in generall which without all partiality I speake in the presence of God I know him to be a man whose whole frame of foule is set against all sinne this might be enough to wipe away those blacke Calumnies which you have laboured to besmeare both his soule and body with for indeed you have strucke your stroks so as aiming to hit both therefore give me leave to speake a litle more particularly to manifest his inocency and set forth his integrity First for his shewes of holinesse they are no flourish but the fruits of his sincerity to God his naturall inclination is to be merry yet with sobriety allow a few drams of lawfull mirth to his constitution he is a man not easily provoked to wrath he is a man of an aimable loving and courteous carriage and however malice may seeke to detract from him yet I can truely say and many of the poorest of Gods people which tries humility can testifie the same with me That he is of a most sweet humble spirit pitifull to all but transcendently compasionate to the poor people of God an honest man and just in all his actions one of them David speakes of Psal 15.4 A man much in meditation and walketh closely with his God so that he may defie the Devill or any man in that particular who shall accuse him as a scandalous walker He travelled for nine yeares together into other Countryes and hath as large and ample testimonies from all the reformed Churches where he lived beyond the seas for his godly life and blamelesse conversation and his abilities in learning as ever I saw or read of any man also he hath as ample a testimony from the magestrates and ministers of the towne of Colchester for his godly life quiet and peacable conversation whilest he lived amongst them and what I speake is not from heare-say but all of my owne Knowledge through the intimate and long acquaintance I have had with him He hath severall Languages in perfection so as he is able to do service to the Church and State at home and abroad O Sir much more may be said in the due commendations of this your quondam fellow-sufferer and that without flattery for the gifts and graces of God are to be acknowledged and honoured in an enemy much more in a friend and sufferer and God hath given to Doctor Bastwicke a rich portion of spirituall and naturall endowments and will you good Sir suffer your selfe to be so farre transported with passion as to deny the graces of God that is in him because he is not of your Judgement or because he played too familiarly with your beard the Lord shew you the evill of your so doing and give you a self-derving heart a sorrowfull humble and contrite spirit for the offence you have occasioned in the Church of God and strengthen you so with his might that now you may spend your whole indeavours to make up the sad breaches amongst Gods people This shall be the dayly prayer of Sir Your faithfull friend to serve you in the Lord B. S.