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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96893	Inquiries into the causes of our miseries, whence they issue-forth upon us: and reasons wherefore they have born us down so low; and are like to carrie us yet lower. The Independents and the way of worship, they stand-up for, is renderd clear of this grievous charge... This charge is drawn-up against the Independents, by three worthies, men, I think, of name, all (I) D.P.P.W. Pryn Esquire; but more fully and with more devouring words, if more can be, by Dr. A. Steuart in his last book... In six sections. Whereof the first onely is here; a just vindication of the way of worship very commonly misunderstood; very falsly interpreted; but very truly called Independent... By Hez. Woodward.; Inquiries, into the causes of our miseries. Part 1.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1644 (1644)	Wing W3491; Thomason E22_1; ESTC R21697	22,269	25

I went in obedience thereunto craving a licence though I think it my due and ought to be given me but could not obtain it The truth is If the Book bear Independent upon its front and be thought to speak for that way which God Himself will cleer and justifie before all the world it is silenced before it speaks And so is dealt more injuriously with than have been the greatest offenders in the world for they have had leave to speak for themselves in all ages of the world upwards to as it is at this day It is replyed That writing for this way of Church Government does but hinder our course in the way of Reformation making the Divisions greater and the Rent wider I answer If I were perswaded so I would rather put my hand in fire then unto paper But I am perswaded in my heart clean otherwise and by the grace of God shall be able to make it appear in the sequell all along It is said agen These are my thoughts that this scrible will do no hurt will not make the rent wider my Judgement onely I answer not mine onely I have asked advise about it enquired seriously into the matter and why should I be ashamed to say more I have given up my judgement unto the Lord and I have this answer from him and assistance from his right hand so guiding mine That I shall so I hope and am confident speak nothing which shall dishonour his holy holy holy name nor his cause nor his people the congregations of God I have a sober confidence that I have licence from Gods hand and shall keep close to the word of his mouth and therefore sith I could not have a licence from man I can be carelesse of it That it may not be said I am ashamed of my name for indeed I am not being it was a very good mans name which yet I know cannot make the man the better I have for commanding reasons affixed my name though very unwilling to appear so openly as I was most willing to do with a Licenced But the want of it can be no shame to me some little blame rather to him who would not give it me having no time to enquire into the papers as some too superstitiously perhaps but their superstition teacheth were wont to do to enquire into a paper which lay as low as their foot before they would put their foot upon it with neglect lest the name of their God or something of God should be there Certainly the Name of God is here and I will not doubt to say again I have His Licence to print it But the great stop was because this answering is like to cause answer upon answer I answer God knows that and will turn all to good I am a free man and may take my liberty not standing charged as servants do not to answer again And indeed I cannot conceive what they can answer unlesse as some did who had spoke roughly enough and being modestly reproved for being so rough answered as roughly that sith their hand was in they were resolved to put it forth again as roughly as ever As pleaseth men let it be but if I am honoured with any answer from a Doctor for the other that learned and excellent man I hope his apprehensions are more digested now and he has repented of them that they were indeed subitan but for the Doctor I hope he will learn at length to reprove his Brother modestly and meekly and then I shall accept his reproof with all thankfulnesse but if any roughnesse appear as it hath to others which I must rather expect his reproof will do me no good I shall sleight it sure putting it to some privy shame or open reproof And so much touching licencing books and my want in that particular And so I come to that my soul does more desire to give you satisfaction in according to the Scriptures of God and to unfold your understanding First touching the true sense and meaning of these words Dependent and Independent as I find them legible and explained through the Doctrines and Conversations of those men amongst us called by that name Briefly now and as is best fitting this place Dependent is a learing upon the Lord Christ the onely Beloved of the soul upon His hand for strength upon His mouth for Direction It is a setting-up the Lord Christ as King yea it is the advancing of the Lord Christ in all His offices King Prophet and Priest to in and over His Church the souls and spirits of men It is a cleaving of the soul to Christ a closing of the heart with Him saying Thou Lord art my Righteousnesse and my strength and my wisdome and my glory and my crown of rejoycing This is to be Dependant when our Lord Christ who is All to the soul has all its Dependence And this is to give the Lord God His due the glory of all His attributes specially these two the glory of His power and of His wisdome And to the Lord Christ King of Saints His dues the glory of all His offices anointed of the Father King Prophet and Priest of His Church And hence I issued my thoughts and thus concluded That the people no matter whether many or few poore or rich learned or unlearned Master or Disciple that the people we call Independants are the most Dependent persons in the world This is the sum I shall return to this again Now to the other word 2 Independant What is that I le tell you what it is in the judge●ent of they say as good a Logician as is in England now he is here I le name him for honour sake Doctor Adam Steuart adding onely this the Lord adde to His Logick that one thing necessiry which one man cals Baptized Reason He and we mean sanctified by the Word and prayer in the Holy Ghost and then he will be good indeed Pag. ●8 This man saies A That Independent is a proud and abominable word proper to God Almighty B It is granted so to be as He consters the word and in vulgar construction also as we silly men understand it too that to be Independent is to be as an Island cut off from other Land to live as men turned-in-upon themselves regarding themselves bearing fruit to themselves as an empty vine to Nemini fructuosa Hos 10. 1. do as they list speak as they please to hold out and maintain what Doctrines agree best with flesh and blood and to spread them abroad before Israel and before the Sun under the very look of the Magistrate What has he to do with them Be they Jews or Gentiles Turks or Infidels Atheists or Papists be what they will be as abominable as they are rendred to be or as we can conceive them to be why yet it is their conscience so to be and what hath the Magistrate to do there or with them So Dr. Adam Steuart forceth matters against these

INQVIRIES Into the causes of our miseries whence they issue-forth upon us And reasons wherefore they have born us down so low And are like to carrie us yet lower The Independents and the way of worship they stand-up for is renderd clear of this grievous charge That they hold forth the licentiousnesse of wicked consciences Tolerations of all sorts of most detestable Schismes Heresies and Religions as Idolatries Paganisme Turs●sme Judeisme c. so opening a floodgate to let in this inundation of sins and sorrows upon the Land This charge is drawn-up against the Independents by three worthies men I think of name all 1 D. P. P. P. Pryn Esquire But more fully and with more devouring words if more can be by Dr. A. Steuart in his last book which in reference to the Brethren thousands in Israel relisheth as does the Gall of Aspes or Adders poyson under the tongue In six Sections Whereof the first onely is here A Just vindication of the way of worship very commonly misunderstood very falsly interpreted but very truly called Independent Most humbly devoted to the Honour of Almighty God and King of Saints presented to all the three Assemblies in all the three Kingdoms in Parliament now with hearts engaged upon the great matters of the Kingdom but before and above all to beat out a way of worship holding forth to the world a sutablenesse to the Great God full-up to His Mind and Rule in His Scriptures humbly presented to all these and to all Christian people whose habitation is on earth and conversation in Heaven By Hez Woodward Prov. 25. 18. A man that beareth false witnesse against his neighbour is a ma●●le and a sword and a sharp arrow Job 42. 7. My wrath is kindled against thee and thy two friends for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that was right Isa 2. 23. Wo unto them that take away the Righteousnesse of the Righteous from him Warranted by the God of Heaven being ordered according to His Churches book on earth and published for His Churches sake in the very close of this year 1644. Section I. VVHere the Reader is satisfied in point of Licencing books Informed in the meaning of those words Dependent Independent And the men so called are cleared from the cavils of the froward Mistakes of the ignorant heavy charges of knowing men with other grace matters worthy all mens sad and serious considerations Section II. Some praecognita matters already known and granted are premised As that the evils of Sin and Punishment are from our selver Punishments are merae mearly so where Gods Hand is immediate and Man passive or mixtae where Gods Hand is and mans also what God dies and Man does Gods Hand has the preheminence Gods End and Mans Ends how differents Gods End the Glory of His excellent Goodnesse His Churches Glory alse Some things granted in point of Reformation how active the Divell with his servants are in Reforming times and have been alwayes as at this day c. Section III. Enquiries touching Peace what it is how we improve the Peace we have Who they be that petition for Peace and of whom whether not of those who world but cannot give it And of those who if they could will not give it while the world stands being adversaries and enemies to their own peace to the peace of God and good men and true Religion of God the worshipping of Him in spirit and truth All this declared and confirmed by two most notable stories out of the Chronicles of God Section IIII. Conclusions ●●uching war that it is an evill an onely evill that our war is no more unnaturall than it is for fire to burn nor a civill war as when a Kingdome fights against it self but sacred when the kingdome of darknesse fights against the kingdome of light as now it is Enquiries touching the Battels of the Lord what they are who fight these Battels and what Souldiers they ought to be how furnished What hinders victory what brings it as upon Eagles wings Section V. Enquiries touching our keeping Covenant and Fasting dayes what we do and what our Ministers should do before us Section VI. Enquiries touching our evill Doctrines and what may be the causes thereof and whether the remedies used for the removing these Causes are soveraigne having the stamp of God upon them and warrant from His mouth Section 1. REader now that you have taken-up the book I le do my best to close with thee at the first as one not a little ambitious of thy favour and therefore can be content to crave thine eye and eare both thy best attention all along Do not fear to afford me this favour I crave it for Gods sake for His Causes sake for His servants sake for your sake the Lord knows and not mine own Doubting not to speak all along like a free man and a true Subject and not as one abusing my liberty or my glory But using it as a subject of the Lord Christ to His glory and the good of my Brother Therefore I cannot doubt neither That my words I shall speak can need an Apology And yet that my words may have a good relish upon your pallate and a sweeter touch upon your eare I will preface a little touching some matters first 1 Touching my licence here I have no Imprimatur no licence to speak To which I could answer Yes that I have for by the grace of God Truth and Reason the old Licensers of old have licenced my words all along And truly my spirit could never go forth with any other way of licensing or midwifring such births as are books into the world surely no better hand to officiate there than what Truth and Reason affords me And if so be our Conceptions and Births want either one or both let the parent smart for his lye and be fast locked in Bedlom till he recover his wits again And if he be Libellous as too many are let his own place the pillory instruct him to better manners But if he hasblasphemed God or the King of Saints lot him find neither friend nor enemy but let him dye if he has blasphemed his God Gods Law this and mans Law that carried all along through a series of time and never interrupted nor reversed or made null till it came thorough the Inquisition Court at Rome whence we have our Imprimatur Let this be printed And then sure enough it served to promote the Doctrines and practises of the Church there which my soul abominates It will be said here That I go a crosse-way to an Ordinance of Parliament Truly that startles me not a little the Lord knows I look upon an Ordinance of Parliament as an Ordinance of God not to be disputed but obeyed I kisse the hand of Authoritie and am readie to be called forth to its foot therefrom to be made Active or Passive yet I cannot conceive that I have gone a crosse-way to that Ordinance for licenfing-books

without balas or as a cloud without rain carried about c. Here now if my advice were worth acceptance it should be this to the Masters of the Assemblies That they would be as daintie in their choice of Members as Paul would have Timothy to be in laying on his hand which we call ordination Let it appear that the Word and Spirit gathers members into a Church fellowship and not the call of men Which will appear if enquiry be made first whether they have counted their cost That is a great inquiry And whether their fellowship is with the Father and the Son and are resolved to maintain the same fellowship in that Church-Communion they are now entring upon taking cure and charge one over another as before said such as is comely for a communion of Saints If they can in sincerity and truth of heart make clear answers thereunto that they have no low Aymes nor base ends moving them to come-over to the vvay but onely the glory of God and their more comfortable vvalking still searching the Scripture and vvalking humbly vvith their God Surely if so there will be be no fear of falling-off but fully assured vve may be they vvill vvalk-on strait forward and hold-on to the end They are the light inconsiderate unsavourie unballased Christians such as never count their cost that are the sickle men vvho vvould seeme to be some bodies vvhen indeed they are Nothings and yet vvould be accounted Independent men taken off from themselves and the vvorld and from every bottome there founded and rooted in Christ vvholly Dependent upon Him the Rock of Ages And yet vvalk as vvithout God in the present World as they have the men of the World for an example quite loose from God and good-men Oh! this is Abominable and vvill be bitternesse at the last To shut-up this They that are received into Church Communion should be men fearing God and hating covetousnesse who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Men that can hear and read and sing and pray and all in the Spirit Men that walk with God filled with the Holy Ghost And these will serve to make Church officers too It vvill be said again A. But vvhy do I make so large exceptions against the Doctors book I vvas not provoked B. Not provoked Indeed I vvas and so I think is every good man To see such a I cannot tell what to call it Charge is too soft a vvord drawn-up against the Brethren upon the front of his book and in the face of the World Surely if I had seen such an Indictment against the Presbyterians I should have said as much against it and as heartily And I perswade my self they do vvish That the Doctors book and such like had never seen the Sun or coming abroad had been dealt with as their Authors would have their brethren done unto thrown into the fire to be purged there And truly if my book be so accounted of by any sober Christian as a troubler of the Churches peace let it go with its fellows such troublers and let me be thrust-out after it But the Dr. Himself does not account me a troubler a flatterer he saies I am I must reply to this first If I would flatter and had skill that way as truly I have none but if I had I would not flatter the Brethren we call Independents men set forth the last as aforesaid I would not flatter them In the eye of the world I say of the world I am better than they and better accounted of then they But yet we will hear how the Dr. chargeth all those that speak for the Independents or the way of Government thus he saies or to this purpose That the men who treat on their side do bespeak them and the people with high strains of Rhetorique and large laudatives concerning them And for his part he has been a little too free that way and he craves pardon Let him have it for his tongue in print may assure us and all the world that if he hath given his Brethren their dues which he owoth to every man sweet and fair language he will retract now and do so no more But to quit my self of that my soul abhors base flatteries giving that to men which I know they deserve not This I will say and not crave pardon for my expression The Lord God of gods the Lord God of gods He knows That my heart and soul has gone-out with my words all along I have not strained my conscience in any word I have spoken touching our Brethren and their way It is a beautifull way in my eye and they have walked with a right-foot in that way sor ought I can discern or can ken to the contrary One or more of that side or way may have spoken improperly enough as the Dr. argueth their words he heard from them in the pulpit Very likely all that Alas Men may walk as men And it is far from me to commend mans way It is Gods way I contend for man may speak also it is not proper to say he may but he does not alwayes as the oracle of God He is a perfect man saith S. James and I beleeve He knew none such in the world that trips not in his tongue and foot also who was not an offender in a word yes and in deed too The Nations are but as a drop of the bucket and the Isles as the small dust of the ballance in comparison with the great God How small and light a thinst then is hee we call man Surely surely when we way him we must give him his full allowance for he is many graines too light And yet I must not call him R●c● a foole a Mat. 5. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vacuus in mis. light and empty fellow If I call my brother so I am in danger of a Councel the Synod may talke with me for it and it is fit they should I abominate jeering or scoffing or any lightnes at all If any for the Independent way are faulty therein they are cleane out of the way of God and good men and far from the end they seeme to propose the perswading with and reducing their brother into the way of holinesse And hee who is bitter is far-out too And now I feele my selfe plucked by the eare I have heard it argued against me more than once That I blame Mr. Ed bitter language when mine is more bitter Is it so let me be blamed for that and I aske him pardon too But I protest now before the Lord and his people That though I have beene accused yet I was never shown the words which might argue this bitternesse charged upon my Spirit If such they are in any corner of my booke which can bear such a construction they slipt from me before I was aware yet I will own them if there they be as my own the fruit of my own Spirit and reprove my selfe and

my words more than another neede to doe yea and abominate such words also all and every one which have such an Aspect upon my brother but I say again and I say truly I have not yet found any such word in my booke but I can too easily over-looke my own words or actions as an unfit Judge in such matters Yet let me tell you what I ought to doe and what I would doe so I shall the better argue against my three brethren hereaster That if I were to speake to Turker or Jewes Atheists or Papists the most untoward and roughest men in the world yet I would render my words as smooth as oyle and as s●ft as Butter that the men I speake unto might know in their hearts and be perswaded in their soules that I have no war against them in my heart no but that I keowing the terrour of the Lord doe seeke their peace their soules peace that I would perfwade with them for their everlasting good And by this means J would hope to make my words keene in the hearts of our Lords and His Christs chiefest enemies and if J had a word from the Lord by the grace of God that J would fet-on with all my might but with the spirit of meeknesse We have an excellent patterne for this To speak so to my Brother as that my Brother may perceive that I would do● him good with all my Heart and all my soule For so the high God the great Lord of heaven and earth Even so he speaketh to his poore servants I will doe you good sayes He with My whole heart and My wh●le soule Oh the goodnesse of God! His kindenesse to his creatures so he treates with men O! blessed be His name Have these three servauts of the Lord imitated their Master I should not put it to Question for past all Question they have done cleane contrary What the good King said in the Anguish of his Spirit the same these men have said in the tartnesse frowardnesse eagernesse Isa 38. of their own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitternesse bitternesse bitternesse in their tongues and that could not be but when there is more in the heart aboundance of bitternesse there whence it is that their pens have beene dipped in vinigar and steeped as in gall bitternesse bitternesse as if they intended not as sure they did not to informe their brethren and recall them from error if in any they are but to inbitter their spirits and give them a bill from their hands in full assurance that they will endeavour without the grace of God to discover and lay open their brethrens nakednesse to all the world with their whole heart and with their whole soule Is this to imitate the Lord God Father of mercies God of all Consolations To put this out of question I le say this more that there is not a man on this side our narrow seas whose hand has appeared for the Presbyterian way of Church Government not one man except that excellent man Mr. Herle it were a notable indignity offered unto him not to except him that has not bent the same hand against his brethren making his words sharp as arrows shot-out against their very faces I had almost said and hearts too so giving all the vvorld to knovv I speak my jealousie at least that their passions are strong but their cause is weak But this I know That we have not so learnt the Lord Christ This is not after our Lords manner nor after the Customes of the Churches of God I have said vvhat I have to say touching this filthy and putred matter vvhich like a box of the vilest and impurest oyntment is suffered to run abroad through Church and State to fill the house there vvith its filthy savour I le close this box vvith this stopple it may be of use to stop the mouth against devouring words Such kind of vvritings or Reasonings savouring so strong of flesh and blood vvill never do the world good to make them knovv they lie in evill Nor the cause good mightie Adversaries thereunto nor the Church good To make them knovv their sins and confesse their errors never do the State or Church good this vvay vvhile the world stands unlesse by accident as the Logicians say i e by the wise disposing and gracious ordering of an Almighty hand so they shall do all good But not per se as vve say not by their own naturall working vvhile the world stands And when the vvorld must fall to peeces and the Things there crumbled all to nothings and the persons there must render an account of all they have said and done then these kind of writings will be bitternesse bitternesse Their Authors shall taste if they repent not of their own Gall and wormwood there vvhich they themselves have put-in and it shall be their drink and portion for ever Then the tongue which was seton fire of hell and repented not shall have Hell and fire long enough as long as eternitie is long for ever and ever It is a sad period I will not put Amen to it my soule deprecates praies against this end But I le pray in prayer if I could in prayer I would pray Lord give the brethren all foure I might say fourescore here and there and every where give them Lord repentance for all their hard words and ungodly deedes against the brethren the faithfull servants of the Lord Amen make them Lord as all the Tribes shall be all one as one stick in Thy hand to beate away the doggs and swine All as one assembly of Saints built-up as a Ciey that is compacted together or as a house founded upon the Rock of Ages fast and sure for ever notwithstanding the fierce windes great rains and water-flouds for this Rock is our Rock He will be our guide even unto the death 1 Pet. 3. 8 9. Finally be ye all of one minde having compassion one of another be as brethren be pitifull be courteous Not rendring evill for evill or rayling for rayling but contrarywise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that you should inherit a blessing FINIS