where are they that do or will secure them from such violence there are too many examples of Ministers being in danger as M. Andrews was and therfore I deal plainly I have been spoken to by word of mouth and sent unto from some Ministers in the Country not to name them in my Books because if the Army or some parts of it come that way they shall be undone which is a satisfying answer to all rationall men for my concealing their names especially to all those who understand the state of things and observe how powerfull the faction of the Sectaries is Now before I come to give a particular Answer to the most materiall Objections made against my Book I shall premise these sixteen Observations upon Cretensis Or a briefe Answer c. which to every judicious and unprejudiced Reader will I make no question give a great deale of satisfaction and serve for a precious Antidote against the venom and rancor of the Cretian Obs. 1. I desire the Reader to observe the hand of God in leaving M. Goodwin so to himself in writing this Pamphlet as to suffer his own pride passion rage and malice so far to blind him as to name his own Book and therein himself Cretensis giving himself the name of Lyar as is manifested by the Title of the Book Cretensis Or a brief Aâ—swer to an ulcerous Treatise c. so that The brief Answer to an ulcerous Treatise is Cretensis not the Treatise published by Master Edwards which is made by Master Goodwin contradistinct to Cretensis so that if M Goodwin understands plain English common sense and knows how to range his Parts of Speech in a Sentence c. let him in his Rejoynder to my Reply deny it if he can and truly t is admirable and I cannot but admire the wisdome and goodnesse of God wherein men deale proudly to be above them that this great Rabbi and Seraphicall Doctor who comes forth like Goliah challenging all the Presbyterians Assembled or not Assembled carrying himself with that disdain and scorne towards me just as Goliah to little David filling up some of his pages with scornings of me as that I cannot writ true English put the Nominative Case and Verb together speak common sense nor give the English sense of a Latin sentence should himself in the very first words he writes prove himself such an Ignoramus both in the Latin and English as to give himself the title of Notorious Lyar namely Cretensis Or a brief Answer c. And as the man doth it in the Frontispice of his Book so in the Book it self as in pag. 39. where he would make me a lyar in that Relation of Cosens of Rochester in the very entrance into it he stumbles giving his own Relation the lye as the Reader may perceive by these words Cretensis speaking of what was reported to me that Cosens should say of Christ saith let this be the first lye in this Catalogue the man neuer said it so that he makes it a lye that Cosen 's never said it Now if this be a lye that Cretensis never said so then by the rule of contraries 't is a truth that he spoke it and however Cretensis may meane otherwise if the man knew how to bring it out yet the best that can be made of it is that this great Criâ—ick who for want of matter falls upon my words making me to speak false English nonsense and to be ignorant in putting the Nominative Case and Verb together regularly in English is himself ever and anon tardy in false English nonsense not putting the Nominative Case and Verb regularly together of which I could give if I had no materiall things against Cretensis nor nothing else to do but to pick strawâ— many instances both in this and other of his Books but I will name only one and that in this businesse of Cosens apealing to Cretensis himself where in this following sentence His Relation here reports that one Cosens of Rochester in Kent that Iesus Christ was a Bastard is the Verb for the Nominative Case and whether M. Goodwin hath well ranged his parts of Speech in this sentence and put the Nominative Case and Verb together regularly in English besides adde unto this what followes Hoc primum Let this be the first lye in this Catalogue the man never said it whether he hath framed the structure of a period according to the common rules of Reason Grammar and common sense but to put a period to this first Observation let the Reader take notice that in the thing wherein the man hath sinned his principall designe being this by all his Art flourishes and fallacies to render me a Falsifier and a Lyar to the world in that God hath punished him suffering him to give himself the name of Cretensis alwaies Lyar by which name he will be known and called as long as he lives and after he is dead also Obs. 2. M. Cretensis Answer in the whole frame drift and in all the strains of it is so carried if not formally yet virtually and equivalently to justifie and defend all the Heresies Blasphemies Practises I have spoken against for what one of all the 180. Errours or Blasphemies is spoken against disavowed or condemned in Cretensis Answer but rather all along throughout the Pamphlet the Errours Heresies c. are slighted made nothing of put off with jears scoffs and great swelling words of vanity yea in a sort denied as if there were none such and in fine both Cretensis Conscience and wanton wit are prostituted and stretched upon tenter-hooks to finde evasions and tricks to bring off without losse all sorts of Sectaries and opinions as for instance Cretensis palliats and daubes with untempered morter the Errours Heresies Blasphemies c. with such kind of devices as these following That he could make a Discovery of as many Errours and Heresies together in me alone and that the most Orthodox Presbyterian under Heaven no nor Independent neither errours not much beneath the like rate or number of errours and mistakes of Religion that he marvails how M. Edwards could stay his pen at so small a number as 180. and did not advance to ten thousand times ten thousand c. that if I will own the verdict of as learned and ingeneous a pen as ever wrot on my side Cretens pag. 9. I must release the better half of the prisoners and instead of 180. Errours and Heresies write down four score and that for twenty Cretens pag. 11. and ten of those opinions which I have impeached of Errours and Heresie and he will not say for how many more he casts the glove to whosoever will take it up to bring them off with the honour of truth besides Cretensis makes a sixfold deduction from the Catalogue of Errours and Heresies Cretens pag. 9. and pleades formerly and in terminis for some of the Errours lastly also he so minces and extenuats the whole contents of
Cretensis design next unto that of rendring my Book and all I relate in it to be false and untrue is this The aspersing me and my Antapology and Gangraena with such weaknesse and want of all learning as if I understood neither Latin nor English nor knew not how to speak or write Reason common sense or to frame the structure of a period according the common Rules of Grammar but were a profound Ignoramus and so altogether unfit to take upon me the confutation of Errors and this he insists upon in several Pages of his Pamphlet or Answer Cretens p. 10 23 24 36. Reply Now in this what doth Cretensis else but play the Jesuit and Arminian in stead of solid Answers thus to flight vilifie me and my Books that being just the way they took against such Books as were too hard for them and knew not how to Answer as Dr. Twiss's Books against Arminians c. but whatsoever Cretensis in his rage casts upon me and my Writings my Books will speak for me and themselves in the gates having the testimony of many learned and godly men both of this and other Churches at home and beyond the Seas and could I without blushing and all suspition of praising my self relate the passages in Letters messages sent me speeches by word of mouth from great Divines both at home and from abroad concerning my Antapology and Gangraena and that not only of particular men apart but of many in a body both in City and Countrey as a common joynt act besides expressions that have faln from some Independents and Independentisâ—â— concerning me my studies in the Controversies of the Church way and some of my Books as a speech of Mr. Thomas Goodwin spoken to a Minister one Mr. T. and others then present upon occasion of some Independents slighting me and my first Book as Cretensis doth here yea passages out of some of Mr. Iohn Goodwins Answers to Mr. Prynne concerning me and my Antapology it would be a full confutation of all Cretensis hath said against me in this matter yea a clear conviction that all words of this kinde are nothing else but the venting of his spleen and passion against me and my Books But all I will say by way of Answer to Cretensis reproaches of this nature is 1. The quick sale these Books had being bought up by learned and judicious men of all ranks the last Book Gangraena being now in the Presse the third time within lesse then two Moneths unto which adding the greatnesse of the Book consisting of so many sheets with the not being exposed to sale by setting up Titles in all places of the City at Church doors Exchange c. like Wine that needs no Bush though all ways under Heaven were used by the Sectaries to blast it is an evident Argument 't is not such a weak nonsense piece as Cretensis speaks of for in these times when the Presse is so thronged with such variety of Books and many excellent pieces come forth more then men can read judicious understanding men have somthing else to do with their money and time then to buy and read Books full of nonsense contradictions and whose Authors know not how to range their Parts of speech in a sentence nor how to put the Nominative Case and Verb together regularly in English 2. I will here give the Reader a true Copy of a Letter to a tittle sent me from Eight and twenty Ministers out of one County in this Kingdom whose joynt judgement upon my Antapology and Grangraena may serve with every indifferent Reader to ballance yea to weigh down Cretensis To our Reverend Friend Mr. Thomas Edwards Minister of the Gospel SIR WEE cannot but acknowledge the great service you have done for the Church of God by interposing your self against the growing Schisms and Heresies of these times And upon conference had thereof at our weekly meetings here we have thought it our part to contribute somewhat to your incouragement by testifying how great acceptance your labors find among us who give thanks to God for you and your zeal to his truth expressed not only in your usual Sermons but especially in your Antapology and Gangraena by which you are well known to us all and we earnestly desire that you will continue the same endeavors for the maintenance of the truth and opposing of Errors And as we are very sensible of the great discouragements you are like to meet withal so we shall the more heartily commend you and the successe of your labors to Gods protection and blessing resting Your loving Brethren and fellow-labourers in the Ministery March 19. 1645. Unto this Letter the hands of twenty eight Ministers are Subscribed but I forbear the Printing of them as I do the County where they live to avoid all danger which might come to any of them from printing their Names if some Sectaries in the Army come that way as they are likely to do Now in my Reply to particulars laid down in Cretensis I shall apply my self chiefly to justifie and make good those Relations in Gangraena excepted against by Cretensis reserving other things in his Answer to my fuller Reply which Cretensis God willing shall be sure of and that to the full Cretens pag. 2. labours by all his Rhetorick and many words to insinuate to the Reader how in writing of my Book Gangraena I have said all and the worst I can of the Independents and Sectaries that whilst I charge them only with such and such crimes I do not so much charge them with these as acquit and discharge them from all others and that there 's no reasonable man but will abate and deduct and that to a good proportion from such reckonings and accounts c. much lesse will he judge such accounts short or defective in particulars and that Mr. Edwards hath but faintly informed the world how vile and bad the Sectaries are but hath justified and acquitted them from all other crimes and imputations of any worse resentment or import then those wherewith he afflicted them and consequently hath represented them to the world as better and far more deserving then far the greatest part of his own Presbyterian Generation Reply However Mr. Edwards or the Printer for him may possibly in some places of his Book print none of the truest English yet I am sure Cretensis in this Page speaks none of the best sense nor Reason that ever I read in my life but every line and sentence is so slight and weak that a man may look through and through it and the truth of it is Cretensis all along hath a multitude of bom-basted starched words priding himself therein but seldom or never in all his answers hath he any thing else witnesse his Answers to Mr. Walker Mr. Prynne and this present Passage And first for that which Cretensis speaks here the man makes good what he saith pag. 50. that he never read one quarter of my Book and
not read one quarter of the Book then neither knew whether hee should ever care to read it thorow or no Could hee divine of what hee had not read nor knew not whether ever hee should reade that there was ten times more behinde And besides How could Cretensis out of what hee knew not whether hee should ever read promise the Reader to give him not onely a taste but abundance Certainly Cretensis meant the far greatest part of his grapes promised the Reader should be gathered by other hands and be as hee saith of the particulars detected already observed by others and presented to him and after this rate of the farre greatest part of particulars observed by others and presented to him 't is easie for Cretensis to give Answers and I much wonder we have no more of them but that he takes almost two yeers to give an Answer to the Antapologie And no wonder Cretensis going upon an implicite faith making an Answer out of particulars observed by others without reading one quarter of my Book not seeing with his own eyes but making use of a pair of Independent Antinomian Anabaptisticall c. spectacles to write with the man is so much mistaken and sometimes takes that to be great which is little and that which is great hee cannot see at all As for that Cretensis saith that hee presumes by the taste hee hath given hee hath convinced the Reader that my vine is the vine of Sodom my grapes grapes of gall my clusters bitter c. I beleeve every Reader who is not bewitched with the Independent Schismaticall way is convinced that Cretensis hath said enough to satisfie all men that his vine is the vine of Sodom that his grapes are grapes of gall his wine the poyson of dragons and the cruell venome of asps and that generally all men say of his Answer yea some of his owne party cry out of it that it is too bitter But as for my Gangraena though objectivè the object about which the Book is exercised be the vine of Sodom grapes of gall poyson of Dragons and the cruell venome of Asps treating of and laying open the Heresies Blasphemies and Practices of the Sectaries which indeed are poysonous and venemous yet subjectivè the Discourse it selfe and the way of handling those things is healing and medicinall to cure the Reader of those stings and poysons which by eating of those sowr grapes of the Sectaries they have contracted and my Book is farre from being like the vine of Sodom the poyson of dragons that in writing of it I have plaid the part of a Physician made a precious treacle and soveraigne antidote to cure and expell poysons by correcting qualifying binding them c. laying open the Errours Heresies c. their evill danger and discovering remedies and cures proper for them which were they taken and the prescriptions followed I am confident would prove the healing of these Nations As for Cretensis profession that he hath not read one quarter of the Book as yet nor knowes whether he shall ever care to read it through or no I reply that Cretensis at once and in one breath discovers himself to be both weak and proud he shows his folly and horrible pride First his folly for what wise man that had reason and common sense though he could not Cretensis pag. 10.24 have * construed a peece of Latin write true English nor framed the structure of a period according to the common rules of Grammar would have writ so and truly this and other passages in this Answer confirms me much in that opinion which many understanding learned Divines have had of Cretensis a great while that he is no judicious rationall man as his followers cry him up but only a wordy Divine a multitude of words that 's all that being true of him which was said of Erasmus that his writings were verba non res but of this folly of Cretensis the Reader may remember what I have written page 39. of this Book and let Cretensis ever take me so writing and I will confesse my folly Seconly 'T is horrible pride and arrogancie what a proud passage is this Cretensis thinks himself so great and looks down with such disdain upon me as that he knowes not whether ever he shall care to read my Book thorough or no â—lighting it as not being worth his reading nor I worthy to carry his Books after him this speech indeed is neer akin to that in page 15. Indeed if Independent Ministers had either the priviledge of ease to preach to the bare walls and pewes in their meeting places The Independent Ministers are so taken up with preaching to great Congregations and with the resort of great persons to their houses and with the consultations they are admitted untill mid-night about great affairs and particularly Cretensis of late as 't is talked every where in London that he knowes not whether he shall ever care to read my Book thorough or no or shall ever have leasure to do it but Cretensis let me tell you how much soever you slight my Books and care not to read them thorough as too much below you yet there are your betters for all kind of learning yeers piety that care to read thorough my Books and blesse God for them and though they be of as piercing deep judgements as Cretensis yet could never find that non-sense weaknesse of judgement c. which Cretensis speaks of so often As for that Cretensis promises the Reader that a few dayes he makes no question will give the Reader more light wherewith to comprehend my darknesse implying as if more Answers were suddenly to come forth to discover the falshood of matters contained in Gangraena I reply a few dayes are past yea some weeks between seven and eight and yet there is none of Cretensis new-light come forth no Answers disproving any one particular in my Book there is a Book indeed of one Bacons come forth who both in the Title page and Book speaks of my Gangraena but he confesses the truth of what I speak of him viz. his being put out of Gloster his being received in a great mans house and his going to Bristoll since the Parliaments taking of it so that it seems by the confession of one of Cretensisâ—aâ—nts â—aâ—nts all matters are not lyes which are mentioned in Gangraena and yet before Master Bacons Book came forth I was told confidently severall times as the report of the Sectaries that was one of my lyes speaking of Master Bacons going to Bristoll whereas he had never been out of London since the taking of Bristoll But I suppose however Cretensis dayes are past and nothing is come forth to comprehend my darknesse yet I make no question but this Reply with the further Reply coming after will give light to the Reader to comprehend Cretensisâ—his â—his darknesse As to that passage of Cretensis that the farre greatest part of the particulars detected were observed by
De Eccles. quaest 5. c. 11 p. 342 343. Papistici Doctores turpes scelerati sunt in deliâ—iis vivâ—â—t omnes à Papa summo illorum Pontifice ad infimum usque Pâ—râ—chum multi non â—aevi modo sed flagitia etium gravissima inter illos reperiuntur vide ibi plura Willets Synops. Second General Controversie of the Church Quest. 3. of the notes marks of the Church pag. 98 Amesi Bellarm. Enervat De Notis Ecclesiae Legantur igitur vitae Pontificum Romanorum de Sanctitatem Pontificum * Vid. Minors no Sentors pag. 26. These laws would save that Vbiquitary perturber of sollicitor and stickler at most of our late elections Mr. Hugh Peters a great deâ—l of unnecessary unfiting pains sollicitation and abuse of the Pulpit to the peoples great disgust for his own private lucre and advancing the designs of his party * Vid. Independ rasing their foundation p 2 3 4 5 * This Mr. Randal is known well to many godly persons and is a godly man a Schoole-master about Stepny and a Minister also not that Randal the Antinomian and Familiâ—â— * This Letter which Cretensis here prints was written by an Apprentise boy an Anabaptist of Kiâ—â—ius Church unto Kiâ—â—â—â—s himself who belike by himself or some other communicated it to Cretensis * Calumny araigned and cast Pag. 22 17. I could prove I say by the Commission aforesaid that Mr. Prynne hath done all these things on purpose to despite the Spirit of God to defame the Gospel to make the ways of godlinesse and religion hateful to the world to encrease divisions to multiply distractions to bring a snare and evil day upon the Parliament to expose the whole Kingdom to ruine and destruction * Master Walker Master Roborough by wriâ—ing Master Câ—alamie in preaching * March 30. Three honest godly Citizens after supper comming to speak with me as they were with me Cosens came to speak with me and was brought into the room where these three Citizens were and I spake nothing to him nor he any thing to me but in their hearing who will testifie this and more Oretens pag. 40. This Counter-Information I had from the mouth of the said Cosens himself and have the particulars under his hand Cosens going to heare Mr Clare preach I received a Letter last week out of the Country subscribed with â—o hands of Godly Ministers testifying to my work and earnestly intreating my constant persuance with a promise that I shall not want what their prayers and endeavours can contribâ—â—e to that work A Letter from a godly Minister cut of Warwickshire written thus M. Edwards Book does much good here I have received severall Letters from particular Ministers in Essex bearing witnesse and so Letters out of Kent to the same purpose and from other places * The 11. errour specified in the former part of this book is in the Catalogue of Errours contained in the first part of Gangraena which slâ—pt me before I was aware and therefore upon comparing of both together I put it out and reckon not that but make these Errours to begin here at number 23. which otherwise should have been number 24. * Osiander publicè in Schola proponâ—t nos sola essentiali Dei justitia justos esse essentiali ejus vita vivere vel victuros esse essentiali ipsius gloria glorificari essentiali illius charitate ad diligendum Deum proximum propter ipsuminflammari gravissimè errare omnes qui putent aliâ re quam solo uno vivo Deo Patre Filio Spiritu sancto nos posse justificari vivificari glorificari glacie frigidiora docere qui doceant nos tantum propter remssioneÌ„ peccatorum reputari justos non etiam justitiam Christi essentialem divinam perfidem in nobis habitantis vit Osiand pag. 228. * The Sectaries who call themselves the Saints and beleevers if they have husbands and wives that will not turn Sectaries they may leave their owne because they are unbeleevers and joyne themselves to other womens husbands and other mens wives I read in a Letter subscribed by W I. and E.I. Wiâ—liam Ienny and Elizabeth Ienny written out of Holland to one in London Deare friends as you have cast off many Antichristian yoaks so proceed to cast off all a chiefe vvhereof are unequall marriages * Vide Saltmarsh Divine Right of Presbyterie * Pamph. entit Tender Con. relig affect p. 14 15. Do not the Synod having two â—oâ—ns like a Lamb but a mouth like a Dragon teach the Parliament to speak blasphemy against those Saints that dwell in heaven And speaking of the Preamble to one of their Ordinances wherein the Parliament acknowledged their strong engagements heartily and sincerely to endeavour the compleat establishment of puriâ—y and uâ—itie in the Church of God for these are the Parliaments words not the Assemblies this book cals this blasphemy and saith of the Lords and Commons For shame leave speaking blasphemy Remember the judgements upon the VVhore for her blasphemie VVhere had the Lords and Commons this large Commission to meddle in the affaires of King Iesus so far as to determine to have a compleat establâ—shment of puritie and unitie Vide p. 22. of this present book ' and pag. 7. * Mr. Durance an Independent Preacher at Sandwich * This was spoken in the hearing of three Citisens and given mee under the hand of one that heard it who also told this Smart he would make it publike The Presbyterians may do well to take notice that the Sequestration of their estates and hanging at Tyburn was designed and counted good enough for them if some Independents and Sectaries might have had their will This is the libertie of conscience they must expect when the Sectaries grow so strong as to have power to effect it * A Minister out of Essex writing up to a Minister in London of a horrid blasphemy I sent to a Minister of that Towne to enforme me of the truth of it which accordingly be hath The vvord is so horrid and obscene that I forbeare to expresse it This Clarkson is spoken of also in this book p. 7 8. Cretens frontis picio Luther de servo Arb. c. 207. p. 319. Vid. mine Animadvers part I. pag. 9. A godly Minister who heard it will depose it if called and so will many more who heard it a Pamph eâ—â—it Toloraâ— justified Vide pag. 27 of this book Mr. VValvvyns speech * Vide Pamph entit Letter of advice to the Assembly In case Paul Best continue in his opinion his heresie through ignorance whether is it not possible that God may yet have mercie on him as hee had on Paul the Apostle and in his due time bring him to the knowledge of his truth as hee did the Apostle Paul VVhether it can be demonstrated before-hand but that Paul Best what ever his heresie be may possibly in Gods secret will be ordained to conversion hereafter as well
The First and Second Part OF GANGRAENA OR A Catalogue and Discovery of many of the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and pernicious Practices of the Sectaries of this time vented and acted in England in these four last yeers Also a particular Narration of divers Stories Remarkable Passages Letters an Extract of many Letters all concerning the present Sects together with some Observations upon and Corollaries from all the fore-named Premisses By THOMAS EDWARDS Minister of the Gospel The third EDITION corrected and much Enlarged 2 TIM 3.8 9. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith But they shall proceed no further for their folly shal be manifest to all men as theirs also was 2 PET. 2.1 2. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresis even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of JUDE vers 19. These be they who separate themselves sensuall having not the spirit Lutherus in Epist. ad Galat. Maledicta sit charitas qua servatur cum jactura doctrinae fidei cui omnia cedere debent Charitas Apostolus Angelus é coelo Lutheri Epist. ad Staupitium Non hic tempus timendi sed clamandi ubi Dominus noster Jesus Christus damnatur exuitur blasphematur mi pater grandius est periculum quam credant multi Inveniar sane superbus avarus adulter homicidia antipapa omnium vitiorum reus modo impii filentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur LONDON Printed by T. R. and E. M. for Ralph Smith at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill near the Royall Exchange M.DC.XLVI Reader THat thou mayest discern the mischief of Ecclesiasticall Anarchy the monstrousnesse of the much affected Toleration and be warned to be wise to sobriety and fear and suspect the pretended New Lights I approve that this Treatise discovering the Gangrene of so many strange Opinions should be imprinted JAMES CRANâ—OR TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT Right Honourable and Noble Senatours I Here present you with a Catalogue or Black Bill of the Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Practices of the Sectaries of this time broached and acted within these four last years in England and that in your Quarters and in places under your Government and Power for which I tremble to thinke lest the whole Kingdom should be in Gods Black Bill I much fear lest the subject matter of this Catalogue may prove unto England unlesse some speedy and effectuall course be taken to prevent it like the Bill of Divorce given to Israel Jer. 3.8 like the Roll of the Book commanded from God to be written by Jeremiah against Israel and Judah Jer. 36.2 like the Roll of a Book sent by a hand to Ezekiel Ezek. 2.9 10. wherin was written lamentations mourning and wo or like the hand-writing upon the wall against Belshaz Dan. 5.5 the flying Roll in Zech. c. 5. v. 1 2. a curse going over the face of the whole land And unto whom Right Honourable should I present and make known these things but unto You who are the supreme Iudicatory of this Kingdom having that sufficiency of Power which only is able to remedy and redresse them who are our great Physician 's and have been wont to cure the worst maladies and diseases of our Church and State who are by God himself stiled Gods and therefore should above others lay to heart and be sensible of the injuries and dishonours done to God and his name And I humbly pray your Honours to beare with me in my addresses this way as having no other meanes but this of acquainting You with the sad state of things in our Church And yet 't is necessary You should hear of these things for as 't is said in the Prophet Jeremiah concerning the making of that Roll It may be the house of Judah will hear all the evill which I purpose to do to them that they may turne every one from his evill way it may be they will present their supplications before the Lord that he may forgive their iniquity and their sin so it may be some good may come of this Book to cause an humiliation for and a suppression of heresies and schimes as being a more free and fâ—ll discovery of our times then ever yet was made and therefore I send it abroad in this way whereby it may be read by all Judah and I doubt not but some faithfull Baruchs who are not shut up but do preach before You on Fast dayes will cause You to hear the words of this Book in the Lords house by applying them to your consciences and making them a Catalogue of sins for matter of humiliation to you on those dayes showing how far they may become yours in suffering without punishment and censure too many of them And now Noble and worthy Senatours be graciously pleased to pardon the boldnesse I shall take in dealing plainly with you in this present Epistle and not to impute it to any malignity and disaffection to your service or to peremptory saucinesse and disrespect of You for besides that some worthy Members of Parliament to whom I am known can testifie the contrary all my Actions from the beginning of Your sitting my Sermons Prayers Prayses Discourses Actings for You speak otherwise I am one who out of choise and judgement have imbarked my self with Wife Children Estate and all that 's dear to me in the same ship with You to sinke and perish or to come safe to land with You and that in the most doubtfull and difficult times not only early in the first beginning of the war and troubles in a malignant place among Courtiers and those who were servants and had relations to the King Queen and their Children pleading Your Cause justifying Your wars satisfying many that scrupled but when Your affairs were at lowest and the chance of war against You and some of the Grandees and favourites of these times were packing up and ready to be gone I was then highest and most zealous for You preaching praying stirring up the people to stand for you by going out in person lending of money in the later going before them by example And as I have been your Honours most devoted servant so am I still yours and you cannot easily lose me and I do humbly 〈…〉 self and Book at the feet of your wisedome and piety submitting both to your pleâ—sâ—re but to the matter and contents of this Book and to the present state of things I am bound and stirred in spirit to see the people so given to errour and schisme and the zeal of Gods house and glory constrains me and I can no longer forbear speaking my whole heart to you The
such and such things So in thee London in the Associated Counties in the Armies and that after a solemn Covenant to extirpate Heâ—esies and Schisms are found such and such Errours Blasphemous Opinions strange Practises so that the Reader must remember that all the following Errours Blasphemies Practises Letters be of persons in this time and in this Kingdom 〈…〉 who live and dwell among us Secondly I do not undertake nor professe in this Catalogue and Discovery to give a full Catalogue and perfect enumeration of all the erroneous Opinions Blasphemies and Practises of the Sectaries within these four last yeers so as no more can be added to them I make no doubt but many a Reader may say this Catalogue wants such an opinion that he knows of and such an opinion but only speaks of many of them and of some principall and therefore in the Title of this Discourse I call it a Catalogue of many Errours I do not say of all It cannot rationally be imagined that one man residing constantly in one place not travelling to the Armies nor up and down from Country to Country having his hands full of preaching and writing Controversies can come to the knowledge of all Errours broached in all places or can have time to read over exactly all the Sectaries to extrâ—ct all their Opinions It may rather be thus argued what a world of strange Errours c. are there held in all parts of this Kingdom when one man hears of so much if all the ministers in the Kingdom would bring in what they know or but a considerable number of Ministers as a Committee from severall parts of the Kingdom would joyn together to read all the Books to take notes of the Sermons in publike to have some observe and watch meetings in private and draw into one all the wayes of the Sectaries within these four last yeers a great volume would not contain the Errours prodigious Opinions and strange practises of these times Ther 's no question but there are many monsters conceived by some in this Intermysticall season which are not yet brought forth and others that are brought forth yet like to bastard or mishapen children are concealed from the publike view made known only to a very few being the hidden works of darknesse the time not being yet come to publish them openly waighting only for the Mid-wife and nursing mother of a Toleration to bring them fourth and nourish them But though this be not a perfect Catalogue yet I beleeve it will be found the fullest that hath yet been made of these times and give a further Discovery then yet we have had I have seen severall Books written within these four last yeers and lesse that give us a particular Relation of some Errours and blasphemous opinions as learned Master Gatâ—kers but that 's only of the Antinomian Errours Master Bâ—ily one of the learned and Reverend Commissioners of the Church of Scotland but that is only of the Independents Brownists and Chiliasts Master Pagets who relates more then any late Authors but many of them are of the old Anabaptists and old Sectaries of other Countries rather then of the new and of this Kingdom Mr. Well but his relation is cheifly of the Familists and Antinomians in New-England many yeers ago But this work as it speaks only of the Errours and Opinions in present being and in England so it discovers more then any one Book hath of the Errours held and maintained among us yea then all the Tractates extant have discovered many great Errours being in this present Treatise laid down which are not mentioned at all neither by the forenamed Authors nor any other so that this present Discourse will be a further improvement of our knowledge of the Errours and wayes of the Sectaries of our times Thirdly My intent in this work is not to make a formall confutation of these Errours and Opinions I designed not that when I first resolved the thing that would be a long and great work and not make good my present ends I hope the naming of them will be a sufficient confutation especially with the Animadversions Observations and Corallaries hereunto adjoyned I have been a faithfull gatherer together and storer up Remembrancer and Treasurer of these Errours and Practices for the good of the publike that I might in a fit season bring out of my treasure these things and discover these monsters and rocks that so they might be of some use to godly people to make them afraid of forsaking the publike Assemblies and joyning to separated Churches where these monsters daily breed Fourthly I here give the Reader a Synopsis of Sectarisme and have drawn as is were into one Table and do present at one view the Errours and strange opinions scattered up and down and vented in many Books Manuscripts Sermons conferences c. and have disposed them under certain heads and put them into their proper places in a methodicall way for memories sake that the Reader may the more easily find them The Reader cannot imagine I found them thus methodized and laid together but confused and divided lying far asunder one or two in one book some in another others in this manuscript others in that this errour vented at such a private meeting that errour in such a Sermon this opinion at such a conference For many of these opinions the very same opinions and errours are maintained and held over and over in severall books and manuscripts so that to have given them the Reader as I found them would have been to have brought the Reader into a wildernesse and to have presented to publick view a rude and undigested Chaos with an heap of Tautologies all which are carefully declined in this following discourse by joyning in one things divided and scattered by relating but once one and the same errour and practice and by forbearing to lead the Reader thorow woods and over the mountains and in stead of that carrying him directly and presently to the bird in the nest Fifthly I lay down the opinions and errours in terminis and in their owne words and phrases syllabically as neer as possible can be or I can remember them and that as themselves have expressed them in books manuscripts sermons conferences which either are extant of their own setting forth or set forth by other learned godly men in print or as I have received them from credible sufficient witnesses I doe not in this Catalogue and Discovery alter the phrases and words of the Sectaries giving you their sense in other expressions nor set down a Relation of their opinions by consequences and deductions imputing that to them which by consequences may be drawn for I hold that an unjust way of dealing with men though in errours yea many men may hold opinions who yet see not the consequences nay abhorre those consequences which yet follow upon such premisses and therefore though in a way of
is not willing to be named in Print neither may I lawfully do it without their knowledge and leave besides that were the way for the future to deprive my self of the knowledge of many opinions and practises if I should print the names of every one that hath imparted intelligence to me 3. In this Catalogue of Errours under one and the same Errour which for number I make but one that I might not seem needlesly to multiply Errours and that I might contract things yet under that one Errour teere are more branches it may be two or three now though one part or branch of such an Errour as the former part is expresly set down in Books that are in many hands yet other branches are not but only have been expressed by word of mouth Now in such a case to quote Books speaking but to one part and not to the whole might question my faithfulnesse in all other particulars unto these I could adde more but these may suffice 7. Yet further to satisfie the Reader of the truth of things contained in this present Treatise and to stop the mouths of Sectaries who will be ready to put off all by giving out that this Book is full of lies and fables I do here offer upon condition that some exemplary punishment may passe upon some of the prime Seducers and heads of these Sects and some effectuall course taken for the future to remedy and suppresse these Errours to make a legall proof by witnesses and other concurrent circumstances of the most notorious and grossest matters which may of all others seem most questionable whether Errours Blasphemies or Practices set down in this following Catalogue Seventhly I premise this for the Christian Reader to remember and for preventing mistakes in this work that though I set down and joyn together all the following opinions in one Catalogue because they all agree in uno tertio in that common notion of Errour yea all agree in Independency and in forsaking the communion of the Reformed Churches yet I am far from thinking them all alike A Scholar that makes a Catalogue of Books writes down Decimo sextos as well as Folios in it because they be all Books and yet puts a great deal of difference between the one and the other so do I notwithstanding I put them together All the Errours reckoned up are not of the first magnitude nor in the highest form some are fundamentall Errours overthrowing the foundation directly many by consequence and deduction others are superstructures building upon the foundation hay straw and stubble I put a wide difference between a simple pure Independent yea a simple Anabaptist who only holds that opinion of denying Poedobaptisme and between an Arian Antitrinitarian Antiscripturist Perfectist Again I put a difference between erroneous persons that erre out of ignorance weaknesse and are seduced following those opinions in simplicity of heart as some people did Absolom and are peaceable keeping their opinions also to themselves and such persons as are wilful seducers the heads and leaders of Faction who make it their work to disturb the peace of the Church and to subvert souls In all this discourse I desire to think of Iude 22.23 And of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them c. Eighthly I desire to forewarn the Christian Reader and do earnestly beseech him for his own good that he be not offended nor hindred from beleeving the truth and laying to heart the particulars laid down in this ensuing Treatise no not by all the clamours reproaches that may be cast upon my Book and person It cannot be expected but that Satan and the Sectaries will make it their work by all wayes possible to blast this Book to keep from reading and beleeving it as they used all wayes to reproach my last Book and to keep Christians all they could from reading it Blind and erroneous zeal is violent and what it wants in arguments it will make up in clamours lyes and speaking all manner of evil falsly of them that discover lay it open as Luther speaks the world cannot bear that the things of it should be condemned therefore from every part hatreds treacheries calumnies evill speakings are heaped to oppresse that Doctrine and those Teachers who oppose it And therefore let them speak evill as long as they will and give out 't is a railing lying peece yet let me speak to the Reader as the Apostle doth 1 Thes. 3.3 4. That no man should be moved by these afflictions for we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it s come to passe and ye know so now I tell you before that when you hear of all kind of reproaches ye may not be offended Iohn 16.1 Now the second particular under this first generall head is to remove two stumbling blocks out of the way to give an answer to two objections that may be made against this present work 1. Object It may be some will object and say It is not seasonable nor convenient to discover our nakednesse and weaknesse so far to the common enemy it were better concealed the enemy will make an advantage of it Tell it not in Gath publish it not in the streets of Askelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoyce lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph 2. Sam. 1.20 Ans. The prevailing of Heresies and Sects among us is not now to be discovered and published to the world It hath not been all this time kept within our own walls and known only to our selves but hath been a long time known abroad and at home and hath been declared by divers others both in writing and preaching before now so that I shall not divulge any secret to the common enemy all that I do is but to draw them into one that we may see them as it were at once our Errours and Schisms are spoken of far and near by enemies and friends How many Sermons have been preached before the Honourable Houses of Parliament and in other publike places speaking of the Errours of the time which have been also printed long since by command of Authority and exposed to the view of all Many Learned men have given a Catalogue of severall Errours as Mr. Gataker of many Antinomian Errours Mr Baily one of the Commissioners of Scotland of other Errours and Dr Featly Mr Paget with some others In Books upon all occasions 't is confessed by men of severall judgemens and denied by none that we have many great Errours amongst us many Errours have been complained of to the Houses of Parliament Committees Assembly and examined spoken of in the presence of many besides that some Errours are vented even of the grossest sort in Print as in Pilgrimage of Saints Bloudy Tenet Mortality of the soul Man of sinne discovered cum multis aliis Yea some of the Sectaries have in their writings published and acknowledged there are many sorts of Opinions
up himself a sacrifice of full satisfaction not for all men only but for all that by man was lost even the whole creation of God 172. That a Directory or order to help in the way of worship is a breach of the second Commandement and there is no word of God to warrant the making of that Directory book more then Ieroboam had for the making of Calves of gold which he set upon two high places one at Dan the other at Betâ—el to the confusion of himself and his posterity 173. No man is yet in hell neither shall any be there untill the judgement for God doth not hang first and judge after 174. Men say that Faith is supernaturall but how can it be above nature to beleeve that which we see sufficient ground to beleeve and to beleeve any thing of which we have no plaine ground and reason is so far from being above nature that it is below it and proper to fools and not to reasonable men 175. The Law doth not pronounce eternall death in hell fire on those that obey it not nor were men to have perished in hell fire in relation to the Law or Adams sin but the Gospel pronounceth eternall death in hell fire on those that obey it not and if we had been to suffer hell in relation to Adam or the Law then Christ also should have suffered in hell for us to have redeemed us from thence which he did not 176. It is not sutable to God to pick and chuse amongst men in shewing mercy if the love of God be manifested to a few it is far from being infinite if God shew not mercy to all to ascribe it to his will or pleasure is to blaspheme his excellent name and nature Now unto these many more might be added that I know of and are commonly known to others which have been preached and printed within these four last years in England as the necessity of dipping and burying under water all persons to be baptized as the necessity of a Church-Covenant as that Ministers may not lawfully baptize or administer the Lords Supper out of their own particular Congregations neither preach Ministerially but as gifted brethren out of their own Church with many such errours of the Church-way but because they are but light in comparison I will not name them I could relate also to you other errours that have been reported to me and others by honest understanding men to have been vented and 't is likely enough they may be true as that 't is lawfull for wives to give without their husbands consents something out of their husbands estates for the maintenance of the Church and Ministers whereunto they belong as that the Lords Prayer called and cryed up by many to be so it could not be the Lords Prayer in regard there was a petition for pardon of sins which Christ would not have taught or words to that purpose as also that if a man were strongly moved by the spirit to kill to commit adultery c. and upon praying against it again and again it continued and yet was still strongly pressed he should then do it but because I have not these upon so good grounds nor such a concurrence of circumstances or further confirmation upon enquiry I therefore forbear to put them down particularly in the Catalogue of Errours or to assert them with that authority I might here also annex to all these Errours many Expositions of Scripture given by the Sectaries in their Sermons and private meetings but I will only give two 1. That of Rom. 8.2 The law of the Spirit of life hath freed me from the law of sin and death that is as was expounded from the morall Law 2. That of Ioh. 5 39. Seaâ—ch the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternall life you thinke to have that was their thought and mistake not that Christ approved it that eternall life was to be had in the Scriptures A Catalogue of the Blasphemies of the Sectaries NOw besides these Errours and Heresies laid down many of them being Blasphemies as the Reader cannot but have observed in perusing their Catalogue there have been many blasphemies and blasphemous speeches vented by Sectaries severall wayes both by writing preaching conference and discoursing and some so horrid and abominable in such a dispitefull scoffing fearfull way that I tremble to think of them and shall forbear to name them And indeed within these four last years in England there have been blasphemies uttered of the Scriptures the Trinity each person of the Trinity both of Father Son and holy Ghost of Gods eternall election of the Virgin Mary the Apostles and holy Penmen of Scripture of Baptisme Prayer the ministery of the Word and the Ministers of all the Reformed Churches of the Government of the Church and of the Christian Magistrates In some books printed and dispersed up and down there are fearfull blasphemies as in the Arraignment of persecution The Sacred Synodycall Decretall Martins Eccho c. profaning and abusing the holy and dreadfull Name of God in a most fearfull manner scoffing at the holy Ghost sent in a Cloak-bagg from Scotland making a most blasphemous Prayer wherein the Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ are in a scoffing way alluded unto with many others which I will not foul paper with transcribing In some Manuscripts of one Paul Best there are most horrid blasphemies of the Trinity of Christ and of the holy Ghost calling the Doctrine of the Trinity a mystery of iniquity the three headed Cerberus a fiction a Tradition of Rome Monstrâ—m biforme triforme with other horrid expressions borowed from hell not fit to be mentioned There was a fearfull blasphemous scoffing speech of God the Father Son and holy Ghost spoken by one Clarke as I remember the name given in to a Committee of Parliament in way of complaint in writing with a hand subscribed and one witnessed it before the Committee but I forbear to relate it Mr Paget in his Heresiography Epistle Dedicatory speakes of one committed for mocking at Christs Incarnation the particulars whereof though I have been told from Master Paget yet I judge it best to conceal There have been many blaspheming speeches in a way of derision of the holy Ghost calling it flabile numen and asking what kinde of bird it was whether but I dare not speak it The holy Scriptures are by many in these times sleighted and scoffed at that growes and spreades much called the golden Calfe that there are many contradictions and lyes in them that they are no better then a Ballad that they can make as good Scriptures that place in Genesis 6.6 where 't is said God repented that be made man was untrue so other places of Scripture The Doctrine of Gods Eternall Election and Praedestination hath been call'd a damnable Errour The Virgin Mary hath been called a the Apostles have been called and they could write
their lives and places so doe our Sectaries make it their study to remove worme by degrees out of places upon one pretence or other when they cannot doe it otherwise active Presbyterians of which we have too manie instances and set themselves to vex them by over-rating in Townes where they have place by bringing them into Haberdashers Hâ—ll by putting in Articles against them which they cannot prove and so putting them to chargeable journeyes and expences with abundance of such 4. The Bishops and the Court-party to bring about their ends would bring matters to such a condition and such a necessitie and then would make those necessities that condition of affaires as a ground of such and such following actions pleading the necessities and the condition of the times as their warrant so our Sectaries doe in many cases they have by their policies and wayes hindred the setling of Church-Government all this while and they plead the long delay of setling it as a ground to justifie their gathering Churches saying how manie yeares would you have us to stay when as in the Assembly Citie in all places by all meanes where they have anie interest they retard the work and so if meanes be used by Petitioning the Parliament to settle Church-Government and to suppresse the great errours then some of the Sectaries say and give out The Army will be offended when as many of the Sectaries have used all meanes and do still to bring things to that passe that we might have an Armie under the commands and in the hands of the Sectaries though blessed be God we have a Noble Generall free from sectarisme and not above one in six in the Armie that way tainted 4. The Prelaticall faction and that Court-partie were great Innovatours given to change running from one opinion to another being Arminians as well as Popish yea some of them Sociâ—inians and countenancing such and were everie day inventing some new matter in worship adding this ceremonie and the other putting downe some part of worships and altering them by substituting other as in putting down singing of Psalmes in some Churches and having Hymnes in putting downe all conceived Prayer and commanding bidding of Prayer with a multitude of such like so our Sectaries are great Innovatours as changeable as the Moon bringing into their Churches new opinions daily new practices taking away the old used in all Reformed Churches and substituting new taking away of singing of Psalms and pleading for hymnes of their own making bringing in anoynting with oyl bringing in their laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghost with severall other strange wayes and practices which the Reader shall find in this following discourse among the narrations of passages and stories 5 The Prelaticall faction and that Court-Clergie were daring bold men that durst venture almost upon any thing upon counselling to prorogue and break up Parliaments in times of danger and distraction upon putting men out of offices and places that were not for their turne and to bring in others calculated for their Meridian upon corrupting Religion and Lawes at once breaking in both upon the Truth and the libertie of the Subject at the same time upon any thing or person that stood in their way So our Sectaries many of them are daring men have attempted and been upon high businesses about counselling and drawing up Petitions for adjourning as they call it the Assembly in a time when the distractions of this Church are so infinite and things so unsetled as also have inserted strange passages into other Petitions which yet have not been presented others of the company opposing them with severall other particulars which would be too large now to relate in one word there is almost nothing which they have not and dare not venture on that stands in their light and in the way of their designes and I may say of many of the Sectaries for I do not mean all as I have said before so I say again there are some good souls meerly seduced who are not of the Faction they have overpassed the deeds of the wicked not only walked after their wayes nor done after their abominations but have corrupted themselves more than they justified the Bishops and their Faction by falling into those opinions and doing those actions in an high bold and open way which that Faction never durst do for feare of the people Next the present Malignants and the Sectaries agree in the generall thus that thorowout the Kingdome it is now notorious that the greatest Malignants and Sectaries hold together and vote together against the Presbyterians and the Reformation in all places and upon all businesses of which there are many examples in the choyce of Burgesses for Parliament in the Petition presented in London at the choyce of the new Common-Councell the grandest Malignants and the Independents joyned together to oppose and in some Committees where men of both these sorts are it is observed also but to come to some particulars The parallel between the present Malignants and our grand Sectaries stands in these 1 The Malignants have opposed the proceedings of Parliament by preaching and writing books against them reviling the Houses especially the House of Commons and many particular worthy Members by name speaking against their Ordinances constitutions as Covenant Directorie Ordination against their Power and Priviledges we know what Aulicus that grand Malignant hath done and how manie books both from Oxford and here at London hath been by the malignant partie printed and vented so also have manie Sectaries and here it would fill a great book to bring into one all the speeches with the passages in Petitions Sermons Prayers printed books that have been vented against the Parliament and particular Worthy Members of both Houses their Power and Power and Priviledges with their Ordinances and Orders in reference to matters of Religion as the Nationall Covenant Directorie Ordinance against mens preaching out of Office the Monethly Fast the Ordinance for Tithes the Orders and Directions about Classes and chusing Elders in which Sermons printed Books Discourses Petitions and other carriages of the Sectaries there have been more things vented distructive to the verie power and nature of Parliaments undermining the verie root and foundation and all their proceedings in reference to matters of Religion yea of justice and civill matters then ever have been by all the Malignants in England as ever I could heare of witnesse Lilburnes booke with that lately come forth call'd Innocency and Truth justified all the printed Letters and Papers that were printed upon occasion of his imprisonment Englands Birthright the Ordinance of Tithes Dismounted the Arraignment of Persecution and all his fellowes as Martins Eccho c. Turners Heavenly conâ—erence for Sions Saints resembling the Directory to the golden Calves of Jeroboam and affirming there are untruths contradictions to the Canonicall Scriptures errours c. And here I dare be bold to say that here have been greater insolencies and
might be writ against the godly well affâ—cted partie under the name of Anabaptists Brownists Independents and a large schedule was annexed to the Petition of offensive passages that were in M. Prynns and D. Bastwicks book I think ere long they will dare to petition that no man shall preach against an Anabaptist or name a Sectarie or speake a word for Presbyterie but themselves may preach print and say what they list And so in the case of the Letter of the City Ministers to the Assembly against Toleration and in other books yea and in Sermons that have been against the sects they have threatned and endeavoured to trouble and question the Licensers and Preachers 17. They are full of plots and projects for their way and increasing their party they have alwaies designes on foot they do nothing nor propound nothing but theres some designe or other in it they are big with many at once that if one take not another may if one misse they presently start another of which I could give manie instances and show how the hand of Ioah hath been and is where 't is little thought they use other men upon other interests and ends to do their worke they have waieâ— collaterelly and indirectly to effect their worke when it would be marred if they went in recta linea they can and ordinarily do go about to destroy businesses they seeme to plead for by propounding and putting upon ways to effect it which they know are not feasible 18. They have and do when put upon present exigents yeeld to and forbear things for the present and sometimes in appearance will seeme to go far with you and are content to lose the fore-game that they may play the aftergame better and recover all they will sometimes appeare to be yours fully till they have served their turne giving place for a time but still waiting opportunities and working in the mean time all they may and when they have counterworkt they will fetch all about again another way and make void all they seem'd to grant you and of this there are too many examples among the Sectaries manie of them taking the Nationall Covenant for that instant necessity that they might worke so as in time to destroy the end and intent of it and yeelding some arguments and debates for the present to effect their owne ends afterwards 19. They have been and are Polupragmaticall indefatigably active stirring restlesse night and day in City Countrey in all places having their agents to doe their worke and promote their caâ—se their eyes are intent upon every thing that may make for them or against them and they have a hand in every thing they are men of a hundred eyes and hands out-acting and out-working all the Presbyterians they deale with this man to take him off and worke with another to qualifie him they have got most of the weekly writers of Newes to plead their cause commend their persons cry up their actions they have sent Emissaries to sâ—verall Countreyes to preach carry Letters deale with persons for chusing of Burgesses in Parliament for their way as M. Peters and others they observe all mens tempers humours and accordingly deale with them all some with offices and places some by holding out principles suiting their lusts 20. They desperately censure and judge all men both their estates and actions who are not for them they presently unsaint them and men fall from grace ipso facto by preaching or writing bookes against their errours as M. Prynne making him worse then the late Archbishop of Canterbury and so one M. E. for writing against them they use this phrase sometimes accounted a godly man and of M. Ash they have not only in England laboured to blast him by their censures and reports but writ over into Holland that since he appeared against them God had evidently blasted him and taken away his gifts and lately upon reports raised by them no doubt that I was dead though there was not the least colour for it not being sick at all they gave it out it was Gods just judgement upon me to cut me off for preaching and writing against the Independents and at the same time they gave out that M. Calamy had broken his arme and D. Twisse a dying O saith one of their Doctors of Divinity you may see the just hand of God against the Presbyterians M. Edwards dead M. Calamies arme broke and D. Twisse a dying so that if these things had been thus we may see how they would have judged it and if such things had fallen to some of us which have to many of the sectaries which I name not to upbraid them with but to shew them their own folly as that by the plague of pestilence our children two at a time had been taken away as M. Goodwins was upon the making his house a meeting for the Sectaries and some of our eyes put out by a Pike in the street as one of Lilburns was immediately upon his Letter coming forth against M. Prynne and the Assembly and our wives stark mad as M. Peters wife wee might have expected as bad books written of us as were written by the Papists of Luther and Calvin 21. They take upon them more places then they can or do discharge and bear the names of some places which they seldome officiate and have laboured to add more places to those they have already and that both in City and Countrey so that some of them besides their places in the Assembly which they seldom attend especially this last yeare and their private gathered Churches have divers Lectures and places besides their hanging upon great men to preach before them to ingratiate themselves and getting to preach at White-hall S. Iames Westminster and other eminent places where the great ones Earles Lords and the Grandees of the time resort they do not as wee Ministers sit still expecting a call to places but they are forward men bestirring themselves to attain this place and that getting such great mens Letters in their behalfe using such Ministers of note and other persons of quality and power in Parishes to make way for them to come in pretending to preach for nothing c. and still in all these Lectures and preachings they have an eye to Churches in places most convenient for thier ends as so situated so capacious and to times when few or no Lectures else are as on the Lords day in the morning between six and seven a clocke all those Lectures at that time of the day from Stepney to Westminster they either have possession of or have strongly laboured for them yea and to have set up others on the Lords dayes in the morning at Ludgatâ— Aldersgate c. if by themselves or all the friends they made they could have effected it and so the Lord day in the evening when other Sermons are done they have gotten that Lecture at the Three Cranes and so the Lecture on Munday night
their consciences and for his part he durst undertake to make it good to Master Major calling my Lord Major in a most base and scornfull manner Master Major One Overton that was to be the Moderatour on Battees side stood up and said Brother Lam had Paul done well if he had desisted from preaching in the name of Jesus if he had been commanded by the High-Priests to forbear had he done well or not Lam answered no whereupon Overton replied in a most scornfull proud manner nor ought we to obey Master Major and thus did these men argue the power of my Lord Major for an houres space but at the last they came to state the question and fall to their dispute the question was That God made man and every part of man of the dust of the earth and therefore man and every part of man must returne to the dust again which Battee could not prove nor could Lam well tell how to answer but both of them ran off from Scripture to Scripture never clearing any one thing to the people and when they had rambled a long time that they could neither of them tell what to say then one or other stood up and said Brother Lam or Brother Battee leave this point to the consideration of the Brethren and take up some other after these two had spent foure or five houres in this confusion they sat down and rested and then stands up one Mellish a Cobler and Lawson a Schoolmaster both Anabaptists and to work they went as their Brethren before Lawson calls to Mellish and saith to him Brother Mellish speak either Categorically or Hypothetically Mellish answered Lawson that he spake now to him in an unknown tongue and prayed him to explain himself Lawson told Mellish that he was nor fit to dispute if he knew not the meaning of these words Mellish replied that if hee should stand up and tell the people that the Moon was made of green Cheese he did not question but some would be of his mind This Relation was given me under the hand of a godly honest Citizen who was an eare and eye witnesse of all the said passages who also named to me other persons that were present and he delivered me this Relation in writing before two sufficient witnesses and declared himself ready to make proof of this before Authority when ever he should be called This following Relation was sent to a godly and able Minister of this City one who hath a Pastorall charge in London and this Minister delivered me the Originall writing which to a tittle There set down Reverend and much respected I Desire you pardon my boldnesse in imparting to you that which hath lately befaln me I was in the company of some Antinomians that were very importunate with me to forsake your teaching and come among them and harken to their Preachers and they prevailed with me so farre that I gave them my promise to hear their Preachers but the night following I had such a terrible dream which made me break my promise with them for I dreamed that the Divell would have pulled me out of the bed and carried me away with him then I cried out in my sleep so loud that I waked them that were in the Chamber Lord Jesus help me Lord Jesus help me then me thought the power of God came on my right hand and rescued me from Satan This I take for a warning from God to avoid their society and for which I desire that thanks be rendred to God in this Congregation which I use to frequent There is one Mâ—ster Mills a Common Councell man the City Brickler who hath related it to many as a thing most certain that an old acquaintance and friend of his an old Papist knowing well all Papists said to Master Mills that now there were but two Sects or sides in England the Presbyterians and the Independents unto which Master Mills objected how can that be seeing there are many Papists this Papist replied that to his knowledge all the Papists in ☞ England were Independents and this Papist further added that this Liberty of Conscience and Toleration for all men to enjoy their Religion was a blessed thing and the happiest thing that ever was found out or words to that purpose There is a Sectary living neer the Spitle a great follower of Master Randall who did offer to sell his Bible and being asked why he would sell it and what he would do for a Bible answered he could make as good a Book himself Some Sectaries do commonly affirme they are not to beleeve the Scriptures further then their own Reason doth perswade them of the truth of them and that the Scriptures are no more the Word of God then the words any man speaks are because he could not speak those words but by a power from God It hath been told me from good hands that there are a company of persons about London who meet weekly to reason and object against the Scriptures their meetings were about the Spitle and since in Hounsditch and now they shift places for feare they should be discovered and surprised it were good that Authority would look into it to finde them out I shall be ready to name the men from whom I have had such information I have been informed lately by divers honest men that in Northampton-shire some of the Souldiers who are Sectaries and are of that part of the Army which came out of the West and belong to that Army in the West have come into the Parish Churches and put by the godly Ministers who should preach and by force against the will of the Ministers and people have set up Captaines and others of the Souldiers to preach in their Pulpits and to vent their Fancles and Errours The true Copie of a Letter written to me from a worthy and godly Minister in Suffolk in the name and by the consent and agreement of other Ministers of the County at a meeting of theirs and sent up by the hands of a godly Minister in those parts who delivered it to me Worthy Sir YOur Brethren in these parts desire to praise God for you and for that courage he hath given you to encounter and publikely to oppose the Sectaries of these dayes God make you as Augustine Malleum Haereticorum Sir this Bearer a Minister an honest neighbour of mine will make a true Relation to you of some of the late pranks of some Sectaries on both sides of uâ— One is of Oates the Anabaptist whom your Gangraena takes notice of that after one of his private Exercises amongst the weaker vessels one Wades wise of Stisted in Essex seemed to be so affected with him that she said she would never hear Minister again and it may be God intends to make her as good as her word for upon ☞ this she was taken mad and remaines in a sad distracted condition and her husband sent to Master Blackaby and Master Faircloth our godly neighbours to
Reply as followes reserving the greatest part I have to say till my full and particular Reply to Mr Saltmarsh and his fellowes shall come forth that as t is a strange bold assertion to affirm not only for himself but for all the Parish that they know 't is a meer untruth which implies thus much that Mr Saltmarsh does not only assuredly know all things that all the women in the Parish do but all what ever the whole Town of Brasteed knowes for else how can he say so of all the women and all the inhabitants of that place so t is an untrue assertion for some who live at Brasteed do not know it to be an untruth but beleeve it to be a truth for one Mr. Wheatly a godly able Minister who lives at Brasteed in a Gentlemans house and hath lived there this two years told me very confidently this Relation of a woman in the presence of two Ministers besides two other Inhabitants of the Town who have lived longer in Brasteed then Master Saltmarsh affirme the same and three godly Ministers living neer to Brasteed have told me also there is such a woman of whom this is commonly spoken and a Citizen in London an honest man having some relation to Brasteed and knowing the place tels me there is such a woman as is reported by many of Brasteed to be a preaching woman and he coming lately out of Kent told me that upon the way meeting with a Gentleman of the Committee who discoursing of Mr Saltmarshes denying there was any such woman in Brasteed and was speaking against my Book this Citizen replyed he beleeved it to be true and offered to lay a twenty shilling peece that there was such a woman but the Gentleman durst not and besides all this the Minister who first told me having lately been written unto about it in a Letter by way of answer stands to that Relation which is laid down in Gangraena But of this in my full and particular Reply the Reader shall receive more large satisfaction only for present from what I have now said though there be much more behinde I leave to the consideration of any judicious and unprejudiced Reader whether I had not ground enough to writ as I did and whether there be not more reason to beleeve so many affirmative witnesses then one negative who may not know all that 's done in Brasteed for such a thing may be and he never the wiser besides Master Saltmarsh being a Sectary is a party and his testimony is by me proved to be false in affirming all in that place know it to be a meer untruth whereas the contrary is the truth divers living in that Town relating the story of a woman Preacher there All that Master Walwyn the Marchant either in his Pamphlets entituled A whisper in the Eare of Master Thomas Edwards or a word more to Master Thomas Edwards labours to disprove in matter of fact contained in my Book entituled Gangraena is that I have wronged him and falsified in saying Mr Walwyn a Seeker and a dangerous man a strong head as also in my Relation of Mr Lilburn the informations given unto me of both of them being such as if they had been made a purpose to shame me to all the world Now by way of Reply first concerning Mr Walwyn himself I am confident that every judicious Reader who hath but read Mr Walwyns Pamphlets out of them will acquit me that I have said nothing of him but truth he being out of his owne mouth and writings condemned for a dangerous man a Seeker and a strong head as many who knew him not before from reading his Pamphlets have told me that he hath justified to the world what I have said of him but I shall at large make good this against the man in my full Reply to him and his fellowes following him from place to place from person to person with whom he hath conversed and from one thing to another that he hath had his hand in wherein I shall lay him open to the world and prove him to be a dangerous man yea a desperate dangerous man a Seeker and Libertine a man of al Religions pleading for all and yet what Religion he is of no man can tel A man of an equivocating Jesuitical spirit being full of mental reservations equivications as appears by the sense he hath put upon the Nationall Covenant there being hardly any Jesuit could have put a more equivâ—call interpretation upon the Covenant then himself And I desire the Reader to observe what I now say of M. Walwyn Since his first Book came forth against me I have enquired and spoken with many honest godly men about M. Walwyn who know him well and all of them with one consent and voyce though I have enquired of them apart concerning him and the men know not one another yet all agree that Mr Walwyn is a dangerous man and a desperate man For present I will only alledge two Testimonies reserving others till my full Reply which I beleeve will be full and speak home and the parties who witnesse will be ready before any Committee or Court of England if called to restifie as much The first was given me in writing March 30. 1646. subscribed by the hand of him who brought it to me and delivered to me in the presence of two godly Citizens as his hand and that which he would maintain to be truth and produce other witnesses for the proof of it when he should be call'd by Authority and t is as followes Inprimis That Mr Walwyn did say it was a sin to pray for the King and that it would lie as a sin upon the Preists so to delude the people and that he did admire at our Preists that they should stand bauling and praying for the King that God would turn his heart and say of him that he was the anoynted of God And he said they were glad to doe it namely the Ministers because if the King maintain them in their way they would cry him up to the people And M. Walwyn being asked how we should performe the Covenant we had taken to maintain the Kings honour he said he remembred no such clause in the Covenant And further he said that he did much admire at the simplicity that was in the hearts of the people that they should suffer themselves to be Governed by a King and that under such a government the Kingdome could not be safe He being asked what he thought of Mr Marshall M. Calamy M. Sedgwick and other godly Ministers he answered and said they were a company of Mountebancks and that they kept the people in ignorance and blindnesse and that they preached nothing but what we know already and that he knew no Scriptures for them to be Preachers more then other men as he named Shoemakers Coblers Weavers or Sopeboylers and the like absolutely speaking against all Congregations and Ministers and that if
their Tyths were taken from them they would soon leave their trade and said that the Apostles were tradesmen and were not chargeable to the brethren He further said that our Ministers might go and preach the Gospel to the Turks and Heathens and not to stand prating here for as he said before we knew enough already I asked him who should preach to the people and how they should be maintained if they would have them have nothing he answered he knew no Ministers that ought to be maintained but that every man that had gifts might be a Minister and use the liberty of his Conscience and he spake in the behalf of Paul Best for his Blasphemy saying that if we could not convince his Conscience we ought not to punish his body Touching the Rebellion in ☞ Ireland M. Walwyn said the Irish did no more but what we would have done our selves if it had been our case and said What had the English to do in their Kingdome and that they were a better natured people then we and said why should not they enjoy the liberty of their Consciences I told him that it was a sad thing to see how we are divided some women would not pray with their husbands and some not sit at table when they gave thanks for the creatures and servants would not joyne in prayers with their Masters nor heare them repeat the Sermons and that many of them have cast off all duties in their families he justified them all in what they did and said they could give a Reason for it and that it was their Conscience that led them to it and therefore they ought not to be blamed All this I do averre to be truth and will maintain it and can bring others to witnesse the same and have set to my hand T. C. The second was told me March 29. by a Common-Councell-man of the City of London a godly understanding and active man who related to me both the place where it was spoken and the names of some other Citizens who were present and heard it as well as himself and the Relation is as followes There being a meeting at a Tavern of some wel-affected Citizens to consider of some things in reference to the publick as they were sitting by the fire before they began to fall on the businesse they met for M. Walwyn spake of the Trinity in such a strange manner and so slightly that all the company was troubled at it and they brake off and departed without doing any thing of that they came for Now M. Walwyn I dare appeal to any indifferent Reader whether I have injured you in giving barely a brief note or touch upon you saying M. Walwyn a dangerous man and a Seeker or rather whether I did not much befriend you to say so little of you when as you deserved I should have made a long relation of you and your wayes as well as of Hich Web Clarkson Wrighter and many others But what may be the true reason that M. Walwyn was so touchie upon the naming of him in a word or two as to make a Book and bring himself upon the Stage I suppose that beside his pride and the showing of his parts it was to engratiate and endear himself to all the Sectaries by appearing and writing against a man so hatefull to them as M. Edwards is and specially at this time writing once and again for the cause of Liberty of Conscience that so being taken notice of for a strong head and true to the generall libertie of all Sects some or other of the Independents might get him a Burgess place and bring him in to be a Member of the House of Commons I am of the opinion he aimed at that knowing that Cornwell was clearing and many places there wanted Burgesses and do beleeve if a man could see the List of those who are prickt for Cornwell by the Independent party hee would find M. Walwyns name in and I am of the mind if M. Peters were asked and would tell truly it would be found M. Walwyn and Lieut. Col. Lilburn are committed to his care for Cornwwell and that he must preach at their election and besides all other reasons I have to think so this is one that both M. Walwyn and M. Lilburn were by some named and voices laboured to be made for them to have had them Burgesses of Southwark I have spoken with two godly men of the Burrow who were once or twice at a meeting about the businesse of M. Walwyns being propounded for a Burgesse in Southwarke who then opposed it as hearing from many hands that he was a dangerous man and a Seeker yea worse As for M. Walwyn saying my informations of M. Lilburn to his knowledge are such as if they had been made of purpose to shame mee to all the world I reply had hee instanced in any one particular I would have given a particular satistactory answer But it may be M. Walwyn means that which Cretensis particularizes in pag. 48. of playing at Cards that 't is false that M. Lilburn is a player at Cards and that hee protests hee never plaid a game at Cards since his coming to London Now I desire to ask Cretensis M. Walwyn M. Lilburn what they mean by since his coming to London whether the first time of his coming to London when hee came a youth to be here an Apprentice as many may take the words or since his last coming to London out of the Army abou◠twelve moneths ago or coming to London after some journey two or three months ago or which of the times he means since his coming to London Now if he speak and mean of the first that hee hath not plaid at Cards never since his coming to London when hee was a youth I can prove that is false by good witnesses and I know M. Lilburn will confesse he hath plaid at Cards since these warres I can for a need tell him where and when and produce witnesses but that needs not Mr. Lilburn on the 17. day of March last confessed to a Citizen though he had not played at Cards since his coming to London keeping himself under that equivocation yet he plaid at Cards severall times in Oxford But if he mean since his last coming to London which may be few months or a few weeks ago neither do I know how often M. Lilburn may make journeyes and return again to London that no whit infringes the truth of my Relation concerning him for I did not say he plaid at Cards this month or two but if he have often plaid at Cards since hee was a great Sectary and a stickler against the Presbyterians and the Reformed Churches within this yeer two or three of the contestation against the Presbyterian Government that makes good what I have said of him and in common acception that man may be truely said and is so called to be one who is a player at Cards
my book Cretens p. 11. p. 20.21 That when all the accused ones shall have time and opportunity to stand forth and plead their innocency Cretens pag. 6. there will be very little truth found remaining in any thing reported by me except in such things as are transgressions against no Law and indeed the whole Answer is in one kind or other a continued pleading for Baal and a calling Error Truth and Darknesse Light O the wretchednesse and wickednesse of Cretens whereas for these abominations of the Errours Heresies Blasphemies of our times known too well to all the Kingdome he should have sat down astonied mourning and sighing rending his heart crying out my bowels my bowels I am pained at the heart the man makes a sport and mock of them to make himself the Independent sons of Ieroboam who are of his own constitution merry with them using also several Artifices sophistications to elude the truth And tho this be very sad that such a man as Cretens who pretends to so much Saintship and holynesse should do thus or indeed any man who hath but the name of a Christian yet I cannot but observe a good hand of God in this as well as in the former thus to leave him as to shame him before all the world many besides my self taking notice and speaking of this in Cretens how without all distinction he speaks for most shamefully excuses all kind of Errors Heresies Blasphemies Antitrinitarians Arâ—ians Antiscripturists c. not finding any one Error or person throughout my book worthy to be blamed but in this we find no strange thing for that Scripture must be fulfilled As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity Obs. 3. Cretensis throughout his whole Answer without excepting any one man makes al those erroneous persons Saints faithful servants of God c. whom I have mentioned in my Catalogue and though most of the instances in my Relations where I name persons and insist somewhat largely upon them be of most dangerous men of men holding most abominable horrid errors and blasphemous opinions as Writer Webb Clarkson Hich Marshall c. yet doth not Cretensis condemn speak against any one of them or separate the vile from such as may be pretious among the lower sort of sects but bundles them up among the Saints speaking of the S t s the S t s whose nakednes M. Edwards being of Satans Councel hath laid open spread a table for Satan with the shame and sorrows of the Saints so that in Cretensis Kalender Cretens p. 5. Antitrinitarians Antiscripturists Arrians Socinians Perfectists are canonised for S t s as well as Independents Brownists and Anabaptists and a man may find there St Best St Wrighter St Webb St Hieb St Clarkson c. as well as St Goodwin and his Church and no question if Saint Best shall suffer by the Parliaments authority for his damnable Heresies and Blasphemies he sha'l be a Martyr too as well as a Saint in Cretensis Kalender and be reckoned the Protomartyr of the Sectaries and in this the Reader may observe how Cretens no question against his own intention whilst the main scope of his Pamphlet is to make Gangâ—aena a lying book confirms the truth of many passages related in it namely the Independents holding with all other Sects not dividing from them pleading for them upon all occasions strengthnâ—ng their hands bringing them off from danger c. all which Cretens in many pages of his book makes good and though he had a fair occasion upon the coming out of Gangraenâ— to have casheired many out of their number there being so many foul Sects and Sectaries discovered and can never come off with honour for not taking it yet 't is evident Cretensis will not loose any one sort of Sects or any one Sectary but joyns them with himself and his own Church the Saints the faithfull servants of God and such like Obs. 4. Cretensis out of his pride and in his rage casts fiâ—e brans every where abusing and having a fling at all he comes near or takes an occasion to speak of and that not only particular single persons of approved integrity and abilities but whole societies as the Honourable Court of Common-Councell p. 49. calling them Brethren in iniquity with me for representing in their Petition to the Parliament that there were e'even meetings at least of Sectaries in one Parish in this City yea and all Presbyterians Assembled and not Assembled Had Cretensis only abused and scorned me a poor weak thimblefull of dust that in his account knowes not how to range Parts of Speech in a sentence nor to put the Nominative Case and Verb together regularly in English I could have born it and passed it by as I have done many of the like kind but who can without a check suffer this proud man to slight and scorn all kind of worthy men as if all wisdome and understanding dwelt in him alone Obs. 5. Cretensis in severall places of his Book abuses Sctipture bringing that in to serve his turn to make jâ—st and scoffs upon me and others as in pag. 9.15 c. 'T is a great iniquity in me as Cretensis would make it to abuse his Saints but no fault in him to make jests upon the Scripture Obs. 6. Cretensis Pamphlet consists of little else but great swelling words of vanity jears scoffs bitter reproaches long-winded sentences preambles circumlocutions and multitude of words without waight and matter so that if a man substract all these what remains certainly all the matter reason and strength of this Book may be writ in a gold Ring and there will hardly be enough to fill a poor weak thimblefull of dust as for example what ado doth Cretens make speaking over and over the same things spending whole pages and leaves upon that which he might have spoken answered to in three or four lines as about bowling on dayes of Thanksgiving he runs out from pag. 28 to 36. and so carps at the word meeting in pag. 36 37. Now 't is an evident signe the man could not find matter of exception in Gangâ— to work upon that he so catches at words and phrases no man who is in his wits and hath good employments will spend his time in picking of strawes and catching flies Obs. 7. Cretensis if not formally and in so many words yet virâ—ually doth animate and stir up the Sectaries to fall upon me dealing by me in opposing the errors of the Sectaries just as the Jesuits and Papists do against those who write and preach against their way telling some of their seduced followers it will be a meritorious work to kill such and take them out of the way and if Cretensis do not so what mean these words p. 19. And let Mr. Edwards know and let his conscience and compeers know that whatsoever he shall suffer whether from his
and in my full Reply I shall more largely and particularly specifie In one word Cretensis is a most ungodly Antichristian insolent proud malicious wrathful lying obscent scurrilous nonsense absurd contradictory piece Observ. 12. Cretensis in all his Books of Controversie and Answers of all sorts that I have seen and met with is of all Writers in this later age the greatest falsifier of Authors wresting them upon all occasions and that with a Gyant-like confidence against their own sense and contrary to what they are known ex professo to hold and he will not be beaten off from it as is apparent in his Treatises of Justification and in his Answer to Master Prynne and in this Book bringing in Master Ball for him in the point of Free-will Now this must arise either from that heretical genius of his that he sinneth being condemned of himself speaking lyes in hypocrisie having his conscience seared with a hot iron or else from a high flown mad fancy making things to appear which are not at all like to that mad man of Athens who thought all the Ships that came into the Haven were his though he never were sharer much lesse owner in any Ship so Cretensis sancies all learned Writers to be for him ' wheares indeed there never was any sound and Orthodox Divine for him as I shall shew more fully hereafter and divide Learned Master Gataker from him Observ. 13. Cretensis iust Cretian like fastens that upon me in my Gangraena affirming I say that which I do not as in pag. 28. Sect. 23. and doth father opinions upon me meerly from the leaving out of a word or two by the Printers over-sight Cretens pag. 23. though corrected in the second Edition and abroad full fourteen dayes before Cretensis which was either done wilfully and on set purpose against his knowledge or from his not reading over my Book but taking up things upon trust Observ. 14. There are many things in Cretensis Pamphlet which he pretends to Answer making much ado of and laboring to fasten upon me lyes nonsense c. which yet in the close after a great many high flown words Cretensis is forced to confesse them true and that both of himself and others though by many words he hath labored to pusle and cast a mist before the eyes of the Reader Observ. 15. I desire the Reader to observe that this Answer made by this great Rabbi is but snatches here and there answering Gangraena by great leaps as Leopards use to take Cretensis answers one passage out of p. 70. and then leaps to 128. taking another there and from p. 128. leaps back to p. 8. and after this sort the whole Answer is And for those pages where Cretensis fastens upon something to give an Answer unto even there he snatches takes not the whole what goes before nor what follows after so that after that rate of Answering if such kinde of Discourses must have the names of Answers how may not men elude and make nothing of the excellentest Books that ever were written by men yea of the Scriptures themselves and wrest them if they will not take one place with another and observe what goes before and what follows after And as this great Rabbies Answer is by snatches so 't is full of miserable shifts and poor evasions as among others pag. 16. Cretensis gives that reason why my Antapology hath not been Answered in 18. Moneths because the way by which light and truth should go forth into the world was hedg'd up by Clergy Classique Councelâ— as with thorns against him Now I wonder with what face Cretens can write this when as all men know the Independents have a Licenser of their own at hand Mr. Bachilor who is such a friend to all the world of Believers that certainly he cannot deny Cretensis Do not we daily see the man Licenses without either fear or wit all kinde of Pamphlets The Error of Anabaptism against Mr. Marshal the Error of Seekers in The Smoke of the Temple A pretended Answer of Mr. Saltmarsh to the Assemblies Petition and now Cretensis against Gangraena and will Mr. Bachilor with Clergy Classique Councels hedge up the way as with thorns against Cretensis Reply to Mr. Edwards Antapologiae Can Cretens think though his own deluded Church and other Sectaries may have so much Independent faith as to believe him that any Presbyterian hath so little wit as not to laugh at such folly why could not Iohn Bachilor as well leap over the hedge of Clergy Classique thorne to License a Reply to Antapologia as an Answer to Gangraena and pray Mr. Goodwin in your next account you give unto the world by publike writing give me an account why honest Iohn Bachilor could not as well leap over the hedge of Clergy Classique thorns to License a full Reply to Antapologia as to License A brief Answer to Gangraena But no more of this now Observ. 16. The Christian Reader may observe Cretensis as in this and his former Books so in all his preachings and ways to have all the characters and marks of false Prophets and false Teachers not only in his hands but upon his forehead so that if I would here enlarge I might clearly shew all that Christ and the Apostles spake of false Prophets are to be found in Cretensis but I will only instance in a few laid down by Peter and Iude in their Epistles and upon the propounding of them I know the Reader will say as face answereth face in glasse so doth Cretensis answer these Scriptures Peter saith of the false Teachers in his time that they speak great swâ—lling words of vanity and that they promise their followers liberty and Iude They are clouds without water carried about of winds raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame wandring stars their mouth speaking great swelling words having mens person in admiration because of advantage These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit Now I do appeal to any man who knows Cretensis either in his Writings or Preaching whether he be not a man that speaks great swelling words of vanity whether he doth not promise his followers liberty yea a universal liberty whether he be not a cloud without water â—â—ourishes and shews without substance whether he be not a raging-wave of the Sea foaming out his own shame witnesse his Answer a wandring star wandring from one opinion and Religion to another and lastly whether he be not a Separatist and sensual person without the spirit of love meeknesse humility zeal for Gods truth and of a sound minde In one word I do not think there 's any man in the Kingdom hath a more heretical head and heâ—â—e thâ—n Cretensis and unlesse God give him repentance and recover him out of those snares wherein he walks I fear if the man lives but one seven years he will prove as arch an Heretick and as dangerous a man as England ever bred and that
tenth part of the Discovery of the Errors Heresies Practises c. beside some things in the Letters are of another nature and to one of the Letters is annexed a Confutation of the matter contained in it consisting of two whole leaves of those few sheets within a few lines 2. As for that of jugling and forgery which Cretensis would put upon me the man measures me by himself and his party because that he and some of his party are used to juggle and possibly forge Letters and News invent and give our many things which never were have with the Jesuits their piae fraudes to advance their Catholike cause therefore he thinks so of me but I blesse God I am a plain man hating equivocations mental reservations plots underminings of men playing under-board carrying things in the clouds I count honesty the best policy and faithful plain dealing the greatest wisdom and the Independents will finde it so in the end however for a while they prosper by their shufling tricks devices policies as Strafford Canterbury and others did before them 3. To come to the main charge of concealing the names of those who writ me Letters and all the inferences drawn from thence I answer I have already given some Reasons for it and do adde these unto them most of the men who writ the Letters writ them not for that end to be printed knew not of nor imagined no such matter neither did I acquaint them with it and for me without their leave obtained to print their Names to the world I could not do it keeping unviolated the rules of friendship besides I well understood that were a way to cut off correspondency and Intelligence for the future if I should print mens Names publikely to the world writing in a private way to me Of all the Letters written to me there were two only which I expressed to the Authors I would print them and acquainted them with my purpose whose Names notwithstanding excepting the two first Letters subscribed I concealed with the rest for company But now that I may overthrow Cretensis Proposition and his Inferences his Foundation and his Superstructures I shall name most of them who writ the Letters to me and others as also from whose hands I received those Letters which were printed by me though not written to me The first Letter was written me from Mr. Strong a Member of the Assembly of Divines who after he had told me by word of mouth the contents of this Letter promised to send it me in a Letter and I acquainted him then what use it was for and he said he would justifie what he writ and named others in whose presence Master Denne maintained these Points The second Letter was written from Master Simon Ford to a Member of the Assembly Master Gowerâ—s from whose hands I received it and told Mr. Gowers I should print it to which he was willing and since Gangraena was printed the Author writes to me about his Letter That he will enlarge and confirm the particulars in that Letter and send it to me The third Letter was one Master Josiab Ricrasts who owns it and hath been with me since Cretensis came forth and to my knowledge is drawing up an Answer to Cretensis for so much as concerns that Letter The fourth Letter was written by a Weaver in Somersetshire one Crab if I mistake not the name and I received it from M. Rosewal a City Minister well known who will own it and make it good 't is such a mans And thus I have given an account of the Copies of all the whole Letters printed by me Now for the Extract of certain Letters written to me some other Ministers for seven of them which are the greatest part of those Extracted Letters namely all those which concern Colchester and Mr. Ellis or some others there of which Letters Mr. Ellis himself writes thus to a friend in London The aspersions cast on me and some others here by Mr. Edwards are as false as foul which because they are a great part of his Book and strength those who are here concerned in it will if God please shortly make Reply Cretensis p. 44. he who writ them is not afraid of his name neither was his name concealed for fear of an Examination of the truth of the Letters as Cretensis by reading this Letter lately sent to me from him may understand which I here print to a tittle To my Reverend and worthy Friend Mr. Thomas Edwards Minister of the Word of God Reverend Sir THere is a passage in Mr. Iohn Goodwins Book charging you with abusing Mr. Ellis of Colchester and the Saints in those parts and that he will shortly make Reply to your false and foul aspersions These are therefore to certifie you that concerning those Letters I writ unto you from Colchester I have them attested under the hands of many sufficient witnesses each particular that is material being ayerred by three witnesses at least and those of piety and judgement which attestations I shall keep by me to produce them upon fit occasions to iustifie those Letters to the world Yet it is possible he will Reply to those things as false and foul or come off with distinctions and mental reservations but these things are so evident in this Town and much more then I writ unto you as his Preaching for the pulling down of our Churches and other things that I can prove that his Pamphlet will do him no good in this place For it will not be the first time that he hath said unsaid the same things here denying and dissembling his opinions for advantage as will be testified by many witnesses by some of the Honorable Members of the House of Commons Ministers and others godly and judicious Christians This I thought good to signifie for the present recommending you to the grace of God I rest Your affectionate friend and fellow labour in the Gospel Rob. Harmar April 1646. Now by all this the Reader may see what to judge of Cretensis and his false glosses and commentaries upon the Letters Printed in Gangraena and had I Cretensis railing scoffing Rhetorick which he makes use of in this section and in many other places of his Book I might spin out whole leaves in aggravation and scoring up of lyes evil surmisings bitter words scoff and jeers expressed by Cretensis upon occasion of the Printed Letters but I forbear to contend with him in this kind truth needs not such colors though errors does to set it off The hare relation of these things is a sufficient confutation of Cretonsis and if the printed Letters of which Cretensis Master Ellis yea and Master Saltmarsâ— make such a cry of forgerie falsitie dare abide the light and their Authors are ready to justifie them the judicious Reader by this may both judge of the truth of other things contained in Gangraena and of the folly and vanity of the rest of Cretensis allegations against my Book
upon pretence of answering my Antapology 2. Some Independents have that shamelesnesse of forehead to make the subject matter of their Sermons little else but loose lying frivolous reports and stories or virusent invectives against the Saints c. as Mr. Peters the Vicar General and Metropolitane of the Independents both in New and Old England and I wonder how Cretensis forgot him Name any Presbyterian who is of any account in the Church of God such a loose rambling Preacher as he And for his invectives against the Saints 't is one of his common places in many of his Sermons to speak against the Reformed Churches the Reverend Assâ—mbly and the godly Presbyterian Ministers of the Kingdom who are not only Saints but godly Ministers But Mr. Peters is not alone for Cretensis himself is a loose Preacher and full of bitter invectives in his Sermons against better Sainâ—s and Servants of God then ever himself or any of his Church is like to be the particular passages which he hath used in Sermons I will give the Reader in my full Reply and so Mr. Archer of Hausted is famouâ— or rather infamous for this cum multis aliis whom in my large Reply I may adde to these As for the third Reasoâ— the way stopt against Printing for want of a Licénser I have already refuâ—ed and shall speak more to it in my next Reply And for the fourth Reason brought by Cretensis to Apologize for not Replying in 18 Moneths 't is both for matter and form all false a man would wonder that Cretens should dare to write so though indeed nothing of this kinde is a wonder in Cretensis Cretensis how can you answer it to God to your Church and to all men to write such a manifest untruth That I took not much lesse then eighteen Moneths in making the Antapology when as the Apologetical Narration I am sure of it came forth in the Moneth of December and to my best remembrance towards the later end of it and my Antapology was printed and abroad either the last week of Iune following or the first of Iuly which at the farthest was not full seven Moneths and is far from eighteen Moneths As for that insinuation of Cretensis joyned to the eighteen Moneths the advantage of liberty and freedom from other ingagements which Mr. Edwards had above other men 't is a false one for from that time I began to Answer Apologet. Narration till it came forth I never had lesse liberty or freedom in my life nor more businesses and engagements of several sorts in reference to the Publike Preaching in that time of writing my Book very often three times a week constantly and many times four besides the tedious Journeys between London and Godalming riding to Preach there together with all the difficulties and fears of many Alarums from the Enemy c. in that time But before I draw to a conclusion of this I desire the Reader to observe what a proud arrogant speech this is of Cretensis to extoll himself and his party with the contempt and scorn of the Presbyterians If Independent Ministers had either the priviledge of ease to preach to the bare walls and pews in their meeting places Now for this in my large Reply I will acquaint the Reader what privileges Independent Ministers and Independent Saints have and take above the Presbyterians and what their priviledge of ease and idlenesse is above the Presbyterians as also shew the true Reasons why the world wanders after the Beast many of the Independents are so stockt after before Presbyterians as also by what a sort of people and what little cause Cretensis and his Saints have to glory and boast of it and when I have spoken to that at large I believe I shall be out of Cretensis debt for these words Only for present I shall tell Cretensis these three things 1. That there are Presbyterian Ministers who Preach no more to bare walls and pews then Cretensis and the Independent Ministers Mr. Marshal Mr. Whitaker Mr. Calamy Mr. Sedgwick cum multis aliis both in City and Countrey 2. There are many Independent Ministers who have Preached lately and do so still as much to bare walls and pews as any Presbyterians witnesse Mr. Burton Mr. Davis Mr. Freak Mr. Ellis Mr. Furman c. 3. Presbyterians do not use however Independents may as Cretensis in his speech implyes to have ever the more priviledge of ease by Preaching to a few rather then to many by Preaching to a hundred two or three or Preaching to a thousand or two for they Preach out of Conscience and discharge of duty to do good to the souls of men and not for applause to please a multitude and therefore t is all one to them whether there be fewer or more one hundred or many but this is expressed according to the Independent humor who have their Sermons of several sorts those of greater pains and study when their pews and walls are full and their Sermons of ease when their pews are empty and their walls bare Now to put a period to this fourteen Section with an Animadversion upon that passage of Cretensis in pag. 16. his constant and standing labors with those who have committed themselves to him in the Lord. I ask of Cretensis where he findes this used of a people to commit themselves unto the Ministers we are commanded to commit our way to the Lord and to commit our souls to him and of God 't is oft used but in what place is it of people to Ministers and then those who have committed themselves to you why did you not say to the Church rather what is Cretensis become the Church And lastly why was it not as well expressed Those to whom I have committed my self unto in the Lord for I believe upon better consideration it will be found that Cretensis hath as much committed himself to his people as they to him for they Preach and rule as well as Cretensis and believe upon Examination the Church will be found to Preach oftner then Cretensis for all his constant and standing labors and his yong Prophets to exercise upon the week and Lords day and he bound to hear and obey them as well as they him And now if How the Cobler were alive again Cretensis and he would have no more Disputation and difference about humane learning necessary to the Interpreting of Scriptures and Preaching of the Word seeing Cretensis allows it now in his Church Members far inferior to How and Cretensis would crave pardon of him for abusing him so as he did upon that Controversie and for a recompence unto him Mr. How should be preferred to be Teacher in Cretensis Church Mr. Cretensis the Pastor and Mr. How the Teacher for belike humane learning is not now necessary to the Preaching of the Word and sure we shall one day have a Book of Cretensis Retractations and Confessions and might have had it before this time but that
Calvin Ergo justificari fide dicimur non quia fides habitum aut qualitatem in nos transfundat sed quia deo accepti sumus Cur autem fidei tribuitur tantus honor ut 〈◊〉 causa justitiae nostrae primo sciendum est esse causam instrumentaloâ— duntaâ—at nam proprâ—e loquendo justitia nostra nihil a liud est quam gratâ—itâ— Dei acceptio in qua sundata est nostra salus sed quia Dominus testimonium amoris nobis amoris sui gratiae per Evangelium reddendo illam quam dixi justitiam nobis communicat ideo fide illam percipimus Ergo quam fidei tribuimus hominis justificationem non de causa principali disputamus sed tantum notamus modum quo perveniunt homines ad veram justitiam Justitia enim haec merum est Dei donum non qualitas quae in hominibus haereat sed fide tantum possidetur neque id merito fidei ut sit quasi debita merces sed quia fide recipimus quod Deus ultro donat I forbear to English this passâ—ge leaving it to Cretensis to have a proof of him whether he will not be as false in his translations as in his quotations So those words of Calvin on Rom. 4 3. v. 6 make nothing at all to prove the Imputation of Faith and the non-Imputation of Christs righteousnesse but even upon those verses Calvin expresses several passages to the contrary as they who turn to the places may see And for Bucer Mr. Wotton himself acknowledges he was of another judgement speaking thus of him whom I perswade my self to have been the Author of this opinion of Imputation besides Reformed Divines generally not only two or three but all are against this opinion of the Imputation of faith and non-Imputation of Christs righteousnesse and for proof of this the Reader may peruse Mr. Roboroughs examination of Cretensis Treatise of Justification first part page 9 10. where he showes that all our Divines are against Faith in a proper sense Luther Calvin Bucer Pareus Ursinus Musculus c. however Arminius and Bertius were for it unto which Cretensis never to this day made any Reply though he vapors and bragâ— thus of his opinion of Imputation of Faith So also the Preface to the Churches set before the Acts of the Synod of Dorâ— showes the same by Gomarus particularly instancing in and convincing Arminius of his Hetorodoxnes from holding of this opinion that in justification the righteousnesse of Christ was not imputed but beleeving And now considering all this and much more that hath been said and written to Cretensis I cannot but wonder he should be such an impudent Cretensis as to bring these places out of Calvin Bucer Pareus and can give no other reason of it but that of Paul to Titus concerning Hereticks that the man sins in this being condemned of himself and for this Error and many more which Cretensis holds notwithstanding all his palliating and daubing I hold them so great and the differences in opinions between him and I to be of such moment that as Gomarus told Arminius he durst not appear before the judgement seat of Christ with his opinions so neither would I with Cretensis opinions nor his wayes of managing them for a thousand worlds As for Cretensis charging me with venting Errors in the point of justification whilst I was reckoning up the Errors of others I Reply Cretensis takes advantage from a word or two left out by the Printer in the margin of my Book which was not the fault of my Copy as I am ready to satisfie any man and to make it appear undeniable besides in the second impression of my Book which came forth full fourteen dayes before Cretensis Answer the mistake was amended however the sense of the word before it was amended easily shewed where the fault was though Cretensis aggravate it so high as to make it amount to Atheological and putid assertions But in one word to stop the mouth of Cretensis what I say of Justification in the margin of page 22. t is verbatim to a tittle in the new Annotations on the Bible made by the joynt labours of certain learned Divines appointed thereunto by Authority and whatever in the first impressioÌ„ was mistaken in that particular by the fault of the Printer was in the second long before Cretensis Animadversions amended by me so that the Reader may observe that Cretensis for want of matter findes fault where the fault is confessed to his hand and had I any hope Cretensis could understand Latin when it makes against his opinion of the imputation of faith and would be convinced I would turn him over to divers learned men to English their Latine sentences as Peter Martyr Lubbertus Sibrandus c. where the man should read other manner of evidence against non-imputation of faith and for imputation of Christs righteousnesse then ever he yet offered in all his sermons and discourses about justification but for a conclusion Cretensis answer me one question why did you not as well except against some other opinions named in my Catalogue viz. 84.85 as this 70. of faith in a proper sense imputed to justification you were as much named and particularized in them as in this and they call you Father as well as this but I suppose the reason you were not yet willing in publique to own those Children and so would take no notice of them though I doubt not those and other things laid down in my Book though without your name written upon them enraged you and have made you as a Bear robbed of her whelps to think that I should know so much by you Cretensis p. 27. Sect. 22. labours to clear himself from a passage I charged him with that he should utter in a Sermon against the Parliament and their power c. saying It was nothing else but a manifest and clear truth and that which had passed the trial of Presbyterian fire it self was come forth in ful weight without suffering the leâ—st damage or detriment by it and if any such gap was opened by it to slight their Authority and power he knowes no wilde Beasts have broke in at it but some Presbyterians and then goeth on according to his Dialect to inveigh against me for â—â—â—lling at the root of Parliamentary Authority and power because that I finde fault with his truth as he cals it viz. his speaking so disgracefully and contemptibly of the Parliament Reply O the impudence and incorrigiblenesse of Cretensis after so high an offence committed by him against Parliamentary Authority complained of to a Committee of Parliament upon the debate of it judged by some of the Committee to be an offence of that high nature that these words were expressed of him of his offence that he as much or rather more deserved to be hang'd then the Arch-Bishop yea the whole Committee judged it of such a nature and crime as too great for them
to censure so that it was ordered to be reported by the Chair-man to the House it self and Master White told me more then once he was by order of the Committee to report it though by many great businesses of the Kingdom he was hindred now I say that after all this Cretensis should in the sight of the sun justifie it for a manifest and clear truth and flye out upon me and my Abbettors for finding fault with him is a strange hight certainly Cretensis if what you had said had been such a manifest and clear truth t is wonder such words should be spoken in the Committee of it and the thing ordered to be reported to the House it self as to high for a Committee and that your words spoken against the Parliament were not a manifest truth I refer the Reader to such a Book of Mr. Pryns to your own confession in your Answer to him and to the Record kept by the CoÌ„mittee for Plundred Ministers As for the reason you intimate why that which was uttered by you was nothing els but manifest clear truth because it hath passâ—d the trial of Presbyterian fire it self is come forth in full waight without suffering the least dammage or detriment of it that is upon complaint and examination of it by a Committee of Parliament you are come off and not censured I Reply the Reader may observe that Presbyterian fire is a cooler softer gentler fire then the Independent fire and that the presbyterians are not so 〈◊〉 crying for fire from hell to destroy all those who receive the Lord Christ only because their faces are not instanly set to receive the Traditions of their Discipline and Doctrine for Cretensis hath passed the trial of Presbyterian fire it self and is come forth in full waight without suffering the least damage or detriment by it I beleive if either I or any known cordial Presbyterian in England in speaking against the Independent party had said so much to the vilifying and contempt of the Parliament as Cretensis did in speaking against Presbyterians and we had come to the trial of Independent fire it self we should never have come forth in full waight without suffering the least damage or detriment by it but we should have carried to our graves the scorching and skars of that fire if not wholy consumed by it 〈◊〉 Though you were one of the first yet you are not alone nor the last of those who by writing or speaking having uttered things against the Parliament and being questioned by Committees have passed the trial of Presbyterian fire and come off too witnesse your brother Lilburn and yet all they have said and written have not been manifest and clear truths You who are Independents and Sectaries have priviledges in many things which poor Presbyterians have not you have a priviledge to steal horses Cretensis pag. 34 whereas 't is a great fault in Presbyterians to look over the hedge you have a priviledge to set up Churches and a Government of your own without leave or waiting on the Parliament but 't is a great offence in the Presbyterians to Petition the Parliament in all humility to settle the Presbyterian Government witnesse those many reproches in some printed news Books those pensioners of the Independent party as also the bitter preaching against their Petitions by some Independent Ministers with the hard speeches cast out against them by the Independent party You belike have a priviledge to preach print speak any thing against Parliament their Ordinances Orders Covenant Members yea to act against their Votes Ordinances and to passe the trial of Presbyterian fire as you terme it and to come forth in full waight without suffering the least damage or detriment whereas I am perswaded a great deal lesse preached or printed by Presbyterians would have been censured to be burnt by the hand of the common Hangman and the men themselves in danger of hanging Thirdly Cretensis you have no such reason to boâ—st so of what you have preach'd that t is a manifest and clear truth and hath passed the Presbyterian fire it self and is come forth in full waight c. till you know what the sense of the House of Commons will be upon it when 't is reported to the House according to the order of the Committee and the House hath cleared you then you might better have used these words but Cretensis though you say the bitternesse of death is past all danger is over you may be deceived quod desertur non aufertur the House may be at more leasure and call upon such kinde of things and upon a review you may be made to know what 't is not only to slight and vilifie a Parliament open a gap to a total contempt of all their Authority and power but when you have done so then openly and publikely to justifie that what you have said is a manifest and clear truth Cretensis I tell you plainly I would not for all the Books in my study the Independens could prove such words spoken by me against the power and dignity of Parliament how light account soever you make of them Fourthly the Reader may by this clearly see what to judge of Cretensis charging me and my Book with lying forgery c. when as he is not ashamed to tax me in this place that I could not lightly have uttered any thing that struck more dangerously at the very root of all Parliamentary Authority and power then to say that Cretensis in speaking against the Parliament and their power opened a gap to slâ—ghting of their authority and power what a strange art and faculty hath Cretensis as of making all Authors for him though they writ against him so of making master Edwards and his Abettors in pleading for the Parliament against Cretensis to strike dangerously at the very root of all Parliamentary Authority and power and that notwithstanding for the words Cretensis spake against the Parliament he was complained of to the Committee of Plundered Ministers by understanding men and cordial to the Parliament and the matter so deeply resented by the Honourable Committee as I have already expressed but the truth of it is Cretensis in all his writings both in point of opinions and words that he utters in defence of them he will say any thing as manifestly contrary to truth as to affirm black is white and darknesse light neither will he be beaten out of it by any reason but hides himself and clouds things in a multitude of words where an ordinary Reader loses himself as in a wood Fifthly 't is strange Cretensis you dare say that you know none but Presbyterians have broken in at the gap you have made do you not know what Lilburn hath done besides have you not read Englands Birthright The Ordinance for Tythes Dismounted cum multis aliis you indeed lead the way and was the first of all the pretended friends to the Parliament out of discontent in missing a place
my story numerous in particular forgeries beyond measure I shall inlarge upon it to make good the truth of it notwithstanding Mr. Burroughs testimony to the contrary and Cretensis comments and glosses upon Mr. Burroughs writing and my story and now what if my story of Nichols prove true and and that in all the particular branches in it where is Cretensis then in what predicament will Cretensis Mr. Burroughs and Mr. Greenhil be found and that t is certainly true and hath been testified again and again both to me and to many others both Ministers and Citizens since my Book came forth I desire the Reader to mark what follows For the first part of the Story related by me pag. 78. concerning one Nichols coming into Stepny Parish and to Mr. Greenhils face justifying those wicked Opinions there set down as that God was the Author of all sin c. yea maintaining more then I have particularly mentioned in pag. 78. namely That children owe no obedience to their Parents except they be godly 't is most certainly true and Mr. Greenhil dares not deny it and for proof of it Mr. Randal an eare and eye witnesse related it to me and to others yea since Cretensis Book came forth that denies the truth of this story I have asked Mr. Randal of it and he affirms it to be undeniably true and for to evince the truth of it Mr. Randal told me these circumstances viz. who were present when Nichols did maintain these opinions to Mr. Greenhil namely besides himself one Oates a Carpenter and divers women as also Mr. Greenhil could not stay long with this Nichols being to go forth to some place where he had appointed to come and should be staid for so that thus far the story is without all question true and I am confident Mr. Greenhil upon new consideration and rubbing up his memory will speak no more such words to Mr. Burroughs as to wonder to see such a thing as this in Mr. Edwards Book and that he knows of no such meeting Now for the second part of the story namely that at a meeting where Mr. Burroughs was present with divers others Mr. Greenhil did relate unto his Brother Burroughs this sad story of Nichols venting these opinions fore-mentioned and upon that how all the Discourse following related by me in this story of Nichols page 79. yea more passed between Mr. Greenhil and Mr. Burroughs is as certain as the first and for proof of it one Mr. Allen of Stepny Parish a godly understanding man who was upon the place and heard all related it to divers in Mr. Bellamies shop in my hearing of whom after he had made an end of speaking to the company I enquired more perfectly how he knew all this to be true and whether he was an ear witnesse and got him to name over the opinions again and to repeat other passages to me for the help of my memory and for fear lest I should mistake the relation so soon as Mr. Allen had done I went immediatly home and writ down in my Diary the whole businesse from first to last with the day of the moneth the place and persons when where and to whom also besides my self it was told And further then all this since my Book came forth and Cretensis Answer to it though this story is branded by Cretensis to have particular forgeries in it numerous beyond measure and all Nichols Opinions related by Mr. Greenhil to Mr. Burroughs with divers passages mentioned by me to come from Mr. Burroughs at that meeting all affirmed to be false yet Mr. Allen before ever I spoke one word with him coming into Mr. Bellamies shop accidentally where when he came in some company were speaking of Cretensis Answer to my Book and of this very passage of Mr. Burroughs under his hand brought by Cretensis to disprove that story of his own accord justified the story of Nichols coming to Mr. Greenhil and Mr. Greenhils relating it to Mr. Burroughs with all the discourse following upon it saying I am the man that told it Mr. Edwards and that in this shop and Mr. Greenhil and Mr. Burroughs dare not deny it for the story saith Mr. Allen is most certainly true and all the mistake is of those words a meeting concluded of where Mr. Greenhil should relate these Opinions whereas the making known of those Opinions and the Discourse upon occasion of them was not at a set meeting on purpose appointed for that occasion but at a usual meeting on the Lords day after Mr. Burroughs his preaching in the morning where at Colonel Zacharies house Mr. Burroughs Mr. Greenhil and divers godly persons use to meet and as Mr. Allen said this in the presence and hearing of three godly Ministers and divers Citizens so hath he as I am certainly informed drawn up with his own hand for the Presse a Narration of this story of Nichols maintaining those opinions to Mr. Greenhil and of Mr. Greenhils reporting the Opinions to Mr. Burroughs with all their discourses thereupon yea more fully and particularly then I have in Gangraena so that t is strange to me that Mr. Burroughs should dare to give such a writing under his hand to Cretensis as to say that story Mr. Edwards hath page 79. of one Nichols c. is all false when as the whole story and all the particulars of it are true and there is nothing false in the story from first to last only there is a mistake in the transition from the first part of the story to the second and in the passing from the first meeting to the second which in strict acception of words is no part of the story nor of the matters contained in it namely in those words of a meeting concluded of which implies a set meeting occasioned upon those opinions whereas the second meeting at which Mr. Greenhil declared these opinions of Nichols and all those speeches passed between them was not on purpose about Nichols and his opinions but a meeting where constantly on the Sabbath day mornings after Sermon Mr. Burroughs Mr. Greenhil and divers private Christians using to come Mr. Greenhil took occasion to speak of this Nichols opinions Now I desire the Reader to consider Mr. Allen relating to me the first meeting where Mr. Greenhil was without Mr. Burroughs with the opinions vented then and telling me there was a second meeting presently after that where upon occasion of a former meeting and opinions then maintained Mr. Greenhil related the opinions and all that discourse above mentioned passed but not acquainting me with the nature of the second meeting viz. that it was of course every week after Mr. Burroughs morning Sermon whether I might not well conclude and cannot easily conceive how I could understand it otherwise the second meeting to be occasioned by the first as well as the second Relation followed upon occasion of the first and though it were not just so viz. a set meeting
only give them the but calls them Brethren in iniquity with me scoffing at a saying of mine taken out of the City Petition But this saying of his need not be melancholy for want of company it hath brethren enough in the iniquity of it and who are these brethren but the Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councell O what an insolent bold passage is this The Reader need not wonder at his foul mouth and railing Dialect against me and my Book who cares no more for this Honourable Citie I doe not see how the Honourable Court of Common Councell can let it passe without questioning him to suffer a man who lives in the Citie under their Government to abuse them thus in print I am confident if the Presbyterians lived in a Citie under a Magistracie and Government where the Governers were Independent and should have abused them thus they would have made the Citie to hot for them 3. As for that I say of Overton and Eaton for all Cretensis mincing and shuffling I shall free my self from uttering untruth for Overton said after a boasting manner unto two sufficient witnesses that now there was an answer to my Antapologie and entred into the Hall-book and they apprehend him so especially one of them as that he took order to send me word I being then in the Country that an answer was certainly printing and for my greater assurance he had searcht the book and found it entred so that I and many lookt every day for the coming of it forth and I never knew before now that books were entred into the Hall-book but just when they were going to the Presse For Eaton an Independent Milliner I do not affirm that he spake the same words which Overton did for his words were spoken many months before Overtons only he is quoted in the Mâ—rgin as an instance to make good those words in the second page of my Preface Their great words and threats of an Answer which were these that he gave out There was an Answer to my Antapologie and he had seen it and the Author of it had discovered me to be a poor weak man and my Book a slight easie piece neither good sense nor good English or words to that effect which Eaton confessed he spake before witnesses since my Gangraena came forth that 's all I say of him or meant and I suppose these are great words and threats of an Answer Only by the way I desire Cretensis to resolve me these questions and then I will give him a good account why I called Eaton an Independent namely What was the true reason that Cretensis Reply to my Antapologie being entred in the hall-Hall-Book in Iuly last and given to the Bookseller to print was not printed but stopped And how it came to passe that Eaton if he be no Independent had the Reply to my Antapologie communicated to him to read and peruse And when Cretensis hath resolved these questions it may be by the next if he answer not truly I shall tell him the reasons of the stop and to whom else besides Eaton this Reply hath been communicated as to Master Sympson and may be tell him what Master Overton or his man or both have told a friend of mine about the Answer to my Antapologie as namely what the Licenser did upon perusing of it and of the Title given to it about The Accuser of the Brethren cast c. 4. As for the report of some of Master Iohn Goodwins Church c. I observe Cretensis denyes it not but puts it off with one of his usuall tricks That he beleeves I no more know it then declare it And indeed this is one of Cretensis jugling wayes which he makes often use of in this Book when he knowes not what well to say then he comes in with I beleeve he no more knoweth and I no more beleeve Cretens pag. 48 49. And truly 't is somewhat strange to me that he who is so hard of beliefe in divine things that he will not beleeve the Scriptures without reason and hath preached lately with much earnestnesse and violence that Faith is not to guide Reason but Reason Faith will yet in humane things beleeve any thing against all sense and reason But to put Cretensis out of doubt that I know and can prove what I say I offer Cretensis upon promise made from him and his Church that the honest men who told it out of their zeal to the cause and their rejoycing in an Answer coming and to perswade the Presbyterians to the truth of it who have alwayes much doubted of an Answer to the Antapologie shall not be censured by the Church nor looked upon with an evill eye nor hundred by this from being taken into the preferment of being a Prophet and preaching for Cretensis I will name the Minister to whom it was told and the members by whom and for encouragement to Cretensis and his Church to make this promise I will for present name the first letter of the godly Ministers name well acquainted with some of the Church namely Master B. Cretensis Sect. 26. page 38 39 40 41. spends many leaves in labouring to disprove the information given me of one Cosens of Rochester and related by me affirming that relation to be forgery of forgeries and all is forgery all over it and that in it there are well nigh quot verba tot mendacia and hee goes over seven particulars putting the lye upon each of them concluding there is scarce a clause of a sentence true in this Relation And as all along upon each particular so both in the entrance to this Answer and in the close of it he is full of jears scoffs and foul uncivill language Reply This story being the last of those related by me in Gangraena which Cretensis excepts against in his Answer and the story next unto that of Nichols and Master Burroughs if not more in some respects which he most insults upon and triumphs in I have therefore reserved it to the later end as being the last particular matter of fact I shall reply unto for the justification and vindication of my selfe against the foul-mouthd aspersions of Cretensis And I shall first speak to the manner of his Answer and confutation of this Story and secondly to the matter of it But before I speak to either of these I shall minde the Reader of that which I have often spoken of upon severall other particulars which I have replyed unto namely that hee must not look for all now that may be said lest I anticipate my larger Reply as also because there is a Gentleman out of Town whom I have expected almost this three weeks to come to London who can tell mee some circumstances in this story for proofe of some things more fully and cleerly then the Minister from whom immediately I received it And indeed I am told there is a mystery in some passages of this businesse about Cosens which being unfolded will
County swore the same again the second time and was far from waving it as appears by the examination under the Clerks hand of the Committee which I have set down and now I might say to the Reader keep tale this is the third down-right fall more then a stumble this is a big lye with others in the belly of it for first the former words were not charged upon Cosens by Francis Tillet but only these words and therefore how could he be re-examined upon that of which he never informed nor was formerly examined Secondly much lesse then could he upon oath wave them and for the other words which he was re-examined upon he stood to them before the Committee and is ready to testifie them still whensoever he shall be called thereunto 4. Cretensis affirms that he who deposed these words viz. That if Christ were upon the earth again c. did upon re-examination before the Committee wave them as appears by the said examination under the hand of the Clerk of the said Committee Now I might here say score up this is the fourth word of folly in Cretensis confutation for there is no such examination under the hand of the Clerk of the said Committee but the contrary to it as appears by that examination set down already taken upon oath before Sir Anthony Weldon c. and subscribed by Andrew Lydall Clerk Committee This untruth may well stand for two or at least be printed in a Capitall Letter because he affirms a grosse lye and a thing quite contrary to truth to be under the hand of the Clerk of the Committee 5. Cretensis proceeds upon this examination that he saw it which I saw I might here say Tally on this is a fifth phib in this relation for how could Cretensis see that which never was but if he saw any such thing that Francis Tillet should deny these words he must needs see something that was forged by some of his Sectaries to engage him to confute Mr. Edwards Book 6. Cretensis further asserts that he read this under the hand of the Clerk of the Committee I might here say Cretensis still advances in his Cretian way and this is the sixth flaw for how could he read that which never was and I conceive Cretensis will upon a review of what he hath written cry peccavi and say I was deluded and quite mistaken 7. And lastly the said Independent confutation and assertion for uniformity sake that it may end as it began or rather end worse by rising and ascending in untruths affirms in the close of it that this examination is forth-coming for any man to peruse for his satisfaction Now Reader remember the account for this is the seventh and eighth time at least yea the ninth and tenth that this confutation prevaricateth with the truth for in these words this examination is forth-coming there are many lyes First there is no such examination Seconly then it cannot be forth-coming Thirdly not for any one man to peruse much lesse for any man And fourthly it can be much lesse for satisfaction And I much wonder Cretensis if you had seen and read an examination under the hand of the Clerk of the Committee proving what you here say and confuting this part of the story related by me of Cosens and that tending so much to the satisfaction of any man why did you not cause it to be forth-coming printing it here together with your Confutation Certainly Cretensis had you seen and read such an examination under the hand of the Clerk of the said Committee there can be no reason given why you should not have printed that as well as an Anabaptists Letter written to an Anabaptist and a writing given you from Mr. Burroughs surely an examination under the Clerks hand of a Committee would have been more authenticall with rationall men to have convicted my Book of untruths then a Letter of an Anabaptisticall boy c. and therefore for my part I am confident Cretensis saw that in the examination brought him by Cosens which being printed would have disadvantaged his foul-mouth'd Confutation of this story either contradicting or rendring the whole suspected and therefore he suppressed it being willing to blast my Book for the present while it was new come forth and much sought after making account if after I should be able to disprove him yet he could not play his after game either by pleading mistakes and that he was so informed or else by his Rhetorick and words at will wrusting either the examination brought him to these word in Cretensis or else these words and phrases of his to the examination however one way or other to shift for his credit and to wrangle it out in which Cretensis hath a wonderfull Art and faculty by his wit and largenesse of conscience to call black white and to make quidlibet ex quolibet and however Cretensis to work the Reader to a belief of him in the confutation of this part of the story of Cosens speaks of an examination under the hand of the Clerk of the said Committee which he saw and read yet I am confident he knew it would not prove what he here saith and my confidence is upon this ground because from his own words I gather he had this counter-information from the mouth of the said Cosens and the examination under the hand of the Clerk of the Committee what ever it was was brought him by Cosens Now I conceive that examination under the hand of the Clerk of the Committee which Cosens shewed Cretensis he also shewed me which I carefully read and that in the presence of three Citizens in which there was nothing in the judgement of us four to weaken this testimony of Francis Tillet but rather by that and the confession of Cosens himself to us much fell from him to confirm the truth of this and other passages in this story which I presently writ down as soon as Cosens was gone and for a need besides my own testimony those Citizens will be ready to witnesse also the truth of what then passed so that by all this the Reader may see more untruth in one peece of Cretensis confutation of the story of Cosens then there are pretended untruths made by all the art and malice of Cretensis against the whole story of Cosens so that to conclude this I aske of Cretensis who is the lyar now and I suppose I may more truly apply Cretensis own words a little changed spoken against me to himself doubtlesse the man hath sold himself to write all and all manner of untruths that hee can but scrapple together from what mouths or tongues or pens he cares not so they be but Independent in their constitution and carry any antipathy in them to the honour and good of Presbytery and in case they be but such 't is no matter if they be Anabaptists Seekers yea loose drunken persons and Blasphemers Cretensis by this Answer hath proved many
things I spake of in Gangraena all the Sectaries and Blasphemers closing with Independents and the Independents with them to make one common party against the godly Orthodox Ministers and people of these Kingdomes who are for truth and peace 3. Cretensis proceeds to infringe the truth of my Relation of the story of Cosens in five other particulars but by this part of the story which I have made good and the many particulars wherein I have disproved Cretensis especially considering 'tis all of the same complexion Cosens information being the sole ground whereupon Cretensis goes as he confesses pag. 40. the Reader may easily guesse at the rest and my Authors I with the Records produced are more authentick then Cosens bare no therefore for present I shall not enlarge further upon the third fourth fifth heads of Cretensis but reserve to my full Reply the whole Relation of Cosens being bound over by the Justices upon these blasphemies attested against him to the Sessions and of his being imprisoned for speaking words against a Member of the House of Commons dwelling in that county and of the complaint for his blasphemies against Christ exhibited to the Recorder of Rochester and of the Recorders binding him to his good behaviour out of the pious sense he had of the wrong done to Christ and the words he spake to him and of his addresse to the Committee of Kent for a review of these Depositions c. only there seems to be some interfering between the third and fourth branch of Cretensis confutation Cretensis denying Cosens to be ever under any restraint or needing any order from any in place or to any in place to release Cosens in reference to his blasphemies and yet he saith presently after upon the fight of the fore-mentioned examination taken upon oath before the Committee by the Justices the man was discharged Now I demand What was he discharged from and whether was not this discharging of the man a releasing of the man Oportet Cretensem esse memorem 4. As to Cretensis sixt branch calling that part of the relation of Cosens a loud lying Information I reply 'T is a mainifest truth and will be witnessed by many that Den Lamm and Woodman all three of them have preached in Cosens house which is so evident in Rochester that as the dayes of the moneth when they preached are known so are the names of many of the Auditours that were present and for proof of it 't is given me under hand from Rochester that Woodman himself confest it the very same day he preached before a Justice of peace and other witnesses being apprehended by the Officers and brought before him who being thus convented gave it under his hand that he would never again preach within five miles of Rochester and though Cosens saith he knowes no such man which we think upon good ground is a lie yet can he deny that Woodman hath preached in his house which is the thing asserted 5. For that last part of the relation of Cosens going to Master Clares c. for uniformity sake made a lie by Cretensis because he was set upon it to blast all for lies I reply that as the first part is confessed to be true so is the last as true though denyed for Master Clare affirmes he said he would complain of him and let Cosens be think himself what he said of Master Clare and he must confesse it As for that argument Cretensis brings why he did not threaten to complain of him and that the man dares not threaten to question any whatsoever because 't is his judgment none ought to be questioned or troubled for their judgements in matters appertaining unto God I answer 'T is a weak one and it followes not because the Sectaries principles and practices do not agree they practising many things often wherein they professe contrary How many Sectaries have we in these dayes who plead for and professe liberty of conscience which yet have not only threatned godly Ministers and Christians for their consciences but actually have brought them into trouble and punished them severall waies Surely Cretensis if you had read Histories of the Church both ancient and modern you would have sound Hereticks and Sectaries as Arians Donatists Anabaptists Socinians Arminians professing as Cosens here does who yet when they have had opportunities proved great persecuters of the Orthodox godly Ministers and wee well know by many shrewd signes and instances that if Cretensis and his abettors who have so much pleaded for a Toleration shall come once to get power in their hands they will as much tolerate Presbyterians as now they will to come into any place office employment Ecclesiasticall Civill or Military where 't is in their power to hinder them And therefore Cretensis you had need bring better Arguments to confute my Antapologie which your Sectaries give out you are upon or else you will doe the Apologists little good either in matter of fact or in answering the argumentative part of it 6. Cretensis in his animadversions and inferences made upon my relation of the story of Cosens not knowing who related it to me nor the occasion of the relation c. yet in the close of his confutation of the story of Cosens most falsly and wickedly without fear or wit brands him who related it to mee with such words as these But who is Master Edwards godly orthodox Presbyterian Ministerâ— Is hee not such a one who works stoutly at the forge and feeds both himselfe and the world with all manner of scandals and falshoods against the Independents without fear Certainly Cretensis throat is an open sepulchre and the poyson of asps is under his lips What shall be given unto thee or What shall be done unto thee thou false tongue This passage against the godly Minister who told mee this story fils up the measure of Cretensis rage lying and evill speaking and hee could hardly have spoken more untrue words then these whether hee consider the man himselfe or the manner of his relating it In one word the Minister who related this story to me is a reverend learned godly humble retired man a man who hath been many yeers of good account in the Church of God a Member also of the Assembly and a man far from forging or feeding himselfe and the world with all manner of scandals against the Independents c. and this Minister did not make it his businesse or work to tell mee this story coming to mee or ever intending to come but I going in London upon my occasions this Minister accidentally being in a shop with a friend of his a Citizen whom I knew also I spake to them as I was going by and they to mee and so in the shop exchanging a few words the Citizen asked me if my Book were come forth or when it would whereupon this Minister and I had some words about the subject of it and falling into discourse hee related this
testimonies of Letters written from many parts as also by speeches expressed of it and if Câ—etensis would confesse that 's the true reason hee is so offended with it because it hinders making of Proselytes and so for want of growing up to such a number as they desigâ—e and hope for they may misse of a Toleration and so in the issue a Domination which is so much sought for by them And for a conclusion of my Reply to Cretensis I shall turne my selfe to speake a few words to Master Goodwin and to the Reader Master Goodwin Consider sadly of what you have done in your Book Cretensis how you are become guilty and have made your selfe partaker of all the Heresies Bâ—asphemies wicked practices I have spoken against in pleading for all without any distinction as Saints servants of God and such like and speaking against with envenomed malignity that necessary usefull Book as a very pest and plague which I writ for discovery of Errours and erroneous persons that so the Saints might take heed and beware of them and in which all godly orthodox faithfull Ministers doe rejoyce and blesse God for it O wretched man to carry things so as if Errours would doe no harme to mens soules but a Book written against them that will hurt and hazzard mens soules which is all one as if a man should say Strong poyson would doe no hurt nor kill but a precious Antidote will destroy and ruine mens bodies And now good Reader I desire thee impartially and without prejudice to weigh Cretensis objections and exceptions against my Book and my Answers and then judge whether I have not wounded and laid this great Goliah of the Sectaries coming out in defiance against the Reformed Churches upon his back and whether God who chuseth the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty and things which are despised to bring to nought things that are of esteeme hath not made use of me a man so vilified by the Sectaries a poor weak thimble full of dust by the wind strongly blowing this thimble full of dust into Cretensis eyes to blinde him and befool him And yet I have not done with Cretensis but let the Reader look for what 's behind viz. my fuller Reply and what ever in this first is either omitted or not so fully spoken unto in that he may look to receive more satisfaction And I no whit doubt but that as I have now by Gods assistance made a good beginning both defensive and offensive so by the same good hand upon me I shall in the next give so good an account that I shal deal with this daring enemy as little David with Goliah stand upon him and triumph over him and give you his head upon the top of my sword And in my next I intend to dresse him up and set him out in all his ornaments and flowers in his practices opinions and wayes of promoting them in all which I shall render him and his name an abhorring to this and the following generations Since Cretensis answer there is a Book come forth written by one Mr. Bacon which Book is answered by one Mr. Corbet the man whom in that Book hee so often speaks of and it is abroad in print already What I spake of him in Gangraena hee in that Book confesses as his being cast out of Glocester and his coming to London c. speaking particularly of that which I touched only and but in generall as the Lords house in which hee lives And besides that I heare one Web hath an Answer in the Presse to what I relate of him pag. 106 107. which Answer before it went to the Presse by a providence came to my hand without ever seeking it or indeed imagining that ever Web such an Heretike and Blasphemer durst have appeared in print or been taken notice of to be in London for feare of being questioned for those things I have written of him But wee may see what sad times wee are fallen into and that the Sectaries are grown fearlesse that they dare come abroad and plead their desperate cause as Master Saltmarsh Walwyn so now Master Bacon and Web which symptome among many others makes mee feare the night and darknesse is at hand when as the wolves and the wild beasts dare come thus out of their dens whereas when the Sun arises they go to their dens The Psalmist tels us Psal. 104.20 22. Thou makest darknesse and it is night when all the beasts of the forrest do creep forth The Sun ariseth they gather themselves together and lay them downe in their dens Hence the Scripture cals wolves the wolves of the evening Zeph. 3.3 and look as the Frogs croaking and making a noyse use to be in the evening so the croaking of false Teachers resembled to wolves the beasts of the forrest and Frogs presages the going downe of the Sun and night coming But because I purpose not to trouble my selfe with giving any formall answer to it by it selfe I shall now give these Animadversions upon it First That Web confesses most of the things I relate of him only hee saith of some of them hee had recanted and disclaimed them and I should not have upbraided him but rejoyced in his conversion But unto that I reply Had not this Web since his Recantation and Release both in Citie and Countrey vented many desperate things and gone on in his hereticall wayes I should never have mentioned them Secondly That this Web rancks himselfe in his Answer among the Independents speaking of mee as being so against him out of my ill will to Independents and I finde Iohn Bachiler an Independent not onely April 1. 1646. setting his Imorimatur but helping him in his Answer mending severall things in the Answer as for example For those words I charge him with that he should say For him to say he was equal with Christ was no robberie in his Answer to that Bachiler helps this Blasphemer and takes part with him as for instance whereas Web justifies it that Gods love is the same in every respect unto the Saints as unto Christ and therefore a Saint may say he is equall with Christ and count it no robbery in every respect is blotted out by Bachiler And VVeb further pleading he might say The Saints were equall to Christ next following these words of Webs As I conceive the word of God to be my rule there is interlined under Bachilers hand these words Provided I meet with a faire and candid interpretation of my Words And so I could instance in divers other alterations so that we may see the Independents will not lose any the most blasphemous Atheisticall hereticall men but further them and joyne with them against the Presbyterians licensing their Writings helping them to conceale and deliver more cautelously their dangerous opinions Thirdly for that which is related by me in Gangraena of Webs speaking so wickedly of the Scriptures he denyes it not
upon all the Ordinances of Parliament in reference to the Directorie Ordination of Ministers and Church-government leaving out none but the last Ordinance about Commissioners wherein the Parliament and Assembly are usufferably reviled and railed at and particularly the Parliament charged with speaking blasphemy and being guiltie of many other crimes And lastly The Sectaries are so violent and insufferably insolent that though they abuse persons or things or do the strangest actions either against Lawes or Ordinances if they be but questioned by any in authoritie for these things in stead of confessing their offences submitting and carrying themselves peaceably and humbly they will abuse and miscall Authority to their faces yea set out printed books against them reproaching and reviling them to the open world of which I might give many instances as in the case of one Hawes committed lately by some Justices of Peace upon two witnesses testifying words spoken by him derogatory to the second and third Persons in the Trinity a book was printed wherin they are reviled and clamoured against So upon one Larner's commitment about a dangerous book entituled Londons last warning there is a book put forth aspersing the L. Mayor of London the Committee of Examination and the Right Honourable the House of Peeres And lastly upon Lievtenant-Colonell Lilburns commitment many Pamphlets were printed speaking bitterly against the Committee of Examinations and the honourable House of Comons as Englands Birthright severall printed Letters c. The Sectaries have lately put forth two pamphlets with a picture drawne and affixed to them greatly abusing all the Presbyterians The first is called Dictated thoughts upon the Presbyterians late Petitions to the Parliament the other is the book called Tender Conscience religiously affected propounding questions upon the Ordinances of Parliament The maine of the picture is an heart pictured over which is written Tender Conscience religiously affected with some verses over that and under the heart with daggers at it stands the Pope the Prelate and the Presbyter in the midst of them two with a book in his hand where Directorie is written Antichristian Presbyter written by him and the Crown under his foot he treading upon it and a dagger in his hand reaching at the heart of tender conscience but a chaine with a weight hanging at his arm whereby he is hindred and falls somwhat short of pricking tender conscience with his dagger Now I could write a book in giving observations and making a confutation of this picture and these mottoes but I must studie brevitie I will onely hint a few things 1. That I have been informed for certain and it was spoken of by some Merchants on the Exchange that in Holland the picture of an Independent is drawn and set out publikely and he is pictured thus with God written in his mouth the Devill written just upon his heart and the world written and pictured as he holding it in his armes 2. It may be this picture of a Presbyterian will cause the picture of an Independent to be drawne here in London set out with Mottoes as also what he hath under his feet c. and if it prove so 't is but just and the Independents may thank themselves 3. For the Picture it selfe of a tender Conscience which they make the Presbyterian lifting up a dagger to stab I am confident the Presbyterians are as truly tender-conscienced men as any in England yea far above the Sectaries and for the Sectaries take them generally they are far from being tender-conscienced men as I shall shew at large in my Treatise against Toleration under that head of answering that objection that tender Consciences must be â—orn with where I shall prove by many instances they are men of large consciences and have consciences like to Ostrich stomachs that can digest iron that can digest a generall Toleration of all Religions can beare with them that are evill or any thing that is wicked so it will promote the Catholike Cause and in truth in stead of being a truly consciencious people and going upon religious principles they are a meere politike Faction driving on strange designes and having ends of their own 4. Whereas they place the Presbyter in the midst of the Pope and Prelat how might they more truly have placed an Independent and other Sectaries the Independents shaking hands and complying more with Papists and Prelats than Prebyterians as I could prove by many instances of familiar passages and speeches that have passed between some Sectaries and Papists and Prelats and some speeches again of Papists and Prelats of the Independents some wherof the Reader may find in this Book pag. 16 126. 5. That of the Presbyterian trampling the Crown under his feet is a most wicked lye and confuted in the sight of the Sun by the experience of thesâ— times for who stand more for the Crowne the Kings Person and Honour his just greatnesse and his Posteritie after him than the Presbyterian partie and who are more against Monarchy the Kings Person and Honour than the Independent partie A Sectarie indeed may well be pictured with the Crowne under both his feet trampling it and breaking it all to peeces and together with the Crowne trampling the Church Ministerie and the Kingdome of Scotland under their feet and for proofe of Sectaries treading the Crowne under their feet witnesse Londons last warning commended sold dispersed up and down by Sectaries witnesse Walwyns an Arch-Sectaries speeches with othea passages of some of them as giving over praying for the King above this yeare laughing at them who pray for him as one of them praying publikely in the Church that the King might be brought in chains to the Parliament as speaking against his coming in or being received in but under the notion of a Delinquent and that he deserved to die if any man did with such like speeches 6. That of the Presbyter endevouring to destroy the â—â—nder Conscience religiously affected only hindred by a great clog hanging upon him is a wicked scandall for the tendernesse forbearance love indulgence of the Presbyterians when they were in their highest power and the Independents weak and low is known to all this Kingdome and had they been such men as the Independent Painter would make them the Sectaries had never growne to this boldnesse to make such a Picture nor these Kingdoms so troubled with them as now they are but the truth of it is a Sectarie may well be painted with a dagger thus running at the heart of the Presbyterians tender consciences religiously affected and had they not clogs upon their arms we should find it so by lamentable experience they have made violent attempts against Presbyterians and they have given out many threatning words and certainly designed and comforted themselves that ere long they should be able to crush the Presbyterians for proofe whereof besides instances already given in this Book pag. 67. I shall add two or three at present One Smart
a compleat and formed Heresie in any faithfull man if Schisme be not joyned and so consequently it will not much hurt the Church of God But Schisme of it self even with sound Doctrine in every point is a most greivous wickednesse which exceeds all other wickednesse I might out of the Fathers enlarge and show the great evill of Schisme both in it self and the effects of it how 't is a greater evill to rend the Church then to worship Idols yea that Martyrdome it self cannot profit a Schismatick that 't is so great an evill that the bloud of Martyrdome cannot blot it out so Cypr. and Chrysost. and that God hath more severely punished it then murâ—her and other great crimes Corah Dathan and Abiram for their Schism were punished more severely with the earth opening and swallowing them up quick then Cain and then those who made an Idoll so Optatus and Augustine but I shall leave the enlarging of these and the adding of more to a Tractate I intend of the nature of Schisme only by this and all the dreadfull examples laid down in the First and Second part of Gangraena as Wrighter Clarkson Hicb Webb Boggis Oats Ienney Mistris Attaway Niâ—bols Denne c. we may learn to see that Schism and Separation are great evills highly displeasing to God and that we have great reason to shun and flye from them as from a Serpent lest wee become Monsters of men and God give us up to a reprobate sense and a spirit of Errour In a word to conclude this Corallarie what the Apostle speaks to the Corinthians of Idolaters c. long before their time that these things happened unto them for examples and these things were their examples to the intent they should not be Idolaters c. that I may say of our times that all these spirituall punishments on Schismaticks in our dayes and times are our examples to the intent that wee should not separate from this Church and set up other Churches lest God let us fall from Independency to Anabaptism and Antinomianism and from Anabaptisme to be Seekers and from Seekers to be Antiscripturists and Sceptiks yea Blasphemers and Atheists CORALL IV. HEnce then we see from all these Errours Heresies Blasphemies proceedings of the Sectaries That Magistrates Ministers and other Christians Masters of families Parents c. have been asleep and too carelesse that so many tares have been both sowed and are grown up to such an head If the Magistrates Ministers and Christians every one in their places and callings had been awake and watchfull improving their power authority gifts for purity of Doctrine and Unity the field of this Kingdome could not have been so sowen with tares nor the garden of this Church so overgrown with weeds yea briers and thorns Christ tels us in the Parable Matth. 13.25 While men slept the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat that is the Divell takes occasion by the negligence and slothfulnesse of those that have the charge of others to doe mischiefe in Gods Church The Prophet Isaiah showes Isa. 56.9 10. that All the beasts of the field yea the beasts of the forrest come to devoure viz. Hereticks and Schismaticks resembled to wolves foxes c. enter in not sparing the Flock and the reason is The watchmen are blinde dumb dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber that is their Rulers both Ecclesiasticall and Civill that should watch the approach of the enemy and be as watchfull mastives to give warning of theeves approaching to the house or wolves to the flock are either dumb or drunk or fast asleep And truely we may thank the connivance and winking of Magistrates the silence and forbearance of Ministers the want of zeal in Masters and Parents that spirit of slumber and sleepines that hath fallen upon the Kingdom for all the tares wilde oats and weeds that are grown and sprung up among us And to all the sorts of Sects in this Kingdome which I have named as Seekers c. I may add this of Sleepers and Dreamers which I am afraid are the most generall of any other there being too many Sleepers in all places and among all ranks in Citie Countrey among the Magistrates Ministers and private Christians and would to God this were the worst in this Kingdome that many both in Magistracy and Ministery were onely sleepy and heavie and that they were not in a dead sleep in a lethargie that nothing can awake them but 't is too apparent that God hath powred out upon many the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed their eyes even Rulers and Seers hath hee covered and all the Sermons Books Speeches which one would think would awaken men are as the word of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one saying Read this and he saith I cannot for it is sealed nay not onely so but this is the condition of this Church and State that many who are dead asleep as in reference to prevent or suppresse the sowing of Heresies and Schisms are awake and alive yea watchfull at midnight and waiting upon all opportunities to promote and further Heresie Schism and to hinder crosse all means for the suppressing of them witnesse the many Emissaries sent forth into most parts of this Kingdome witnesse the many books written sermons preached for them witnesse those who stand up for and use all means to bring off Sectaries when in question c. witnesse many who professe to be against Independency and for Presbytery to be with us that upon all occasions even before the Parliament and in other places heal the hurt of this Kingdome slightly and dawb with untempered morter preaching that our errours are not so many that there are them who make them to be more then they are and call Truths of God Errours and they say that in other times as in the Primitive Church c. there were greater errours and therefore wee need not be so troubled But for my part I look upon this luke-warm temper remissenesse in reference to the faith once delivered to the Saints which hath possessed so many in this Kingdome Magistrates Ministers and people as that which may hazzard all and may once more provoke God to spue out of his mouth the luke-warm Angel that is neither cold nor hot And to draw towards a conclusion of this I shall speak to those in authority in the words of the Prophet David Psal. 2.10 11 12 Be wise now therefore O yee Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Kisse the Son lest hee be angry and yee perish from the way The summe of which Scripture is an exhortation to Kings Parliaments and all sorts of Governours in high place 1. To lay aside pride and self-conceit of their own carnall wisdomes and with meeknesse to receive the yoke and Government of Christ laid down in his word and by their Lawes and Ordinances to
in regard of the many Sectaries among us and the height they have risen unto as ever we were before for their help against the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant partie and therefore happie England both for the present and for the future that now wee are coming to a Peace we are so joyned and wrapped up in Covenant with Scotland that the Peace and Vnion is not of England alone but of both Kingdoms and that this is our advantage I shall commend to the Readers consideration some particulars out of the Speeches of Mr. Solicitor a prime able Member of the House of Commons and Mr. Burroughs a chiefe man among the dissenting Brethren Mr. Solicitor speaking of the benefits that will redound to this Kingdome and the advantage we shall have by a nearer Association with the Scots and by their coming in to this purpose for our assistance showeth that certainly they are many The third is this that whosoever we doe come to a Peace whom Gods time is come that we shall have one yet their coming in in all probability it will cause us to have a better a surer and a better grounded Peace then if they doe not come in And likewise what peace soever we have that it will be perpetuated and be the securer for us and our posterity to reap the benefit of it But how is it like to be when there shall not onely be our owne Kingdome but a Brother Kingdome an entire Kingdome one of the same Religion with us one that loves their liberties as well as we when they shall bee ingaged in point of interest with us when the same Law the same Acts of Parliament that shall compose the differences when if it be broken on our parts in any thing that concernes us they cannot conceive but that it may be their case the next day because it all depends upon one Law one and the same title and their interests is the same So that if there were nothing else in it but that we were like to have the better peace and on better termes and whatever it be 't is likely to bee kept the better to us and our posteritie if nothing else were in it that were much to our advantage surely if by some considerable summe of money wee might have brought in and have them at the end of this Peace and interested in it as well us our selves Master Burroughs saith how happy should wee be if wee might have them in a neere union with us And a people that have carried themselves with as great honour and faithfulnesse with as great wisdome and order in the most difficult worke that ever a people did undertake in those by and intricate paths that were before untrodden Certainely that they undertooke at the beginning of their worke but a few years since it could not but bee looked upon with the eye of reason as the most unlikely worke ever to have proceeded aâ— any worke hath ever done and yet how hath the Lord been with them and with what wisdome and graciousnesse have they carried it So that from the consideration of all I have said in this Corallary and from these passages in these speeches t is good by all meanes to preserve the union of England and Scotland and seeing we shall be so happy in a neere union and God is so much with them and carries them thorough with so much wisdome and graciousnesse and that wee shall have the better Peace and have it the better kept by having them at the end of it and interested in it as well as our selves let 's hearken to no Sectaries nor Independents false surmisings evill reports and scandalls cast upon our Brethren of Scotland but pray and seek by all means a more near union and communion betweene that Kingdome and this for there is a blessing in them and for my part I had a great deale rather fall and perish if the will of God were so with the Kingdome of Scotland and the Presbyterian party in England standing for the Covenant and the truth professed in all the Reformed Churches then to grow and flourish for a while with the Sectaries standing for a Toleration of all Sects and Opinions yea then to be a King among them as Iohn of Leyden was at Munster FINIS Errata First part Epist Dedicat. pag. 2. Parenthesis ends after your pleasure Epist. Dedic p. 8. l. 13. r. can you think Preface p. 6. l. 2. r. eternall p. 6. l. 16. r. rejected p. 9. l. 22 dele and p. 11. l. 5. r. eternall Gangraena second part in the Licence r. Dauâ—us p. 66. l. 19. r. many p. 27 l. 26. r. Cosens p. 29. l. 4. r. formally p. 30. l. 37. r. his p. 34. l. 14. r. by snatches p. 36. l. 13. r. shovve p. 41. l. 22. after but dele a. p. 45. l. 101 r. aggravating p. 45. l. 27. for and the proofs r. and the persons upon proof p. 45 l. 28. r. to the nature p. 46. l. 9. after Scotland add France p. 46. l. 25. r. desired p. 47. l. 17. after as dele yet p. 47. l. 20. r. moneths p. 48. l. 7. r. Sun p. 51. l. 34. r. not p. 54. r. Presbyterians p. 55. l. 13. dele that p. 56. l. 23. r. hovv p. 57. l. 18. r. quum p. 58. l. 22. r. undeniably p. 58. l. 24. r. vvords p. 58. l. 37. r. imputation p. 100. l. 14. r. of p. 123. r. VVrighter p. 127. l. 31. r. books p. 114. l. 27. so to that purpose p. 128. l. 12. r. are men p. 132. l. 13. r. Sprat p. 146. l. 2. r. propagating p. 66. marg note r. sanctitate p. 72 73 c. for M. Allen r. M. Alley p. 89. r. proved p. 97. r. mendacia THE TABLE THe first part of Gangraena is by the Printer cast into two severall numbers of pages which divides the whole into two the first consisting of 66. Pages the other of 116. Pages according unto which division the Reader must goe in finding out the Contents specified in these following Tables The first Table shewing the Contents of the first Division consisting of 66. pages besides the Preface is as follows THe Authors Preface wherein are laid down these Particulars 1. The Authours long expectation of a Reply to his Antapologia according to the great words given out of a Reply by the Independent Party 2 The reason of his so long silence and discontinuance from the Presse 3 His purpose and resolution of often coming into the Presse for the time to come 4 The Authours account to the Reader of the nature of the present Book and his scope therein 5 The hatred malignity reproaches from the world yea misconstructions from friends which Ministers who appeared against the errors of the times have met with as Christ the Apostles Fathers Athanasius Augustine Hierom modern Writers as Luther Zuinglius Calvin 6. Their undaunted courage constancy in going on against errours notwithstanding all their sufferings 7 The
Divorce Of Marriage and of Parents and children Of Warre and of fighting and killing These three last Errours vented in a Book called A true Vindication of the generall Redemption of the second oneâ—atte â—atte printed 1645. Book intit A Heavenly Conference for Sions Saints by Iohn Turner printed in the year 1645. Book intit The fulnesse of Gods love printed 1643 pag. 25. Fulnesse of Gods love manifested pag 39. Fulnesse of Gods love manifested pag. 58 93. Fullnesse of Gods love manifested pag 1.59 Arreignment of Persecuâ—ion pag. 93. This Best with his Manuscripts were sent up last summer and is by the Parliament committed to the Gate-house Heresiography or Descrâ—t of Heret and Sectaries An Independent Minister in a Church here in London prayed these words following * It vvas the first Position of many vvell-affected Citisens for setling the government subscribed by manie hands but not presented In Septemb. last * This praier vvas the next Lecture after Mr. Iohn Goodvvin vvas put by Coleman-street It vvas upon the great prevailing of Montrosse Practises of the Sectaries * Augâ—st lib. 1. contra Parmen l. â— de baptismo contra Donatistas lib. 2. contra Petil. * August contra Parmen contra literas Petillian * August contra Petilian * August lib. 1. contra Parmen * August contra Parmen * August contra literas Petil. Vide Lit. Guil. Apoll. Respons * Lib. 1. de Bapt. contra Donat. lib. 2. de baptist * Book intiâ— The ancient bounds or lib. of Consc. a Title page b Synopsis purior Theolog disput de Magist. 50. Sect. 59 60. a Vide M. Rob. answ to M. Good Doct. of â—ustif cleared pag. 75 p. 110. b Vide M. Prynns Truth triumphâ—ng over falshood pag. 111. The seâ—st you 〈◊〉 is M. Edvvards whâ— maintaiâ—s 〈◊〉 blaâ—â—k against you thorouâ—out 〈◊〉 Treatisse a Good Innocencies triumph Out of my Antapol 169. The tovver of the Magâ—strate by vvhich hee punisheth sin doth not subserve to the kingdome of Christ the Mediatour Hee leaues 〈◊〉 that which follows in the same sentence there being no fullpoâ—t that he may apply efficaciously to the elect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Pâ—opheâ—icall and Priestly office of Christ hee doth not affect the invvard man and conscience vvith spirituall punishment c. Voâ—â— select disput penes quos sit potestas Ecclessiastica 1 Thes. 4 Thes. 5. Thes. Videâ—lius de Episcopat Constant. magni pag â— 4 â— 6. Vide Voet. Thes. 2. de Potest Eccles. Vedel de Episcop Const. magni Post habitam Synodum Dordraicam etiam libelli longè aliorum stilo scripti sunt quinâ— potestatem hanc non parum limitant ac contrahunt quam tamen tam liberaliter ante hac admensi erant These things I speake not of all the bishops that were nor of all men that were of that judgement there being some Orthodox learned painfull pious men that approved not those wayes but of the Faction * Lilb Innocency and Truth justified pag. 37. I conceive I may justly say without breach of their Priviledges That I have unjustly dealt with in my late imprisonment to be imprisoned so contrary to the known and declared Lawes I have been without either cause showne or a legall Triall Vide pag. 71. p. 75. But you will say the House of Commons is not at leisure by reason of the publike I answer lesse then an houres time will serve my turne in this particular and it is very strange in five yeares space so much time cannot be found from the publike to transmit my businesse sure I am they can finde time enough to settle great and rich places upon some of themselves and to enjoy them notwithstanding their own Ordinance to the contrary yea I know some of them at this day hath plurality of places I say the thing I desire of them is more justly my due then any of their great places are theirs and therefore I hope they have not had cause to be angry with me for craving justice at their hands being it was the end wherefore they were chosen and trusted and that which they are sworn to do Vide pag. 71. speaking of some passages in a Parliam Declarat not easily to be forgotten by those that made them if there be any sparks of honesty in their hearts Pag 21. which Warrant and Commitment though made by a Committee of the House of Common it as illegall at all the rest and in my apprehension against the very tenour and the true intent and meaning of the Petition of Right and expresly against the words of the Statute of the 41 of Ed. 3. Again pag. 37. But I have severall times been imprisoned both by the Committees and by the Vote of the House of Commons it selfe contrary to a knowne Law made this present Parliament by themselves against which there is at present no Ordinance published and declared by them and the Peeres for the cognizance of Ergo I say they are tied in justice according to the tenour of this Law to give me reparation against those persons that were chiefe instruments either in Committees or in the House of Commons it selfe to vote and take away my liberty from me contrary to this Law and for my own part I doe expect my reparation for my late causelesse molestations and imprisonments Pag. 69 I shall freely declare the maine reason which makes me in being true to my liberty and freedome that in point of honesty I cannot submit to that Oath in that I conceive all Lawes and Ordinances in such cases as this is ought to be universall to binde all and not so restrictive as the additionall Ordinance of Accounts is which exemptâ— Peeres Members of the House of Commons for my part I iudge my selfe as free a man though otherwise I desire not to make comparisâ—ns as any of them and I conceive I ought not to be in bondage to any Law or Ordinance that they themselves will not stand to a Theodoret. Hist. Eccles. lib. 3. cap. 7. Iulianus primum vetuit ne Galilâ—i sic enim fidei Seâ—vatoris nostri consecratos nuncapabat Poeticam Rhetoricam aut Philosophicam disceâ—ent Nam nostris ipsorum inâ—â—it penniâ— ut est in proverbio percellimaâ— siquidem nostrerâ—â— scriptorum praefidâ—â— muniti contra nos bellum suscipiunt Postea etiam aliam tulit legem qua mandavit ut omnes Galilaei id est Christiani è militia pelleâ—entur b Iulian the Apostata therefore granted a Toleratis on of the liberty of perdition as Austin callâ— it because he did hope by that meanes to destroy Christian Religion August Epist. 166. Iulianus inquit desertor Christi inimicus haereticis libeâ—tateâ— perditionis permisit et tunc Basilicaâ— haeretics â—ed sidiâ— quando templa Demoniis eo nodo â—â—tans Christianum nomen posse perite 〈…〉 veritaâ—e Ecclesiae de qua lapsâ—â—â—utâ—aâ— invide et et sacrilegas dissersiones libetas esse 〈…〉 peâ—m eteret
Prâ—teol 1. Elench Haeretic pag. 247. Iulianuâ— Aretiâ—â—â—â—thoren et ducem haeresis 〈◊〉 et â—onstanâ—i sententia damnatum et in â—tlium actum peâ—â—uam benignis literis revocavit et publica vectura reduxit Episcopo sub Constantio exilio mulctatos rerocavit et in urbes suas redire permisit Atque id ille non misericoâ—dia fecit sicut colligere est sed ut Epis opos inter se committens ad intestinuâ— armaret bellum et suis ipsa dissidiis Ecclesia labefactaâ—câ—ur The Emperour Valens did grant freedome of Religion to all heretickâ— yea and Heathens but was a great enemy to the Orthodox Theodoreâ— Hist. Eccles lib. 4 cap. 22. Valens impunitatem conceâ—â—it Gentilibus â—udaeis et aliis quibus que â—ui nomen Christianum sibi assumenses doctrâ—â—am Evangelio repugnantem praedicabant Solâ— autem Apostolicae doctrinae propugnatoribus tyâ—annus iste se hâ—stem praebuit * The Sectaries though they make but a fifth or sixth part of the Army and the noble Generall who commands all free from any touch of Sectarisiâ—e yet we see how insolent some of them have been of late bearing themselves upon the army talking of that upon all occasions of setling Church government what would they do if they had an army wholly of their own way and a Commander in chiefe according to their owne hearts A person of worth who was present at the opening of the Letters and named to mee the Gentleman to whom such news was writ told it me Moderate Intellig. Numb 44. from 1 Ian. to the 8. a I never justified that wicked oath Ex officio as Mr. Burton Mr. Calam. Iust. and necess Apologie against an ujust lnvective of Mr. Burtons pag. 5 8. b D. Holms I write not this to commend or prefer my selfe before others but because many Sectaries to blast my preaching and writing from doing good have given out falsly to many that I was a great time-server and a great man for the bishops and their wayes using that as an argument not to heed what I write or preach I therefore thought it necessary to say thus much for the undeceiving of many who know mee not And had I ever learned the Art of time-serving I should not have writ such a boâ—k as this nor preach as I do but would rather turne Sectarie â—or at least comply with them and so I might be a Creature and a darling of these times a Adversus â—aereses b Ad quod vult Deum c De haeresibus d Hâ—reticarum Fabularum e Contra libertinos Anabaptistas Servetum f De Haeresibus * Pag. 162 163. of this present Book and that pag. 8. a A word more to Mr. Edwards pag. 1. Sir untill I perceive the contrary I cannot but hope that I have prevailed something with you towards a change of your mind and that you have begun to repent you of the evill you have done by publishing your Book entituled the Gangraena Saltmarsh flowing of Christs bloud pag. 14. * The new Converts as it seems by the Relation here make a Feast for the Church and the Dipper upon their entrance into is by dipping and are then admitted to that they call the Lords Supper * This Commander is not in the service of the West belonging to any of the Regiments of that Army under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax but his command is in another part of the Kingdom * We see the liberty of conscience Sectaries will give if they had power The Relation followes after attested by the hands of witnesses * All kind of unlicenced Books that make any wayes for the Sects and against Presbyterians are sold at his shop and t is given out the manâ—â—els them but not the Master * An Anabaptisticall Emissary * Observe here both blasphemy and scoffing of the Parliament in a high manner * Of the name of the woman her meetings with other particulars â—â—ent this matter * A word more to Master Edwards Observe to what this pretended liberty of Conscience brings men namely to plead for Treason Rebellion and all kind of wickednesse * Gangraena pag. 12â— * That 's the main subject of both his Pamphlets A Whisper in the ear and A word more to Mr. Edwards * When he was prisoner there being taken by the Cavaliers when they came to Branford Reply to Cretensis Cretensis pag. 11. Cretensis Vide pag. 10. pag. 24. * Tit. 1.12 The Creâ—ans are alwaies Lyars * This is a lye in Cretensis Catalogue that Cosens never said it Cretensis pag. â— * Vide Petition of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commâ—ns of the City of London presented to the House of Peers Jan. 26. * Cretensis pag. 50. * I professe truly that I had not read one quarter of the Book of yet nor know whether I shall ever care to read it through or no. And in pag. 6. I have neither leasure nor opportunity to search to the bottome * Saltmarsh groans for liberty * That is proverbially called the thriving side and way Offices Moneys Honors Lands great places attending upon them * Mr. Thomas Goodwins Sermon call'd The great Interest of State and Kingdom p. 53. If any man think I am a pleading for a Liberty of all Opinions of what nature and how grosse soever I humbly desire them to remember that I only plead for Saints and I answer plainly The Saints need it not The Apostle tells us there are damnable Heresies so 2 Pet. 1.1 2 and they will soon unsaint them So that I speaking against the gâ—ossest Errors and men holding such in M. Tho Goodwins judgement I speak against those who are no Saints but are persons contradistinguished and opposed to Saints Quod autem vehementius egoviâ— agnosâ—â— culpum 〈◊〉 culpa est 〈◊〉 testimonium hoc mihi in mundo reddi in causa Dei mirifice gaudeo Atque utinam ipse Deus id testimoâ—ie in novisâ—ime die confirmaresâ— Qâ—is tum beatior Luthero qui tanti sui saeculi testimonio commendatur quod veritatis causam non seguiter neo fraudulenter sed vehementer satis vel potius nimio egerit tum ill Iud Ieremiae feleciter evaserim maledictus qui facit opus Dei negligenter Luthenus de servo Arbitrio This sent up to a Parliament man and a true Copy of this given me by a Member of the Assembly This Letter was written to a Member of the Assembly and the whole Letter printed verbatim follows afterwards * Praefat. ad Eccl. auie Acta Synodâ— National Dordr * Wotton de Reconcil par 2. lib. 1 cap. 15. pag 175.176 Wottonâ— de Recoâ—e part 2. l. 1. cap. 14. Quem ego de imputatione opinionis authorem fuisse mihi perswadeo * Master Pryns Truth Triumphing over Falshood Epistle Dedicat. and in the Book 106 107 108 where Mr. Priâ— both laies down his passages against the Parliament and confutes fully his justification and pleading for them * Whitaker Second Conâ—ro
story to mee and the Citizen which when I had it from him the last sheet of my Book being either printing off or quite printed off I put it in a Postscript as the Reader sees and therefore let all the world judg what untruths Cretensis hath belched out against this reverend and worthy Minister But Cretensis is a man that in all his Writings and Sermons falls upon all that come in his way having no respect of age place gifts sufferings c. if they be against his fond conceits and Sectaries And thus good Reader I have gone over all the particular materiall exceptions made against my Book entituled Gangraena by Master Saltmarsh Master Walwyn and Cretensis and I doubt not but by this time even by this briefer Reply every indifferent Reader is satisfied how unjust and false those outcries and clamours of lyes lyes are and how in them that Proverb is verified A great cry but a little wooll little cause but onely the rage and madnesse of the Sectaries to see themselves and their wayes so laid open in the sight of the Sun And yet I have not done with my Antagonists but shall more fully anatomize and rip them up and further justifie and cleer all things excepted against in Gangraena which being lighter are now passed over or though spoken unto need further amplification and illustration In a word there is nothing behinde untoucht that either glances upon mee or speaks for themselves and their partie but I intend to speak to it fully and am resolved God sparing me life and opportunity not to die in their debt And I could now play the Rhetorician and spend some leaves in running over all the Errours Heresies Blasphemies Practices Stories c. laid down in Gangraena not so much as once offered to be disproved though they be of persons and things here living and acted in London and neer at hand and which Cretensis with all his gatherings intelligences observations and presentations from Sectaries of severall sorts Anabaptists Independents Seekers c. and of severall parts in the Kingdome Kent Essex London c. hath been able to say nothing against and might going from one particular to another triumph over Cretensis stamping the superscription of Truth upon them and ask him What say you to the 84. and 85. Errours laid down in the Catalogue Is it not true that such things were preached in London Whether is not that which I have related of Paul Best true Whether did not Master Burroughs and Master Greenhill preach bitterly against the Petition of many well affected Citizens for the setling of Government And so I might goe through hundreds and of all those facts opinions practices that these three men have not been able though so willing to except against inferre conclude and flourish over Cretensis with his owne sword There is no reasonable man that considers the malignitie wrath c. of Master Saltmarsh Master Walwyn but especially of Cretensis against me and my late Book and the opportunities they have had through their acquaintance with Sectaries of all sorts besides the publick notice given of answering me as appears by the intelligence and particulars brought in to Cretensis from severall places to furnish him their Champion together with the extreme eager desire of Cretensis taking all advantages against mee making matter of confutation and lies of that which I am confident was never made by any Scholar in an Answer before as the house a meeting for Sectaries as the not being able to put the Nominative case and Verb together and such like but wil think they have spoke the utmost they possibly could against my Book and that of course some of the things drawn up and represented by the hand of Envie must needs be false so that whereas Cretensis conceives that now in his Answer hee hath informed the world how many lyes and untruths there are in Gangraena the truth is that hee and his fellow-sectaries have done it but faintly and with the extreme dammage of their own cause for all wise and unprejudiced men will acquit all the other particulars from the crimes and imputations of lies and falshood and conclude them all true and certain for surely if there had been any hole to have been picked in them either the malice or the wit or the industry or one thing or other of Cretensis and his associates would have found it out and not have spared me so that the very enemies bear winesse to the truth of the body of my Book the things that are found fault with by them being but a spot here and there a few in comparison if spots and I may say of all the exceptions taken by my three Antagonists supposing them to be mistakes though I have shewed the contrary What are these among so many not excepted against being but as gleanings to the vintage Cretensis pag. 50. and in his last Section winds up his Answer in speaking to the Reader that though for the present hee hath given him onely a taste of Master Edwards grapes yet sufficient hee presumes to convince the Reader that his vine is the vine of Sodom c. and professes that he hath 〈◊〉 read one quarter of the Book as yet nor knowes nor whether ever hee shall care to read it thorow or no and then labours to possesse the Reader that what hee hath not answered others will very shortly a few dayes hee makes no question will give the Reader more light to comprehend the darknesse of Gangraena and prophesies The day will come and is even at the door when there will be scarce one stone left upon another of all this false building which will not be pull'd down by the hand of Truth And when the servants of God shall have had the opportunity to wash off that durt and filth which Mr. Edwards hath cast upon them Gangraena will be found a strumpet yea and of the race and linage of that great scarlet Whore which corrupteth the earth with her fornication Reply As for Cretensis saying hee hath onely for present given a taste of Master Edwards grapes implying hee could feed the Reader with whole clusters and intimating hee hath a great deal more to say to my Book as other passages expresse besides this viz. pag. 38. I presume that Mistris Gangraena hath not as yet paid mee the tythe or tenth part of her forgeries c. I answer I beleeve Cretensis hath said all hee possibly could against Gangraena I doe not think hee left out any thing hee could object against it Whosoever reads but his Answer and observes his rage and heat his playing at the smallest games and picking of straws to finde matter against my Book to fill up six sheets with railing and declaiming against it will not think hee gave but a taste or a tenth But how could Cretensis say hee had given onely a taste for the present and not the tenth part when as hee professes truely hee had