after them When the Army was marching from Exeter for Oxford upon their marching there was a Fast kept by the Army and upon that Fast day divers of the Sectarian souldiers instead of keeping it were drinking all the day in Ale-houses and many of them were stark drunk Of this there was a Letter written from a worthy Colonell in the Army which was communicated to divers persons of worth and a worthy Member of the House of Commons who read it and knew all the particulars of place time c. related it to me in the hearing of a Member of the same House A Copie of a Lettter to a tittle sent to me from two worthy Ministers in Norwich Sir TThe second part of Gangraena gives us an intimation that you intend a more large and full reply unto him whose jugling aquivocations and fallacies have cleared you and deservedly branded himself and the rest of his fiction with the name of Cretensis your work the Title page tells us is a fresh Discovery of the Errours Heresies Blasphemies of the Sectaries of this time We are heartily sorrie that we have so reall grounds and so much cause in our City of Norwich to contribute any thing to so sad yet necessary work How daring and insolent they be appeares as by many other things so by this that one of them professed openly which we can prove that they would set up and maintaine in the City an Independent Lecture in despight of the Magistrate What scorne cont 〈…〉 ely and reproaches we and our Brethren of the Ministery meet with all you may guesse by this inclosed which information was taken by the Major as appeares by the date June 18. 1646. and was the day following deposed in open Court Whereupon this woman Priscilla Miles was by the Major and Justices bound over to the next Sessions The paper we send is no Transcript but the very information taken by the Town-Clark and subscribed by the hand of the Major and Informant We leave it to your wisdome whether you will stifle and lay it aside or make use of it for the publike and subscribe our selves Norwich June 25. 1646. Your Brethren and fellow labourers in the Lords worke John Carter John Thornbeâ—ke The Information of Richard Gunton Weaver taken before Henry Watts Major of the City of Norwich the 18. of June 1646. HE saith that Priscilla the wife of Richard Miles of Saint Margarets Parish hath often times abused Master John Carter the Minister of Saint Peters Parish by very vild and wicked revilefull speeches as namely about three weeks since she said that the said Master Carter was one that ought not to preach to a Congregation of people for he did not teach the Gospell of Jesus Christ but was an opposer of it so far as he was able and that when he should be preaching of the Gospel of Christ then he was talking of the height and length of the Tower of Babell which were lyes and further said it was a thousand pitties he was not pulled out of the Pulpit by the eares And she further said that she did think the intent of his heart was when he came into the Pulpit to blaspheme God and to draw men from Christ so farre as he was able And she further said that before three yeares come to an end those black-coted preachers that now did preach in the Steeple-houses should have their black coates and gownes pulled over their eares and that there should not be one of them left and she said the said Master Carter and such as he is were sent from the Devill and the Pope and so they continued and lived Devills here And hee further saith that about a moneth since the Informant caused his servant to read some notes of a Sermon of Master Thornebecks the said Priscilla came into his house and this Informant commending Master Thornebecks Sermon she said that he spake lyes and it was a thousand pitties that he was suffered and not pulled out of the Pulpit and said he was turned out where hee was before and if he had been good hee should never have come here And he further saith that about Lady last a maid servant of Henry Gunton said that one Renniger who had teached in a private house was a man who was sent from God and fitter to teach then Carter for he was not sent from God and further said that they were none but Whoremasters Drunkerds and Lyers that would speak against the Anabaptists Henry Watts Major Richard Gunton And he further saith that the said Priscilla about six weeks since said that the Prophets in the Old-Testament prophesied two and fifty lyes which was occasioned by some discourse that was between this Informant and the said Priscilla upon some places of Scripture And then this Informant shewed her a place in Scripture in the ninth Chapter of the Romans and she said Saint Paul lyed and said he did acknowledge himself to be so to gaine some to Christ And at another time before that about a quarter of a yeare since when this Informant and the said Priscilla were in discourse together this Informant shewed her a place of Scripture which were the words of Christ she took the book and threw it out of her hand and said that was not ordered by the holy Ghost to be printed but it was the rogue Printer that did put it in Henry Watts Major Richard Gunton William Gunton doth likewise informe that he hath heard the said Priscilla Miles say that Master Carter did blaspheme God and he likewise saith that she said Master Thornebecke preached a false doctrine and if she had been there she would have bidden him come down you old foole A Copie of a Letter to a tittle written to me from a godly Minister at Dover Sir THough the Stories of Errors and Heresies be so sad as that pious souls cannot but mourn and sigh and grieve much at the reading of them yet since your publishing of them is many wayes usefull as that false Doctrines and false Teachers might bee discovered and made odious and that truth might bee the more manifest to and lovely in the professors of it opposita juxta se posita magis elucescunt Wherefore I have sent you a Copie of those Errors which were stifly defended by one William Bowling of Crambrock in Kent on Wednesday last the eighth of July 1646 in my passage with him in a pair of Oares from Gravesend to London there bee five other passengers in the Boat that did witnesse these Errors and Heresies to be stoutly asserted by the party aforesaid so that you may be confident you shall publish nothing but the Truth in publishing that these Errors following were vented and justified by him in lesse then foure houres passage upon the waters 1. He affirmed that Adams sinne in eating the forbidden fruit did not deserve Hell 2. That Heavens blessednesse was not proposed to Adam in case of his obedience therefore
of the Armies that is a preacher there and drawes away many people and though the Minister of the place did yeeld much to give him and others content in being willing to joyn with him and others to keep away scandalâ—us persons promising to watch over one another giving â—ree leave to this Potter and others to except and object any thing against him or others admitted to the Lords Supper yet nothing would give them content but this Potter and many others whom he hath drawn away meet in Separated meetings on the Lords day will pay no Tithes A godly Minister told me August 18. that some souldiers belonging to Colonell Iretons Regiment quartering but two nights in his Parish infected many he had rather have given a great deal of mony then they should have come thither He saith they be generally Arminians and sate with their hats on in Prayer Singing of Psalmes One of these souldiers told a godly woman in his Parish that if she did not beleeve Christ died for all she should be damned There is one John Durance spoken of in the Second part of Gangrana who was apprentise to a Washball-maker at the Three Herrings in Lumbard-street who after preaching some years without being ordained Minister doth now presume without any ordination to Baptize and administer the Lords Supper against which high presumption God hath lately witnessed by making one in this kind a fearfull example in York-shire which story most true and certain with the particulars of it I intend to give the reader in a Tractate of a Catalogue of the judgements of God upon the Se-Sectaries within these four last years Now this Master Durance besides preaching at Canterbury in one of the Churches hath gathered a Church to which in one of the Prebends houses wherein he dwels he preaches and administers the Lords Supper in the evening this man at Sandwich prayed strangly concerning the King as the Reader may remember and being spoken to about it he was so farre from repenting that he added this That he hoped ere long to see the King fettered in Newgate which I hearing could hardly beleeve a man should speak so wickedly of the King and therefore write down i 〈…〉 o Kent to enquire of the truth of it of them to whom it was spoken and I had this Answer returned me in a Letter that Master G. a Jurate of Sandwich had averred no lesse then what it should seem you have heard already concerning him Besides this Durance preaching presently after the newes of the surrender of Oxford said That for all that there would be no Peace till there were a generall Liberty of Conscience in England In Kent not fâ—rre from Greenwich there is a feirce Independent one Master Larkin a man of wh 〈…〉 I have heard many things both of his preaching aod conversation concerning whom there are many Letters come from New England attested with many hands writing of his ill behaviour and the scandals that are upon him there besides many passages related of his preaching here against the Assembly Ministery and of his carriage in severall particulars but I shall speake no further of him at this time There is one Master Powell at Dartmouth in Kent a great Sectary he sometimes preached in Crooked-lane where he vented many erroneous things and â—ow does a great deal of hurt in those parts of Kent There was a neighbour Minister a godly man that being behind in paying some of his Taxes being deeply taxed one imployed to gather up monies unpaid coming to him for monies not paid he demanded 〈◊〉 shillings for his charges in coming and used these words You are one that oppose Master Powell and if the Minister would not pay whatever he demanded would straine his Cowes There is one Brabson in Middlesex about Han 〈…〉 ll a great Sectarie and Preacher he preaches much against Tithes and broaches many Errours some of the Middle 〈◊〉 Ministers have told me of such a man and I am promised a full account of the man There is one Cornwell in Kent an Anabapeist who hath put forth divers Pamphlets one against Baptizing of Children others lately printed Dedicated to particular members of the House of Commons The first pamp 〈…〉 called The vindication of the royall Commission of King Jesus set forth about three years ago was given to divers Members at the doore of the House of Commons In which Book this Cornwell brands all the Reformed Churches and the whole Christian world at this day which Baptize their children with the odious name of an Anti-christian Faction There is one Master Blackwood about the Wild of Kent an Anabaptist who hath write about a yeare and a halse ago a Book called The storming of Antichrist the subject matter being against Poedobaptisme and for Liberty of Conscience so called wherein as I remember he is for a universall Toleration except it be in Blasphemy and denying the Scriptures to be the word of God but about a year ago a godly Minister told me he speaking with him about that book and about his limitations and whether he was of that judgement still he told him he had received thanks for that book from a great Commander in the army for so far as he had gone right but wished him to re-collect his thoughts whether be was not out in those limitationâ— bounds so that said M. Blackwood I am somewhat unsatisfied in my former limitations doubting whether there ought not to be a universall Toleration without any of those bounds and in a book since printed he is against any restraint in the c 〈…〉 of Blasphemy and denying the Scriptures retracting his â—ormer distinctions There is one Master Niobâ—las Davison of New-England who came over from New-England with accounts amounting to a good s 〈…〉 e which he was to give here in London and landing in the West at that time when all the West was in the Enemies power for feare of loosing his accounts and being taken durst not venture to come up to London but lived in Barstable unknown almost three quarters of a year which being then one of the Kings Garrisons he was glad to conceale himselfe they not knowing whence be came nor what he was now being sometimes in the company of the Cavaliers and of some of their Schollars he heard them often speaking among themselves of the Independents and of the differences among us and they spake to one another not thinking he took notice that there were from severall Colledges beyond the Seas Jesuites come over they named their names and the places from whence they came to act the pitts of Independents and Sectaries to blow up the difference and contention Now when the West was open and this man got faâ—â— to London he told this to divers to a godly Citizen among â—â—hers who acquainted me with it and this Master Davison being spoken to by some Independents as being a New-England man to go to Guildhall upon some businesse when some
said again and again of his Protestation Protested I will if he will not be angry with him it was this that in that Book there was grosse Brownisme which he nor his Brethren no way agreed with him in and that for his part he would as soon subscribe to the Book of Common-Prayer as to divers things there Shall I tell him what Mr. Symonds of Roterdam one of the moderatest and modestest of that way said upon the comming forth of his last Book Conformities Deformitie to a friend of his that shewed it him and asked him of it no I will forbear least it should trouble the old man too much I could tell some stories of Mr. Burton and his Church I have a relation given me in writing by 〈◊〉 whâ— was present and heard all about a difference that fell out in the time of the Church-meeting between M. Burton and a Butcher and some others of his Church about prophecying but 't is too long to insert here and I promise it the Reader in the 4 part of Gangraena I have been told a late famous story by divers godly Ministers of the City of a great falling out betweene Mr. Burton and some of his Church about singing of Psalmes Baptising of Children prophecying and somewhat else and upon some Brethren cal'd in to hear the businesse how far M. Burton yeelded in those particulars both against his judgment and his practise but I must reserve that too I could make large Animadversions on his Pamphlets and show many strange positions in them beside contradictions falshood weaknesse hard speeches against the faithfull servants of God much pride and arrogancie but I will for present animadvert a few things only on his last Book Conformities Deformitie in a Dialogue between Conformity and Conscience and I shall refer all I have to say at this time to three heads 1. To show the scope of Mr. Burtons Book and what the man would have in it 2. To represent to M. Burton and the Reader the great evill of it and how unlike Mr. Burton is to what himselfe was formerly 3. Propound some queries to Mr. Burton to show him how he is mistaken all along in the ground he goes upon For the first his main scope is under the name of Conscience to represent the Sectaries as the only conscientious men and under that colour to plead for a Toleration of them all and an indempnity from all restraint by the civill Magistrate and under the name of Conformity to brand all Presbyterians and to speak against all establishment of Religion and Church-Government by Magistrates and Synods as great Hypocrisie Idolatry rejecting Christ from being King c. destroying the foundation of faith and in his prosecuting this besides Sion Colledge the Assembly the City of London the Ordinance for preventing the growth of Heresies which he fals fouly upon he railes fearfully and speaks most wickedly against the Generall Assembly and the Scottish Church-Government saying that in the Generall Assembly there is the like Supremacie set up which the Pope 〈…〉 selfe claimeth â—ver Kings States Kingdomes Common-wealths that 't is a spirit of Antichristian pride and tyranny of rebellion and treason in lifting up a Papall Throne above Kings and Kesars above Kingdomes and Common-wealths to the ensâ—aving of the whole Nation in their soules bodies aâ—d estates that it sets up in the Church an Oracle of Infallibility and such a Supremacie as no true-bred English Christian can interpret for other then Antichristian Tyranny and all under the name of a Christian Presbyterian Church-Government that if that Presbyterian Government be set up thereby our Fundamentall Lawes Priviledges and power of Parliaments Liberties and freedome of all true-bred English Subjects would be brought under perpetuall bondage worse then that eitherof Egypt or Babilon all which and much more the Reader may find in page 19 20 21. of-that Booke For the second Mr. Burtons great evill and how unlike Mr. Burton now is to Mr. Burton formerly it may apppeare thus in that M. Burton in all this booke builds up againe the things he formerly destroyed undoing all his owne acts agreeing with Canterbury Pocklington c. in their Principles and Practises against the Reformed Churches particularly the Scots and their Church-Government M. Burton being Cantuariensis redivivus nay let me not wrong the dead though they were great Enemies to the Scots and Presbyteriall-Government yet in all their writings I doe not find such rancorous malicious passages against the generall Assembly as in this Booke of M. Burtons he makes use indeed of the Bishops and their creatures Arguments and weapons against the Presbyteriall Government and the Reformation but withall goes higher and in patronizing and pleading for all Errours and Heresies under specious pretences as they did Arminian Popish and Socinian Doctrines not writing one word against all the Heresies and Blasphemies of these times but speaking against my books and Dr. Bastwicks for the discovering of them O how is M. Burton fallen I heard a godly and â—â—arned Divine say lately of him upon reading his Conformities Deformity that he had alwaies thought M. Burton to be a godly man but he now thought him the greatest Apostate in England He should not have wondered much to have seen such a book written by John Goodwin but that M. Burton should he could not have believed it had he not read it and certainely in his writing this Booke and many others God left him the man is departed from all his former principles of zeale and love to truth he can finde no Deformitie now in Heresie nor Blasphemy but onely in Conformity to Presbyteriall-Government and the Magistrates non-Toleration of Errours The Lord hath made him a fearfull example and all men may take warning by M. Burton for turning Independents who before he turned Independent was so zealous against the least Errours and the least Innovation in Worship as that he would straine things and make a great matter of a little but now he hath no heart against the greatest Errours he can doe nothing in all his Pamphlets for the honour of Christ he can see no deformitie in all the Blasphemies Heresies of these times but onely in the Orthodox Reformed Churches and Presbyteriall-Government and that which aggravates his sin is he hath done this after sad and serious admonition given him in the fourth Corollarie of the first Part of Gangrâ—na and after a great sicknesse this Book being stiled by himself in his Title page The first fruits of his late recovery from death to life If any man 9 or 10 years ago when M. Burton was upon the Pillory for writing against some great men who favoured Popish and Arminian Tenets should have said to the people this man whom you now see thus suffer and whom you so love and adore the time is coming when he shall plead for a Toleration of all Religions and speak against the Magistrate for defending Religion by Lawes and Edicts this man
to speak with me but must send others I am easily enough to be spoken with refusing none as all know who come to me besides how did Master Burroughs know any such had been with me to make me such offers and that I refused and what if some reported to him that which was false might not he be easier abused by a report for he speaks not this of his own knowledge he never came to me nor was the man ever desired to confer with me about any of these particulars then I can be mistaken in this businesse to whom these offers of conferences and satisfactions should have been made 3. For that Master Burroughs page 18. taxes me with concerning what I related about his going out of the Kingdom in my Antapologie that had I been willing to have conferred with him about it as he desired before I printed he should have so fully satisfied me that I could never have stumbled at this I Answer I never was unwilling to confer with Mastet Burroughs about this or any other thing that he should have desired and I can say it truely if he had sent the least boy at any time to me to have desired a conference with me and appointed me where to meet him I should have waited on him but for what is here written I neither know nor remember any such thing that Master Burroughs either by writing or word of mouth ever desired to have spoken with me about his going out of the Kingdom and certainly at that time when I was writing my Antapologie there was no such great distance between Master Burroughs and me but that he might either have come to me or spoke to me of it when he met me occasionally or I should have come to him none of which ever were moved to me and I cannot but wonder at Master Burroughs writing of this and divers other passages 2 As for that hee said hee should have satisfied me upon conference that he went out of the Kingdom not upon the ground I alledge but upon another a call from the Church of Roterdam which he relates page 19 20 21 22. I must confesse I am unsatisfied in it now and so I beleive are all rationall men and let the Reader but aske Master Marshall and Master Calamie who knew the businesse well and Master Burroughs at that time whether they do not beleive he went over to Roterdam upon a complaint made of some words spoken about the Scottish Warre and if I should have given the Reader all that I have drawn up by way of Answer to this it would abundantly clear me and lay open Master Burroughs weaknesse very much but I shall only hint this Suppose the King had in this War prevailed over the Parliament and taken the City and just upon that time Master Peters and Master Wels had gotten away in all haste to New England and suppose after this some man writing of Master Wels and Master Peters departure from England should have expressed this as the ground the danger they were in upon the Kings taking London now if Master Peters and Master Wels should by way of Answer have denied this to be any cause and have alledged their solemne call to their Churches in New England being sâ—nt for again and again and their purposes of going expressed yea and that in the Pulpit before ever the King was in a way of taking London would not all men laugh at such an Answer For is not the contrary evident by the experience of their staying in England now they may stay safely notwithstanding all their call and being sent for they stirre not and just so it was with Master Burroughs and I am confident that had it not been for the danger of those words he would no more have gone to Roterdam then Master Peters and Master Wels go to New England and as himselfe tels the story his putting of giving his resolution of going defering from time to time and from place to place to make any conclusion â—ill the businesse of words grew to a height declares plainly as much besides Master Burroughs at that time was not of the Independent judgement as appears by his Book put out in the yeare 38. writing By Jeremiah Burroughs Minister of the Gospel which was not long before his going over whereas all his Books he hath put forth since he went to Roterdam are By Jeremiah Burroughs without Minister of the Gospel which to them who know the Controversie is a clear proofe he was in the yeare 38. no Independent though afterwards in the writing his other Books he was and therefore declined that Title Minister of the Gospel And whereas in the body of this Third Part in two or three severall places I take occasion to relate some things of Master Burroughs which may by some be ill taken because he cannot answer for himselfe and may be interpreted a speaking evill of the dead I desire to let the Reader know they were both written and printed off long before Master Burroughs sicknesse and death and indeed no understanding man will once imagine a Booke of above Forty sheets could be made written out and printed in a month especially by one who Preaches often and hath many irons in the fiâ—e at the same time and to put it out of all question besides my own testimony the Book-seller and Printer can testifie this Third Part hath been above this quarter of a yeare in the Presse a printing Aâ— for that Pamphlet written against my Second Part Entituled Gangraena playes Rex I Answer breifly Gangraena playes the Parliament that is conforms to what the Parliament hath expressed in the foure or five first yeares of their sitting against the Sectaries and I do offer to make good what I have written in Gangraena against the Sects out of the Declarations Remonstrances Ordinances Covenant Messages and Transactions of the Parliament with Scotland and their Instructions to the Assembly upon divers occasions and could make a better Parallel between the passages in Gangraena and the passages in Declarations Remonstances c. against the Sectaries then the Author of that Pamphlet hath done and am likely to do it though a Postscript is not the proper place for it only I say this would to God there had not beene some men among us and that in place too to have so carried things and brought matters to that passe as to give too great occasion unto many to say The King was a true Prophet in what he spoke in his Declarations concerning Anabaptists Brownists and Sectaries As for that Pamphlet cald Lanceters Lance for Edwards Gangraena I have lately received from two godly Ministers in Suffolk a large relation by way of justification and proofe of what in my Second Part of Gangraena was written of Lanceter as also some other passages related in those papers concerning Lanceter one Chidly and Barrowe but they containing a whole sheet of paper are too much to
Reader EVill men and seducers wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived as a Fountaine casteth forth water their hearts cast forth wickednesse and yet none greater pretenders to truth and holinesse then these and by these pretences they deceive many This the Holy Ghost in Scripture fore-tells the Stories of former ages testifie that it may not seeme strange to thee if in our daies also Egyptian darknesse be accounted Gospell-light licentiousnesse Christian Liberty and pretended Saints if unmasked appeare reall Devills In two former Treatises the hereticall and blasphemous opinions the scandalous and abominable practices of our Sectaries have been discovered and to the end thou mayest be warned and the truth of God not left without witnesse in Ages to come This third being a higher and fuller Discovery of the Frrours Herefies and Insolencies of the Sectaries is penned by the former Authour and allowed to be printed by him that is thy Friend in the truth Ja. Cranford The third PART of GANGRAENA OR A new and higher Discovery of the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and insolent Proceedings of the Sectaries of these times with some Animadversions by way of Confutation upon many of the Errors and Heresies named As also a particular Relation of many remarkable Stories speciall Passages Copies of Letters written by Sectaries to Sectaries Copies of Letters written from godly Ministers and others to Parliament men Ministers and other well-affected persons an Extract and the substance of divers Letters all concerning the present Sects together with ten Corollaries from all the forenamed Premises Briefe Animadversions on many of the Sectaries late Pamphlets as Lilburnes and Overtons Books against the House of Peeres M. Peters his last Report of the English Warres The Lord Mayors Farewell from his Office of Maioralty M. Goodwins thirty eight Queres upon the Ordinance against Heresies and Blasphemies M. Burtons Conformities Deformity M. Dells Sermon before the House of Commons Wherein the Legislative and Iudiciall Power of the House of Peeres over Commoners is maintained and fully proved against the Sectaries the Power of the House of Commons clearely demonstrated to be overthrowne upon the Mediums brought by the Sectaries against the Lords the late Remonstrance of the City of London justified the late Lord Mayor and the City vindicated from unjust Aspersions our Brethren of Scotland cleered from all the calumnies and reproaches cast upon them and the Magistrates power in suppressing Heresies and Blasphemies asserted As also some few Hints and briefe observations on divers Pamphlets written lately against me and some of my Books as M. Goodwins pretended Reply to the Antapologie M. Burroughs Vindication Lanseters Lance Gangraena playes Rex Gangraena-Chrestum M. Saltmarshes Answer to the second part of Gangraena A Iustification of the manner and way of writing these Books called Gangraena wherein not onely the lawfulnesse but the necessity of writing after this manner is proved by Scripture Fathers the most eminent Reformed Divines Casuists the practice and custome of all Ages By THOMAS EDVVARDS Minister of the Gospel Iude 8. v. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh despise dominion and speake evill of dignities 2 Pet. 3. 17. Tetherefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse London Printed for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Cornehill 1646. The Preface IN this following Book as in a cleare and true Glasse every impartiall and ingenuous Reader may plainly behold the many Deformities and great Spots of the Sectaries of these times Spots of all kinds Plague spots Feaver spots Purpule spots Leprosie spots Scurvey spots Spots upon them discovering much malignity rage frensie great corruption and infection of whom may be said as in Moses Song Deut. 32. 5. They have corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his children they are a perverse and crooked generation O that the Sectaries themselves and others easie to be deceived with good words and faire speeches apt to be carried away with good names and specious showes as godlinesse purity of Ordinances Conscience would but look into this Glasse and continue looking therein diligently in the feare of God reading over this Book and observing what 's here written comparing and examining one thing with another which would they do I am confidently perswaded many of the Sectaries who know not the depths of Sathan would quickly be taken off become out of love with their way and returne and others kept from going after those wayes this would prove a Soveraigne Antidote both to expell the poyson already received and to prevent the taking infection Now that this Book by the blessing of God may the better attaine these ends I shall in generall prâ—mise two things 1. Remove some objections that may lie in the way of the Reader wipe off the dust and dirt cast upon this Glâ—sse that might hinder the clear sight of things 2. Give some Rules Directions and Cautions as for the better understanding of it so for preventing some cavils and mistakes that otherwise might be For the first I observe two things have beene objected against these Books of discovering the Errors Heresies and Practises of the Sectaries First the manner and way of writing 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ing with matters of fact particularising men by name and bâ—ing very bitter and sharpe Secondly the matter as being untrue and consisting most of lyes falshoods and fables Now for the satisfaction of the Reader in the first the manner and way of writing these parts of Gangraena I have drawn up a large Treatise upon this subject viz. a Justification of relating matters of fact and the names of Sectaries as wel as their Opinions and Arguments which I have proved from the Scriptures of the old and new Testament both in commands and examples Orthodox Fathers Augustine c. other Ancient Writers as Bernard c. the most learned and famous among the moderne 〈◊〉 Luther Beza Bullinger Danaus c. the judgement of 〈◊〉 as Baldwin c. from the practise of Sectaries themselves as Donatists c. in all ages both in writing one against another and against the Orthodox and from many strong convincing Reasons and besides these proofs have answered fully all objections of all sorts brought against it as that t is a speaking against the Saints uncovering our brothers nakednesse a going against the Rule of Christ in Matth. 18. which is to tell our Brother alone which Treatise of the Justification of writing these Gangrâ—naes I am confident will not be only satisfactory but triumphing over all the clamors oâ—tcries and objections made by the Sectaries against my Books slaying their Absâ—loms and cutting off the heads of their great Goliahs as that of speaking against the Saints and in the judgement of al learned and ingenuous men stopping their months for ever Notwithstanding al which I cannot but expect 〈…〉 of the Sectaries will still clamor speak evill and
the First generall head concerning the manner and matter of this Book For the Second the commending some directions and taking off some misconstructions and cavils for the better understanding of the subject matter and manner of this Booke let the Reader observe and consider these following 1. That the Sectaries run such around of all opinions as that they are come to hold many Popish and Prelaticall opinions and to go upon the Papists grounds and mediums for many of their Tenets which in the Errors Positions and Practises reckoned up in this Booke the Reader may observe as the 5 6 7 36 Errors nay there 's almost no Popish or Prelaticall principle and Error but many Sectaries are fallen into it and in the practise of it as being against the Perfection Sufficiency Perspicuity of the Scriptures being for Pope Toleration and a Dispensation for want of an Infallible Judge as the Papists are for the Pope upon that ground denying preaching to be the word of God and the service of God as much or more then ever any of the Prelates did being for Musick Organs Hymns in the publick Assemblies holding anointing the sick with Oyle maintaining Perfection in this life with some Popish Friers besides divers other Popish Errors hence divers Popish Bookes written by Preists and Friers have beene Translated and lately set forth by some Sectaries sold openly and I suppose Licensed because the Stationers names for whom printed and Printers names expressed 2. The Reader shall find in this Booke the Sectaries Designe and Practise not to be only corrupting Religion running out into extravagancies and strange conceits that way but to be against Magistracy and Civill Government their designe of opposing setled Government and bringing an Anarchy and Confusion into Church and State being here so fully laid open that they who run may read it T is in this Book unvailed and the wâ—â—king of this spirit in all sorts of Sectaries and places clearly manifested they have in Terminis in divers Pamphlets and some Sermons declared against Monarchie and Aristoâ—acie and for Democracie they have expressed themselves in such a manner concerning that that they make it noe other then an Anarchie making all alike confounding of all rancks and orders reducing all to Adams time and condition and devolving all power upon the state Vniversall and promiscuos multitude whom they make the Creator and Destroyer of Kings Parliaments and all Magistrates at there meere pleasure without tying them to any rule or bounding them by any lawes 3. I doe more punctually and particularly give the proofes of the Errors and Heresies named in this Third Part then in the two â—ormer with Animadversions by way of Confutation or Observation upon more of the Errors and Practises then I did before as having beene desired by some so to do and being that which I judge will make the work more profitable and the Reader shall finde the proofs of the Errors set in the Margents just by them and the Animadversions under every particular Error or else of divers of them put in one where the Errors are more of a kind and the Reader will finde I have in all Books quoted all along to prove the things I charge the Sectaries with dealt very punctually and faithfully and I challenge them to name any one thing quoted false or wrested among so many and for other Relations I have them from such knowne godly Ministers and Christians being eare and eye witnesses of them that I cannot easily be deceived t is possible some circumstances of order time place number may in some stories be mistaken and yet the maine storie true as we see in Histories of battles and other humane things they often are though I know nâ—ne such and have beene in all circumstances as well as substance as faithfull and carefull as a man can well be and I can say it that of all the particulars in this kind that I have related in these three Books besides many matters of fact in Antapologia which in all amount to some thousands I do not know of any one particular related by me excepting one that I have reason to suspect was not true and yet that was written me in a Letter by a Reverend and godly Minister and was the voice of the Country and all I did was only printing that Letter no otherwise affirming it which particular when the untruth of it shalâ— be made apparent to me from the man himselfe or his freinds I shall be ready and have offered it to some who have spoken of it to right him publickly in print 4. Whereas some Letters written to my selfe or some other Ministers are printed in this Booke which have some passages in them casting honor and praise upon me resembling me to some Worthies in their times as Luther c. for which I may be censured as being the hand instrument of publishing my own praises and counted vain-glorious I do by way of taking off this exception desire the Reader to consider these things First that I have left out of Letters many passages which reflect honour on my selfe constantly passing by such Titles Epithites and other expressions that are matters of praise in all particulars excepting the justifying of my work in writing thus against the Sectaries Now my Books for the manner and way of writing having beene so cried out of by all the Sectaries and many weak Christians by their meanes having beene also offended I thought it necessary to print some passages of Letters from godly Ministers giving testimony to my Books and approving me in the way of my writing them justifying me by the practise of Morney Plesseus against the Papists and of Luther and the judicious Reader shall find if he observe I print no other passages that may so much as reflect any kind of praise upon my selfe but only those that justifie my undertaking in this kind against the Sectaries and which the Lord knowes I print not so much for my selfe or my owne praise but for the sakes of others that they may be satisfied of my Books against all the calumnios cast upon them and profit by the reading of them Secondly T is not unknowne how the Sectaries by writing and speaking have set themselves to disparage me and to cast scornes of all kinds upon me such as hardly ever were upon any man in any age and all to weaken my esteeme credit and authority with the people that being looked upon as a man so weak that a woman can answer my writings and that I know not how to put the Nominative Case and Verb together c. all I do against the Sectaries might be slighted as not worthy to be looked upon Now it being apparent this is the designe of the Sectaries and their master peice and God by his providence without my seeking in the least stirring up many learned men to bear witness to my works in Letters to their Freinds which have beene brought to me and in
Letters writ to my selfe I suppose I may in such a case without the censure of vain-glory print such testimonies to counterballance the despisings and scornings of the Sectaries yea if I had gone further and printed not only passages justifying my work but what they had expressed of me in other kinds considering how the Sectaries vilifie me I might have beene excused Saint Paul a humble and modest man yet when by false Teachers he was in his person presence and speech among the people presented weak and contemptible to the end his ministery might be made ineffectuall he would not beare it but takes off all those things enters into a commendation of himselfe showing he was equall with the very cheifest Apostles and speaks of his owne knowledge and gifts and speaks that in this case he was compelled to glory 2 Cor. 10. 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 11. 5. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 12. 11 12. And in such a case as this if Casuists be consulted with as Amesius c. they conclude that credit and a good report may not only be maintained but sought for viz. for the glory of God and that we may by our work and example profit others the more by that means 5. Whereas in my Book there are many Relations of Sectaries in the Army some passages in Letters speaking of the Army and some things spoken by my selfe that some may take to reflect upon the whole Army I desire the Reader to understand aright that nothing related by me though written by others or spoken by my selfe is meant of the whole Army or the greater part of it but only of that part of the Army viz. the Sectaries in the Army I acknowlege the New Modell under Sir Thomas Fairfax hath done gallant service against the enemy and did the greatest and best services when it had not so many Sectaries as it hath now and my intent is not in the least to cast dirt upon the Army but only to relate Errors and insolencies of a part of the Army The Sectaries who though but a part and much the lesser may be somtimes in discourse or writing call'd the Army viz. in that sense as the Independents crying up the Army in Pamphlets and Sermons use the word Army saying here 's an Army the army hath done thus when they mean by the Army and expresse so much in other words the Independents and Saints in the army so do I when I speak in any place of the hurt the Army doth or the Errors there I understand not the Army but the Sectares in it 6. Whereas in this Book there are many passages that Sectaries may be likely enough to interpret a striking at the Parliament a casting reproach upon them and more particularly upon the Honorable House of Commons I do here declare and professe against any such misconstructions or consequences it being not my intent to reflect either upon both Houses as conjunct or upon each as considered distinct or upon the Committees of either House the most that can be drawne is that some passages in Letters or Relations show there are some particular Members that are or favor Sectaries which in writing so much of the Sectaries as I do for the good of the Parliament and the Kingdome cannot possibly be avoided though I forbear the naming of or deciphering any of them and that there are some such crept into the Parliament all the Kingdome knowes and speaks of it and therefore I meddle not to speake against the Houses in all my Discourse neither do I insinuate any thing in the least to bring the people out of love with Parliaments or this Parliament I formally declare least any should mistake t is the peoples great interest and blessing to have the power and Priviledges of Parliament maintained and they must take heed they be not so discontented with miscarriages of any particular Members or Committees that may fall out as to set loose in their hearts from Parliaments and desert them Parliaments are the strong Boundaries of the exorbitancies of Princes and their Ministers they have by the constitution of the Kingdome and the Lowes power more then sufficient to restraine the Tyranny of Princes and to correct their greatest Favourits and Officers of State let the people once lose Parliaments and be out of love with them and then farewell all Liberty Property and slavery will come in like an armed man and that nothing in my Book can be against the Honorable Houses however someparticular Members may be guilty of some things I speak of and that party wresting my words to such a sense to make the Parliament offended with me yet that there can be no such thing I desire these things may be considered 1. I do de Industria and at large discover and write against the Sectaries for speaking and writing against the Parliament against the House of Lords and Commons and do plead and contend for the power of both Houses both in matters of Religion and civill things against the Sectaries and therefore I cannot be thought to do any thing against them but for them 2. That in speaking sometimes of the House of Commons I speake not positively that they do so or use such words of them as mine or bring such Arguments as if I owned them but speak the Sectaries words and show what followes upon their grounds against the power of the House of Commons 3. For any passages in Letters or Relations that may seem to have any reference to one or both Houses of Parliament aâ— speaking against any under them imployed in Military or Civill affaires or any other matter I meddle not with those passages at all as to justifie or assert them but do only barely relate and print them and for no other end but that the body of both Houses may know that which may be they have not heard of viz. such a dangerâ—us man imployed in their service such insolencies committed by men vnder their pay and may know the Countries sense of such and such things how ill t is taken such wicked men should bee implied and may prevent in time the mischeifs and evils which may grow out of such things and the discontents that may be occasioned thereby Fourthly I doe with salmission conceive that for a Minister a known friend and servant of the Parliaments in a respective way not in a reproaching reviling way to make known to the Parliament what the best affected say and write to â—riends of such and such particulars as the suffering yea preferring of all sort of Sectaries as the not settling Religion in so long a time as the letting freinds waite long before they can have their Petitions received as about the Elections of some new Members as about the carriage of many Sectaries in the Army c. is so farre from speaking against the Parliament or becomming their enemy that t is one of the greatest and faithfullest services can be done them and whatever passages I
and idely by going from Country to Country preaching And indeed instead of any Ministers or people opposing the Sectaries out of Policy worldly Interests t is evident t is the high way to some gainfull Place or other to become a Sectarie or to favour them hundreds turning Independents and Sectaries meerly for preferments and Places as heretofore men turned Prelatical and Arminians because of great Livings and how the Independent party have feathered their nests got well for themselves above other men the Reader shall find more spoken of it in this Book 7. As for that which is said I write so against the Sectaries out of a spirit of persecution and hatred of peaceable consciencious men I can say truly if I persecute consciencious peaceable men whom do I then love my love delight and interest is in such and I am so far from a spirit of persecution that I would be glad but to find the same measure from Independents Brownists Anabaptists and others which I would measure unto them if it were in my power namely I would not imprison banish them and such like only hinder them from all places of power and trust in the Kingdome and from spreading their Errors and Opinions to the hurting of others keep the unsound from the sound which if I differed in judgement from what was established in a Church and had nothing else done to me I should never conplaine of persecution and violence for that for t is absolutely necessary for the peace and welfare of the civill State besides what t is for the honor of God in the preventing the spreading of all Errors and Heresies And for a conclusion of this I have the clear and full testimony of my conscience that my appearing against the Sectaries hath not risen from any such base and poore grounds as the Sectaries alledge but from a sense of my duty that I might witnesse to the truth of God in this sinfull and adulterous generation And now to draw to a conclusion of this Preface nothing that hath yet befallen me of scandals reproaches and other sufferings or that shall further befall me in this way of Books set out against me of persecutions and troubles to bonds imprisonments losse of estate shall the grace of God assisting me turn me out of my way of constantly opposing the Sectaries so long as they go on in their way but when they for my writing against them shall speak against me as most vile and abominable I shall answer them as David It was for the Lord that I have done it and I will be yet more vile then thus and though every day naybour in the yeer should bring forth some book against me as bad as Balthazar Paeimontanus writ against Zuingl and Bolsecuâ— against Calvin yet for my part I shall be so far from being troubled that I shall take all those books as Job speaks and bind them as a crown to my head nay if all the Sectaries in England were combined against me and there were as many of them as tiles upon the houses in the City and every one of these Sectaries were a Devill yea had a legion of Devils as I beleeve some of them are possessed with many yet I would go on against them and if the Sectaries should be able out of this Book or any other to take advantage of my zeale faithfulnesse and plainnesse of spirit to make something of some words to stir up the Civil powers to trouble me yet for all that I shall not give them ever but write so much the more pâ—int them 〈◊〉 pray speak against their Errors and if God should give me so into their hands as to be able to deale with me as the Papists did with some of the â—itnesses of the truth yet I am confident they should have no cause to rejoyce but I should overcome even in that like Sampson kill more Philistims by my death then by my life and many Brethren would waxe more â—old to preach and write against them and out of my ashes should arise those who should further discover them I know the Sectarian faction must be destroyed and fall Babell must come downe as well as Babylon and the making of them naked is a preparatory work to the making of them desolate and eating their flesh But O that God would rather give them to see what they have done and make them to confesse give him glory and returne helping to build his House with both hands which they have so laid waste and hindred all this while and O that they would take well this Book look into it and observe Gods hand in finding them out accept of it as it was indeed intended for their good and not cast it away with saying t is sharp and bitter but rather remember that of the Apostle that men must be sometimes sharply rebuked That they may be sound in the â—aith Erasmus often said of the Papacit in his time that it was so corrupt that it weedeâ— acrem medicum a sharp Physitian a gentle would have done no good and therefore he raised up Luther a man of a free and hot spirit that cared not for gold and that feared not great men but went on in the cure of the Church strong and rough humors needing strong phisick to purge them out The foulnesse and strength of the disease of Sectarisme at this time call'd and calls for a strong Pâ—tion and may justly plead against the offence of any acrimonie and quicknesse that may be found in it Jesus Christ himselfe that meeke Lamb of whom it was written he should not strive noâ— cry neither should any man heare his voice in the streets yet his zeale of his Fathers House made him as t is in the second of John to make a 〈…〉 rge of cords and drive all that sold Oxâ—n Sheepe and Doves and the châ—â—gers of money out of the Temple and overthrow the Tables saying unto them that sold Doves take these things hence make not my Fathers House â—n house of merchandise and I remember not that ever I reâ—d of the like sharpnesse and quicknesse of Christ as this in any other case that against the Scribes Pharisees and S 〈…〉 es false Teachers was the likest and certainly the servants of Christ in a 〈◊〉 when the Church of God and Religion is bought and sold and made merchandise of by false Teachers as Saint Peter speaks the precious truths of God and the immortall souls of them for whom Christ died prestituted and sold to the base lusts and selfe ends of men when there are not found in the House of God so good intruders as thâ—se that sell Oxen Sheepe and Doves such profitable creatures but those that sell T 〈…〉 Crocodiles Pipers Serpents and all kind of Monstâ—rs they may and ought at such times and in such cases to imitate Christ and to doe something more then ordinary for the purging of the Church and that may show their zeale for
when it should be obeyed may be questioned upon that ground and nothing in Government should be certain but a man may say this Law this Order is null void for how doth it appeare the Universall represented people gave consent or the Representative acted in it from the instructions of the Universall 20. If this Doctrine were true that Magistrates might do nothing but what the greater part of the generality of a Land would have whether many good things would ever have been done that now are and whether in many Kingdoms would ever a Reformation have been effected and whether if the Parliament had gone by the Pole of tagge and ragge would ever Common-Prayer-book Bishops with many other things have been put down which yet I hope the Sectaries dare not say but the House of Commons did well in so doing A Catalogue of some Blasphemies of the Sectaries not mentioned in the First nor Second Parts of Gangraena A Sectarie said That the Prophets in the Old Testament Prophecied two and fifty lyes That in the ninth chapter of the Romans Saint Paul lyed and said he did acknowledge him self to be so to gain some to Christ The same Sectarie being stowed a place of Scripture which were the words of Christ took the book and threw it away and said that was not ordered by the Holy Ghost to be penned but it was the Rogue Printer that did put it in Another Sectary said there is no God or if there be a God the Devill is a God Master Saltmarsh the Sectary preached at Bath that as John Baptist wore a Leathern Girdle so the Doctrin that he preached was Leathern Doctrine A Sectarian Souldier at Bristoll finding fault with something a godly Minister had preached of Christ wondering at their unbeleif this Minister told this Souldier they were Christs words unto whom this Sectarian Souldier replyed Christ spake thus in his darknesse And another time this Minister speaking with the same Sectary about being justified by Christs Righteousnesse this Sectary replyed Christs Righteousnesse was a beggerly Righteousnesse A She-Sectary an Anabaptist said it boastingly again and again That she was every whit as good as Christ no way inferiour to him but equall to him and if she were not so the Scripture was a liar A Relation of some Passages in the Prayers of some Sectaries IT was for certain related to me and to many persons of worth that in June last when the King was with our Brethren of Scotland an Independent prayed publickly to God that God would deliver the King out of the hands of those evill Counsellors in whose hands he now waâ— T is written to me in a Letter and testified under the hands of three witnesses that an Independent in a publick Church prayed thus Lord if thou art not pleased to blesse us in the seducing King and trayterous Queen then blesse us in the Prince his Son or the Duke And at another time the same man prayed thus Lord now that the Sword is drawn let it never be sheathed untill it be glutted in the bloud of the cursed Malignants A Great Sectary in London upon occasion of the City Remonstrance prayed as followes of which prayer many Citizens had Copies and I was told it from good hands it was brought in to the Court of Aldermen O Lord thou knowest there is a Remonstrance to go up to the Parliament which is much to thy dishonour and the hurt of thy Saints for Lord thou knowest the Kingdoms of the Earth by right belong unto us thy Saints Suffer not thy Saints any longer to be trampled upon but stand up for thy people and do not suffer the ungodly to go up with this wicked Remonstrance Confound their device and suffer it to take no effect And Lord we thanke thee that thou hast stirred up some of thy Saints with courage already to protest against it we beseech thee stir up more Lord stir up the women that lie in their husbands bo 〈…〉 es and the children to cry unto their parents every one to be helpfull to one another to stay this Remonstrance Lord we will fast and pray unto thee this day to morrow and the next day O Lord hear our prayers and let our cry come unto thee as thou haâ—t been mercifull unto us so we beseech thee to continue thy favour and love unto us I was told it also by an understanding godly Minister that this Summer about the time of Lilburns commitment by the House of Lord a great Sectary in one of their Conventicles prayed to this effect O Lord cast down or confound all Monarcks aâ—d Monarchies and lift up or advance thy servant Lilburne This Minister had it from some who said they were eare witnesses and I desired to speak with them about iâ— and he promised I should but having not yet spoken with them I do relate it but as a report and not with that confidence as I do things I hear or find written or that I have from godly persons I know who are eare witnesses Some of the Independents and Sectaries use to court God in prayer having as affected straines and strong lines as ever University Preachers used to have in their Sermons at Saint Maries One of them began his prayer Right Honourable Lord God another begins oft-times Immortall God and then makes a stop and pause and then comes on the Seâ—aphinâ—s tongues are tipâ— with thy praises and praying in an affected manner Another Independent spake to God in prayer by way of complaint against the Presbyterians Lord they hate us because we know more of thee then they do but we beseech thee Lord give 〈◊〉 still to know more of thee and let them hate us more if they will A Relation of stories and sundry remarkable Passages co 〈…〉 ng the Sects and Sectaries and amongst others of some Souldiers who are great Sectaries JVly the third 1646. two Citizens honest men related to me this story in the hearing of another Minister and that with a great deal of confidence one of them having laâ—en in the Town where the fact was committed and having spoken with many Inhabitants about it that summer was a two yeares Captaine Beamant and his company being quartered at Yakesly in Huntingtonshire there being a child in the Town to be baptized some of the souldiers would not suffer the child to be carried to Church to be baptized and the Lieutenant of the Troop drew out a paâ—â— of the Troop to hinder it guarâ—ing the Church that they should not bring the child to be baptized and instead of the child being baptized in contempt of Baptisme some of the souldiers got into the Church pissed in the Font and went to a Gentlemans stable in the Town and took out a horse and brought it into the Church and there baptized it and after they had done so such of the Townsmen as spake against them before they went away they did them mischeif and this was
Christ saving only he should not dye for the sinnes of men This Mistris Attaway had a great parchment role wherein many things were written and this was to be given to Jenney and this Jenney beleeved all Mistris Attaway told him as fully as might be that he should never dye c. This Mistris Attaway also gave out that there should come ships from Tarshish to fetch away all the Saints to Jerusalem and all that would not turne Jewes should be destroyed and this whole Land should be destroyed and therefore she would goe away before hand to escape This Jenney Mistris Attaway and some of their Tribe held no hell but what was in the conscience the soules mortall they held the Book of Esdrâ—s had great things in it to them who had the spirit to understand it and that there was Esaus world and Jacobs world this was Esaus world but Jacobs world was comming shortly wherein all creatures shall be saved And this Prophet who was shut up was to come forth to preach this new Doctrine of generall Restauration and Salvation of all and though all should be saved yet there should be degrees of glory between those that have been Saints they should be more glorious and those who were the wicked though now restored This Jenney held from that Scripture in Genes where God saith I will make him an help meet for him that when a mans wife was not a meet help he might put her away and take another and when the woman was an unbeleever that is not a Sectarie of their Church she was not a meet help and therefore Jenney left his wife and went away with Mistris Attaway A Commander belonging to the Army told me last July he had seen some of the Sectarian Preachers preach lately with their hats on and sitting he told me he had heard Master Cradock Master Peters and other such Preachers insinuate into the souldiers flatter them all kind of wayes telling them what they had done what fame they had atchieved how they had conquered â—he Kingdome and particularly a little before he heard Master Peters preaching thus you who have conquered the Kingdome done all this service and now when you have done all this might expect your Arrears look to enjoy your Liberties yea and expect preferments good places as you have well deserved it may be you shall be cast into a stincking prison but if it should be so t is the will of God and yee must provide to beare it There is one Thomas Collier a great Sectary in the West of England whom I have spoken of in the second part of Gangraena and have printed some Letters of his in this third part I have seen a Book of his printed in the year 1645. called certain Queres or Points now in controversie examined wherein among other Errours laid down by him he makes Baptizing the Children of the faithfull not only to be vaine bâ—t evill and sinfull yeâ— the commission of Baptizing Children to come from the Divell or Anti-Christ or both And secondly that Magistrats have no power at all to establish Church-Government or to compell any to the Government of Christ by any humane power and upon occasion of discoursing of the power of the Civill Magistrate what hee should do now religion is corrupted and the Magistrates endeavour is to Reforme it and to this end have called an Assembly of Learned men to assist them in this work This Learned Master Collier if he might be thought meet makes bold to present these three words in this case to the Parliament First To dismisse that Assembly of Learned men who are now call'd together for to consult about matters of Religion and the reason this Learned Clark gives is because he cannot conclude that God hath any thing to do there for them he knowes no rule in the Book of God for such an Assembly and therefore cannot expect a blessing The second Word To go on in subduing of Antichristian enemies so farre as by Civill Law they have power for there must by this or some other meanes be a desolation upon the tenth part of the City The third Word is That the Parliament would give the Kingdome to the Saints and for who gives the Kingdom to the Saints so it be done Master Collier will not much dispute whether it be the Lord Jesus immediatly or Jesus by a Parliament only thus much he would have men take notice that by the Kingdome is meant an externall Kingdome for the Saints shall possesse that as well as the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ Hence we may see by Master Colliers words that his Saints viz. those whom he hath described before in the former part of his Book Separatists Anabaptists do look for from the Parliament that they should give the Kingdome to them and all temporall power and rule and take it out of the hands of all others So that the King the Parliament unlesse there be some of Master Colliers Saints among them the Judges and all men who by the Lawes under the King and Parliament have any Civill power of rule in the Kingdome must have it taken from them and given to the Sectaries Saints Yea I conceive by Colliers words not only England but Scotland and Ireland are to be taken from the King and to be given by the Lord Jesus immediatly or by Jesus by a Parliament to the Saints which whether it be not so or no I leave the Reader to judge upon transcribing Colliers own words where giving his second word of advice to the Parliament of going on to subdue Antichristian enemies so far as they have power because there must by this or some other meanes be a desolation upon the tenth part of the City he interprets his meaning in these following words Which I think to be England and those Dominions belonging to it Scotland and Ireland I conceive this to be the time that the Kingdome is to to taken from him who shall arise and subdue three Kings that is Kingdoms speaking great words thinking to change times and Laws but the Judgement shall fit and take away this Dominion to consume it and destroy it to the end Dan. 7. 26. Therefore let not your hearts faint neither your hands draw back God will finish his work The third Word is that they would give the Kingdome to the Saints Dan. 7. 27. Who gives the Kingdome to the Saints The judgement that pulls down the power and Kingdome of the one gives to the other Whether iâ— be the Lord Jesus immediatly or Jesus by a Parliament I shall not much dispute but leave it to your considerations Only thus much take notice that by the Kingdome is not only meant an externall Kingdome for the Saints shall possesse that but the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ c. This Collier as it appears by his Letter before mentioned
Maidstone and had a mind to have promoted a Petition among our Sectaries June 15. 1646. OUr common friend M. Edwards his last Book Gangraena of the Second Edition I received this last post together with his Letter I pray let him understand as much and withall let him know I shall my self God willing thank him for both at better leisure and when I have read his Book thorough Surely he spake Prophetically that usually cald him in Cambridge young Luther Faxit Deus that the Sectaries may never be able to deal with him as I doubt not many of them desire whose words would willingly be turned into swords both against him and us all An Extract of a letter written from a godly Minister to me YOur Books I can assure you I find gain savour with all but the common adversary who much increaseth and multiplyeth in these parts where I heard last week at an open ordinary in presence of two of our Deputy Lieutenants that since Kiffen and Lamb have been here re-baptizing now there 's a third man come that contradicts them both and re-baptizeth again So that the poor people begin to stare and stand amazed to think what their deluded disciples will do in the end Many of the Brownists fall to them however their doctor Turner keeps his ground who dispited as some say with Kiffen and drowned him in the red sea till at last they fell both from reasoning to down right railing Poor people I pitty them as also those others then and there spoken of also as one a very honest man otherwise that affirmed lately he thought the Apostles themselves never had more excellent gifts then a company of tradesmen that now preach in private at Sandwich Another it was said there was at Aâ—ch neer Sandwich who was said to say he was Christ but being questioned Answered no he was only Christs mouth and could feed such as were hungry c. though as some say he can hardly feed himself Surely I often now think on Matt. 24 Except in the Wildernesse or in Chambers where is Christ as they think We should gladly see you here I remember it was one of Don Perdroes devices about his first coming into this Country to bring down with him some Ministers out of your City to preach up the Parliament and why should not you to preach down Heresie Schisme Prophanesse that the Country may know of what Religion the City is Certainly I am for such a change of courses as they call it Propheta in patria c. Thus in haste I heartily rest Yours July 6. 1646. A Copy of a Letter from a godly minister in Yorkshire to a friend of his in Lancashire SIR I Returned from York June 3d. Our meeting proved very successesse one of the prime York ministers being the main Remora to our desires which were to write to the Assembly that we would joyn with them in the Presbyterian way according to Gods word to the utmost of our power and to declare against the Erastian principles when it was put to the vote he desired to stay till he had further light I know not whether he meant from the word or from the State There 's so much policy now in the world that it hath eate out if not much of conscience yet very much of our care and zeale in promoting the work of Reformation according to our Covenant nay so far are we degenerated now as I am informed from a good â—and that to be forward and zealous in the Covenant is the sole character of malignancy and only badge of disaffection but I hope it will prevaile in despight of those who having formerly been takers are now the only tramplers upon it We have appointed another meeting at Pomfret on munday seven-night M. R. hath promised to meet the West riding ministers there Some passages taken out of a Letter written from a learned and godly minister in Devonshire to a friend in London I Am resolved to disgest all abuses and contempts and insultations of Sectaries and frustration of hopes so I may honour Christ You will easily see by the inclosed what work is here The Sectaries are grown so confident and insolent that we may say of them as Rivet of Mountague Iâ— quo desideramus hominem for they seem so farre from Religion that they put off humanity A Relation of some stories and other remarkable passages concerning the Sectaries THe 16. of June 1646. It was related to me by a Justice of Peace who was an eare and eye witnesse and by a godly Minister in Northamptonshire that there is one Kendall who in the Bishops times was a great creature of Sir John Lams a bower at the Altar and for all the Innovations but since these times of Sectarisme is turned a great Sectary having renounced his Ministery This man is now a Captaine in Whitlesey the Isle of Ely that Iland of Errors and Sectaries and a great Preacher who comes sometimes to visit Northamptonshire where formerly he was a Curate Now the last Trinity Munday as the day is commonly called on a Faire day in that Country where a great resort of people was Master Basely a godly Minister in those parts being spoken unto to preach and being provided for it this Kendall stept up into the Pulpit before him and preached on that text Rom. 8. For 〈◊〉 yee live after the flesh yee shall dye on which words he preached against humane learning as being flesh and that the Universities were of the Devill Secondly that Adams righteousnesse in Innocencie was but flesh and opposed to the spirit Master Basely in the afternoone preaching confuted his Doctrines this Kendall would have stood up in the Church and have opposed him but was hindred by a Justice of Peace who was present The 10th of June 1646. A godly Minister living in Lincolnshire told me and another City Minister that he hath in his Parish many Manifestarians Disciples and followers of one Thomas Moore spoken of in my First and Second Part of Gangraena who upon his knowledge will keep no dayes of Fast nor none of the dayes of Thanksgiving because they will not give thanks to God for one man killing of another He told me that some of the Manifestarians hold and he hath heard some of them say they had seen Christ and seen the Devill to This Minister related to us that there was a young maiden in his Parish about 16 yeares of age one who preaches to many young men and maidens he named her name and I well remember it but forbeare naming her because being so young happily she may be reclaimed This Thomas Moore comes often into this part of Lincolnshire and divers times to this Towne where he preaches in houses but the last time he was there he preached not and the reason some of the Sectaries give out was because this godly Minister is a persecutor others say because he could not have the use of a great house in that
Parliament men came downe as I take it upon one of the Cities Petitions about Church Government for say the Independents the Presbyterians will get the upper hand he refused to go and answered them who spake to him in words to this effect You little know what you do and whose work you further in opposing the Presbyterians for saith he the Independents in Old-England are nothing like to them of New-England no more then black to white you Independents here do that which we abhorre there I met â—ith this man with one who came from New-England and he held himself there an Apostle for which he was whipped and here hâ— is a great preacher and in great account and this he told to divers This man is accounted a godly man in New-England and went back thither this June For a further proof and confirmation of this here is a person of good account one of the Committee of Account that speaks confidently of informations he hath received of the coming over of Jesuits on purpose to mixe themselves with Independents and the Sectaries to increase that Faction for thâ—ir own ends I have been told also with much confidence that a Gentleman going through Colâ—man-street and seeing great store of People coming out of an Alley asked what the matter was some told him they were Sectaries come now from their Conveâ—â—ticles whereupon standing still to take notice what manner of People they were he sawe come out among them fome whom he had known to be Jesuits and Priests There is a young man a Schollar and a preacher who lived some years in Holland and that among some of our English Sectaries sometimes of the Church of Arâ—bâ—im who tells me they all generally and their Families were Anabaptists and that they made much of that scurrilous wicked book The Arraigment of Persecution These Sectaries not many months before they came over into England namely about the Spring last gave thanks at one of their Church meetings for a Toleration of the Sects which as they heard had passed thâ— House of Commons which the Beformed Ministers of that place hearing of were much troubled at it yet hoping it was not so that God would not leave the Parliament to be guilty of so great an evill after he had done so much for them These Sectaries would speak much against the Covenant and this Preacher hath heard some of them say they would be hanged before they would take it and had rather see one another hanged then to take that abominable Covenant One of the compapany used to preach constantly in the forenoon and then in the afternoon two or three others by turns as Master C. Master A. and when these were from home and there was no preaching then their Families staid at home and would not heare the English Reformed Ministers but some of them said If those Ministers would promise never to preach for Baptisme of Children nor against their way they would hear them Upon the newes coming over of the burning of Master Archers booke that made God the author of sinne they justified all in that book saying what was in it was his to a word and one of them said he could shew the Copy and they spake much against Assembly Parliament and that he had as high a place in heaven as any of them would have and they would make what he had written good This young man once speaking against the opinion they were very angry at him saying what had he to do they would speak against our Ministers with much indignation and scorn as if none of them had any worth A worthy Member of the House of Commons told me the last day of August that one Captaine B. told him we had beene fed by our Ministers thaâ— mens souls when they die went to heaven but now we see a New Light in that they do not go to heaven to whom this Parliament man replyed That the souls of the faithfull do for Christ told the thief Luke 24. To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise unto whom this Captain replyed That to day was to be referred to Christs saying so and not to the time when he should be in Paradise so that the meaning was Christ said unto the thief those words to day but not that to day he should be in paradise with him and so the words were to be read Verily I say unto thee to day and there the point and then after to be read thou shalt be with me in Paradise which though it should not be to the end of the world would be no impeachment of the truth of Christs speech whereupon this Parliament man answered to this purpose this were to make Christ eqivocate and deceive like as your faction does Animadversions upon this Exposition THis Sectary is not the first that hath wrested this place thus but some before him have separated to day from the words that follow and joyned it with the words going before so that the distinction should be Amen I say unto thee to day and then should follow thou shalt be with me in paradise upon which let the reader look Theophylact who handle this place largely and Jansenius Harmony on the Gospell Cap. 143. besides in the Greek Copies to day is joyned with the words thou shalt be and not with the word I say of which read Beza upon the place yea le ts looke upon the words they are an answer of Christs to the Theifs prayer that Christ would remember him when he came into his Kingdome not to remember him in this world to save him from the Crosse and temporall death now Christs answer is accordingly that he shall be partaker of his heavenly Kingdome and tells him the time to day that is thou shalt be with me without any delay and so there shall be no danger that I shall forget thee when I come into my Kingdome for behold this very day I shall take thee to my Kingdome vide Rollock in Cap. 19. Johan The theif in his prayer speaks to Christ as going presently into his Kingdome and desires to be remembred upon his coming thither as now being upon the Crosse in a cursed condition now if Christ had said to him then he should be with him but not told him the time when the theif knowing he should be dead to day but meaning it of a long time two thousand years afâ—er this would not have been so comfortable to the theif besides there was no reason nor need of adding to day to that word I say to th 〈…〉 for the theif knew they were spoken to day yea at that instant to him neither could to day be for asseveration Christ using that word word of asseveraton A 〈…〉 instead of that neither is there any paralell place in Scripture where to day is used in such an acception There is one Master John Baâ—hilâ—r Licenser-Generall of the Sectaries Books and of all sorts of wicked opinions Licenser to Master
Saltmarsh Creâ—ensis Walwin Webb and divers other Sectaries who hath been a Man-midwife to bring forth more monsters begotten by the Divell and borne of the Sectaries within this three last years then ever were brought into the light in England by all the former Licensers the Bishops and their Chaplaines for fourescore years he hath licensed Books pleading for all soâ—ts of Sectaries as Seekers Antinomians Anabâ—ptists c. as Sâ—â—t 〈…〉 sh and Walwins Books and for Antibaptists denying since Christs death all Baptisme by water as Wâ—bbâ— Book page 6. where is â—id down that I 〈…〉 Baptisme which was water did end at the coming of Christ and that there is no Baptisme by water instituted by Christ yea for Antiscripturists Arians Anitrinitarâ—ans Questionists and all Blasphemers as is apparent by his licensing that late wicked Pamphlet call'd Some modest and humble Queries concerning a printed paper Intituled an Ordinance presented to the Honourable House of Commons c. where if the Reader do but compare the former part of that Ordinance in what cases only that Ordinance inflicts death viz. upon the wilfull and obstinate publishers of such damnable Heresies and Blasphemies with the second Quere made upon that Ordinance whether it be agreeable to the mind of Christ for men to inflict the heavie censure of death upon their Brethren for holding forth such Doctrines or opinions in Religion suppose contrary to admonition which for ought the Inflicters know except they make themselves infallible may be the sacred truths of God he must needs find thus much pleaded for that therefore such blasphemies and Heresies contained in the Ordinance yea Atheisme it self for that is in the Ordinance that God is may not be punished with death because for ought any man knowes they may be the â—acred truths of God and the maintainers and publishers of them our Brethren So that at once in this Quere upon the Ordinance all the fundamentalls of Christian Religion are overthrown and such Doctrines and opinions as are contrary unto them for ought any man knowes except he make himself inâ—allible may be the sacred truths of God yea grosse Scepticisme and Atheisme is brought into the Church This Master Bachiler hath Licensed severall Pamphlets for a Toleration yea noâ— only for a limited bounded Toleration of some Sects and opinions as suppose Anabaptists Independents but for a Universall gâ—nerall Toleration of all consciences and opinions as may be seen in Walwins Books licensed by him yea he hath licensed unlice 〈…〉 sed Books printed before he was borne as a Pamphlet entituled Religious Peace made by one Leonard Busher and printed 1614. wherein there is a pleading for a Toleration of Papists Jewes â—very person or persons differing in Religion and that it may be lawfull for them to write dispute confer print and publish any matter touching Religion either for or against whomsoever And that the wickednesse of Master Bachiler the Independent may the more appear I desire the Reader to observe in his licensing this and some other Books these following particulars First He gives not a bare Imprimatur to his Book of Bushers but gives his Imprimatur with a speciall Recommendation in these words This usefull Treatise entituled Religious Peace long since presented by a Citizen of London to King James and the High Court of Parliament then sitting I allow to be reprinted and so to some of Saltmarshes Books Smoake in the Temple Groanes for Liberty Reasons for Vnity Love and Peace c. We have Imprimaturs with speciall approbations and discourses of the lovelinesse exellenty sweetnesse glory shining in them Secondly in the reprinting of this Book for generall Toleration call'd Religious Peace Master Bachiler made some materiall alterations and writ in the margins of such places in the Book where some speciall passages were for Toleration that they should be printed in a great letter differing from the letter in which the body of the Book was printed for that end no doubt that the Reader might better observe them and this I was told from a person of some quality and a Scholler who saw the Originall Book wherein such alterations were made and told me they were the same hand with that whiâ—h gave License to the Book I shall give the Reader an instance or two and no more whereas Bushers Copie page 16 is thus Therefore I humbly desire his Majestie and Parliament with all godly carefulnesse to consider that 't is not possible that the Church of Rome called Catholick or those that ate descended of her and have received their Faith and Discipline from her ever was or could be the Apostolick Church call'd Primitive Church or shee that is descended from her Master Bacheler changes it from Faith and Discipline into Ministery and Ordination reading it thus and have received their Ministery and Ordination from her That passage in the old Edition page 11. printed in the same letter the whole Book is viz. Therefore as the Papist when they complaine of the Turks and Pagans for their bloody persecution do therein condemne themselves because they are found to do the same yea worse for 't is a greater tyrannie for one Christian to force and kill another then for Turks and Pagans to kill a Christian for that is no such great wonder seeing it is a Paganish part who have no better knowledge but Christians should have better knowledge and more mercy then to play the Pagans against Christians is in this new Edition printed in a different character a greater letter neither is this the only Book wherein 't is discovered John Bachiler treads in the steps of some Licensers who went before him being acquainted with Index Expurgatorius but in Webbs Book he altered and changed as in the second part of Gangraena I at large have shewed The man hath justified and acquitted the former Licensers Doctor Baker Doctor Bray Doctor Heyward Doctor Weeks and the rest of that race who in the point of licensing were Saints to him who hath licensed such books and things that I am confident none of them durst have done for feare the people would have risen up and torne them in peeces and certainly the people would never have borne with such books in the Bishops dayes besides should any man before the sitting of this Parliament have writ or licensed such Books of which good store have been both writ and licensed within this three last years that man or men whoever they had been had without all question been first questioned and proceeded against by this Parliament of all men This Bachiler is such a desperate Licenser that nothing now in that kind can stick with him having swallowed down those wicked Queries upon the Ordinance against Heresies and Blasphemies and I am afraid that if the Devill himselfe should make a book and give it the Title A plea for liberty of conscience with certaine Reasons against Persecution for Religion and bring it to Mr. Bachiler hee would license it and
with them who are in carnality he hath given out that Master Angelo and the other Priests at Bristoll durst not dispute with him he makes nothing of any Minister nor of those whom he formerly received most good from and that the Reader may have a true character of this Sectary I shall set down a Relation given me in writing from an understanding godly man who came this Summer from Bristoll and those parts which is as followes ' I was lately at Bristoll wher I saw one Lieutenant B. who as I was credibly informed by â—are witnesses hath publikly contradicted Master Paâ—le and Master Angelo where they have preached once the Deputy Governour and the Major of the City being present his carriage towards the godly Ministers being generally disliked by the Citizens â—ieutenant B. was confined to his Chamber upon which he writes to the Deputy Governour that he cared not for Priests Governours nor Committees or words to the same effect The same Lieutenant hath formerly preached publikly in his searlet Coat laced with silver lace I was told by one of the Committee and a godly man that he and Mr Angelo had heard one Thomas Web prâ—ach Blasphemy in Ratcliffe Church Bristoll which Web doth go from place to place in Glocester and Summersetshires seducing people as I am informed by credible persons There is a godly understanding man come from New-England this year who lived there many yeares and knowes well the Ministers Magistrats and state both of their Church and Common-wealth who also is drawing up a Tractate of their Church way and practises illustrated by examples and experiments made upon many there which hath been communicated to me so farre as he had proceeded in it Now this mâ—n related to me July 27. in the presence of a godly Gentleman that he saw and read a Manuscript which was in the hands of many and made by some of their Magistrats as it was conceived for an Arbitrary Government in the Common-wealth that in crimes and offences committed there should not be certain penalties appointed by Laws to which the Governours and Magistrate should keep but it should be left to the discretion and wisdome of the Magistrate what he thought â—it to inflict in case of such and such crimes and in this written Book many reasons were given for this Arbitrary Government and against being tied to Laws as the instance of Solomon in commanding to divide the child upon the complaint of the true and false Mother as that Magistrates were Gods so call'd especially in regard of their wisdome Now how or wherein should their wisdome and gifts be manifested if a liberty were not left to them for a boy migbt read the Law and pronounce the sentence according to that and therefore that the gifts of Government might be exercised sentences and penalties should be left to the Magistrates This man tells me many others read this Manuscript as well as he and so great notice was taken of it that some in New-Engl when they were a going to Boston or speaking of going thither would say le ts take heed what we do there least we loose our heads for what offences the Governour shall think anâ— say deserves beheading Now as Independency and many other opinions being first broached in New-England have come over into Old so I have reason to suspect by the Arbitrary Government exercised by too many in these times and the great workings of many to uphold Arbitrary power and to keep all things from being setled in Common-wealth as well as in Church there are some Sectaries of that opinion among us especially when I lay to that opinion broached in New-England some passages preached in a Sermon by Master Peters August 2. 1646. at Islington on that Text on the fourth of Colos vers 12. in which Sermon Master Peters speaking of perfect men used these words and such like Yee talk of Laws Laws the Kingdome is not to be maintained by Lawes but by perfect men August 13. two Booksellers of Pauls Church-yard told me that a Bookseller offering to exchange Books as Master Dents Pâ—th-wayes to Heaven for some of Saltmarshes Books answer was made by a Sectarie what do you bring such Books for you may stop bottles with them we will take none of your old Divinity we have new light and new Divinity now A woman who sometimes was a Member of a Church of the Anabaptists acquainted me in June fifth she was of one Blunt Emmes and Wrighters Church one of the first and prime Churches of Anabaptists now in these latter times This woman thought there was somthing more excellent in this company and that way 〈…〉 en in other men and that she might have trusted her life with them but after awhile she found them a wreched people The Church broke into peeces and some want one way some another divers fell off to no Church at all She married a husband a Box-maker one of Lams company who got from her all he could and set up a Boxmakers-shop on purpose as she conceives to get what she had to furnish a shop with and after a time went away from her into the Army and though he came out of the Army a long while agoe yet he keeps from her and will not live with her nor allow her any maintenance and she having followed him to his Church and meetings the Church maintaines him in it as she reports to me saying she is an unbeleever and of the world what have they to do with her with other words to that effect and when she goes to any place where shehears he is or thinks she may find him they abuse her are ready to offer her violence andsome of these Sectaries will deny he is married to her and bid her prove it Now she tells me that in those Anabaptists Churches of which she sometimes was they are not married by Ministers nor by any other man speaking words to each party which they assent to but before some of their way they professe to take each other to live together and one of their company writes down in a paper with some hands subscribed to it of two such going together on sucha day which writing this woman had in her keeping but her husband coming in one night late after she was a bed got it out of the place where she had laid it and now she is troubled how she shall prove him to be her husband There is one Mr Saltmarsh a man who hath of late writ many trashie Pamphlets full stuffed with all kind of Errors ignorance and impudency and hath been well answered and basâ—ed by three Learned Divines two of them grave and ancient Master Gataker and Master Ley the third a young man Master W. and I am still in his debt for some passages in his Groaâ—es for Liberty and Reasons for Vnity Love and Peace against my first and second parts of Gangraena but resolve to come out of it For besides what I
naught with him and they were taken in the act this is knowne to many in London and some to whom shee had â—o commended her askt her what shee thought now In Bermondsey Parish there is a Sectary hath committed adultery with another mans wife and for it he hath beene before a Justice of Peace and could not deny it There is an Independent Preacher who hath lectured in and about London one of M. Greenhils Church as t is commonly said who hath carried himselfe unchastly towards a young woman having a husband an old man and towards a young maiden who was to warm his bed after Preaching he did things unseemly and would have gone further but the married wife acquainted her husband abominating this young Independent saying does he thinke I am such a one as to be his whore and the young maiden to resist him burnt his hands with the warming-Pan to keep him off from her There are divers other instances of their uncleannesse and filthines but I must reserve them for a fourth part and wish the Reader for the present with theâ—e here related to joyne other such relations of the sectaries uncleannesses as are mentioned in the former parts of Gangraena and in precedent pages of this third part 3. Many of the Sectaries in these times are given to drink and wil fit tippling all the day there are divers Sectarian Troopers faulty in this kind I have been told a story of the drunkennes of an Independent Captain in the Army and of the complaint against him and how he was brought off and continued in his command for al that but t is too large to relate particulars A godly Minister tels me of a speciall freind of his that is fallen to be a drunkard and a sot since turned an Independent I have beene told a story of an Independent a member of a famous Independ Church here in London that was taken drunk in the night by the Watch and carried to the Counter and next morning carried before an Alderman Many other instances there are with instances of many drunkards turning Independents and Anabaptists but I must passe them by for present 4. Many Sectaries and Independents are very loose in the generall course of their lives and take a great deale of liberty which the Presbyterians dare not take neither did they before they turned Independents many of them make little of the Lords day nothing at all of Fast dayes nor of Thanksgiving dayes not of the fifth of November many of them will play at Cards and Tables and use liberally other kind of sports and recreations they will plead for going to Playes and thousands of them are carelesse in all holy duties casting of Prayer singing of Psalmes reading the Scriptures repeating of Sermons instructing their families yea many are not ashamed to speak against them I have beene told for certaine there are Sectaries will sweare by their tender consciences and all the Sectaries generally take more liberty in brave and fashionable apparell in long haire in jesting and laughing in loose and idle discourses then godly strict Christians use to take many of them preach seldomer then before turned Independents and will have a care they take not too much paines 5. Many Sectaries are very guilty in cosening and deceiving both the publike and particular persons I am perswaded if all that the Sectaries have cozened the State in of monyes that they have received and never brought in of moneys paid them for such services which they never performed of monyes paid them for bad commodities and not valuable were known it would amount to a great masse of money I have been told divers stories from good handâ— of moneys received in Kent by Sectaries and never brought in to the publike but pocketed up of some Sectarian Chaplaines that have received for pay good summs of money and never gave the Regiments to which they belonged a Sermon or ever looked after them of two Sectaries that would have hired a poor man to have sworne falsly against a woman one Mistris B. by which they hoped to have gotten fiftie pounds of a great Independent who mingled with Silver base mettle of lead brasse iron and so carried it into the Tower in great Ingots to be melted and to have money according to the weight of it and is now in question for it he being at last found out but I cannot stand to enlarge any further and the Reader may find more instances in this kind in the Appendix of the first part of Gangraena and in this third part page 25. and 26. 6. The Sectaries are guilty of grosse lying slandring jugling falsifying their word and promises so that a great Book would not contain the particulars and I have thoughts to set them forth in a Tractate by themselves I could relate at large notorious lyes raised by some of them of godly Ministers of the Assembly and City of which not the least colour or ground for as also promises and engagements made by some of them to persons of worth Ministers and others upon their coming in and being chosen for places which they have not only not performed but afterwards boldly denyed any such promises with many things of this kind I could tell also of propagating and supporting the credit of the Independent party by many lies told in Pulpits written in Letters and printed on purpose of the great valour and gallantry of such and such Sectaries in the Army when as Presbyterian Commanders performed these very services and of many Relations Printed of such and such unworthy things done by Presbyterian forces and Commanders when no such matter but I must for beare particulars and for present do referre the Reader to Master Pryns Lyar Confounded to Master Calamics Answer and Apologie against Master Burton to Doctor Bastwicks Books written against the Independents and particularly his Book written against Lilburne and his last Book entituled The utter-routing of the whole Army of the Independents and Sectaries page 357 358. 7. The Sectaries are guilty of excessive pride boasting and trusting in Armes of flesh as in that Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax I do not think that in this latter age of the world the great Tuck the Spaniard or any other Nation have gloried and trusted more in any one Army of theirs or attributed greater things to it then the Independents have done to that which they call theirs O how strangely have they boasted and trusted in it as if humane things were not changeable as if that Army could conquer all the world recover the Palatinate Ireland and give Laws to France Lorraine Constantinople c. and do whatsoever they pleased I have beene told from an honest and faithfull Commander in the Army that Master Peters speaking of the Army said they wanted nothing but more Nations to conquer and his folly in this kind is extant in print of which the Reader may find some Animadversions upon it by me in the 133 134.
plaine with you we are not nor shall not be so contented that you lie ready with open Armes to receive the King and to make him a great and a glorious King Have you shooke this Nation like an Earth-quake to produce no more then this for us We do expect according to reason that you should in the first place declare and set forth King Charles his wickednesse open before the world and withall to show the intolerable inconveniencies of having a Kingly Government from the constant evill practises of those of this Nation and so to declare King Charles an en 〈…〉 my and to publish your resolution never to have any more but to acquit us of so great a charge and trouble for ever and to convert the great rev 〈…〉 w of the Crowne to the publike treasure to make good the injuries and injustices done heretofore and of late by those that have possessed the same and that we expected long since at your hands and untill this be done we shall not thinke our selves well dealt withall in this originall of all oppressions to wit Kings The Just mans Justification page 10. I wish with all my soule the Parliament would seriously consider upon that Law Who so sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed that so wilfull murtherers might not escape the hand of Justice but especially that they would thinke upon the grand murtherer of England for by this impartiall Law of God there is no exemption of Kings Princes Dukes Earles more then of fishermen c. The Arrow against all Tyrants page 11 12. Soveraignity challenged by the King is usurpation illegitimate and illegall c. The power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive So Overtons Defiance to the House of Lords Overtons Petition and Appeale to the High and mighty States the Knights and Burgesset in Parliament Assembled Englands Legall Soveraignâ— power The last warning to the Inhabitants of London with divers such like 3. The Sectaries have spoken written done much against the House of Peeres the supreme Judicature of this Kingdome that House which gives to the Parliaments of England the denomination of the High Court of Parliament as t is a Court of Record and having power of judiciall triall by oath c. of the greatest subjects of this Kingdome in the greatest matters as life estates liberty whose Tribunall and Power hath ever beene acknowledged and dreaded in this Kingdom in all times by the greatest Peeres and persons of the Land and when questioned by them have given all high respect and humble submission as we see that great Favorite the Earle of Strafford did yet this Supreme Court hath beene by word and deed so used by base unworthy sonnes of the earth as the 〈…〉 st Court in England or p 〈…〉 iest Constable never was till these times and certainly the ages to come who shall read the History of these times and the Books of the Sectaries written this last yeere against the House of Lords will wonder at our times and inquire what exemplary punishment was done upon them The facts of some Sectaries abetted and pleaded for also by other of their fellows have been these 1. Refusing upon the Summons Warrants of the House of Peeres to appeare before them and resisting to the utmost so that the Officers have been necessitated to drag them and bring them by force as Overton who in print is not ashamed to relate it 〈◊〉 When they have beene committed and under custody refusing to be brought by their Keepers to the House of Peeres upon command of the House to answer to their charge as Lilburne did keeping his chamber shut refusing to come forth and resisting to the utmost so that glad to carry him by power to the House of Lords which relation also Lilburne hath printed 3. In refusing to answer any questions put them by the House of Peeres 4. In refusing to kneele at the Barre in token of any submission to the House or to be uncovered 5. In appealing from and protesting against the House of Peeres and any power they have over them both by word of mouth and writing drawn up and thrown into the House 6. In stopping their eares in a contemptuous manner that they would not heare their charge read 7. In reproving sawcie taking up and reproaching the House of Peeres to their faces in the House 8. In Petitioning the House of Commons for justice against the House of Peeres and for reparations of dammages using many reproachfull words of that Right Honourable House even in their Petitions as is to be seene in Overtons John Lilburnes and Elizabeth Lilburnes Petitions 9. Threatning the House of Peeres what they will do against them if they maintaine their power and honour and what the house of Commons will do 10. Stirring up and inciting the common People also to fall upon them to pull them downe and overthrow that House The Speeches and writings of the Sectaries against the House of Peeres within this last sixe moneths or thereabouts ever since the commitment of Learner about The last warning to the inhabitants of London are fearfull and strange many Pamphlets having beene written in that time tending apparently to the totall overthrow of the House of Peeres and of having any Lords in this Kingdome denying them all Legislative and Judiciall Power and giving it all to the House of Commons or rather to that Beast of many heads the common People allowing the Commons only so much as they please and for so long making them their meer deputies and servants at will I shall give the Reader a few passages out of their Books and referre for further satisfaction to the Books themselves A Pamphlet entituled The Just man in Bonds writes thus pag. 1. The power of the House of Lords is like a shallow uneven water more in noyse then substance no naturall issues of Lawes but the extubâ—rances and mushromes of Prerogative the wens of Just Government putting the body of the people into pain as well as occasioning deformity Sons of conquest they are and usurpation not of choyce and election intruded upon us by power not constituted by consent not made by the people from whom all power place and office that is just in this Kingdome ought only to arise A Pamphlet call'd A Pearle in a Dung-hill pag. 3 4. speaks thus And why presume ye thus O ye Lords Set forth your merit before the people and say For this good it is that we will raigne over you Remember your selves or shall we remember ye Which of you before this Parliament minded any thing so much as your pleasures Playes Masques Feastings Gaming 's Dancings c. What good have you done since this Parliament and since the expulsion of the Popish Lords and Bishops where will you begin It was wont to be said when a thing was spoyl'd that the Bishops foot had been in it and if the Lords mend not it will be
Commons the Knights and Burgesses assembled in Parliament by the voluntary choyce and free election of the people thereof with whom and in whose just defence I le live and die maugre the malice of the House of Lords and in page 18. he in way of deâ—ision calls the Lords House the Superlative House and speaking of the Lords laughing at his answers he saith of that House such carriage such a Court For indeed Comedies Tragedies Masks and Playes are more fit for such idle kind of men And above all other Demonstrations of the outragious insolencies of the Sectaries against the House of Peeres let the Reader peruse that Pamphlet entituled An Anatomy of the Lords tyranny and injustice exercised upon Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne which is throughout insolent both for matter and manner particularly page 12 13. Lilburne writes that he being in the painted Chamber desired Master Brisco one of his Keepers to go and tell the Lords from him that seeing they had the impudencie and boldnesse to tread the Lawes and Liberties of England under their feet and did so contemne and undervalue the authority of the Honorable House of Commons to whom he had appealed as yet to go on in their illegall courses with him with whom by Law they had nothing to doe that he must be forced in the highest nature he could to contemne and despise their proceedings and therefore was resolved not to come to their Bar without a forcible compulsion and to come in with his hat on his head and to stop his eares when they read his charge in detestation and bearing witnesse against their usurpations and injustice page 14 15. Lilburne writes he thus spake to the Lords And my Lords I tell you to your faces that by right the House of Commons are your Judges as well as mine in this case and I doe not doubt but to live to see the day that they will make you to know whether you will or no that they are so and of their justice and protection I doe not in the least doubt And therefore my Lords seeing you have dealt so illegally and tyrannically with me as you have done I now bid defiance to your power and malice to doe the worst you can And therefore my Lords I protest here before the God of Heaven and earth if you shall be so unworthy as to persevere in endeavouring the destruction of the fundamentall Lawes and Liberties of England as at present you doe I will venture my life and bloud against you to oppose you with as much zeale and courage as ever I did any of the Kings party that you set us together by the eares with page 21. Lilburne saith all his catriage and expressions before the House of Lords in the case now betwixt them to be as justifiable by the Law of this Kingdome and in the eyes of all understanding men as for a true and just man to draw his sword and cut the theif or rogue that sets upon him upon the high-way on purpose to rob him of his life and goods and in page 23. hee earnestly beseeches the Honorable Committee to remember the Commoners and improve all their interest to punish or at least effectually to curb the Lords House Thus the Sectaries in their Petitions and all their Pamphlets printed speaking of the Lords House and of their proceedings they give such kind of termes as these Barbarous Tyrannicall Arbitrary Illegall unjust dealings worse then the unjust Stat-chamber it selfe Insolent unheard of usurpations intrusions and many such like And in divers Pamphlets now of late the Parliament being spoken of is understood only the Commons of England they call'd the Parliament by way of exclusion of and opposition to the H. of Peers and Books written on purpose and dispersed given freely to stir up the people to adhere to the Comons as considered apart and distinct in interest power from the Lords with unworthy reflections upon the Lords as The last warning to all the Inhabitants of London p. 7. Mind your own good and cleave fast to the House of Commons let no sorcery or sophistry divide you from them the Lords are not to go before the Commons in determining what concerns the Nations their large answer to your last City Petition for Church-government and suppression of Conventicles insinuates they would allure you from the Commons therefore observe them watchfully and trust them accordingly So A word in season to all sorts of well-minded people in this distracted Nation with Answers to the City Remonstrance and divers other Pamphlets 4. The Sectaries have been guilty of and daily are of abusing contemning and taking away the power of the House of Commons given it by the Lawes Constitutions and Customes of this Kingdome and though in many Pamphlets especially this last yeere they cry up the House of Commons and seeme to give them not only their owne power but the power of the King and House of Lords making both them meere ciphers yet it will be found by many of their principles laid downe they have destroyed the House of Commons and doe break their Priviledges speak their pleasure of them both by words and writing as often as they please Many Pamphlets and whole Books have beene written by Sectaries against the House of Commons it selfe and not only against Committees or particular Members charging the House with tyranny injustice oppression horrible pride seeking of particular interests Arbitrary Governm 〈…〉 breaking of Magna Charta and going against the Liberties of the subject resembling them to the Star-chamber High Commission Court to Strafford and Canterbury refusing to answer any questions upon the command of the House scorning to Petition the Commons either to sue for their favour or to acknowledge their justice and after such favour shown as to release without petitioning yet taxing them with dishonesty and demanding reparations for imprisonment for the abundant proofe of which I referre the Reader to many Pamphlets written by Sectaries as Englands Birthright The Copie of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne to a friend Lilburnes Innocency and truth justified Englands lamentable slavery with other Letters printed about that time Another word to the wise written by M. John Musgrave A Pamphlet entituled An exact collection of the Parliaments Remonstrances Declarations c. A Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens and other free borne people of England to their owne House of Commons out of which I shall faithfully transcribe some passages that the insolencies of the Sectaries against the House of Commons may be observed Lilburn in his Letter to his freind writes thus page 1 2. That Master Corbit being in the chaire and telling him he was commanded by the House to demand a question of him Lilburn instead of answering him desired to know the cause of his commitment and M. Corbit replying the House was not bound to declare unto him the cause of his commitment thereupon Lilburne answered Then I have beene a long
prophane persons ignorant c. who having no knowledge in Religion and so likely to chuse such as themselves were unfit for such a work and afterwards in print being charged with it by Master Prynne as proved against him before the Committee of plundered Ministers he justifies his Preaching of which the Reader may see more in those Answers and Replyes that passed betwixt Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Pryn and particularly in Mr. Pryns Truth triumphing over falshood Epist Dedicat. and in the Book pag 106 107 108. The Author of the last warning to all the inhabitants of London pag. 5. saith That the betrusted Commons have not permitted this liberty in policie of every one worshipping God as they will but in Justice and upon mature knowledge that they neither are nor can be betrusted to make Lawes to rule men in the practice of Religion The Sectaries Remonstrance to their own House of Commons as they call the Honorable House pag. 12 13. speaking of matters that concern the worship of God denys the Commons any power at aâ— to conclude the people in such things It is not for you to assume a power to controule and force Religion or to force a way of Church-Government upon the people because former Parliaments have so done and affirms the Commons could not have such a power justly entrusted upon them by the people that trusted them And what need any further witnesse The House of Commons to their faces in the last 〈…〉 a st Sermon before them heard enough by Master Dell a famous Sectary and the Generalls Chaplaine against their power and authority to meddle in things of this kind Fifthly the Sectaries have written publikely and spoken openly against many particular Members of both Houses by name yea against the Honourable Speakers of both Houses by name and divers other prime eminent Members of note as well for their estates and ranks out of the Houses as power in the Houses calling by name some of them Traitors Achanâ— accusing them of treason and wilfull betraying of their Countries and Trusts as the Religious Earl of Manchester Sir Henry Vane Senior Master Barwis charging others by their severall names with other crimes as injustice oppression protecting of Delinquents sending many thousand pounds to the King at Oxford procuring by their publike places in the House contrary to the Self-denying Ordinances private and profitable places to themselves pride and loftinesse of carriage breach of promises giving out of the Scots that they have a wicked design tending to the prejudice of the State It would fill up many pages to relate all the passages in Lilburns Overtons Master Musgraâ—es Books Englands Birth-right and such like Pamphlets of Sectaries against some of the Peers by name as thâ—â— thrice Noble and Worthy Earl of Essexâ—â—tely â—â—tely deceased the Earl of Stamford Lord Hâ—â—sden and divers of the Commons as Sir Arthur Hazelrig Master Lilsle Master Glyn Master Blackstone Master Gorbet Master Whitaker Master Allen Master Tâ—et Master Bâ—â—on yea they fall foule upon Sir Henry Vanâ— the younger Master Sollicitor Lievâ—enant Generall Cromwell Sir Henry Mildmay Master Holland c. and would have them turned out of their places as being Nonrefidentiaries Pluralists strengthening others in those wayes by their examples telling them these other places distinct from their Memberships of Parliament prejudices greatly the Common-wealth sowes up their lips makes them they dare neither speak nor doe what they should and without which 't is hoped they would but I must not enlarge more on this head and therefore referre the Reader to the Books themselves to peruse the particulars at large Sixthly The Sectaries have spoken written publikely against contested with the Committees of Parliament the Committees of each House both of the House of Commons and Lords How Lilburne carried himself to the Committee of Examinations his pamphlet entituled The copy of a Letter from Liâ—â—t Col. Lilburne 〈◊〉 a Friend shewes at large what Master Musgraves carriage was to a Committee of the House of Commons of which Master Liâ—ts was the Chair-man himselfe relates in his pamphlet entituled Another word to the wiâ—e and in that Book he speaks against the proceedings of that Committee and in that of all the Committees of the House of Commons shewing his reasons why he declined that Committee and the answering of their Interrogatories Now his words are as followes I am blamed because I decline the Committee how should I expect any good from them when they dare not or will not suffer our cause to be publikely heard and debated but doe shut their doores against both our friends and also against strangers contrary to Law yet suffer they our adversaries whom we accuse to sit with their hats on as Judges in the cause both permitting them and they taking upon them to examine us And how can I assent unto the Committes demands to bring witnesses to be examined before such a Committee as cannot or is not authorised to administer an oath and so consequently cannot determine or give any judgement for or against the party accused for that all matters of fact and causes criminall are to be tried and determined by the verdict of twelue men upon solemne oaths and deposition of witnesses And how can I without incurring the hainous sinne of perjury submit unto the Arbitrary proceedings and determinations of any Committee being bound by solemne oath and protestation to maintaine the Lawes and just liberties of the people and that the Proceeding Orders and Results of the Committees be Arbitrary and not regulated by the Law I need no further proofe then that exorbitant and unlimiâ—ted power they take upon them and daily exercise in seazing on free mens goods and imprisoning their bodies contrary to Law for which if they should as they ought pay 500. li. a peice and trebble dommages to every party greived according to the Statute of 17. Carol. made for the abolishing of the Star-chamber I beleeve they would not adventure so boldly to transgresse Overton in his Pamphlet call'd A Deâ—â—ance against all Arbitrary usurpations either of the House of Lords or any other p 14. 13. declares his contemptâ—os insolent carriag towards a Committee of the Lords House how when he was asked by the Earle of Essex two severall times whether he were a printer or no he answered that he would not answer any questions or Interrogatories whatsoever but would stand to the rights and properties of the people of this Nation as also that he asked the Committee some questions talked sawcily to them as to know where or before whom he was What is a Committee of Lords the most supreme Court of Judicature in the Land Gentlemen if you be a Committee of Lords then I appeale from you Seventhly the Sectaries have carried themselves in word and deed insolently against the Parliament of England not only as I have fully proved abusing apart the House of Lords the House of the Commons Commit of each House and
Anapologesiâ—tâ—s Antapologias came forth I was resolved upon writing this Third Part and had entred upon it and so till I had finished that and another that is to follow upon it viz. A Treatise against Toleration I purposed to let Cretensis alone only I have among other great Sectaries spoken something of him in this Book and that upon occasion of his 38. Queries upon the Ordinance against Heresies and other things that have come to my knowledge concerning him As for his pretended Reply to my Antapologie besides the censure given of it in page 120. of this Book I affirme t is an Answer unworthy a Scholar or an ingenuous man and such a one as I am confident never any man who had the name of a Divine and in Controversies of Divinity ever gave the like instead of answering Arguments Reasons matters of fact to fill up many sheets with finding and making faults in words and phrases playing the part of a Grammaticastor a Paedantical usher and a sub-corrector of the presse rather then of a learned Answerer for suppose all those Grammatical literal exceptions raked together were faults indeed and let passed by me all he saith in that kind true which I deny and shall prove the contrary some of them being the faults of the Printer and by me put in among Errata others of them good Grammar yea Elegancies and Proverbiall sayings yet what 's all that to my Antapologie though there be many Grammatical and litterall faults improper phrases harsh and hard expressions how do these Answer Reasons disprove matters of fact vindicate and set right the Apologetical Narration which must be done to satisfie any judicious and impartiall Reader I appeale to any man who hath common sense or reason whether matters of fact charged be proved false or reasons made weak or they be answered by saying there was a verbe left out the nominative case and verbe were noâ— well put together the antecedent and the relative not rightly placed such a phrase was harsh or improper and whether such a kind of Answer be not ridiculous to Scholars and learned men It hath been the course of many men who have had a bad cause and knew not how to maintain it with Arguments to slight the men who have wounded their cause as no scholarâ— and to brand their books as wanting learning thus some Papists have done in Answer to Protestants Prelates to Non-conformists and Arminians to the Orthodox but Master Goodwin is gone a note beyond all further then ever any Author did to spend his time and abuse the reader with giving him Grammaticall faults what Book is there writ by any man especially one who hath much other work of forty sheets that if a Reader will set himself to find faults and to wyer-draw every word and phrase may not find such faults enough between the Author whose mind is intent upon the matter and scope of his work and the Printer at the presse I could give many instances of greater Errata in this kind in Books of the most learned men then any Cretensis hath observed in mine and that both in Latine and English but I shall instance only in two Voeâ—ius his Book intituled Desperata causa Papatus and Rivets Catholicus Orthodoxus nay I will undertake Master Goodwins Answer to the Antapologie though it consists of fewer sheets hath the largest Errata of any such English book I have seen this last five years the design of the book being also to disparage me by observing false English improper Phrases c. and therefore cannot be but in reason expected he would be more specially carefull and exact in that kind then in other of his Books to find and prove more faults in all those kinds yea grosser then any are in mine and indeed the man trips in all tongues he makes use of in his Book both Greek Latine and English as I shall hereafter show nay the man stumbles in Limine the first word of his Title page and Book being false Greek using a word viz. Anapologesiates there being none such in the Greek tongue and if he say he meant it not one word but two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having relation to Antapologias I Reply t is strange that in the Title page he who is such a severe Critick upon other mens words should have no greater care of his own then to let them so passe as to let two words be put in one but 2ly granting Master Goodwin this Salvo yet t is false Greek for it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an Eta not with an Epsilon as he makes it And I suppose were there no other proofs of the strength and weight of my Antapologie Master Goodwins Reply to it would be a sufficient and demonstrative testimony that he after two yeeres and upwards for want of substantiall objections and materiall exceptions against it should fall upon words and phrasâ—s Grammaticall mistakes and not Theologicall show himself such a Tâ—ifler and Scribler as he hath done for which learned work I assure him he will never be reckoned among the Schoolmen however he may and hath been among the Schoolboyes That man who hath a Lordship a Manor propounded to him after a ful view of and enquiry into it can find no fault with the Tenure Title dweling house water wooding situation of it c. but cavils that some strawes are upon the ground some sticks are broken in a hedge a pane or two of glasse is cracked the Evidences for the Land are not so fairly written nor in so good language as they might possibly have bin t is a good sign clear Argument t is an excellent Manor and Lordship that nothing else is objected against it So when a Book hath passed the test and triall of a cruell adversary who dares say any thing so it will serve his turne and yet can find nothing to except against it but what is common to all mens Books some mistakes in words and phrases Errata of the Presse there being no Book without such such a man instead of weakning the Authority of that Book hath among all wise men with a high hand confirmed it and accquitted it from all the aspersions and imputations of weaknesse falsenesse all men concluding had there been any great matters of exceptions they would have been produced and not the time spent in picking of strawes and catching of flyes catching at words and phrases and letting the matter alone And for conclusion of this I would have this Trifler and great Rabbi of the English tongue know that though in his conceit I cannot put the Nominative case and Verbe together c. yet by the help of God I can put such sense and reason together such matters of fact and truth together that in the controversies of the times of the Church Government Toleration mixt Communion Lay-mens preaching c. I can put Cretensis and the Apologists together answer them and offer to deal with
put in a Postscript and must be reserved for the Fourth Part and I am of the minde when Lanceter shall come to reade them he will wish he had beene opening his Pack when he was writing his Pamphlet As for Drapes his â—illy Pamphlet cald A Bâ—amâ— in Master Edwards his eye Master Edwards hath the Beame in his hand and could easily so handle it as to knock Drapes and Captaine Paul Hobson on the heads and dash out their braines with it but I must not be put out of my way of writing more usefull Tractates by every little bauling currâ— As for Gangraena-chrestum writen by Master Piâ—nel and Maddocks against some passages in a Letter written by a godly Minister and printed by me in the First Part of Gangraena the Authors shall receive a full answer from some of the Ministers of those parts who having been upon the place know all particulars for proofe of which I have been written unto as followes I have lighted upon a Libell of Master Pinnels and Maddocks which however it cast scorne enough on you Master Gower and Master Ford I know you will scorn and I shall take care in what is materiall to see it Answered in a Book by it selfe which if you will let me know when the Third Part of Gangraena is likely to be ready I would put out before it that you may the better make use of it And in another Letter upon my Answer to this that I thought my Third Part would have come out much sooner then now it doth I am thus written to I am sorry in reference to my selfe that your Third Part comes out so suddenly I had thought an answer to Pools relation should have preceded it But however if you have occasion to speak any thing in reference to it you may bid the Reader expect an Answer from these parts shortly And you may your selfe take notice how our opposites Pinnel and Maddocks doe equivocate and deny not the things charged as in the point of Pinnels strange Doctrine and the Revelation woman As for Walwins Prediction of Master Edwards Conversion and the Consultation upon Master Edwards both from the same hand as I judge I would have Master Walwyn and his companions know that Mr. Edwards goes upon surer grounds in what he does against the Sectaries then to be so soone removed he hath not been so long in the Schoole of Christ had experience so many yeers of the wayes of God in trialls of many temptations divers afflictions conflicts with all sorts of wicked men and Errors both in the Prelates times and now searchings and shiftings out the truths of God in the Controversies both of the former and present times as to be taken off from the Doctrines of truth and according to godlinesse and to be turned unto fables by the foolish weake Pamphlets of the times If Mr. Walwin and his fellowes have any â—opes in this kind they are much deceived For as Luther sometimes writ in an Epistle of his to Spalatinus concerning his writing against the Papists that he should presume any thing of him praeter Palinodiam fugam so may the Sectaries imagine any thing of me rather then a Recantation and repenting of writing those Books wherein I have discovered the Errors Heresies and Blasphemies of the times As for Mr. Salmarshes Answer in few words to the Second Part of Gangraena a part of his shadowes flying away I shall reckon with him for every line in it in that Answer to other Pamphlets of his only I desire the Reader for the present to observe these things First that Master Gataker in his Reply to him hath proved him to be a shadow without substance hath taken off the shadowes and vaile he had cast on many truths of the Gospel and showed this new light with his dawnings of light to be nothing else but a shadow of death and darknesse and hath caused this great light to go out in a smoke and snuâ—â—e Secondly that he calls one leafe and lesse then a halfe an Answer to my Second Part of Gangraena consisting almost of thirty sheets and to another Book call'd An after Reckoning of about ten sheets Thirdly in that little he saith though he call it an Answer he doth not so much as offer to disprove any one particular in the Book hee saith not one word to disprove or deny the Woman Preacher which in my Second Part I had made good against his bold deniall of it in a former Pamphlet but declaimes in generall against me and my Book railing fearfully and cursing me Fourthly the great hypocrisie and dissimulation of Master Saltmarsh pretending in all his writings love peace sweetnesse among Christians and in this Pamphlet where his Answer to the Second Part of Gangraena is inserted t is call'd Reasons for Vnity Love and Peace and charging me with bitternesse uncharitablenesse want of the sweete Spirit of Christ whereas himselfe hath the bitterest uncharitablest and most railing censorious passages against me and a godly reverend Minister he joynes with me that a man shall hardly ever meet with the like in any Book in a mans life time applying those words of Christ to the Devill unto me the Lord rebuke thee even the Lord charging me with sinning aganst the holy Ghost with being in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity telling me of gnawings flashings of having a burnt and withered spirit threatning they will pray me either into repentance or shame or judgement ere they have done with me and putting the other Minister and me together he stiles us Pensioners to the gâ—â—at Acouser of the Brethron bids us fill up the measure of our iniquities if we will needs perish whether he will or no and saith all the powers of hell set us on work with many such like passages So that I may justly say to Master Saltmarsh as Paul in Rom. 2. 21 22 23. Thou therefore that teachest another Teachest thou not thy selfe Thou that teachest a man should not steale dost thou steale Thou that â—aiest a man should not commit adulâ—ery dost thou commit adultery c. Or as Christ in Matthew 7. 3 4. 5. And why beholdest thou the motâ— that is in thy brothers eye but considerest not the beame that is in thine owne eye or how canâ—â— thou say to thy brother lot me pull out the motâ— out of thine eye and behold a beame in thine owne eye Th 〈…〉 hypocrite first cast out the beame out of thine owne eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mâ—te out of thy brothers eye Master Saltmarsh charges me with bitternesse uncharitablenesse and is ten times worse himselfe and I challenge Master Saltmarsh and all his party in all the Books that I have written put together to produce if they can so many unchristian passages as are vented by him against me in oâ—e leafe Where and in what part of my books have I charged Master Saltmarsh with sinning against the holy
Ghost hating the light once known blaspheming the work of the Spirit and so I might instance in the rest though I beleeve I could give better grounds why Master Saltmarsh should a great deale more probably bee guilty in that kind then he can upon any pretence of me though I professe I do not charge him with that sinne but the charging godly Presbyterians for writing against Errors and Heresies with committing the sinne against the holy Ghost and despighting the Spirit and sinning wilfully is the great charity and brotherly love of Sectaries divers of them having done thus Master Price charging M. Bâ—ll 〈…〉 ie Master Goodwin Master Brinne and M. Saltmarsh me But I would have Master Saltmarsh know ti 〈…〉 not his bugbar of charging me with the sin against the holy Ghost and threatning me with flashings lightnings and praying against me for contending earnestly for the Faith once delivered unto the Saintâ— against certaine men crept in turning the Grace of God into lasâ—iviousnesse can scare me to make me go out of my way and I find this branding with the sinne against the holy Ghost of Orthodox men by Sectaries to be no new thing but very old used by the Donatists in Saint Austins time who as Augustine showes in his writings accused the Orthodox of being guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost Fifthly for his two stories he relates of discourse with me upon two severall times speaking together they are deceitfully and falsely related the greatest part concealed and what is related not justly set downe I writ them both downe in my Diary espâ—cially the last immediatly after I left Master Saltmarsh and so can give a just and good account of them but they are too long to be inserted in a Postscript and of the first that being at Master Vicars his house and in his hearing he hath given the Reader already a good part of it in his Schiâ—â—â—atick sifted little I think to M. Saltmarshes credit And now good Reader the next Tractate thou shalt expect from me shall be a Tractate against a Toleration which I hope by the end of the next moneth or the beginning of February may be in thy hands and nothing by Gods help shall divert me or re 〈…〉 d that I am resolved if twenty Pamphlets should be written against this Third Part to let them all lie till I have put forth a Treatise against Toleration and pretended liberty of Conscience And now finally Brethren pray for me that God would be in a speciall manner with me in the setting forth of that Tractate at this time and that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified and â—hat I may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men and that my service which I have for this Kingdome may be accepted of the King Parliament and all that are in authority of the City of London the Ministers of the Kingdome and of all Saints Amen FINIS a Paraeus in 2. Galath v. 9. Hodiâ— quid fit Opinionibus res geritur imo affectibus Nulla Argumenta nullae Apologiae locum inveniunt b Baldwin Cas Consciâ—n lib. 4. cap. 7. pag. 10. 53. 1055. Falsorum dogmatum Propugnatores nominatim perstringendi sunt quomodo enim alias ab auditoribus caveri possunt c Calvin Instructio adversus libertines cap. 4. * The Vision of God by Cardinall cusanus The third part of the Rule of perfection by a Cappuchian Friar Another booke written by a Preist A mesius lib. 5. de Coâ—sc c. 14. ☞ ☜ * Cal. Instr advers libert c. 4 Quod autem Quintinus ejusque socius ex Sartoribus Doctores facti atque ita immutati sunt id in causa â—uit quod delicate molliter vivere vellent nec sibi putarent labores convenire Propterea coÌ„modius omni no existimarunt ut quemadmodum sacerdotes monachi cantillando sic ipsigarriendo vitam quaererent ☞ Erasmus saepe dixit Deus dedit huic postâ—emae aeâ—ati propter morborum magnitudinem acrem medicum Mel. Adam vit luth p. 162. For proofe of this vide Pamphlet entituled Little-Nonsuch printed at London very lately pag. 2. Animadvers Little Nonsuch pag 4. Animadvers * Danaeus in his Tract de Haeresibus cap. 4. 3. Among other Errors of the Origenists shows this to he one that in the interpretation of Scripture they would perpetually Allegorize so that they left nothing certain in the word of God neither that Paradâ—se nor Adam nor Eve nor the waters nor any thing which Moses laies down in the whole Book of Genesis Whereupon Augustine writ 12 Books de Genesi ad literam against such Allegorists and Corrupters of the Scripture Little Nonsuch pag. 5 6 7 8 9 10 c. Animadvers * Vide Ainsworth in Lev. 18. v. 19. ☞ For proof of this see page 25. of this third Part of Gangr This Doctrine was Preached at a Funerall sermon in London brought to comfort men against that trouble of death They shall 〈◊〉 and he removed from their friends and â—e strangers to the affairs bâ—low This point was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bâ— way of Answer i 〈…〉 upon and amplified I and divers other Ministerâ— were â—are witnesses and spake together of the Sermon when it was done I have been told it also from good hands â—hat an Independent Minister of great note when he was dying 〈◊〉 to his wife and friends to have a care how they used his body when it was dead for 〈◊〉 should know what they did to him Animadvers Animadvers Animad vers * This Error the other three last mentioned were preached last Sept. 17 at a Funeral Sermon by an Independent of great note I many other Ministers were â—are witnesses of these doctrines * Proof Webs Pamph. writteÌ„ against my first Part of Gangr page 6. * Respondâ—o Baptismum Johannis discrepasse à Baptismo Christs qua tenus Christus Baptizat interius baptismâ— spiritus Et hac in parte diffâ—rt Baptismus Christi ab omnibus Ministâ—orum Sacrorum baptismis nihil autem discrepasse à baptisme ceremoniali à Christo instituto nisirationâ— temâ—oris significationis clâ—ritate quâ— ante Chriti manifestationem taâ—ta non suit quanta post cam Non sâ—â—us ac Apostolorum baptismus ante mortem Christi diversâ—â— suit à baptismo ab ipsis post mortem ejus administrato pag. 25. 26 27. * Proof of the 10. and 11. Errors pag. 36 37. of this Third Part. * Proof p. 80. of this Third part Proof of the 13 14 pag. 80. of this Third part Proof of the 15. pag. 21. Proof of 16. pag. 80. 45. Vide Proofe of these pag. 20. of this Third part * Vid. Proof of this pag. 107. * For proof see a Book entituled Divine Light manifesting the love of God unto the whole world with the true Church printed in the year 1646. * Divine Light maniâ—esting the love of God pag. 25. The maine scope of that Pamphlet