will not be perswaded though never such reason be showed them yea if an Angel from he even or one of the old Prophets arising from the dead should speak against their Opinions and wayes 't is to befeared many of them would yet go on The strong delusion that God hath sent upon many of them to beleeve lies the great interest of divers in regard of preferment and profit the Popes Crown and the Monks bellies the deep ingagements of others to that way by many relations and having mens 〈◊〉 in admiration make it is hard work to convince men though there be never such evidence of Reason I may complaine of the Sectaries of our times as Paraeus doth of some Lutherans and others in his time that things are altogether carried by opinions yea by affections no Arguments no Apologies can take place They that at the will and pleasure of some men do not approve of unprofitable scandalous yea monstrous opinions they are cast off the right hand of fellowship denyed them although they preach Christ sincerely But now in the interim till that Treatise can come forth which I intend shall preoede the Fourth Part of Gangraena I wish the Sectaries to consult Baldwins cases of Conscience who handling that case of Conscience whether the Authors and maintainers of false opinions are to be spoken against by name resolves it affirmatively giving Scriptures and Reasons for it yea showing that false teachers are rather by name to be branded then those who lead only wicked lives and Calvins Tractate against the Libertins giving reasons of his owne practice and answering objections in not only writing against the opinions of the Libertines but naming Coppinus and Quintinus cheife heads of that fastion Secondly a man would wonder at it that the Sectaries should so rage and cry out against me and my Gangraenaes for meddling with matters of fact and nominating men when as long before I put pen to paper in that kind divers of them had in Pamphlets spoken against many Presbyterians by name both godly Ministers and other worthy persons as Master Calamie Doctor Burges Master Prynne c. Master Burton telling in 〈◊〉 Pamphlet a story of me by name a◠Colchester but false and raking 〈◊〉 old matters at Bury against Master Calamie in another Pamphlet call'd Truth still Truth though shut out of doores and all before the First Part of Gangrana was printed and indeed the Sectaries have all along both before my Books came forth and 〈◊〉 since upon all occasions yea such of them as have spoken and written most against me for so doing as M. Saltmarsh M. Goodwin M. 〈…〉 on c. writ against the Pres 〈…〉 rians by name and related all 〈…〉 of fact stories of them and in a disgracefull manner and way comparing them with D. Pockling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in a scoffing 〈…〉 ing abusive way dealing with them and 〈◊〉 hath not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only by Independents to Presbyterians but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 written Books and given us stories and that long before I 〈◊〉 thought of this way of 〈◊〉 Sectaries a◠Anti 〈…〉 ians Anabaptists Familists and that by names with all particulars of their doings as well as opinions and of his judgement upon them as Master Wells his History of the Rise Raigne and Downfall of the Antinomians and some others in that kind so that in this I doe but follow them and write after their Copie and I appeale to the ingenuous Reader how they can with any colour blame that as a great evill and wickednesse in me which they account in themselves zeale of Gods glory and a doing God service especially considering that the Sectaries in their naming of Presbyterians and bringing in matters of fact and stories have proceeded in a sixfold manner and way all which in matters of this kind be the things most liable to blame and exception and which I have all along carefully shunned and declined First the Sectaries in writing Books against the Reformation and Presbyterians have not spared to write against and that in a most reproachfull and vild way whole bodies Assemblies Communities and those the highest and greatest as the House of Peers House of Commons the City of London and Common-Councell the Assembly the Kingdome and Generall Assembly of Scotland some scores of such Books written by Sectaries being in all mens hands whereas in my writing against Sectaries I have spoken only against particular persons but to whole Bodies and Societies I have tendred all due respect vindicating them and their power against the Pamphlets and aspersions of Sectaries Secondly the Sectaries in their writings of matters of fact have not only named ordinary persons but persons of the greatest quality and place abusing them by name as divers Members of both Houses the Speakers of both Houses some of the Lords and some of the Commons the Lord Major of London by name but I have all along declined the naming of persons in authority and Magistracie viz. in that way Thirdly the Sectaries in their personall matters and stories of the Presbyterians have still related things manifestly untrue of which there hath been no ground at all as Master Price ' s story of Master Bellamie 〈…〉 ding it unlawfull to sell Prayer Bookes as the Anabaptists in the Lord Majors farewell of the late Lord Major as some stories of Cretensis Master Burroughs and Master Burton of me the contrary unto them being the truth as a passage in Master Dels Epistle Dedicatory to the House of Commons concerning Master Ley of the Assembly most false as a passage in Master Burtons Epistle of his Conformities Deformity of the new Lord Major known to be untrue and so I could go on with instancing in passages in Master Saltmarsh Lilburne and other such Books manifestly untrue and indeed of all the stories and matters of fact the Sectaries have in their Pamphlets in disgrace of the Presbyterians I hardly know one true one whereas the stories related by me of them the most of them are knowne to many and are certain and I have beene all along carefull as by my Reply to Cretensis is evident Fourthly the Sectaries in their matters of fact have fallen upon Presbyterians with old matters many yeeres ago before Presbyterians yea gone back as farre almost as to their childhood as Master Price did to Master Bellamie and Master Burton goes back to Bury ten yeeres before to finde something against Master Calamie and so I might instance in others but I have confined my selfe within three or foure yeeres and to the times since they were Sectaries Fifthly the Sectaries have brought in against Presbyterians matters of bodily infirmities of their complexions and such like as Saltmarsh in his pretended Answer to my Second Part of Gangraena upbraids me saying Your face and complexion showes a most sadly parched burnt and withered spirit but I have forborne that least I should reproach my Maker for he that made me made them Sixthly many
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 attend to what he should â—ay and now to know it Now if those times be of all others the most perilous where there are false teachers venting errours and hereâ—ies but in a way of creeping into houses how perillous and dangerous are those times where there are false Teachers and seducers holding all sort of errours armed being Commanders and Officers of Regiments and Companies who creep not into houses but openly command houses and abide in them and by their power can and do drive away the faithfull shepheards that should defend the sheep that so the Wolves and Foxes may the more freely devoute them and that when they have â—avened and made havock in one place can march to another and so go into all places by their power forcing and commandiâ—g what they please All which clearely shewes us we are in a far worse condition then when the enemy was in the height of his successes and victories at the taking of Bristow or ever since the Parliament began God is more dishonoâ—ed pretious soules more destroyed all things tending to Anarchy Confusion and new Broyles worse then before Certainly in God have any delight in this Kingdome or purpose to do it good he will deliver us from this wicked generation of Sectaries one way or other They have these three last yeares been encreasing and growing very bad but this last yeare they have been outragious I am confidently perswaded if a Commission were issued out from both Houses to faithfull godly men and they backed with such power not to fear the Sectarian souldiers to sit in the severall Counties to examine and enquire out the insolencies and enormities of the Sectarian souldiers and Chaplaines that were in the noble Earle of Manchesters Army and now in Sir Thomas Fairfax'es Army with assurance of protection to the complainants and witnesses there would be the dreadfullest and abominablest things found out both in opinions practises that ever were heard of in any Army of Christendom and most of the Cavaliers would be found Saints to them so that t is evident there 's more need of disbanding and cashiâ—ring the Companies and Regiments consisting most of Antinomians Anabaptists Seekers Antiscripturists c. then of Vandâ—â—sks Regiment of which there were so many outcryes and that justly too as I believe 7. Corollar Hence then by what is laid down in this Booke of the. Errours Heresies Practises insolencies of the Sectaries we may see that never in any age or in any Christian State or Kingdom whether Orthodox or Hetrodox Protestant or Popish hath there been such a sufferance and Toleration of those who have been contrary minded to the Religion established by civill Authority as hath been and is in our Kingdome The Sectaries talke much upon all occasions of Toleration and liberty of conscience in Holland Poland Transylvania France Switzerland Turky but let any man look into those Countries and but understand aright what is allowed in those places and then consider what is daily practised in England and suffered without all questioning and he must needs confesse there 's no such liberty nor Toleration in any of those places enquire and aske after Holland France Poland c. where there are Tolerations whether Sectaries or Dissenters from what 's setled by the civill Sanction do come into publike Churches causing tumults and riots and by violence put by the Ministers from preaching pulling them out of their Pulpits abusing them grossely and preach openly with all kind of reproaches against the established Religion whether Books are suffered to be printed with license and sold openly â—enting all kind of errours blasphemies yea branding with most odions names the Religion established and the supreme Authority who settles it yea daring to present into the hands of and at the doores of the houses where the supreme Judicatories sit Bookes and Pamphlets with Protestations against what themselves have enacted whether great numbers of Emissaries Mechanicks of all sorts are suffered to be daily sent forth into all parts of their Countries and Kingdoms to draw away the people from their Religion and if any man in authority dare be so bold to molest them though they abuse Magistrates to their faces yet they are one way or other delivered and presently fall the faster to their work again whether the way to preferment and places of honour profit trust command be in those Countries to oppose and to be most active against the Religion and Government established and the ready way to be kept out of all such places and by one device or other to be turned out yea to be brought in trouble be for a man to be zealous for the Religion and way of worship setled in that Country whether in any of those Countries if those who be Hereticks and Schismaticks or Dissenters only from what the Magistrates of the Countries have established being cal'd in question by those in highest place for writing against and reproaching their Ordinances and Lawes and thereupon affronting them to their faces and writing Bookes publikely against them have they notwithstanding continuing in all contempt escaped without punishment and received those favours and priviledges which none before them though never so conformable to the Lawes and State have received and so I might instance in many other like particulars Now I challenge any man in all his reading or travelling to give me any such instances in Holland France Transylvania Turky c. but I can give many proofes in all these kinds within these three last yeares in England In the Bishops times before this Parliament there was great favour shewed towards Papists and persons Popishly affected but did they come into our Churches established by Law and bringing their Priests put by our Ministers from preaching and celebrating the Lords Supper and set up against the will of the Ministers and Parishioners their owne Priests to preach points of Doctrines and to say Masse or did the Bishops when Popery was most countenanced suffer Popish Books railing against our Ministery Church c. to be licensed by their Chaplains and sold openly In the Kings late Armies where as it hath been reported there have been many Papists and Popish Commanders yea and Priests did they ever where they were quartered drive away by force the Protestant Ministers and in the midst of the publike exercises on Lords dayes come with their souldiers and disturbe them in Prayers preaching and put up their Priests in their rooms I never heard of any one such example in this kind O what outcryes would these things have made if done either by Bishops or Papists but these things are ordinarily and daily practised by the Sectaries Indeed the liberty the Sectaries now have in England is rather a Domination then a Toleration a Raigne rather then a sufferance yea their Raigne and Domination is swel'd so high that the godly Ministers and Christians who are for the Church-Government and way established by Parliament have much a
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
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
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
doe as a gifted Brother but as a Minister and is an act of power and office not of love and charity onely the Independents greatest and onely Argument to speak of used in the Assembly in their Sermons and some printed Books against a Presbyteriall Church and Ministers ruling in common over more then their particular Congregation is fully answered for if they may of themselves without the consent of the Minister of that Congregation baptize who are not of their Church then certainly they may with consent of the Ministers and Officers of such Churches joyn in the ruling and governing of them who are not of their Congregations and by this the ruling power of Ministers does not extend further then their power of feeding by the word and Sacraments and therefore till I give Master Burroughs a particular Answer to this Reason of his Wee would have the ruling power of Ministers not to extend further c. pag. 29. of his Vindication against Master Edwards and such a like passage in his Irenioum I referre him to Master Goodwin to be satisfied what reasons hee hath to baptize those over whom he hath not a Pastorall charge and the same will be found to hold stronglier for a power of governing those who are not of a Ministers particular Congregation and yet Master Burroughs if hee were pleased to take notice might find this very Argument answered in the Antapologia being brought by the Apologists in their Apologeticall Narration and in the Assemblies Answer to the Reasons of the Dissenting Brethren given in against Presbyteriall Government which Answers were never yet taken away by the Apologists or any of them and Cretensis in his late pretended Reply to my Antapologie takes no notice of them as he does not to the rest of the Arguments against their Non-communion c. but is so wise as after taking two yeares and upward for Answer yet to crave further day for payment filling up many sheets with mending the Printers and Correctors faults and making many faults where there are none letâ—ing passe all the materiall thingâ— both in matters of fact and Arguments till a Second Part which the Reader may expect ad Graeâ—as Kalendas And of this learned Reply to the Antapologie a worthy Divine writes to me Septemb. 12 as followes I have lighted upon the frothy Answer to the Antapologie of which lay aside pedanticall jeers unchristian misconstruction Rhetoricall flashes and Jesuiticall equivocations there will be scarce so much of a solid Answer remaining as would fill one sheet of those 38. that swells its puffe-paste bulk There is one Master Hugh Peters who came over from New-England about five yeares agoe a great Agent for the Sectaries who hath many wayes by preaching writing conference and discourse and above all by acting in severall kinds promoted the Independent way The Reader shall find him spoken of in the First and Second Parts of Gangraena Pag. 40 41. of the third Edition in some of Master * Pryâ—s Books in a Book called The Sectaries Anatomized pag. 3. Now I will give the Reader an account of him in relating some of his passages in Sermons Books and Discourses In Sermons hee hath preached as followes In the first yeare the Scots came into England hee hath in the Pulpit spoken well of them as in a Sermon at Covent Garden commending their Army hee said there was in one Regiment of the Scots fifteen hundred or seventeen hundred Bibles but since that time of the new Modell of the Army hee hath preached against them as at Lewis in Sussex where also hee spake against the Presbyterians because they will not live voluntarily upon the good will of the people but will stand upon such a meanes whereas the Independents will preach freely asking nothing So at Master Gatakers Church at Redriffe on the monethly Fast-day May 27. 1646. hee preached against the Scots by name that these Scots now in the Land were a new Generation not those Scots that came in at first to our help but these were other Scots come from Sweathland Germany and he knew not whence that to his knowledge they had sent away whole bushels full or â—uns full of money at that time also hee preached concerning the monethly Fasts that they were Canonicall set Fasts and hee wished they were suspended for a time and Fasts taken up occasionally And on May 17. at Cruciat Friars he preached concerning the Scots and of our Army what a holy religious Army it was and that they would have no warre with the Scots unlesse it should appeare out of the word of God they ought to have and if it should prove so yet they would goe to fight with their Brethren of Scotland with tears in their eyes On the last of May 1646. preaching at the Three Cranes in the Evening he spoke against the * Common Councell for medling with that they had nothing to do with going beyond their Commission saying Let them look into their Charter and see if there be any such thing mentioned He found fault with the City Remonstrance saying We now fall upon Remonstrating and Petitioning one against another instead of giving God thanks for his late deliverances and mercies vouchsafed unto us In this Sermon he spake slightly of the Covenant and of those who made such a stirre about it in pressing the people to be carefull in sticking to it as if they would have them to make an Idoll of the Covenant In this Sermon also hee spake about the King to this purpose what a stirre here was about a King as if we could not live without one and how fond we were to hug and embrace him who struck us a box on the eaâ—e the other day and all because he now stroakes us on the cheeks In this â—ermon also he spake that wee were now grown to a refined Malignancy so that he saw no more difference between these times and the first times of the troubles then between a half crown piece and two shillings and six pence by his discourse in the Pulpit it was carried in such a way as under the Malignant striking at the Presbyterian party who opposed Sectaries In this Sermon he spake also of the Army to this effect that when hee thought of the Army and the carriage of men towards them hee thought of Jesus Christ how like they were to him that as he went about doing good and working miracles and at length the people crucified him so will men do with this Army This Sermon was so offensive that I was told of it by divers and some Citizens went to speak with him about it and the conference that passed between him and them I shall acquaint the Reader with under the head of Master Peters discourses Master Peters in the Army in Hedington Fort hath preached against the City of London incensing the Army against the City of which the Reader may read more if he turn backward to page 24. Since the taking of
or any of the money Upon this he went to a Counsellor at Law one Mr. W. related his case desiring his councell in it He advised him to make no words of it say nothing but at the Sessions endite him and get a Warrant of a Suddain before he could take councell to fetch him away and it may be being so surprised he would pay him the money rather then stand it out to answer it at the Sessions The Citizen followed his advise when the Sessions came had a bill drawn against him the Atturney who had seen the Bond witnessed there was such a speciall tye the Bill was found and a Warrant sent out for to attach him the Officer serving it and threatning presently to carry him away thereupon this Sectary confessed his evill he entreated his mercy that he would not shame him publikely it should be a warning to him for ever after and so he paying the money the man prosecuted him no further A Relation of some remarkeable Passages of divers Sectaries and of the Contents of severall Letters written up here to London from good hands concâ—rning them THere is one Mr. Knollys an Anabaptist spoken of in my first part of Gangraena and in this third part page 48. 49. a Letter of his is printed this man preaches up and down in severall Churches in London and Southwarkâ— and that with all fiercenesse against Childrens Baptisme and against our Ministers as being Antichristian and having no call to baptize and among other places where he hath preached lately he preached this Novemb. the 15. at Georges Church in Butolph-lane in the afternoone on these words He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved where after he had spoken of beleeving in the latter part of his Sermon comming to speak of baptizing he used these words I have spoken to you of the first part of the Gospell believing I must be faithfull and speak to you of the second viz. baptizing and of that there is as great a necessity as believing and therefore I advise and charge all you who believe to be baptized and whereas it may be you will object you are baptized already I answer that is a lye indeed you were rantized but not baptized and that too was into the name of your God-fathers which was blasphemy and not into the name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost besides they who did it had nothing to do with Baptisme as being no Ministers but Antichristian and whereas heretofore these Ministers of the Church of England rantized into the name of their Godfathers now to mend the matter they do it into the name of their Fathers There is one Mr. Symonds a great Sectarie Mr. Cradocks Colleague who came to London since the wars and preached at little Alhallowes Thames-street and at the Tower where I have been informed from godly understanding men as well Ministers as others that he hath preached severall strange things as for a Toleration and liberty for all men to worship God according to their consciences and in favour of Antipaedobaptisme and so preaching once at Andrewes Vndershafâ— for Mr. Goodwin he preached high strains of Antinomianisme as that Christ was a legall Preacher and liv'd in a dark time and so preached the Law but afterwards the Gospel came to be preached and preaching at Laurence Pountneys summer was twelvemoneth on the day of thanksgiving for taking of Sherborn Castle he spake of the great Victories the Saints had obtained for us viz. the Independents and yet now the Parliament was making Lawes against these Saints with other things to that purpose and as at London he hath preached thus so since he left London this last Summer he preached at Bath before the Generall strange stuffe as I have been told from understanding men who heard him viz. against Presbytery saying it was a limb of Antichrist pleading for liberty of conscience and for those who would not have their children baptized till they came to years of understanding and for Weavers and ignorant mechanicks preaching and speaking of these mens guifts and having the spirit before learned men and men bred at Universities with a great deale of this stuffe insomuch that Mr. Bodeâ— Minister of the Bath as I was informed confuted his Sermon the next Lords day and spake against it insomuch that â—ome of the Independent Souldiers as C. B. c. â—lung out of the Church in the midst of the Sermon and would not heare him out and truly 't is a sad thing that Sir Thomas Fairfax that valiant and well-affected Gentleman should have such kind of Chaplains and Preachers upon all occasions to preach before him as Mr. Dell Mr. Saltmarsh Mr. Peters Mr. Cradock M. Symonds M. William Sedgwick and such like and I have spoken the more of this Mr. Symonds because I hear he is nominated for one of the Itinerary Preachers of VVales that so the Country and Ministers may be ware of him where he comes and that the Assembly when he comes to be approved of may doe their duties and not let him passe so easily as they did Mr. Cradock There is Mr. Burton of London a great Independent who hath these five last years written many wild and weak Pamphlets beginning with his Prâ—testation Protested and ending with his Conformities Deformitie in which Pamphlets the poore man hath laid down many grounds of Donatisme and pure Brownisme yea of Libertinisme and of a generall Toleration of all Religions and hath laid about him striking all who have come neere him without feare or wit whether whole Assemblies and Societies or particular persons he hath cast durt in the face of the Church of Scotland and their generall Assembly our Assembly this famous City of London and the Honourable Court of Common Councell the Ministers of Sion Colledge particular Ministers M. Calamie my selfe and others nay he hath not spared his Brother Prynne his Brother Bastwick his good old friend M. Vicars and in all these five years among all the Books he hath put forth notwithstanding all the damnable Hereticks and Blasphemers among us hath not had the heart to speak one word for God against them which gives too just ground for the world to thinke M. Burtons former oppositions of Arminianisme Popery c. was not out of zeale for God and his truth and hatred of those errours but out of discontent and spleen against the Bishops who had crossed him in his hopes of preferment For if it had been out of zeale against the errours and not out of anger against the men how could he thus patiently beare all the injuries and dishonours of Christ and his truth done by other men even a hundred times worse then before Did Mr. Burton know what some of his wisest Brethren have said and do say of his Books he would give over writing as that his writings are weake and do more hurt then good would to God he would give over his writing Shall I tell M. Burton what Mr. Nye
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