in their acknowledgment Many after this came unto us who before flew from us with such desires as those in Act. 2. Men and Brethren what shall we do and did willingly take shame to themselves in the open Assemblies by confessing some of them with many tears how they had given offence to the Lord and his People by departing from the Truth and being led by a Spirit of Error their alienation from their brethren in their affections and their crooked and perverse walking in contempt of Authority slighting the Churches and despising the Counsel of their godly Teachers Now they would freely discover the slights the Adversaries had used to undermine them by and steal away their Eyes from the Truth and their Brethren which before whilst their Eyes were seal'd they could not see And the fruit of this was great Praise to the Lord who had thus wonderfully wrought matters about Gladness in all our Hearts and Faces and Expressions of our renewed Affections by receiving them again into our Bosoms and from that time untill now have walked according to their renewed Covenants humbly and lovingly amongst us holding forth Truth and Peace with Power But for the rest which notwithstanding all these means of Conviction from Heaven and Earth and the Example of their seduced Brethrens return yet stood obdurate yea more hardned us we had cause to fear than before we convented those of them that were Members before the Churches and yet laboured once and again to convince them not only of their Errors but also of sundry exorbitant Practices which they had fallen into as manifest Pride contempt of Authority neglecting to hear the Church and lying c. but after no means prevailed we were driven with sad hearts to give them up to Satan Yet not simply for their Opinions for which I find we have been slanderously traduced but the chiefest cause of their Censure was their Miscarriages as have been said persisted in with great obstinacy The persons cast out of the Churches were about nine or ten as far as I can remember who for a space continued very hard and impenitent but afterward some of them were received into fellowship again upon their Repentance These persons cast out and the rest of the Ring-leaders that had received sentence of Banishment with many others infected by them that were neither censured in Court nor in Churches went all together out of our Iurisdiction and Precinct into an Island called Read-Island sirnamed by some the Island of Errors and there they live to this day most of them but in great strife and contention in the civil Estate and otherwise hatching and multiplying new Opinions and cannot agree but are miserably divided into sundry Sects and Factions But Mistress Hutchison being weary of the Island or rather the Island weary of her departed from thence with all her Family her Daughter and her Children to live under the Dutch near a place called by Sea-men and in the Map Hell-Gate And now I am come to the last Act of her Tragedy a most heavy stroak upon her self and hers as I received it very lately from a godly Hand in New-England There the Indians set upon them and slew her and all her family her Daughter and her Daughters Husband and all their Children save one that escaped her own Husband being dead before a dreadful Blow Some write that the Indians did burn her to death with fire her House and all the rest named that belonged to her but I am not able to affirm by what kind of death they slew her but slain it seems she is according to all Reports I never heard that the Indians in those parts did ever before this commit the like Outrage upon any one family or families and therefore Gods hand is the more apparently seen herein to pick out this woful woman to make her and those belonging to her an unheard-of heavy Example of their Cruelty above others Thus the Lord heard our Groans to Heaven and freed us from this great and sore Affliction which first was small like Elias's Cloud but after spread the Heavens and hath through great Mercy given the Churches rest from this disturbance ever since that we know none that lifts up his head to disturb our sweet Peace in any of the Churches of Christ among us blessed for ever be his Name I bow my knees to the God of Truth and Peace to grant these Churches as full a riddance from the same or like Opinions which do destroy his Truth and disturb their Peace A POSTSCRIPT I think it fit to add a comfortable Passage of News from those parts written to me very lately by a faithful hand which as it affected mine own Heart so it may do many others viz. That two Sagamores or Indian Princes with all their Men Women and Children have voluntarily submitted themselves to the Will and Law of our God with expressed desires to be taught the same and have for that end put themselves under our Government and Protection even in the same manner as any of the English are which morning-peep of Mercy to them saith he is a great means to awaken the Spirit of Prayer and Faith for them in all the Churches T. Welde A Catalogue of such Erroneous Opinions as were found to have been brought into New-England and spread under hand there as they were condemned by an Assembly of the Churches at New-Town Aug. 30. 1637. The Errors 1. IN the Conversion of a sinner which is saving and gracious the Faculties of the Soul and Workings thereof in things pertaining to God are destroyed and made to cease The Confutation 1. This is contrary to the Scripture which speaketh of the Faculties of the Soul as the Understanding and the Will not as destroyed in Conversion but as changed Luke 24 45. Christ is said to have opened their Understandings Ioh. 21. 18. Peter is said to be led whither he would not therefore he had a Will Again to destroy the Faculties of the Soul is to destroy the Immortality of the Soul Error 2. Instead of them the Holy Ghost doth come and take place and doth all the works of those natures as the faculties of the human nature of Christ do Confutation 2. This is contrary to Scripture which speaketh of God as sanctifying our Souls and Spirits 1 Thess. 5. 23. purging our Consciences Heb. 9. 14. refreshing our Memories Ioh. 14. 26. Error 3. That the love which is said to remain when Faith and Hope cease is the Holy Ghost Confutation 3. This is contrary to the Scriptures which put an express difference between the Holy Ghost and Love 2 Cor. 6. 6. And if our love were the Holy Ghost we cannot be said to love God at all or if we did it was because we were personally united to the Holy Ghost Error 4 5. That those that be in Christ are not under the Law and commands of the word as the rule of Life Alias that the Will of God in
Court answer'd that it was apparent he was the Instrument of our Troubles he must prove them to be by such accident and till then the Blame must rest upon himself for we know Christ would not own them being out of his way After these and many other speeches had passed the Court declaring him guilty for troubling the Civil Peace both for his seditious Sermon and for his corrupt and dangerous Opinions and for his contemptuous Behaviour in divers Courts formerly and now obstinately maintaining and justifying his said Errors and Offences and for that he refused to depart voluntarily from us which the Court had now offered him and in a manner perswaded him unto Seeing it was apparent unto him from that of our Saviour Matth. that we could not continue together without the ruine of the whole he was sentenced to be disfranchised and banished our Jurisdiction and to be put in safe custody except he should give sufficient Security to depart before the end of March upon this he appealed to the King's Majesty but the Court told him an Appeal did not lie in this case for the King having given us an Authority by his Grant under his Great Seal of England to hear and determine all causes without any Reservation we were not to admit of any such Appeals for any such subordinate State either in Ireland or Scotland or other places and if an Appeal should lie in one case it might be challenged in all and then there would be no use of Government among us neither did an Appeal lie from any Court in any County or Corporation in England but if a party will remove his cause to any of the King 's higher Courts he must bring the King 's Writ for it neither did he tender any Appeal nor call any Witnesses nor desired any Act to be entred of it then he was demanded if he would give Security for his quiet departure which he refusing to do he was committed to the custody of the Marshal The next morning he bethought himself better and offered to give security alledging that he did not conceive the day before that a Sentence of Banishment was pronounced against him he also suffered to relinquish his Appeal and said he would accept of a simple Banishment The Court answer'd him that for his Appeal he might do as he pleased and for his departure he should have the liberty the Court had offered him provided he should not preach in the mean time but that he would not yield unto so in the end the Court gave him leave to go home upon his promise that if he were not departed out of this Jurisdiction within fourteen days he would render himself at the house of Mr. Stanton one of the Magistrates there to abide as a Prisoner till the Court should dispose of him Mr. Cogshall THe next who was called was Mr. Iohn Cogshall one of the Deacons of Boston upon his appearance the Court declared that the cause why they had sent for him was partly by occasion of his Speeches and Behaviour in this Court the other day and partly for some light miscarriages at other times and that they did look at him as one that had a principal Hand in all our late Disturbances of our publick Peace The first things we do charge you with is your justifying a Writing called a Remonstrance or Petition but indeed a seditious Libel and that when Mr. Asp. was questioned by the Court about it you stood up uncalled and justified the same saying to this effect that if the Court meant to dismiss him for that it was best to make but one work of all for though your self had not your Hand to the Petition yet you did approve thereof and your Hand was to the Protestation which was to the same effect whereupon you being also dismissed used clamorous and unbeseeming Speeches to the Court at your departure whereby we take you to be of the same mind with those who made the Petition and therefore liable to the same punishment upon this the Petition was openly read and liberty was granted to him to answer for himself His first answer was that what he then spake he spake as a Member of the Court to which it was answer'd again that 1. He was no Member of the Court standing upon Tryal whether to be allowed or rejected at such a time as he uttered most of those speeches 2. Admit he were yet it is no priviledge of a Member to reproach or affront the whole Court it is Licentiousness and no Liberty when a man may speak what he list for he was reminded of some words he uttered at his going forth of the Court to this effect that we had censured the Truth of Christ and that it was the greatest stroak that ever was given to Free-Grace To which he answer'd That his words were mistaken for he said that he would pray that our Eyes might be opened to see what we did for he thought it the greatest stroak that ever was given to N. E. for he did believe that Mr. Wheelwright did hold forth the Truth He was further charged that at the Court after the day of Elections he complained of Injury that the Petition which was tendered was not presently read before they went to Election To which being answer'd That it was not then seasonable and against the Order of that day but the Court were then ready to hear it if it were tendered whereupon he turned his back upon the Court and used menacing speeches to this effect That since they could not be heard then they would take another course To which he answer'd confessing he spake over hastily at that time that his words were only these Then we must do what God shall direct us He was further charged that he should say that half the people that were in Church-Covenant in N. E. were under a Covenant of Works this he did not deny but said he proved it by the Parable of the ten Virgins Mat. 15. After these and many other Speeches had passed between the Court and himself by which it plainly appeared that he had been a very busie instrument in occasioning of our publick Disturbances and his justifying of Mr. Wheelwrights Sermon and the Petition or Remonstrance being seditious Writings a Motion was made for his Banishment but he pretended that there was nothing could be laid to his Charge but matter of different opinion and that he knew not one Example in Scripture that a man was banished for his Judgment It was answer'd that if he had kept his Judgment to himself so as the publick Peace had not been troubled or endangered by it we should have left him to himself for we do not challenge power over mens Consciences but when seditious Speeches and Practices discover such a corrupt Conscience it is our duty to use Authority to reform both But though a great part of the Court did encline to a motion for his Banishment yet because his Speech
and Behaviour at present were more modest and submiss than formerly they had been and for that he excused his former Intemperances by his much employment and publick businesses it was thought fit to deliver him from that Temptation so he was only sentenced to be disfranchised with admonition no more to occasion any disturbance of the publick Peace either by speech or otherwise upon pain of Banishment and further censure Mr. Aspin THE next who was called was Mr. William Aspin to whom the Court said that his case was in a manner the same with Master Cogshals his Hand was to the Petition he had justified Master Wheelwright's Sermon and had condemned the Court and therefore what could he say why the Court should not proceed to Sentence For he had been present and heard what was said to Master Cogshall to have convinced him of his fault and therefore it would be needless to repeat any thing To this he answer'd and confessed the Petition and that his Heart was to it as well as his Hand and that that for which Mr. Wheelwright was censured was for nothing but the Truth of Christ and desired to know what we could lay to his Charge therein The Court told him that he being a Member of this Civil Body and going contrary to his Relation and Oath to stop the course of Justice in countenancing seditious Persons and Practices against the Face of Authority this made him to be a seditious Person He answered he did but prefer an Humble Petition which he could not do but he must intimate some cause why and that Mephibosheth in his Petition did imply as much of Davids unjust Sentence against him as was in this Petition The Court replyed that he was ill advised to bring that Example for his Justification which makes clearly against him for Mephibosheth doth not charge David with any injustice not so much as by Implication but excuseth himself and layeth all the blame upon his Servant Then he alledged the Petition of Esther to Abasuerus but neither would that serve his turn for she petitioned for her life c. without charging the King with Injustice He still fled to this Plea that it is lawful for Subjects to petition the Court answered that this was no Petition but a seditious Libel the mis-naming of a thing doth not alter the nature of it besides they called it in the first place a Remonstrance which implies that they pretended Interest and is in the nature of it a Plea which challengeth a right of a party besides they give peremptory Judgment in the cause and that directly opposite to the Judgment of the Court the Court declared Mr. Wheelwright guilty they proclaim him innocent the Court judged his Speech to be false and seditious they affirmed it to be the Truth of Christ and the very words of the Holy Ghost which is apparently untrue if not blasphemous Further in pretending their moderation they put Arguments in the peoples minds to invite them to violence by bringing the Example of Peter drawing his Sword wherein they blame not his Fact but his Rashness And that of the People rescuing Ionathan which to make the more effectual they say that it was not seditious Lastly It was great arrogance of any private man thus openly to advance his own Judgment of the Court therefore it will appear to their Posterity as a Brand of Infamy upon these erroneous Opinions that those who maintained them were not censured for their Judgment but for seditious Practices He further pleaded that no Petition can be made in such a case but something may be mistaken through misprision as trenching upon Authority the Court answer'd that if they had only petitioned the Court to remit this Censure or had desired respite for further considerations or leave to propound their doubts there could have been no danger of being mistaken Besides there was no need of such haste in petitioning seeing the Sentence was not given but deferring to the next Court Master VVheelwright â—â—jâ—…yned only to appear there The Court then being about to give Sâ—…ntence Mastâ—… Aspin desired the Court to shew a Rule in Scripture for Banishment the court answered as before that Hagar and Ishmael were banished for disturbance he replied that if a Father give a Châ—… a Portion and sent him forth it was not Bâ—…nishment but it was answered the Scripture calls it a casting out not a sending forth and one said further that he was a Child worthy of such a Portion Then the Sentence of the Court was for his dis-franchisemnnt and banishment and time given him to the last of March upon Security for his departure then which he presently tendered and so was dismissed The Court intended only to have dis-franchised him as they had done Mr. Cogshall but his Behaviour was so contemptuous and his Speeches so peremptory that occasioned a further aggravation and it appeared afterward to be by an over-ruling Hand of God for the next day it was discovered that he was the man that did frame the Petition and drew many to subscribe to it and some had their names put to it without their knowledge and in his first draught there were other passages so foul as he was forced to put them out and yet many had not subscribed but upon his promise that it should not be delivered without advice of Mr. Cotton which was never done VVilliam Baulston and Ed. Hutchison AFter these two of the Serjeants of Boston were called VVilliam Baulston and Ed Hutchison these both had their Hands to the Petition and justâ—…fied the same VVill. Baulston told the Court that he knew that if such a Petition had been made in any other place in the world there would have been no fault found with it The other told the Court turning himself in a scornful manner that if they took away his Estate they must keep his Wiâ—…e and Children for which he was presently committed to the Offiâ—…r The Court reasoned a good while with them both but they were peremptory and would acknowledge no failing and because of their contemptuous Spâ—…eches and for that they wâ—…re known to be very busie persons and such as had offered Contempt to the Magistrates for that they were not of their Opinion they were dis-franchised and fined VVill Baulston Twenty Pounds Ed. Hâ—…tchison Fourty Pounds The next morning Ed. Hutchison acknowledged his fault in his misbehaviour in the face of the Court and so was released of his Imprisonment but both were disabled from bearing any publick Office Tho. Marshal Dynely and Dier Rich. Gridly ANother day were called four more of the Principal stirring Men who had subscribed to the Petition Thomas Marshal the Ferry-man who justified the Petition so far that he would not acknowledge any fault yet he answered more modestly thâ—…n the former therefore he was not sined but dis-franchised and put out of his place Dynely and Dyer had little to say for themselves but persisting in their justification
Christ Scribes and Pharisees c. whereas before he was wont to teach in a plain and gentle stile and though he would sometimes glaunce upon these Opinions yet it was modestly and reservedly not in such a peremptory and censorious manner as he did then and after for they made full account the day had been theirs But blessed be the Lord the snare is broken and we are delivered and this Woman who was the Root of all these Troubles stands now before the seat of Justice to be rooted out of her station by the hand of Authority guided by the Finger of Divine Providence as the Sequel will shew When she appeared the Court spake to her to this effect Mrs. Hutchinson You are called hither as one of those who have had a great share in the causes of our publick disturbances partly by those Erroneous Opinions which you have broached and divulged amongst us and maintaining them partly by countenancing and incouraging such as have sowed Seditions amongst us partly by casting reproach upon the faithful Ministers of this Countrey and upon their Ministry and so weaken their hands in the work of the Lord and raising prejudice against them in the hearts of their People and partly by maintaining Weekly and Publick Meetings in your House to the offence of all the Countrey and the detriment of many Families and still upholding the same since such Meetings were clearly Condemned in the late General Assembly Now the end of your sending for is that either upon sight of your Errours and other Offences you may be brought to acknowledge and reform the same or otherwise that we may take such course with you as you may trouble us no farther We do desire therefore to know of you whether you will justifie and maintain what is laid to your charge or not Mistriss Hutchinson I am called here to answer to such things as are laid to my charge name one of them Court Have you countenanced or will you justifie those Seditious practises which have been censured here in this Court Hutch Do you ask me upon point of Conscience Court No your conscience you may keep to your self but if in this cause you shall countenance and incourage these that thus transgress the Law you must be called in question for it and that is not for your Conscience but for your practice Hutch What Law have they transgressed the Law of God Court Yes the Fifth Commandment which commands us to honour Father and Mother which includes all in authority but these seditious practices of theirs have cast reproach and dishonour upon the Fathers of the Common-wealth Hutch Do I entertain or maintain them in their actions wherein they stand against any thing that God hath appointed Court Yes you have justified Mr. Wheelwright his Sermon for which you know he was convict of Sedition and you have likewise countenanced and encouraged those that had their hands to the Petition Hutch I deny it I am to obey you onely in the Lord. Court You cannot deny but you had your hand in the Petition Hutch Put case I do fear the Lord and my Parent do not May not I entertain one that fears the Lord because my Father will not let me I may put honour upon him as a Child of God Court That is nothing to the purpose but we cannot stand to dispute causes with you now What say you to your weekly publick Meetings Can you show a warrant for them Hutch I will shew you how I took it up there were such meetings in use before I came and because I went to none of them this was the special reason of my taking up this course we began it but with five or six and though it grew to more in future time yet being tolerated at the first I knew not why it might not continue Court There were private Meetings indeed and are still in many places of some few neighbours but not so publick and frequent as yours and are of use for increase of love and mutual edification but yours are of another nature if they had been such as yours they had been evil and therefore no good warrant to justifie yours but answer by what authority or rule you uphold them Hutch By Tit. 2. where the elder women are to teach the younger Court So we allow you to do as the Apostle there means privately and upon occasion but that gives no warrant of such set Meetings for that purpose and besides you take upon you to teach many that are elder than your self neither do you teach them that which the Apostle commands viz. to keep at home Hutch Will you please to give me a rule against it and I will yield Court You must have a rule for it or else you cannot do it in faith yet you have a plain rule against it I permit not a Woman to teach Hutch That is meant of teaching Men. Court If a Man in distress of Conscience or other temptation c. should come and ask your counsel in private might you not teach him Hutch Yes Court Then it is clear that it is not meant of teaching Men but of teaching in publick Hutch It is said I will pour out my spirit upon your Daughters and they shall Prophesie c. If God give me a gift of Prophesie I may use it Court First The Apostle applies that Prophesie unto those extraordinary times and the gifts of Miracles and Tongues were common to many as well as the gift of Prophesie Secondly In teaching your children you exercise your gift of Prophesie and that within your calling Hutch I teach not in a publick Congregation the Men of Berea are commended for examining Paul's Doctrine we do no more but Read the Notes of our Teachers Sermons and then reason of them by searching the Scriptures Court You are gone from the nature of your Meeting to the kind of exercise we will follow you in this and shew you your offence in them for you do not as the Bereans search the Scriptures for their confirming in the truths delivered but you open your Teachers Points and declare his meaning and Correct wherein you think he hath failed c. and by this means you abase the Honour and Authority of the Publick Ministery and advance your own Gifts as if he could not deliver his Matter so clearly to the hearers capacity as your self Hutch Prove that that any body doth that Court Yes you are the Woman of most note and of best abilities and if some other take upon them the like it is by your teaching and example but you shew not in all this by what authority you take upon you to be such a publick instructer after she had stood a short time the Court gave her leave to sit down for her countenance discovered some bodily infirmity Hutch Here is my authority Aquila and Priscilla took upon them to instruct Apollo more perfectly yet he was a Man of good parts but they being better
Testament nor sealed by the Spirit for the servants of God who are come over into New England do not think themselves more spiritual than other of their brethren whom they have left behind nor that they can or do hold forth the Lord Jesus Christ in their Ministry more truly than he was held forth in England and seeing their Ministery was a most precious sweet savour to all the Saints before she came hither it is easie to discern from what sink that ill vapour hath risen which hath made so many of her seduced party to loath now the smell of those flowers which they were wont to find sweetness in yet this is not all though it be too too vile she can fetch a Revelation that shall reach the Magistrates and the whole Court and the succeeding Generations and she hath Scripture for it also Daniel must be a Type of Mistriss Hutchison the Lions Den of the Court of Justice and the Presidents and Princes of the reverend Elders here and all must sort to this conclusion she must be delivered by Miracle and all we must be ruined See the Impudent boldness of a Proud Dame that Athaliah-like makes havock of all that stand in the way of her ambitious spirit she had boasted before that her Opinions must prevail neither could she endure a stop in her way as appeared once upon a slight occasion when her reputation being a little touched upon mistake yet so carried as she could not get the party upon that advantage which she expected she vented her Impatience with so fierce Speech and Countenance as one would hardly have guessed her to have been an Antitype of Daniel but rather of the Lions after they were let loose The like appeared in her when she could not have her will against her faithful Pastor for his opposing her Opinions as she apprehended so as neither Reason nor Scripture nor the Judgment and Example of such as she reverenced could appease her displeasure So that the Court did clearly discern where the Fountain was of all our Distempers and the Tragedy of Munster to such as had read it gave just occasion to fear the danger we were in seeing by the judgment of Luther writing of those troublous times we had not to do with so simple a Devil as managed that business and therefore he had the less fear of him but Satan seemed to have Commission now to use his utmost cunning to undermine the Kingdom of Christ here as the same Luther foretold he would do when he should enterprize any such innovation under the clear light of the Gospel so as the like hath not been known in former ages that ever so many wise sober and well grounded Christians should so suddenly be seduced by the means of a Woman to stick so fast to her even in some things wherein the whole current of Scripture goeth against them and that notwithstanding that her Opinions and Practice have been so gross in some Particulars as their knowledge and sincerity would not suffer them to approve yet such interest hath she gotten in their hearts as they seek Cloaks to cover the nakedness of such deformities as in the mean time they are ashamed to behold The Court saw now an inevitable necessity to rid her away except we would be guilty not onely of our own ruine but also of the Gospel so in the end the Sentence of Banishment was pronounced against her and she was committed to the Marshal till the Court should dispose of her Another day Captain Iohn Underhill was sent for and being charged with joyning in the said Petition acknowledged the same professing that he could see no fault in it being demanded a Rule by which he might take so much upon him as publickly to contradict the Sentence of the Court c. he alledged the example of Ioab his rough Speech to David when he retired himself for Absalom's death and that David did not reprove him for it To this the Court answered First That Ioab was then in the matters of his own Calling and being General of the Army had liberty by his Place to give advice to the King in causes of that nature but when he failed in the manner of his Speech therein he is not to be excused and therefore not to be followed Secondly Ioab did not contradict or reprove any Judicial Sentence of the King but onely an inordinate Passion Thirdly He was occasioned by an urgent necessity of the safety of the King and State Fourthly That which he spake was in private for the King had withdrawn himself Fifthly It appears that David did take it as a great miscarriage for he presently displaced him Again in our cause the Captain was but a private Man and had no calling to deal in the Affairs of the Court therefore no warrant from hence He insisted much upon the liberty which all States do allow to Military Officers for free Speech c. and that himself had spoken sometimes as freely to Count Nassaw But it was answered We are not to look at what some do tolerate but what is lawful and there may be a reason of State to connive at that disorder at some season which may not with honour and safety be permitted at another Being farther demanded how they came so many of them to be so suddenly agreed in so weighty and doubtful a case He Answered That many of them being present when Mr. Wheelwright was convict of Sedition they were sore grieved at it and suddenly rushing out of the Court a strange motion came into all their Minds so as they said in a manner altogether Come let us Petition and for his part from that time to this his Conscience which then led him to it will not suffer him to retract it The Court pittied him much and were grieved at his obstinacy that when all his Arguments were taken away he had no defence left he would yet maintain a bad cause by the light of a deluded Conscience and withal they took notice how these ungrounded revelations began to work and what dangerous consequences were like to follow of them when so many persons upon such a sudden motion had no scruple to enterprize such a Seditious action nor can be brought by any light of Reason or Scripture to see their errour so the Court when they saw no other remedy dis-franchised him and discharged him of his place but allowed him his Quarters Means There were divers who were not present when that sudden Motion or Revelation first set the Petition on foot but were drawn in after who soon found their error and did as freely acknowledge it and desired to have their names put out of it which was easily granted and their offence with a Loving Admonition remitted It had been observed a good time since that some of the Leaders of this Faction by occasion of new Disciples being inquisitive about their Tenents would let fall these Answers I have many things to tell you
of the party c. they might and would use their liberty as they should see cause and for the other part of the Petition when any matter of Conscience should come before them they would advise what were fit to be done in it When Mr Wheelwright came in the Court was private and then they told him they had considered of his Sermon and were desirous to ask him some questions which might â—…nd to clear his meaning about such passages therein as seemed offensive he demanded whether he were sent for as an innocent person or as guilty It was answered neither but as suspected only Then he demanded who were his Accusers It was answered his Sermon which was there in Court being acknowledged by himself they might thereupon proceed ex officio at this word great exception was taken as if the Court intended the course of the High Commission c. It was answered that the word ex Officio was very safe and proper signifying no more but the Authority or Duty of the Court and that there was no cause of Offence seeing thâ—… Court did not examine him by any compulsory means as by Oath Imprisonment or the like but only desired him for better satisfaction to answer some questions but he still refused yet at last through perswasion of some of his friends he seemed content The question then put to him was whether before his Sermon he did not know that most of the Ministers in this Jurisdiction did teach that Doctrine which he in his Sermon called a Covenant of Works to this he said he did not desire to answer and thereupon some cryed out that the Court went about to ensnare him and to make him to accuse himself and that this question was not about the matter of his Sermon c. Upon this he refused to answer any further so he was dismissed till the afternoon the reason why the Court demanded that question of him was not to draw matter from himself whereupon to proceed against him neither was there any need for upon a conference of the Ministers not long before there had been a large dispute between some of them and himself about that point of evidencing Justification by Sanctification so as the Court might soon have convinced him by Witnesses if they had intended to proceed against him upon that ground In the afternoon he was sent for again in the same manner as before and the Ministers also being in the Town and come hither to confer together for further discovery of the ground of the differences which were in the Countrey about the Covenant of Grace c. they were desired to be present also at the Court to bear witness of the Proceedings in the case and to give their Advice as the Court upon occasion should require so the doors being set open for all that would to come in and there was a great Assembly and Mr. Wheelwright being willed to sit down by the Ministers his Sermon was produced and many passages thereof were read to him which for the better understanding we have digested into this order following He therein describeth two Covenants the Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Works the Covenant of Grace he described to be when in the point of Justification and the knowledge of this our Justification by Faith there is nothing revealed but Christ Jesus but if men think to be saved because they see some works of Sanctification in themselves as hungring and thirsting c. this is a Covenant of works if men have revealed to them some work of Righteousness as love to the brethren c. and hereupon come to be assured that they are in a good Estate this is not the assurance of Faith for Faith hath Christ revealed for the object therefore if the assurance of a mans Justification be by Faith as a Work it is not Gospel Having thus described those who go under a Covenant of Works he pronounceth them to be Enemies to Christ to be Antichrists to be flesh opposed to spirit such as will certainly persecute those who hold forth the Truth and the ways of Grace he resembleth them to the Philistines who stop up with the earth of their own Inventions the Wells of true Believers he resembleth them also to Herod who would have killed Christ so soon as he was born and to Herod and Pilate who did kill Christ when he came once to shew forth himself and would have kept him eternally in the Grave he further describeth them out of the second Psalm to be the people of God as the Iews were and such as would take away the true Christ and put in false Christs to deceive if it were possible the very Elect he also describeth them by that in Cant. 10. 6. they make the Children of Grace keepers of the Vineyard they make them travel under the burden of the Covenant of Works which doth cause Christ many times from them He cometh after to an use of Exhortation wherein he stirreth up all those of his side to a spiritual Combat to prepare for battle and come out and fight against the Enemies of the Lord those under a Covenant of works he shews whom he meaneth thus to excite alluding to David's valiant Men to Baruch Deborah Iael and all the men of Israel and bind them hereunto under the curse of Meroz He further exhorteth them to stand upon their guard c. by alluding to the 600 valiant Men who kept watch about the Bed of Solomon a type of Christ then he incourageth those of his side against such difficulties as might be objected as 1. If the Enemies shall oppose the way of God they must lay the more load upon them and kill them with the word of the Lord and there he alludeth to those places which speak of giving the Saints power over Nations binding Kings in Chains and of threshing Instruments with Teeth and foretels their flight by that in Esa. 21. 15. They shall flee from the Sword c. 2. Though the Enemies under a Covenant of Works be many and strong as he confesseth they are yet they ought not to fear for the battle is the Lords this he inforceth by that in Iosh. 23. 10. One of you shall chase a thousand and that of Ionathan and his Armour bearer 3. Against tenderness of heart which they might have towards such under a Covenant of works as are exceeding holy and strict in their way he animateth his party by perswading them that such are the greatest Enemies to Christ this he seeks to illustrate by resembling such in their zeal to Paul when he was a Persecutor and in their Devotion to those who expelled Paul and Barnabas out of Antioch He taketh it for granted that these Holy Men trust in their Righteousness and that it thrusteth out the Righteousness of Christ and so concludes and foretels from Ezek. 33. They shall die and their Righteousness is accursed yet they transform themselves saith he into Angels of
will be ready to draw their Swords for him like Peter for furor arma ministrat like him who when he could not by any Sentence in the Bible confute an Heretick could make use of the whole book to break his head we might hold forth instances more than enough The Wars in Germany for these hundred years arose from dissentions in Religion and though in the beginning of the contention they drew out onely the Sword of the Spirit yet it was soon changed into a Sword of Steel So was it among the Consederate Cantons of Helvetia which were so many Towns as nearly combined together as ours here so was it also in the Netherlands between the Orthodox and the Arminians so hath it been between the Calvinists and Lutherans In every place we find that the contentions began first by disputations and Sermons and when the minds of the people were once set on fire by reproachful Terms of incendiary Spirits they soon set to blows and had always a tragical and bloody issue And to clear this objection Mr. Wheel professed before-hand what he looked for viz. that his Doctrine would cause combustions even in the Common-wealth as well as in the Churches which he could not have feared if he had supposed as in Charity he well might that those who were set over the People here in both States were indeed true Christians yea he not only confesseth his expectation but his earnest desire also of such combustions and disturbances when he saith that it is the Saints desire to have the fire kindled as if he were come among Turks or Papists and not among the Churches of Christ amongst whom Paul laboured to quench all fire of contention but with the Corinthians Romans and Galatians and wished that those were cut off who troubled them setting a mark upon such as made division and a note of a carnal mind therefore this objection will not save him his offence is yet without excuse he did intend to trouble our peace and he hath effected it therefore it was a contempt of that authority which required every Man to study Peace and Truth and therefore it was a seditious contempt in that he stirred up others to joyn in the disturbance of that Peace which he was bound by Solemn Oath to preserve But here he puts in a plea that he did take the onely right way for Peace by holding out the Lord Jesus Christ in the Covenant of Free Grace for without Christ there is no peace but get Christ and we have all To this we reply first We would demand of him what he accounts a holding forth a Covenant of Grace for saving that he saith this is a Covenant of Grace that is a Covenant of Works no Man can discern any such thing by his proofs for there is not any one argument in his Sermon to convince the judgment that so it is and if we search the Scripture we find in the Old Testament Ier. 31. the Covenant of Grace to be this I will write my Law in their hearts or I will be their God c. and in the new Testament we find He that believes in the Lord Iesus Christ shall be saved and that it is of Faith that it might be of Grace but other Covenant of Grace than these or to the same effect are not in our Bibles Again Tho' it be true that get Christ and we have all in some respect yet we must remember him of what he said with the same breath that Truth and external Peace cannot possibly stand together how then would he have us believe that such a holding forth Christ should bring the desired Peace This is some what like the Jewish Corban I will give to God and he shall help my Parents or as when a poor man stands in need of such relief as I might give him instead there of I pray to God to bless him and tell him that the blessing of God maketh rich or as I give a Lawyer a Fee to plead my cause and to procure me Justice and when the day of hearing comes he makes a long Speech in commending the justice of the King and perswading me to get his favour because he is the fountain of Justice This is to reprove the wisdom of God by looking that the supreme and first cause should produce all effects without the use of subordinate and nearer causes and means so a Man should live out his full time by God's decree onely without meat or medicine this plea therefore will not hold let us hear another It is objected that the Magistrates may not appoint a Messenger of God what he should teach admit so much yet he may limit him what he may not teach If he forbid him to teach Heresie or Sedition c. he incurs as well a contempt in teaching that which he was forbidden as sins in teaching that which is evil Besides every truth is not seasonable at all times Christ tells his Disciples That he had many things to teach them but they could not bear them then Joh. 16. 12. and God giveth his Prophets the Tongue of the Learned that they may know how to speak a word in season Isa. 50. 40. and if for every thing there be a season then for every Doctrine Eccles. 3. 1. The abolishing of the Ceremonial Law was a Truth which the Apostles were to teach yet there was a season when Paul did refrain it Acts 21. 24. and the same Paul would not circumcise Titus though he did Timothy so the difference of persons and places made a difference in the season of the Doctrine and if Mr. Wheelwright had looked upon the words which followed in the Text Matth. 9. 16 17. he might have learned that such a Sermon would as ill suit the season as old Bottles do new Wine and by that in Esay before-mentioned he might have had known the Spirit of God doth teach his Servants to discern of seasons as well as of truths for if there be such a point in wisdom as Men call discretion sure Religion which maketh truly wise doth not deprive the Servants of God of the right use thereof When Paul was to deal with the Sorcerer who did oppose his Doctrine Acts 13. he calls him the Child of the Devil c. but when he answered Festus who told him he was mad and rejected his Doctrine also he useth him gently and with terms of honourable respect Tho' Stephen calls the Jews stiff-necked and of uncircumcised hearts c as knowing them to be malitious and obstinate Enemies to Christ yet Paul directs Timothy being to deal with such as were not past hope tho' they did oppose his Doctrine for the present not to strive but to use all gentleness instructing them with meekness c. 2. Tim. 2. The Prophet Elisha when he speaks to Iehoram very roughly as one not worthy to be looked at yet he shews a different respect of Iehosaphat tho' he were then out of his way and