the Kingdome and live like Kings and Emperors and like lawlesse men none such being of Gods creation there will never be an end of this Parliament which by its everlasting continuance by the abuses of lawlesse and rotten-hearted men will become the most absolute burthen and greatest oppression that ever was upon the people when as in times by past it used to be their only remedy from their oppression and oppressors In a Pamphlet entituled Yet another word to the wise there 's a Letter directed To Master John Musgrave chosen to present the Countries greivances to the House of Commons which Letter speaks thus But the House of Commons instead of hearing and redressing your greivances have added new greivances unto those which formerly you have suffered in their owne quarrell against the common enemy they have unjustly imprisoned you these last twelve moneths protected Traytors among themselves from the Law c. Yet we shall rather with tears seek their repentance then their persisting in such courses seeing they are placed in lawfull authority and have a good Cause though they seeke too much their owne c. And as for their lamentable submission to the Bishops servants the Presbyterian Synodians in establishing that wil-worship and Popish maintenance which now themselves doe well know to be jure diabolico through these blind guides their Diviners and Southsayers inability to answer their Queres whereby to prove themselves jure divino surely if they will notwithstanding obstinatly persist in such wilfull dangerous and unwarrantable courses they will doubtlesse show themselves to be fighters against God his truth and people to their owne destruction without speedy conversion In a Pamphlet entituled Liberty against Slavery there 's a Letter written by a Sectary call'd An eâ—cellent Letter written by a prisoner to a worthy Member of the House of Commons where are these passages O where is justice may not these royall plunderers as well justifie all their Robberies and Depraedations as either our House of Commons or the House of Peeres these kinds of imprisonments and commitments Nay is it not the greatest injustice when done under the colour of justice Sir I assure you it were lesse greivous unto us to die at once then to be thus inslaved and famiâ—hed in your cruell prison houses where we are exposed to all misery contempt obloquie and scorne of the worst men and thereby the hearts of our wives and aged Parents broken with greif Sir be pleased to consider how by these and the like doings the affections of many thousands of people is estranged from you who have formerly adventured all to uphold you in your authorities and if this course be continued we shall not we cannot thinke and say lesse then that the Parliament and not the Prerogative makes us a bondage and miserable people And some already do not spare to say that the Parliament is now become the burthen of the Kingdome You were intrusted by the people for their good and not for the continuation of their thraldome let us then have justice which without showing your selves to be most unjust men you cannot any longer deny us The Pamphlet entituled Englands Birth-right page 33. speaking of the Commons in Parliament saith By which manifest abusing negligent and not true using the Lawes oppressions mischeifes greivances are no lesse if not far more increased then they were before the Parliament began and many times by the powerfull interest of a faction in the Parliament to save some one two or three of their Members undeserving credits they so violate the knowne unrepealed and declared Law of the Land yea and their owne Votes Ordinances Declarations and Protestations as if they had never made them I say all these things considered ought not the free men of England who have laboured in these destroying times both to preserve the Parliament and their owne native freedomes and birth-rights not only to chuse new Members where they are wanting once every yeer but also to renew and inquire once a yeere after the behaviour and carriage of those they have chosen Lilburne in that Pamphlet of his call'd Innocency and Truth justified page 75. speakâ— thus of the House of Commons But it may be you will say the House of Commons is not at leasure by reason of publick I answer lesse then an hours time will serve my turne in this particular and t is very strange in 5. yeers space so much time cannot be found from the publick to transmit my busines sure I am they can find time enough to settle great rich placâ— upon some of themselves and to enjoy them for al their owne Ordinances to the contrary yea and I know some of them hath plurality of places and I say the thing I desire of them is more justly my due then any of their great places are theirs and therefore I hope they have no true cause to be angry with me for craving justice at their hands And page 37. I am absolutely of this mind that neither a Committee of the House of Commons nor the whole House of Commons together can justly imprison me or any other contrary to a Law which at present there is not some Ordinance made both by them and the Peers publick at present to overthrow it But I have severall times been imprisoned by the Committees and by Vote of the House of Commons it selfe contrary to a knowne Law made this present Parliament by themselves against which there is at present no Ordinance published and declared by them and the Peeres for the Cognizance of Ergo I say they are tied in justice according to tenor of this Law to give me reparations against those persons that were cheife instruments either in Committees or in the House of Commons it selfe to Vote and take away my Liberty from me contrary to this Law and for my part I doe accordingly expect my reparations for my late causelesse molestations and imprisonments A pamphlet entituled A Remonstance to their owne House of Commons page 11. speakes thus to the Honorable Commons For we must deale plainly with you ye have long time acted more like the House of Peers then the House of Commons we can scarcely approach your doore with a request or motion though by way of Petition but ye hold long debates whether we break not your Priviledges The King or the Lords pretended Prerogatives never made a greater noise nor was made more dreadfull then the name of Priviledge of the House of Commons Your Members in all Impositions must not be taxed in the places where they live like other men Your servants have their priviledges too To accuse or prosecute any of you is become dangerous to the prosecutors â—e have imprisonments as frequently for either witnesses or prosecutors as ever the Star-chamber had and ye are furnished with new devised arguments to prove that ye only may justly doe those grosse injustices which the Star chamber High
grants one step may be gone further that in such things as men by their weaknesse make themselves lesse serviceable to the common-wealth or Church they may be denyed some priviledges and benefits that are granted to others And of this Master Burroughs gives instances and enlarges it Now certainly if this doctrine were good and true in the yeare 1645. before the successe of the new Modell and the recruit of the House of Commons the doctrine in the City Remonstrance 1646. cannot be bad nor false that would have Anabaptists Heriticks and Schismaticks kept and removed from places of Publike trust If they may be denyed priviledges and benefits that are granted to others and some trouble laid in their way c. for their opinions then certainly they should not be preferred above others to all places of publike trust whilst men who conforme to the true Religion established by the State be kept out yea turned out of places And as Master Burroughs was of this mind so I and divers others have heard Mr Tho. Goodwin ingenuously professe since this Parliament though the Magistrate should forbeare tender consciences that could not come up to the Rule yet it was most equall that the countenance and preferments in the Magistrates hands should be bestowed only on those who conformed to what was established and therefore said hee we desire only to be suffered to live and enjoy the Ordinances but expect no places nor any of that maintenance which is in the States disposing and therefore the Remonstrants in that branch of their Petition were â—arre from Persecution Injustice if Master Burroughs and Master Goodwin may be beleeved and that which they desired most necessary to take off the wantonnesse of mens spirits and the neglect of meanes and in all this theâ—'s no more graines of trouble then might help aginst this wantonnesse c. and the truth of it is these preferments places of publike trust c. have made more Sectaries and Anti-Presbyterians then all the Sermons and Books ever preached and printed by the Sectaries and 't is one of the great springs of all our evills the prime cause of all Injustice Oppression Error Faction and things will never go well with the publike nor the union of both Kingdomes be soundly setled till Hereticks Blasphemers Schismaticks Seekers Anabaptists Antinomians Libertines Brownists and Independents be removed from all places of publike trust both Martiall and Civill and 't is a most righteous thing to Petition for it As the zealous Protestants of this Kingdome could not expect Justice protection from Popish Counsellours Judges Justices c. then in place and we cryed out of it before this Parliament as an intolerable griveance and mischeif to the good subjects of this Kingdome because men but suspected of Popery or whose Wives were Papists were in places of publike trust for by that meanes Papists were brought off and such as were cald Puritants felt their power upon all occasions no more can the Orthodox Presbyterians expect right justice from Sectarian Counsellors Justices of Peace c. especially in differences between them and Independents for all Sectaries looke upon cordiall Presbyterians with a greater eye of malignity jealousie particular interest then any other sort of men and therefore to strengthen their owne party will weaken and discourage them all they can possibly There were some Independents that dining in June last at the house of a Presbyterian who married an Independent were speaking of the Presbyterians that generally all of them desired that help might goe for Ireland and that on the Fast day in June they preached and prayed much for help to relieve Ireland and among other Ministers they named one that should pray thus or to this effect That now Oxford was taken all might goe Lord let them all goe These Independents said the Presbyterians had some design sure they were so earnest for the Army to goe to Ireland but some of the Independents said they had something else or other use for the Army then to goe to Ireland The Sectaries in the Moneth of May last raged extremely and spake desperately so that a Common-Councell man who had heard many of them speak told me he had said to some of them that they must provide Bedlam for them The newes of the Kings going to the Scots the Remonstrance of the City of London with some other things that fell out that Moneth vexed them terribly one Sectary a kind of Gentleman belonging to a Parliament man said in the hearing of some that the King the House of Lords the City the Scots and the Assembly were joyned together but they had the House of Commons and the Army and gave out some such words as if some three or foure thousand horse should billet in the City This man was had before my Lord Major for these words and I being told of it by one who went to my Lord Majors with him I also having an opportunity asked my Lord Major of the truth of it who remembred there was such a thing God grant the King House of Lords City Scots Assembly be well joyned together and agreeing and not only King Lords c. but the House of Commons also The Lord send a perfect Peace and Union between the King and both Houses and give a good understanding and agreement alwayes between Parliament Citie Assembly our Brethren of Scotland These kind of speeches of the Commons and the Army put by themselves as divided from the House of Lords City c. are words of sedition but to vindicate the honour of the House of Commons and the Army from such speeches as these too frequent in the mouths of many Sectaries I can assure the Kingdome from the mouths of many worthy Members of the House of Commons and of Commanders in the Army how much soever these Sectaries presume upon the House of Commons calling them in many Pamphlets of late Their owne House of Commons our House of Commons and upon the Army that they are Independents and for that party that the greatest number of Members of that House by farre are no Sectaries and though some are crept in among them Yet the body of the House are neither Independents Anabaptists Antinomians nor such like and so in the Army there are more Presbyterians then Independents yea if the Army were divided into four parts three parts of the four are no Independents Anabaptists Antinomians c. and therefore I hope to see the day of King Lords Commons Scots City of London Armies the body of the Kingdome all concurring for the setlement of the Reformed Protestant Religion and for the extirpating of Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and all Doctrine which is not according to godlinesse A Citizen an able understanding man related to me and two Citizens within these few dayes that he and a great Independent speaking together about the King this Citizen urged that branch of the Covenant That we have sworn to defend the Kings
time mistaken for had I thought that the Parliament had had no rule but their owne will to have walked by I should never have drawne my sword for them and for my part I knw no difference betwixt tyranny and such proceedings therfore I pray read the Petition of Right and the Act made this present Parliament that condemned the Star-chamber and High Commission Page 5. hee writes as followes Time was when the Parliament had to doe with the King and had the Bishops Star-chamber and High Commission to pull downe they would owne me and doe me justice c. but having served their owne turnes of me I never could have justice from them since though I think I have beene as faithfull a servant to the Common-wealth as any they ever imployed and whereas Magna Charta saith justice and right we will deny to 〈…〉 or we will defer to none yet have I waited these foure yeeres upon them at great expences and cannot get them to put their owne Votes in execution and if this be according to Magna Charta let the world judge And p. 10. speaking of the H. of Commons committing him saith O brave times and brave justice and yet for all this I say my resolution is to stand fast in the liberty and freedome wherewith Magna Charta and the Petition of Right and severall Acts made this present Parliament as also divers late Declarations have made me free and not to be intangled againe with any yoake of bondage that shall be hung about my neck by any kind of Tyrant by what name or title soever he be dignified or distinguished Master Musgrave a great Separatist as he shows himself in many passages of his Book entituled Another word to the wise writes thus of the House of Commons Courteous Reader thou maist very much wonder at the delatory and slow proceedings of the House of Commons in doing justice and right from whom the Commons of England may justly expect more then from any Judicatory being they are immediatly chosen by them and to speak properly are no more but their Stewards and servants for whose good and benefit all their actions ought to be extended Yet by their poceedings daily we see t is in vaine to expect justice from them so long as they are linked and glued in factions each to other by their private interests in their great places which ties all such amongst them to maintaine one another in all their unjust wayes and to oppresse and crush us as much as they are able all the prosecutors of just and righteous things and so to barre and stop justice that it shall have little or no progresse divers of them and their creatures Sonnes Brothers Uncles and Kinsmen and Allies in the sub-Committees having already committed so much unjustice that they are undone in their blazed honour and ill-gotten estates if justice should runne in its native luster and full current and of necessity they and their great places would quickly be destroyed O therefore that the Free-men of England had but their eyes open to see the mischeife of Members of the House of Commons men of their owne election and chusing to sit in the supreme Court of England to be entangled themselves or intermeddle with any other place whatsoever then that whereunto their Countrey have chosen them what a shame is it to see the mercinary long gown-men of the House of Commons to runne up and down like so many â—ackney Petty-â—oggers from Bar to Bar in Westminster Hall to plead before inferiour Judges and besides how can such great practisers chuse but mercinarily be engaged to help their clients over a stile in case that ever they have to doe with any of their owne Committees and besides what is this else but to sell justice for money Besides what a snare is it to the new Judges who are placed in the roome of those that have bought sold and betraied the lives liberties estates of all the free Deniâ—ons of England to see three or foure eminent Lawyers Members of the House of Commons come before them â—n an unjust cause when they consider that if they should displease them it partly lies in their power to turne them out of their places being they are as it were wholly made Judges by the House of Commons and nominated by the Lawyers therein we profesâ—e seriously that to pull the gownes over these mercinary mens eares and for ever to throw them out of the House of Commons as men unfit to â—it there or to plead at any Bar in England is too little a punishment for them and the same we conceive doe they deserve that are Members of the House and take upon them to sit as Judges in inferior Courts by means of which they rob the free-men of England of the benefit of any appeale in case of injustice because they have no where to appeale to but the Parliament where they sit as Judges in their owne cause which is a most wicked intolerable and unjust thing in any Judge whatsoever we hope shortly that if these men be not ashamed of their evill herein some honest and resolute hearted English man will be so bold as publickly to post up their names as destroyers of the Kingdome And as great an evill 't is to the Kingdome for Members of the House of Commons to take upon them to bee fingerers and Treasurers of the publick money of the Kingdome because they are thereby in a condition to fill their owne coffers and do what wrong they please or else how comes it to passe that so many of their children are so richly married of late that were but meane before and no man knowes how to call them to account unlesse they deale with them as the Romans sometimes dealt with their Senators or as the Switzers dealt with their Tyrants for the money is the Kingdomes and not the Members of the House of Commons and the Kingdome ought in justice reason and right to have a publick punctuall and particular account of it and therefore it ought not to be in the hands or fingers of those that are able to make so great a faction as are able to protect them from justice and an exact account O that that gallant man Lieut. Generall Cromwell to whom the Kingdome for their preservation under God oweth so much would a little more deny himselfe and cease to be a stalking horse and a dangerous president of most dangerous consequence to these wicked mercinary Pluralists Non residentary great place men for whom an Hospitall of any great consequence cannot fall but they must be Governors of it nor a petty place in the petty bag office but they must get into it which men if the Kingdome would rightly consider it have just cause to disclaime as none of their Patrons but proclaime as their enemies and destroyers being pecuniary self-seekers For so long as Parliament men can get into their hands the riches and treasures of
held it not lawfull to go fight against them others of the Sectaries have reasoned against sending releif thither as saying whom should we releive to â—e Protestants there were an unworthy people that Kingdome had cosâ— us more to keep it then ever we goâ— by it that it was 〈◊〉 to hazard that Army upon it which was so faithful and 〈◊〉 for much for us with other words to this purpose other Sectaries have laughed at the Presbyterians being so forward in preaching and praying for releif to be sent over in all hast into Ireland A Gentleman in publick place told me not long since he had heard an Independent say upon discoursing of the hazard of the losse of Ireland that it was not a three penny matter to England if Ireland and Scotland both were lost England had no need of them severall strange speeches have fallen from the Sectaries in reference to Ireland Tenthly the Independents and Sectaries have spoken written and dealt most unworthily with the City of London a whole book might be written of all the calumnies reproaches abuses that have beene offered the City of London within this last twelve months especially about that late excellent Remonstrance how hath the late Lord Major the whole Court of Common-councell and City Remonstrance been written preached spoken against by the Sectaries of the Army City and Country giving reproachfull names raising wicked lies upon them and for nothing but for petitioning the Parliament for setling the Government and declaring themselves for the Covenant against Hereticks Scismaticks and Blasphemers Cretensis that great Sectary cals the late Lord Major of London and the Common-councell Brethren in iniquity with me the Author of the Pamphlet call'd the Lord Majors farewell from his Office of Majoralty resembles the late Lord Major to wicked Ahaz saying the Saints will say of him in succeeding ages this is that Lord Major of London Thomas Adams by name Lilburne in his Pamphlet entituled Londons Liberty calls by way of scoffing the Prerogative Lord Major Adams A Sectary in the Army call'd him rascall The Common-councell and Citizens have beene commonly call'd the Sect of the Adamites and in print to in the Pamphlet The just mans justification pag. 16. The Sectaries frequently cal the Citizens Preist-riden slaves They have in Pulpits beene call'd the great mountaine that hinders the liberty of the people refined Malignants and that if ever this Kingdome was brought into slavery the City would be the cause of it some of the Sectaries have said that the King the Scots and the Common-councell did drive on one designe it were too long to reckon up al the abuses offered the City of London and the Honorable Court of Common-councell by some of the weekly Pamphleters as the Moderate Intelligencer Perfect Occurrences and by some Sectarian souldiers threatning that they would as willingly come against the City as ever against the Cavaliers The City Remonstrance hath beene branded by them one Captaine in the Army said the Remonstrance was as devilish a thing as ever was penned by man Lilburne in his Londons liberty in chains discovered page 36. speaking of the City Remonstrance calls it that most devilish wicked bloudy unchristian Papisticall Remonstrance of the Prerogative men of London c. Other Sectaries have call'd it that monster with many heads the â—ifteene headed monster a base railing Remonstrance M. Peters hath spoken his pleasure of it in the Pulpit and the Moderate Reply to the City Remonst with the City Remonstrance remonstrated have many naughty passages against the Common-councell and City Remonstrance as that it was the disturber of the quiet and peace of the Church and State c. but I shall passe them by and transcribe only one passage out of M. Burtons Conform Deform where in the Epist Dedicatory to the present Lord Major he writes thus Give me leave tobeseech you that you would improve the whole power of your office among other evils for the not only suppressing but utter obliterating out of all Records of memory or mention that late Remonstrance of London which like the Trojan horse is stuffed with such matter as if the importunity of some might have had its desire would unavoidably hale in ruine both to City and Country Nor doth any thing more clearly demonstrate that spirituall judgement of blindnesse and hardnesse of heart to be upon all those who have their heads and hands in that Remonstrance and wilfully persist in the prosecution of it now in cold bloud then the unnaturall hating and hunting after the destruction of those very men as our mortall enemies who have with the extrem hazard of their lives been honoured of God to be the preserâ—ers of them our City and Country c. For the spirit of that ten-horned beast is now making warre with the Lamb and this spirit warreth under new colours not red but white whose word is Reformation and this under afair colour of a Covenant by vertue wherof pretending a just title to the War he hopes by the help of the Remonsstrance and the prime Authors thereof and their adherents to erect a new bestiall Tyranny over soules bodies and estates under new names and notions Elevently the Sectaries have carried themselves towards the Assembly with the greatest scorne and reproach that ever any sort of men carried themselves towards such a company of Ministers learned and godly and called by a Parliament to advise with in matters of Religion O how many books have beene written against them within these two last yeers or thereabouts as The Arraignment of Persecution Martins Eccho and their fellowes O the railing bitter disgracefull passages in Li 〈…〉 ns Letter to Mr. Pryn Tender Conscience religiously affected and divers other Pamphlets against the Assembly calling them the black-coats in the Synod Dâ—ivines good for nothing but to be burnt having two hornes like a Lamb but a mouth like a Dragon teaching the Parliament to speak blasphemy against those Saints that dwell in heaven O how commonly by word of mouth and in writing is the Assembly call'd Antichristian Romish bloudy the plagues and pests of the Kingdome Baals Preists Diviners Southsayerâ— all manner of evill being spoken of them A Ballad hath beene made of them having a first and second part wherein they are scoffed with the title of Black-bird Divines the name of the Ballad is A Prophecy of the Sâ—ynâ—eards Destruction to the â—uâ—â— of the merry Souldier or the jovâ—â—ll Tiâ—ker this Ballad calls the Assembly Swinheards saith these Swineheards are sitting to build old Babels Tower The Assemby â—â—th beene abused all kind of wayes threatned if they give advise to the Parliament against a Toleration of Independents they shall be chastised as evill Councellors disturbers of Church and State no lesse then great Strafford or little Canterbury all kind of imputations charged on them and they made by the Sectaries the cause and ground of all evilâ— that are upon the Kingdome The lâ—st warning to
Pills and that without being wrapt in gold yea Arrian Socinian Tenets and what not We heare of no Remonstrances famous Speeches plain home Sermons now against errours in doctrine as heretofore no Committees sitting upon Books to deale with Mr. Dens Mr. John Goodwins M. Burtons and divers others as with Mountagues Dr. Jacksons and Cosens Books Magistrates Ministers too silent the people also too contented and quiet yea many instead of crying out and being pained at heart love to have it so will prefer a man and give a great deale for some to preach errours among them and disturbe their faith when as they will give nothing for an able man every way qualified to preach the truth God may take up that complaint of our present times which he doth by Jeremie My people have committed two evills they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and hewed to themselves broken Cisternes that can hold no water hewe and be at a great deale of cost and paines for puddle poysonous water but reject and slieght a fountain of pure and living waters 6. Coroll Hence then we may see from all the Errors Heresies Insolencies of many Sectaries in our Armies and among the Souldiers laid downe in Gangrâ—na what a great plague and judgement of God to this Land some of our Armies and Souldiery have been and are now more then ever namely in that so many Commanders and Souldiers diffused throughout the Body of the whole Army yea some whole Troops and Regiments should be desperate Sectaries and Hereticks We must needs be under a great plague to have those who should be the Instruments of our safety and have the sword in their hands to be such kinde of men and to do as they do Heresies and Errors in any men are a great evill upon a Land a sad matter but in the Souldiery 't is armed impiety who by power and force may propagate and spread all kinde of errors and opinions without controle and by marching from Countrey to Countrey have opportunity of infecting all parts of a Land Certainly the Sectaries in the Armies I speake now as a Minister of the Gospell judging of things according to Scripture and not according to carnall policy and outward appearance are the greatest plague and judgement of God that hath been upon this Kingdom this hundred years when I heare daily of the errors they scatter the insolencies they commit and see what great evills they are the cause of in Church and State I often thinke of a passage in a famous Speech made by Sir Edward Deering in the beginning of this Parliament speaking of the corruptions in Religion among us to be first remedied before the Scots Army then in the Land to be considered of used these words or to this effect Let the sword rage from North to South or 't is better it should rage from North to South rather then the corruptions in Religion not be taken away so say 〈…〉 it had been better the Sword of the Enemy had raged from North to South then this Sword of Heresie and Plague of Error like a Gangrene should over-run the Kingdome as it doth T 〈…〉 is destroyes the precious soules and I am fully assured the Sectaries in the Armies have destroyed more soules and overthrowne the faith of more with their heresies and wicked opinions then they have killed the bodies of their enemies with their Swords The constitution of our souldiery so many Sectaries being in our Militia besides that 't is a great and fearfull plague of it selfe 't is a great cause of all other evills 't is that which emboldens the Sectaries all the Kingdome over and encourages that party to do so many wicked things as they doe daily affront the House of Peers abuse Scotland the City of London Ministery publikely print preach all kind of abominable errours 'T is that which awes the good party oâ— at least out of policy makes them not so zealnus and oâ—solute against the errours of the t 〈…〉 'T is that keeps the Church Government from going on a pace that is a great remora to the punishing of Hereticks c. 't is that indeed which hath infested and infected the Kingdome so generally There are few of our Eâ—issaries and not 〈◊〉 Sectaries but are oâ— have been Souldiers belonged to the Armies as Chaplaines or one way or other have followed the Campe they all smell of the Army Hich Knollys Erbury Dell Sâ—ltmars 〈…〉 Peters 〈…〉 cheler c. we 〈…〉 ay truly say 〈…〉 a B 〈…〉 Our Ar 〈…〉 the N 〈…〉 of all 〈◊〉 and a 〈◊〉 evills and 〈◊〉 we may see the true cause why all the Sectaries are so 〈◊〉 warre and keeping up the Armies can not abide to he 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 ing because their Kingdome is in larged and maintained thereby but certainly it will never be well with the Kingdome till the Armies be disb 〈…〉 ded or at least 〈◊〉 〈…〉 delled the Sectaries put 〈…〉 God be me 〈…〉 ifull unto 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 in strange handâ— and things are come to a strange passe and all wise men who have read Hiâ— stories understand any thing and by together many of the Sectaries Speeches and Practises conceive it cannâ—â— but be very perillous to have the sword in so many ma 〈…〉 mens hands and scare a new Tiragedy to be acted like that in G 〈…〉 and at M 〈…〉 ster by the old Anabaptists yea worse 〈◊〉 The godly Orth 〈…〉 Ministers and Christians and all true hearted English men may 〈◊〉 out and say as in 10. Psal Helpe Lord 〈◊〉 wicked walks â—n every fidâ— when the vi 〈…〉 and with the Prophet M 〈…〉 lachie 〈◊〉 Mal 15. 〈…〉 the proud happy yâ—â— they th 〈…〉 yea they that 〈◊〉 God are 〈◊〉 delivered The Sectaries of our Armies invading the Pulpits abasing the godly Ministers laying wast and prophaning the publike places 〈◊〉 apart for Gods worship are like 〈◊〉 and like 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Houses of God in possession nay they are like to those husbandmen in the 20. of Luke that reasoned among themselves saying This is the heire come let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him The Sectaries knowing that so long as the godly Ministers and such a Ministry continues in the Kingdome they shall never doe their worke bring in all heresie and confusion the inheritance shall not be theirs therefore they set themselves to destroy the Ministry and Ministers that the inheritance may be theirs The Apostle Paul 2. Tim. 3. bids Timothy know this that the perilousnesse of times stands in false Teachers seducers creeping into houses to lead captive silly women and in men reprobate concerning the faith resisting the truth and not in so much in war famine nor other calamities which happens to the body and therefore makes this preface before it this know also implying it was not so well known and stirring up Timothy the better
alterations towards the City beene since that time and began at that time Is it not evident whatever is pretended as want of time the feare of the Tyranny of Ministers c. the cause why Religion and the Church Government is no better settled to be the love of Error and Heresie which they know the Government would destroy And so I might go thorough the rest and therefore we may see to whom and to what to attribute all the mischeifs and evils that are upon us and further hang over us Canterbury Strafford or whom else you will name out of designes of Popery or absolute greatnesse or what else you will imagine were never greater causes of all the evills and mischeifs in their times of differences with the Scots of invading the liberties of the subject c. then some men among us are of our present evils and all to uphold the faction of Sectaries and Opinionists and to make way for a Toleration which to advance and bring about and themselves by that to greatnesse of place and estate and to licentiousnesse of living they are so madly set upon it that they care not to run the hazard of ruining three Kingdomes and reducing all into a Chaos of confusion in Church and State that so they man have the creating of all new and erect their Babell But it may be some will say t is wonder there should be so great a party loving and favouring Sectarisme and Error as to be able to hinder things thus and to disturbe the Kingdomes and if there should be so what may be the true reason of the exceeding great favouring of all kind of Sectaries and Libertines 1. I answer there are some men who have beene and are but meane in outward estate birth and place and others though richer in the world yet below in the vallies in comparison and being exceeding ambitious proud covetous and withall subtile apprehending also by reason of these deep distractions and troubles in the State an opportunity of becoming great and raising themselves by being the heads of a great party and getting an interest and great power in many people and knowing the corruption of mens hearts how pleasing liberty and to have a mans swinge is and observing which way the pulse of the present times beat thereupon have set themselves to stand for countenance all kind of Errors and all kind of men whatever they be that doe walke in irregular wayes These men being Politicians know that the appearing for any one Sect two or three and restraining the rest will not doe their work make them the heads of such a considerable party as be able to deale with the opposition they may likely meet with in their ambitious designes but if they would doe good upon it they must let loose the rains to all Errors whatsoever Errors against the Scriptures against denying a God the Trinity c. they must preferre all sorts of men of those principles one as well as another constantly stand by and appeare for all that are questioned in that way let their opinions be what they will their carriages never so insolent in the spreading of them and their persons never so unworthy and contemptible on the contrary opposing undermining and breaking all those who are active against their party and by thus doing proclaiming as it were open liberty to all men according to their severall wayes and lusts Papists Atheists Libertines c. they are in a faire way in some convenient time keeping off any thing too from being settled to have so many freinds as to be able to help them into the saddle especially at a time when others are justled out Jeroboam to keep the people to him and to strengthen the Kingdome fearing least they should returne from him to Rehoboam took counsell and made two golden Calves and said to the people t is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem and instead of the sonnes of Levi made Preists of the people for the Calves which he had made and whosoever would might become one of the Preists So there are too many in our dayes that they may get the people to them and strengthen their power have made golden Calves set up the Doctrine of Toleration of all Religions a worshipping of Calves and give liberty to whosoever will the lowest of the people to be Preists Coblers Shoe-makers Tinkers Taylors to preach administer Sacraments c. and that because t is too much for the people as Jeroboam said too much slavery subjection to depend upon Ministers too much for the people to pay Tyths and part with so much of their meanes they shall enjoy all freely and thus by prophecying â—alse Doctrine and allowing whoever will to prophesie they may come to beare rule by that means as Jeremie speaks 2. Though there seeme not Sectaries viz. formall Sectaries so many as to be able to carry things thus to the disturbance of the Kingdome yet if we consider whom they make use of and strike in with and by their policies and activities pretences have drawne in to their party no wonder Sectarisme hath such a power and influence upon affairs for with the Sectaries are joyned the loosest and wickedest men whom they tell they will let enjoy their lusts not force them to go to Church or any Government the men who have got good offices and places of profit who before they had such were known divers of them to go contrary but now stick close to them to keep their places needy meane men that so they may get something by fishing in troubled waters guilty obnoxious men that they be kept from being called to account men unduly and illegally chosen into places that so they may not be turned out some simple weak men who are by the Sectaries cunning putting fair glosses upon soule things and jumbling other things of interest of the Kingdome publick saâ—ety liberty c. meerly cheated Now all these joyning with them and they to gaine and keep them applying themselves in suitable wayes to every one of these sorts every wise man may easily conceive how Sectaries may prevail as they do here 's a chain consisting of so many links as may draw a great weight after it though all this while the first link is the love of Sectarisme and errors unto which all the other are fastned and that which drawes all the rest this is the Head Faction the others only subservient this first raised and now upholds all the rest to uphold it selfe and these others without that could not stop all the good and be the cause of so many mischiefs and evils that are upon this Kingdom 10. Corall Hence then from all this Discovery of the Sectaries laid downe in this Book their Errors strange wayes insolent proceedings many middle men well-meaning people drawne in by them meerly coâ—oned by their faire pretences and specious showes should upon this making them so naked and pulling the Sheeps
more no more night nor day summer nor winter 2 Pet. 3. 7 10 11 12. The heavens and the earth which are now are reserved unto fire against the day of judgement the heavens shall passe away the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up all these things shall be dissolved and whatever hath a being after the day of judgement is eternall and for ever so Revel 10. 6. there should be time no longer which some interpret there shall be no time because time shall be finished and this variety of dayes and nights moneths and years and an unchangeable eternity shall follow in the dayes of the seventh Angel but whether that be the meaning or no of the place this is certain that after the end of this world and the generall Judgement there will be an abolition of time and an eternity follow and therefore eternall fire and eternall chains both for devills and ungodly men cannot be meant of a long time but simply of eternall à parte post Thirdly there 's the same reason in every respect why eternall for judgement fire destruction should be taken in the same sense that eternall is when joyned to life kingdome c. but there 't is taken not for a long-lasting time but properly for everlasting and therefore must of necessity be so here and whatever colour glosse or evasion can be brought to evade that of hell torments damnation that they should not be eternall the same will lie as strong against the eternall life and kingdome given to the Saints but they overthrow the whole doctrine of faith break that golden chain of salvation in the eighth of the Romanes in all the links of it Election Vocation Justification Glorification nay further these Errors as they are laid down doe not onely crosse expresse Scriptures and Articles of our Faith but they deny salvation to all men who beleeve not those wicked doctrines making them the great Antichrist formall beleevers and putting the cause of all damnation to devills and men viz. for so long as they are damned upon the not-beleeving and receiving these wicked doctrines That all devills and men shall be saved and that Christ paid the price laying down his bloud for the pardon of all reprobated Men and Angels and that the beleeving of these doctrines is the only true Christian working faith commended so much by the Holy Ghost and of such an efficacy that this faith being but in two or three in the whole world shall yet save all the rest of the Creation then which Doctrines and Positions nothing can be more repugnant to the Christian faith and may properly be call'd doctrines of devills 33. The Trinity of Persons came downe in Christ to suffer Father Sonne and Holy Ghost suffered for their transgressing creature 34. There is a private Kingdom of Christs justice in which he sat Judge over the quick and dead to condemne and execute torments on the rebellious whom he held as prisoners for a time and there is Christs publick Kingdome to which the Private Kingdome must give place and as the Father hath given it to Christ to rule it for ever so Christ hath committed it to the Holy Ghost to enliven all things to bring up all to life and immortality and the Holy Ghost for the Father and the Son shall execute the judgement of love and mercies unto all for the destroying of death of hell 35. That t is unlawfull to pray unto God kneeling 36. That Organs are a sanctified adjunct in the service of God now under the Gospel and that if any man in the Church had a gift of making Hymner he might bring them in to be sung with Organs or other Instruments of musick In severall ages of the Church wanton men who could not be content with the simplicity of the Gospel have brought both into doctrines of Faith and Worship such opinions and practises still as have been most suitable to their genius and education to the principles of such Arts and Sciences in which they were versed as Origen and some others versed in Plato's Philosophy brought in opinions into the Church according to Plato's doctrine Some who have been much addicted to Painting and Imagery they have brought in Images into the Church and now some of our Independents having fancies in Musick singing taking great delight in that way they have pleaded for and brought into the Church Hymnes and Musick 37. That Adultery is no Sin and that Drunkenesse is none neither but a help to see Christ the better by it 38. Though consent of Parents unto Childrens marriage was commanded under the Law to them that lived then yet because that was but a ceremony t is now lawfull to marry without their consent because we live under the Gospel 39. Christs death and sufferings were endured for to be our example not to purchase heaven for us 40. That 't is not lawfull for Christians to take an oath no not when they are called before Authority and brought into Courts 41. That Christ would destroy not only unlawfull Government but lawfull Government not only the abuse of it but the use of it he was destroying both Monarchy and Aristocracy 42. That the Saints besides the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ must have an externall Kingdom to possesse that this is the time that the Kingdome viz. England Scotland and Ireland is to be taken from him who shall arise and subdue three Kingdoms thinking to change times and Lawes and shall be given to the Saints 43. Gracious Lords or Favourable Lords are titles that cannot be proper amongst Christians but are marks of Gentiles 44. 'T is an utter disfranchisement of the people and a meer vassalage for a man to Petition to Courts of Judicature as the House of Peers for his right and to have justice done him 't is no better then a branch of tyranny to force a man to turn Supplicant for his own and of self-robbery to submit thereto 'T is an inslaved and intolerable condition of this Nation that indeed they cannot have their own naturall Rights and Immunities but they must be actuall Petitioners as if their own were not their own of right but of favour 45. That for Crimes and Offences committed in a Common-wealth there should not be certain penalties appointed by Lawes to which the Governours and Magistrates should be tyed but it should be lest to the discretion and wisdome of the Magistrates to inflict what they thought fit in case of such and such Crimes and this liberty should be left that a Magistrate might exercise his gifts of Government which if he were kept strictly to the Law how should his wisdom and gifts be manifested 46. That Protestant States and Parliaments have no power nor liberty to confirm and enact by Law Worship and Church-Government
statesman in his Polit. tels us The same Last will not fit an English and a Scottish foot The English must be ruled more by love Now if two nations so neer in one Iland are not alike free but must be differently governed then certainly Nations remote from one another are not alike free Besides to particular persons yea bodies of people many providences accidents may fal out to make one and the same people and particular persons not so free as sometimes they have been there are some Parents who were free but having incurred the Law are tainted in bloud so their children also some are taken captivs or have sold themselves for a necessity and so their children are servants to A nation having bin saved by some Prince from ruine though before a free state may now make him and his Heirs according to such Lawes King over them nay Amesius in his Cases of Conscience saith It cannot be denied but that a people forced by necessity may sell themselves to a King to be all his servants Gen. 47. 23. 5. T is apparent that in one and the same Nation as England all the subjects have not the same priviledges and freedoms but some have more then others some are not liable to be pressed to war to bare such Offices serve in Juries c. as others are some have voices viz. Freeholders to chuse Knights of Shires others have not some Cities Towns have Charters and large priviledges in severall particulars to send Burgesses to Parliament which other Towns have not and certainly the Peerage of England have priviledges and liberties which every Jack-straw hath not 6. I demand of the Sectaries whether in their Pamphlets speaking of election and consent they meane an immediate present choyce and consent of the present men now to be governed or else an election consent in the first constitution of this Kingdom and Government by our Ancestors many hundred yeers ago Now if they mean this last how do they know but that this Government wherein the King and Lords have such a power was by consent and agreement it being consented such a man should be King and such persons Nobles who by birth should have such power and then such people according to such agreements should have power to chuse some men who together with King and Nobles should make Laws by which the Nation governed the King should have such power Nobles such priviledges and people such liberties but now if they meane the first an immediate election of the present peopl that they are to obey none but so chosen 't is most false and a principle destructive to the sundamentall government of this Kingdom and destroying the House of Commons as well as the King and Lords and for the clearing of that I would propound two things 1. That in this Common-wealth of England none have any power of Government at all either in a lower or higher Sphere either by election of the whole body of the people for all chuse not but some onely or founded upon election as the sole cause and ground for none of the people can chuse neither are men capable to be chosen till according to Lawes Writs are granted forth or Charters given by Princes and Lawes to such Corporations and yet then the peopl must go in chusing not according to their wills but to such rules agreed on by Laws and after men are chosen some conditions also and rules must be observed before the persons so chosen have power of government these chosen Commons must be returned and sworne take such oaths before they can â—it or if they do their election is ipso factâ— nul and they made uncapable ever to fit again so that t is evident that election of some part of the people not the whole is only a partiall cause not the totall and plenary cause or rather the true cause is because such a man according to Lawes and Customes of this Kingdome is now in such a place whereof one of the conditions for such a place is election so and so determined by former Lawes but now in many Officers of this Kingdome who have power of government to heare judge and do many Acts no sort of the common people have any power at all to chuse as in Justices of Peace they have been alwayes and still are made without any such election so the Judges of the Land Sheriffs with divers other Officers and therefore much more may the King and Peers who by the fundamentall Lawes of the Land have an heredâ—tary power in Parliament to which the Kingdom hath agreed and yeelded obedience so many hundred yeers exercise their power without any electon of the people 2. That certainly people are bound and tied to Lawes Rules as well as Kings and Nobles and that Covenants Compacts Oaths of Allegiance c. made on their part bind them as well as Princes oaths I ever took it for granted that Princes had not been bound and their people left at liberty and freedome to do what they pleased I alwayes thought fundamentall constitutions of Government made many hundred yeers before and ancient bounds set by Lawes with birth-right inheritance having gone through an uninterrupted succession of many Pâ—ogenitors had been a right and interest to Princes which the meer will and pleasure of common people could not have taken from them and I conceive that according to the conssitution and Lawes of this Kingdome which gives all sorts their rights though some more some lesse 't is agreed on that the Peers of this Land should have a Legislative and judiciall power and they and their heirs be in such ranck born with such and such priviledges over others 7. This Position of the Sectaries the Universal people having such a power without whose election all Government is void their Dagon and great Image which they fall down before and worship is a meer Chimâ—ra a monstrum horrendum a Babell which I could shatter and break so to peeces as not one stone should be left of it nor so much as the stump but I may not now give all my thoughts for feare of being too voluminous only I will hint a few things in this place by way of Question and referre the Reader to what I further say in page 154 155. c. 1. I Desire to know of these Sectaries what or who is this state Universall whether all the men women and children born in England men-servants maid-servants poore people and beggars together with those of the better sort and whether if all these or the greater part of these taken one equally as well as th' other be the state universall have they the like Soveraigne power over the King and Parliament 2. Whether in what this state Uuniversall will do with the King Lords and their owne House of Commons it must be carried by the most voices of this state universall so that if all the beggars poor people servants children be a
is a Master Sectarie a man of great power among them and hath Emissaries under him whom he sends abroad and commands to go into severall parts as Syms Row c and supply his place in his absence and as you have heard of him formerly so since my second part of Gangraena came abroad a godly Minister out of the West writ thus to me of Collier He was driven out of the Island of Garnesy because of his opinions and turbulency as a godly Minister of that Island told me and he could not deny it himself when I asked him the question He hath done much hurt in Limington Hampton Waltham and all along this Country I had once a conference with him upon two questions for five houres space sufficient time for one to trouble himself with such a vain unruly taulker First concerning the Morality of the Sabbath Secondly concerning Baptisme in both which he denyed I affirmed It would require â—great deal of time to give you an account of all particulars and the truth is if I should some passages would have an ill reflex upon some men of note and power with whom perhaps it will not be safe for me to meddle And in a Letter from the same Minister printed in this third part of Gangraera page 40. 41 Collier being mentioned he is said to be the first that sowed the seeds of Anabaptisme Antisabbatarianisme and some Arminianisme among the rest in these parts A Copie of a Letter to a tittle sent from some of the Inhabitants of Devizes to a worthy Member of the House of Commons Right Worshipfull MAy it please you to be certified by us of certain passages this day at the Church in the time of Divine service That is our Minister Master Sheappard being in the Pulpit was commanded by one Captaine Pretty who is under the command of Colonell Ireton and who with his souldiers are to our great burthen quartered with us to be silent and to come forth of the Pulpit saying in threatning termes he was unfit to preach and that he was yesterday being Satturday druncken which evidently can be proved to the contrary the Gentleman being to our knowledge a very temperate and Religious Divine This Captaine was assisted with one Master Ives and Master Lambe who are as they say Preachers and divers souldiers armed in a most irreverent manner to the abominable disturbance of the whole Congregation and as we conceive to the great abuse and disgrace of the Honourable Parliament By meanes where of our Preacher fearing as was too too much cause what dangerous effects such indecent and impious demeanours might produce was enforced to depart and dares not to come in sight so that we were destitute of preaching this day Whereof we thought good being thereto as we beleeve bound in duty and good conscience to acquaint your Worship withall hoping by your industrious meanes these our most intolerable griveances may be taken into Religious consideration and we thereof eased which we earnestly begg of you our approved good friend and Countryman may be effected These aforesaid abuses can be if occasion witnessed by the whole Congregation From the Devizes this present Sunday the 6. of September 1646. I Have received lately certaine Information from some who are come out of Wales that a Trooper of Colonell Riches Regiment hath been for divers weeks last past in Wales in Radnorshire and Brecknockeshire a preaching and dipping where he hath vented many Doctrines of Antinomianisme and Anabaptisme and rebaptized hundreds in those Countries Among others one woman whom he dipped he held so long under water that what with the water getting into her and cold she died of it within a day or two This Trooper going from these Countries into Mongomeryshire another Countie of Wales to preach and dippe some in command and Armes for the Parliament seized on him and committed him to prison but within a while after this commitment by meanes used by some in the Army there comes an order from higher Authority to those who committed him to release him and so he was set free A Religious Commander who comes from thence tells me the preaching and dipping of this Trooper and other such makes the Countries being newly reduced have an ill opinion of the Parliament and many of the people say these are your Preachers at London and such Preachers as the Parliament sends for they being ignorant people think verily these men are sent forth by the Parliament to preach to them This Commander tells me also there is a strong report in those Countries of Wales where he hath been that there are some Sectaries preach for Circumcision and that some have been Circumcised but the truth of that he cannot assert as of the rest but must have more time to find it out There is a Minister now in London or here abouts who going to a meeting of the Sectaries heard one of them in his Exercising and preaching to the company assembled affirme that he was Jesus Christ whereupon this Minister spake to him and said how can you be Jesus Christ where are the prints of the nailes in your hands unto which this wicked Sectarie replyed showing him his hands here they are and in one of his hands there were some markes which he said were the prints of the nailes but said this Sectarie for all this you will not beleeve me to be Christ unlesse you saw Miracles and turning over his Bible to the Book of the Revelations this Sectary quoted a place that Miracles were wrought to confirme the Doctrine of Divells which saith he you would have me to shew to confirme the truth This is a most certain story related by an eare and eye witnesse to a Noble Earle of this Kingdom and to some others and the place where this Sectary dwells related also with many circumstances Some of the Sectarian souldiers quartering very dately at a Towne in Lester shire upon the Lords day some of them shooed their horses others who came into the Church disturbed and affronted a godly Minister one Master Bohâ—mus Minister of the place put in by the meanes of Sir Arthur Hazelrig to whom he had formerly relation who as he was reading in the Scriptures that passage The secret of the Lord is with them that feare him some of them stood up and said that was a lye and so insolent was their carriage that this good Minister was glad to get him out of the way And as their carriage was so in the Church so a Townsman who rented the Tythes being upon horse in the field looking after his Tyth corne some of these souldiers coming into the field asked who that was and being told he was a man that came to gather Tyths they came to him and one took one leg and another the other and others laid hands on him in other parts and threw him off his horse abusing him and hazarding the limbs of the man because he renting the Tythes came to look
I shall make some Observations and Animaâ—â—versions though breifly Nâ—w in this Pamphlet entituled Master Peters last report of the English Wars which I heartily wish may prove his last Report of the English Wars I desire the Reader to observe two things First the maine designe and scope of these Answers and Reports Secondly the way and manner of managing iâ— to make his designe take not careing how falsly and partially he relates both of himself and others things manifestly known to be untrue For his designe and aime it appeares to stand in these 11. particulars as I shall point the Reader to the pages all along where he may find them 1. He is solicitous and industrious to excuse take off all blame and fault in every thing from the Sectaries and from such in the Army accounted of his Religion and way as appears by these passages among others page 8. I could adde that we take causam pro non causa we put our troubles upon Schismaticks and Opinionists and never attend the true cause There may shortly be a great change in the Netherlands but you shall find the cause not in the harmlesse Anâ—baptists c. page 2. Only let me be your true Informer that you had nothing committed then by * ours that had not its rise from integrity and faithfulnesse to the State accompanied with such skill as the Lord was pleased to dispense and let me tell you men upon the place in such case can better judge then lookers on afa 〈…〉 off I hope you wil not lose by that bargain in the end though 〈◊〉 seem for present an ill peniworth 2. He is carefull to plead for Liberty and a Toleration of Sectaries being zealous to secure them from all harme and hurt being such a harmlesse people both in word and deed as is evident by these passages page 7 8. God useth his own â—ediâ— oâ—dy violence becommeth not Saints In Popish times the Clergy had not the c 〈…〉 ve power but subjected the civill Magistrate to do their work I wish the State keep a good bolâ— upon that dore I am confident the chief means to greateâ— an Error will be by violence and opposition when 〈…〉 ghted it dies Coalâ— blown get heat strength neglected grow cold I wish every one â—ight be severely punished that spoke against either Presbytery or Independency till they could define that aright and distinguish about them and their wayes then I beleeve we should have 〈…〉 um silentiâ—m page 〈◊〉 1. Let it be our care that after ages may not say we conquered our selves into a new slavery 3. His designe is in laying together Presbytery and Independency to advance Independency and set it on high and depresse Presbytery in comparison as in Pag. 7. speaking of Scotland hee saith It will be their mercy to keep what they have and ours to be growing up to what wee desire and again in the same page Let the present Church-Government goe on and walk 〈…〉 ly and tenderly let those that longed for it improve it E 〈…〉 at quanâ—um valere potest let others that are godly know it may help at least to hew stone and square timber for a more glorious building to bring from one extremity to another Where by the way the Reader may observe how he puts those that are godly by way of opposition to those who longed for the present Church-Government Let others that are Godly know it may help as if none that were godly longed for Presbyteriall Government as also how contemptibly be speaks of the Presbyteriall Government in comparison of the Independent in thâ—se words It may help at least to hew st 〈…〉 and square sim 〈…〉 for a m 〈…〉 e glorious building to bring from one extremity to another that is from Prelacy to Independency but I can tell Master Peters that he is deceived in Presbytery for few that ever entertain that and improve it do fall to Independency but Independency all the world may see and I have fully proved it in the First part of 〈…〉 the fourth Co 〈…〉 lary that Independent Government is the mother and 〈◊〉 of all Heresies and Errours and doth not onely help at least but is the chiefe work man to hew stone and square timber for the more glorious building of Anabapti 〈…〉 Antino 〈…〉 nisme Libertinisme yea Scepâ—ieisme and Atheisme and before I conclude this I desire the Reader to observe â—ow God hath left this man to wound his own cause with his own pen and against his will to speak well of Presbyteriall Government whilst hee was advancing the one and depressing the other viz. in those words to bring from one extremity to another where â—e makes Independency to be the other extreme to Prelacy and Presbytery to be the medium between them now all Schollars know In medio viz. of extremes though not of degrees co 〈…〉 it virtus and if Independency be in extremity it doth o 〈…〉 against the rule as well as Episcopacy 4. Master Peters in this his last 〈…〉 port is not only curefull to excuse protect and highly dom 〈…〉 end the 〈◊〉 and Opinions of die times but he is studying of new projects for the propagating and spreading of Sectarisme as if it grew not fast enough both in this and other Kingdomes as the Reader may easily observe in these passages Pag 8. Your demand of my thoughts of England in order to foraign States I answer with a wish viz. That forthwith we might have some choice Agents sent out as two to Sweden two to the Cantons our good friends two to the Netherlands and so to other Parts as we see cause and these accompanied with a Manifest of Gods gracious dealings with this State c. Now certainly Master Peters must be one and some other honest godly men which the Presbyterians are not as appears by what a little above I observed from Master Peters words active Independents of Master Peters acquaintance as Master H. Master B. Master P. Master T. and others who together with the Manifest of Gods gracious dealings with this State may by way of comment and enlarging tell brave stories of the Victories and Conquests of the Independents in Nazeby Field entring of Cornwall at Torrington of taking such and such Towns Cities by such and such Colonels and Commanders when indeed they either never struck a stroke at that time or were many myles absent or the work was done to their hands by others and they only sent for to have the honour to be made Governours to enjoy the flesh the skin and the oyle of the Lion and the Leviathan when they had their deaths wounds before for the proofe of which severall particulars I could give notable instances most certainly true confuting the weekly Pamphleters crying up of some men and saying nothing of others and ask where such a one was and how many strokes he struck at Nazeby Field and who routed Goring and his Horse in the West
shall be content and rest In this Arrow against all Tyrants written as it seems to some Member of the House of Commons page 6. he writes thus Sir We desire your help for your own sakes as well as ours cheifly for the removall of two most insufferable evills daily encroaching and increasing upon us portending and threatning inevitable destruction and confusion of your selves of us and of all our posterity namely the encroachments and usurpâ—tions of the House of Lords over the Commons liberties and freedomes together with the barbarous inhumane blood-thirstie desires and endeavours of the Presbyterian Clergy O the desperate wickednesse of this man and some other Sectaries who have writ such like passages against the Lords and the Ministers and that for no other cause as appeares by this Pamphlet and divers others themselves being witnesses but because the Lords questioning some men for printing the most abominable sedicious cursed libells against all Royall Authority and the fundamentall â—awes and Government of this Kingdome that ever in any age were published and they in the most unparralleld manner of which I beleeve no presidents can bee shewn in any Chronicles or histories of this Kingdome carrying themselves contempruously and scornfully they committed them to prison and because an Ordinance to punish damnable Blasphemies and Heresies hath been brought into the House of Commons by two worthy Members and that by the prâ—curement of the Clergie as the Pamphlet saith Now for what the Lords have done against Lilburne Oâ—erton Larner and such fâ—llowes in labouring to suppresse â—uch â—editious Presses in punishing them as also in their speedy admitting into their House and thankfull acceptance of the Remonstrances and Petitions of the City of London County of Lancashi 〈…〉 c. And for what Master Tâ—â—t and Master Bacon have done in presenting such an Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies they are highly accouâ—â—ed of by all the godly and Orthodox Ministers and people in City and Country and their names will be famous in all generations when the names of Lilburne Overton c. yea and of all their great Patrons whether in the Army or out of the Army will be a by-word and a curse and canonized in the Kalenâ—â—r of such Saints as John of Leyden Thomas Muncer Kâ—ipperdollâ—â—g c. In page 10. of this poysoned Arrow Overton writes thâ—s Why therefore should you of the Representative body sit still and suffer these Lords to devoure both us and our Lawes Be awakened arise and consider their oppressions and encroachments and stop their Lordships in their ambitious career for they doe not cease only here but they soare higher and higher and now they are become Arrogators to themselves of the naturall Soveraignty the Represented have convayed and issued to their proper Representors even challenge to themselves the title of the supremest Court of Judicature in the Land as was claimed by the Lord Hounsden when I was before them which challenge of his was a most illegall Anti-Parliamentary audacious presumption c. Behold Reader this wicked Sectary labours to set the House of Commons against the House of Lords to make division between them All the hopes of these sonnes of division lie in breaches which they fâ—ment all kind of wayes and in all kind of things wherein there is union as between the Houses the Scots and â—he Parliament the Parliament and the City the Parliament and the Ministry of the Kingdom They have no hopes but in wars fishing in troubled waâ—ers keeping all things in confusion from being setled In pag. 11 12 hee speaks thus Therefore the soveraign power extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors all this kind of soveraignty challenged by any whether of King Lords or others is usurpation illegitimate and illegall and none of the kingdomes or peoples neither are the people thereto oblieged Thus Sir seeing the Soveraign or Legislative power is only from the Represented to the Representors and cannot possibly further extend the power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive and he can communicate no more then he hath himselfe and the Soveraign power not being inherent in him it cannot be convayed by or derived from him to any so that his meer Prerogative creatures cannot have that which their lord and creator never hath had or can have namely the Legislative power Many other strange passages there are both in his Pamphlets and Petition and Appeale made up of intolerable Arrogancy Impudency and Anarchy point blanck against the Fundamentall constitution of the Government of this Kingdom but by these the Reader may judge of the whole ex ungâ—e leonem and so I leave him to the justice of the House of Lords There is one John Lilburn an Arch Sectary the great darling of the Sectaries highly extolled and magnified by them in many Pamphlets called The Defender of the Faith A Pearle in a Dung-hill That Worthy Sufferer for his Countries Liberty this Worthy man a precious Jewell indeed of whom I had thought to have given a full Relation in this Book and to have laid him open in all his colours by following him from place to place and shewing how time after time he hath behaved himself since he came out of his Apprenticeship as by declaring what set him first on work to print Books against the Bishops how hee carried himselfe in the Fleet whilst he was Prisoner there how since this Parliament both before the warres begun and since the warres how whilst hee was Prisoner at Oxford how in the Earle of Manchestors Army how in the City at many meetings about Petitions since he left the warres how before the Committee of Examinations how the first 〈◊〉 he was in Newgate by order of the House of Commons how hee behaved himselfe before the House of Lords and how the second time of his imprisonment in Newgate and how since his last commitment to the Tower but because this Narration alone will take up some sheets there being many remarkable things to be written of him of his insolent loose ungodly practices and of his Anarchicall Principles destructive to all Civill Government whatsoever and I have already filled up that number of sheets I aâ— first intended when I resolved to write this Third Part though I have many things yet to put in this Third Part therefore I must deâ—erre it till a Fourth Part and shall then by the help of God doe it so largely and fully that I shall make his folly and wickednesse known to all men and vindicate the honour and power of the House of Peers from his and all the Sectaries wicked Libells shewinâ— the weaknesse of those Principles That all power in Government is founded upon the immediate free election of all those that are to be Governed And of a necessity that all who are to be subject and obey must be represented And that all who have power in Government must be Representers which I shall doe for the
that have had more money and now demand more hundred thousand pounds â—hen all Scotland is worth if it were to be sold that they stood for the King to come to London and to be disposed of by their advice for nothing else but to get great offices about him and places at Court that they seek nothing but to encroach upon the rights and liberties of this Nation in severall of their demands and therefore what true English man can beare it They have given out of their Armies that they exercise strange cruelties robberies plunderings in the Countries notwithstanding all their great pay and yet they have done nothing for it what have they done almost this two last yeeres say the Sectaries nay some Sectaries have given out we owe them nothing they have had more then their pay comes to Presently after the newes came of the Kings going to the Scottish Army there were many jealousies raised and reports given out by the Independent party that all the forces of the Kings out of Newark were joyned to the Scots and gone along with them that Letters were intercepted going from the King to Oxford to wish them to holdout so many dayes and they should have releife that two thousand Irish were come to joyne with the Scots for the King against the Parliament that the Scots had broken the Covenant in detaining the King and in not delivering up Ashburnham with divers such fables and since all along we have by that party some fine stories or other told of the Scots as of so many thousands out of France to joyne with them and so many thousand fresh men come out of Scotland into England and Informations and Examinations printed of strange things the Scats will do and the King hath spoken of since he went to them reports of stories of Robin Hood and little John of Cocks and Bulls plots that would be discovered of the Scots and some great Noble men Now for proof of the Sectaries being guilty in these particulars I referre the Reader to divers of the Sectaries libellous Pamphlets against the Scots as Master Burtons Conformities Deformity A black cloud in the North a late Declaration by way of Letters c. to divers of the Weekly newes Books of late and particularly to the Imperfect Diurnall Immoderate Intelligencer Vnperfect Occurrences three sworne servants of the Independents and to his owne remembrance and observation of things For conclusion of this there are none so hated in this Kingdom by the Sectaries as our Brethren of Scotland not the Papists not the Prelates not the Malignants they exceed the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Doctor Wren c. who never spake with that bitternesse against the Generall Assembly and Church-government as some Sectaries have done for instaâ—ce let Master Burtons Conformities Deformity be perused in what he writes against the Generall Assembly and Church-government of Scotland and it would be thought rather to be Canterbury redivivus then Master Burton for whom the Ministers of Scotland and other godly Christians there put up so many prayers but their hatred and malice against the Church and Kingdom of Scotland God will in due time remember and visit And their extreme malignity against our Brethren of Scotland appeares principally in four things 1. Though some of that party have given great testimony to them of their faithfulnesse and worth yet without any cause of theirs or change in them the Scots coâ—tinuing constant and firme to their first principles and I challenge all the Sectaries to give but one instance to the contrary they have turned Jewes against them and spoken evill of them all they could 2. If any one Sectary take the Scots part as seeing their faithfulnesse to the publick and so declare it though yet at the same time be speaks against the Scots Church-government Covenant c. and come to be in question and trouble upon some things though we see Sectaries strangely brought off of all troubles notwithstanding all misdemeanors he is deserted by his party may lie and perish in prison and the reason is given in print to all the world if we may beleeve it for his complying with the Scots to drive on some wicked designe of theirs and combining with them whereas the same party declares in print the honesty and justice of the Scots for the redresse of the great greivances of his Countrey and though strangers to him yet upon the goodnesse of the Cause furthering it with all their power to bring it to the hearing of the House of Commons and he professes he neither knows nor can suppose the Scots to intend any other wicked desigâ— but the setling of the Presbyterian Government among us 3. In the many bloudy speeches divers of the Sectarian party have spoken against the Scots viz. that they would as willingly fight against the Scots draw their swords against them as ever against 〈◊〉 Cavaliers that if they had an Order from the Commons to go against the Scots they would go as willingly as ever against the Cavaliers that it would never be well with us till we had beaten the Scots out of the Kingdom that if they would not go out now we had conquered the Kings party we would go lead them out with divers such speeches 4. In making it their great busines to corrupt and poyson mens minds with false notions and apprehensions about the Scots as if they were the most perâ—idious people that ever were many stories in this kind might be told but I will content my self with relating one which is most certaine as having it from the mouth of a godly minister upon whom the experiment was made There was a great Gentleman of the Independent party I will not say he was a Member of the House of Commons who laboured to possesse a godly Minister of some note in his Countrey against the Scots and walked alone with him two houres to represent to him the state of things oâ—â—â—ring him confidently and that he should finde that the Kingâ—ad â—ad poysoned the Scots and made them all for him he had corrupted the Army the Scots Commissi 〈…〉 the Convention of Estates yea the generall Assembly it selfe and they would be all 〈…〉 s much for him as ever the Cavaliers were with severall other things he laboured to pos 〈…〉 e him with of the City of London the Army c. but the best was the Minister wanted faith to beleeve him and laughed secretly that this Gentleman should think to catch old birds with chaffe Ni 〈…〉 ly the Sectaries and Independents have spoken and carried themselves unworthily to the bleeding condition of the Kingdome of Ireland and the Protestâ—â—ts there some of them have justified the Irish Rebellion that they did it for the liberty of their consciences and for their Country and what had the English to doe in their Kingdome the Irish did no more then what we would have done ourselves if it had been 〈◊〉 case and that they
Gods good providence this old Minister of 70. yeares of age with much adoe escaped their hands and after his departure VVebb preached and in his Sermon compared our Church of England to that of Laodicea that was neither hot nor cold but lukewarme For that in Queen Maries daies her Proclamation made them all Papists In Queen Elizabeths daies her Proclamation made them Protestants but now an Ordinance of Parliament makes them for Presbytery and he was very confident that shortly he should see Presbytery laid as low as Prelacy or to that effect On the first of November 1646. Colonell Hewson came into Aston Church accompanied and guarded with his Souldiers contemned the Ordinance of Parliament read that day against Lay-mens preaching and did preach whether M. Skinner would or no both forenoone and afternoone he bid M. Skinner be silent and threatned him that in case he would not let him preach he would lay him by the heeles he said Mr. Skinner was no Minister but a false Prophet an Antichrist and he would prove him so to be in the afternoone by 13. marks of a false Prophet which he laid downe in the afternoone In June last divers Sectaries of Mr. Skinners Pariâ—h joyning and combining with the souldiers did interrupt him as he was preaching in the Pulpit and would not be intreated to forbeare till he had ended though he desired them and told them the penalty of the Statute in that case And among others a Woman one Margeret North cryed to him with a loud voice M. Skinner M. Skinner you take great pains with us in preaching twice every Sabboth and Catechizing but all comes but to one Sermon in the end of the yeare On the 25. of October Colonell Hewson came into Wallington Church and there interrupted the Minister one M. Price as hee was at Prayer and then afterwards as he was reading the first chapter of the Proverbs and also as he did expound the foresaid chapter The Church was made a prison for the Souldiers seven or eight daies and nights there they made a fire in the Chancell and tooke Tobacco in the time of Prayer and Preaching In the foresaid Church did Colonell Hewson and Major Axston preach the one in the forenoon the other in the afternoone being the 18. day of October In May last one M. Rastell of Sydnam preaching on the 5. of Math. 20. Except your righteousnesse c. one Captain Nevill a Captain of a Troop of horse in Col. Rich his Regiment being then and there present started up and said This is fine stuffe this is grosse who can endure it I will heare no more of this he deserves to be pulled down and many words to that effect and so departed out of the Church and walked without under the wall where with a loud voice he uttered many contumelious words against the Minister I have seen divers Letters out of Oxfordshiere that speake of one M. Potter of Lutenor about a mile from Aston leaving his Church being driven from thence by the Lay-preaching Souldiers who have for certaine daies made a prison of that Church and have burnt up the seats and boords in the Church so that it now lyes wast and destitute of a Minister and these preaching souldiers refuse to preach now in that Church they have laid wast but come to Churches where there are Ministers who preach constantly as at Aston and divers other places and trouble them in their preaching and performing of other services of God A Reverend Minister in Oxfordshiere having lately occasion to admonish his Parishioners to take heed of Anabaptisme for tha they denyed the Lord Christ that bought them by his blood shed signiâ—ied in Baptisme by water For in Baptisme we put on Christ Gal. 3 27. but if we be baptized again we deny him and put him of as the Anabaptist doth upon which Sermon an Independent neighbour desired to heare the Minister againe on that point which accordingly the Minister did on the Lords day Novemb. 〈◊〉 taking that text Math. 28. 19. v. And used Arguments to disswade from Anabaptisme for it was a denying and putting off of Christ whom by oath they put on in their Baptisme Now Lievetenant Webb hearing of this Sermon did in the afternoone preach on the same Text Math. 28. 19. bragging that he could by the spirit do as much ex tempore as that Minister by study The Minister hath sent to entreat a Copy of his Sermon with a promise of giving him a Copy of his that so the world may judge considering all their boastings who comes nearest to the spirit of God I have received some Letters of late written to me out of the Country bewailing the great oppressions and sufferings some of Gods Ministers undergoe both in their owne houses by souldiers laid upon them and in Gods house by being disturbed and affronted in their Ministry wherein I am stirred up not to faint in prosecuting the good cause of Gods Ministers oppressed and his Churches in these parts laid wast and the Ministers case is thus represented to me The Romane Clergy have been Solomons flagellum on us many years I but now the Lay-Clergy these preaching Souldiers are worse they be Rehoboams whips of Scorpions worse then Solomons and Rehoboams yea then the Spanish whip in 88. The Lord give us all grace that are under Gods rod the wicked the sword of his hand that our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may bee our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Nocumenta our Documenta our Destructions our Instructions our Corrections our Directions to Heaven and happinesse And then there being divers sad stories related in the body of the Letters all is concluded after this manner O scelus Independentium come Lord Jesus come quickly and whip out all these Independent worshippers out of thy Church with a dog-whip A godly Citizen of good quality and a Common-Councell man being in company with another Common-Councell man and a young Schollar Chaplain to one of the late Sheriffes of London and some other company they being in discourse about many passages of these times he told them this story which within a day or two after the Common-Councell man and the young Chaplain told me with all the names of the persons and circumstances of it that a great Independent I will not say a Member of the House of Commons being desirous to get another great Independent to be a Burgesse of Parliament for a place of note within lesse then 60. miles of London spoke to this Citizen about it to further it as having some chapmen in that Town and the Mayor also his great friend whereupon this Citizen did stirre in it to make the Mayor and others for this Independents Independent friend and meanes were used to get voices but after some triall of getting voices the Mayor of the Town signified that he thought another man who sâ—ood would carry it most inclining to him and that they should not have voices
and in grace could not be distinguished A Woman being occasionally spoken of in the company of some of these Sectaries that she was said to be a whore they said God had so ordered it and if she were a whore it was as well with her as if she were honest 2. Coroll Hence then from all that Libertinisme and loosenesse of life in our Sectaries we may see what unsound and corrupt Doctrine will produce and bring forth sooner or later viz. wicked life and loosenesse of manners and though many of the first Broachers of Heresies and Schismes at first have beene outwardly holy and strict in their lives as Pelagius Schwenckfeldius Thomas Muntzerus and their first Disciples too some Pelagians Ana baptists c. because else their opinion would not so well take and indeed upon pretences of holinesse and greater strictnesse many well meaning and weake people especially women fall to them yet after a time Errours in life and corrupt manners generally attends errours in Doctrine and that both as a punishment and just Judgement of God upon men for not receiving the truth in love and in the nature of the thing for as a foule moist head causes distillations of corrupt matter upon the lungs and stomack so loose corrupt principles dispose men to a loose and corrupt conversation 'T is impossible saith Luther but that a bad life will follow false Doctrine for if men make Shipwrack of faith they will of a good conscience and therefore the Scripture History of times and our own experience shewes us the truth of this Peter and Jude speaking of false Teachers and false Doctrines set down at large their wicked and abominable lives their uncleannesse filthinesse covetuousnesse walking after their own ungodly lusts having eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from sin alluring through the lusts of the flesh promising liberty ungodly men turning the grace of God into lasciviousnesse trees whose fruit withers without fruit twice dead plucked up by the rootes so Paul speaking of the seducers and the Teachers of false Doctrine 2. Tim. 3. that shall resist the truth as Jannes and Jambres did Moses describes them to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophane and wicked men lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God men of corrupt minds evill mon c. Donatus and his followers who would not acknowledge Caecilianus and his company for a true Church of God because they were not pure and holy enough but thereupon fell into schisme and divers errours yet he and his followers fell to all wicked manners as Augustine shewes in many of his writings against the Donatists yea in time they grew so insolent as to commit many rapes robberies and murthers and to proceed so far in offering violence to the Orthodox that Honorius the Emperour was forced to send Dulcitius with an Army of souldiers to restraine their injury and violence Augustine in his third Book against Cresconius Grammat cap. 42. c. showes that the facts and courses of the greatest robbers and Theeves were far lesse and lighter then of the Circumcelliones among the Donatists Priscillianus a Bishop who held many opinions of seeming holinesse condemning all sort of flesh and their eating as polluted and unlawfull condemning Marriages and perswading his followers to divorce from their wives this man confessed before his death that in his conventicles he had often committed filthinesse and violated the chastity of women of his Sect among whom one was Euchrotia the wife of Delphidius the Rhetoritian The Anabaptists of Germany at their first springing up were full of seeming holinesse mortification full of devotions fasting prayer so that they were offended with the Evangelicall Churches because many wicked livers were in their Assemblies and because their preaching had no more power to make those good who heard it which made Luther and some other worthy men of those times at first to favour them write in their behalfe when questioned pity their mistakes but within a few yeares they fell into all kind of uncleannesses murthers and wickednesses as Sleidan Bullinger and divers other learned Authors have laid down Danaeus in his Commentaries upon Augustine de Haeresibus showes what sinnes accompany heresies and how a loose life followes alwaies upon errours The disorder of manners and contempt of all Discipline being the perpetuall companion of heresies For he who despises the Doctrine of God will also easily contemn the Discipline Danaeus enlarges upon this subject quoting places out of Tertullian Theodoret Bernard that prove the wickednesses of the lives of Hereticks and Sectaries as their familiarity with conjurers starregazers their uncleannesses hypocrisie which from their common Master Simon Magus whose Disciples they are they have all learned And as Scripture and History showes us this so our own expetience plentifully proves it many men who before they were Sectaries or upon their first entrance that were famous for the power of godlinesse being now Libertines and licentious making no conscience of the Sabboth Family duties c. T is evident that with the errours of the times a flood of ungodlinesse is come in upon us iniquity abounding and the love of many waxing cold and I have in divers places of this Booke given many pregnant examples of the Atheisme Uncleannesse Drunkennesse prophanenesse of the Sectaries There 's no question but many of those Sectaries who heretofore were outwardly holy and strict having some secret lusts and sinnes which they were no longer willing to forbeare however new light free grace Christian-liberty Spirituality were pretended fell to those opinions and entertained those Doctrines of Antinomianisme Anabaptisme Independency as a way wherein they might freelier enjoy those lusts and cast off that yoake of strictnesse they had so long taken upon them The Apostle Paul showes the reason how those who creep into houses prevaile to lead captive silly women because they are laden with sinnes the opinions and errours vented are suitable to the lusts of their heart and so carried captive by them many in our times who professed Religion were lustfull silthy persons though this was covered under a profession of Religion and therefore so soon as they heard of an opinion of baptizing grown persons and that by dipping of naked women they presently fell to it as the best way to enjoy their lusts by as the fairest opportunity and that held out now as a matter of greater perfection in Religion to feed their wanton eyes by looking upon young women naked to satisfie their unchast touching by handling young women naked It were easie to demonstrate how the love of some lust or other in mens hearts though at first not perceived hath been a great cause of so many in our times falling into the errours of Antinomianisme Anabaptisme Libertinisme Independency and so indeed in all times some wickednesse or other hath been the spring and mother of Errour and heresie as pride and vain glory covetuousnesse and filthy lucre a desire of