to pray the Lord Protector to dissolve the Parliament Whereupon I told the party that brought it That the Parliament were wise enough for state-affairs with which they were intrusted And for me or any private person to medle with such great matters were very foolishnesse and so refused to sign it The party that brought this petition told me that it was to be signed onely by seven of the Church in the name of the whole And accordingly it was signed by some few of the Church and sent up others of the Church not knowing thereof untill the rumor thereof was spread about the whole City The which my wife observing said This is no fair dealing and desired me to be wary what I did This being the first disrelish my wife had of their proceedings it was seconded by a friend that came to my house who asked me whether I had signed the Petition that the Church had sent up To whom I answered I had not he replyed I am glad with all my heart you did not for said he there is that in the Petition for which some eminent States-men have lost their heads and said It was judged by the long Parliament to be Treason for any one to Counsel or perswade the King to dissolve the Parliament as you may see in the Cases of the Archbishop and Strafford My wife hearing this discourse her heart began to grow and could not but vent her self a little saying that she feared the Church carried on some particular mans interest and begged me I would be exceeding wary what I did and have respect to my self her and our children But yet as to the Church was very quiet the next time that we went to the Church-meeting was a day of prayer At which time one amongst the rest prayed much after the rate of the Petition And had this passage concerning the Lord Protector Lord humble him what would he have Is he not high enough already And a great deal more of such stuff when I and my wife came home she asked me how I like those passages and said me thinks it is like Mr. Feaks praying I answered her and said If he pray so again I will never hear him more Hereupon my wife began to flagg in her affection towards their way and now every thing that was amisse began to be thought on by her and in particular the expressions of some of their members who in making out their experiences at their admissions spake of such sins as are not to be named which thing she said bordered too nigh Auricular confession The next time my wife went to the meeting was a day appointed by the Church for thanksgiving for that God was pleased to prevent some insurrection by the fift-Monarchy-men for that the Lord Protector would not accept the Kingly office when she had waited long at the place the people were dismist without doing any thing for that time for that the Lord Protector had then given but his first negative answer My wife returned home much discontented that I had not told her the occasion of that days meeting before she went and said that for her part she apprehended that some of them did carry on a selfish carnal design After this there was a Covenant brought into the Church to be debated in order to the taking there of and all or a great part thereof was assented unto by them but my wife having a Copy thereof from the Elder she utterly dislik't it especially two perticulars therein The one whereof was a Tying of them up wholy to hear them when they preach't and no other without their leave and the other was that we were to exspect a greater blessing from God on their Ministry then any others All these particulars being laid together made such impressions on her thoughts that she resolved not to joyn any longer with them on such termes or in the manner as formerly But forthwith went and joyned her self to Mr. Marke Downes Church from whence she formerly departed professing her hearty sorrow for her departure thence and saying she was perswaded the Lord had manifested his displeasure against her for the same which she apprehended by reason of those many visitations on herself and the death of her children The Thursday next before the Sacrament at Mr. Stucleys Church I did notwithstanding desire her to go with me to the meeting in way of preparation thereunto but she refused alleadging the reasons before mentioned whereupon one of Mr. Stucleys Church that was likewise absent from the meeting seing my wife at work in her porch asked her what was the reason that she was not at the meeting she answered I think I shall not come there any more thereupon he asked her saying why then did you come among us you may go among the Presbyterians to Mr. Forde who is for general admission as said he he declared at the last general meeting of the Ministers in Exeter hereupon my wife desired me to go with her to Mr. Forde which I did and she asked of him whether he did ever declare himself to be for general admission to the Lords Supper who answered he was never of that opinion and whosoever said that he was did much wrong him This traducing of Mr. Forde and their common slighting of others that are not of their way though never so godly helped to heighten her dissatisfaction Within few dayes after came one now an Elder of their Church to admonish my wife for not coming to their private meetings To whome she answered she intended to come no more amonst them for that there was such kind of praying and carrying on designs that she could no way close with and referred him to me for the farther knowledge of her mind shortly after he brings with him one more and after that others came but she would give them no other answer then formerly nor admit of any other private discourse with them remembring how Mr. Parr was entangled by them unless they would admit two persons whom she should appoint to hear their discourse This would not presently be granted pretending that no others were to have to do with the busines of their Church which I look upon as a dangerous principle but at length they consented and when both parties met together They were asked what they had to lay to her charge who answered to this effect that they charged her for going from their Church which they said was Schisme and no other thing had they to charge her withall to whom the other party answered saying you are the Schismaticks in rending from other Churches and produced Mr Cawdries Book to prove the same which was all the substance of the debate at that meeting Shortly after this Mr. Stucley desires to speak with my wife who sent him word that she would not come to him single or alone but if he Mr. Mall pleased to meet two other Ministers with her that she should nominate she would submit to
They were partakers in the fact of cursing my wife And they are to admonish him for that which they joyned with him to doe Note he wholly declines my proposall and hath found out this shift he tells me the Church are offended that I take offence at their proceedings And summons me to his consistarie before Mr. Eveleigh Owen and the rest judges in their own cause for them to debate and determine whether he they had done right or no you may imagine what a piece of justice I might expect from them Right Lidford Law Hereupon I gave notice to the Church by letter that forasmuch as they had abused the Ordinance of Christ in Excommunicating my wife on such pretended crimes as were apparent falsities I had therefore withdrawn from them and could neither in reason nor conscience joyn with such a Congregation as live wholly under an Arbitrary form of Church Goverment and admitted of no appeales in the case of unjust excommunication And so after Mr. Stucleys deniall of a friendly debate often proposed by me I was enforced to commence my suit at Law to right my self in way of a legall proceeding And this is the action of the case he there speaks of It would be almost infinite to follow him in every of his impertinencies and frothy fancies I purposely wave many as inconsiderable and shall speake only to the most material that I tire not the Reader Mr. Stucley hath done with my Testimoniall and now taking leave of the chamber with his pace tantorum virorum a jeering farewell he passes to my Epistle He begins with a whipper Scandall contumacy sayes he was proved against my wife and therefore her censure was not unrighteous good Logick were it true yea but he will prove it by his Sermon notes alias his printed libel I referre you saies he to the notes of my Sermon in print A very strong evidence a cogent argument He and his Church must curse my wife for deserting them and joyning to her former pastor but scandall and contumacy must be the glosse and pretence for their proceedings Mr. Stucley preaches prints her guilty And that 's his proof They say so And therefore 't is so they are satisfied and therefore others must me The Pharisees say that Christ had a Devil and therefore it must be so probatum est Suppose a vile wretch being met with a parcel of his Desciples as bad as himself do preach and print blasphemy as many doe in these dayes is it true or is it ever the lesse blasphemy because he preaches and prints it and his Desciples own and maintain it This is sorry stuff Next we are now come to the point the whole stresse of the businesse in difference between Mr. Stucley and my self lies in this namely whether my wife were guilty of Crimes deserving excomminication or not deserving whether guilty of contumacy or not guilty in a word whether his curse be causeless or not I am not ignorant that I am to encounter one that Goliah-like seems to bee armed Cap-a pe He is a Scholer which I pretend not to therefore the disadvantage lies on my side But I trust my cause is good and my designe is satisfaction and therefore shall not fear to take leave humbly to propose a few queries to serious consideration First whether a particular Church may impose presse or practice any thing that is not warranted by Scripture precept Apostolicall iustitution or primitive Church practice Secondly whether If such things be imposed pressed or drawen into practice by a particular Church the Church members may not refuse it as arbitrary and after their declaring dissatisfaction in point of conscience may not withdrawe from such Church till they receive satisfaction and for non-satisfaction wholly desert it Thirdly whether a particular Church denying or tying up it's members by Covenant compact or otherwise from communion with other Churches of Christ in the ordinances and it 's refusing to admit the members of other Churches of Christ professed believers and orderly livers to communicate with them in the ordinances be warrantable by Scripture rule Apostolicall institution or primative practice or on the contrary be seperation schisme in such particular Church Fourthly whether there be any Scripture Rule or Parsident for a particular Church to erect private meetings and there to pray preach and carry on designes and particular interests relating to state affaires to promote self-edification in stead of sole-edification and if not Fiftly whether a Churchmember seeing the danger and taking offence at such practices having declared against it may not in conscience abstaine and withdraw from such and joyn in the ordinances with other congregations of Gods people without incurring the guilt of Shcisme In the next place I shall point Mr. Stucley to some passages of the late reverend and learned Mr. Burroughs in his heart-divisions pag. 173. 174. If sayes he the cause of leaving communion be just then those who gave this cause are the schismatiks not those who withdraw upon it thus the Governors of the Church may be the schismaticks and a private member withdrawing may be free And again if Governours impose that which is not necessary though in it self not sinful and will not beare with the weaknesses of such as think it to be evill if upon that they be forced to withdrawe in this the Governours are the Schismaticks And againe in pag. 50. The power of the Church sayes he extends not to the punishment of every thing that either may by the Governours of it be conceived to be evill or that is indeed evill but onely such things as some way or other appeare to be against conviction and are obstinately persisted on c. And in pag. 52. those that will goe farther they will punish for every evill and if they use meanes to convince them and they be not convinced they will judge them obstinate proceed against them accordingly those challenge exercise not the power of Christ but Antichrist And againe pag. 67. this is generally held by our Brethren saith he If a man be rightly cast out of communion with one Church he is thereby cast out of all If this be so sayes he then surely many things must be suffered before we proceed to cast out a member it must not be for every error of miscarriage thus also Bp. Davenant in his rules for peace these may not be cut off from communion with particular Churches who remaine joyned to the Catholick Church And againe pag. 90. Prelatical spirits indeed account it their honour to force men to be of their mind 't is their glory that they can say to the consciences of men bow downe before us a gracious spirit abhorrs the thought of such a Tyrany These things thus-premised and considered I apply it to the case in hand in these few ensuing queres First I enquire what other meaning or construction but imposing and pressing things unnecessary can be made
were perverting and misapplying Gods Ordinance What to curse and cast out Gods servants to the Devil unjustly denying them an indifferent hearing and when they had no warrant from Gods revealed word to pretend an immediate word an Enthusiasme or Revelation for it what else meant your fictitious Parley between God and the Devil in your printed libell telling your Church that the Devil demanded those women to be given him by God and that God bid your Church give them to the Devil and bid the Devil take them and torment them representing them as the immediate subjects of the Devils fury and vengeance by your unjust curse pray what meant your take her Devil was not this enough to make your members if conscientious any of them to make a hideous cry yea to howl too for fear that the Devil would have visibly appeared to encourage you in such a work as it is credibly reported he hath since given you a visit in your house 'T is well you have gotten an inspiration I am sure you had no written word of God applicable to this case and therefore what if I compared it to the Popes Bull I think it very near of kin yours as just and Right as his and no otherwise And as for the copy of your prayer It was taken by a man who whatever Mr. Stucley sayes to disparage him hath been is esteemed by honest men to be honest and religious such as will not falsify any thing therein But the truth is 't is such a mishapen piece that Master Stucley is ashamed to father it and therefore in his pag. 24. he brings in his compurgatours and who are they his Church Officers and other complices in this unjust act they are birds of a feather they must witnesse that it was not his prayer and say they somewhat was inserted and somewhat was omitted but they set not down a word what this Somewhat was a very fair testimonial ask my fellows c. As for the story of my wifes abusing her Sister I have made a true report thereof in my observations on Mr. Stucleys printed Sermon to which I referre the Reader assuring him that 't is not all Mr. Stucleys shufling untruths and evasions can acquit him from unfaithfulnesse and unworthinesse in that business And the like I say of his reflections in his letters what I have averr'd touching it is true and 't is sufficiently verified by himself in his scurrilous Pamphlet against me and my wife in which you see that practise exemplified to the life And as for his charging me with neglect of fraternall correption in 18. Particulars in his 28. pag. I shall only give this short answer that it is a false charge Liars need good memories Reader cast back thy eye and peruse my letter in my Narrative and see how many of these things I complained of that concerned him and particular members of his Church what was this but admonition and what effect had it 't was clapt up and not communicated least it should dissatisfy the Church a fine shift to stifle my complaints and hide them from the Church and after charge me with neglect of fraternall correption Mr. Stucley may also remember that I told him that I heard that the Church had sent up a dangerous petition and that it was ill resented And that he was so far from disowning or disliking it that he wished that he were in London to present it with his own hands And since he knows that I have sent him severall letters shewing him the particulars wherein the unrighteousnesse of his censure lay and yet he most impudently denies all I could go through all the eighteen particulars and shew how I have discovered to the parties concerned my dissatisfaction and reprehended them for their practise as occasion did serve But in regard most of these are answered in my precedent sheets as I have occasionally met with them and others of them will fall in to be spoken to in my answer to his 48. pretended lies I do for brevity sake wave them here and shall proceed to his Catalogue of lies to give brief answers to such as are not already spoken to as followeth And as for his first pretended lie That his Sermon contained many foul untruths and base reflections who sees it not And that he printed it what was it but to spread false reports I utterly deny that any person was imployed by me to write his Sermon or prayer but after I heard what good stuff it was I was willing to have it written out fair that my self and others might read it and where is the lie in all this To his second supposed lie I doe still averre that my report in my Narrative of all transactions relating to my wifes excommunication is true And for his pretended care or counsel to prevent this censure I know none but only his desires for my joyning in that cruel act were sufficiently evidenced but the Lord in mercy prevented it To the third I say still and that truely and think the Reader is convinced that there were never any crimes proved against Mrs Parr or my wife deserving such a censure If he can make any appeare why doth he yet lie in his hole and refuse to come forth before the judicious to evince it and answer what he hath done he thinks his pen must plead for him and he may print lies Cum Privilegio I utterly deny that I ever joyned in Mrs Parrs suspension I was satisfied in her answer and if she were suspended it was unjustly done To the fourth I have answered before in my Book and I think have sufficiently evinced it to be an unrighteous censure I shall say little more to that before I see Mr. Stucley prove it to be righteous which he can never do he shuns the light for my part I little thought that he and his Church should ever have been so far left to themselves as to proceed so unrighteously I did not desire their forbearance of my wife upon any such account as he pretends 't is true that I wished them to forbear their vexings of her almost daily as they did for fear least she being big with child might have miscaried by reason of their continued vexations To the fifth I say we were fixed as members to Mr. Downs Church as really as any other members of that Church did receive the Sacrament there and that without any such conditions as he supposes yet I conceived and was resolved by an able Minister that I might notwithstanding sit down with Gods people in any other congregation as providence should order or as occasion was offered To the sixth I say we were not admitted of Mr. Stucleys Church untill almost a year after we had spoken our experiences and for the difficulty of out admission if it had been either for ignorance or scandall Mr. Stucley was often enough with us and might in all that time have told us so much But never
their joynt determination But this was utterly refused by him although it was offered him again again After the former Admonition by those of the Church I my self used arguments to perswade her to return to Master Stucleys Church pressing them with so much eagernesse and harshnesse that I have cause to repent for strayning the strings so high that it brake out into some words of heat and discontent but at length I and my wife accorded to have the Case justly stated whether those things before mentioned at which she was so much offended were sufficient cause to withdraw from Mr. Stucleys Church and go to another Now where to find fit persons for the resolving of this question we knew not for the present being both of us tender to engage the Ministers of this City least it might prove of ill consequence or beget some Animosity between them upon the determination of the question and therefore we mutually agreed to go to Taunton where we thought we might be well satisfied by some friends there without more ado the time for our journey was prefixt and the day came but a friend that was to accompany us being imployed upon some publick businesse our journey was put off and no other day appointed My wife having waited about ten days longer and I too often pressing arguments against her withdrawing from Mr. Stucleys Church she became impatient of farther delay told me that she would go somewhere to be resolved and rising early in the morning having given a charge to her chiefest Servant-maid to be carefull of her children untill her return she went away but whether she went I knew not for the present which exceedingly troubled me I then apprehending the ill use would be made thereof Towards the evening of the same day I understood that my wife was gone to Honiton whether I rode that evening unto her and we lodged there that night in a very friendly manner and the next morning when I awaked asking her whether she intended her journey she told me that I had too long delayed her and that she was now resolved for Taunton to her friends to be satisfied about the former question and for that purpose had sent to a Kinsman of ours in Somerset to bring my Mare which he there kept and furniture with him to Honiton to carry her to Taunton which was brought that morning accordingly And I had then a great mind to have carried her thither but our friend with us having urgent occasions to return to Exeter we willingly came home together with him resolving upon another journey thither afterwards which we undertook accordingly But failed of that full fatisfaction we expected Mr. Stucley having been there with our friends before hand and as I have cause to suspect had tampered with them about our busines Shortly after we were returned from Honiton I remembred my wife of her failing or miscarriage in not acquainting me with her journey who answered with tears that she was sensible of the evil thereof but intended no harm thereby and desired the Lord to humble her and forgive her for it and prayed me to forgive her which I did with all my heart Now Reader I have given thee the true and impartial state and story of the occasion manner end of my wifes going to Honiton which Mr. Stucley hath represented by a false perspective or multiplying-glasse and most unworthily terms running away from her husband whereof she never had the least thought Behold and wonder this is her capital crime that he paralels with incest This by his doctrine is a sin unpardonable by a husband without his Churches satisfaction But that I may not digresse but go on with the story take notice that his Church poor souls being possest bemisted with prejudice though they knew neither the occasion nor end of her journey they too gladly take advantage thereby and hereupon two others of his Church were sent to my wife with whom she refused conference unlesse upon the terms before expressed and began to be very rough with them telling them that they should forbear her house for that she apprehended they did set her husband at variance with her she having seen a letter of Mr. Savery one of their members written unto me carrying so much if not more in the sense thereof and she having likewise heard the expression of another member of theirs who speaking concerning my wife said unto me if the unbeliever depart let her depart After this Mr. Stucley with Mr. Mall pretended they had a mind to treat with two other Ministers but such as themselves should nominate about the premisses whereupon my wife proposed Mr. Forde and Mr. Mark Downe to treat with them both of which Mr. Stucley refused saying he had burnt his fingers with Mr. Forde already and Mr. Downe was an Ingaged or a prejudie'd man So that proposal took no effect Hereupon reports were brinted by several of the members of Mr. Stucleys Church That they had an intent to proceed against my wife by way of excommunication whereat I took occasion to abstain from their private meetings at which they were much offended and sent to me to come to the Church which occasioned me to write them this following letter in answer which I thought good here to insert at large that the Reader may see the truth of what Mr. Stucley sayes that I never did or said any thing to prevent it A letter from Mr. Toby Allein to Mr. Lewis Stucley to be communicated to his Church before they excommunicated his wife CHristian friends The occasion of my writing to you is this Mr. Rolls and Mr. Eveleigh were with me yesterday desiring me to come to your meeting this day which I was minded to do but considering with my self what was best to be done I chose rather to write because of my unfitnesse to speake especially before some who have already much defamed me as to make me a perjur'd man And why Because Mr. Mark Down baptized my child other defamations there have been but I spare and forgive without their asking me mercy If you desire a reason of my forbearance of your company It is this when my wife and you differed I could seldom meet with any of you but a little after salute presently the discourse was about my wife in which I could take no felicity it being but as vineger or gravel to my teeth especially the saying of one If the unbeliever depart let her depart This and such like sayings begat in me some dissatisfaction which for want of better observation I thought zeal which when my good father heard of I remember his advise was this next to peace with God and your own conscience which is the effect of the former preserve peace in your family especially with your wife which I have done and shall maintain and if any be offended thereat let them be offended although you be very dear unto me still for whom I suffer
daily As for my absence from your private meetings to me it seems unreasonable any one should aske a reason thereof you know what debates and discourses you have had about my wife and how disagreeing to a husbands affection would it have been if I should have been there especially being of another apprehension as to that thing then you were for I perceive after long and serious consideration that the first ground of my wifes distaste with you was her earnest love to me fearing some evil might happen as to my life or estate by joyning with you in a Petition you sent up to my Lord Protector which was occasioned thus There was a man of good understanding came to visite me Amongst the rest of our discourse he asked me whether I had signed the Petition the Church sent up I answered no He replyed I am glad with all my heart you did not for there is that in it for which some eminent States-men have lost their lives And that was for seeking to dissolve the Parliament which my wife hearing desired me I would have a care After wards other things followed which increased this dissatisfaction and truly made me to stagger Such things as these indeed are the onely way to break and Ruine the Church Besides this how am I perplext to hear daily the Scoffs and Taunts wherewith some of our brethren have every where at their doores and shops and tables vilified her for whom I am to leave father and mother For my Forbearance of the Lords Table I have I confesse desired to be humbled for it abstained too long too long But you know who is unsatisfied with me Thomas Savery and as I suppose can hardly sit with me And as to the other Churches of Christ here I have forborn in part to partake with them because I would not offend you But having well consulted with those more wise and godly then my self I have taken up this resolution to seek the Lord to prepare me to partake with both as occasion offers and I shall endeavour to wipe off what I can that ill name which I fear is too justly laid on us separatists Now I shall desire you to send me word whether I shall meet you at the Lords Table the next time that I may dispose of my self according as I shall hear from you If you have any thing to offer me in writing I shall kindly receive it and return you answer with all humility praying daily for you all I recommend you to God remain Yours to command in any service for Christ Toby Allein Exon. 4. Feb. 1657. To my honoured friend Mr. Lewis Stucley to be communicated to the Church who they say are unsatisfied This Letter was sent and delivered into Mr. Stucleys hands at the meeting of the Church who did not communicate the same according to the direction thereof and therein I think was neither faithfull to me nor his Church But the reason thereof as one of the members told me was for that he apprehended there wes somewhat in it that might dissatisfie the Church But what that should be I know not unlesse he feared it might hinder their proceedings against my Wife neither could I ever get their answer thereunto whether I might partake with them and other Churches of Christ also as occasion should present whereof I speaking to some of their members their answer was That they were loath to admit me to partake with them in my sins and I demanding of them what were the sins they charged me withall they told me it was disorderly walking and being asked in what particulars They did instance in my carrying my child and baptizing it at Master Downes Church and my not coming to their private meetings The next news we heard was a Summons in writing sent by Mr. Stucley unto my Wife giving her notice of his Churches resolutions to proceed to Excommunication of her on Monday the eighth of March then following which was in these words The Summons Mrs Allein This paper is to give you notice that all our endeavours for the reducing you having proved ineffectual The Church is resolved to proceed upon you on Monday next and then to Excommunicate you unlesse the Lord give you grace to endeavour the satisfying of the Church before that day And this I thought fit to enform you of that you may attend the said meeting my prayer is daily for you for surely whatever you think I am Your soul-friend Lewis Stucley March 4. Exon 1657. To Mrs Mary Allein at her house These in Exon. My Wife having received this Summons did for the present return answer to Mr. Stucley by the messenger that brought it onely by word of mouth That before he proceeded to the work he should read the 58. of Isaiah But afterwards she understanding that he had sent the like Summons to Mrs Parr who was also a late member of his Church long since deserted them The said Mrs Parr and my Wife being willing to do what they conceived becomed them in such a case and if it might be prevent their violent proceedings sent unto them this ensuing Letter in answer to their said Summons as followeth Mrs Parr and Mrs Allein their answer to Mr. Stucleys Summons SIr having received a summons under your hand we have sent you our answer as followeth That we know our selves guilty of no crime that may justly deserve Excommunication from any Church of Christ However as we desire not to be Iudges in our own cause so we think it not equal to be put upon triall by you and your Church who are also parties as well as we we desire to have our cause heard by understanding and impartial men whosoever they be and when we shall see reason from Scripture to convince us you may rest assured that we shall submit to the Law and will of Christ If this will not satisfie but that you and your Church will proceed against us we hope to suffer with more comfort then you can lay on your censure because we remember what Solomon saith Prov. 26.2 And know what our Saviour foretold Ioh. 16.2 And that even Gods servants have suffered as much as this from Gods enemies we tremble to think you are not afraid to draw that sword against us who through grace we hope are no way faulty as those were whom we read to have been delivered to Satan 1 Cor. 5. and 1 Tim. 1.20 We hope we haue and desire still to lament and repent those evils we know our selves guilty of before the Lord But we think it no evil in us to communicate in the Ordinances of Christ with any of Gods people that will admit us into communion with them and therefore we desire you seriously to consider what you do And this we desire as those that wish very heartily well to your soul and all the souls that are of your Church Susanna Parr Mary Allein Exon March 7. 1657 These for Mr.
be God we have done it and blessed be God we go according to our light and blessed be God we do not endure a Rebel among us a Rebel among us make us fathful to thee upright before thee and to live as becometh thy people and so pray and engage together and Covenant with thee and one with another that this might be the last hour that we take the rod into our hand O we pray thee let this be the last Excommunication let this be the last rod we take into our hand and let it be the last hour we are put upon cursing work we pray thee let 's be put upon blessing work the Lord be with us in the remaning part of this day And all we beg for the Lord Jesus sake The prayer being ended Mr. Mall stood up and said to the Congregation Now we have separated the precious from the vile let 's renew our solemne league and covenant And taking his text out of Nehemiah 9. last ver preached thereupon and vented most uncharitable and invective passages and reflections on my wife Some of which are insinuated in his pretended reasons set down in the Booke after Mr. Stucleys Sermon the particulars whereof I shall here omit as too tedious to relate and in regard he was so modest as to print but a piece of his Sermon being it seems ashamed of the rest as he might well be I shall here passe it over without troubling the reader therewith it sounding much to the same tune with Mr. Stucleys Sermon of some part whereof I shall give you a brief account by and by And now having given you a true account of the whole story and state of the businesse as to the matter of fact that hath been so transacted and falsely represented by Mr. Stucley I leave it to all unbyassed judicious Christians to consider and judge upon the whole matter whether there were any just cause or ground c. warrantable by the Lawes of God or man for this their practice and proceeding or whether it was not meerly and onely for her deserting them and returning to her former Pastor And so having finished my Narrative I now come to take notice of and make brief answers or solutions to some of the most notorious passages and pieces of defamation set down in Mr. Stucleys printed Sermon and herein it is not my purpose to take any notice of such passages therein as seem to Reflect upon the Presbyterian Ministers in general or those of this City in particular Onely as I am bound in duty I shall endeavour to clear the innocency of her who is in so near relation to me And this if I should forbear to do well might the world think me an unworthy man in suffering my wifes reputation and honour to be buried under the reproach and calumny he hath cast upon her In Mr. Stucleys printed Sermon in Mr. Malls Book pag. 7. The ground of our union with them was their visible closing with Christ now when that visibility ceaseth the union is to be dissolved c. Solution What visibility or outward appearance of Religion ceased in my wife except that she for just reasons refused any longer to hold communion with Mr. Stucleys Church and betook her self again to her former Pastor It seems by this that visible holiness ceaseth in all that have no longer a mind to continue in their separation what a reproach is here cast on all the Churches of Christ that are not independent that there is no visible holinesse in the members of them nay more that they oppose God and Christ in his Laws as it followeth in the same 7. page for my part I know no opposition my wife hath made to the Laws of Christ more then formerly whil'st she was a member of Mr. Stucleys Church but that she hath of late left them I am sure her behaviour towards me and my family is with the same circumspection as formerly cannot a person outwardly close with Christ except in Mr. Stucleys Church must they needs be held to cast away Christs cords to have broken the covenant with God and neglected his house that like not the wayes of Mr. Stucleys congregation Reader this might serve to satisfy the members of that Church who were engaged as far as himself But I hope will not satifie any understanding and indifferent men But she contemned admonition private publick Sol. The Truth is this whatever Mr. Stucley was pleased to say that she did not refuse admonition even by them Onely Knowing that they waited for her haltings she refused to appear before Mr. Stucley or to talk with any of his Church unless she might have leave to bring some Ministers or friends with her and there was good cause for she knew that Mrs Parr going to and treating with them alone had been overreacht by them whilest they had witnesses of what passed and she had none Besides what if she had refused admonition from Mr. Stucley and his Church so long as she was no more a member of it but was in actual communion with her former Pastor she had left Mr. Stucleys Church and all communion with it and therefore was under no special obligation to receive admonition from him or any of his Church and to speak the Truth that was her onely fault that she left them And her refusing admonition was her not submitting to be treated withall alone for fear she might be again entangled by them Neither my wife nor Mrs Parr were look't on as Refractory and Rebels to God and man till they had no more any mind to stay with them this was their fault which I hope God hath forgiven them though for this they are excommunicated by Mr. Stucley and his Church These reject him as their Law-giver and head c. Sol. What because they refuse to be of Mr. Stucleys Church that 's the matter that hath kindled all this fire ther 's no Church but Mr. Stucleys and such like all other are look't upon as Babylonish and Synagogues of Satan wonder not I so charge them Besides many expressions sounding this way Consider how Mr. Stucley applies 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. And to put it out of all doubt when I my self was reasoning with Mr. Stucley to this purpose That I thought I might communicate in the Lords Supper with his Church and others also meaning the rest of the Churches in Exon He told me that I could not partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of Divels And whereas Mr. Stucley makes it so intollerable an evil for good men to be forced to live amongst wicked men I grant it But say withall that these excommunicate persons as they communicate in ordinances with godly Christians so they have frequent civil society with no other then if comparisons be not odious give as good Testimony of the grace of God as Mr. Stucley himself or the best of his Church He stiles them Dogs c. Sol.
and so better broken then kept For her pretended scandalous running from me I have given a satisfactory answer in the Narrative by which the Reader may judge what a scandalous abusing her it is to charge her with deserting her husband and family when in mine own conscience I know the contrary and that she never entertained the least thought of it And except Master Stucley and his Church there is not one sober man that knows her ever saw cause to suspect her of such an unnaturall act She continueth to dwell with me as a dutiful and obedient wife she never ran from me but onely went as far as Huniton with a purpose to go as far as Taunton There to intreat the advise and assistance of some near relations for satisfaction touching those differences occasioned upon her deserting their Church Pag. 19. Whereas he charges her with her companion whom he sets off with a dash Sol. I answer that the woman hath been her keeper for many years in child-bed as she was of many other women of good account and quality in this City and was my wifes keeper when in child bed all the time she was in Mr. Stucleys Church and yet then no exception against her Besides she being a midwife was a fit companion for my wife then great with child for what Mr. Stucley hints and some of his members have said of that woman I am perswaded they can never prove it but do very much abuse and slander her therein Pag. 19.20 When Mr. Stucley presses Tit. 2.5 Know Reader that he hath omitted somewhat that he spake in preaching to insinuate into his Auditory a suspition of my wifes chastity wherein he did most unworthily abuse her Sol. And so hath he done in what is printed Pag. 20. where he accommodates D. Tailors words to insinuate her to affect merriment and expensive company and account the house a prison which I can truly say she is so far from as if comparisons be not odious I know none farther and she utterly detests it That which followes is to the same Tune All that I will say is that it is clean contrary she never look't on me as a Nabal but hath ever shewed me as much tendernes and affectionate kindenesse as my heart could wish she never left her trust otherwise then any good housewife must do when she is forc't to be from home she went out in a journey which she intended to dispatch with all speed then to return again to her family of whom she gave a special charge to her chiefest maid-servant at her going abroad How scandalous a report have they made of what had nothing blamable but a little indiscretion in the manner of it and of this she was presently sensible and cryed me mercy Pag. 20.21 For Mrs Parr who is charged with lying c. you may see by what is said in the end of the 20. page she was not well pleased with the proceedings of Master Stucleys Church and for that let her answer Sol. Onely this I can say she was look't on by them as a pretious soul till she had a mind to hear some other Ministers and here began the quarrel which could not be ended but in her Excommunication because she was peremptorie in her resolution not to be tyed from hearing of others how far she might forget her self in discourse with them which they call tripping in her tongue c. I cannot say onely if she did it was partly occasioned by their tampering with her for going out sometimes to hear some other Ministers of the City in which she was so resolved as she chose to leave Mr. Stucleys Church and so did and was in communion with other Churches in this City for a long time before they excommunicated her Pag. 21. He saith for my Wifes coming amongst them it was somewhat observable c. Sol. It is observable indeed how Mr. Stucley persists in his unworthy design and endeavours to slur and vilifie her whom whatever malice saies I have cause to say to the glory of grace God hath blest with some good measure of knowledge of him and his will and of her self and her duty which she hath manifested in the general course of her conversation the best character of a Christian as all that know her can bear her witnesse Pag. 21. And whereas in the same page he charges her for omission of the Church-duties of admonition c. Sol. Note what a good shepherd Mr. Stucley is that in the whole space of about 4. years whilst she was of his Church he could never spie this fault so as to reprove her for it till she had left his Church and then he can find it in his heart to curse her for it Pag. 21.22 Mr. Stucley tells another story but very partially and untruly charging my Wife with abusing her sister c. Sol. The truth of the story is this About four years since I observing my brother not to thrive in his way of husbandry which he then used out of my affection to him and care of his good I set him in a way of Sergemaking wherein neither he nor his wife having any insight I gave them all the incouragement and assistance I could both by my advice and instruction therein and sparing him mine own servants of all sorts to carry on his work and took off all the serges he made and sold them at the same prizes with mine own which otherwise he could not possibly advance to that rate and my Wife being also very loving to him and his Wise her sister in Law and desiring their good and thriving in their Trade and knowing their gains ad observing her sister in Law not to be so careful and industrious as she should be and as that Trade required and their expenses rising somewhat high she advised her said sister to have a care that they did not spend more then they got whereat her sister took great distaste but shewed no more care then formerlie my Wife fearing their going back in Trade when she went up into the Eastern parts wished her sisters mother to give her the like advice as she had done which I apprehended she did and her said sister being much offended as it instead of imbracing this counsel which would have done her no hurt she complains to several of the members of Master Stucleys Church and had engaged a strong partie for her before my Wife knew thereof insomuch that it came to a hearing before Master Stucley and by his means they were reconciled and in token thereof kissed each other and afterwards frequented each others company in a very friendly manner at the Lords Table and their own Tables upon occasion for the space of above a year together even untill the time of my Wifes withdrawing from Mr. Stucleys Church Reader judge how fit it is for Mr. Stucley to rake up this petty businesse an offence indeed taken and not given and to aggravate it
in pulpit and print beyond all truth near three years after they had been reconciled and the same had been buried in oblivion of purpose to bespatter and abuse my Wife But I wonder not at it when I consider how suitable it is to what himself once told me upon occasion of writing a Letter to Mrs Parr That when he wrote Letters of that nature he would have as much of reflection in them as he could that they might be ashamed to shew them Pag. 23. My wife I can truly say puts a great price upon all Gods Ordinances and in particular on excommunication she is not so ignorant as not to know the consequence of it onely she might perhaps speak slightly of their excommunicating her when they threatned her with it as a man may slight the Popes Excommunication without any prejudice to Gods Ordinance Pag. 23. Whereas Mr. Stucley pag. 23. in his comparing her sin with the sin of the incestuous person saith The incestuous person did not separate from the Church to avoid the censure but so have these c. Sol. Reader take notice of a grosse untruth How can it be said that my Wife separated from the Church to avoid the censure whereas themselves being judges they had nothing to censure her for before she left them they never so much as pretended any cause or ground for a censure untill she had deserted them and long after although they most unworthily sifted my late domestick servants to find somewhat to accuse her of but could find none Note the pretended crime or cause of Excommunicating her was in time long after she had left Mr. Stucleys Church when she left Mr. Stucleys Church she had done nothing in the least that might incurre a Church-censure therefore it could not be rationally imagined that she should desert the Church to avoid a Church-censure To this I say no more but lyars need good memories For their perjury Covenant-breaking and schism which are charged on them in pag. 23. Sol. I confesse they have relinquished Mr. Stucleys Church and that 's their fault and yet I dare assure you my Wife had not done this had they not meddled with state affairs and had Mr. Stucley and his Church allowed her to communicate in the Ordinances with other Churches as there was occasion They held it their sin to be tied to one Congregation and to be debarred fellowship with others especially there being so many opportunities of it in this place Whereas in the application pag. 24. Mr. Stucley charges other churches and Ministers for want of discipline I shall leave it to those Ministers to vindicate their own practice I do not pretend to so much knowledge and learning as to meddle at all with it onely I wish that they were all free from lying that Master Stucley gives the Sacrament unto in his Church I know none that 's offended at their exercise of discipline onely I and many others think we have cause to be offended at these their procedings because we know as bad tollerated amongst them and nothing said to them because they have a mind to stay with them which these poor women had not Alasse poor souls that they must needs fall into those foul faults that Mr. Stucley and his Church can by no means brook or endure For this third use of Information pag. 27. we desire to apply it for the comfort of these poor oppressed and despised women made as the Scum and off-scouring of all things by his and his Churches abusing of Gods holy Ordinance hoping the wise disposer of all things will order it to their spiritual advantage by giving them grace to cleave to God when they are cast off by men and to hold communion with others of Gods people to better purpose now they are excommunicated by them Once we are sufficiently informed that they may be cast out of Mr. Stucleys Church and yet be in the readier way to heaven For the last use of Exhortation I must needs say it is very proper for himself his Church I wish them to take it home to themselves they have need enough of it t is very true as he saith The leaven is among them the leaven of the Pharisees c. There are none that know them but are too well acquainted with their great thoughts they have of themselves as the onely Church and people of God in Exon and what other Churches have been called and counted by them That God will in due time discover the hypocrisie of lyars I know well and that God would bring to light their proceedings is my hearty desire and prayer I pray too that their may be no more lyars found amongst them then their are as yet nor any that are disobedient for my Wife I know she hath kept her bounds at home so well as I desire nothing more then her perseverance in that obedience and duty she hath yielded me hitherto I shall not trouble the Reader any farther with Mr. Malls reasons that are annexed to Mr. Stucleys Sermon onely I desire him to consider how the whole drift of his discourse which was a kind of Sermon on that sad and black day aims at this that they onely are Zion and the Israel of God and all others as bad as the strangers from whom Israel separated in Nehemians time For thir renewing their Covenant that day I wish they have done it heartily and remember what they are bound to by their Covenant in Baptism viz. To forsake the Devil and all his works the vain pomp and glory of the world and the carnal desires of the flesh so as not to be led by them So I say Amen FINIS To the READER Courteous Reader UPon first view of Mr. Stucleys Pamphlet called Manifest Truth as I could not but wonder so I could not casily resolve whether his pride and arrogance or his passion and impudence were most predominant each appearing at such a magnitude which at first made me think that as it deserved so it needed no other answer but silence which as the Philosopher sayes is the best answer to foolish questions And the rather for that he hath therein so pourtraied himself to the life that all that are judicious may read what is the man by his manners But in the second place considering that this Lyon couchant contents not himself to rend my Wife in pieces but also sucks the blood of my reputation to satisfie his greedy Appetite and makes lies his refuge for all his unjust actings it being granted to every man to speake in the defence of his own innocency publickly questioned and wrongfully slandred this wound reaching to the very soul I have resolved by Gods assistance in a few following sheets to discusse and examine his late precious piece or Pamphlet and to discover both it and ' its Authour to the world in their Proper colours And herein ' its not my purpose to deal with every thing that lies fair to exception
hiding his infirmities from me whom he stiles a Cham that would soone have published it to my Brethren I answer that 't is not I but his own harsh irregular actings that have proclaimed not only his infirmities but enormities also to the world For my part I am convinced 't is sinfull to publish others infirmities much more to curse them for it But I adore the divine providence in that Mr. Stucley himself should occasion a discovery of his own fowle enormities God hath a time to discover the Hipocrisie of liars A time when they shall proceed no farther but their folly shall be manifest unto all God will bring to light the hidden deeds of darknesse in due time 't is neither pride nor policy can hinder Had I published Mr. Stucleys privity to the uncommissionated opening of other mens letters and taking Copies of Master Snows and Mr. VVestlakes Postletters to lay up by him suggesting to his Church members that these men endeavoured the ruine of the Church and that God had broken their designes and appointing thanksgiving dayes for the same a mere trick to alienate their affections from them I say had I published these pranks I suppose they would not come under the notion of Mr Stucleys infirmities but somewhat of a higher nature Is it not a petty piece of Burglary think you to unlock and break open the closed Cabinet of another mans breast and bosome to rob him of his secrets his heart Iewels is not this somewhat above an infirmity If not I should have concealed it but I dare not be accessary to such things therefore I say My Masters beware of your letters Next Mr. Stucley proceeds to rejoyce That Shimei his railing tongue and Rabshekahs letters should conduce to his and his Churches reputation Stay Reader peruse my Narrative where I pray doth Mr. Stucley find Shimei his railing tongue or Rabshekahs letters doth he not dream Is it not in his Pamphlet he love to triumph before the victory first let him take my answer intended for his conviction and then if it conduce to their reputation much good doe it them I hope God will work good out of it when his eyes shall be opened to see his errour and to make him sensible of his high flown conceits of his and his Churches infallibilities to make him really to adore the divine justice towards him who seeks to advance his his Churches glory and greatnesse by the defamation of honest conscientious Christians who endeavour to walke honestly both in the sight of God and men In the last place he ends his Epistle with an Apologie for his tartness in his ensuing Book and pleades the Law of nature for doing right to himself forgetting it seems the Law of grace that forbids wronging his Neighbour God is not to be found as one sayes in the raging fire of opposition but in the sweet breathings and soft voice of Truth and love I leave his Epistle proceed to take a short survey of what follows in his Pamphlet In his first page he cavils at the Title of my Book in that ' its called Truths manifest and seeks to cloud it with a thicke fog or mist of 48. lies which I doubt not ere I have done will call him father and be justly laid at his own door of these in their proper place In his second page he hath a firivolous quibble or exception against the Authour in that 't is said Toby Allein a late member c. which he sayes denotes either my excommunication or dismission or Apostacie from them c. I answer I was in the first place denied Communion with his Church some of them told me they were offended at Mr. Downs baptizing my child and at my forbearing them private meetings and I must not be admitted in such sins In the next place I gave them notice that for their unjust excommunicating my wife and refusing to give any reason or satisfaction about it and for other reasons which the reader will see ere I have ended I did withdraw from them and could walk no longer with them and so I stiled my self a late member as I hope was proper enough though not actually excommunicated nor dismissed by them and yet for all this I hope I am no otherwise an Apostate then Luther was who said he was an Apostate but it was from errour to truth But Mr. Stucleys Church is now become offended and must be satisfied ere they will say farewell to Toby Well satisfaction must be had and I hope I shall satisfie those that are capable of satisfacton The Church requires satisfaction because I say They have unjustly cursed my wife And I require satisfaction because they did unjustly curse her Mr. Stucley pray Sr. be ingenious have I not offered by word and writing that I was ready to receive your charge if you had any against me and to submit to the determination of godly judicious and indifferent Ministers or private Christians And have you not refused this Calling them forreiners and will referre it to none but your own Church Mr. Eveleigh Owen c. parties as deeply guilty as your selfe in this male administration these must be the indifferent Judges To determine whether you and themselves have done right or wrong in your proceedings none else must intermeddle in your Church affaires and why 'T is your principle a principle without Scripture precept or president a punctilio or device to wave and evade the hearing of the Judicious least the nakednesse of your cause appeare and your shame be discovered Sr. I hope you did Reverence learned Mr. Burroughs if so pray take the paines to look into his Heart-divisions pag. 43 where he sayes Those in the Congregationall way acknowledge that they are bound in conscience to give account of their wayes to the Churches about them or to any other who shall require it this saith he not in an Arbitrary way but as a duty they own to God and man Observe he makes no distinction but sayes to the Churches about them or any other that shall require it And this he speaks not only as his own opinion but as the judgement of those of the congregationall way in generall Pray tell me how you will reconcile your practice with this judgement I would willingly know why or upon what different principle it was that you refused to give Mr. Nicolls Mr. Bartlet Mr. Downe any account or satisfaction touching the reason grounds of those your proceedings when those three Ministers desired it after you had sent them your monition in the nature of a mandatum that they were to take notice that you and your Church had Excommunicated Mrs Parr and my wife did you advise with any of the Churches in Exeter or elsewhere before your precipitate proceedings Pray let 's know in your next how it was resented by your brethren of the congregational way at your late convention at the Act in Oxford if truly stated by
Apostate and therefore I think Master Stucley will not say 't is a lie or a false copy only I cannot passe it by without a query or two First I ask why Mr. Stucley himself had not printed their petition in his Book he sayes he was not ashamed to tell the world of it and yet conceales it If it were so honest why had you not printed it Secondly I would ask him whether it were recomended to him and his Church by his holynesse from Rome or was it composed within the walls of Mr. Raddons Posthouse in Exeter at their private meetings Thirdly I would know whether those that subscribed it were Englishmen Italians or Spaniards Fourthly whether Religion doth challenge any other place then to be a settler no sticker in the State Fifthly whether some eminent Statesmen did not discourage Mr. Mall your Agitator from presenting it and whether it were not turn'd back to be laid aside or amended Sixthly whether such Church work might not justly offend weak members and put them upon thoughts of satisfaction before they joyn farther with such a Church Doubtlesse Mr. Stueley will take some pains to give some solution and satisfaction to these queries in his next which I shall content my self to waite for with patience And that I may no farther digresse I return to examine his allegations of my wifes supposed crimes and contumacy deserving excommunication and here I find he would make the world believe that 't was not for deserting them and going to her former Pastor this he thinks will not hold though this in truth was at the bottome But now for-sooth it must be running away from her husband Reader for satisfaction in this read my Narrative which shews the true cause manner and end of my wifes going to Honiton which he falsly call's running away The truth is her spirit was troubled at those sorry actings in the Church which I have before set forth she saw mad Church work a-making she feared entanglements and could not in conscience continue longer with them as I pressed her to do therefore she desires satisfaction and on that occasion and no other she went to Honiton in order to go to Taunton to Mr. Newton and my Brother Allein Ministers of Taunton for solution of her doubts I appeale to the impartiall Readers What think ye might not this intended tying up by covenant to a particular Congregation debarring her of the liberty of Church priviledges in Communion with other Christians and their ingaging in State affairs in so unheard of a manner make a good woman to use means for satisfaction and quiet of her conscience when she had told them and me she could not in conscience continue with them and she was told she could not leave them might not this I say cause her to be importunate for satisfaction without danger of excommunication Object But they object she went away and I knew not of it Ans I answer she had told me before that she would go somewhat for satisfaction and I had before agreed to her going to Taunton for it But suppose I did not for present know whether she was gone what then must she therefore be run away None but an Independent will judge so Object But 't is farther objected why then did ye grieve at her going away and said she would leave you Ans To this I answer 't is false I never said she would leave me whatever you vouchers Capt. Rolls and Owen do tell you They are your own Disciples and have been her accusers and judges Secondly I say I had reason to be troubled first at the ill use and advantage I apprehended such as you who watcht for her haltings would make of it And again secondly because I had no sooner complyed condescended to the healing of her troubled spirit but had too much hearkned to some of your cruel counsells and instigations against her Let me put Mr. Stucley a querie or two First let me ask him did I ever complain to him or his Church or any other that my wife was run away and require a Church proceedings about it or did he or his Church ever ask me whether she did run away or not or whether there were a reconciliation did any of them examine the case before they proceeded to curse her Secondly did not he and his Church being madded at her leaving them in point of policy or rather revenge conspire to spread and foment this false report and then call it a publick Scandall past her husbands pardon and such as he and his Church must take cognizance of ex officio and curse her for unless she would cry peccavi though innocent This will be the case another day whatever they pretend to hide it now She had left them they could not brook it therefore they seek occasion and finding none They feign and frame somewhat that they may have some shew for the work it must be done in Terrorem Strict Discipline against the wife may chance deterr the husband from going away for they now fear his departure too To loose a Church member may be ominous Thirdly I ask Mr. Stucley this question If he and his Church had so good a cause and could prove their pretended crimes against my wife why was this conscientious Pastor so rigid as to refuse a hearing and debate of their accusations before Mr. Ford Mr. Down and others nominated by my wife whereby he and his Church might have been cieared and justified in their proceedings had their pretended delinquent been convicted Where was this mans wisdome or charity I would fain know who rather then he would abate a hairs breadth of his greatnesse and honour that proves his shame he will give my wife to the Devil send her packing to hell where is this mans Scripture-rule or Church president for such a wilfull procedure Hear learned Zanchie treating about Church power in the point of excommunication What is more grievous sayes he to the whole body of the Church then to cut off a member from the Body If a Church saith he be small and consists not of many learned men as Mr. Stucleys I am sure doth not excommunication ought not to be done unlesse the neighbour Churches be first consulted withall A chirurgion if he fear God and be wise doth not cut off a hand or an arme before he hath first heard the judgement of the skilfull neighbour physitians And the late reverend Mr. Vines in his Treatise of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper pag. 212. sayes The proper and Adequate and immediate object of debarriment from the Communion of the Church is a Sandalous person that holds either a course or hath committed the act of a scandalous sin which he explaines to be some Atrocious or grievous sin of the first magnitude If any that is called a Brother be a fornicatour Idolater covetous c. 1 Cor. 5. and 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdome of God nor fornicatours Idolaters adulterers abusers of themselves with mankind nor theeves nor coveteous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners and such were some of you c. And pag. 213. He tels us it must be an open and manifest sin else it is not Scandalous And known it must be either by evidence of fact confession or conviction Now let Mr. Stucley shew wherein my wife was guilty of any such Atrocious or grievious sin and if not why fall's he upon this highest work of excommunication Little flies sayes Mr. Vines must not be knockt down with so great a hammer Object True sayes my Adversary But there was contumacy that your wife was guilty of Ans I answer first if no crime no contumacie But secondly suppose a fault I deny any contumacy what contumacy when she had made so many overtures to be tried by indifferent judges godly indifferent Ministers or people what contumacy when the poor women wrote to Mr. Stucley their desires to be communicated to his Church to have their cause heard by understanding and impartiall men whosoever they be and gave assurance that they would submit to the Law and will of Christ which letter this faithfull Pastor pocketted and concealed from his Church you see what a good will he had to the work he would curse them right or wrong where is the contumacy in her was it not Tyranny in him doth he not deserve a Bishoprick By this time I suppose the Reader sees how pertinent and applicable Mr. Malls quotations are to the case of my wifes unjust excommunication And whether she were guilty of crimes or contumacy deserving such a cruel censure unjustly inflicted by Mr. Stucley and his Church I leave it to the judicious to consider Before I passe I take notice that in his 5. pag. he tells you that I am willing to wave the question about the impertinency of Mr. Malls quotations and to referre it to the learned and sayes that I should have studied the question and not contented my self with an implicit faith in the learned c. To this I answer I think the question is now put out of question and by what hath been cited out of those learned men before named it plainly appeares that his quotations are frivolous and impertinent to the case in hand let the Reader judge And as for an implicit faith in the learned I say an implicit faith in Church affairs is no way satisfactory unto me And therefore I desire Mr. Stucley to satisfy me whether he did not tye up his Church-members to an implicit faith in him when he did upon that black day of his curse make his members subscribe a Church-covenant or oath That they would submit to his guidance and teaching as their Pastor absolutely without any restriction or limitation why had it not been added he guiding and teaching according to the rule of Gods word what is this but to pin their faith on his sleeve what is it but an implicit faith on Mr. Stucley St. Paul durst not be so bold he bids the Churches be followers of him and the other Apostles as they are followers of Christ are we not bid to the Law and to the Testimony bid search the Scriptures bid try the spirits Must we take up all you say upon Trust are there no deceivers gone forth into the world and into the Church too Wolves in sheeps clothing such as like the Devil transform themselves into Angels of light creep into houses captivate silly women c. Pray Sir tell me why was this omitted in your Church-covenant or oath which Mr. Mall hath inserted in his Book should not oathes and covenants be plain and expresse or will you supply it with an caetera Have you not herein outwitted the Pope and made him a younger Brother Surely there is somewhat lies in this pad pray explain your self next Reader I am sensible that I have been too tedious hitherto and should I trace this fox in his wiles and cunning fetches in every page I should tire both you and my self to unkennell him I professe I am heartily sorry to see his impudence he would make the world believe the Crow is white and that 't is night at noon by his Logick all are lies but what he himself sayes he sees he is ingaged head and eares and must make lies his refuge to maintain his and his Churches unjust act like the boy that bid his mother call whore first For a man to Cloyster himself up and like the Owle to decline the light of a hearing and to be ashamed to give account to Ministers and others that are dissatisfied doth not this in the eie of every judicious Reader speake him guilty and unworthy What hath been already said answers many of his foul Aspersions I shall now contract my self and cursorily run over the rest And first for his affirmation that I and my wife consented to Mrs Parrs suspension in pag. 8. I professe we never knew of any suspension of her much lesse joyned in any her answer was as to me faire and satisfactory Viz that she remembred not the things for they accused her and if she were convinced of it she would be sorry for it I never voted it satisfactory and neither knew nor joyned in any such suspension therfore that 's an untruth on Mr. Stucleys part And next as for Mr. Stucleys insisting on my wifes neglect of admonition c. I answer that she did declare unto some or one of the officers her dislike dissatisfaction at their carriage in severall particulars assoon as she had a convenient opportunity which proved fatall to her in the end Take notice reader it was not a Brother or a Sister singly or a few members but 't was the whole Church ' they were all as it were hung together in a string Their tying up the members by compact their intermedling in State affaires their carrying on self designs their practicall forbidding communion with other Churches their traducing those that are not of their way was a disease epidemicall that run through the whole body and was discove'rd by degrees to be the very product of their private meetings as if it had been a part of their Religion And would it not have been look't upon as a peice of pride presumption for my wife to reprehend a whole Church should she not thinke you have been accounted against as Mrs Parr for a contentious woman that raised discord and disturbance in the Church I shall for brevity's sake leap over many of his pages the summe of what he there alledges being answered occasionally in my former sheets I also passe by his silly probabillities in the 14. page which he brings to induce a belief in the reader that my wife ran away and intended not for Taunton 't is fully answered His Queries whether dame must ride upon the Mugle of the Mare and whether Honiton be in the way to Taunton and the
like are so sordid and ridiculous as ti 's unworthy an answer better be fitting the Tongue of a stage-player then the pen of a Minister every child sees ' its weaknesse and therefore I content my self with the saying of the wise man answer not a fool according to his folly least thou also be like unto him ' Its meerly forged to say that Iohn Mongwell reported that Dame ran to Ireland with another womans husband 'T is false also that I could not for a while be admitted into my wifes chamber at Honiton also false that my wife confest that she had left me because of a different way and that Honiton and Exeter rang of this Scandall all of this stuff proceeded from Mr. Stucleys forge 'T is likewise most untrue that he affirmes in the 16. page that my wife refused conference with those of the church that were sent unto her she would have conferred with them if others might have been present she well knew they came to intrapp her as they did Mrs Parr dealing with her singly I onely adde that the action of my wife in going to Honyton was not Scandalous It was honest and upon conscientious grounds and ends as in my Narrative is set forth In his 17. pag. he falls upon me for neglecting Church-fellowship i. e. Neglecting their Conventicles at Mr. Raddons posthouse to hear my wife vilifyed and abused and others reproached and slandred and see self designes promoted Reader thou hast heard what broth is boyled at those meetings Note these subtle foxes must have their private meetings to distill their principles and gradually to discover their practices among their choice disciples of their own gang that make no bones to swallow any thing that their infallable Master doth impose or command witness their Subscripsion to his imposed Covenant binding them to follow his guidance and teaching absolutely without any restriction or limitation witnesse their stickling Church-state petition and the like of which thou hast already heard For my part I am farr from decrying or declaiming against the meetings of Gods people either in publique or or in private as there is or may because or occasion But what need this private meeting so constituted by strict injunction and to be frequented upon paine of Castigation I professe I can see neither warrant for it nor good of it what is done there you have partly heard is it not to strengthen the members in their separation from other Churches of Christ and to infuse farther dividing principles to widen the Breach that they may work their own ends why not publique meetings that all Gods people may see and heare what they doe what they pray and what they preach and practice as other Churches doe I am of opinion that we ought to admonish instruct comfort edify any of Gods people of what societie soever at all times as there is occasion opportunity But not of your vowcher Mr. Owens opinion that we are to love those of your Societie as a man loves his wife above other women I know no such rule I must confesse I am very much for publick meetings since I so much observed their private transactions I much better like our publique administration of justice in open legall Courts in the face of the country since I have taken notice of some chamber proceedings before private Comittes Mr. Raddons Post-house was the Conclave where Mr. Stucley and his Church did curse Mrs Parr and my wife As for Mr. Stucleys cavills and exceptions against me for my pretended neglecting Church fellowship I referr the Reader to my letter in my Narrative which was to have been communicated to his Church had he been faithful which will give a satisfactory answer I must say somewhat to Tom Savery's letter which for the excellency of it Mr. Stucley hath put in print pag. 19. The very reading of it with observation and reference to the matter then in Question makes good what I have said concerning it in my Narrative Note in the beginning of his letter he sayes His soul is grieved for my disorderly walking I meane saith he your absenting your self from our private meetings c. Then followes if the wife of your boosome divert you c. That is see the scope of his letter divert you from our private meetings what then he tells me out of Luke 14.26.27 33 if any one come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife c. he cannot be my disciple See his good Application If my wife divert me from their private meetings you have heard what they are If I do not hate my wife I cannot be Christs disciple An excellent conclusion a very sound inference I hope notwithstanding his doctrine that I may come to Christ without coming to such private meetings as theirs are and I hope my wife may divert me from error from danger from their private meetings and yet not divert me from Christ or from his ordinances so as to give me occasion to hate her Doth Tom Savery think that to be at Mr. Raddons chamber in praying and preaching up self interests and promoting dividing principles is a waiting on God in his gallories if it be so to him 't is not so to me pray give liberty of conscience to others as well as take it your selves Mr. Stucley hath well vindicated Tom Savery I take no farther notice of his descant on my letter to him and his Church or of Tom Saveries letter to me a common eye sees how frivolous his exceptions are But now he comes with his Kill-cow in his 22. page Behold yet greater abominations sayes he Well what 's the matter He saith that I fear at the workings of the spirit in those mournings and lamentings which God was pleased to bestow upon his people upon that sad day And that I blasphemously called it a hideous howling cry and accounted so just a censure to be like the Popes bull a beast when it roars the loudest For answer I blesse God I am not ignorant how horrid a sin it is to jeer at the workings of Gods spirit in the mournings sighs or groanes of his children and 't is not Mr. Stucley nor the Divel himself the grand accuser of the brethren can justly accuse me for any such thing I can I blesse God appeal to the searcher of hearts in the uprightnesse of my heart that I am free from any such sin or the least thought thereof And I do not in the least recant what I said I did say and do say still that they made a hideous howling cry or noise in so much that one of them fell down in a sown or counterfeited and others told me that they were fearfull to tarry longer among them and truly I was and am serious and doe not jeer I think they might well make a hideous howling cry when they were about such hideous work They were not about Gods work I dare say it was the Devils They
Church and for Mrs Parr she attended on the other Ministers And therefore I think owned them sure there were no others in Exon that she owned till Mr. Stucley came To the 23th imputed lye Mr. Stucley Pray be not angry I must tell you againe that your saying that my wife is a lawlesse woman that knowes no subjection is a most notorious belying her indeed and to persist in it as you doe in saying that she hath taken the power of rule out of my hands in the particulars you there instance is a bold untruth I am sorry and ashamed to see you so impudent in averring such apparent falsehoods Pray tell me did I ever complaine to you of my wifes disobedience what tatling gossop was it from whom you had this tale did she not tell you 't was not I but my wife that put the girts into the pot why had you not printed that also to prove my wifes taking the government out of my hands well this looks but like a sneaking trick to pry and peep into other folkes cupboards and kitchens to discover their houshold-affaires but I am sure all is but a false gossopps tale at best As for the 24.25.26 pretended lyes I referr the reader to my answer to the 18th To the 27th I have answered already and begg'd them mercy for my mistake if I did so farr forget my self as to say that they were the honestest people that ever I came amongst I have recanted that errour For his deniall of slurring Mr. Rutherford in calling him the Champion of Presbytery I shall referr it to the judgement of the Reader that considers how Mr. Stucley esteems of the Presbyterians and what a stickler he is against that way To the 29th I have sufficiently spoken and shewed his base abuse of and blind proceedings against my wife and challenged him to a publique debate of it which he refuseth I am sure he can never prove what he sayes in his pamphlet unlesse he can get some Knights of the Post to be his witnesses To the 30th I tell Mr. Stucley that I was never burthened with old Dame but once when he told me a lye upon her and then I was so zealous as to call her Naughty woman but my mouth was never so foul as to call her whore as he suggests Had I done so I would have begg'd her mercy for I believe she is as truly honest as Mr. Stucley himself But had she been such as Mr. Stucley reports yet why might not my wife go with her with lesse ignominy then Mr. Stucley may keep such a one for a Nurse in his house constantly for a year and more As for Mr. Mongwell he hath given it under his hand that Mr. Stucley hath slandred both him and her in his false reports To the 32. 't is not worth an answer yet I say I might well avouch the tendernesse and kindnesse of my wife which I had ever found though his and his Churches dealings occasioned a sudden heat or discontent for once To the 33 and 34. I say Mrs Parr was questioned by the Elder of their Church for going to hear Mr. Forde to the neglect of their owne officers was told that she should be called to account for it I have spoken to this already and therefore shall onely ask this question if she had been so guilty of lyes and devisions as they charge her to be why were those things let alone some of them for two years and more and then they must prove so mortall why did they let her lye so long in her sin but I doubt not she will sufficiently clear herselfe therefore I forbear To this 35. I say Mr. Stucley repeats false Reader look into my Narrative I do not there say that he never reproved my wife in four years but that he never reproved her in that tyme for her neglect of admonition of others To the 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. pretended lyes all which do concern the story of the difference between my wife and her Sister in Law I answer that what I have set downe in my Narrative relating to that businesse is the very truth and yet observe how confidently this bold man speaks passages in that businesse as if he had been present and privy to every thing spoken or done about it when in the meane time he prints all this meerly upon relation and hearsay and hath no better authority for it then if he had taken it out of Esops fables To the 41.42 I answer that my wife and her sister were reconciled friends and feasted talked journied and went to the Lords Table together many times and how durst this pastor suffer them if he knew them to be enemies all this while To the 43. Imputation I confesse I was in a mistake but noe wilfull one I said it was near three years when as it was not above a year and half this was a mistake onely in point of time which I have now rectified but I am sure 't was long enough the differences were dead and buried by an amicable composure but Mr. Stucley must rake up any thing to make a stinking stir withall To the 44. I shall onely bid my adversary repeat right my words are they had nothing to censure her for before she left them And this is the Truth I have and doe challenge him to bring forth any crime that deserved Church censure before she deserted them as for her forbearing their private meetings which Master Stucley calls Church meetings I think the Reader is convinced She had sufficient cause To the 45. I say that I lament his impudence 't is knowen to the whole Citty that 't is their principle and practice to deny their members to communicate in the Ordinances with other Churches I can prove that some were refused by him onely because they would not be confined to his Church and he hath denied it me as I have already shown can ye partake of the Table of the Lord c. To this 46. I shall onely wish Mr. Stucley to be as good as his word I make noe question but you have heard how your member Mr. Robert Spragne was convicted for two lies against the chamber of Exeter I fear they had another originall and his was but the second edition however they were publick offences and therefore pray instruct him to go to the chamber and acknowledge his errour in spreading two lies against them that they may forgive him or else according to your doctrine he will be in a sad case for you told me lately that we ought not to forgive unlesse the offending party ask us forgivenesse To the 47. for answer I referre the Reader to my answer to his 18th pretended lye I onely demand whether you would grant that there was any other Church of Christ in Exeter till about the beginning of April last did you not before that time stile your selves the Church of Christ in Exeter pray what means your calling those of your own Church and noe others Brother and Sister by way of contradistinction what means that Tenent of some if not all of you that you must love those of your own fellowship above any other of Gods people as a man loves his wife above other women and why should not Mr. Savery grant Mr. Forde the Minister to be one of the visible Church of Christ when he was so hardly prest to it To the last I shall onely say That as for Mr. Malls Sermon I referre it to the Reader to judge by his reasons that are extant in his Book And if any other construction then mine can be made thereof I shall be well content for the Truth is I believe the poore man was meerly drawn in And now to conclude Reader doe but reflect and consider the whole story and state of the businesse laid before thee and then judge impartially of Mr. Stucley and his Churches proceedings and at whose doore all the lies and foul practices must be laid I professe 't is farre from me to take any content to imbroile in differences or to make discoveries of others nakednesse could I avoid it as all that know me can bear me record but in this case I may truly say he hath compelled me 't is noe time for truth and innocency to seek out corners and to hold ' its peace when falshood and upstart Novellisme is so clamorous and impetuous Mr. Stucley you see hath declined a hearing and denied satisfaction to the unsatisfied and playes the part of the Athenian Commander who having ill stewarded the Treasury of the Common wealth studied not so much how to give an account as not to give any account at all which hath necessitated me to this work Pardon me right courteous Reader If I have been a little exasperated by Mr. Stucleys intemperate dealing and if I have uttered ought more fit for him to hear then me to speak It being almost impossible for any man that is conversant in his writings but to contract somewhat of his eloquence consider the case in hand and it is such as will even put words into the mouth of Crâ—â—sus Son who as 't is storied was dumb from his Nativity Publick Injury calles on me to speake more loud and largely in mine own cause but modesty bids me forbear My designe is not to derogate from him but if possible to convince him and to satisfie others truely honest and conscientious I deny not his personall abilities yet without presumption dare appeale and say he hath neither shown that soundnesse of judgement that is to be reverenced in some nor that meeknesse of spirit that is required in all my prayer therefore is that God will give him these and all others graces that may make him more instrumentall for his glory and the good of his Church FINIS