Selected quad for the lemma: city_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A91975
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The serpents subtilty discovered, or a true relation of what passed in the cathedrall church of Rochester, between divers ministers and Richard Coppin, to prevent credulity to the false representation of the said discourse published by the said R. Coppin from Maidstone goale. / By Walter Rosewell minister of Chatham in Kent.
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Rosewell, Walter.
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1656
(1656)
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Wing R1943; Thomason E882_9
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18,741
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28
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THE Serpents Subtilty DISCOVERED Or a True RELATION of what passed in the Cathedrall Church of Rochester Between divers MINISTERS AND RICHARD COPPIN To prevent Credulity to the false Representation of the said Discourse published by the said R. Coppin from MAIDSTONE Goale By WALTER ROSEWELL Minister of Chatham in Kent 2 PETER 2.1 But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction LONDON Printed by A. M. for Jos Cranford at the Kings Head in St Pauls Church-yard 1656. To the RIGHT WORSHIPFULL WILLIAM PASK Maior of the City of ROCHESTER GEORGE ROBINSON Justice of Peace and Alderman of the same City WITH Captain SMITH Chief Commander of the Military Forces in and about ROCHESTER Worthy Sirs THough I may not do not exclude You from the number of those to whom I make the generall Address which follows yet I cannot but think it convenient and in some sort necessary to premise this speciall Address unto Your selves alone partly to give a publique Testimony of my due respects unto You all for Your ready compliance and assistance in a Regular Peaceable way to detect and defeat so dangerous and desperate an enemy of Truth Holiness and the power of Godliness and partly to give the world notice That as You are able to Witness against severall forgeries and falsehoods in Coppin's Relation so Your consciences besides multitudes more can bear me Witness concerning the Truth of whatsoever I have written in the following Narrative as to what publiquely passed between us from first to last You were present and heard whatsoever past either on one side or the other and therefore I dare appeal to Your consciences and make You Judges concerning the verity of that account I have given my own conscience bearing me witness in the sight of God That I have dealt faithfully in it I expect that Coppin and such as he is will be snarling at me when ence these lines are passed the Press but I bless God I pass not for their snarling nor do I fear their biting Magna vericas praevalet If I lie under a generall odium of hereticall spirits I cannot count it the least dishonour or be troubled at it St Jerome was certainly very right in his judgment when he wrote to St Augustine Quod signum majoris gloriae est omnes haeretici te dete stantur For my part I affect not the good words of those that speak such evil words of my blessed Saviour let them bark against me that bark against the Truth of Christ while they will They shall neither hurt the Truth nor me more than barking Dogs do the Moon Yet I doubt not could they get power into their hands answerable to the malice which is in their hearts they would soon make mad work against all such as being fast friends to Truth and Holiness shew themselves resolute enemies to their Hereticall filthy Opinions and practises Ingenium Haereticum est sanguinarium Truly Gentlemen I am perswaded You could not but observe and be very sensible how Coppin made it his Master-piece to mingle and winde himself into the bosomes of a many headed Monster the rude multitude having no minde to heed or answer any Argument brought against him but labouring to insinuate himself into the affections of a deluded party and engage them to a good opinion of him expecting no doubt to have found his interest so great and strong as would have born him out by club-Law whatsoever might be alleadged against him Nor can he have any better design in his Printed Pamphlet which he hath caused to be dispersed in City and Country so that in stead of the Title he gives it it might justly hear this Title A Wile of the Serpent or a Subtill endeavour from Maidstone Prison to increase and incourage a Deluded Party advancing it self against Truth and Peace in Rochester And whereas he makes a noise about four daies Disputes with severall Ministers in Rochester Cathedrall You all can witness that for three of those daies he would never stand to any Dispute but ranne out into wilde impertinent Discourses and his fourth daies carriage to have been as wilde himself doth witness in his own Printed Relation so that after that rate he might take upon him to Dispute with all the Ministers in the world I told You once and again would he stand to any thing I would not doubt by Gods help without study with what I knew already out of Scripture to answer him from morning to night But I trouble You too much and hold You too leng while I am raking into this dunghill The good Lord in mercy purge both City Country and Studiers from the leaven of this mans Blasphemous Hereticall and Atheisticall epinions awaking both us that are Ministers with You that are Civil Magistrates and Military Officers with all Christian prudence zeal and courage in our Places and Caelings to labour that the Mystery of Godliness being vigerously propagated the mystery of Iniquity may be profligated and the foggy mists filthy smoke of damnable Errours Heresies and Blasphemies being dissipated the Suâ— of Gospel Truth may break forth and shine with greater lustre purity and power Thus commending these Dedicatory lines to Your candid acceptance and the ensuing Narrative to Your perusall and Patronage I shall only subscribe my self what indeed and truth I am Yours Cordially obliged in any Gospel-service WAL ROSEWELL To all that fear God love Jesus Christ and have a care of their own souls health in Chatham Rochester and the adjoyning Parishes Dearly beleved Friends and Brethren in the Bord IT is now almost nine years compleat since it pleased God by a speciall hand of Providence to cast me upon this place where I found most of you and where some of you that came hither since found me Many changes there have been in this our British world since my first coming hither under all which I bless God I have been am no Changling My constant care hath been from time to time to shew my self a faithfull Watchman over the Souls committed to my Charge and a faithfull Witness for Jesus Christ against those cursed Errours and other sinfull abominations whereby his glorious Name was dishonoured and the pretious souls of his people were indangered My rejoycing hath been and is the testimony of my conscience c. 2 Cor. 1.12 and yet my Prayer with Nehemiah Neh. 13.22 my complaint the same with the Evangelicall Prophets Isa 6.3 and my present confession it is 1 Cor. 2.3 I cannot confidently say I know c. Act. 20.29 but truly truly my dear Friends I much fear it and I have but too much cause for my fears this I know by sad experience that while I have been with you grievous Wolves have come among you yea and amongst your selves have riâ—en up men speaking