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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26160	An Attestation to the testimony of our reverend brethren of the province of London to the truth of Jesus Christ, and to our Solemn League and Covenant as also against the errours, heresies, and blasphemies of these times, and the toleration of them, resolved on by the ministers of Cheshire, at their meeting May 2, and subscribed at their next meeting, June 6, 1648.		1648 (1648)	Wing A4161; ESTC R17649	58,802	68

extraordinary credit and confidence to an Epistle which hee wrote to Licinius (c) Has literas velim existimes faederis habituras esse vim non Epistolae meque ea quae tibi promitio ac recipio sanctissime esse observaturum Cicer. Ep ad Licin l. 5. p. 50. he desired him to beleeve there was the force of a Covenant in it not of an Epistle wherein what hee promised he meant most holily to performe And touching Toleration of impious opinions we may know what his mind was by that hee reporteth and approveth of Protagoras Bookes being burned and himselfe for speaking doubtfully of the Deity banished Cicer. de nat deor l. 1. p. 206 and this by the sentence of the Judges of Athens so that we may see the zeal of the most eminent both Greeks and Romanes in this example who though they were Barbarians to one another especially the Romanes to the Greekes Rom. 14.15 wee that are Christians should bee more unworthy and much worse then either our greater light adding much to the aggravation of our guilt if wee should not deeply take to heart the dishonour of God by errours c. and the toleration of them and willingly put to our hands with our Reverend and godly Brethren in a Testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ and to our Solemn League and Covenant made against them SECT IV. Ninethly Wee conceive it the more requisite thus to appear in profession of the same truths and opposition of the same errors c. with you lest we should incurre a double danger the one of sinne the other of punishment the sinne wee would bee loath should bee charged upon us is a treacherous or timorous silence like that condemned by the Prophet Ieremy in his time chap. 9. verse 3. when there is just occasion or rather urgent necessity to declare our minds in the cause of our Saviour Christ as you have done The punishment wee have cause to feare if we should be afraid thus to discover the dictates of our consciences is twofold the one spirituall the other temporall the former no lesse then the great curse of Anathems Maranatha for lacke of love to our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 16.22 for what love beare wee to him if wee forbeare to witnesse a good confession for him or his truth when so many false witnesses are risen up against them both and for temporall punishments wee may according to the observation of (d) Plerunque ab ali is docendis aliquando etiam objurgandis male dissimulatur quia peccatis eorundem damnablibus parcunt jure cum iis temporaliter flagellantur quamvis in aeternum minime puniuntur Aug. de Civ Dei l. c. 9. p. 28. Augustine justly expect a share in them with those whose great provocations of Gods wrath doe most procure them by a silent consent or connivence towards the wickednesse of the times wherein wee live (e) Vel cum laboris piget vel os eorum verecundamur offendere vel cum eorum inimicitias devitemus ne impediant noceant Ibid. whether it proceed of negligence or bashfulnesse or feare lest their enmity whom by discharge of our duty we may offend should either hinder our good or doe us hurt There may bee another cause of a worse kind then any of these viz. a Politicke neutrality when men suspend all appearance of engagement on either side in any publicke breach or division and resolve to bee meere spectators of a quarrell untill they see which way the success is like to be swayed that they may make advantagious conditions for themselves with the prevailing party Which the wise (f) Solon apud Plutarch in vita Solonis p. 91. 92. Governour and Law-maker of the Greeks though having no more in him then heathen morality so farre detested that hee branded them with a note of infamie who in civile discord and sedition sate still and did not joyne with those that tooke the justest cause and hazard themselves with such rather then looking on without putting themselves in danger to see which of the contenders should have the Victory Which whether cowardly or cunning refervation and suspence wee take to bee deeply condemned in our Solemne League and Covenant under the tearmes of Detestable indifferencie or neutrality and should wee bee guilty of the breach of it by keeping silence when just occasion and convenient feason invites us to an open profession of the truth of Jesus Christ against errours c. the sinne of Tyrus would make us liable to the Judgment of Tyrus for not remembring or not regarding the brotherly Covenant Amos 1.9 Tenthly and lastly as we conceive it very reasonable in respect of what wee have already pleaded for publication of this our profession of the same minde and meaning with you concerning errours c. So wee hope it is very seasonable at this time to doe it since wee perceive by the g Published Apr. 28. 1648. But it came not to our hands untill the latter end of May. humble reprefentation of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the honourable Estates of the Parliament of Scotland that they make our taking of the Covenant and giving Testimony against the errours c. a weighty argument against the waging of a new Warre betwixt their Kingdome and ours their words are these Wee are not convinced of any just ground for a new Warre against that Kingdome in that which hath beene instanced by your Lordships Ibid. p. 78. especially for that the Covenant was taken by the representatives and other chief Corporations in England whereupon the Generall Assembly and Parliament of this Kingdome have frequently mentioned in their Acts Letters and Declarations the Vnion and Conjunction of both Kingdomes by Solemne League and Covenant neither are wee without hopes if things bee carried on in a faire and right way that the Kingdome of England may be brought to a further length in the performance of this duty Whereof wee are the more confident because of the famous and frequent Testimonies given to the Covenant and against errors c. by the Ministery in divers Provinces in England Which witnesseth their wonted prudence and piety by some of us observed in their Honorable and Reverend Commissioners sent unto this Kingdome for the preventing of a breach among Covenanted Brethren And as our Brethren of Scotland are not convinced of any just ground for a new Warre by their Arguments who would raise it in their Kingdome against ours so wee for the same reasons with some additionalls of moment advancing to an higher degree of evidence and assurance (h) For it bate date the 28. of Aprill and the penall Ordin against Heres passed the 2. of May. since their humble Representation was printed are convinced that there is no just warrant for such a Warre as the enemies of our peace and safety would enkindle among us under the oppofite Titles of Presbyterians and Independents For for the most and weightiest

Christians to undermine Christianity p. 15. V. The Marcionites and Manichees going against the Law lose all interest in the Gospel the witless wilful opposition of the Law by the hereticks called Antitactae the impiety of the book of Mans Mortality ibid. VI. The zeal of Nehemiah Hezekiah Moses and David worthy imitationin p. 16 17. SECT II. THe second reason of this Attestation taken from the Duty of the Minister in 1. Relation to their charge of Soules endangered by heresie as by a Cancer and Gangrene the difference betwixt them according to Galen p. 17 18. 2. Heresie deadly as lime mingled with milke an heretick a man of blood p. 18. 3. The third reason taken from the consideration of the safety and honour of the Kingdome which are much opposed and impeached by errors heresies p. 18 19. 4. The safety of civill societies endangered by want of justice and by pernicious doctrins 5. The dishonour of England by abundance of Sects aggravated by comparison of our present time and state with the precedent of England with other Kingdoms p. 19. 6. The best Remedy and Apologie in respect of both is publikely to professe against them the Parliament hath done it thrice 1. By their first Declaration 2. By the Ordinance for a publike fast for the spreading of heresie March the 10. And 3. by their Ordinance May 2. for punishing blasphemy's heresies c. p. 19. 20. SECT III. A Fourth reason for publick profession against heresies is taken from 1. The sedulity subtilty and pride of hereticks as of Eunomius p. 22. 2. Taken from the levity and inclination of the common people to vagrant speculations who are willing to be deceived willfull when they are deceived p. 23. 3. The cause of mens pertinacy in evill opinions heresie and spirituall frenzy hardly cured p. 23. 24. 4. A sixth reason taken from the Zeal of the ancient Fathers against heresies as of the Councell of Nice Polycarpe Hierom and others though Hierom were sometimes too sharp against some for their opinions on this side heresie p. 25. 5. A seventh reason from the like Zealous opposition of heresie by the reformed Churches as by the Synod at Dort and other godly Divines consenting with it against the Arminians p. 25. 6. The Zeal of King James against Conrad Vostius The stile of the Kings of England DEFENDER OF THE FAITH when first given them by whom and for what p. 26. 7. The Eighth reason taken from the care the Heathens had of their own erroneous Religions and from their Religious observation of an oath p. 26. 8. Regulus an heroicke Roman willingly dyed that he might not be wilfully forsworn p. 27. 9. How much confidence morall heathens have reposed in an oath and what benefit they both expected and enjoyed by conscionable keeping of an oath p. 27. SECT IV. 1. THe Ninth reason from the danger both of sinne and punishment by connivence and silence at the wickednesse of others p. 28. 2. For that Christians have been passive partakers in the punishment of heathens p. 29. 3. Politick neutrality detested by ingenuous moralists ib. 4. The 10. reason taken from the good acceptance of the testimony to the Truth against errors c. shewed by our reverend and godly Brethren of Scotland who plead it to the estates of their Parliament for preservation of Peace and prevention of War betwixt the Kingdoms p. 29 30. 5. Differences betwixt Presbytenian and Independent not to be decided by a War p. 30. SECT V. I. THe breach of Covenant politickly pretended for the raising of a new War destructive to the Covenant both in the doctrinall and practicall parts of it p. 31 32. II. Wee shall gratifie our greatest enemies and act their most dangerous designes against our selves if wee take up a War betwixt Presbyterian and Independent p. 33. III. Herein there is great reason the Independents should be of the same mind with their Presbyterian Brethren and should be as willing as they to maintain mutuall peace notwithstanding difference of opinions betwixt them ibid. IV. The Papists subtilty in setting dissentions among the Protestant party The instructions given to Seminarie Priests to that purpose by Cardinall Allen. p. 34. V. No private dissentions should withhold us from holding together for the defence of the publick ibid. A III. Part of the Attestation containing an Apology for Publication of these Errors and for the Reformation in hand against the scandall of them and of other impious and absurd aberrations from Religion and reason charged upon it SECT I. I. THe difference of errors such that though some of them need the addition of an Antidote when they are published others do not p. 35 36. II. Some errors both in Philosophie and Divinity thought new which have been devised and divulged of old p. 36. III. Reformation carried on too violently from one extream to another p. 37. IV. Errors and heresies have abounded the more by a kind of interregnum betwixt pulling down the Prelaticall and setting up the Presbyteriall Government ibid. V. The Divell most bestirreth himself in broaching and spreading Errors and Heresies when any great worke of Reformation is set on foot ibid. VI. Four remarkable tines observable for evidence thereof ibid. SECT II. I. THe first when Christianity was to be set up and Iudaism and Paganism to be preached down p. 37. II. Many impious impure and absurd Heresies set up set out by Satan to reproach the first Reformation p. 38. III. As that of Simon Magus Nicolas the Deacon of Antioch though of him there be opposite opinions of learned men some accusing him of fleshly wantonnesse some excusing him and charging all the crime upon his followers called Nicolaitans ibid. IV. The abominable impiety and impurity of the Gnosticks p. 39. A medicine how made of their poyson ibid. V. The Adamites ridiculous Religion ibid. VI. Some worshipped the Serpent that deceived Eve and highly approved of Cain Core the Sodomites and Judas p. 40. VII The sinfull absurdity of the Carpocratian heresie ibid. VIII The Pepusians who admitted women to all ecclesiasticall Ministeries ibid. SECT III. I. THe second remarkable Reformation from Popery to Protestancy invested with many grosse and wicked errors p. 41. II. What they were p. 40 41. III. The wicked opinions and practises of the Anabaptists and Libertines in Germany p. 42 43. IV. The witlesse and gracelesse Heresies of the Libertines p. 44 45. V. Among which some are such as our late News-mongers report to the reproach of the present Reformation SECT IV. I. THe third considerable time of Reformation was in Q. Eliz. Raign when godly Divines endeavoured a further conformity with other reformed churches in Discipline and ceremony more different from the manner of the Church of Rome p. 46. 2. Then did Martine Marprelate the Brownists and Hacket occasion many reproaches against the Reformation p. 47. III. Especially Hacket whose wild wicked and blasphemous conceipts and sayings are reported out of Dr. Saravia and Cambden p. 47 48. IV. Besides these domesticall disturbers and disgracers of the desired Reformation there were strange and wicked Tenets brought out of Holland the authour whereof was Henry Nicolai of Leyden the father of the family of Love Of their books and tenets what they were p. 49 50. SECT V. I. THe fourth state or time of Reformation is that of the present Parliament which is opposed and reproached with variety of errors heresies c. as the former were II. Which yet should not be pleaded to prejudice the Reformation in hand since there bee many and weighty reasons to acquit it from just cause of scandall p. 50 51 52. III. The comparison of the paucity of Sects in the Bishops time and multiplicity of them since their deposition observed by Hon. Reggus p. 19. Answered p. 52 53. FINIS Errata PAg. I after the words Errors c. l 12 add these words in a new line I part shewing how far the ministers of Cheshire consent with their Brethren of the Province of London divided into 2 Sections p 2 l 34 dele the p l 7 for eminentr imminent p 8 l 3 for lifes r lives ib l 28 for is r to be ibid l 45 after but add for p 10 l 25 after places add or p 13 in marg add lit 5 l 2 for quod r quo p 14 for that r it and then add these words in a new line 2. Part containing the reasons why the Ministers of Ch●shire thus joyn with their Brethren of the Province of London in their judgment and the publick profession thereof divided in 5 Sections p 15 l 27 for to make r that the doctrine of the 3. coequall persons is ibid l 28 after Rome add for p. 16. l. 18 dele them p. 17. l 16. for wisheth r wished p. 18. in marg ad lit g. l. 5 for vi r ut p. 18 l. 20 after him add self ibid. l. 33. dele thirdly p. 20 l. 3 for winds r. weeds p. 22. l 5. dele fourthly p. 23. l. 1. dele fifthly p 26 l. 1 in marg after that add title p 30. l. 26 for then r. and p. 34 in marg l. 2 after Nesterium r. damnas p 37 l. 8 after fourthly add though ibid l. 21 for fiftly r. yet p. 40 l. 32 after make add women p. 41 l. 18. after divers add ministers ibid. l. 34. for mun●● r. Menne p. 42 l. 13. after perswaded add and dele that he was ibid. l. 25 after him add he ibid. l. 26 after heads dele hee p. 43. l. 10 after Acts 26.11 add and ibid. l. 16 after story add and P. 51 l. 4 dele only p. 5● l. 18. for invested r. infested p. 53 l. 30 for Church r. Churches

Ralph Smith just volume for vindication of his glory against the hereticall traducement of this wicked and wretched age wherein we live SECT II. As we are called Divines and under that Title and in relation to our great and gratious Lord whose Ambassadors wee are 2 Cor. 5.20 we stand obliged to be affectionately sensible of every thing wherein his honour is concerned So in our relation from him to the people as watch-men over their soules Heb. 13.17 we may take a second reason from the tender care we ought to have of their eternall welfare which must needs be deeply endangered by such erroneous hereticall and blasphemous opinions as have been too boldly divulged and but too tamely tolerated in our dayes The Apostle and Disciple whom our Saviour especially loved professed in his epistle to Gaius that hee had no greater joy then to heare that his children walke in truth 3. Epist of John v. 4. It must needs then be one of his greatest griefs to heare that they wandred and went aside out of truths high-way to by-paths of errors and heresies For the word of hereticall seducers fretteth or eateth into the soul as a canker or as the originall hath hath it a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2.17 doth the body Which (g) Nominant Gangranas eas quae ex magnitudi ne inflammationis fiunt mortificationes quae nondum integrae factae sunt nam cum omnino membrum affectum est emortuum ut punctum vel sectum vel adustum non sentiat quae patitur statim recidere opor tet quae sanam partem vicinam attingunt Gal. de art Curat Tom. 6. operum col 403. Galen treateth of as two distinct evills And of the Gangrene he saith it kills where it infects making the flesh dead that is infected by it so that whether prickt or cut or burned it is unsensible of any paine Yet proceeding with so much perill from one part to another that unlesse the part corrupted be cut off it will goe on to bring the whole into the like desperate and deadly condition (h) Depravant quae sunt Dei adulterant verbum Dei lacte gypsum male miscetur Iteneus adv haeres l. 3. c. 19. p. 281. Irenaeus compareth the doctrine of heretickes to milke mingled with lime or plaster and that such a potion is poyson (i) Exemplum illustre C. Proculeium in maximo stomachi dolore gypso conscivisse sibi mortem Plin. Nat. Hist l. 36. c. 24. p. 512. Pliny sheweth by experience upon C. Proculeius a familiar friend of Augustus Cesars who making triall of it upon him got his death by it In respect of both these bad effects the one without the other within both of them deadly and destructive to the souls of men the accusation of (k) Vir Sanguinum omnis haereticus qui quotidie animarum sanguiném fundit Hieron in Psal 5. Tom. 8. p. 4. col 2. Hierom may be justified against an heretick which is that hee is a man of blood who dayly is guilty of the blood of soules and so should we be if we should be silent when we have a strict charge to watch over them to forewarne them of their danger that they may take heed of it and we conceive this way of warning may be very usefull as a common shout of the Shepheards together against the Wolfe in Sheeps clothing though a Lion feare it not Isay 31.4 Thirdly A third reason which engageth us to a publick attestation of those truths whereunto you have given testimony and the disclaiming of errours as you have done is the respect which of duty we ought to bear to the publick welfare of the Kingdome both in point of safety and of honour First for safetie and that from a double danger the one of corruption of faith society and civill justice (l) Haud scio an pietate adversus deos sublata fides etiam societas humani generis una excellentissima justitia virtus tollatur Cicer. Tusc quaest lib. 1. p. 197. for if piety towards God be takere away and with toleration of all opinions in Religion it cannot consist as the Roman Oratour inferreth faith and that excellent virtue Iustice which upholds humane society will fail for the administration whereof the decision of differences and the stinting of strife is resolved in the Testimony of an oath as the Apostle sheweth Heb. 6.16 And what assurance of an oath if it be not rooted in Religion how unstable will that root be with many when they are subject to be shaken with multiplicity of windes of erroneous doctrine Eph. 4.14 The other danger is of the ruine of the weal publick which is hastened sometimes suddainly brought on to the destruction of Cities by evill studies and evill doctrines (m) Vetus Graecia longe providens quam sensim pernicies illapsa civium animos malis studiis malisque doctrinis repenie totas civitates everterit Cicer l. 2. de legibus p. 330. med Heathen yet very prudent Moralists have observed although perhaps they were not so wise as to know the radicall or originall cause thereof which is the just judgement of God for the wickednesse of men in particular for their licentiousnesse in fond and false opinions and impious practices And for the honour of our Church and State how much is it impeached both at home and abroad by the infamy of so many errors heresies and Sects as have been and yet are too much tolerated among us What a shame and reproach is it to our nation at this day to see it in print from beyond sea and that not by a Papist but (n) Anglia his 4. annis facta est colluvies Lerna omnium errorum sectarum nulla a condito orbe Provincia tam pa●vo spatio tot monstrosas haereses protulit Atque haec Honorus Reggus Commentar de statie Eccles in Anglia p. 1. praefat a Protestant Divine That England within this four yeers is become the sinke and lake of Hydra for all errors and sects no Province from the beginning of the world in so short a space hath brought forth so many so monstrous heresies as England hath done Against these two great evills both of danger and disgrace the best remedy and apologie we can hope for is this that publick persons doe openly professe against errors and heresies The Parliament hath done it thrice in most publick manner once in their first Declaration where they say and a worthy (o) Mr. Leigh Ep. ded before his treatise of Divin p. 6. Member of the Honorable House of Commons remembers them of it in an epistle dedicatory to them It is far from our purpose to desire to let loose the golden reynes of discipline and government in the Church to leave private persons or particular congregations to take up what forme of Divine service they please for we hold it requisite that there should he throughout the whole Realm a conformitie