Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
justice_n	according_a	court_n	law_n	2,915	5	4.6268	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B23830	Haines his appeal to the general assembly of Dependent Baptists convened in London, from most parts of the nation, the third day of Jnne [sic]; 1680.	Haines, Richard, 1633-1685.	1680 (1680)	Wing H199; Interim Tract Supplement Guide 816.m.22[102]; ESTC R222997	6,037	4

HAINES HIS APPEAL TO THE General Assembly OF Dependent Baptists Convened in LONDON from most Parts of the Nation the Third day of June 1680. WHereas I have made my Appeal to your Court for Justice against Matthew Caffyn who is one of your Members immediately after the Fact I complain of was committed for these Reasons following viz. 1. I did so Appeal to you rather than to others because yours is the Highest Court and from which there is no Appeal as you suppose 2. Because the Crime was of an High Nature and doth not only call in question but strikes at the Authority Prerogative and Laws of the King c. 3. Because it was a Leading Case never practised by any Church in the World and in it self more cruel and unjust than what is approved of by the Church of Rome wherefore I expected Justice speedily to be obtained and also you had Power so to do First I expected Justice because I was informed by divers Members of your Court that you had Power to redress Grievances reverse unjust Judgments and correct Offenders c. 2. By reason I had Liberty given me by the mouth of Caffyn's Court and that too without shew of dislike of any Member to make my Appeal to whom I would 3. By reason I gave your unjust Judge and his Fellow-Criminals timely notice that I would make my Appeal to this High Court. 4. Because the Fact was notoriously scandalous to the Dishonour of the Profession and those that are honest Professors and therefore deserved speedy Correction Thus I came to your Court to let you know that my Witnesses were present to prove the Premisses but I soon perceived several of the Apostles hereafter mentioned to look asquint when I press'd for Justice and that instead of accepting of my Appeal they cunningly would if possible have perswaded me both then and every Court since to refer it notwithstanding you well knew I came not to refer but to make my Appeal for Justice Wherefore when I resolutely avoided that Bait you then told me that according to the Laws or Canons of your Court I must first make my Appeal to a Quarterly Meeting in the same Country where the Fact was committed To which I answered That by consent of each Party you had power to accept of an Appeal as well as a Reference I also pleaded that it was unreasonable for you to compel me to make my Appeal to such a Court as had given their Consent to the Criminals Proceedings before they were acted they being inferiour Persons and over whom the said Criminal himself was Supreme Bishop and Universal Apostle Howbeit forc'd I was to this unjust and crooked Method but the more willing I was to submit because you promised me that if Justice were not done in the Countrey then you would accept of my Appeal and do me Justice but alas That Design of the Confederates I perceive was to wear out Time corrupt Witnesses tire me out with expensive Attendance to wrest Justice justifie the Villain and scandalize the Oppressed as plainly thus appears viz. For that when I had followed your own Method as aforesaid and nothing being done in the Country to determine the matter according to Justice I then did again appeal to your Court with hopes to obtain Justice but contrarywise I found a great part of your Apostles to be traitors to Justice and damnable Enemies to my Appeal which they opposed with Might and Main notwithstanding their Promise to accept thereof howbeit to the Vote it was put and the honest Party out-voted the Opposers and much against their Stomachs to a Hearing it came but then to prevent Justice a Plot must be laid against my Witnesses and tho' their Reputation be unspotted yet they must be censured and look'd upon as perjur'd Persons or such Rogues and Villains as would falsly accuse the Innocent and under that pretence were not then suffered to make use of their Papers in which for their Memory they had written the Truth of what they heard to prevent mistakes but they must speak what they knew and as they could remember without them tho' several years had past between and when they had spoken it was not to be regarded but one of Caffyn's Faction being Chair-man the Court was dissolved in Confusion and then said That God had withdrawn himself from them So that I well perceive it s in vain to attend this Court with my Witnesses any longer until it purge it self of its corrupt partial and unjust Members Howbeit about a year or two before this last Court the matter in Controversie was debated by the consent of the major part of your Court and by such the major part of your Court That very thing with all its Circumstances for which I was condemned was judged and declared to be both lawful just and honest notwithstanding my Witnesses were not heard but only as they took it from the Criminals own Mouth Moreover you know that several Persons Members of your Court have expresly either honestly or deceitfully Admonish'd the said unjust judge c. to put away the Evil of his Doings by Repentance c. as a Copy thereof subscribed will demonstrate notwithstanding all which you also know That he as an Heretick remains obstinate persevering in his Acts of Wickedness and repenteth not Wherefore know ye That by these presents and in the name of him and for the honour of the Gospel under whom and for which you pretend to hold this Court I do now demand Judgment against the said Matthew Caffyn and also that you forthwith reverse his unrighteous Judgment as being sinful papistical cruel and unjust and that you admonish his Congregation who through Flattery Threats or any other way were deluded to joyn with him in his sinful Practice to put away the Evil of their Doings by Repentance and giving Satisfaction answerable to the Injuries which by means thereof have been occasioned For it may be judged that they to wit his simple Congregation are ignorant of the sence of your Court and of the Admonitions you sent them But if now at last after all your Pretence● and Promises that Justice should be done your Declarations That that very thing with all its Circumstances for which I was condemned is just honest and lawful your admonishing him to put away the Evil of his Doings by Repentance c. I say if after this long waiting all this be but Seven years Hypocrisie and Deceit and that you at this time also refuse to give Judgment against the said unjust and papistical Apostle Then know ye by these presents that I demand satisfaction of this Court and as it is my Duty so I will according to the Advice of the true Apostle of Christ submit my self to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of Evil Doers and for the praise

of them that do well wherefore this being the Will of God that by well doing I may put to silence the Ignorance and Villany of foolish and dishonest men therefore to that end I do resolve to Indict your Apostle and all the Members of this Court that do not enter their Protestations against him and his Defenders c. in the Crown Office if His Majesties Ministers think themselves concern'd to take Cognizance thereof of and upon the ensuing Articles which in matter of Fact you know is no more than what I have charged and several times offer'd to prove against him in your Court as my Printed Paper to you presented will demonstrate as follows First That the said Matthew Caffyn of Broadbridge near Horsman in Sussex hath in a Papistical manner contemned the Laws and Royal Prerogative of the Supreme Magistrate of this Realm and threatens to excommunicate such as shall stand to plead for and maintain the said Laws and Royal Prerogative after or at the same time that he himself doth declare the said Laws c. to be unjust and odious 2. That the said Caffyn by Popish usurpt Authority hath passed Sentence of Excommunication against a Protestant and Liege Subject of this Realm before it was proved that any known Law was transgressed and because he endeavoured to justifie the Laws and Prerogative of the King and Privilege of his Liege Subjects against the Authority of this little Pope 3. That the Principles Tenets and Government of this little Pope are as dangerous as the Principles and Tenets of those who are now in Newgate or of late have been hang'd at Tyburn for Conspiring the Death of the King and Subverting the Government of the Realm 4. That the Government of this English Pope is more Hypocritical and unjust in its Cruelties than the Butcheries which are approved of by the Pope and Church of Rome 5. That his little Holiness hath debauch'd a good Conscience if ever he had any and hath gone a whoring these seven years notwithstanding he hath been several times admonished to put away the Evil of his Doings by Repentance c. Furthermore by these presents I do impeach and accuse several Apostles formerly Members of this High Court viz. George Hammon Captain Morcock and Vridge of Kent the Apostle Marner of St. Martins Le grand as also Tho. Croucher Miller Francis Stanley Amory and others as being Enemies to Justice and Comforters Supporters and Defenders of the said Matthew Caffyn and therefore I do desire this Court that they may be removed from being concerned as Judges therein until they be brought to Tryal they being the Persons by whom the Peace of your Government was destroyed to that Degree that it was declared and agreed That God hath withdrawn himself from your Assembly I need not tell you that it 's pleaded by divers Members of your Court that your Court hath not Power to redress Grievances reverse unjust Judgments or do Justice which if true who shall believe you the Members of this Court any more For have you not pretended to such Power and wheadled me with fair Promises to attend you with my Witnesses to my great Charge and now indeed have you no Power Why did you mock God and me and all the Baptist-Congregation almost throughout England But in Truth I perceive this is only your last Shift Fain you would defend your DARLING from the ROD of JVSTICE and therefore out of pure Pity to him you are content for the present to deny that Power you have always heretofore pretended to and now possibly with a pitiful Jugling Hypocrisie you may exclaim against the thing viz. Superintendency and Dependency which you owned when I entred my Appeal but now you really pretend the Churches of God are Independent Well then what are you a General Assembly for Are you nothing but Ropes of Sand And are you not gross Hypocrites and Juglers not to tell me so before But to take you now at your words the Design of your General Assembly it seems is not to do Justice and you have no Power I am pretty well assured you want the Will to correct and hence it will follow that though you well know Caffyns Principles to be most Diabolical and dangerous to Church and State yet you will and must still own and communicate with him as your dearly beloved Brother in the Lord Jesus Sirs I love the word Reformation well but the thing better and should be glad to see a Reformation But tell me I pray must the Exclusion of Justice and Honesty be the first step to your Independent Reformation If you will be Independent and yet will allow the Apostles to be Judges of Secular Jurisdictions you then do but dissolve your General Council to set us up as it were a King-Pope in every Parish but if you now pretend you will have nothing to do as Judges in Secular Causes because you are commanded to submit to every Ordinance of the Supreme Magistrate c. and are really so honest as to mean what you say Then pray Sirs give the World a Demonstration of it you having opportunity enough so to do The Villain your Brother now stands before you who hath usurp'd such Authority as to judge of Law and Royal Prerogative as I have said before either make him an Example or at least since you promised to do Justice provided I would sue for it according to your own Methods to which I have submitted yet Justice cannot be obtained tho' so promised Now pray Sirs will you be reformed and not be honest If you promised to my prejudice that which you cannot perform I demand Satisfaction for all that Charge c. which I have sustained in hopes to obtain the thing you promised or otherwise you must confess that your pretence of Reformation is grounded upon a dishonest Bottom and hath no better resemblance than to be such I would not be mis-understood it 's possible the Reader may conclude from what hath been said that all the Anabaptists in England are alike To this I only say that most of the Anabaptists in England are Independent they meddle not with State Affairs they assume not to excommunicate Persons but upon the same terms as they baptize them viz. plain Text of Scripture for their warrant therein and therefore this High Court especially Caffyn and his Abettors would not permit of them into their Assembly wherefore such as Mr. Plant Mr. Hicks Mr. Kiffyn and many more in City and Countrey are wholly innocent in this matter POSTSCRIPT June the 7th 1680. I Having presented the foregoing Discourse to the Assembly before whom it was read they blamed me only for making use of hard words viz. Criminal Villain Pope c. but as to matter of Fact which proves him and others to be as I have shewed I was not at all blamed But if behind my Back any should then know that I am ready to prove every particular I have charged The Assembly hath now declared the Excommunication with all its Circumstances to be unjust and void and hath also required Caffyn and his Church to reverse it Also Caffyn hath promised to submit thereunto and now I also do declare I am ready to be reconciled to Caffyn and his Church upon condition they be just and honest Liberty and Property are things pleaded for by Caffyn c. and doubtless if he will plead those very Laws are unjust that are made to preserve Liberty he will not stick to say all other Laws are unjust also Now the great Wisdom of this Nation to secure this excellent thing Liberty c. doth judge and agree That he or they that shall Imprison any Person unjustly shall pay 5 l. per hour during such Imprisonment And it is judged and declared by Persons of known Integrity that are Baptists and others That Excommunication is ten times a greater Crime in those that shall do all that lies in their power to commit persons to the Eternal Flames of Hell for doing that which is no Transgression of any known Law of God the King or the Church Now Reader if you yet do question whether M. C. c. have and do contemn such the good Laws and Authority of the King pray then ask him or them whether they do not judge this Law made for the Preservation of Liberty to be unjust If they say it is why should you imagine he c. should not contemn all other Laws of the King also when they think 't is for their own Ends so to do But if they say the Law aforesaid be just then judge you whether it be not just that they should pay accordingly for this their Crime which is judged ten times worse than Corporal Imprisonment and tends to the Destruction of all good Government now establish'd 'T is possible Caffyn and his Faction will merrily laugh and say We are well enough yet For if the Law for Preservation of Liberty were 50 l. per Hour yet there 's no Law to compell us to pay him 12 d. an Hour for doing what he could to lay him in Hell 'T is true the Devil said Skin for Skin and all that a Man hath will he give for his Life And for ought I know Caffyn and his Faction may now be of this opinion viz. to part with and give away Conscience Honesty and consequently Heaven too rather than to part with his Money But 't is possible though there be no Law to compell him to give Satisfaction yet he may be honest and do it willingly for ought you know It is but for Seven years Sirs that I make demand and although he hath been most unmerciful yet rather than to cast him c. into an ordinary Prison I will shew Mercy and accept of 12 d. in the Pound yea 6 d. in the Pound rather than be contentious But if he shall still refuse I then humbly offer to Appeal to the King and Council to judge and determine the matter as they think fit if the King and Honourable Board be graciously pleased to permit thereof Therefore pray Reader perswade Caffyn c. to accept of this Expedient and you shall find I will use my utmost Endeavours to obtain this thing so determined and humbly submit thereunto Thus much I novv Propose as an Endeavovr for Reconciliation and leave the same to the Consideration of all concerned therein