is coming for any man to peruse for his satisfaction all which is false as I shall undeniably demonstrate under the Clerks hand of the Committee and therefore if I would deale in such a scoffing way with Cretensis as he hath done by me though falsely I could marshall his lies and ranck them in order first second â—hird c. and could at the end of every one cry keep tale score up tally on and say this is a fifth if not a fifth and sixth phib in the Relation of Cretensis for here is a big lye with a lesser in the belly of it in brief there is never a sentence nay not a clause nor one word brought by Cretensis to disprove this second part of the story of Cosens that is true and yet it hath Cretensis seale upon it and this foundation greater then Mr. Edwards I was informed for certain namely as it appears by the said examination under the hand of the Clerk of the said Committee which I saw and read and is forth-coming for any man to peruse for his satisfaction and I am confident there are more untruths in these seven lines of Cretensis brought to disprove one clause of one story of mine then in all my Gangraena unlesse mistakes in the manner of a Relation as in the order or mistake of a name c. consisting of thirty sheets and upon condition that Cretensis will promise to submit to this fair condition to be willing his Church should be put down and to Petition with me that upon proof of things by me his Saints may be punished I am contented to referre the determination of it to Authority and if I make it not good to be willing to suffer what the Parliament shall think fit but by the way if Cretensis signall and choyce confutations founded upon examinations under the hand of the Clerk of a Committee which he saw and read and is forth-coming for any man to peruse for his satisfaction be of so dark and dismall a complexion that there is scarce so much as one beam or the least glimmering of the light of truth in the whole body of it what shall we think of those that have no such image or superscription of confidence upon them but be only loose informations from Anabaptists Apprentices persons in their own cause c If Cretensis Chariots and horse-men fail surely his Infantry will yeeld the field And that I may make good all this which I have said and not only feed the Reader with words and flourishes as Cretensis doth I desire the Reader to peruse what followes which cleerly proves what I say and confounds Cretensis Whereas ceatain Articles are exhibited against Robert Cosens of Blasphemy which he now alledgeth is confest by some of the witnesses to be rather a suborning then truth These are to require you to warn these under-written to appear before the Committee at Ailâ—ford to morrow being Wednesday fail not for which this shall be your warrant Ailâ—ford Novemb. 19. Anthony Weldon Iohn Bixe Iohn Cosens Francis Tillet Iames Hills Iohn Hills George Paine William Barnet To all Constables and other officers to whom this shall come c. Let Mr. Goldwell send a Copie of the Articles with these witnesses The Examination of Francis Tillet taken upon oath before Sir Anthony Weldon William Iames Richard Beale and Iohn Bixe Esquires upon an information of some subornation against Robert Cosens Novemb. 20. 1644. Who saith that Robert Cosens and this examinat being together upon the Centry they were talking of the Common Prayer and the Lords Prayer and in this discourse the examinate affirmed That the Lords Prayer was taught unto him by his Forefathers and that it was of Christs making and framing whereunto Robert Cosens replyed That if our Saviour were again upon earth he would be ashamed of what he had done and that afterward this examinate relating unto his Brother Iohn Cosens this discourse the said Iohn Cosens replyed that his Brother Robert had said unto him as much before Andrew Lydall Clerk Committee Now I desire the Reader but to compare this Examination under the hand of the Clerk of the Committee with what Cretensis hath written anent his businesse and he will finde Cretensis lines brought to clear Cosens from speaking these words to have forgeries in it numerous beyond measure the whole and every part of it being nothing but lies and for the further conviction of Cretensis I will go over his words 1. Cretensis saith neither did the man speak any such words as these Cretensis how dare you say so when as before three Justices of Peace upon oath these words were deposed against him is your negative testimony without oath sufficient to disprove it 2. Cretensis affirms for proof of his words that Cosens never spake such words as these that the witnesse upon whose single testimony originally both these and the former words were charged upon him upon re-examination and that upon oath before the Committee of the County waved both the one and the other which is all stark staring false and Cretensis proof failing him what is Cretensis testimony worth Now if the Reader do but read this Examination under the Clerk of the Committees hand and compare with that the first Deposition of Francis Tillet before the Major of Rochester and two other Justices he must presently see it smels above ground and that here Cretensis words takes place in himself quot verba tot mendacia I desire the Reader to tell the untruths and that proved upon Record and not untruths made upon my saying they are lies as Cretensis are upon his bare words 1. Cretensis avoucheth confidently that it was one witnesse upon whose single testimony originally both these and the former words were charged upon him let this be the first lie in this Catalogue for 't is evident by the Depositions which I have set down that there were two witnesses Iohn Cosens and Francis Tillet Francis Tillet who swore Cosens spake these words and Iohn Cosens who deposed the other words so that there were two witnesses and each witnesse deposed not the same but different words 2. Cretensis here affirms the former words namely that Iesus Christ was a Bastard were charged upon him which if they were and that upon oath that was a good ground for the report but if they were not charged upon him but other blasphemous words then Cretensis tels another phib which is the second in order 3. Cretensis positively without saying I was so informed c. asserts that these words spoken viz. by Cosens If Christ were upon the earth again he would be ashamed c. the witnesse upon re-examination and that upon oath before the Committee of the County waved them Now how false this is let but the Reader compare the first and second Deposition of Francis Tillet who deposed these words against Cosens before three Justices and upon re-examination and that upon oath before the Committee of the
The First and Second Part OF GANGRAENA OR A Catalogue and Discovery of many of the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and pernicious Practices of the Sectaries of this time vented and acted in England in these four last yeers Also a particular Narration of divers Stories Remarkable Passages Letters an Extract of many Letters all concerning the present Sects together with some Observations upon and Corollaries from all the fore-named Premisses By THOMAS EDWARDS Minister of the Gospel The third EDITION corrected and much Enlarged 2 TIM 3.8 9. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith But they shall proceed no further for their folly shal be manifest to all men as theirs also was 2 PET. 2.1 2. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresis even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of JUDE vers 19. These be they who separate themselves sensuall having not the spirit Lutherus in Epist. ad Galat. Maledicta sit charitas qua servatur cum jactura doctrinae fidei cui omnia cedere debent Charitas Apostolus Angelus é coelo Lutheri Epist. ad Staupitium Non hic tempus timendi sed clamandi ubi Dominus noster Jesus Christus damnatur exuitur blasphematur mi pater grandius est periculum quam credant multi Inveniar sane superbus avarus adulter homicidia antipapa omnium vitiorum reus modo impii filentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur LONDON Printed by T. R. and E. M. for Ralph Smith at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill near the Royall Exchange M.DC.XLVI Reader THat thou mayest discern the mischief of Ecclesiasticall Anarchy the monstrousnesse of the much affected Toleration and be warned to be wise to sobriety and fear and suspect the pretended New Lights I approve that this Treatise discovering the Gangrene of so many strange Opinions should be imprinted JAMES CRANâ—OR TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT Right Honourable and Noble Senatours I Here present you with a Catalogue or Black Bill of the Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Practices of the Sectaries of this time broached and acted within these four last years in England and that in your Quarters and in places under your Government and Power for which I tremble to thinke lest the whole Kingdom should be in Gods Black Bill I much fear lest the subject matter of this Catalogue may prove unto England unlesse some speedy and effectuall course be taken to prevent it like the Bill of Divorce given to Israel Jer. 3.8 like the Roll of the Book commanded from God to be written by Jeremiah against Israel and Judah Jer. 36.2 like the Roll of a Book sent by a hand to Ezekiel Ezek. 2.9 10. wherin was written lamentations mourning and wo or like the hand-writing upon the wall against Belshaz Dan. 5.5 the flying Roll in Zech. c. 5. v. 1 2. a curse going over the face of the whole land And unto whom Right Honourable should I present and make known these things but unto You who are the supreme Iudicatory of this Kingdom having that sufficiency of Power which only is able to remedy and redresse them who are our great Physician 's and have been wont to cure the worst maladies and diseases of our Church and State who are by God himself stiled Gods and therefore should above others lay to heart and be sensible of the injuries and dishonours done to God and his name And I humbly pray your Honours to beare with me in my addresses this way as having no other meanes but this of acquainting You with the sad state of things in our Church And yet 't is necessary You should hear of these things for as 't is said in the Prophet Jeremiah concerning the making of that Roll It may be the house of Judah will hear all the evill which I purpose to do to them that they may turne every one from his evill way it may be they will present their supplications before the Lord that he may forgive their iniquity and their sin so it may be some good may come of this Book to cause an humiliation for and a suppression of heresies and schimes as being a more free and fâ—ll discovery of our times then ever yet was made and therefore I send it abroad in this way whereby it may be read by all Judah and I doubt not but some faithfull Baruchs who are not shut up but do preach before You on Fast dayes will cause You to hear the words of this Book in the Lords house by applying them to your consciences and making them a Catalogue of sins for matter of humiliation to you on those dayes showing how far they may become yours in suffering without punishment and censure too many of them And now Noble and worthy Senatours be graciously pleased to pardon the boldnesse I shall take in dealing plainly with you in this present Epistle and not to impute it to any malignity and disaffection to your service or to peremptory saucinesse and disrespect of You for besides that some worthy Members of Parliament to whom I am known can testifie the contrary all my Actions from the beginning of Your sitting my Sermons Prayers Prayses Discourses Actings for You speak otherwise I am one who out of choise and judgement have imbarked my self with Wife Children Estate and all that 's dear to me in the same ship with You to sinke and perish or to come safe to land with You and that in the most doubtfull and difficult times not only early in the first beginning of the war and troubles in a malignant place among Courtiers and those who were servants and had relations to the King Queen and their Children pleading Your Cause justifying Your wars satisfying many that scrupled but when Your affairs were at lowest and the chance of war against You and some of the Grandees and favourites of these times were packing up and ready to be gone I was then highest and most zealous for You preaching praying stirring up the people to stand for you by going out in person lending of money in the later going before them by example And as I have been your Honours most devoted servant so am I still yours and you cannot easily lose me and I do humbly 〈…〉 self and Book at the feet of your wisedome and piety submitting both to your pleâ—sâ—re but to the matter and contents of this Book and to the present state of things I am bound and stirred in spirit to see the people so given to errour and schisme and the zeal of Gods house and glory constrains me and I can no longer forbear speaking my whole heart to you The
might be writ against the godly well affâ—cted partie under the name of Anabaptists Brownists Independents and a large schedule was annexed to the Petition of offensive passages that were in M. Prynns and D. Bastwicks book I think ere long they will dare to petition that no man shall preach against an Anabaptist or name a Sectarie or speake a word for Presbyterie but themselves may preach print and say what they list And so in the case of the Letter of the City Ministers to the Assembly against Toleration and in other books yea and in Sermons that have been against the sects they have threatned and endeavoured to trouble and question the Licensers and Preachers 17. They are full of plots and projects for their way and increasing their party they have alwaies designes on foot they do nothing nor propound nothing but theres some designe or other in it they are big with many at once that if one take not another may if one misse they presently start another of which I could give manie instances and show how the hand of Ioah hath been and is where 't is little thought they use other men upon other interests and ends to do their worke they have waieâ— collaterelly and indirectly to effect their worke when it would be marred if they went in recta linea they can and ordinarily do go about to destroy businesses they seeme to plead for by propounding and putting upon ways to effect it which they know are not feasible 18. They have and do when put upon present exigents yeeld to and forbear things for the present and sometimes in appearance will seeme to go far with you and are content to lose the fore-game that they may play the aftergame better and recover all they will sometimes appeare to be yours fully till they have served their turne giving place for a time but still waiting opportunities and working in the mean time all they may and when they have counterworkt they will fetch all about again another way and make void all they seem'd to grant you and of this there are too many examples among the Sectaries manie of them taking the Nationall Covenant for that instant necessity that they might worke so as in time to destroy the end and intent of it and yeelding some arguments and debates for the present to effect their owne ends afterwards 19. They have been and are Polupragmaticall indefatigably active stirring restlesse night and day in City Countrey in all places having their agents to doe their worke and promote their caâ—se their eyes are intent upon every thing that may make for them or against them and they have a hand in every thing they are men of a hundred eyes and hands out-acting and out-working all the Presbyterians they deale with this man to take him off and worke with another to qualifie him they have got most of the weekly writers of Newes to plead their cause commend their persons cry up their actions they have sent Emissaries to sâ—verall Countreyes to preach carry Letters deale with persons for chusing of Burgesses in Parliament for their way as M. Peters and others they observe all mens tempers humours and accordingly deale with them all some with offices and places some by holding out principles suiting their lusts 20. They desperately censure and judge all men both their estates and actions who are not for them they presently unsaint them and men fall from grace ipso facto by preaching or writing bookes against their errours as M. Prynne making him worse then the late Archbishop of Canterbury and so one M. E. for writing against them they use this phrase sometimes accounted a godly man and of M. Ash they have not only in England laboured to blast him by their censures and reports but writ over into Holland that since he appeared against them God had evidently blasted him and taken away his gifts and lately upon reports raised by them no doubt that I was dead though there was not the least colour for it not being sick at all they gave it out it was Gods just judgement upon me to cut me off for preaching and writing against the Independents and at the same time they gave out that M. Calamy had broken his arme and D. Twisse a dying O saith one of their Doctors of Divinity you may see the just hand of God against the Presbyterians M. Edwards dead M. Calamies arme broke and D. Twisse a dying so that if these things had been thus we may see how they would have judged it and if such things had fallen to some of us which have to many of the sectaries which I name not to upbraid them with but to shew them their own folly as that by the plague of pestilence our children two at a time had been taken away as M. Goodwins was upon the making his house a meeting for the Sectaries and some of our eyes put out by a Pike in the street as one of Lilburns was immediately upon his Letter coming forth against M. Prynne and the Assembly and our wives stark mad as M. Peters wife wee might have expected as bad books written of us as were written by the Papists of Luther and Calvin 21. They take upon them more places then they can or do discharge and bear the names of some places which they seldome officiate and have laboured to add more places to those they have already and that both in City and Countrey so that some of them besides their places in the Assembly which they seldom attend especially this last yeare and their private gathered Churches have divers Lectures and places besides their hanging upon great men to preach before them to ingratiate themselves and getting to preach at White-hall S. Iames Westminster and other eminent places where the great ones Earles Lords and the Grandees of the time resort they do not as wee Ministers sit still expecting a call to places but they are forward men bestirring themselves to attain this place and that getting such great mens Letters in their behalfe using such Ministers of note and other persons of quality and power in Parishes to make way for them to come in pretending to preach for nothing c. and still in all these Lectures and preachings they have an eye to Churches in places most convenient for thier ends as so situated so capacious and to times when few or no Lectures else are as on the Lords day in the morning between six and seven a clocke all those Lectures at that time of the day from Stepney to Westminster they either have possession of or have strongly laboured for them yea and to have set up others on the Lords dayes in the morning at Ludgatâ— Aldersgate c. if by themselves or all the friends they made they could have effected it and so the Lord day in the evening when other Sermons are done they have gotten that Lecture at the Three Cranes and so the Lecture on Munday night
doth the more good Thus beseeching the great God to continue your courage and resolution for his name to the utmost I rest Your affectionate Brother in the Lord. Memorandum that upon the 18. day of Febr. 1645. one Goodwife Cosens of Peter Parish in Colchester brought forth two children both dead the one a perfect child the other was born without a head having upon the breast some characters of a face nose and eyes wanting one arme and the other arme being rather the stump of an arme ended in a crotch of two fingers with something like a thumb coming out of one side of it Downward one of the feet was perfect the other foot wanted a heel and had only two toes which grew forward and another toe growing out of one side of it The Father of this Monster is a Separatist frequenting their congregations an enemy to the baptising of his own chiâ—dren the Mother a hearer in the separated congregations likewise who resolved heretofore that if ever she had any more children they should never be baptized ☞ This Relation is affirmed by those of trust and understanding that saw this Monster and know the parties An Extract of a Letter sent me from a Commander now in the Parliament service dated Decemb. 29. 1645. SIR THe constant practise of many Officers and souldiers with them was to exclaime against their Ministers wheresoever we marched pressing them and their adherents more then any other they did dscourage the people generally affirming that the best of our Preachers were Popish and that it was unlawfull to heare them but did hope to see them all pact to Rome and their superstitious Steeple-houses puld down to the ground great variety of opinion was amongst our Officers and Souldiers some affirming that they had had Revelations and seen Visions al of them at liberty to argue and hold what phantasticall opinion they pleased those were the men most countenanced and soonest raised to preferment some of them would take upon them to prophesie ☞ saying they should live to see all lording power laid aside in this Kingdom In my distresse when the enemy was upon me I sent to most parts adjacent for assistance but could have none only from one place came to me forty Volunteers with some two or three Officers professing thenselves all Independents and they told me they hoped to finde me so and if I should continue still in my opinion for Presbytery they thought their labour ill spent they staid with me all night and the next day there came to them a Leiutenant a most dangerous fellow maintaining most horrid opinions as you may see by the information which is truth this Lieutenant was to preach to them in a private house which I had notice of and did prevent him which they took very ill of me and immediatly they left me and marched away with Lieutenant Since one of the chiefest of them sent me word by our Quarter-master that I should have little or no pay so long as I staid in if I did not agree and side with I finde the mâ—â—sage too true for I finde little pay or none Sir I could say much more of their practises against me and others but I should be too tedious but this more I shall adde I never marched where I heard more talk of godlynesse and lesse practise of it in my observation for they are cruell without mercy covetous without ☞ measure professing self-deniall yet leave no stone un-turned to advance there estates and honours The Lord prevent their wicked designes and keep this Kingdom from being ruined by such a wicked people Sir I rest Your servant A Relation of some passages of a great Sectarie a Lieutenant about the beginning of June last 1645. HAving had much arguing with him and his adherents in opposition to the Antinomian way in the morning wherein they seemed to glory much in the victorie though I know no cause for it at all The Lieutenant came courteously towards even in to my house as he said to take his leave of me which some of his party perceiving followed him and others taking notice of their resort followed also The subject of our discourse was about the meanes of God revealing himself and his minde and will to his servants in reference to their salvation He affirmed and maintained violently that God did it immediatly by himself without Scripture without Ordinances Ministers or any other meanes He being asked about the third Person in the Trinity denyed there was any such thing as a Trinity of persons but affirmed them to be three Offices and being demanded what he thought of Christ whether the Godhead and manhood were united in one Person in Heaven He answered only to the last word and denyed that it could be proved by the Scriptures Christs presence in Heaven and when some Scriptures were produced which had reference to his Resurrection and Ascention he replyed that it was a great question whether there was a Resurrection or not he said he did not deny it absolutly but that he made a great question of it At the parting before him I replyed to the by-standers Gentlemen if I should have come and a told you that this Gentleman had denied the Trinity of persons and Christs presence in Heaven and that he called in question the Resurrection you would not have beleeved me had not your own eares heard the same This is attested and subscribed by the hand of a godly Minister in whose persence all this was â—pken together with a Relation of the names of the other â—â—â—nesses persons of quality and worth who were all present at this Discourse and I have the Originall in my power to porduce upon any occasion A Relation of some Stories and remarkable Passages concerning the Sectaries THere is one Lawrence Clarkson a Seeker spoken of in my Gangraena pag. 104 and 105. who put forth a Pamphlet called The Pilgrimage of Saints wherein are many passages highly derogatory to the Scriptures denying them to be the rule of a Christian or that in Doctrine or Practise half of Gods glory was revealed as yet this man a Taylor and a Blasphemer preached on the Lords day March eight at Bow-Church in Cheapside in the afternoone He began his prayer to God with Right Honourable Lord God and in his Prayer he prayed that God would blesse the Kings Army and blesse the Saints both in the Parliaments Army and the Kings his Sermon was a Rapsody of nonsence This was not done in a corner but in a great and full Audience there was present at this Sermon one Member of the House of Commons if not more besides divers other persons of quality and though this Clarkson was in London some time after this and may be still for ought that I know yet was he never questioned nor called to any account for this or for his Pilgrimage of Saints as ever I could learn Saturday Marchâ—he â—he seventh a Minister who preached
against the spreading infectious Errours of these times wherein we once hoped for better things I wrote to Master F. of some discoveries that were made to me by some reclaimed from Anabaptisme concerning the workings of Satan to and in that way being much affected with the relations they first gave me by word of mouth I desired them to commit their experiences to paper while the remembrance of them was fresh with them that they might be able hereafter as well as at present to tell what the Lord had done for their soules in breaking such a dangerous snare as Satan with so much art and subtilty had laid for them This upon perswasion they did and at last gave me in about two sheets of paper close written wherein they discover not only how the snare was laid for them and how they were first caught and intangled with a liking of the novelty of Anabaptisme but being caught how they were carried on to it with the strongest violence and impulse of spirit that is imaginable they also discover the sad effects and influence which that way had upon their spirits while they lay but under a liking and good opinion of it and how it pleased the Lord to rescue and bring them off before they were actually ingaged and duckt into that seduced society Sir all these things were so fully and largely expressed in the manuscripâ— I had from them that others as well as my selfe held them very fit to be published for the publike good and supposing they should be I was preparing some considerations upon the passages to come forth with them Since their coming of the Anabaptists they have found their spirits in a much better frame then before and out of pitie to others ingaged in that way have endeavoured to reclaime them And now Sir for my own part I must needs say it is much that I have suffered from Opinionists of all sorts in these times and meerly because I could not be false to my Covenant nor I trust never shall by a sinfull silence when heresie and schisme do lift up themselves against truth and unity I praise the Lord this happinesse I have though the unkind dealing of these men hath somtimes occasioned much griefe of heart and weaknesse of body to me yet they have not prevailed in the least wise to weaken my resolutions in contending for the truth yea the more the truth is opposed the more earnestly I hope I shall contend for it though it be to the utter exhausting of that small strength of body which I have I cannot sacrifice my selfe in a better way I know it is not necessary that I should live but necessary it is that truth should live and be maintained to the utmost of our power Me thought it was somwhat harsh to me at first till God accustomed me to the yoke to suffer frowns reproaches imprecations and all manner of hard speeches for the discharging of my conscience and that from those whose professed principle it is that all should have the liberty of their consciences It seems they would take liberty but will not give it If my conscience bids me to oppose some of their tenets and practices and I can have no peace without so doing how can they in reason deny me this liberty by their own principle ☜ Surely it would be a sad day to all Orthodox Christians if they should be brought to stand to the mercy the Sectaries liberty Some of them have partly well used their liberty against me in speaking writing printing against me in the most scurrilous rancorous injurious manner that could be and onely for preaching that which if I had not my conscience I feare would have preached against me while I had lived for holding the truth in unrighteousnesse Sir I will not hold you with particulars this place hath been a troublesome place to me for which I know whom I have to thank I wish it may be quieter to the next Minister that succeeds me for God is pleased by a cleare providence to open me a way to some other place Sir being lately at Dorchester the Town I heard was somewhat disturbed the week before by a wandring Sectary who had gathered a company about him and preached in the Shire Hall as I think they call it chusing that of the Apostle for his Text But we have the mind 〈◊〉 Christ. Afterwards through too much pride and too little wit the poor fellow was so ill advised as to challenge M. Ben to a publike dispute impâ—â—r congressus Achihi offering to make good the lawfulnesse of private mens preaching which challenge was accepted but how the Opinionist was foyled by that worthy Minister fitter to grapple with that Punies Instructors was easily perceived by all understanding hearers The godly people of those parts have been so well catechized and grounded heretofore that the Opinionists complain they can make no work with them Certainly the good old English Puritan which Mr. Geere doth so well characterize is the Novellists greatest enemy or rather the Novellist his ☞ Alas how sad is the destiny of Orthodox Christians that no times will favour them We have not yet lost the sense of what we suffered heretofore by those wicked Prelats whom God hath therefore cast out as an abominable Branch and surely if all the Orthodox in the Land should bring in their severall complaints of what they have suffered since by turbulent Opinionists it would fill the world with wonder and the Reformed Churches abroad who cannot but sympathize with us with much heavinesse of spirit in our behalfe Heretofore it was counted a crime to preach against profanenesse as sporting on the Lords day and the like and now as great a crime to preach against Heresies Only let me acquaint you with one thing I have observed This veine of persecution for the most parts runs along in the same persons they who most countenanced profanenesse and superstition heretofore against Orthodox Ministers are the same men who under a forme of godlinesse without the power do now countenance Heresie and Schisme against it but Sir let nothing discourage It it given to us not only to beleeve but to suffer but hee that shall come will come and will not tarrie and in the mean while it is enough for us that Christ reigns May 11. 1646. THere is a young man who lives in London and not far off the Exchange who went not long since to Lams meeting-place to see and hear what they did there and when he was come found many of them reasoning and conferring about strange opinions and among the rest there was one Sectarie who maintained and affirmed ☞ That he was Jesus Christ. At which this young man was so offended and troubled in his spirit that hee upon the place and to his face spake much against him for his blasphemy This fellow still maintained it stiffely and told this young man hee would powre out his judgements on him and damne him for
Prâ—teol 1. Elench Haeretic pag. 247. Iulianuâ— Aretiâ—â—â—â—thoren et ducem haeresis 〈◊〉 et â—onstanâ—i sententia damnatum et in â—tlium actum peâ—â—uam benignis literis revocavit et publica vectura reduxit Episcopo sub Constantio exilio mulctatos rerocavit et in urbes suas redire permisit Atque id ille non misericoâ—dia fecit sicut colligere est sed ut Epis opos inter se committens ad intestinuâ— armaret bellum et suis ipsa dissidiis Ecclesia labefactaâ—câ—ur The Emperour Valens did grant freedome of Religion to all heretickâ— yea and Heathens but was a great enemy to the Orthodox Theodoreâ— Hist. Eccles lib. 4 cap. 22. Valens impunitatem conceâ—â—it Gentilibus â—udaeis et aliis quibus que â—ui nomen Christianum sibi assumenses doctrâ—â—am Evangelio repugnantem praedicabant Solâ— autem Apostolicae doctrinae propugnatoribus tyâ—annus iste se hâ—stem praebuit * The Sectaries though they make but a fifth or sixth part of the Army and the noble Generall who commands all free from any touch of Sectarisiâ—e yet we see how insolent some of them have been of late bearing themselves upon the army talking of that upon all occasions of setling Church government what would they do if they had an army wholly of their own way and a Commander in chiefe according to their owne hearts A person of worth who was present at the opening of the Letters and named to mee the Gentleman to whom such news was writ told it me Moderate Intellig. Numb 44. from 1 Ian. to the 8. a I never justified that wicked oath Ex officio as Mr. Burton Mr. Calam. Iust. and necess Apologie against an ujust lnvective of Mr. Burtons pag. 5 8. b D. Holms I write not this to commend or prefer my selfe before others but because many Sectaries to blast my preaching and writing from doing good have given out falsly to many that I was a great time-server and a great man for the bishops and their wayes using that as an argument not to heed what I write or preach I therefore thought it necessary to say thus much for the undeceiving of many who know mee not And had I ever learned the Art of time-serving I should not have writ such a boâ—k as this nor preach as I do but would rather turne Sectarie â—or at least comply with them and so I might be a Creature and a darling of these times a Adversus â—aereses b Ad quod vult Deum c De haeresibus d Hâ—reticarum Fabularum e Contra libertinos Anabaptistas Servetum f De Haeresibus * Pag. 162 163. of this present Book and that pag. 8. a A word more to Mr. Edwards pag. 1. Sir untill I perceive the contrary I cannot but hope that I have prevailed something with you towards a change of your mind and that you have begun to repent you of the evill you have done by publishing your Book entituled the Gangraena Saltmarsh flowing of Christs bloud pag. 14. * The new Converts as it seems by the Relation here make a Feast for the Church and the Dipper upon their entrance into is by dipping and are then admitted to that they call the Lords Supper * This Commander is not in the service of the West belonging to any of the Regiments of that Army under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax but his command is in another part of the Kingdom * We see the liberty of conscience Sectaries will give if they had power The Relation followes after attested by the hands of witnesses * All kind of unlicenced Books that make any wayes for the Sects and against Presbyterians are sold at his shop and t is given out the manâ—â—els them but not the Master * An Anabaptisticall Emissary * Observe here both blasphemy and scoffing of the Parliament in a high manner * Of the name of the woman her meetings with other particulars â—â—ent this matter * A word more to Master Edwards Observe to what this pretended liberty of Conscience brings men namely to plead for Treason Rebellion and all kind of wickednesse * Gangraena pag. 12â— * That 's the main subject of both his Pamphlets A Whisper in the ear and A word more to Mr. Edwards * When he was prisoner there being taken by the Cavaliers when they came to Branford Reply to Cretensis Cretensis pag. 11. Cretensis Vide pag. 10. pag. 24. * Tit. 1.12 The Creâ—ans are alwaies Lyars * This is a lye in Cretensis Catalogue that Cosens never said it Cretensis pag. â— * Vide Petition of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commâ—ns of the City of London presented to the House of Peers Jan. 26. * Cretensis pag. 50. * I professe truly that I had not read one quarter of the Book of yet nor know whether I shall ever care to read it through or no. And in pag. 6. I have neither leasure nor opportunity to search to the bottome * Saltmarsh groans for liberty * That is proverbially called the thriving side and way Offices Moneys Honors Lands great places attending upon them * Mr. Thomas Goodwins Sermon call'd The great Interest of State and Kingdom p. 53. If any man think I am a pleading for a Liberty of all Opinions of what nature and how grosse soever I humbly desire them to remember that I only plead for Saints and I answer plainly The Saints need it not The Apostle tells us there are damnable Heresies so 2 Pet. 1.1 2 and they will soon unsaint them So that I speaking against the gâ—ossest Errors and men holding such in M. Tho Goodwins judgement I speak against those who are no Saints but are persons contradistinguished and opposed to Saints Quod autem vehementius egoviâ— agnosâ—â— culpum 〈◊〉 culpa est 〈◊〉 testimonium hoc mihi in mundo reddi in causa Dei mirifice gaudeo Atque utinam ipse Deus id testimoâ—ie in novisâ—ime die confirmaresâ— Qâ—is tum beatior Luthero qui tanti sui saeculi testimonio commendatur quod veritatis causam non seguiter neo fraudulenter sed vehementer satis vel potius nimio egerit tum ill Iud Ieremiae feleciter evaserim maledictus qui facit opus Dei negligenter Luthenus de servo Arbitrio This sent up to a Parliament man and a true Copy of this given me by a Member of the Assembly This Letter was written to a Member of the Assembly and the whole Letter printed verbatim follows afterwards * Praefat. ad Eccl. auie Acta Synodâ— National Dordr * Wotton de Reconcil par 2. lib. 1 cap. 15. pag 175.176 Wottonâ— de Recoâ—e part 2. l. 1. cap. 14. Quem ego de imputatione opinionis authorem fuisse mihi perswadeo * Master Pryns Truth Triumphing over Falshood Epistle Dedicat. and in the Book 106 107 108 where Mr. Priâ— both laies down his passages against the Parliament and confutes fully his justification and pleading for them * Whitaker Second Conâ—ro