at Martins near White-Hall told me that lately since my Book came forth he preaching in a Sermon against sin and the Divell a woman on the morrow came to him a Nurse-keeper dwelling in Clare street and questioned with him about his Sermon asking him his grounds for speaking of sin and the Divell the Minister brought some places of Scripture shee sleighted the Scriptures and denied there was any such thing as sin or Hell or the Divell or temptation or the holy Ghost or Scriptures shee said all the Hell that was was the darknesse of the night she denied that to kill a man to commit adultery or steale a mans goods was sin and the Minister asking her what do you make your self shee answered two severall times I am that I am All this and a great deal more was related to me by the Minister who as he said had acqainted an Earle with it and many others and I spake with one Citizen who heard this Relation from him and he promised to give it me at large in writing under his hand Tuesday March 17. on the day that a Committee of Lords and Commons came down to Guild-Hall to the Common-Councell concerning their late Petition many Sectaries from all parts of the City and Suburbs came to Guild-Hall where from about four a clock till about nine the Sectaries in severall companies and knots in the Hall 30.40 and more in some companies vented boldly and pleaded for all sorts of opinions the Antinomian opinions the Anabaptisticall opinions c. pleading for a generall Toleration of all Sects yea some maintained that no immortall spirit could sin or be capable of sin and it being objected what say you to the Divels they denied the Divels ever sinned or could sin many other horrid opinions were maintained at the same time so that 't is beleeved that never since Guild-Hall was built there was so much wickednesse and errour broacht and maintained openly in it as at that time Among many godly orthodox Christians who were at that time in Guild-Hall and opposed the Sectaries in their pleading thus for all Errours and a generall Tolleration there was one godly Citizen who told me this story of himsef that he reasoning with severall of the Sectaries against their opinions and against a Toleration the next day being the eighteenth of March an Independent Wollen Draper to whom he had workt almost twenty years took away his work from him and said he should have no more work of his because the night before this Citizen had argued against Independency saying it was a Schisme whereupon this Citizen dealt plainly with this Wollen-Draper and told him Sir will you put me by my work which is my living for my conscience is not this Persecution will you have your consciences and shall not we enjoy ours would you be tolerated and will not you tolerate us On the ninteenth of March a Pamphlet called The last warning to all the Inbitants of the Citie of London came abroad in Print which Pamphlet speaks against all Kingly government receiving the King in again and against all established Ecclesiasticall government besides many other dangerous passages in it Now this Book was spread abroad and dispersed up and down by Sectaries as for instance one Samuel Fulcher an Egge-man rebaptized by one Crab a Felt-maker was the 21. day of March examined before a Justice of Peace for spreading this Book call'd the last warning to London and confessed he had sold six or seven of them One Overton an Independent Book-seller and a member of Mr. Iohn Goodwins Church or his man for him sold many of them to severall persons as I can prove One Calvert a Sectary and a Book-seller on Ludgate-hill sold and dispersed many of these Books and so one Barber an Anabaptist boasted two dayes after the Book came forth naming this Pamphlet that there was a Book come forth had cut the legs of the Presbyterian government and asked a Citizen if he had not seen it In Nâ—rthampton-shire a great Sectary and a chief servant to a Knight of that Country would not keep the day of Thanksgiving for the Victory at Naseby but was so far from keeping it himself that he would not suffer the Knights tenants to keep it or to go to Church but made them carry dung all day as I have been informed from one who knows it certainly but what do I relating one instance when as 't is notorious that many of the Sectaries Mr. Goodwins and Mr. Saltmarshes Saints keep not at all neither dayes of publike Thanksgivings nor of publike Fasts but do all kind of sâ—rvile work and worldly businesses on those dayes yea on the publike Fast dayes feast and are eating of rost meat and good chear when Gods Saints and servants are humbling and afflicting their souls ☞ There is an Independent Minister who lives in London as I have it from two sufficient witnesses that heard it said that the Scots coming into England would hinder the Reformation of Religion here and that if he had been in England at that time when the Scots came first in he would have preached to have stird up the people against them either not to have suffered them to come in or being come in to have beat them out ☞ The same Minister discoursing and reasoning about the Church way it was answered to him by a Citizen that if it were set up in London the Independents could not expect above a twentieth part should be for it and what should become of all other people this Independent Minister replied it was no matter what became of them though they turned Mahumetans so the Church of Christ might prosper A godly Minister who came out of Essex related to me not long since that Oates was now preaching in that Country and had been there about sixe weeks sometimes keeping his Randevouze at one Town sometimes at another sometimes at Tarling sometimes at Bocking sometimes at Braintry and other places and that many loose persons of the Country follow him he preaching besides his Anabaptisticall opinions the Arminian points and this Minister spake it upon his knowledge that notorious Whoremongers and Drunkards follow him such as have been convicted by witnesses and taken notice of by the Country and are such still yet go after him where he preaches from place to place There are two Gentlemen of the Inns of Court civil and well disposed men who out of novelty went to hear the women preach and after Mistris Attaway the Lace-woman had finished her exercise these two Gentlemen had some discourse with her and among other passages she spake to them of Master Miltonâ— Doctrine of Divorce and asked them what they thought of it saying it was a point to be considered of and that she for her part would look more into it for she had an unsanctified husband that did not walk in the way of Sion nor speak the language of Canaan and how accordingly she hath practised
pray for her This one Redgwell an honest man making report of was asked if he were not at Oates his Exercise he answered no then it was demanded was not your wife there He answered if he should deny that he should sin against God and tell a lie for she he said was there but was never well since This Bearer can likewise tell you somewhat of Master Archer of Halsted Also of one Lancester of Bury a Pedler and of his opening the whole Book of Ezra at a private meeting insteed of opening his pack and of the prayer that followed his Exercise c. Of Master Erbury also c. It would be lost labour for me to make a further Relation by writing of these things seeing you shall receive the truth more fully by word of mouth and by a faithfull Relator I have no more to say at this time but that I heartily pray for you that God preserve direct and guid you and make you more and more serviceable to him and his Church in your generation and to let you know that I am Your faithfull freind and Brother From Clare in Suffolk March 30 1646. Upon conference with the Minister who brought up this Letter he related these following passages to me and I writ them presently as he spake them Master Erbury one of those Sectaries spoken of at large in Gangraena pag. 109. and 110. coming lately to Bury in Suffolk and there exercising in private he delivered divers erroneous things and at last went so high as to deny that Jesus Christ ☞ was God and that he was as much God as ever Jesus Christ was or should be One Lancester in a private meeting at Bury condemned all the Ministers of England for the Sanbaâ—â—ats and Tobiahs of this time that hindered the building of the Temple resembling himself and the Sectaries to those who would build the Temple but it was withstood by the Ministers who hindred it At that meeting there was a plain godly man a solid old Christian of Master Faircloths congregation who opposed him and God was so mightily with him that it turned to the shame and reproach of this Lancester and those who adhered to him Master Archer of Hâ—lsteed an Independent a man who hath preached much against our Ministers and Tyths at the same time or thereabouts when hee preached so against Tyths used meanes to procure to himself a great Living in Essex of two hundred pounds per annum and came to some Gentlemen of the Country for their hands to further the getting of that Living An Extract of a Letter sent me from a worthy and godly Minister out of the Country Friend YOur last together with the Book I received I must confesse when I first saw your Title I said it was none of those Aulus Gellius calls Illecebraâ— ad ligendum c. For what is a Gangraene but an abundance of corrupted bloud inflamed c. and yet for your sake I not run but read over the text and found it every way answerable And that you were indeed the Master of that Art which appointing the cure according to the cause wisely prescribes cutting and flashing scarifications washings not only with mulsum or water but Vineger and Salt unguentum Eâ—yptiacum burning Trochiskes Arsâ—nicon sublimatum and much more then you have yet applied considering not only the creeping of this Canker but that danger the whole body is in of no lesse then that Sphacelus of Atheisme which not only good and godly Master Greenham but old Bishop ☞ Lake himselfe long since prophesied would most probably over-runne this Realm rather then Papisme And why then should any speak of a Toleration except à tollendo potius quam tolerando Obsta principiis c. is one of the best Aphorisms of all the sons both of Hippocrates and Galen that I know 'T is sad very sad to see our Anglia as Spalatensis complains of his Rome turned into Africa new monsters every day such horrid blasphemies intolerable wickednesses c. Shall Vipers still be suffered to eate up the very bowels of their mother I could tell you many a sad story of some that preach pray and prate what not Independents all yea and Scholars nay Ministers yet not by Ordination The people they say make Ministers quoting Ezek. 33. v. 2. The Scriptures say they are obscure no Assemblies Synods nor generall Councells more likely to teach the truth then the Sanctuary a particular Congregation c. These words were used praying for England O blessed God we have often already prayed in thy Sons name now let us pray unto thee for thy Son clothe thus all his enemies with shame but c. An usuall strain in their prayers is as followes That God would pardon the Reformed Churches their great prophanation of the Lords day and why is this used but to make them odious Another strain Who hath gained Who hath given you so many victories but the Independents Liberty of Conscience Lord c. and all in our own Kingdom The Millenary conceit is the common subject of Sermons and a Church on earth without so much ☞ as an Hypocrite Publike thanks was given to God for that the London Petition for settling c. took no better A thousand such and other passages of no small note you may hear if you please but to visit your friends in these parts whose very souls are so vexed that I for my part am resolved if it may be to burie my self at my study and stirre as little as I can to hear or see such or the like abominations And where now is Sodom as some of their Brethren call'd old England when they went off our shore to sea using that expression farewell farwell Sodom c. And what are they but Babell-Builders whose tongues are so divided that I doubt not of the downfall of their Babylon which by interpretation saith Origen signifies that confusion Christians should out of Courage friend let Divels that must be disposest cry out we torment them before their time If ever the Jesuite will be at the hight I suppose he is very neer now who say no more but security if any thing will slay us which God forbid Thus with best salutes I rest though in haste yet heartily Yours March 30 1646 A Justification and Vindication of the truth of the most materiall Passages related in the Book entituled Gangraena from those exceptions made against them in three late Pamphlets entituled Groanes for liberty A Whisper in the Eare Cretensis alias Master Goodwin I Shall take them in order and begin with Mr Saltmarsh who first apeared in Print As for Master Saltmarsh he doth not so much as offer to disprove any one peece of matter of fact throughout my whole Book excepting that only of a woman Preacher at Brasteed in Kent of which he affirmes that 't is known to all in that place to be a meer untruth Vid. M. Sâ—lt p. 26. Now for the present I
and in my full Reply I shall more largely and particularly specifie In one word Cretensis is a most ungodly Antichristian insolent proud malicious wrathful lying obscent scurrilous nonsense absurd contradictory piece Observ. 12. Cretensis in all his Books of Controversie and Answers of all sorts that I have seen and met with is of all Writers in this later age the greatest falsifier of Authors wresting them upon all occasions and that with a Gyant-like confidence against their own sense and contrary to what they are known ex professo to hold and he will not be beaten off from it as is apparent in his Treatises of Justification and in his Answer to Master Prynne and in this Book bringing in Master Ball for him in the point of Free-will Now this must arise either from that heretical genius of his that he sinneth being condemned of himself speaking lyes in hypocrisie having his conscience seared with a hot iron or else from a high flown mad fancy making things to appear which are not at all like to that mad man of Athens who thought all the Ships that came into the Haven were his though he never were sharer much lesse owner in any Ship so Cretensis sancies all learned Writers to be for him ' wheares indeed there never was any sound and Orthodox Divine for him as I shall shew more fully hereafter and divide Learned Master Gataker from him Observ. 13. Cretensis iust Cretian like fastens that upon me in my Gangraena affirming I say that which I do not as in pag. 28. Sect. 23. and doth father opinions upon me meerly from the leaving out of a word or two by the Printers over-sight Cretens pag. 23. though corrected in the second Edition and abroad full fourteen dayes before Cretensis which was either done wilfully and on set purpose against his knowledge or from his not reading over my Book but taking up things upon trust Observ. 14. There are many things in Cretensis Pamphlet which he pretends to Answer making much ado of and laboring to fasten upon me lyes nonsense c. which yet in the close after a great many high flown words Cretensis is forced to confesse them true and that both of himself and others though by many words he hath labored to pusle and cast a mist before the eyes of the Reader Observ. 15. I desire the Reader to observe that this Answer made by this great Rabbi is but snatches here and there answering Gangraena by great leaps as Leopards use to take Cretensis answers one passage out of p. 70. and then leaps to 128. taking another there and from p. 128. leaps back to p. 8. and after this sort the whole Answer is And for those pages where Cretensis fastens upon something to give an Answer unto even there he snatches takes not the whole what goes before nor what follows after so that after that rate of Answering if such kinde of Discourses must have the names of Answers how may not men elude and make nothing of the excellentest Books that ever were written by men yea of the Scriptures themselves and wrest them if they will not take one place with another and observe what goes before and what follows after And as this great Rabbies Answer is by snatches so 't is full of miserable shifts and poor evasions as among others pag. 16. Cretensis gives that reason why my Antapology hath not been Answered in 18. Moneths because the way by which light and truth should go forth into the world was hedg'd up by Clergy Classique Councelâ— as with thorns against him Now I wonder with what face Cretens can write this when as all men know the Independents have a Licenser of their own at hand Mr. Bachilor who is such a friend to all the world of Believers that certainly he cannot deny Cretensis Do not we daily see the man Licenses without either fear or wit all kinde of Pamphlets The Error of Anabaptism against Mr. Marshal the Error of Seekers in The Smoke of the Temple A pretended Answer of Mr. Saltmarsh to the Assemblies Petition and now Cretensis against Gangraena and will Mr. Bachilor with Clergy Classique Councels hedge up the way as with thorns against Cretensis Reply to Mr. Edwards Antapologiae Can Cretens think though his own deluded Church and other Sectaries may have so much Independent faith as to believe him that any Presbyterian hath so little wit as not to laugh at such folly why could not Iohn Bachilor as well leap over the hedge of Clergy Classique thorne to License a Reply to Antapologia as an Answer to Gangraena and pray Mr. Goodwin in your next account you give unto the world by publike writing give me an account why honest Iohn Bachilor could not as well leap over the hedge of Clergy Classique thorns to License a full Reply to Antapologia as to License A brief Answer to Gangraena But no more of this now Observ. 16. The Christian Reader may observe Cretensis as in this and his former Books so in all his preachings and ways to have all the characters and marks of false Prophets and false Teachers not only in his hands but upon his forehead so that if I would here enlarge I might clearly shew all that Christ and the Apostles spake of false Prophets are to be found in Cretensis but I will only instance in a few laid down by Peter and Iude in their Epistles and upon the propounding of them I know the Reader will say as face answereth face in glasse so doth Cretensis answer these Scriptures Peter saith of the false Teachers in his time that they speak great swâ—lling words of vanity and that they promise their followers liberty and Iude They are clouds without water carried about of winds raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame wandring stars their mouth speaking great swelling words having mens person in admiration because of advantage These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit Now I do appeal to any man who knows Cretensis either in his Writings or Preaching whether he be not a man that speaks great swelling words of vanity whether he doth not promise his followers liberty yea a universal liberty whether he be not a cloud without water â—â—ourishes and shews without substance whether he be not a raging-wave of the Sea foaming out his own shame witnesse his Answer a wandring star wandring from one opinion and Religion to another and lastly whether he be not a Separatist and sensual person without the spirit of love meeknesse humility zeal for Gods truth and of a sound minde In one word I do not think there 's any man in the Kingdom hath a more heretical head and heâ—â—e thâ—n Cretensis and unlesse God give him repentance and recover him out of those snares wherein he walks I fear if the man lives but one seven years he will prove as arch an Heretick and as dangerous a man as England ever bred and that
a Pike in the street upon which Cretensis makes jests as that Lilburn is able to see and read twenty untruths and ten in Mr. Edwards Book with the worst of them I answer this passage as also that of two Children taken away at a time from Cretensis are not made any thing of by me or insisted upon to upbraid them but touched only to shew their own folly in rash censuring of Presbyterians from acts of Gods Providence in afflicting by giving instances in themselves However for the truth of the thing Lilburns eye was so run into by a Pike immediately upon his Letter coming forth against Mr. Prynne and the Assembly as that he could not see with it for a great while and it was feared and commonly reported he would never see more with it but for my part I am glad to hear he can see again with it and the recovery of his sight doth no whit infringe the truth of what I have written I expressing not how long he could not see speaking only of presently after his Letter came forth but supposing his eye-sight to be as good as Cretensis expresses it yet I am sure he cannot read twenty and ten untruths in Gangraena and I suppose by this time the Reader by my Reply is well satisfied that this speech of Cretensis is an untruth and as for that jeer of Cretensis That if I had not a great beam in my own eye I might easily have seen that neither of Lilburns eyes are put out I Reply that lately in Westminster Hall I walked by Leiut Col Lilburn and eyed him well and could easily see a great blemish in one of his eyes which was not in the other and so visible that many a one in whose eye lesse is seen yet cannot see at all and I am of the minde if Cretensis do but put on his Spectacles he may see a great blemish in the eye upon occasion of the Pike running in but for my part the greatest hurt I wish to Lieut Col Lilburn is that he may not lose the eye of his soul in the wayes of Error Schism contempt of the Ministery dispising of Dominion and speaking evil of Dignities yes my earnest prayer to God for him Cretensis and other of their Brethren is That God would anoint their eyes with eye-salve that they might see and be ashamed and return Lastly for Thomas Moor a great Sectary and manifestarian that hath done much hurt in Lincolnshire which Cretensis denies by saying he doth not more believe there is any such man then he does that there is any woman-Preacher at Brasteed in Kent c. and he believes me to be the greatest Manifestarian under Heaven there being no man that hath manifested that weaknesse of judgement that strength of malice against the Saints that I have done I Reply first the Reader may do well to take special notice of the bold impudency of Cretensis who dares deny any thing if it may make for the Sectaries and 't is no wonder he denies many other things in Gangraena calling them lies forgeries when as he will dare to write thus and to deny that which is known to many hundreds and to persons of all ranks Ministers Gentlemen Citizens Souldiers This Thomas Moor does much hurt in Lincolnshire some parts of Norfolk Cambridgeshire he is famous at Boston Lynne Holland followed and accompanied somtimes from place to place with many attending him and I cannot think but Cretensis hath heard of him and that he hath some Equivocation in his words or evasions as it may be upon the word Sectary Cretensis not judging any of his Saints Sectaries or upon great Sectary as those words seem to imply A Sectary of that magnitude which he imports or else upon those words That hath done much mischief Cretensis not believing that any of his Saints can do much mischief and truly Cretensis may with as much truth deny there is any such man as Master Hugh Peters as deny what I have written of Thomas Moor and that there is such a one I have seen and have by me at this time writings of his to the quantity of almost twenty sheets for his Opinions written by Thomas Moor himself subscribed with his Name to a worthy and learned Member of the Assembly As also this Thomas Moor since these Wars was questioned and committed by the then Governor of Boston Colonel King for keeping an unlawful Conventicle at an unseasonable time in the night in the Garrison Town of Boston and for abusing and mis-calling the Governor when he was brought before him about it Secondly as for that jeer There is no more any such man then such a woman at Brasteed in Kent let Cretensis know for all Master Saltmashes bold affirmation in his late Book that the contrary is known to himself and all the Town there is such a woman who Preaches often both at Brasteed and other Towns thereabouts and besides what the Reader in justification of this may finde in this Book p. 24 25. I shall adde this as a farther proof related to me lately by two godly Ministers of Kent which is as follows Upon Mr. Saltmarshes Book call'd Groans for Liberty coming forth and denying there was any such woman who Preached at Brasteed many of the godly Ministers of Kent in that part of Kent about Town Mauling at a meeting of theirs took it in consideration to enquire and finde out the truth of that related in Gangraena but denied by Mr. Saltmarsh and entreated particularly a Minister on Mr. T. born in those parts neer Brasteed knowing the Town and the people thereabouts to make it his businesse so to search into it as that the certain knowledge of it might be reported to them at their next meeting that accordingly it might be communicated to me for the further clearing of the truth Mr. T. willingly accepted of the Motion of his Brethren and accordingly did act in the businesse and at the next meeting satisfied the rest of the Ministers that he had found out there was such a Preaching woman an Anabaptist who somtimes at Brasteed and other times at Westrum a Town neer Brasteed doth meet other women and after she hath Preached she takes the Bible and chuses a Text some Verses in a Chapter or somtimes a whole Chapter and expounds and applies to her Auditors and Mr. T. the Minister who returned this relation to the Minister knows this woman and knows this to be so One of those two Ministers who acquainted me with this being entreated to give it me under his hand hath under his hand given it me which I keep by me to produce upon any occasion so that the Reader may see both the one and the other Thomas Moor the Sectary and a woman Preacher at Brasteed and both true notwithstanding Cretensis will not believe them but makes a jeer and scoff at these as he doth at all other things Thirdly to that bitter uncharitable unchristian expression of Cretensis
concerning me that I am the greatest Manifestarian under Heaven There is no man hath manifested that weaknesse of judgement that strength of malice against the Saints which he hath done I would have Cretensis know if I would give leave to my pen I could upon these words whip him so as to fetch blood in abundance from him but I will not write a Satyr all I will say though this is a desperate provoking speech and I have much ado to forbear is this I dare appeal to the indifferent Reader Whether Mr. Edwards or Mr. Goodwin in their writings against Independents and against Presbyterians have manifested more weaknesse of judgement and strength of malice against the Saints And to satisfie the Reader and my self I desire Cretensis in his Rejoynder to shew where in any of my Books I have manifested that weaknesse of judgement to declare to all the world as Cretensis hath done that I put out an Answer to a Book of which I never read one quarter of it or writ a Book wherein the far greatest part of the particulars were observed by otâ—ers or had neither leasure nor opportunity to search to the bottom all was storied and yet notwithstanding deny all with Gyant-like confidence Cr. p. 50. or where in what pages of my Books inâ—ituled Reasons against Independent Government Antapologia Gangraena I have discovered that strength of malice against the Independent Saints as Cretensis in his Books call'd M. S. Theo-machia Answers and Replyes to Mr. Prynne A brief Answer to Mr. Edwards hath against the Presbyterian Saints and all the Reformed Churches But no man need marvel at Cretensis course language either in vilifying slighting me or in charging me so deeply who considers how he hath spared none of what condition or quality soever that have come in his way not regarding any mans age calling learning holinesse sufferings place witnesse his scornful bitter speeches against Mr. Walker Mr. Roborough Dr. Steuart yea casting fire-brands of reproach upon City Assembly Parliament and all Presbyterians and particularly upon that worthy learned and religious Gentleman Mr. Prynne the greatest and truest sufferer against those evils of that time both for matter and manner of any one man in England whom above all others notwithstanding all his sufferings and other personal worth he hath slighted and desperately censured as here he does me which the Reader may finde in Cretensis Books against Mr. Prynne and particularly in that Book Intituled Calumny araigned and cast Cretensis § 33.49 denies he holds any Errors in Justification greater then I do yea or any so great by many degrees and it will be a thousand times said before once proved that Cretensis holds any such Errors c. He charges me also in my Epistle Dedicatory to abuse the Parliament with a loud untruth That there are Eleven meetings at least of Sectaries in one Parish in this City which loud untruth he charges not upon me alone but upon the Honorable Court of Common-Councel the Lord Mayor Aldermen c. calling them Brethren in iniquity with me And further taxes me that because the Pages of my Book are not large enough to contain my shamelesse untruths therefore I quote them in the Margin of it as of Overton and Eaton and some of Cretensis Church reporting c. Reply Cretensis hath been often charged to hold Errours in the point of Justification and the particulars have been specified and proved by many godly learned Ministers both in Pulpits writings and conferences as Master Walker Master Roborough Master Calamie c. yea some Independent Ministers as Mr. Thomas Goodwin Master Burton c. have spoken against his Errours in the point of Justification using sharp and quick expressions upon discoursing of them as I can prove by good witnesses But for me I was never taxed by any man either Presbyterian or Independent for holding any Errours in the doctrine of Justification and indeed I hold nothing in that point but which is commonly laid down in the Confession and Articles of Religion made by the Reformed Churches And for the proving you guilty of Errour Master Robrough hath done it cleerly and fully in his Animadversions and Examination of both parts of your Treatise of Justification which me thinks you never having replyed unto should not have had the forehead to have boasted thus Besides also a godly orthodox learned Presbyt of the Church of Scotâ— and hath fully answered you and discovered your weaknesse as one of the Reverend Commissioners of the Church of Scotland assured me upon his own knowledge Secondly Cretensis shewes his impudencie and boldnesse in denying that which I prove by a Petition of the Honourable Court of Common Councell wherein they in terminis as Cretensis cannot deny affirm it and I suppose all men will iudge such an Honourable Court affirming it and that to the High Court of Parliament is to be beleeved before one Cretensis And of this businesse I know something for I particularly inquired of some of that Committee appointed to draw up the Petition and to make proof of things how this particular was proved and they told me it was made apparent to the Committee of Common Councell whereupon they put it in and no wise man can conceive that such a representative Body as the Common Councell in a businesse wherein they knew they had so many eyes upon them and so many enemies all the Sectaries mortally hating them for this and other Petitions would represent such a thing to the Parliament unlesse they could prove it The Common Councell knowes very well the Sectaries want not friends to possesse the Parliament against them and who watch but for such an advantage as to take them tripping thereby to render all they present in this kinde as false and if Cretensis or any of his fellow Sectaries could have disproved this 't is a wonder to me they did not When a Committee was appointed to hear and the Citie to make proof of some of the foulest things mentioned in the Petition why did not Cretensis or some of his Church then for the weakning the credit of the Common Councell and the better bringing their preaching-sisters off come in and alledg this as a loud untruth objecting that by the same reason the story of the preaching women might be false But how true soever 't is Cretensis hath a good faculty in all things that are brought against the Sectaries to beleeve nothing but to be as confident as twice two makes four that all is false Well though I will not be so uncharitable as Cretensis was to wish Master Goodwin might neither eate nor drink till he had proved what he here writes yet I heartily wish that my Lord Major and the Honourable Court would not suffer Cretensis and his Church to meet any more in their Conventicle till he had made good what he here writes which I conceive they may the more lawfully and justly doe because he doth not
but saith to this purpose How could hee say so for he should contradict himselfe in other things which he hath said and holds But to that I answer 'T is no new thing for such men as he to say and unsay affirme and deny according to the companies they come in and advantages they think they have Fourthly To that which I relate of him concerning those expressions of his We might not say God the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost he makes some shuffling Answer but I reply he spake so and I can produce good proof of that and all the rest If a Committee of Parliament shall be pleased to take notice of it and send for this Web and proceed against him upon proof I am ready to produce witnesses and upon his owne confession and those witnesses to make proofe Onely I desire the Reader to take good notice of one expression in his Answer to this head which shewes the ignorance both of him and Bachiler in the very principles of Religion and is not Bachiler a fit man in such a Kingdome as this to bee a Licenser of Divinitie Bookes and Controversies who besides that hee is no Minister nor well studied man is such an Ignoramus as this clearely discovers him to bee Web saying hee acknowledges the Trinitie the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost hath these words That hee acknowledges the Father is the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and to that purpose whereas wee are taught from the Scriptures by all Orthodox Divines that though everie Person be God as the Father is God the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God yet the Father is not the Son nor the Father is not the Holy Ghost nor the Son the Father nor the Holy Ghost Now Bachiler passes this and though he mended many other passages in Webs Answer putting in words in some places blotting out words and changing some expressions for others yet hee let this passe without any correction or note upon it which no man can conceive to proceed from any thing else but profound ignorance And that the Reader may know I speak these things upon good ground I perused this Answer after it was licensed with Master Bachilers hand and compared the hand of Imprimatur Iohn Bachiler with the hand where other words were put in and found it the same hand and writ out with my hand severall amendments made by Iohn Bachiler which I have by mee in writing and then subscribed my hand under them with the day of the month when I extracted them out of the Originall Copie and one being with mee who was a witnesse of all this I also intreated his hand to attest it which hee willingly did all which I can produce to satisfie any man who desires it And for the winding up of all I have to say by way of Reply to Mr. Saltmarsh Mr. Goodwine c. in vindication of my Gangraena by this time the Reader may see what to thinke if among so many hundred particulars which are laid downe by me of Errours Heresies Blasphemies Stories c. with so much variety such a venemous virulent man picking and chusing catching and snatching having Intelligence and great resort to him from Sectaries of all sorts and out of severall parts as Essex Kent c. could yet finde so few things to question in Gangraena which yet also are justified and made good what must the whole body of the Booke be which is not so much as touched either by Cretensis or any of the rest And that which alone may satisfie any rationall man that there is too much truth in Gangraena is this that I have never been called in question to make the things good I have beene informed from good hands that some of the Sectaries have had meetings consultations and severall debates about my Book what to doe in it whether to complaine or what else and I am confident if they were not afraid that things would bee found too true and very foule and upon the through examination might hazzard the danger of bringing an old house upon their heads and the punishing of many they would before this time have tried all their friends and party to see what they could have done against mee Having finished my Reply to Cretensis Master Saltmarsh and Master Walwin as before it I gave the Reader a fresh and farther Discoverie of Errours Heresies Practices of the Sectaries So I shall finish this book with matters of that kind laying downe more Errours Heresies Blasphemies Stories Letters concerning the Sectaries concluding all with a few Corollaries drawne from the whole Book And first I shall add other dangerous Errours come lately to my hand and so the first of these Errours in this latter part of my Book is the 23 Errour 23. That Saints are justified by the essentiall righteousnesse of God and not by Christs obedience For the full proofe of this I will give the Reader verbatim to a tittle a passage taken out of a Letter written by a godly Minister in Bristoll to a godly Minister here in London wherein this Minister writing to his friends that things are prettie well here and speaking of his owne preaching there saith One of the greatest rubs in the Towne is the brâ—aching of a mad errour concerning the justification of Saints by the essentiall righteousnesse of God and not by Christs obedience which some do hold and expresse with a world of vanitie and contempt of Christ. Andreas Osiander an acute and great Divine who lived in Luthers time held such an Errour though not expressed with that vanitie and contempt of Christ as these Sectaries do now concerning which opinion of Osiander and the great abilities that were in him and his way of managing that and other opinions Schollars may be further satisfied by reading Osianders life written by Melchior Adamus and Schlusselburgius in his Catalogue of Heretikes De Secta Osiandrist 24. When either of the parties married is asleepe the other is free of the bond of matrimony sleep being in a kind naturall death for the time and by death the bond of matrimony is null so that if a woman should have to do with any other man her husband being asleep she committeth not adulterie 25. That the Apocrypha Books and particularly the Book of Esdras are Canonicall and the Scriptures as well as the Canonicall Books generally owned by all to be Scripture 26. That the people of God are a free people and what they do they should do freely and voluntarily and not be assessed and rated by the Parliament compelled to pay rate upon rate assessment upon assessment 27. That the Saints and Beleevers who have husbands or wives that are unbeleevers they may put them away and take others because God gave wives to be a meet help and the Saints are to proceed to cast of all Antichristian yoaks a chiefe whereof are unequall marriages 28. That sin is but a shadow 29. The promises
in regard of the many Sectaries among us and the height they have risen unto as ever we were before for their help against the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant partie and therefore happie England both for the present and for the future that now wee are coming to a Peace we are so joyned and wrapped up in Covenant with Scotland that the Peace and Vnion is not of England alone but of both Kingdoms and that this is our advantage I shall commend to the Readers consideration some particulars out of the Speeches of Mr. Solicitor a prime able Member of the House of Commons and Mr. Burroughs a chiefe man among the dissenting Brethren Mr. Solicitor speaking of the benefits that will redound to this Kingdome and the advantage we shall have by a nearer Association with the Scots and by their coming in to this purpose for our assistance showeth that certainly they are many The third is this that whosoever we doe come to a Peace whom Gods time is come that we shall have one yet their coming in in all probability it will cause us to have a better a surer and a better grounded Peace then if they doe not come in And likewise what peace soever we have that it will be perpetuated and be the securer for us and our posterity to reap the benefit of it But how is it like to be when there shall not onely be our owne Kingdome but a Brother Kingdome an entire Kingdome one of the same Religion with us one that loves their liberties as well as we when they shall bee ingaged in point of interest with us when the same Law the same Acts of Parliament that shall compose the differences when if it be broken on our parts in any thing that concernes us they cannot conceive but that it may be their case the next day because it all depends upon one Law one and the same title and their interests is the same So that if there were nothing else in it but that we were like to have the better peace and on better termes and whatever it be 't is likely to bee kept the better to us and our posteritie if nothing else were in it that were much to our advantage surely if by some considerable summe of money wee might have brought in and have them at the end of this Peace and interested in it as well us our selves Master Burroughs saith how happy should wee be if wee might have them in a neere union with us And a people that have carried themselves with as great honour and faithfulnesse with as great wisdome and order in the most difficult worke that ever a people did undertake in those by and intricate paths that were before untrodden Certainely that they undertooke at the beginning of their worke but a few years since it could not but bee looked upon with the eye of reason as the most unlikely worke ever to have proceeded aâ— any worke hath ever done and yet how hath the Lord been with them and with what wisdome and graciousnesse have they carried it So that from the consideration of all I have said in this Corallary and from these passages in these speeches t is good by all meanes to preserve the union of England and Scotland and seeing we shall be so happy in a neere union and God is so much with them and carries them thorough with so much wisdome and graciousnesse and that wee shall have the better Peace and have it the better kept by having them at the end of it and interested in it as well as our selves let 's hearken to no Sectaries nor Independents false surmisings evill reports and scandalls cast upon our Brethren of Scotland but pray and seek by all means a more near union and communion betweene that Kingdome and this for there is a blessing in them and for my part I had a great deale rather fall and perish if the will of God were so with the Kingdome of Scotland and the Presbyterian party in England standing for the Covenant and the truth professed in all the Reformed Churches then to grow and flourish for a while with the Sectaries standing for a Toleration of all Sects and Opinions yea then to be a King among them as Iohn of Leyden was at Munster FINIS Errata First part Epist Dedicat. pag. 2. Parenthesis ends after your pleasure Epist. Dedic p. 8. l. 13. r. can you think Preface p. 6. l. 2. r. eternall p. 6. l. 16. r. rejected p. 9. l. 22 dele and p. 11. l. 5. r. eternall Gangraena second part in the Licence r. Dauâ—us p. 66. l. 19. r. many p. 27 l. 26. r. Cosens p. 29. l. 4. r. formally p. 30. l. 37. r. his p. 34. l. 14. r. by snatches p. 36. l. 13. r. shovve p. 41. l. 22. after but dele a. p. 45. l. 101 r. aggravating p. 45. l. 27. for and the proofs r. and the persons upon proof p. 45 l. 28. r. to the nature p. 46. l. 9. after Scotland add France p. 46. l. 25. r. desired p. 47. l. 17. after as dele yet p. 47. l. 20. r. moneths p. 48. l. 7. r. Sun p. 51. l. 34. r. not p. 54. r. Presbyterians p. 55. l. 13. dele that p. 56. l. 23. r. hovv p. 57. l. 18. r. quum p. 58. l. 22. r. undeniably p. 58. l. 24. r. vvords p. 58. l. 37. r. imputation p. 100. l. 14. r. of p. 123. r. VVrighter p. 127. l. 31. r. books p. 114. l. 27. so to that purpose p. 128. l. 12. r. are men p. 132. l. 13. r. Sprat p. 146. l. 2. r. propagating p. 66. marg note r. sanctitate p. 72 73 c. for M. Allen r. M. Alley p. 89. r. proved p. 97. r. mendacia THE TABLE THe first part of Gangraena is by the Printer cast into two severall numbers of pages which divides the whole into two the first consisting of 66. Pages the other of 116. Pages according unto which division the Reader must goe in finding out the Contents specified in these following Tables The first Table shewing the Contents of the first Division consisting of 66. pages besides the Preface is as follows THe Authors Preface wherein are laid down these Particulars 1. The Authours long expectation of a Reply to his Antapologia according to the great words given out of a Reply by the Independent Party 2 The reason of his so long silence and discontinuance from the Presse 3 His purpose and resolution of often coming into the Presse for the time to come 4 The Authours account to the Reader of the nature of the present Book and his scope therein 5 The hatred malignity reproaches from the world yea misconstructions from friends which Ministers who appeared against the errors of the times have met with as Christ the Apostles Fathers Athanasius Augustine Hierom modern Writers as Luther Zuinglius Calvin 6. Their undaunted courage constancy in going on against errours notwithstanding all their sufferings 7 The
De Eccles. quaest 5. c. 11 p. 342 343. Papistici Doctores turpes scelerati sunt in deliâ—iis vivâ—â—t omnes à Papa summo illorum Pontifice ad infimum usque Pâ—râ—chum multi non â—aevi modo sed flagitia etium gravissima inter illos reperiuntur vide ibi plura Willets Synops. Second General Controversie of the Church Quest. 3. of the notes marks of the Church pag. 98 Amesi Bellarm. Enervat De Notis Ecclesiae Legantur igitur vitae Pontificum Romanorum de Sanctitatem Pontificum * Vid. Minors no Sentors pag. 26. These laws would save that Vbiquitary perturber of sollicitor and stickler at most of our late elections Mr. Hugh Peters a great deâ—l of unnecessary unfiting pains sollicitation and abuse of the Pulpit to the peoples great disgust for his own private lucre and advancing the designs of his party * Vid. Independ rasing their foundation p 2 3 4 5 * This Mr. Randal is known well to many godly persons and is a godly man a Schoole-master about Stepny and a Minister also not that Randal the Antinomian and Familiâ—â— * This Letter which Cretensis here prints was written by an Apprentise boy an Anabaptist of Kiâ—â—ius Church unto Kiâ—â—â—â—s himself who belike by himself or some other communicated it to Cretensis * Calumny araigned and cast Pag. 22 17. I could prove I say by the Commission aforesaid that Mr. Prynne hath done all these things on purpose to despite the Spirit of God to defame the Gospel to make the ways of godlinesse and religion hateful to the world to encrease divisions to multiply distractions to bring a snare and evil day upon the Parliament to expose the whole Kingdom to ruine and destruction * Master Walker Master Roborough by wriâ—ing Master Câ—alamie in preaching * March 30. Three honest godly Citizens after supper comming to speak with me as they were with me Cosens came to speak with me and was brought into the room where these three Citizens were and I spake nothing to him nor he any thing to me but in their hearing who will testifie this and more Oretens pag. 40. This Counter-Information I had from the mouth of the said Cosens himself and have the particulars under his hand Cosens going to heare Mr Clare preach I received a Letter last week out of the Country subscribed with â—o hands of Godly Ministers testifying to my work and earnestly intreating my constant persuance with a promise that I shall not want what their prayers and endeavours can contribâ—â—e to that work A Letter from a godly Minister cut of Warwickshire written thus M. Edwards Book does much good here I have received severall Letters from particular Ministers in Essex bearing witnesse and so Letters out of Kent to the same purpose and from other places * The 11. errour specified in the former part of this book is in the Catalogue of Errours contained in the first part of Gangraena which slâ—pt me before I was aware and therefore upon comparing of both together I put it out and reckon not that but make these Errours to begin here at number 23. which otherwise should have been number 24. * Osiander publicè in Schola proponâ—t nos sola essentiali Dei justitia justos esse essentiali ejus vita vivere vel victuros esse essentiali ipsius gloria glorificari essentiali illius charitate ad diligendum Deum proximum propter ipsuminflammari gravissimè errare omnes qui putent aliâ re quam solo uno vivo Deo Patre Filio Spiritu sancto nos posse justificari vivificari glorificari glacie frigidiora docere qui doceant nos tantum propter remssioneÌ„ peccatorum reputari justos non etiam justitiam Christi essentialem divinam perfidem in nobis habitantis vit Osiand pag. 228. * The Sectaries who call themselves the Saints and beleevers if they have husbands and wives that will not turn Sectaries they may leave their owne because they are unbeleevers and joyne themselves to other womens husbands and other mens wives I read in a Letter subscribed by W I. and E.I. Wiâ—liam Ienny and Elizabeth Ienny written out of Holland to one in London Deare friends as you have cast off many Antichristian yoaks so proceed to cast off all a chiefe vvhereof are unequall marriages * Vide Saltmarsh Divine Right of Presbyterie * Pamph. entit Tender Con. relig affect p. 14 15. Do not the Synod having two â—oâ—ns like a Lamb but a mouth like a Dragon teach the Parliament to speak blasphemy against those Saints that dwell in heaven And speaking of the Preamble to one of their Ordinances wherein the Parliament acknowledged their strong engagements heartily and sincerely to endeavour the compleat establishment of puriâ—y and uâ—itie in the Church of God for these are the Parliaments words not the Assemblies this book cals this blasphemy and saith of the Lords and Commons For shame leave speaking blasphemy Remember the judgements upon the VVhore for her blasphemie VVhere had the Lords and Commons this large Commission to meddle in the affaires of King Iesus so far as to determine to have a compleat establâ—shment of puritie and unitie Vide p. 22. of this present book ' and pag. 7. * Mr. Durance an Independent Preacher at Sandwich * This was spoken in the hearing of three Citisens and given mee under the hand of one that heard it who also told this Smart he would make it publike The Presbyterians may do well to take notice that the Sequestration of their estates and hanging at Tyburn was designed and counted good enough for them if some Independents and Sectaries might have had their will This is the libertie of conscience they must expect when the Sectaries grow so strong as to have power to effect it * A Minister out of Essex writing up to a Minister in London of a horrid blasphemy I sent to a Minister of that Towne to enforme me of the truth of it which accordingly be hath The vvord is so horrid and obscene that I forbeare to expresse it This Clarkson is spoken of also in this book p. 7 8. Cretens frontis picio Luther de servo Arb. c. 207. p. 319. Vid. mine Animadvers part I. pag. 9. A godly Minister who heard it will depose it if called and so will many more who heard it a Pamph eâ—â—it Toloraâ— justified Vide pag. 27 of this book Mr. VValvvyns speech * Vide Pamph entit Letter of advice to the Assembly In case Paul Best continue in his opinion his heresie through ignorance whether is it not possible that God may yet have mercie on him as hee had on Paul the Apostle and in his due time bring him to the knowledge of his truth as hee did the Apostle Paul VVhether it can be demonstrated before-hand but that Paul Best what ever his heresie be may possibly in Gods secret will be ordained to conversion hereafter as well