of the darkness of this world Eph. 6. 1â— world and their subjects which presented themselves as passing before our eys in state and pomp all the mighty ones appearing to be drawn in dark ayery clouds Chariots with six or at least four beasts to every one besides every figured similitude of a Coach was attended with many inferior spirits as servants to the Princes But concerning the shapes and figures of the spirits you must know they were very monstrous terrible and affrighting to the outward man Those that drew the clowdy Coaches appearing in the shapes of Lions Dragons Elephants Tygers Bears and such like terrible beasts besides the Princes and those that attended them though all in the shapes of men yet represented themselves monstrously mishapen as with ears like those of Cats cloven feet ugly legs and bodies eys fiery sharp and piercing Now besides these appearances within the sperits made some wonderful impressions upon visible bodies without as figures of men and beasts upon the glass-windows and the Cealings of the house some of which yet remain But what was most remarkable was the whole visible world represented by the spirits upon the Bricks of a Chimney in the form of two half-Globes as in the Maps after which upon other Bricks of the same same Chimney was figured a Coach and four horses with persons in it and a footman attending all seeming to be in motion with many other such images which were wonderfull exactly done Now fearing lest there might be any danger in these Images thorow unknown Conjuration and false Magick we endeavoured to wash them out with wet cloaths but could not finding them ingraven in the substance of the Bricks which indeed might have continued till this day had not our fear and suspicion of witchcraft and some evil design of the Divel against us in it caused us to deface and obliterate them with hammers Now what the divels end in the former Apparitions and these figurative representations was The Lord knows but it was certainly evil even as it was against Christ when he shewed him in vision the kingdoms and glory of the world to make him fall down and worship him but Gods end in permitting it was very good even to bring us neerer to himself in a stronger dependance upon his eternal power and to make us more watchful against the subtilty and power of Satan as you will see afterward when I come to speak of the effects of these things in reference to our spirits But to thut up this relation of the objects we saw in this dark world I must add this That were but the eys of men opened to see the kingdom of the Dragon in this world with the multitudes of evil Angels which are everywhere tempting and ensnaring men they would be amazed and not dare to be by themselves without good Consciences and a great assurance of the love and favour of God in protecting them by the Ministration of the Holy Angels 2. As to the objects of the inward and outward smell I must let you know that vvithin the three vveeks space in vvhich these vvonders appeared at several times the evil Angels or spirits did raise up such noisom poisonous smells that both the invvard and outvvard part of those that vvere exercised vvith them became much disturbed and offended for thorovv the sympathy betvvixt the body and the soul The sulphurious hellish smells much exercised both by magical tincturation 3. In reference to the objects of taste you must knovv that sometimes both in the day and night we were exercised with the loathsom hellish tasts of sulphur brimstone foot and salt mingled together which were so loathsom to our Natures as that they were ready to cause great distempers and nauseousness in our bodies but the invisible power of Jehovah supported us beyond our own strength 4. In relation to our inward and outward g These things may be strange to those who do not know that the soul hath fivefaculties of spiritual sensation which are natural and proper to its essence touch we were much exerciced both in body and soul as to our souls we sometimes felt such strange magical wounds and piercings by the fiery darts of the devil that none can express but those that have been exercised in some measure as Job was who felt the poyson of those invenomed Arrows which came upon him by the permission of the Almighty which like the Scorpions in the Revelations sting and pierce those they touch as to our bodies we felt material impressions from the powers of darkness very noxious in themselves to our natural spirits and life but cheerfully born by invisible support and quiet submission to the Will of God h I shall not speak of the internal faculty of hearing till I come to the objects belonging to the other internal world But to Conclude by these wonderful and strange exercises we could not but have strong apprehensions and lively resemblances of the torments and miseries of Hell where sulphur fire brimstone poysonous smells darkness monstrous horrid shapes and sights are the entertainment of the imprisoned spirits But now I come to the other internal world which we may term Mundus Luminosus or the light world which with its various objects was then likewise opened to the inward Senses 1. THen I shall here set forth the objects of the inward eye which were then seen by us There appeared then to our inward sight multitudes almost innumerable of pure Angelical spirits in figurative bodies which were clear as the morning-star and transparent as Christal these were Mahanaim or the Lords host appearing all in Gen. 32. 1 2. manly forms full of Beauty and Majesty sparkling like Diamonds and sending forth a tincture like the swift rays and hot beams of the Sun which we powerfully felt to the refreshing of our souls and enlivening of our bodies Now in the beholding the multiplicity variety and beauty of these spirits with the various wonders and objects of this world clothed in the purest tincture of Light and i The Angels in Scripture appeared oft in the variety of the purest colours Dan. 10. 6. colour we could not but bless the God of heaven who by the eys of wisdom and hand of power brought forth such glorious Creatures and now shewed them in their several beauties to us in a time of tryal and temptation 2 In relation to our inward sense of hearing There were many musical sounds and voices like those which John heard upon Mount Sion then heard by us the sweetness harmony and pleasantness of which cannot be expressed nor that spiritual joy and delight which by them was infused into our souls uttered by the tongue being ready to ravish our spirits into the high praises of eternal Jehovah 3. In relation to the faculty of smelling the tongue can hardly express those Odours of Paradise and heavenly perfumes which then were smelt piercing into the very spirit with a cherishing
righteousness Ans I thus deliver the truth As I was paraphrasing on that portion of Scripture mentioned in the 9 of Dan. 24. of everlasting righteousness I did say words to this effect That the imputative righteousness of another was a sapless righteousness to all those that had no right or interest in it I shall desire a little to explain my self on this Proposition that the imputative righteousness of Christ in this sense will prove a sapless righteousness For he that hath not the Spirit of Christ dwelling in his heart by faith notwithstanding all this application of Christ and his merits yet to him it is but a sapless righteousness so saith the scripture He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his notwithstanding his application of the imputative righteousness of Christ to himself but here I do not deny the imputative righteousness of Christ nor his active and passive obedience to be the material cause of his justification yea I own and acknowledg Christs righteousness to be the souls righteousness in point of justification when it is applyed upon a true ground according to the true sense of the Spirit in the Scriptures 3. Article That they should look to the fiery nature of Christs Deity in the centre of their souls burning up the dross and chaff of their lusts and corruptions Ans For the explanation of this Article we must consider these are Scripture-Metaphors and Christ is often clothed with a garment of fire according to that of Paul Heb. 12. 29. Our God is a consuming fire and in another place Christ shall come in flaming fire None or few understand these Scriptures or the like of elemental material fire but either of the fire of his divine love to burn up our lusts and corruptions or the fire of his divine justice or wrath in destroying sin and sinners 4. Article That the fiery Deity of Christ mingles and mixeth it self with our flesh Ans I was then speaking of the mystical union betwixt Christ and his Church And in the illustration of this union I applyed that expression out of the 5 of the Canticles He mingleth his Wine and his milk together so in this union Christs divine nature mingleth it self with our humanity his spirit with our flesh This expression Mr. Tickle was pleased to charge with blasphemy asking me what I meant by flesh I answered in conference By flesh I understand not the sinfull and fleshly part of the soul that lusteth against the spirit for with this there can be no union 2. By flesh I mean not the outward elementary flesh of the body but by flesh I understand our pure humanity the pure regenerated part of the soul the converted part of our spirit and thus the spirit of Christ and regenerated part are really in union one with the other according to the Apostles phrase We are made partakers of the divine nature And against this answer he had nothing to reply 5. Article That Christ was a Type and but a Type This was in conference He asked me whether Christ was a Type or no I answered Christ was a Type so expressed 1 Tim. 2. 21. How was Christ a Type replyed Mr. Pendarius I answered His life and conversation was a Type that is a pattern and example for us Christians to square our lives and conversations by Who denies this said he Why I affirm no more said I then that Christ is a Type Is he but a Type replyed Mr. Pendarius I answered Why lie you thus on the catch I say Christ is a Type but I will not affirm Christ is but a Type And this they both confess in their Answers 6. Article That the gifts and graces of the Spirit are but flesh I confess I said the common gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh but this I opened after this manner That they were but fleflly weak and carnal in point of justification in point of trust and confidence in regard of salvation and life eternal and no otherwise as their own Witnesses on examination confessed before the honourable Committee of Berks. To conclude As for these Articles especially all the latter I look not upon them as under the cognizance of the Act yet for your satisfaction I have transcribed my former Answers and doe here present them again to your consideration by which you may clearly see my innocency in reference to the horrid opinions for which I am accused John Pordage This being read by the Clerk we were all commanded to withdraw About an hour or two after I was called in again and they told me if I would I should have an Order to fetch in my Witnesses to prove what they could on my behalf in reference to that Charge I replyed That I hoped my Discharge and Answer were sufficient and that they would not put me to the trouble and charge of traversing this business viva voce by my Witnesses again in that besides my Discharge I had brought all their Depositions delivered by Oath to the Committee of Plundered Ministers which I desired might be then read before them because the Witnesses could but say viva voce what was there wrote down Hereupon I delivered them to be read and so being handed to the Clerk the Commissioners asked me how they should know them to be true I replyed The Clerk delivered them as a true Copy and I would affirm on my Oath that they had not been altered since I had them But notwithstanding this they rejected them alleadging that they would not take notice of any written Depositions taken out of another Court but that I must again bring in the former Witnesses to testifie what they could by word of mouth so that all the reasons and arguments I could use could not prevail with them to free me from the charge and trouble of From the first to the last I could not have the least civil just request granted me which might either advantage my cause or free me from trouble and expence bringing in my Witnesses again for which the Clerk was then commanded to draw me up an Order BERKS By the Commissioners for ejecting of Scandalous Ministers October 19. 1654. At the Bear in Speenhamland Dr. Pordage of Bradfield hath this day again attended and hath exhibited an Answer in writing to the Articles exhibited against him Ordered that the said Dr. do attend again before us on this day fortnight at this place at which time he is to give answer to the additional Articles now exhibited against him and to produce his Witnesses if he have any for proof of his defence and Summons are to issue out for that purpose if he desire the same Then they told me they had a new Charge of Articles against me which were these that follow then openly read by the Clerk Articles against Doctor Pordage Parson of Bradfield to prove his ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry 1. IMprimis One Mistriss Lewin being with child and near
to make a soul question Gods love and to bring it out of a blessed spiritual enjoyment of God into slavish fear and disturbance Art 7. That he might say any thing to the men of the world 1. Part. Ans I answer to the best of my remembrance I never uttered any such unchristian Maxim much less ever held it as my judgement and I confidently believe there is no one on the earth that dare witness it with an Oath 2 Part. Ans I know very well that Mr. Fowler hath been if not the author yet the reporter of my holding this monstrous Tenent for he hath confidently averred and often insinuated into some of the Gentry of this County and into his own Proselytes that I am a Familist and that it is my principle to say or unsay any thing that may make to my own advantage which God knows is a sad scandal and a monstrous untruth and clearly appears to those who know the integrity of my Principles and conversation to be a blur cast upon me from the contrivance of subtile Machiavillian Policy to prejudice all I say or answer to those horrid things objected against me For if this be once setled in those who are my Judges it is vain for me to answer deny or avow any thing But the Lord forgive my adversary for this his unchristian dealing and grant he may repent of it before he comes to give up his last account before the great Tribunal of Christ Art 8. That I asserted I knew nothing to the contrary but that a man might company with more then one woman being taxed for keeping carnal company with a woman in London Ans I never kept scandalous company with any woman in London neither was I ever taxed for any such thing except once by Mistriss Grip who I believe is the Witnesse against me and that upon this occasion At the time I had my former conference with her the heat of her passion being over she told me that I was also taxed for keeping of carnal company with a woman in London I replyed I am a man born to all kind of sufferings and told her that she saw and knew the manner of my conversation asking her whether she believed it and she answered No truely and then I solemnly protested the contrary And this was all the taxing I ever had from any one at which time I was earnest with Mrs. Grip to discover to me from whom she heard it but she put me off telling me she did not believe it and that she would tell me some other time But from that long discourse I had with her fearing as I said before she was deeply tinctured with the Principles of Antinomianism and not knowing whether she might not be tainted with some notions of Rantism which at that time were every where frequently discourst of I took this occasion to try her telling her as near as I remember that there were som that affirm'd they knew nothing to the contrary but that a man might company with more then one woman but to speak the truth she let it fall without seeming to approve of any such thing And this I solemnly avow to be the truth as near as I can remember And I believe Mrs. Grip dare not swear that I maintained any such thing as my judgement or produced one Scripture or Argument to defend it I profess to the whole world in the presence of that eye that seeth through all hearts that all such loose principles which turn the grace of God into wantonness and that run opposite to the Laws of Morality Civility Modesty and Sobriety or that any waies indulge wantonness and lasciviousness are as inconsistent with my Principles as heaven and hell light and darkness are opposite one to another which will one day clearly appear to the world whatever I am now thought of Art 9. That he hath frequent and familiar converse with Angels Ans As this Article is presented in general terms without expressing whether the Communion be visible or invisible I do not see how it can touch me though my enemies were my Judges because every true Christian hath frequent communion or converse with Angels as you may see solidly and clearly proved from Scripture by the Lord Lawrence one very learned and pious now President of the Lord Protectors Councel in his Book Entituled Our Communion and Warr with Angels Art 10 11 12 13. Concerning the Vision of a Dragon and the Apparition of Spirits Ans 1. I may deny these four Articles as they are taken together and expressed in those terms and in that manner in which they are set down in my accusation for I believe none dare swear the measures and teeth of the Dragon with the appearance of my own Angel c. without the crime of perjury Ans 2. I will not confess any Apparitions in particular till they be proved lest I should seem to accuse my self they being brought in as a crime against me and as instruments to condemn me Yet in general I acknowledge that some four years since there were many strange and wonderfull apparitions seen in my house But what can these in justice amount to though attested by oath and confessed particularly by my self when brought before those who profess themselves Christians and acquainted with the History of the holy Scriptures Pray was not Iob a pious sincere and eminent righteous man yet how was he scared with Dreams and terrified through Visions cap. 7. v. 14. Did not Zachariah the Prophet Rev. 3. see Satan standing at the right hand of Iostuah to resist him Did not Iohn ver 12. in a vision behold a great red Dragon that made Warr against Michael and the holy Angels And was not Christ himself tempted of the Devil by voyce and visions Mat. 4. 6. 8. Now the servant is not greater then the Lord Iohn 15. 20. and therefore not exempted from the like attempts of the Devil I beseech you consider whether this earth be not the place where the Devil walks up and down seeking whom he may devour How then can Bradfield or any other place be exempted from his appearing when God permits and may not all this be for the manifesting of his Glory Goodness and Power And who can tell whose Family may be next exposed by Gods permission to be tryed and proved by the representations of Satan And I desire you seriously to consider how any such apparitions raised by the Devil and permitted by God for his own glory argue me either scandalous ignorant or insufficient Surely it rather argues that he hath blest me with a strong faith in that he permitted such great tryals and made me instrumental to overcome them by prayer and fasting If it can be proved that I ever so much as looked toward the unlawfull Art of Black Magick or that any evil Spirits were raised up by any compact of mine explicite or implicite or that those evil apparitions were subdued and overcome by
after he had answered the cross Interrogatories by writing when Mr Tickle was sometimes raised into seeming passion against me from accidental discourses that fell in upon examination But I shall here discover my own meaning and bring in the intended evidence of my witnesses in reference to this Article my meaning then notwithstanding Mr Tickles rash allegations was this by flesh I meant the pure regenerated part of the soul with which the spirit of Christ is united according to that of the Apostle Eph. 5. 30. For we are members of his body of his flesh c. My Evidence was this there were present three witnesses viz. Mr. Francis Pordage Minister Mrs Mary Pocock and one Robert Bolt who offered to attest upon oath that they being present at the Committee of plundred Ministers about March 27. 1651. heard me upon the interpretation of this Article That the Fiery Deity of Christ mingles it self with our flesh explain my self thus That by flesh I understand not the sinful fleshly part of the soul that lusteth against the spirit for in this there can be no union for these are contrary neither by flesh did I understand the outward Elementish flesh of the body but by flesh I understood the pure Regenerated part of the soul But this Testimony they rejected and would not receive it as Evidence denying to examine the witnesses in regard they were not present at Ilesley where Mr Tickle alleadged this was spoken But I believe the Judicious Reader will finde this Testimony to be more pertinent to the clearing of the truth in reference to my sence in the former Proposition then what Mr Tickle hath uncertainly according to his best remembrance asserted To the second Article Mr Tickle saith That I delivered That the Imputative righteousness Taken October the fifth at Newbery November 2. of Christ is a sapless righteousness And being further examined by interrogatories he answered to the first of them That this was fully and roundly delivered in my Sermon at Ilsley But to the second Interrogatory which was this Whether it was with a limitation or without he thus answers That he doth not d Though he remembers none yet it was spoken with a limitation as you shall see afterward remember any addition therein unless it were in opposition to the righteousness which as he said I called sapless Being further examined Nov. 22. the same Deponent said that I did not deliver any such Limitation as I made in my answer thereunto and that there was no such word as except spoken nor any thing like it Roger Steevens sworn to the same Article deposed that I delivered November 22. in a Sermon at Ilesly That the righteousness of Christ was a sapless righteousness And that he doth not remember any thing to the contrary but that the same was an intire sentence and onely so And that to his apprehension the e This man is known to be a great proselite of my accusers and one exceedingly prejudiced against me and one of a sharp rigid spirit drift of my Sermon was to take away the strength and efficacy of the righteousness of Christ And this deponent further said that in the aforesaid Sermon at Ilsley I delivered these words that you are not to look to this meaning as the Deponent f These are not positively delivered and therefore no legal Testimonies apprehended Christs righteousness but to the Fiery Deity burning in the Center of our souls consuming and destroying sin there Which said words did not immediately follow the words that I used when I said the righteousness of Christ was sapless but the same were further off in my Sermon To his best remembrance Now I shall present the Depositions of my own Witnesses touching the second Article Mrs Mary Pocock being sworn and examined Decemb. 7. was asked At the Bear in Reading by me whether she heard me deliver the second Article at the Sermon at Ilsley viz. That the imputative Righteousness of Christ was sapless she replyed she was then present at the sermon and did hear these words delivered then being further asked Whether delivered with a Limitation or without a Limitation she answered that it was with a Limitation Then she was further asked what that Limitation was She reanswered that it was with this Limitation g This proof being positive is of more weight in Law and according to Reason then both the former except the Fiery Deity of Christ be in the Center of our souls burning up our lusts and corruptions And being further asked whether these last words were spoken together with the other words to make up one sentence she said yes in these express words vez That the Righteousness of Christ was sapless Except the Fiery Deity of Christ be in the Center of our souls burning up our lusts and corruptions After this I brought three h Mr Francis Pordage Mrs Mary Pocock Robert Bolt witnesses more to be sworn touching this Article Their Evidence was this which every one in particular intended to give in in writing after this manner viz. I do confess I was present before the Committee of plundred Ministers the 27 of March 1651 where I did hear the Doctor upon his examination touching that Article That the Imputative Righteousness of Christ is a sapless Righteousness deliver himself to this purpose That to him that hath not the spirit of Chtist indwelling in his heart by Faith notwithstanding all his application of Christ and his merits it is but a sapless Righteousness so saith the Scripture he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his But this Testimony and Evidence the Commissioners rejected and would not suffer the witnesses to depose it upon oath In the next place I certified the Commissioners that I had present divers knowing Christians that were constant hearers of me who were ready to depose on oath what the scope of my Ministery was and what they had frequently heard me hold forth in it touching Christs Imputative Righteousness But the Commissioners rejected this Testimony also and would not hear the Evidence of these intended witnesses saying that it was not to the purpose but meerly dilatory To which I replyed that although the proofs were weak and altogether impertinent yet being Judges they ought to hear them and afterward to judge of their force or invalidity and I further told them that this proceeding of theirs in thus preventing and rejecting the testimony of my witnesses in not suffering them to depose what they could did much strengthen my belief of the common report spread abroad the Country That they had resolved beforehand to condemn and eject me whether by right or wrong At this Mr Traphams choler seemed much to be stirred that the Court of which he was one should thus be charged saying with much passion that this should be looked upon as a contempt and an affront against the Court. But the Commissioners peremptorily resolving not to
single eye of thy glory All things within and without stand naked and unvailed before thee being more then transparent to thy all-discerning sight I therefore appeal from mans day Iudgement and condemning Sentence to thy day Iudgement and acquitting voice from mans dark erroneous sight to thy penetrating clear all-seeing eye Thou knowest I am not guilty of these Blasphemies and horrid things laid to my charge Thou knowest that my solemn protestation is from the sincerity of my heart Thou knowest that it never entred into the intention of my soul to deny the holy Trinity or the Godhead of Christ whom I own to be God coequal and coeternal with the Father Thou knowest I am not guilty of holding that Christ was not perfect or that his righteousness is not a fruitfull powerfull everlasting righteousness or that his bloud is not cleansing meriting reconciling bloud Thou seest how my innocency in reference to these things is overshadowed with the dark clouds of false aspersions and undue accusations Othou bright Eye of Divine Glory dost not thou see and behold the innocent sufferings of my person name Estate and Family for thy sake Dost not thou know that I have been oft cast into the Den of Lyons and into the fiery Furnace of wrath and envy for thy names sake O gracious God how oft have I been reviled numbred amongst transgressors made as a scorn and odium amongst men looked upon as the off-scouring of the earth and now at last civilly put to death cast out of their Synagogues and by unjust entence ejected out of that Estate which was thy gift and all this for thy truth and life O blessed Majestie dost not thou behold the naked simplicity and simple innocency of thy servants spirit who to the utmost of his power resigns up his body soul and spirit to follow the righteous Law of Sanctity Purity and Virginity through the mortification of the sences the crucifying of the old man and the casting away of the body of sin in conformity to the cross death and resurrection of Christ that so at length by the supply and vertue of thy spirit there might be an actual conquest attained over sin hel and death O thou Eye of Eternity thou beholdest my will resigned to thine without moving this way or that as to the permanency of or freedom from these sufferings O my God thou knowest I can neither desire the continuing censures and condemnation of the world nor the justification of my person and thy cause from the mouthes of the just though in pure obedience to thy will calling me to it I have addressed my self to the higher Powers that they might be left inexcusable and have by writing exhibited the innocency of that life imbodied in flesh which by the envy and subtilty of Satan hath been so much levelled at and over-clouded by the mists and arrows of wrath and darkness And now I stand resigned in obedience to thy will the true rule of righteousness to continue a publick signe and witness-bearer of Christs sufferings and to be made yet more vile and contemptible for his sake who enduring the Cross and despising the shame now sits enthroned at thy own right hand O omniscient Majestie thou knowest we are neither the better nor the worse for the justification or condemnation of our fellow-creatures there is no satisfaction in man or the things of man therefore the spirit of thy servant flyes to thee like a dove into the true Ark of rest to be caught up into thy eye and to be taken into thy heart and bosom-love for in such union oft lies union of hearts union of wils and union of spirits there is satisfaction only O how my soul groans after this union with thee and presential enjoyment of thee O my God even to feed continually on the tree of life to live in the day and light of thy glory to see and behold the beauties of thy inmost holy habitation to eat yea to banquet on Christs flesh and to drink and that abundantly of his holy bloud to be replenished and drencht throughout with the wine and oyle of the holy Ghost for the full enjoyment of which thy servant shall continually wait upon thee retiring from the broken Cisterns of the Creature to thee the Fountain of all good to whom with thy eternal Son and holy Spirit be rendred of Saints Angels and all creatures glory praise and Halleluiahs for ever Now I have run through the substantials of my Appendix in which I have exhibited the reasons grounds and issue of my appeal the last of which hath been a denial of affording me a re-hearing whence I am forced to appeal to the just Judge of heaven and earth who will certainly render to every one according to his works even reward and honour to the innocent but judgement and disgrace to the guilty and though my adversaries may yet proceed to add iniquity to iniquity even to justifie by writing what they have most unjustly acted against me yet I shall have much peace in my conscience in what I have here done to shew impartially the truth of things however the prejudiced world steere their judgement of me which cannot but be very hard and injurious if they believe that late Named M. L. Register c. Though t is certain he never made the Pamphlet nor Epistle to it Pamphletier who reckons me guilty of Sorcery uncleanness blasphemy c. as though they had been proved against me referring the Reader to the whole proceedings which as he saies are shortly to be made publick Now if we may judge of these by their Praecursor I can expect nothing but such a misrepresenting of the proceedings as M. Ford produced before sentence and to be condemned for what I was accused of and for the horrid things exhibited against me which was the rule of the Commissioners proceedings as the Author of the Praecursor in page 5. expresseth in these words Who were to proceed secundum allegata exhibita as really they did for they gave sentence according to the crimes alleadged and exhibited against me not secundum probata or things legally proved and really by the false reports of some of the Commissioners since And by the bitterness and untruths of the Author of the Praecursor sentence concerning what hath been proved against me I cannot expect any thing better then to be represented guilty of blasphemy sorcery uncleanness Rantism and all things that may seem to make me vile and contemptible and worthy of death or See the Praecursor page 1. in the last notes upon the Epistle and pag. 3 at the latter part banishment But in reference to this I desire only the Reader seriously to weigh the proofs on both sides which have faithfully been transcribed by me from the Depositions together with those other evidences I produced to clear things which the Court would not admit of though in equity they ought to have done it I say I desire these may be seriously weighed together because it is unsuitable to that devoted silent life and way I desire to live in to make rejoinders and frame replies by way of contest and dispute being willing rather to enjoy my God in the retired silence of abstract contemplation and to lie under the reproaches sladers revilings and passionate censures of my adversaries then trouble my spirit with any more things of this nature especially in this time when Christ is entring into a severe Judgement with all Isa 66. 16. Isa 65. 18. flesh and making way for his coming in power and glory to make all things new and cause old things to be no more e remembred JOHN PORDAGE FINIS Reader Whereas by the sides of most Articles in the third Charge it is wrote not proved at all the sense is That nothing was said at all to prove them And further know that my affairs not permitting me to attend the Printing many faults have escaped the most considerable of which thou maist here take notice of ERRATA PAg. 5 r. Punietur l. 15 16. a fine for Government r. Parliament and for Parliament r. Government p. 7. l. 9. dele his l. 5 9. a fine r. Pendarvis p. 11. l. 12. r. the want p. 26. l. 2. r. chap. 3. l. 3. r. Rev. 12. p. 27. l. 8. a fine r. As it is here stated p. 30. l. 1. dele when p. 33. l. 11. for returned r. retired p. 36. r. further time p. 41. in marg d for is r. I am p. 41. l 8. a fine dele were p. 54. l. 6. a fine dele reserve p. 56. l. 7 ab Art 1. r. depose p. 68. l. 8. mid Paragh for word r. world p. 73. marg a r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marg f r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 74. l. 1. r. cloudy p. 77. l. 14. for persecution r. perfection l. 23. del out l 9. a fine for external r. eternal p. 79. l. ult r. your persecutions p. 80. l. 13. r. of by the Prophets l. 23. r. your kingdom p. 88. l. 9. for certified r. rectified p. 91. l. 6. ad fin r. that it is p. 92. l. 2. r and that p. 94. fig. 22. l. 2. r. the first p. 96. in marg del that p. 97. l. 22. r. could not do it p. 102. l. 6. a fine r. accuser p. 101. l. 3. r. know p. 107. l. 25. r. politie is contrived p. 113. l. 28 9. r. union of eyes
insufficiency John Pordage This being read we proceeded to the proof of the first Charge of Articles attested by Mr. Tickle one of the Assistants whom I desired to see sworn in the open Court alleadging that I was altogether ignorant whether he had sworn or not but the Clerk affirmed that he had done it already but after much dispute it was granted that I should hear him sworn in the open Court Then I craved liberty to cross examin him openly and began to put my Interrogatories to him but this just prinviledg they peremptorily denied me though I used many reasons and arguments to shew the equity and reasonableness of it Then they commanded me to write down my Interrogatories which should be proposed and answered in private without my presence according to their fixed resolution Then all being commanded to withdraw I wrote down my Interrogatories and when I gave them in I desired they might be asked in the open Court but it was denied Then I requested that I my self might be present at the cross-examination though all the rest withdrew urging that although I had given in my Interogatories yet there might be many necessary circumstances and questions emergent in the Examination which I could not then give in in writing nor make use of without I was present which yet might serve very much to clear the truth but notwithstanding this and more which was then said I could not prevail but was commanded to withdraw After this I was called in again and as I thought to receive Mr. Tickles Answers to my Interogatories which though I pressed it with much earnestness was denied they resolving as it seemed to me by their Answer to keep them private till publication which appeared to me very partial dealing in regard I could not know how the Questions were answered against the time of making my defence by Negative Witnesses But afterward importuning the Court to examin my Witnesses according to their own Order I was interrupted by their commanding of the Clerk to read a third Charge of Articles exhibited against me by Mr. Fowler an Assistant Minister to the Commissioners whose zeal moving swifter then the Clerks slow reading of the Articles caused him to take them out of his hands and to read them himself with much courage and resolution The Articles were these that follow Further Additional Articles Exhibited against Dr. Pordage by Mr. Fowler Minister of St. Maries in Redding 1. THat the righteousness of Jesus Christ was a poor vain sapless righteousness The wisdom of the Commissioners and the Piety of the Ministers their assistants rejected all my Witnesses against this Charge of 37 Articles except one whom they examin'd two or three questions concerning the most inconsiderable Article 2. That Jesus Christ was not perfect alleadging that Text to confirm it because he cryed out My God my God Why c. 3. That the bloud of Christ was not meritorious of any mans salvation 4. That it was a poor thing to live upon the bloud of Christ and fetching it over again in a contemptuous kind of speaking Pish said he thou art a babe thou knowest nothing to live upon the bloud of Christ is a poor thing 5. That one speaking to him of the glorious persons in Trinity he he replyed Persons in Trinity Pish there is no such thing and again There is no such thing as persons in Trinity 6. That it was a weakness to be troubled for sin 7. That he might say any thing to the men of the world Nothing said at all to prove this Article 8. That he asserted he knew nothing to the contrary but that a man might company with more then one woman being taxed with keeping carnal company with a woman in London 9. That he hath very frequent and familiar converse with Angels 10. That a great Dragon came into his Chamber with a tail of eight yards long four great teeth and did spit fire at him and that he contended with the Dragon 11. That his own Angel came and stood by him while he was expostulating with the Dragon and the Angel came in his own shape and fashion the same clothes bands and cuffs the same bandstrings and that his Angel stood by him and upheld him 12. That Mrs. Pordage and Mrs. Flavel had their Angels standing by them also Mrs. Pordage singing sweetly and keeping time upon her breast and that his children saw the Spirits coming into the house and said look there Father And that the Spirits did often come into the Chamber and drew the Curtains when they were in bed 13. That the said Mr. Pordage confessed that a strong enchantment was upon him and that the Devil did appear to him in the shape of Everard and in the shape of a fiery Dragon and the whole roof of the house was full of Spirits 14. That Mrs. Margaret Pendar acquainted with this Doctrine of Spirits and pretended to be converted by Visions of Angels doth think This was the one onely Article of this whole Charge which they would examin this my Witness unto being one of the most inconsiderable that she was bewitched by them of Bradfield Her Confession SHe was taken ill upon Wednesday in the afternoon in July 1653. about nine of the clock the same night there appeared the vision of a man standing at her beds feet on Thursday the next day he had a book in his hand and stood by her all that day and said nothing On Friday it spake audibly unto her saying Why art thou so discomforted I answered A wounded conscience who can bear He replyed He that hath wounded thee will make thee whole I spake much of mine own unworthiness he answered There was worth in Christ and he had paid a ransom for me Then he told me that that book in his hand was the book of the Lamb and that my name was written in it I saw the book a broad book with a parchment-cover and I saw writing in it and then was I lifted up with a great deal of joy About four of the clock the same Friday the dark Angel came and stood by the other Vision with a knife in his hand and said thou hast had a great deal of joy and offering her the knife bid her dispatch her self and she should enter into that erernal rest her soul so much thirsted after Upon this she trembled the bed shook and my Mrs. held me The same Friday I had visions presented upon the Wall I saw the world and the resurrection of the dead and the Son of man appearing in the clouds of heaven She saw clearly the vision of a friend of hers in London in her Chamber at Southcot her friend was much inclined to this way she much wondred at it and told Mrs. Pordage of it who answered alas so do we see abundance of those we never knew before when once they come into our way On Saturday Dr. Pordage came to her being sent for and prayed
now this was not the way to cover a work of darkness 3. She sometimes went to London to the Lawyers whilst she was there some belonging to that Family accompanying her who found that as she had related she was in great troubles at Law and were convinced that she returned on that account Now in reference to most of these particulars in which I have contradicted and denyed the alleaged circumstances and further vindicated my self they are exactly agreeing with what I have in writing confessed and acknowledged by Laughton himself from whom this charge is pretended to be received and by the Nurse of the child subscribed by them both before witnesses which acknowledgement I shall produce when I see occasion And by this I hope it may appear to moderate sober and judicious men that this Libelling charge drawn up so falsly enviously and yet so subtilly calling from the dead a business past some nine or ten years since which though it were criminous as it is not were invalid legally to prejudice by the Act of Oblivion or General Pardon as all other things pretended to be spoken or acted by me before 1651. according to the judgement of judicious men which I leave to the Commissioners to consider of I say that this is but the effect of the evil and wicked policy of my Accuser brought forth to prejudice and overcloud that pure and innocent principle which I profess and faithfully live to and the better to cover that evil design they have against my person and livelyhood And now I appeal unto you the Commissioners and to all that are pious and sober minded whether my enemies do not deal very unreasonably enviously and unbeseeming Christians from this business so long since past in which nothing criminous is positively objected against me to draw such horrid conclusions as commonly to report that I now live in base Lust and wantonness notwithstanding my commending of and owning the Virgin-Life I say whether this be not exceeding hard measure and ungodly dealing let all judge But I see the design of the Devil in it which my enemies may be ignorant of which is to overcloud and darken by monstrous lyes and scandals which are the smoak of the bottomless pit that Life of Purity Chastity Mortification Self-denyal and heavenly injoyments which God hath favoured me to live in and so to affright all from my acquaintance which otherwise might very much prejudice and overthrow his Kingdom For the old Serpent knows very well as also my neer friends and acquaintance that for these four years even since the time of my great tryals by the extraordinary Temptations and Representations of the devil that I have been abstracted more then ordinary from all outward things giving my self up wholly to Prayer Watchfulness Mortification and constant self-denial in dying to all earthly pleasures even to things permitted and accounted lawful as finding many things which ordinarily are embraced to be great hinderances of the souls progress to God and great burthens to a spirit which hath tasted much of that tree of Life which groweth in the midst of the Paradise of God and great clogs to a soul that sees through the vail of the sensitive Nature into the Spiritual Glory of Eternity but what I have enjoyed and experimented in this time of my extraordinary mortification and self-denyal in the death of the Animal man and rising of Christs Image in me is not seasonable now to declare yet for the glory of my God and the undeceiving of those who strangely mistake me this much in all humility I must say that did my accuser and my enemies know what I have enjoyed in this way of the cross of the secret hidden treasures of Eternity and of the out-goings of divine goodness were they but acquainted with these discoveries of celestial Glory instillations of the heavenly dew and secret touches of the Holy Ghost did they but know those bright irradiations of Eternal Light those strong motions of divine Life and pleasant streams of eternal Love together with those deep sufferings in bearing Christs Cross which I and many in my Family have in this time experienced they durst not thus condemn me and judge me as an evil doer and one that lives in the Lusts of the flesh But my God hath taught me to Bless whilst they Curse to pray for them whilst they design to ruine me and to love them whilst they hate me and to say with Christ Father forgive them for they know not what they do This I thought fit in all humility to annex to that Libelling charge concerning Mrs Flavel from which I have undeservedly suffered so much by the malice of the devil and now I shall proceed to answer the remaining Articles one of which is intermixed with the former seven that concern Mrs Flavel which is this Art That we have changed our Names Answ 'T is well known that we own and subscribe our Names in our civil converse with the world as this and my former Answers testifie I shall therefore wait to see whether any one dare swear to this Article and though we did in our own private family call one another by Scripture names yet I conceive it did not concern the civil Magistrate to take Cognizance of such a thing it being not practised to make any disturbance or confusion in the State Artic. 8. That I am extreamly covetous taking five shillings at a time to marry one Answ I wonder my accuser should let this Article pass whose Consequence is so much against Reason as to argue me extreamly covetous for one such poor inconsiderable act done six or seven years since and I appeal to the inhabitants of Reading and Mr Fowlers own Conscience whether he hath not taken ten shillings oftener then five for marrying Art 9. That my preaching doth not tend to Edification Answ I can bring those that are knowing spiritual and sober Christians who will assert that my preaching doth tend to Edification and to the building up of souls in the true knowledge and Love of Christ and I believe these my accusers will be found to be like those of Chorazin and Bethsaida of whom Christ said that if the mighty works which were done amongst them had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah they had repented long since in dust and ashes and was Christs Ministery ineffectual because they did not believe but remained in the hardness and impenitency of their hearts neither doth it follow that my preaching doth not tend to Edification because those that bring this Article through their unbelief are not edified by it For there are many that come from places round about that are edified strengthned and refreshed by it and there are many that have been enlightned convicted and converted by it who still receive quickning growth and comfort under it confessing that God is in it of a truth as finding it instrumentally effectual to the pulling down of the Kingdom of sin and satan and to
his uncertainty four years since all which compared with that Answer of his given by oath at my late Tryal that this Article was delivered in the same express words for the substance of them cannot but shew that he hath almost if not altogether incurred the sin of perjury Now all this being well weighed cannot but demonstrate that this testimony is of no force at all And although I formerly gave no answer to this Article because it was not sworn to positively but with reserves and alterations and that by one Witness only and came not under the Act of Scandalous Opinions yet I shall now speak something to it and shew you the Deponents mistake which was in leaving out this word onely which inserted makes it appear with a more innocent face But now I shall further answer That I delivered this sentence thus which I still own viz. That the second preparatory work that Christ did in the soul of a true Saint for the manifesting of his glory in it was the instating of the soul into a glorious liberty and freedom which doth not onely consist in the liberty and freedom from the guilt of sin the curse of the Law the wrath of God but also in the enjoying of the spirit of Christ in the centre of the soul there purifying our natures mortifying our lusts and restoring us into the Image of God And so this truely presented is a glorious truth though as Mr. Tickle by mistake delivered it it seemed monstrous To the fifth Articli Mr. Tickle saith that I did deliver That by male and female Gen. 1. Octob. 5. we are to understand by male the Deity and by female the Humanity and that these two became one flesh k This seems to relate to all the former Articles as well as to this as may be seen in the Charge but how well it agrees with the answers to the cross-interrogatories let the Reader judge These things were delivered without any limitation whatsoever Mr. Tickle being further examined on this Article to this Interrogatory viz. Whether I spake this as my own avowed judgement or as the judgement of some other person Answers thus That I delivered those expressions of the Article with approbation and that therefore he had cause to believe it was my judgement and as far as he remembers it was delivered as my judgement Here the Reader may observe that Mr. Tickle doth not answer directly and nakedly as a Christian should but subtilly and indirectly like a Sophister For he answers that I delivered this with approbation but whether this approbation was from my self or from some other I might then cite he doth not express passing it over in silence Afterward he saith he hath cause to believe it was my judgement which is a meer prevarication but no answer to the question which was not Whether he believed it to be my judgement but Whether I delivered it as my judgement or as the judgement of another To which in the last clause he answers somewhat viz. That I delivered it as my own as far as he remembers But though this be somewhat to the question yet not much to the purpose it being no legal proof or evidence for his memory might fail him Now the reason of this Interrogatory was in that Mr. Tickle some four years since when this was better in his memory then now it can be gave in this that followeth under his own hand to the Committee of Plundered Ministers viz. l This is taken out of the Depositions then taken before the Committee That Gen. 1. By male we are to understand saith Mr. Pordage The Deity by the female the Humanity This he gave from a Rabby with that approbation Now how consistent this is with his late answer to my Interrogatories let all judge especially with that part of it in which he affirms that as far as he remembers I delivered it as my own judgement But now to answer something positively to this which may give satisfaction to judicious and knowing Christians I acknowledge that in the Sermon before mentioned I delivered for substance this which follows viz. That another preparatory work that Christ did in the soul of a true Christian for the manifesting of his own glory in it was the bringing up the spirit of the soul into a glorious mystical yet real union with himself and after I had proved the truth and substantiality of this union betwixt Christ and a Christian from several Texts of Scripture which directly evinced it I came by way of illustration to speak of that Scripture Gen. 1. out of which I said that by male and female according to the judgement of a learned Rabby The Deity and pure Humanity might be shadowed forth which by union become one the male representing the Deity the female the pure Humanity or regenerated part of the soul which by union is made partaker of the Divine nature By this you may see that if Mr. Tickle had been but a charitable and knowing Christian he needed not have troubled himself and me about this Article To the sixth Article Mr. Tickle saith that he heard me deliver in discourse with Mr. Pendarvis That the gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh Taken Octob. 5 Being further examined he saith that to this sixth Article there was no m He dares not swear there was no explanation of it in the discourse but how this agrees with M. Pendarvis his Deposition let the Reader judge especially in point of charity in reference to me limitation whatsoever in the delivering of it Here the Reader must know that Mr. Pendarvis was summoned by me to witness to the truth in this particular but he came not alleadging that he could say no more then what he had already deposed Whereupon I desired the Commissioners after information that I had summoned him to hear his former Deposition read but they peremptorily denied it By which I clearly saw that they had more mind to take all occasion of advantage against me then to be fully informed of the truth of things But Mr. Pendarvis his Deposition given in before the Committee of Plundered Ministers was this viz. That the Doctor in conference did say That the gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh and I opposed him but then the Doctor replyed by way of n Compare but this with Mr. Tickles Answer and judge whether he did not much vail the truth by it explanation that he understood them only to be flesh that is weak in point of rest and trust on them for eternal life and salvation and in this I agreed with him Correspondent to this was my answer to and explanation of this Article before the Committee of Plundered Ministers which three Witnesses were ready to depose on Oath before the present Commissioners who refused to hear their testimony To the seventh Article Mr. Tickle saith That he heard me deliver in discourse that Christ is a Type
That he hath very frequent and familiar converse with Angels Depos c The accuser is here again admitted to be a witness yet all his testimony fâ—llowing is a meer here-say being no legal proof and so very unfit to have been received by the Commissioners but they delighted to hear any thing against me though no legal evidence Mr. Christopher Fowler of Redding sworn and examined deposeth That about three weeks or a moneth since he asked Mr Daniel Blagrave the younger whether he could not speak to the Doctors converse with Angels He answered as far as the Deponent remembers he could speak much Mr. Christopher Fowler sworn again and further examined November 23. at the Bear in Redding before the Commissioners deposeth That about Michaelmas last the Deponent speaking with Mr Daniel Blagrave the elder concerning the visions of Angels that were at his house in reference to Mrs Pyndar The Deponent told him he the said Mr. Blagrave was able to say much to the purpose it being in his house and desired him thereupon to speak his knowledge of the truth both in point d Note Mr Fowlers subtile insinuations into Mr. Blagrave to engage him to witness somewhat that he might accuse me of of conscience and reputation being censured for supporting such a man as Dr Pordage The said Mr. Blagrave answered why the Doctor doth converse with Angels and I believe when he comes before the Commissioners he will not deny but he doth converse with Angels e If the accuser had lived in the time of Christs Disciples or did they live in this age what an accuser of the brethren were he like to be The Deponent thus replyed to Mr. Blagrave If the Dr will confess them Angels we will prove them Devils Note How full of pride and rashness was this speech of Mr Fowlers and how unsuitable to the Scriptures and the Law of Charity For there are two sorts of Angels and Spirits good and evil light and dark holy and wicked which are continually tending upon men in this world f 1 Pet 5. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil to tempt and draw men into the same condemnation with themselves the good to guard and preserve from the evil influences and malitious designs of the other But doth not the accuser seem to forget that the Ministration of the holy Angels stil abides who are Ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for those who shall inherit salvation Heb. 1. 14. And the Psalmist saies The Angel of the Lord pitcheth his tent round obout those that fear him How then dare Mr Fowler affirm that if I confess I have communion with Angels they will prove them Devils How dare he thus limit the holy one of Israel and shut up his favours within the narrow limits of his own conceptions and enjoyments And why may not God for the support and comfort of some precious Saints who in humility self-denial and abstractedness of spirit serve him day and night I say why may he not afford such a sweet and heavenly converse with the holy Angels what Scripture is there that speaks against it Is it not suitable to what he afforded the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and the primitive Christians But if my accuser lives so much in his sences as to have no sense or knowledg of it yet why should he thus rashly condemn others But the accuser proceeds in his Depositions And further this Deponent saith That he hath credibly heard something tending a What an invalid illegal testimony is this a meer hear-say from he knows not who and his adding to this purpose makes it to no purpose at all to this purpose That Doctor Pordage hath seen the vision of the said Mr. Blagrave somewhat a bright vision But here I put in a question which was this Mr. Chairman I do confess in my answer communion and converse with Angels but pray ask Mr. Fowler What conversewith Angels M. Blagrave understood visible or invisible To this the Deponent further saith That the entrance of this discourse with Mr Blagrave was in reference to visions that were seen with the bodily eye and mentioned the visions of Mrs Pindar that were by her reported to be such upon this he understood Mr. Blagrave that the purport of his answer was a visible converse with Angels And the Deponent further saith That he delivered a Summons for Mr. Blagrave to attest these things b Mr Blagrave was then at London engaged in very weighty affairs who told Mr Cook they had no power to setch him by summons being out of the County in person to Mr Cook one of the Commissioners who sent the Deponent word by Letter That he had shewed the same to Mr. Blagrave who hath notwithstanding refused to appear And further he spake thus in open Court against Mr Blagrave though the Clerk did not take it viz. I do c He speaks against him because he was not so cruel and unjust as he and others are for the former Committee Mr Blagrave being Chairman clearedme by vote after my publick renouncing the denial of the Godhead of Christ for which the present Commissioners against Law and Reason have unjustly condemned me Now whether the accuser doth not speak more like Rabsheca then a Christian in saying it was the plague of the County to have such a cursed Committee let all moderate persons judge it being the use of such to anathematise all who serve not their cruel designs verily believe such a Judge as he was in this case before such a Witness he would have been were he now present But I say It was the plague of this County to have such a cursed Committee Note Mr Fowler here asked me some questions to ensnare me as Whether I had not seen the vision of Mr. Daniel Blagrave To which I answered To this profound question I will answer when I see it attested upon Oath And further asking me concerning converse with Angels The Cleark took this answer The Doctor doth confess that he hath daily converse with Angels but he desires Mr. Fowler to declare what converse with Angels Mr Blagrave did inform that the said Dr had The Dr doth further say That he heard it credibly reported that he hath every day two Angels dressing of him to which he added that they that reported it to him said they had it from the mouthes of two Godly Ministers that would not lie viz. Mr Fowler and Mr Ford. Note I brought in this story to shew the vanity and invalidity of such proofs as the accuser had before produced as that he had credibly heard somewhat to that purpose that I had seen the vision of Mr Blagrave And for all the accuser knows that which he heard so credibly reported might be as great an untruth as that which I heard reported of my self as coming from him and his brother Ford whose function seems very unsuitable to that of lying and slandering Afterward Mr Fowler asked me
again whether I had seen the vision of Mr Daniel Blagrave I answered as long as it is attested only upon report I would not answer to it Artcle 10 11 12 13. Concerning the apparitions of Spirits and of a great Dragon Here I must entreat the Reader seriously to weigh the following Depositions from which my enemies have charged me to be a Conjurer and a Sorcerer that so it may be seen whether they have any better ground thus to esteem me then they have to esteem Job who was terrified through visions and Christ who was tempted by voice and vision in the Wilderness and John who in visions saw a great red Dragon and terrible Locusts go forth of the bottomless pit and three unclean frogs the spirits of Devils going forth to deceive the word I say then they have to esteem these Conjurers and Negromances for such sights But now to the Depositions Depos Susanna Grip wife of John Grip of Redding sworn and examined deposeth That the Doctor told her that a great many Spirits hovered about his window and kept a noise but the Dr said he told the company there a Here she mâ—stakes I said there did com in but one at a time Remember how I shewed before that this woman was perjured should come in but one at a time and that a Dragon did come in with a long tail and great eyes and fangs and did spit fire at him And this Witness further saith That his Angel stood by him in his own shape in the same clothes band and cuffs and did protect him Note Where this woman speaks truth I shall not contradict her but where she mistakes I must inform the Reader of the truth and shew that she rashly swears untruths This then I told her that I had an Angel b They being ministring spirits emplyed for the Saints good may in extâ—aordinary tryals be sent of God to afford extraordinary supports of God that stood by me assisted me comforted me and protected me when that dreadfull apparition was before me and that the Dragon was then overcome And I further told her That the Angel or Spirit of one Everard appeared in his own shape clothes band and cuffs c. which compared This makes no more for me nor against me then hers but I only shew the truth with Mrs Grips Deposition shews her mistake This Everard I suspected to be a Conjurer and to be instrumental in the â—â—ising of those apparitions though I was not so sure of it as to prosecute him or to swear he caused them for the Devil may take up any ones shape by Gods permission as it is generally thought he did Samuels Further this Deponent saith That the Doctor likewise told her a I remember not that I spake about their Angels to this Deponent but that such a thing might be in an extraordinary tryal is not against Scripture which clearly intimates that there are Angels peculiar to persons Act. 12. 15. It is his Angel that Mrs Pordage and Mrs Flavel had their Angels standing by them and that he overcame the Dragon and that he said the children saw the spirits and said look there father being not afraid after they had fasted and prayed and that the Dr further said That the spirits did afterward come into their Chambers and drew the Curtains and looked on them but they would not take notice of them And that the spirits did come about three daies after he had fasted and prayed and flashed open the Curtains and looked upon them Note For three weeks or a moneth there were very many and very strange apparitions but the Curtains were never drawn but once and that was by a spirit in the shape of Everard For some other particulars of this Deposition I doe not remember whether I spake them or not Depos The Dr. being aked by b Here that accuser took so much authority upon himself as to examin me on these questions Mr Fowler what he saith concerning the apparition of the Dragon The Dr. doth cenfess before the Commissioners That c This I speak in reference to that three weeks space in which I and my Family were so much exercised by the permission of God who turned it much for our good and spiritual advantage he hath seen very many dreadfull apparitions of Devils at his house and that some of his Family did see them and that a Dragon did come into his house with a long tail and great teeth but that he said his Angel did protect him he denies But he further saith That about four years since he had apparitions both of good and bad Angels for three weeks together at his own house but from that time to this they have ceased in that manner Being further asked by Mr Fowler the Dr doth deny that ever any Angel appeared in his clothes bands and cuffs and further saith That his Angel never did appear to him in any visible shape And being asked Whether he ever saw Mrs Pordages and Mrs Flavels Angels standing by them He answereth He never saw them standing by them but it doth not therefore follow that they might not stand by them and though he can yet he will not answer to any questions but such as concern himself immediately And being further asked by Mr Fowler Whether he did not relate to Mrs Grip that Mrs Flavel and Mrs Pordage had their Angels standing by them He answereth He can neither affirm nor deny it for he doth not remember whether he did or no. And being further asked by Mr Fowler Whether he did not relate to the said Mrs Grip That his children saw the spirits come into his house and cryed Look there Father and that the spirits did often come into his chamber and drew the curtains when they were in bed To the first part of the question he answereth He cannot affirm or deny it for in truth he doth not remember whether he did or no. To the second part of the question he saith d For whereas the Deposition saith they came oft into the Chambers and drew the Curtains it is not true for it was but once and that by a spirit in the shape of Everard and Mrs Grip had been proved perjured had it not been unjustly hindred by the Commissioners wils he doth deny it positively and he will prove the Deposition to be perjury And the Dr being further asked Whether or no he knows that the children did see the spirits come up and down the house or no and whether they thereupon did say Look there father To the first part of this question he saith He cannot know what the eyes of children do see and otherwise he will not answer And to the other part of the question he answers He cannot remember whether the children did say so or no and therefore will neither affirm nor deny it 2. Witness Susanna Grip daughter of the foresaid John Grip aged 21 years sworn and examined
tincture besides that quickning vertue which by them was communicated and insinuated into the spirits of our outward bodies which like a Cordial had been able to have renewed the strength of our languishing nature 4. Our sense or faculty of tasting was very pleasantly entertained with those invisible dews which were sweeter then hony or the hony-comb and therefore deserve to be called the Dews of Heaven with which instead of food we were many times wonderfully refreshed 5. In relation to the sense of spiritual contaction that was also delighted with its heavenly objects for none can utter that pleasing impression which the burning tincture of this Light World afforded us coming like a hot cordial into the center of our spirits being sensibly felt in the inward parts so as to cause much joy and heavenly pleasure which penetrated thorow our souls giving us occasion to bless praise and magnifie the Lord. Thus for the space of three weeks or a month were we exercised inwardly and outwardly thorow that great conflict which was betwixt those two worlds and their inhabitants the dark world sometimes afflicting us with dreadful shapes abominable smells loathsom tastes with other operations of the evil Angels The light world at other times opening and relieving us with odoriferous perfumes most sweet dews glorious visions and Angelical harmony which the Lord favoured us with to shevv his extraordinary love in thus succouring us in extraordinary exercises and tryals Thus much for those tvvo internal vvorlds spread throughout the visible vvorld in vvhich the evil and good Angels are more immediately then in this visible air to vvhich they cannot be commensurate by reason of their spiritual natures each of them abiding in their distinct principle the one sort being in joy the other being in torment the one in light the other in darkness according to the Scripture But besides these tvvo vvorlds vve had an opening of the eternal vvorld called in Scripture the k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb 2. 5. vvorld to come from the futurity of its full and clear manifestation and a precursory entrance l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10. 19. into the most holy place by a divine transportation into the glory of the Majesty agreeable to that of John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me c. Here vvere seen heard and selt the unutterable misteries of that kingdom which are not yet to be m 2 Cor. 12. 4. Where it s said that in Paradise Paul heard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things or words not to be worded or uttered which it is not lawful for a man to speak divulged in regard of the pride ignorance prejudice and envy of many in the world being reserved for those humble gracious spirits which are waiting in silence for the second coming of the Son of Man Part. 3. But now it is time to come to the third particular which was the effects and impressions left upon our spirits by these wonderful exercises and manifestations After this we began more cleerly to see that straight and narrow way which leads to Life Eternal which we call the Virgin life or the life of purity and righteousness in its perfection being the life of fixed love In any thing short of which The perfection of the Virgin life cannot consist So that meerly to abstain from the concupiscible lustings of Venus under the spirit of this great world is but the life of outward Chastity and but a particular branch of the other For the Virgin life is not attained till the Will of the soul is brought through death to be so passive as to will desire and act nothing but what the Essential essence of love wills moves and acts thorow it for till then the soul cannot be a pure Virgin nor live without all desire lust and imagination which must all cease before the pure life of God can come to be all in all 2. This life of Virginity was placed fore-right as to the inward eye of the minde being that mark of persecution at which we were to aym in our pressing toward the Resurrection of the dead To this Wisdom that eternal virgin Prov. 8. 20. 23. as a leading star invited us calling to follow her in the way of Circumcision Resignation and the Cross in the way of total self-denyal and forsaking of all for her sake in the way of annihilation and conformity to Christs death By which we saw undoubtedly we should come to Christs Resurrection Ascension Glorification and Fixation in the love of the Holy Ghost the third and last dispensation Here we cleerly saw the danger of looking back to the external world and of putting out our imaginations into the inward world or the kingdom of the Dragon or of resting in the openings and delights of the inward light world For by turning back into the delights of the senses we saw the soul would become beastial by turning to the left hand and imagining into the kingdom of the Dragon in awakening the fire of wrath and subtilty divelish and dangerously wicked by turning to the right hand in imagining into and taking too much complacency in the visions illuminations tinctures and Enthusiasms of the light world we saw the soul might become elevated into self-conceit and tinctured with pride and be in danger of neglecting that death of the Cross which is the onely safe path into eternal rest and Fixation Here then we were shewed that the way which lead up to the virginessence The new Jerusalem was strait and narrow as upon the breadth of an hair so that we were to turn no way either on the right or left hand but stand without lust with our eys fixed upon the Being of love pressing forward after fixation in the external house of God there to become immoveable pillars no more to go out but there always to bear the name of God and the name of the City of God which is the new Jerusalem And now for the space of this four years ever since the time of these great manifestations we by the Grace of God have enjoyed the exercise of our spiritual senses which never since have been shut neither ever will be except thorow voluntary transgression and disobedience we apostatise and run back into the earthly nature or turn aside to center in something short of the pure life of virginity which calls us from the external thorow the internal into the Eternal world which is that kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the world 3. But thirdly after the extraordinary time of Grace and Mercy to us we enjoyed not onely a clear leading convicting light upon our understandings but likewise received from the Lord a stamp and strong impression of power moving our Wills to follow this light through the death of all things to come up into the perfect life and image of
my relating to some that were wise and knowing what I heard from another with much grief to my soul makes me any way culpable or guilty Art 3. That the bloud of Christ was not meritorious of any mans salvation Ans I call heaven and earch to witness that such thoughts never entred into my soul nor did such words ever come out of my mouth For my judgement ever hath been and still is that the bloud of Christ is satisfying reconciling cleansing bloud that it is interceding redeeming meriting bloud in relation to all those who through faith and patience come to inherit eternal life Art 4. That it was a poor thing to live upon the bloud of Christ and fetching it over again in a contemptuous kind of speaking Pish said he thou art a babe thou knowst nothing to live upon the bloud of Christ is a poor thing 1. Part. Ans I acknowledg that about four years since such expressions were uttered by me to one Mrs. Grip but without any such intent as may be supposed by my accusers and not with that circumstantial aggravation of repeating it in a contemptuous manner which is but a supposition of my adversary and cannot be attested by an Oath without this Witness pretends infallibly to know my thoughts and purposes 2. Part. Ans Again this being spoken to a particular person on a particular occasion might be true if the circumstances of the discourse were accordingly added though as here presented it seems very monstrous 3. Part. Ans Therefore to make things clear I shall here insert some particular circumstances which may present this Article though in a new yet true face I coming to Mrs. Grips house she took me into a private room to have some conference with me alone where she brake forth into a violent passion of tears weeping and wringing her hands and pouring sorth bitter complaints and invectives against Mr. Fowler as that he was a graceless man a Lyer a Slanderer not worthy to come up into a Pulpit or to have the name of a Minister of Christ with other such bitter expressions The cause of which was as she then told me Mr. Fowlers reporting about that she then lived in Adultery and after her passion was somewhat allayed she brake forth into these or such like expressions of high assurance Christ hath loved me and dyed for me and justified me by his bloud from all guilt of sin I am an elect person a justified person and what is this Fowler to charge sin upon me These and other expressions fell from her to this purpose from some of which I feared she was drenched with Antinomianism and told her more then once it was a poor thing to live upon the bloud of Christ and to look so much upon that except she had the nature of Christ and the Spirit of Christ asking her where was the meekness of Christ and the patience of Christ to suffer as an innocent lamb quietly but still she crying out she lived on the bloud of Christ I told her it was a poor thing to be thus exalted with notions of the bloud of Christ without mentioning sanctification and those holy graces which flow from Christs nature dwelling in the soul Now by these expressions of mine my scope was to make Mrs. Grip see the necessity of sanctification and of a pure and holy life and not to make void the blessed effect of the bloud of Christ applyed according to the mind of God and the true meaning of the Scripture And now having related the circumstances as near as I can remember I believe a sober and knowing Christian will not judge me either scandalous or ignorant for these expressions Art 5. That one speaking to me of the glorious persons in the Trinity I replyed pish there is no such thing as persons in Trinity 1. Part. Ans I doe here profess and avow from the sincerity of my heart That I believe the Trinity of persons as an Article of my faith viz. That there are three persons distinct from each other the person of the Father the person of the Son the person of the Holy Ghost yet not so as to prejudice the unity in essence and I so believe the unity as not to confound the Trinity of persons 2. Part. Ans I never uttered such expressions in that way as to give any just ground of suspition of my denying the Trinity But I remember about four years since being before the Committee of Berks Mr. Fowler or Mr. Gilbert I remember not which desired the Committee to give them liberty to ask me two or three questions amongst the rest they asked me whether there were three persons in the Deity I answered them I believed the Trinity as it is recorded in 1 John 5 7 There are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost Thus you see I believe the Trinity But doe you believe the Trinity of persons said they I replyed I find not the term Persons in the Text but to put you out of doubt I do not stumble at the word Person And this afterward I told to the above-mentioned Mrs. Grip in a private conference some years since to whom I affirmed that I found no such expressions as persons in Trinity in the Scripture and that the word Person being a School-term was very difficult to be apprehended by common capacities but I never spake thus to prejudice the true notion of the persons in the sacred Trinity which I do cordially believe but only to shew that ordinary Christians should not be too curious in prying into that deep mystery of the three persons in the Trinity but rather content themselves with what the Scripture plainly affirms of the Father Son and Holy Ghost as distinct yet one But to conclude this Answer pray consider what hard measure it is thus to pick a broken sentence out of a long discourse and so to accuse one without relating the circumstances which might serve to clear what otherwise may seem very strange to prejudiced persons Art 6. That it was a weakness to be troubled for sin Ans I do not remember that any such expression as this ever dropped from my mouth either publiquely or privately and I am perswaded that none one dare assert it with an oath which if they did would not make much to the purpose for with a charitable qualification it might thus be made forth That 't is a weakness for one to be troubled for sin who hath the assurance of Gods love his sin pardoned his person justified sanctified and his will converted from and crucified to sin for such a one should be triumphing in the power of faith and love enjoying sweet heavenly communion with God and saying O death where is thy sting and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Whereas trouble for sin thus pardoned and mortified may be an engine of Satan