his best friend Conscience wee le pray you to stay with him if he stirrâ— you le call us wee be but in the next roome Love This Conscience is of true temper to make a friend off he neither flatters nor feares no unkindnesse alienates him nor dangeâ— asseighes him from doing the office of a true friend at all times on would not be with us such a friend for any thing in the world this distressed man hath extreamly abused him and yet you set with what servency of affection he sticks to him Iustice I know abudance of the name and of his kindred and truly all the generation of them are such Patience Whence is hee the a Scholler What prote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth I never 〈◊〉 signes of 〈…〉 in him not doth â—â— make any profession that I know of of any one calling holy in use but hens of a wounder publique spirit you shall have him at all 〈◊〉 tings that are for publique good finding fault with the 〈◊〉 of one son of men with want charity in another with pride and disdame in another willing them they glory to be esteemed Christians and till much of Religion go much to Church hear and read and pray and fast frequently because these are the cheapest parts of Religion but to deliver the captine and set the oppressed free or to feed the hungry cloath 〈◊〉 â—â—ed or visit the Father lesse and Widomes to all these they are very backward when they are called to these one hath a great family and there hath marrled awrfe another hath but one servant at home cannot be spared from his wade getting of mony I says he you are rare christians that can about in this worlds goods see your brother laek His dealing is so plaine to the point that very few regard his company and that 's the reason those great meetings produce so little good as they do for without his company you shall never see any effect worthy the name of Christian he hath had no breeding neither in the universities or Ins of Court never was a Courtier not Trauailer yet he is ignorant of nothing speaks very shrewdly to purpose owneth every just publick cause without respect to persons of opinions he will not weare finer cloathes if you would give them to him gratie yet to an ingenious vertuous man there is not a more pleasant companion Hope Pray yee what Religion is he off Truth For matter of outward formes he is very reserved as if he were not fully satisfied I have often heard him say God a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth but he professeth himselfe to be clearely for liberty of worship and the greatest enemy to compulsion or restriction that can be affirming there is no sinne so unreasonable or un-Christian as for one man especially one bring man to perecute punish or molest another for matters of Religion or to make Lawes concerning any thing supernaturall he saies it proceeds not from any savour of Christianity that men doe so but from an imperious donsineering spirit that takes it in soule scome that any man should doe any thing but by Licence from him I assure yee Conscince allowes no such dealing and this is the maine quarrell twixt him and our Patient Mr. Edwardse but I hope wee shall see them good friends againe Superstition Well if this man dye under your hande your lives shall go for his I le take my oath you are the cause of his death Piety Spare your teares Superstition you shall find we have done him a good office you will see him a new man and your selle too Idcube not erelong Conscience Hoe friends pray yee all come in quickly What 's the matter Love Justice c. Conseience Doe you see this posture wherein he lyeth thus he hath layne about a quarter of an houre his lips moving his hands and eyes lifted up just as if he were praying in the Pulpit Hope It is very wonderfull He takes notice of nobody what will be the issue See he now strives as if he would raise himselfe as if his prayer were ended and he were preparing to Preach Conscience help to hold him up and see what he will doe certainly he supposeth himselfe to be in some great presence for just thus is his manner at such times peace and listen for he begins to speake Mr. Edwards Men of England my purpose is not now as formerly to promote my owne work but to prosecute what is just and necessary without respect of persons or opinions which hath occasioned me to make choice of this place of Scripture The whole commandement is fulfilled in this one word LOVE It hath often come to my thoughts why the Apostle Saint John is called in a peculer manner the Disciple whom Jesus loved but it never made so deep impression in me as at present certainly there could he nothing more joyous to his own spirit then to consider it and my heart at present panting after the reason thereof tels me that John certainly was of a mild a loving and tender disposition more eminently then any of the rest so soft that our Saviour chose his brest for a place of his repose and I am strengthened herein because I find it recorded of him that when he was so old that he was hardly able to come into the speaking place or to speake he prosecuted this most blessed and amiable theame little children love one anoher repeating it often little children love one another as having throughly disgested this lesson of his Masters the whole commandement is fulfilled in this one word LOVE Love is the true touch-stone of all Christian performances it instantly manifesteth how things are so much love so much of God It is the surest guide in all private and publique undertakings without a due regard to the rule of love all things will goe wrong observe it it will be like the North pole to the Marriners to guide you to the quiet harbour of justice and peace it is a rule easie to be understood the meanest capacity is capable thereof none can excuse themselves that swarve from this rule If you would know your duty to God it will tell you that in equity you are to love as he hath loved hath he so loved as to give himselfe an offering and a sacrifice for you then ye ought to walke in love as Christ hath loved would you know how you should manifest your love to Christ Love will set before you the sick the naked the aged and impotent it will lead you to prisons and houses of distresse and shew you the captives the widowes and fatherlesse Children and it will assure you that in as much as you ministred to the necessities of these you have done it unto him but if you have this worlds goods and see and suffer these or any of these to lack there is not the love of God in you Would you have a rule for
know I am now come about A work gentlemen that being finished your selves will say was worthy the hazard of his and all our lives no lesse then the building of Gods owne house sweeping out of hereticks schismaticks stopping the mouthes of illitterate mechanicall preachers and beautifying this holy building with the glorious ornament of uniformity the Mother of peace and all blessed things And if it will please these worthy Physitions and the rest of your friends to give you and I leave for the present to goe on with this pious work and to repaire to you when you shall find cause to call upon them I think they shall in so doing shew not only a care of you but of the whole Church of God nor shall I leave it only to your own care Mr. Edwards for truly gentlemen he is too apt to neglect his health and all that is deare unto him for the good of his brethen I speake my conscience and the very truth from my heart and am confident no hurt can come to him but a great deale of good to the publique if you allow of this my counsell and I Judge you so prudent and pious as to preferre the publique before your owne private trouble Cons Although Mr. Edwards when you and I and your friend Policy are together and no body else he alwaiâ—s overswaies you ever proposing things sutable to your corrupted humours yet now here are others present that can impartially judge betwixt us and therefore I shall use my accustomed plainnesse though I have never any thankes for my labour Pray Sir turne not from me but heare me and let these worthy men judge betwixt my perswations and the perswations of Pollicy gentlemen I pray observe well this darling of his This is hee whose councell he hath long time followed he it was that first inticed him to undertake this unhappy worke which contrary to all reason and Religion he calleth the building of Gods house c. though I shewed him plainly he went about therein to destroy the living houses of God the vexing and molesting of his most deare because most consciencious and peaceable servants though I told him plainly any that differed with him might as justly compell him to conforme unto them as he could compell them though I manifested that he was as liable to errour as any that he complained off and that therefore there was no reason why he should endevour to make men odious for opinions I shewed him it was impossible so long as knowledge was imperfect but men must dâ—ffer I shewed how neverthelesse every man was bound equally as himself to worship God according to his own and not another mans understanding of the word of God I told him he would bring upon himself the odium of all judicious Religious people I put him in remembrance how extreamly he himself complained of compulsion and restriction of worship in the Bishops times laid before him their miserable endes and the great disturbances that have arisen from thence to the Commonwealth shewed how much it tended to devision and confusion to set up one way of worship and to persecute or dispise all others that it was not Gods way to bring men to truth by force but the devills and Antichrists to fasten men in errour that there was no sin more unreasonable nor more odious in Gods sight then to enforce men to professe practice or worship contrary to knowledge and beleefe and that to enforce is as justly punishable by man as any other violence This and much more I told him continually yet this wretched Pollicie finding him ambitious and covetous applyed his arguments to these his corruptions and in an instant swayed him into an engagement for he said no more but this if conscience heere will undertake to secure unto you the honour domination and profit due to you as you are a Clergy-man then follow his councell but if his tend to make you esteemed but as a lay man and not regarding your learning and venerable calling to mix you amongst the vulgar and in effect bidds you to labour with your hands the things that are lawfull that you may no longer be a receiver of tythes offerings c. but from your owne labours and sweat to give to them that need if he bids you having food and rayment be herewith content and I shew unto you a way to abound with superflueties like the men of this world and to have a large share in controwling the unlearned and shall manifest unto you the defects of 〈…〉 and shall supply you with rules that 〈…〉 to effect 〈…〉 then let you and I joyne our force and councell together And if we do not in the end shall between us all the months wild go resup His world say Machelet was not so 〈◊〉 natius loyola the Father of the lesuites upon this they stick hands and over such have plyed their work and though successe hath failed and those hath produced contrary effect those increasing in number and reputation whom they labour to suppresse and defame 〈◊〉 Edwards though 〈◊〉 and vex no be fallen into this 〈…〉 you now see him the set you see this wicked Polly labours in a most cunning manner to dilwade him from taking you present councell least you should direct him nor his recovery into some such course as would 〈◊〉 his wicked design abled prive from of this his most speciall instrument this is the united of this crafty Pbiscy And if you interpose not with your wisdome he will preyaile to 〈…〉 of this in distressed I rierd for a few houses more in this ungodly worke falsly and deceitfully called the building of Gods House will put him past hope of recovery therefore admit of no delys 〈◊〉 Pity will help you and 〈◊〉 and hope will thrust this where 〈◊〉 cowrhe the stayes and out of doores and then I shall not doubt but some good may be done come pray set our hands such suffer him not to speake a word for he will delude a whole nation and make you believe no man so godly or so charitable 〈…〉 it is you have had so good entertainement heere you are loth to depart stand too Piety sustice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where are you now you will still befoole your selfe down will Him so out with him and I 'e shut the doore 〈◊〉 ough I hope or his entrance there any more how this and ungodly 〈◊〉 has made us all sweat superstition I thought you would 〈…〉 any zealous as to have helpt him but an now stay and see what usage your woefull friend here finds amongst 〈◊〉 Love Conscience Let us 〈◊〉 while I judge your violence against Pollicy being unexpected hath put out distrested Friend here into a kind of extacie let us observe the issue I doubt not after this wee â—â—all find him sencible of his distemper draw the Curtaines close if he rest t will do well Iustice Conscience I cannot but approve your faithfulnesse 〈◊〉 your friend in
we interupt him not he will spend all his spirits and expire in this extacy Conscience pray take hold on this occasion and speake to him Conscience Mr. Edwards I know all your proceedings observe all your waies and have ever faithfully advised you for your good to leave the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and to walk in the wish of Christ but you are so farre from following my advice that you lay plots to stifle me but Truth Conscience save your labour your voice no sooner sounded in his care but he fell fast a sleep t is wonder our sad to con â—â—â— but I hope the issue will be good Iustice T were but just he should never wake I never observe the most wicked man in the world delight in so abominable a worke Patience Deare Justice Let us take this opportunity to consult what may 〈◊〉 done for his recovery for that is now our worke Piety pray yee friends bring the light and come hither I begin to smell the most filthy savour that ever was smelâ— see see what a black froth his mouth somes with all see it riseth more and more some thing must be brought to receive it from him out upon'â— I am not able to hold the light any longer if it continue thus we shall not be able â—o endure the roome Superstition Pray let me doe that office I wish I might never haâ—s a better sent I am sure some of you smell of ranke her esie I mistake not Truth Wee must beare with can weaknesse till you are better informed how â—hundaâ—tly it flowes he is now extreame weake but were he in his wonted strength with this most filsby Gangrenoâ—s matter would he mix his inke and whilst it were even hot and boyling fall to writing as he hath done lately some huge volumne with which he poysons the spirits of thousands otherwise wells minded people and fils them with a violent musterfull disposition with which they goe up and downe vexing and molesting all they meet if any man refuse to doe as they would have them in the worship of God though never so peaceable and well minded him they revile at him they râ—lle call him Anabaptist Independent Brownist Sneker Antâ—â—oâ—â—an worry and vex him by all the waies and â—ei next they can 〈◊〉 the Migistrate and rude people to wearie them out of all societyear and will joyne with their owne enemies to their owne ruine rather then these should have a quiet life amongst them It flames extreamely stoop him a little humillity is alwaies good I feare it will blister his mouth it is so hot but I hope it will all come from him â—and then wee shall have no more to doe but to get out the bâ—gge for that must be done other wise the humour will fill againe and he will never be perfectly â—â—red Hope Sir the couâ—er begins to alter from its blacknesse 〈…〉 red Patience There is now some hope of a good event it doth not smell so strongly Love Pray hold this soveraigne Pomander to his nostrill lest his spirits faint Piety I should be exceeding glad to see his recovery which if he doe truly Conscience you deserve the greatest thankes Iustice There comes now perfect blood my oâ—inion is wee must instantly proceed to open his head and take cut the blader and in roome thereof to leave some ingredients proper for rectifying the temper of the brain and to bring it into a good constitution I have instruments ready and he sleeps very soundly Love Pateâ—nce Truth Wee all agree but let us be very tender Superstition you had best withdraw a little lest you fall into a sound or your hand shake give the light to Piety Conscience and Hope lend us your helpe who should that be that knocks so loud Conscience pray step and see Conscience What an inpudent wretch is this who should it be but Pollicy returnd in a grave Doctors habit pretending to be sent hither by a Colledge of friends to lend his assistance t was well I went to the doore for he would have deceived any that had not knowne him so well as I he was so like a Collegiate sure his familier tels him his agent is likely to be dispossest but I have sent him packing with a vengeance pray goe on with your worke Justice I pray bow him a little more to â—e-ward so give the pan to superstition I am not able to stand neere it Piety Rather let it be burnt for Superstition is too much infected already Conscience By no meanes I le keep it untill my friend wakes that he may see what filthy matter his head was stuft with all Piety It is well considered and if he loath the avon himselfe his cure will the better appeare to us to be perfect Love Doe ye not lance too deep think you pray be very carefull Justice Pray Piety hold the light neerer come all hither see what mighty large bag it is I professe I never saw the like except in the late head of great C ANTERBVRY but it was not discovered till after his death but the savour of this is much worse what shall we doe with it now we have it out sure it is best to receive it to shew him with the matter it contained otherwise he will never beleeveth and I pray be all ready with your severall ingredients to fill up the empty place that the humours may be rectified and that thence may issue forth no more such unsavory pestilent matter odiouâ—to good men but such as may bring honour to God and peace to all good men come let us see what wee have amongst us for this work will admit of no delay Love I have a most excellent powder the maine agent therein being the eyes of Turtle doves and the property thereof is to expell all sinister apprehensions and hard constructions of men and things Justice I have a balsome approved by long experience for the clensing and drying of all violent hot and grosse humours Patience I have found much profit by carrying about me the well known plant called Al-hease and I judge it very usefull in this cure Truâ—h I have an ingredient which though of astrange nature yet without it I am parswaded the cure cannot be perfect it is an extraction from the braine of a Serpent which gives quicknesse of apprehension and foresight Justice I pray you truth be carefull you ecceed not the just proportion because if you should youl l marre all Hope what think you of our course Hope I approve thereof so farre as I understand but itere is Piety is better able to judge Piety I exceedingly approve of all and if you please I le mix them and work them into a body and forme the same fit for the place and then Justice when you please you may goe on with your worke Iustice content so t is very well he stirs not I le close up all and wee will all with draw and leave him to rest for rest now will be