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truth_n	heart_n	know_v	speak_v	4,049	5	4.4293	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78779	The door of truth opened: or, A brief and true narrative of the occasion how Mr Henry Burton came to shut himself out of the church-doors of Aldermanbury: published in answer to a paper, called, Truth shut out of doors: for the vindication of the minister and people of Aldermanbury, who are in this paper most wrongfully and unjustly charged; and also for the undeceiving of the underwriters, and of all those that are misinformed about this businesse. In the name, and with the consent of the whole church of Aldermanburie.	Calamy, Edmund, 1600-1666.	1645 (1645)	Wing C230; Thomason E311_13; ESTC R200459	16,016	20

THE DOOR OF TRVTH OPENED OR A brief and true Narrative of the occasion how Mr Henry Burton came to shut himself out of the Church-doors of Aldermanbury Published in Answer to a Paper called TRVTH SHVT OVT OF DOORS For the Vindication of the Minister and People of Aldermanbury who are in this paper most wrongfully and unjustly charged and also for the undeceiving of the Vnderwriters and of all those that are misinformed about this businesse In the Name and with the consent of the whole Church of Aldermanburie Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them 1 Cor. 11.16 But if any man seem to be contentions we have no such custome neither the Churches of God 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you brethren by the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ that all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement LONDON Printed for Christopher Meredith at the Crane in Pauls-Church-yard 1645. THE Door of Truth opened IT hath pleased M. Burton in the later end of his Paper to call his Narrative an unpleasing discourse A fit Epithete for such a paper Vnpleasing we believe to God himself unpleasing to all meek humble and peaceable Christians unpleasing to his quondam loving neighbours and friends of Aldermanbury unpleasing to most of the underwriters and we conceive it will at last become an unpleasing discourse to M. Burton himself when the judicious and impartiall Reader shall clearly and fully understand the true grounds and causes of his discontinuing to preach his Catechisticall Lecture in Aldermanbury which before we come to declare we desire the Reader to take notice of the Title of the Narrative which is Truth shut out of doors or A brief and true Narrative of the occasion and manner of proceeding of some of Aldermanbury Parish in shutting their Church-doors against me In which Title M. Burton doth seem to assume to himself the name of Truth which is a very high and sacred Title and to make the shutting of him out of doors to be the shutting of Truth out of doors which how fit it is for any humble and self-denying Minister to speak of himself we leave it to the Reader to judge And besides This Title layeth a very heavie charge upon the Church-wardens and others of Aldermanbury as if they were now become enemies to the truth as if they had shut the Church-doors upon truth insomuch as that it is cried up and down the streets of the City Truth shut out of the doors of Aldermanbury to the great disparagement and defamation of us all so great as that we conceive it to be a high breach of the ninth Commandment and we expect Reparation And as he hopes in this his Narative that M. Calamy will finde just cause publikely to confesse at his next day of humiliation Let us be ashamed and confounded so he must give us leave to say that we expect and that more justly the like from him Especially if the Reader will be pleased to consider the Texts of Scripture that are subjoyned to the Title page In which he doth secretly seem to insinuate for to what purpose else are they there put That because he is not suffered to preach any longer at Aldermanbury upon just causes hereafter to be mentioned That therefore Truth is fallen in the streets and equity cannot enter That therefore We are a rebellious people lying children that will not hear the Word of the Lord who say to the Prophets Prophesie not right things And like to the Scribes and Pharisees who commanded Peter Iames and Iohn not to teach in the Name of Christ Now whether this be not a perverting of Scripture and an unparallel'd affront to Aldermanbury we leave it unto the unbiassed Reader to determine In the last text he justifieth himself in the words of Paul Act. 20.27 which puts us in minde of a Book written by him of his life and sufferings wherein he is pleased to compare his sufferings with the sufferings of St Paul and in many things to preferre his sufferings above Pauls sufferings And yet we doe not write this as if we would any waies undervalue M. Burtons great sufferings for which we blesse God and for which we shall alwaies honour him and we doe believe that therein he did great service to the Churches of Jesus Christ But howsoever we would desire him to remember what a Epist 11. Epist 13. Cyprian saith of many Confessours especially of one Lucianus that had endured much for Christs cause in times of persecution and yet afterwards in times of peace presuming upon their former sufferings did venture to do many things which did much tend to the great disturbance of the Church b And what he writeth to Maximus and Nicostrat●● other Confessours that after their glorious sufferings for Christ made a schisme in the Church fell away to the Novation heresie Cypr. epist 44. And what Eusebius saith of one Natalius that had endured much for the truth yet afterwards fell into a grievous errour till God was pleased by his Argels to whip him into the truth again Euseb l 5 cult But leaving the Title page let us come to the Narrative it self In which there are divers things supposed and taken for granted which are not to be supposed and many things misreported and misrepresented And therefore that the Reader may have the whole matter set before them in the right colours we are necessitated to shew what those false suppositions and false representations are And M. Burton must not be offended with us for speaking the truth We professe that we write these things with grief of heart For we know that the common enemy will take advantage by our differences but woe be to him by whom those offences come For our parts we declare to all the world that had it not been that Truth would have been quite shut out of doors by our silence we would not have answered this Narrative of Truth shut out of doors But to come to the matter it self 1. First It is taken for granted thorowout the whole Narrative That the shutting of Independency out of doors is the shutting of truth out of doors And that the desiring of M. Burton to forbear to preach his Congregationall way is to desire him to refrain from preaching the truth of God And that if M. Burton should balk this controversie he should balk a necessary truth of God and should shut up truth close prisoner And many such like expressions which will not we hope any whit move a wise and judicious Reader For an opinion is not therefore a truth because M. Burton saith it is Bold and confident assertions may work upon those that have mens persons in admiration but a wise and understanding Christian will consider not

to confesse that he said the words he denyed he said For if he said no such thing and spake nothing in derogation either of Parliament or Assembly but made honourable mention of both How is it possible that they that heard him and M. Calamy should suppose that M. Calamy meant him This very answer of his doth seem to confesse a guiltinesse But to put him out of doubt it is answered 3. That M. Calamy hath good proof of others that have preached to this effect though he had not And therefore had just cause to say so although he had not preached at all the day before It is no wonder to heare men preach up their own practice No wonder to heare those men preach against peoples tarrying to gather into separated Churches who daily gather people into separated Churches But he deeply chargeth M. Calamy in divers places of his Narrative because he did not send to him to know the truth of those things whether he preached them or no before he spake of them in the pulpit But it is answered That if indeed no other had ever preached to the same effect or if he had named M. Burton by name or if he had said it had bin preached in that pulpit the day before or if it had bin preached in another Church before other people then indeed there might be some ground and reason for this accusation But seeing that others have preached the like and M. Burton was not named and that it was about a sermon preached in his own Church before some of his own people of whose faithfulnesse he had no reason to doubt And seeing it was onely spoken in a generall way M. Burtons applying of it to himself doth give us just cause to thinke that he was guilty of it Fifthly It is taken for granted that the Church-wardens said unto M. Burton That they were sorry for what they had done if they had done amisse But they say that they did not say that they were sorry for the thing they had done but only for some circumstances about the manner of doing of it And they doe now further tell him that upon diligent search made they cannot finde out by whose authority and allowance he first came to preach his Catechisticall lecture amongst them M. Calamy saith That none ever spake to him to desire his consent And our former Church-wardens deny that ever they gave their approbation And therefore they suppose he hath no such cause to take it ill if they upon just grounds forbid him to doe that which he never had warrant nor authority from them to doe at all Sixthly And especially M. Burton takes it as a thing supposed that his sermon preached Sept. 23. 1645. was the cause and the onely cause why he was desired to forbear preaching at Aldermanbury Whereas this sermon was rather an occasion then a cause And if a cause yet not the onely nor chief cause The Reader must know that M. Burton hath often and often preached his own private opinion of Independency in his Lecture at Alderman bury to the great offence and scandall of some of us that have hereupon resolved never to heare him more because we heard such things which as we thought were contrary to truth And therefore M. Burton need not wonder what spirit haunted those wals and thresholds that so few people came to heare him in that place Surely it was the spirit of errour that haunted them and drove them away For sometimes as we are informed by those of our own Congregation that heard him he would urge a necessity of entring into a Church-way and that there is no expectation of salvation without it And that it was as necessary to be joyned in Church-fellowship as with Christ the head Another time That a member that walks out of Church-fellowship is unusefull to it self as if a foot and a leg be out of joynt it is unuseful for any that walks singly and alone without being in Communion and in a Church-way He is out of the body of Christ and so is unusefull to himself and others Again You complain you grow not in grace but joyn in a Church-way here is growth in grace A member out of his proper place growes not Another time That none ought to be admitted to the Supper of the Lord but such as were entred into a Church-way and had covenanted in a Congregationall-way And that none could receive the Sacrament aright that had not first taken the Church-covenant And that to joyn in a Church-way is more then to be a Protestant at large because they ought to watch over one another and those that refused to joyn were as Cain that are ready to say Am I my brothers keeper They that wrote his Sermons do also tell us That he made sundry Sermons to presse the necessity of gathering Churches and covenanting together They tell us likewise that he shewed how dangerous it was for men to set up Churches Provinciall Nationall or Parochiall This was Antichristian and Babylonish set up by the Pope that all in a Parish might come to Masse Another time he spake against paying of Tithes as Popish c. Such things as these he often and often as occasion served did not spare to preach and urge with great vehemency Insomuch as many of us and others of the City did resort to M. Calamy and told him that they wondered how he could with a safe conscience suffer such things to be preached which they knew to be so contrary to his judgement Upon this M. Calamy at one time got a reverend Minister of M. Burtons acquaintance to go to him and to deal mildly with him about these things and to represent the scandall of the people But all the answer as he remembers returned was that M. Burton thought himself ingaged to preach the kingdom of Christ Upon another time M. Calamy did likewise speak to one of his brethren of that way about it and all the answer to his utmost remembrance that he had was this M. Calamy you know the man and of what nature he is it is in vain to speak to him he will doe what he list And it may be he preacheth thus to see whether you will cast him out or no. At another time M. Calamy spake with another of the brethren of that way and his advice was To get a meeting of M. Burton and the rest of his brethren and they would see if they could perswade him to desist from preaching his Church-way in Aldermanbury But notwithstanding all this M. Burton continued in his Tuesday Lecture upon all occasions promoting his Congregational-way till at last upon occasion of his Sermon Septemb. 23. 1645. The Church-wardens sent to him the day before he was to preach to forbear preaching any more at Aldermanbury And this they did without acquainting M. Calamy with it whatsoever M. Burton thinks to the contrary Of which as soon as M. Calamy heard he sent for the Church-wardens

and obtained of them upon the Tuesday morning which was the next day after to go to M. Burton and to declare the whole truth to him how it stood That M. Calamy was a stranger to the businesse That upon M. Calamies intreaty they came to him assuring of him that if he would be pleased to forbear the points in difference and to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified the doctrines of faith repentance c. they would willingly and cheerfully suffer him to preach But he answered as it is set down in the Narrative That he was not to be restrained from preaching any truth of God Now let all indifferent Readers judge whether M. Burton by his former practices and his last answer doth not willingly and wilfully shut himself out of the Church doors of Aldermanbury For though he supposeth his Congregationall-way to be the truth of God yet it is never the more the truth of God because he supposeth it And if he thinke it his duty to preach those truths which we thinke errours in Aldermanbury The same consciences that obligeth him to preach those truths will oblige M. Calamy who thinks them errours to preach against them And by this means the course and fruits of his Ministery will be much hindered and the Pulpit made a stage of contention and to speak uncertain sounds one thing upon the Tuesday another upon the Lords day We appeal to M. Burton whether ever he did or ever will give leave to a Presbyterian Minister to preach his Presbyterian opinions to his people that he hath gathered Or if any should occasionally preach them to his people whether he would not thinke himself bound in conscience to confute them We demand further Whether he doth not thinke it his duty to hinder as farre as he can that a Presbyterian Minister resolving to preach his way as supposing it the truth of Christ should be suffered to preach once a fortnight to his people And whether if he should be a means to hinder it he can be said to shut Truth out of doors Let M. Burton seriously study these questions and not thinke it hard measure that he is not suffered to doe that in Aldermanbury which he would not suffer to be done in his own Congregation But further we would have him to know that they that are for the Presbyterian government do firmly believe that that which they hold hath clear light out of the Scriptures that they are able to prove it and that the Congregational-way is an invention of man and that there is no Word of God for a Church-covenant for gathering Churches out of Churches for assuming all Church power within themselves independently And that this is a way and means to divide the body of Christ into as many schismes as there be Congregations And he must not thinke that the Presbyterian Ministers are so void of a good conscience so cruell to the souls of their people so ashamed of the truths they hold as to suffer them to be trampled under feet and their people to be seduced by one that shall preach in their own Pulpits with a profession to preach down the Presbyteriall government and they in the mean time sit quiet and betray the truth and their people by their wicked silence Adde to this what was said before about the Committee and divers other things fore-mentioned and then it will appear to all peaceable and unprejudiced Readers that there is just cause that M. Burton continuing in this minde and judgement should not continue his Lecture at Aldermanbury 7. The seventh thing that is mis-represented and mis-stated is the conference that was between M. Burton and M. Calamy in private Of which that there may be a right and full representation the Reader must know That when M. Calamy perceived by M. Burtons answer upon the Tuesday that he was resolved not to cease preaching the points in difference and as one very neer him told some of us that M. Burton would not be muzled up he sadly weighed all things that might happen hereupon On the one side he considered that in this uncharitable age even good people would be ready to censure him very deeply though never so innocent and charge him as the chief if not the sole anthour of what was done and that the times were too too full of divisions already and that there was little need of new rents and schismes And therefore he concluded with himselfe to doe all that he could with a safe conscience for M. Burtons re-admission On the other side he considered That this was done without his privity or knowledge and that the hand of God was in it and that if now he should be instrumentall for his re-admission without a promise or at least a fair overture upon good ground for he did not expect a formall promise That M. Burton would preach only such things wherein they did both agree he should for the time to come be accessary to all the mischiefs that might happen if any of his people should either be led away or if not quite led away yet puzled and ensnared by what M. Burton should preach And this his scruple was the more encreased because M. Burton had already taken one of his Congregation into his Church without ever acquainting him with it which is surely a great injury to M. Calamy and so great as that we have good cause to beleeve that few of his brethren would have done the like By this he perceived that M. Burton was resolved to catch we will not say to steal as many as he could from his Church Now here was the case of conscience How far he might be active in M. Burtons re-admission He consulted with godly learned He was told That as things then stood he could not with a safe conscience intreat for his re-admission unlesse he had some ground to believe that M. Burton would not preach his Congregationall-way amongst his people Upon this the Wednesday after this Tuesday M. Francis Shute comming to visit M. Calamy who was sick M. Calamy communicated the whole businesse to him and desired him to relate it to the Committee that they might have a right understanding of it and to endeavour that the Committee might use their interest in M. Burton to prevail with him to forbear the points in difference that so he might bere admitted How farre M. Francis Shute did manifest his dislike of M. Burtons medling with his Congregationall way in his preaching at Aldermanbury we will not relate But as M. Calamy conceives upon M. Shutes applying himself to the Committee proceeded the conference spoken of in the Narrative For M. Shute came afterwards and told him that M. Burton would come to him But he replied That as soon as he was well he would go to M. Burton But M. Burton prevented him Little did M. Calamy think that such a private conference should have been made publike and cryed up and down the City and therefore

he had no witnesse on his side to attest what he said But seeing it is the will of God to have it so and to suffer the fire of contention to kindle more and more let the pious and peaceable Reader read over the conference and then tell us 1. Whether most of the conference be not already answered Whether it doth not mis-represent the whole businesse and take the six things before named for granted which we have abundantly proved to be far otherwise 2. Whether in this conference M. Burton doth not discover an Episcopall spirit rather then M. Calamy Indeed M. Calamy did not enumerate the particular things for which we took offence at some of M. Burtons Sermons but the reason was because he was desirous to accommodate and reconcile differences and not to increase them And this was the reason likewise why his Clerk was not sent for because as M. Francis Shute then said it would but increase the contest between M. Burton and him and make the breach wider Adde further That M. Calamy thinks that M. Burton hath misplaced many of his Questions putting one before another to the great prejudice of the conference and interlaced many things which as he remembers M. Burton did not say at the conference and hath left out many things that M. Calamy did say One thing M. Calamy chargeth him withall of which we will give the Reader a fuller account M. Calamy had preached many Sermons out of Matth. 7.6 concerning brotherly reproof and the duty of watching over one another and had shewed that this duty did belong to a Christian as a Christian not only as he was a member of a Church and had likewise shewed how farre they that were members of the same Church were to watch over one another Hereupon he came to justifie an equall and prudent division and bounding of Congregations by Parishes that so by their neer living together they might the better watch over one another And then he came to answer that Question Whether the living in the same Parish did make a man a member of that Church to which his house belongs It would be too long to repeat what was answered But the next Tuesday M. Burton preached directly against bounding of Congregations by Parishes saying it was Popish and Antichristian or to that effect as those that heard him relate Vpon this M. Calamy when he came again to preach of this subject amongst other things wished that all controversies amongst brethren might be laid aside and that we would agree to preach Faith and Repentance Then comes M. Burton and calleth upon all Ministers to set up Christs Kingdome and addes But some will say we must not meddle with these things but onely preach faith and repentance He answered we must not leave out faith and repentance but we must preach Christs Kingdome for we have liberty now to speak c. In reference to this story M. Calamy not naming the story charged M. Burton for preaching point blanke against him And his answer is It is possible I might casually doe so yet without reference to you Whether this answer be satisfactory let the Reader judge We are sure that if it be sufficient it will quit M. Calamy of most of the accusations that are brought against him in the Narrative As for that concerning M. Lockier we spake since with the Pastour of the place where he Lectures and he assures us that it is true that M. Lockier hath ingaged himself by promise not to meddle with the point in difference between the Independents and Presbyterians And for M. Francis Shute because we love and honour him we will forbear to write what we know M. Calamy remembers not that M. Hartford should say The Committee thought very hard that these things should be so carried before M. Calamy had first spoken with M. Burton The Committee surely are wiser then to condemne a man before he be heard We believe the Committee will not own this speech much lesse thanke him for it Whereas in the later end of the conference M. Burton saith that he was sent home without any hope of having the doors unlocked we leaving him without hope of our keeping any truth close prisoner If these words were well weighed they would give a key to the Reader to unlock the whole businesse M. Burton resolveth wheresoever he preacheth to let all truths out of prison and whosoever will open the doors of their Church to him must open their doors to all his Independent opinions also How farre the Committee and the rest of the Vnderwriters and others whom it concernes will approve of this we know not But sure we are that whosoever readeth the conference and this answer to it will confesse that M. Burtons high language against M. Calamy doth savour more of self-conceitednesse then of just accusation 8. The eighth particular which is mis-related in this Narrative is about a second conference which as M. Burton saith he procured out of love to Aldermanbury There were two of the Committee sent to M. Calamy to know of him whether he would be pleased to suffer me to exercise there still His finall answer to them was That he could not in conscience suffer me any longer to preach there because his people were of a contrary judgment Thus farre M. Burton Now that the Reader may understand how farre this Relation is from truth we will set down M. Calamies answer as it was written word for word by one of those two who were sent to him and it is this November the first 1645. M. Iames Storey and M. Robert Dolman were sent by the Committee to M. Calamy about M. Burtons preaching in that Church And his answer was 1. That he had no hand directly or indirectly in keeping of him out and that that businesse lay in the Church-wardens and Parishioners 2. That if the Committee will send under their hands that they are confident upon good grounds that M. Burton will preach the truths of Christ and not meddle with the controversie he will be a means to the Church-wardens and the Parishioners for his re-admission By this answer it may appear to all the world how desirous M. Calamy is that M. Burton may be restored to his Lecture amongst us And we can further evidence to all that are willing to receive satisfaction that M. Calamy hath dealt with many of the Committee and hath made use of one of them in especiall manner to deal with M. Burton to see whether he could obtain of him to joyn with M. Calamy in a way of peace and unity But M. Burton will either preach all his minde at his Church or not preach at all Now whether M Burton or M. Calamy be in the fault let the world judge And that all men may likewise be fully convinced of Aldermanburies love and good affections towards M. Burton we doe here professe to all that read these lines That if M. Burton will be pleased to forbear preaching his Congregationall way amongst us and preach such things wherein both sides agree we will re-admit him with all readinesse and cheerfulnesse and will promise to endeavour upon all occasions to come and hear him Which offer if M. Burton refuseth let the world judge whether M. Burton shuts himself or be shut out of the Church-doores of Aldermanbury And thus we have given an Answer to this unpleasing Narrative so farre as it concerns us And it may be the answer will be as unpleasing as the Narrative But our Apology is That ours is forc'd his is voluntary It is a sad thing that Aldermanbury that hath had so much truth preached unto it and hath had so many famous Preachers of truth should now be cried up and down the streets of the City as a people that shut Truth out of Doors Who would not rise up to wipe off such an aspersion Truth it is the purchase of the blood of Iesus Christ It is that which Christ brought into the world with him For grace and truth comes by Iesus Christ Christ Iesus came into the world to bear witnesse of the Truth Truth it is the light and life of the soul the Spouse of the understanding the food and sustenance of the soul It is to be preferred before gold and silver pearls and precious stones are but dung and drosse in comparison of it And therefore if we contend earnestly for the truth and make it appear to all men that we are farre from shutting Truth out of Doors We hope that all that are moderate and sober Christians will not only not accuse us but commend us for it We have done The Lord open all the doors of our hearts that we may receive peace and truth as unseparable guests to lodge within us for ever Amen A POSTSCRIPT THere is one thing that M. Burton mentioneth in the Narrative which though it concerns not Aldermanbury yet we must not wholly bury it in silence and that is concerning the late large Petition for the speedy establishment of Religion Of which he speaks very dishonourably as also of the Petitioners as of men led with blinde obedience and pinning their souls upon the Priests sleeve We leave it to the Petitioners to answer for themselves For our parts we conceive that no Reader unlesse blinded with prejudice can charge them with blinde obedience For the Petitioners doe not desire to have the Modell of the reverend Assembly established but the government of Christ established A Modell whereof c. These words A Modell whereof c. come in with a parenthesis and the sentence is compleat without them All that they affirm about the Modell is That the Reverend Assembly hath framed a Modell of the government of Christ according to their ability and presented it to the Parliament And who but he that hath pinned his faith upon an Independents sleeve can except against this But if M. Burton be displeased with the Modell of the Reverend Assembly we would intreat him that he at last after so long expectation would set forth his Modell FINIS

so much who speaks nor the confidence of him that speaks as the weight and strength of the arguments upon which his confidence is grounded There was an Athenian that laid confident claim to every ship that came to the haven and yet he had no true right to any and was accounted a mad man for his labour The reformed Churches know no such truths of God An he himself we believe hath not been many years of this judgement But howsoever let not M. Burton assume such a high measure of confidence to himself as to make his judgement and the truths of God to be terms convertible The world is too wise to believe any such thing And many will say that this is self worship and self-idolatry 2. Secondly M. Burton doth take it for granted That he is bound to preach every truth of God that comes in his way in this his Catechisticall Lecture and that he is not to shut up any truth close prisoner as his phrase is And he blesseth God that the Committee when they met together not one of them did use a word of perswasion to him to balk any one truth in opening and plowing up the Scriptures But we are informed by some of the Committee that upon his first admission to this Lecture he was desired not to meddle with the points in controversie which he is pleased to call the truths of God And that he did promise so to do or at least by his silence gave his consent And we can upō certain grounds assure the Reader that M. Burtons medling with the points in difference is much displeasing to most of them who professe that they will not countenance him nor maintain him in it And that they sent one of their Committee to M. Burton since his said Lecture ceased to perswade him to desist from preaching his Independent opinions amongst us And therefore we wonder that M. Burton durst write after such a manner concerning the Committee Howsoever if M. Burton will yet persevere in this his resolution and this be also the judgement of his brethren as we hope it is not mark the mischiefs that must necessarily follow hereupon 1 All underwriters that are not Independents in their judgments must be forced to study this case of conscience Whether they can with a safe conscience contribute to the maintenance of that Lecturer which is engaged in his conscience to preach up that opinion which they think disagreeable to the Word of God whensoever it comes in his way 2. This mischief also will follow That all Presbyterian Ministers in whose Churches these our brethren preach with such a resolution made known must either by their silence be accessary to the misguiding of their people or by confuting them make their Pulpits places of strife and contention to the great disturbance of piety peace or do a third thing which will not be very pleasing to them or us But it seems strange to us that M. Burton should thinke himself bound to preach his particular opinion in every Congregation And that all truths as he cals them are to be preached at all times in all places Is it not sufficient to preach his private judgement to his own gathered Church but he must think himself bound in conscience to come to infect for so we judge it all Congregations wheresoever he comes If this should be the principle likewise which God forbid of all his brethren let the wise Reader consider what a City-devouring fire this principle would quickly kindle 3. Thirdly M. Burton doth take it for granted that he did preach no otherwise Sept. 23. 1645. then is set down in the Narrative But certainly if he had preached only as he saith against man worship and will-worship blinde obedience and resting finally upon mens determinations in matters of religion without looking into the rule of the Word those of us that heard him would not have taken the least offence at it For we have often and often heard the same doctrine from our own Minister And therefore we think it very rashly done of him to charge M. Calamy That he should in the face of God and of the Congregation bring this truth as a grievous sin to be bewailed for he cannot but know that this is very unlikely if not impossible to be true But there are divers others besides the Parish Clerk as M. Burton by way of scorn cals him that are ready to depose that he did preach otherwise then is set down in his Narrative And here we cannot but take notice how Bishop-like he lords it over the poor Parish Clerk telling us of a garment of many peeces patch'd together But surely it doth ill become his gravity to jeast at a mans calling and worse become his goodnes to trample a poor godly man thus under his foot And let the Reader judge whether this discourse of the Parish Clerk were not sewed into the Narrative as an old patch into a new garment for it comes in very abruptly But to the busines There are those amongst us that will depose that M. Burton said That for a people to wait upon man for a form to worship God by was Idolatry Nay For a people to wait upon Parliament or Assembly for a form to worship God by was worse then corporall Idolatry Ob. But saith M. Burton in his conference with M. Calamy Will you not give credit to me as well as to those that informed against me Answ If he saith That these things are not in his notes or that he intended not to preach thus we will believe him But if M. Burton saith directly He did not preach thus We conceive it a very unsafe thing for a man to affirm a Negative when three or four will witnesse the Affirmative One that heard him at that time tells that when he said Mistake me not he added presently I scorn mistakes And the party perceived he began a little to be angry And a man in a passion may say that which was not in his Notes But if he thinks this harsh dealing let him but review his Narrative and consider how he deals with M. Calamy believing and publishing to all the world what he collected out of his Sermon but from one man who is one as we hear of his own Congregation whereas we have witnesse more then one for what we say And also not believing that M. Calamy was not acquainted with his shutting out as he cals it though the Church-wardens came on purpose to certifie him of it And though he himself affirmed it to him 〈◊〉 the conference he had with him and though he hath no witnesse to prove the contrary So great is his uncharitablenesse 4. Fourthly It is taken for granted that M. Calamy in his Fast Sermon Septemb. 24 1645. did call upon his people to be ashamed and confounded as for divers other things so amongst the rest for this That whilest the Parliament is sitting and labouring to settle things and while the