scorned to be taught his duty by any Member in the Congregation and sometimes he would incompass them with fained Flatteries and Repentances and yet in the mean time fly out into those foul breaking parts that indeed he was become a Burden to us Also of some of those petty things we have also at large to be brought forth if desired by any And if you adde to all this his carriage while we were dealing with him at one time breaking out into very wicked reviling and contempt as He had brought up a Bird to pick out his Eyes a Brother that then spake Black-mouth Foul-mouth said he had spit the Devil all day And at another time vilely scoffed at the Work of the Lord being acquainted he should be cut off scoffingly said It would be cut and dried by and by And as a further Evidence of his Hardness and Implacableness under all when it was told him he was cut off he makes that the time of his liberty as he said to some present with him Now he had his liberty to go and preach the Gospel unto the world And gives out that he is wronged and yet he hath made his Appeal to the Churches and cannot be heard and now makes his Appeal to God and questions not but in a Twelvemonth he shall make Us and the Churches to know their Evil. This being but a brief Copy of those many grand evils for which our Brethren before and now have cut him off and cast him out for the destruction of the flesh And so now bear our Testimony against all his evil and all his Adherents and set our Hands to the Truth of it Brothers Glyde Minzes Johnson Morlie Bentlie Senior Hackney Cook Potter Jones Lane Green Aston Bentlie Junior Sisters Abigail Fich Mary Hackney Elizabeth Hackney Anne Bear Elizabeth Haten Gibbes Laurence Winter Potter Stirrup Ellengray Grove Bentlie Scales Robinson The Reader may take notice That Robert Bentlie Junior whose name is set down to this pretended Charge did declare to Thomas Rose That he did never set his hand to any such thing So that what may this be called but plain deceit and it is abominable not onely in the sight of the Lord but good men also and a sin punishable by the Judge to counterfeit a mans name and bring him in as a Witness to their pretended Charge when he was in no capacity so to be as being then no Member of the Church A farther Discovery of their Uncharitable Proceedings followeth A brief Account of the Ungospel-like Dealings and Unrighteous Proceedings of John Glyde Benjamin Minzes John Johnson and the rest of the Dissenting Members with them manifested against their Pastour Samuel Bradley as followeth UPon the 5th day of the 5th month 1663. at a Brothers house namely John Glyde was the Church meet and continued all that day with one accord preaching the Word and in Prayer yea Breaking of Bread with gladness and singleness of heart and praising of God at the close of the day a Letter of Recommendation was read in order to send me forth to preach the Gospel and the Letter being read they with one consent assented and immediately signed the same and gave me up unto the Lord his Work and Service with endeared Manifestations of Love at our parting The week following I took my journey and at the evening of the same day I entered upon the work finding a door opened by the Lord after the Lord's Work was there accomplished I travelled farther into the Country where I found the Lord's harvest to be very great and did continue in the Work by night as well as by day finding the People exceeding thirsty hungry after the Means of Grace where much work for the Lord might have been done had not false Reports Reproaches put a stop thereunto After eight or nine dayes had been spent in this Service quite contrary unto my own expectation I was by providence returned back again to London and at my return there was such news presented unto me that I was struck into some kind of amazement to hear of that distraction that was in the Congregation and of their Resolutions concerning me The next day being the first day of the week they were resolved to meet about me Truly my soul was much grieved to consider what a sweet and heavenly Posture I left them in about eight or nine dayes before and to hear of such a sudden alteration I being weary riding very hard for to reach London that day and hearing nothing of it before I came I lying down upon a bed being over-whelmed in my spirit with grief and sorrow at last the Lord was pleased for to revive me again with these words I will not leave thee comfortless these words were set home with such power through Grace I was refreshed and satisfied again and set down my resolution by the help of the Lord to go the day following and make my appearance to the Church that I might understand how things were The first day being come and the Church meeting at the place aforesaid where I left them in such a sweet harmonious posture they had begun before I had entered the meeting after the first brother had ended his prayer the second began to speak Benjamin Minzes by name and his way of speaking was in such a sad railing reviling manner as many can witness who were in the hearing thereof that did admire at my patience to hear my self reviled at that rate A little of his reviling Language is here repeated That a hundred pounds was a great deal of money to betray the People of God and for a piece more he would do much but let them go and do as Judas did hang themselves for their labour and that he that should joyn with a Trapan when he doth come to preach here I would turn my back upon him and let him preach unto the walls Benjamin Minzes when the heat of his blood was over did not go untold of it to colour over his wickedness and deceit makes this reply thinking to shift it off but it will not do He did not name Sam. Bradly This covering is too short to cover over his evil for besides the testimony of his own conscience I have many undeniable arguments to prove it against him but for the present I shall omit it Again Benjamin Minzes did in the bitterness of his spirit further declare openly unto all sorts of People Advising to serve them as Samuel did Agag hew them to pieces Saying also that they had power to cut off and cast out Where we may plainly see he stirred them up to cut off their Pastor before they had given him so much as a hearing and this is that they call their just dealing And after J. G. had done preaching B. Minzes made another speech to the People as if what he had said to them was not sufficient to make them one with him in his wicked design tells them on purpose
they Judge Cast and Condemn me for such a Person as hath been commonly reported but yet never could be proved I dare affirm not by God's Law consider if this be right in the sight of God let those who are my Adversaries be judge and how the Peace of the Church could be hazarded as these men tell the Nation I know not when he that spoke brought no other Doctrine then what they had before received and those few that were at the hearing thereof by their own confession were refreshed by what was delivered that to the truly understanding Christian it doth appear the Peace of the Church was rather inlarged then hazarded That so their pretended Charge is made manifest to be none at all The fifth thing I observe in the second Particular is as they say Especially to bring in such a Person as he contrary to the advice given in Acts 20. where the Elders are exhorted to feed the Church and not to ruine it Ans As to their Tautology I past it by because it cannot be proved that I brought him in to Preach and as touching the Apostles advice We are to feed the Church These Persons themselves do witness for me that I so did namely Feed the Flock of Our Lord Jesus not only in their Letter they did write to me when I was a Prisoner for the same But now also in their fifth Particular of this pretended Charge they say I made it my work to Preach three times a week besides the Church Meetings But as touching their last Term I am altogether a stranger to namely as to ruine the Church for as the Lord spoke by the Prophet to Israel saying Oh Israel thou hast destroyed thy self So do I say If they be destroyed or ruined it is done by themselves It is plainly seen that Lyes Surmisings and Suppositions is their second Particular stuffed with in this their pretended Charge that it plainly appears to such as are plain-hearted to be no Charge but a heap of falshoods 4. Par. We have great cause to suspect him very guilty of pernicious Designs against the Saints Ans This hath its dependance upon the former they do not say they charge me but suspect me and withall they would have us believe they have great cause so to do This is as false as the former for all men will believe this that if they could have shown either great or little cause they would not have spared me but without all doubt have brought it forth They talk of Pernicious Designs that I am guilty of against the Saints but nothing do they prove or can they The Reader may take notice that since this pretended Charge was hatched and patched together it is somewhat above a twelve-month And what is not one Pernitious Design discovered all this time Surely it is apprehended by such as have learned better then to live in the prejudiced mind or surmising Spirit this Babe that hath been so long in the Womb of Conception will prove an abortive at last As touching the Person whom they so much mention again and again whom they call Dangerous and Wicked as to his former Proceedings I justifie not but have rather chosen to reprove them what ever I have been thought on and laboured to make it my business to reclaim him but this I can truly say no person whatsoever in City or Countrey all the time of my society with him which was not of any long standing I do declare and affirm had not any wrong done to them by my knowledge for which I have great peace though my sufferings have been very great as to some other things in this Particular being one thing rehearsed over again I do apprehend it a superfluous thing to make a second reply thereunto Secondly As touching my Calling a Brother by Name who they say was zealous for the work of the day as if he lay in wait on purpose to catch To this I Answer As touching his zeal for the work of the day it did not very much appear forasmuch as he did not appear in the work till the day was near an end The Searcher of Hearts knows my innocency in this thing that I had no intent but what was agreeable unto the Mind of God and by this time one would have thought these persons might have seen great cause to have been deeply humbled for their evil thoughts they had against their Pastor I do now appeal to the most fearful and the most jealous Person amongst them whether to this day they have been harmed in the least by me If not as I am very confident they cannot say they have what Reason is there that S. Bradley should still remain charged upon this account to this day seeing there can be nothing of this nature proved against him but lie under scandal by reason of their unwarrantable groundless fears surmisings and suppositions I say unto these persons Is it not high time that their poor oppressed Pastor should be set free and at liberty from this bondage that he hath been exposed to by their means for a Twelvemonth together and more O when will their Goal-delivery come They will do very well to try their spirits for it may be said unto them by me as it was said by our Lord Jesus to his Disciples You know not what spirit you are of Whereas they say As if he did on purpose lie in wait to catch I answer If we take it in their own sense which will be proved to be the worst it is but as if he did they themselves cannot say He absolutely did lie in wait to catch If they had dealt fairly and honestly by me they had done well to have set down some of the particular things that were acted in a treacherous way and not keep people in the dark and act towards me as if I were conspiring some horrid things against them when there was no such thing by me thought on These kind of proceedings savour not of a good Spirit to rob their Pastor of his good name and all gathered but from their evil perswasions Would not the Heathen abhor such dealings if they should hear of them I wonder they were not ashamed to set their hands to such things to declare their weakness to the Churches abroad And whereas they say This doth deeply and effectually perswade them he could not be without very great purpose to deal very treacherously with them Answ This amounts to no Charge all this while by their own speech they cannot positively prove it but are perswaded it is so what proof is this to the case in hand by the same Rule if this may carry it I may say that these people that have reproached me causlesly and and groundlesly are turned Robbers in the High Way how so I suppose so or to speak in their own words I am perswaded it is so Surely this kinde of proof which to speak truly is no proof will not carry it here nor in
for my return if they could have proved I had fallen in what I had done but contrary to Covenant engagements and besides a particular promise they had made to a brother there present that could not agree unto their design as warrantable in the sight of the Lord Their Promise was to him to refer their work till the next time of meeting And yet notwithstanding did proceed for all this to their inhumane Act with all expedition and to run with strong resolutions to deal with and cast out all those that in Conscience could not joyn with them And so continued walking contrary to any Law of God or Justice in the World Their constant proceedings to commit sin by way of addition adding one sin upon the back of another did oblige me in love to their poor Souls to write them a Letter of Admonition and it was carefully sent them and presented unto them upon the next first day after they had committed their great folly that was acted to their Pastor A true Coppy word forword is as followeth To John Glyde Benjamin Minzes John Johnson and the rest of the dissenting Members with them IN the Name and Fear of the Lord God Everlasting I admonish you as you will answer it at the great Day of the Lord and at his appearing that you will lay to heart your disorderly proceedings against me your Elder and Pastor whom the Lord hath made to be your Father to beget you to Christ how is it that you are so soon forgetful of me who once would and not long since have pulled out your very eyes and are not only now ready to pull out mine but are ready to take away my Name and Life too and that not for any just cause given you on my part but by reason of some evil instruments amongst you who have made it their business to go up and down to hear and carry tales who are busie bodies 1 Thes 3.11 of whom I warn you that have made it their business to report which have been as sparks to kindle the fire that is now alight about you which would have been your wisdom as Church Officers to have put it out as being false fire or else to have seen whether it was true I cannot wonder enough when I consider your being called into the Liberty of the Sons of God that you should not understand your Duties as Members of Christ who when any offend you ought to tell them their fault between them and you which is the Rule of Christ So in the Law Thou shalt not suffer sin to be upon thy Brother which you all knew I was not so dealt withal with any of you And whereas you proceed to Excommunication hastily without any proof made or impartial examination how unlike the Primitive Example see 1 Cor. 5.4 be you Judge and then to slander me with things you never proved and refuse so to do Oh! how contrary is this to the Mind of Christ who speak things they know not nor whereof they affirme I doubt not but my Innocency will appear before the Lord when you shall not be able for to appear before him unless you do all speedily repent of this your wicked deed Search try consider in all the Book of God or amongst the Primitive Churches or Protestants whether you can find such a president to cast out any Member without any examination or due proof made much less to deal so with your Elder Surely you have by this made the Enemy to blaspheme and the Churches a reproach and a by-word and your selves to be looked upon by other Churches to be monstrous A true Property of a true Church is to have the Institutions of Christ truly administred you have fallen short of imitating the worst of Churches even Rome it self who doth not excommunicate without proof and contempt and do you blame the Church of England for doing thus Let me say to you in the words of the Apostle Who art thou that sayest thou shalt not do thus and thus and dost the same Oh! remember the sad account you will give for breaking of the Church of which you were Members under the pretence of Scandal for which unwarrantable dealing I charge you in the Name of the Lord to make good your Allegations and proceed as you ought to do if you can lay any thing to my Charge I am ready to hear or else I shall after two Admonitions more besides this proceed against you in a Church-way I have no more but expect to hear from you and he Rest Your Friend in Chirst Samuel Bradley The 20th of the 5th month 1663. But their obstinacy was such they would not vouchsafe to look into it one or some of them crying Burn it Another being more moderate then so said Write on the back side and send it him again To leave them without excuse in the Day of the Lord I wrote another and sent it them as I did the former the Messenger that carried it staid to hear them Preach and hearing of them much upon the work of inviting sinners unto Christ burst forth in much trouble of Spirit saying words to this purpose How can you invite sinners in and did cast a poor sinner out meaning their Pastor and never hear him what he could say for himself and immediately presented this Letter to them as followeth A true Copy of the second Letter of Admonition sent to John Glyde Ben. Minzes John Johnson and the rest IN the Name and fear of the Lord God I send this Second Admonition and to warn you that you disregard it not as you will answer it at the great day of the Lord 's appearing You with the rest have done unbecoming the Gospel in throwing your selves out of Gospel Order who pretend Purity with Unity while your selves suffer contrary walking amongst you even such as is justly reproveable it is to be feared you have thrown off your Gospel-Order that you may walk more disorderly it is the grief of my Soul to think how it is with you and how you will be able to give an account at the great Day for making such a Distraction in the Church of God if you have any thing justly to reprove me of I desire to be dealt withal in a Church way but if you will abide in your disorder as my dear Children I warn you for none can be more like-minded or naturally care more for you than my self but if you will still abide in your stubbornness and wilfulness you must expect but one admonition more before I declare to the Churches of Christ your stubbornness and pass a Gospel-Sentence further upon you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ This is all at present from him who earnestly prayes to the Lord for you and that he would be pleased for to discover unto you your Sin and give you repentance for the same ere it be too late I rest your Elder which desires your good Samuel Bradley From my
hand for their heady and rash proceedings against their innocent Pastor lest destruction be their portion notwithstanding all their Profession 14. Par. And so do now bear our Testimony against all his Evil and all his Adherents and set our hands to the truth of it Ans To this I Answer If these Assertors and Concluders did walk like persons indued with true knowledge they should have proved the things they talk of to be evils before they had set their hands thereunto by what they have done they have manifested themselves not to be wise nor right Artists at the work of accusation Again if they could have proved what they have subscribed unto to be Evils the next work had been to have layed them down before me and made some endeavour to have holpen me to a sight thereof as well as themselves and shewn me by way of aggravation the danger of them and if I had been obstinate not to have heard some of them alone to brought two more with them and took some pains with me for to recover me out of that which they are pleased to call an Evil and if I had remained in an obstinate mind then with sorrow of heart and bowels of love told it to the Church the Church to have made some endeavour to recover me and if I would not have seen my Evil then to have set a day a part for Fasting and Prayer and to have mourned bitterly under the consideration of the thoughts of the loss of a chief Pillar of the Church and when all this work was done then in a solemn reverent and godly manner to have gone trembling at the thought of what must of necessity then have been done seeing there was no avoiding of it and consider what was to be done after all this not to reproach Nay For sufficient to such a man was this punishment which was inflicted upon many 2 Cor. 2.6 7. So that contrarywise they ought rather to forgive him and comfort him lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love towards him I say to these people Was any of this done Was the first step taken in this work much less the last that was done to the incestuous person How may these people dread the thoughts of their present Proceedings with their former for fear God may charge them with Spiritual murder at the Day of the Lord in putting a stop to conversion-conversion-work and cause Souls to stumble I say Oh what comfort can these men have that have set their hand to such a work as this is The Lord give them a sight and true sence and sorrow yea true repentance of the same Sure by this time they may plainly see if they do not harden their hearts that they were out of the way of the Lord and with what comfort can they go to the grave with this Load upon their Consciences or what peace they can have for these their irregular Proceedings I know not and truly it is to be admired they do not yet blush at that they stile their Testimony Sure they understand not what they say for the word Testimony doth signifie amongst other things a good report from others but this which they have done is found to be of no good report therefore falsely termed by them a Testimony Again a Testimony doth also import a witnessing well but they have witnessed unto that which is Lyes Suppositions and Surmisings which is very ill therefore for to speak properly have born no Testimony against Samuel Bradley but rather have made their ignorance further appear and know not what they say in this case nor what a Testimony is and yet these persons will undertake for to pass Sentence of Excommunication upon their Pastor and that as soon as his back was turned from them was it done but never to his face And whereas they seem to reflect upon the rest of their Fellow-Members which bore a better Conscience than themselves which they call Adherents they have little cause so to do for they understand the Rules of Christ better than to run rashly and headily upon things contrary to the right Order but have waited with patience upon the Lord and have proved Fellow-feelers of their Pastors Sorrows and great Afflictions that have befallen him through the means of the persons aforesaid that are turned his Accusers though falsely and they in Conscience could not joyn with them without breach of Covenant I shall say unto these my Accusers had they been as tender of the Glory of God as these they call My Adherents they might have been made partakers of true Peace with them though by their means they are made to stand alone separated from the rest of their Brethren to their great grief and could they violate the peace of their consciences as those have done they might have been their dear Friends still Let these men be careful lest they slay the Upright in Conversation with the Sword of their Mouth namely bitter words as they have not been ashamed to do lest Wrath break forth from the Lord upon them And whereas they say They have set their hands to the Truth I ask them whether their Consciences did not prick them when they were setting their Pen to Paper so as they began with a lye they conclude with a lye also O how can these People with confidence call that a Charge which they themselves confest in the last Particular thereof to be but petty Things or call that a Truth which is stuffed up with so many Lyes Suppositions and surmising Expressions as hath been proved all along O that they would lay these sad proceedings to heart that for this Twelvemonth together they have contrived against their innocent Pastor as they have owned him to be and yet have cried him up for a Trappan at such a high hand They may see if they do not wilfully shut their Eyes that his Innocencie has so shined in this matter that the Lord hath holp him to weather the storms of all sorts they have raised upon him onely from Fears and Jealousies O what will they do when God shall call them to an account How will they be able to stand before him It is not their strong-hold of Church-Fellowship that will shelter them from the wrath of God for if he set the Worm of Conscience a gnawing their Gourd will soon be destroyed and where are they then My Prayer shall be that they may repent and the Lord forgive them for I do and for ever hereafter let them be silent and never more open their mouth to reproach and as Job said of his friends so shall I say of mine Job 16.24 I have heard many such things miserable Comforters are you all And now you may see I have diligently examined this their pretended Charge that hath occasioned such a stir in the Nation and have found it to stand upon the Foundation of Untruths
THE Cause of the Innocent PLEADED His Accusers pretended Charge CONFVTED Their unparallel'd Actings ungospel-like Dealings and unrighteous Proceedings against their Pastor DECLARED OR Truth breaking forth through the Mist of Clouds and Slanders Published by Samuel Bradley who is Afflicted Rejected Despised Reproached yet a Friend to Zion though troubled on every side yet not Distressed Perplexed but not in Despair Persecuted but not Forsaken cast down but not Destroyed Jer. 20.10 For I have heard the defaming of many fear on every side Report say they and we will report it Isa 30.8 9. Now go write it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever That this is a Rebellious People lying Children Children that will not hear the Law of the Lord. Prov. 18.17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him LONDON Printed for the Author 1664. To all who inquire the way to Zion with their faces thitherward we send greeting saluting all such as love our Lord Jesus in sincerity THat which hath been the ingaging cause to move us to this work of publick view is that Controversie which hath for some months been between the Author herein mentioned and some persons dissenting from him whose actings have been not becoming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus It is the joy of our Souls the Reports and Scandals that have been cast upon the Author herein mentioned is through Grace made to appear to be no more but Reports and Scandals which tends to his Crown of Rejoycing Mat. 5.11 A Catalogue of the Proceedings of these people for whom this Servant of God hath laboured in the Gospel you have in this ensuing Discourse First To the Reader if thou wilt be found who ever thou art to do that which may please God and not prejudice thy own peace then look upon the Matters and Controversies in Sion with Spiritual Eyes that so thou mayest discern it lest thou like the Spider turn all into poyson therefore for thy help remember these three things First Remember God is alwayes and at all times in all places present let this stir thee up to a serious consideration of this insuing Discourse Secondly Remember the judgement due to them which put evil construction upon good things which call evil good and good evil which put light for darkness and darkness for light and sweet for bitter and bitter for sweet Thirdly Remember the great account that every man and woman must give for every mercy received and for every evil thought every idle word every sinful action which is done or acted by the Sons of men at the great day of the Lord's appearance Secondly As touching the Author herein mentioned it being our portion to have most intimate communion with him in the time of his exilement we are emboldned to speak so far as we have seen or so far as the Lord hath given us light and knowledge in the things of God and in his wayes we have seen nothing in his Life and Conversation but as doth become the Gospel though in times past he was caught in Satans snare and God did suffer him to fall under sin not to his Condemnation but for his Humiliation for God will lose none of his Jewels for whom he loveth he loveth to the end And God did manifest a powerful repentance in his Soul and made sin the object of his loathing and as is made manifest by John Glyde and Benjamin Minzes in their Epistles written in the Authors behalf in his Book intituled The Afflicted and Retired Mans Meditations concerning the Excellency of the Spirit where they writ very eminently in the Vindication of the Author aforesaid telling us They were Spectators of the work of Repentance wrought in his Soul In the aforesaid Epistle is declared That his whole conversation is as it becomes the Gospel to the which we do refer the Reader The manifestation thereof is so great that all the sins he hath committed and all the Devils in Hell all the men upon Earth professors and prophane are never able to verifie to the contrary This we write not to applaud the Creature but rather to promote the honour of the Creator because God hath born a testimony to the truth of it as they themselves have confessed witness their Letter of Recommendation wherein they say The Lord hath made him instrumental to draw them out of the Pit of Darkness and to bring them into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God This is his Crown of Rejoycing though they since have made it a time of reproaching for want of a Spirit of love and a sound mind Thirdly We are not only Spectators of his Holy Conversation but also of his sore Affliction and great oppression which he hath undergone by them for whom he hath travelled in the Gospel it being a work the Lord hath cast into our hands to stand up for his support under his oppression inflicted upon him by God for good ends best known to himself but instrumental by them on whom the travel of his Soul hath been spent the thoughts of these things doth cause us for to tremble to consider the ungospel-like dealings which they have made use of to throw down their Pastor and Brother in Christ from that Center where the Lord did place him A brief Catalogue take as followeth in these short Particulars First They say aside the Rules of Christ and make use of their own Secondly They reproach him before they reprove him contrary to the Rule of Christ or of his Apostle Paul Thirdly They charged him with sin but never proved it Fourthly They Condemned him without any Tryal Fifthly They say they cast him out but never set a day apart to seek the Lords assistance in matters of so weighty concernment and broke their promise which they made to one of us to forbear their proceedings till the next Meeting Sixthly They send Copies of his Accusation to the Churches and by no means he that was concerned therein must see it And that which is matter of great lamentation is that one of these persons whose name is unto the pretended Charge said to N. C. a few dayes before the Breach That he did judge S. B. had as much of the Spirit of God as any man in England And yet proceeded as aforesaid In this ensuing Discourse by the Author himself you may see their work made manifest and then you may determine whether it hath the Impression of God yea or nay if you weigh it in the Ballance of the Sanctuary Can any person prove and say to this Author herein mentioned all this time which report and reproaches have been spread abroad concerning him This thou hast done If there had been any miscarriage in him where is the Spiritual-minded man who according to the Rule of the Apostle given in Gal. 6.1 that ever came to restore him with the Spirit
the day of the Lord. I pray observe These People have as it were arraigned their Pastor at the Bar and have writ and produced his Charge against him the Evidence they produce to make good this their Charge is Supposition or Perswasion now if Reason sit Judge do these men think to carry it against their Pastor surely nay Then are not these men much to be blamed and ought they not to mourn greatly for what they have done in taking away the life of their Pastors Reputation and all upon a supposition seeing what they have said against him is not positive Then I must and ought in Conscience to be acquitted and cleared of all those scandalous Reproaches that have been and still dayly are cast upon me by this groundless means These things considered all men of understanding may discern that S. B. is an Innocent person still and altogether clear from any guilt that is cast upon him in this pretended Charge and since it is brought to light we finde they can prove no treacherous dealing against the person aforesaid 5 Par. He is guilty of a very sinful Confederacy with this Enemy of the Lord whom he hath singled out for his Company To this I answer Here they have discovered both their Folly and Ignorance A Confederacy doth imply a League or Agreement between persons as they in Act. 23.21 layed wait by way of confederacy for Paul to do him harm and bound themselves in an oath that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed him here is a Confederacy indeed Is this their meaning that I am a Confederate with that Person to do any of the People of God any harm Had the Lord at any time left me to such wickedness as this I make no question they would not have spared me a jot but the Nation should soon have had the knowledge of it Truly these dark sentences will not much promote their Cause and unwarrantable Design that for some time they have been endeavouring to keep up in the mindes of Good People they have in so doing been building upon the sand and without all doubt their Building will tumble upon their own heads ere long The Eagle-eyed Christian doth behold their sumptuous Fabrick to tumble already and though they have designed to throw down the Innocent yet let them know their surmising suppositions will never carry the day for unless they come forth in down-right positive terms they are not like to cast me in open Court but themselves for God will have Judgement and Justice to be executed speedily and they cannot charge me with any evil that I have acted with the person forementioned to any of the tender Lambs of Christ or any others Thus much may be expressed without the least wrong to any of their persons That they are all guilty of many sinful Lyes that they have forged against him who was their spiritual Pastor so that they are guilty of a sinful compliance themselves for I prove them all confederated together to murder my good Name and have cried me up through the Nation for a Trappan when they can prove no such thing so that I may say of them as 't is said in Obadiah vers 7. All you the men that were in League with me in holy Covenant yea who were once at peace with me have deceived me and by your lying falsehoods and surmising pretended Charge you have sent abroad have prevailed against me yea you have eaten Bread with me at the Table of the Lord O that I could write it with Tears of Blood yet ye have laid a wound under me and it is to be feared for these things there is no understanding in you That in the mean time they are charging of me with Confederacy though groundlesly they are proved to their faces to be great Confederates themselves in casting dirt in the face of the Innocent by scandalous Reports and all this is done under pretence of Godliness As to the latter part of this Particular I have answered already and therefore need say no more to it They are guilty of manifold Tautologies in this pretended Charge whether it be from weakness or wilfulness I shall not sit Judge in the case Secondly Whom he has singled out for his Company hugging and embracing him as a Brother A Friend that saw it when he brought him into the Congregation c. Answ And what harm was there in all this that I was in his company which thing I have answered to already Let me ask these forward persons which are so nimble to condemn the person of the Innocent before he had either a fair Hearing or a fair Tryal and what they did must be with all expedition too that is to say Reproached charged judged and condemned and all in less then one days time and what was done was behind my back too fearing to refer their Work till the very next Meeting lest they should not obtain their purpose as one of their Party was heard to say namely Benjamin Minzes which can be proved to his face he expressing himself in these terms If we do it not now we shall not do it at all which plainly demonstrates they had a Design to carry on sure it was not a good one that they should fear to miss of their purpose in the accomplishment of it But to return to the question Was my being in his company as I said before prejudicial to any from that day to this were it convenient to write what I have to say in this case I could easily make it appear I did well in so doing They have now produced one Witness to a thing I deny not however it is very well done to prove what they say and if they had so done in every Particular of their pretended Charge they had saved me the labour of writing an Answer Then I should have cried out Guilty without any more ado and had they so done all along it had redownded much unto their Credit and Reputation But now they have cracked their Credit by urging so many Lyes and are not ashamed to do so again I ask these men Did their Brother a Friend see me bring him into the Meeting whom you say I did so much hug and embrace surely nay he dares not say so Then till you can prove that your Charge still remains false and you false Accusers and how you will clear your selves of this I know not Thirdly And since is a great Frequenter of his House and Company as if it were a small thing to wrap himself in all his iniquities and so draw upon himself the vengeance due unto such vile Transgressions contrary expresly unto the Lords Commands Say not a Confederacy and Have no fellowship with unfruitful Works of Darkness Answ Whether it be for want of more Matter or of more Wisdom I know not what their Reason should be that they should stuff up their Charge with so many Tautologies and spend so much time
ran into the Cave of Adulam to save himself from Saul Thirdly Our Lord himself when he was hunted and threatned by the Jews removes from Jury and walks to another place to save himself Fourthly Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles was let down in a Basket to save himself Have we such a cloud of Witnesses and many more of the Servants of Christ besides Christ himself that did use means to save themselves and will these people bring it as a Charge against me Hear you may see the insufficiency of their Charge And as to the Word Sorrow for what to a Brother I had spoken will they bring it as a Charge against me for so doing having some just ground for what I did To tell you the truth I had some jealousie upon me concerning a person as these persons have had jealousie upon them concerning my self and to deal ingenuously when I was convinced I had no just grounds of jealousie I was sorry for the same and so should they for I appeal to the Consciences of these men whether they have any just grounds to be thus reporting of me for a Trappan if not let jealousie no more remain for it is that fire that will burn up all love and they will do well to try whether it has not burnt up all that tender affection which once they had to me Oh Friends I say to you all yet notwithstanding though there hath such a great cry past through this Nation about S. Bradley's being such a person and it is found a Bradley though not the same a man to my knowledge I never saw in all my life and as it hath been proved altogether what Reason can be given that their loves should not be renewed again Oh how should I rejoyce to see that day seeing it is so be ingenuous to acknowledge your fault with sorrow and grief of heart considering how God's Name and Truth hath been greatly reproached the Work of Conversion stopped the hearts of many of the Pretious Sons of Sion grieved and all by your means blaâ—zing through the Nation that which you see cannot be proved but at last is found to be a mistake as if there were no more of that name but my self So that hitherto your pretended Charge appears to be none but a heap of untruths and scandals 7. Parâ— He stands guilty of opening the nakedness and dealings in the Church-secrets in his publick preaching Ans These following Particulars are distinct from the former They are things raked up and put together to fill up the number These things at the first sight seems to bear weight but when they are examined there is no such matter Now I must confess I am much grieved that they have put me so unvoidably upon it to rake up old Matters and must be forced to bring those things forth to publick view that will render those persons to be unsound not being able to bear with sound Doctrine Though they have committed this folly to publick view I will promise to favour them as much as I can for though they have not so much love left in this storm the Accuser of the Brethren hath raised to cover their Pastors infirmities They shall see I have some left in me to cover much of theirs and seeing they have brought me upon the publick Stage I must be forc't to give some reply though short I must needs say to the grief of my heart I could not Preach to any Soul-searching-matter but should be accused by one or other yea though I have laid my matter down in general terms being willing so far as I could as it stood-with a good Conscience to give as little offence as I might but let me be as careful in this matter as was approveable in the sight of God yet some or other of them would still be offended that for a quarter of a year together and more before they had made this Breach I was so burthensom as they called it in my Ministry that it could not be borne by them when some being offended came to tell me that I spoke unto them My answer to such was If they could experience what I said it was to them and this they call the Secrets of the Church This Particular and my brief reply I shall leave it to my Brethren in the Ministry for to consider whether I was blame-worthy in this matter Again That it was frequently desired by two brethren to forbear such passages shewing how dishonourable they were to God and grievous to them he solemnly engaged never to do the like again nevertheless at the very next Meeting he had of his own appointing of which he had two or three a week besides the Church-Meetings he did publickly declare that his Church did stop his mouth so that he durst not for displeasing of them preach those truths he would Ans Whether this be a fair way of dealing let such as are truly godly be judge in this Case for these Persons to speak at this rate After all breaches and differences were made up and forgotten and were sweetly reconciled together and with a joynt consent had sat down at the Table of the Lord in a Heavenly and Gospel manner and they to send forth their Preacher with a Letter of Recommendation to the Churches of Christ throughout the Nation according to the order aforesaid and yet of a sudden in eight or nine dayes time such a scroul as this should be drawn up against him and spread through the Nation and never come unto the sight of their Pastor till a twelve-month after is such a wonder to me that the like was never seen or heard of since the Creation of the World but as touching the Brethrens desire to the best of my remembrance it was accomplished they manifesting themselves to be very apt for to quarrel at every turn with me and to be falling out for peace-sake I yielded to such a thing bearing with their weakness who would indeed be often doing amiss and found out of the Gospel way but could not bear to be reproved for it yea I say for their peace sake I yielded to their desires with grief of Soul I declare it in maintaining of their peace I broak my own in tying up my self from making improvement of my Ministry and exercising part of that power I had received from the Lord to reprove as well as to exhort and comfort it is no small trouble to me that they force me to rip up their weakness at this rate in such a publick way which now cannot be well avoided they having published my Charge abroad For Truth 's sake I must speak a little though nothing nigh to what I could relate but this that I have done is not to render them odious as they have done their Pastor but rather that the Truth might appear on my part that so things may be compared together both what I can say for my self as well as what they have writ
Whether this was a pertinent answer or any answer at all we shall certainly know at the Judgement Day which hastens and upon this they speedily proceeded and refused to let it slip till another day of meeting though it was desired by one of the Brethren and also by them granted yet this B.M. was so eager in the matter and did so much prevail upon them that he caused the rest of his adherents to breake their solemn Promise which they made to the aforesaid Brother B. M. carried it with these words as can be proved to his face That if they did not do it then they should not do it at all If they had not a greater intent to propagate their Murdering Design to slay the Innocent rather than to keep to the just known standing Rule of Christ let him that is of understanding in this matter appear to be judge in this case and what was all this but to carry on the work of the Devil all the day and by these things have made me a wonder to many yet God is my strong refuge Psal 71.7 Ninthly Verily scoffing at the Work of the Lord being acquainted he should be cut off scoffingly said to one of his adherents It would be cut and dryed by and by To this I answer O how have these persons addicted themselves to speak that which is not true for let my Reply be considered whether it was a Scoff when I understood their determination what they was resolved to do as it were informed upon good and sufficient proof that some of them were resolved the breach should not be made up and by their management of things I saw their design plainly tending unto the same When they did threaten to cut me off I soberly answered It was ready cut and dryed that is to speak after the smilitude it was ready done to their hands how and which way they will make this a Scoff I know not unless they wrest my words and take them in the wrong sence Let these men remember the same measure they mete forth to me shall be meted to them again Tenthly As a further Evidence of his Hardness and Implacableness under all when it was told him he was cut off he makes that the time of his liberty to preach the Gospel unto the world Answ Here they have uttered words without knowledge to tell the People that it is an evidence of his hardness what to rejoyce in a time of Liberty to preach the Gospel of Christ here have they discovered their blindness and ignorance abundantly to say it was an evidence of his Implacableness It is very plain by what they assert they know not what they say nor whereof they affirm First The word Implacableness implies Unappeasable a thing quite contrary to their assertion whose malice admits of no terms of Reconciliation Now let the Reader consider whether this rash Censure which they have ignorantly cast upon me hath not fallen upon themselves who would by no means admit of Reconciliation though the terms thereof have been tendered to them as aforesaid was proved so that I may say unto them therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest dost the same things how do they think that continue in so doing to escape the Judgements of God Rom. 2.1 2 3. Secondly Implacableness doth import haters of Peace and such who are wholly for war so that out of their own mouth they are condemned for they are so far from peace that they have proclaimed open War through the Nation against their Pastor though without just cause that a man can scarce go into any part thereof but he shall hear the report of this their unrighteous Proceedings Thirdly Implacableness doth also import to us such as will never be reconciled or pacified when they are once moved and have taken any quarrel in hand such as are irreconcilable without friendship or peace who being once offended will never be reconciled more neither will admit of any League or Covenant witness the Continuation of their reproach and slanders that let these men or women come into any company whether Christians or others as can be proved against some of them to their great shame not at all regarding the Glory of God will fall a Reviling Backbiting and Slandring of their Pastor as if they were so hungerly bitten that they can not tell when they have done enough or should never be satisfied or take their revenge of him This is Implacableness indeed the fire of their wrath being once kindled they carry it on at such a rate as if they would never let it go out till they hurried me out of breath or hunted their Pastor to death altogether refusing to shew any kind of friendship to him in the least and being not contented to use him so vilely themselves but use all endeavours that possible may be to bring up all others to the same Implacableness O this is Persecution with a witness And when they do hear of any Person of Quality that doth come to hear the said S. B. some of them make it their work to run to their houses and back-bite him extreamly with such-like expressions He is a wicked dangerous person though when they have been asked by sober persons whether they speak of their own knowledge have told them No but it is true enough you need not question it Why O I had it from a gratious Soul that would not lie and if you come to that gratious Soul if you can find him out ask him Do you know this and that to be true of Samuel Bradley Not of my own knowledge but from one whom I am sure will not dare for to tell a lie So you shall at last when it comes to the issue find it comes from his own Church and examine them of his own Church Do any of you know S. B. your Pastor to be a Trappan No but we surmise or suppose some such thing so at last when we have searched into the bottom there is no such thing by this means have they made persons take it for granted when they could never prove any such thing They never ceased in this way of proceeding till they had wrought up persons unto the same prejudiced mind as themselves and by this means have prevented many from the Means of Grace I hope by this time they see their blindness and do now understand that S. B. stands clear from the guilt of Implacableness and it fals out to be their own portion The Lord grant them timely repentance and let them learn hereafter to speak the Truth and utter such things as are truth that their speech may not be condemned for as Job saith Job 34.3 As the palate tastes meat so doth the ear try words Their words have been examined and tried from the beginning of their petty Charge now almost to the end and have been found false and