the Judges that there was in Monarchie and Aristocracy an enmity against Christ which he would destroy and as he was speaking some turbulent fellowes and Sectaries clambred up by the Bench and cryed out my Lord my Lord Mr Pr. doth it in malice we will maintaine our Minister with our bloud whereupon the Judge threw away the paper and said he would heare no more of it though he had before commanded Master Eldred to read openly all those Heterodoxies The Lords day following Master Feake in the Pulpit endeavored to answer all the Articles put up against him to the Judges in a great Auditory Many other things I have heard of him since his coming to Hartford but what I here set down of him besides the relation I have had by word of mouth of persons of worth 't is given me under hand in writing and that with this seale set to it what I have here written I will justifie and much more when I am called to it There is one Richard Overton a desperate Sectary one of Lilburnes Breed and followers who hath printed many scandalous things against the House of Peers and notice being given of him there was an Order granted for the taking of him and seasing of his Presse a Presse that had printed many wicked Pamphlets that have come out of late against the King the Lords the Presbyteriall Government the City and for a Toleration and Liberty destructive to all Religion Lawes and Government yea overthrowing by the principles laid down in them the power of the House of Commons whilst they seeme to cry up and invest that House with the Monopoly of all the power of the Kingdome who being apprehended by the Messengers sent out for him was brought before a Committee of the House of Lords where he refused to answer any questions and carried himself with a great deale of contempt and scorne both in words and gesture and after this being brought before the House of Lords he refused to answer any questions propounded by the Speaker as in the name of the House and to that question whether he were a Printer or no hee would not answer but told them he was resolved not to make answer to any interrogatories that should infringe his propertie right or freedome in particular or the rights freedomes and properties of the Nation in generall Besides he gave saucie and peremtory words to the House of Lords and appealed from the House of Lords to the House of Commons whereupon the Lords committed him to Newgate as he most justly deserved Now since his commitment to Newgate there are some wicked railing Pamphlets come out in his name and sold openly Pamphlets venting a company of cursed principles both against Religion and civill Government tending to nothing else but the overthrow of the fundamentall constitution of this Kingdome in King Lords and Commons and setting up the body of the common people as the Soveraigne Lord and King denying King and Lords any power and the House of Commons any further then the peoples Deputies and at the pleasure of and will of the people and to the ruine of Religion by pleading against the Ordinance for punishing Blasphemies and Heresies The first Book of this Overtons is call'd A defence against all Arbitrary Vsurpations of the House of Lords and a Relation of their unjust and barbarous proceedings against that worthy Commoner stiling himself so The second is An Arrow against all Tyrants and Tyranny shot from the prison of Newgate into the Prerogative Boweâ—s of the Arbytrary House of Lords by Richard Overton Prerogative Archer to the Arbitrary House of Lords The third is A Petition and Appeale to the House of Commons calling them the High and mighty States the most Soveraigne House and himself their leigo Petitioner In all which he most audaciously and unsuâ—â—erably abuses the House of Lords charging them with Tyranny â—surpation invading the Liberties of the people denying them all legislative power desiring due reparations against them scoffing and scorning them and their power descanting upon by way of conâ—utation the Order of the House of Lords for his commitment and stirring up the House of Commons and all the people against the House of Lords to free the people from their oppressions tyrannies c. I will give the Reader a taste of this Anabaptisticall spirit by transcribing a few passages out oâ— these wicked and cursed Pamphlets In page 5. of his deâ—iance against the Lords he speaks to English-men thus Ye in speciall be encouraged against all opposition and incroachment of Kings Lords or others upon the House of Commons their rights and properties derived from the people And acknowledg none other to be the supreame Court of Judicature of this Land but the House of Commons and in this gallâ—â—t resolution live and dye and acquit your selves like men For my part I 'le treaâ— upon the hottest coales of fire and vengâ—ance that that parcell of men intituled the House of Lords can blow upon me for it Page 15. 17. He makes the Lords to be sâ—bordinate and subject to the Commons the great Representors of the Land and calls the Knights and Burgesses Assembled the upper House and the Judges of the House of Peers as well as his Page 19. 20. speaking of the power of the Commons hath these words Therefore these Lords being none of the peoples Vicegerents Deputies or Representors cannot legally passe upon any of the Represented to 〈…〉 y sentence fine or imprison but such their actions exceeding the soveraigne compasse must needs be illegall and Antimagistraticall and therefore as by that soveraigne power confer'd from the people upon the House of Commons I made my appeales to the said House refusing altogether to submit unto that usurpation of the Lords over the peoples properties c. In the same page speaking of the House of Lords in a scoffing manner faith Their Lordships might do well to send me to Doctor Bastwicks School of complements that I might have a little more venerable Courtship against the next time I appeale in their presence In page 17. 18. relating how the whole House of Lords derided him upon his refusing to answer the questions of the speaker of the Right Honourable House of Peeâ—s he sets down that he replyed to them Gentlemen it doth not become you thus to deride me that am a prisoner at youâ— Barre And thereupon speakes of the House of Lords such caâ—riage such Court for indeed Comedies Tragedies Masks and Playes are farre more fit for such idle kind of men In page 6. Overton speaking of the House of Lords writes thus And these are further to let them know that I bid defiance to their injustice usurpation and tyranny and sâ—â—rne even the lest connivance glimpse jot or tittle of their favour Let them do as much against 〈…〉 e by the rule of Equity Reason and Justice for my testimony and protestation against them in this thing as possibly they can and I
shall be content and rest In this Arrow against all Tyrants written as it seems to some Member of the House of Commons page 6. he writes thus Sir We desire your help for your own sakes as well as ours cheifly for the removall of two most insufferable evills daily encroaching and increasing upon us portending and threatning inevitable destruction and confusion of your selves of us and of all our posterity namely the encroachments and usurpâ—tions of the House of Lords over the Commons liberties and freedomes together with the barbarous inhumane blood-thirstie desires and endeavours of the Presbyterian Clergy O the desperate wickednesse of this man and some other Sectaries who have writ such like passages against the Lords and the Ministers and that for no other cause as appeares by this Pamphlet and divers others themselves being witnesses but because the Lords questioning some men for printing the most abominable sedicious cursed libells against all Royall Authority and the fundamentall â—awes and Government of this Kingdome that ever in any age were published and they in the most unparralleld manner of which I beleeve no presidents can bee shewn in any Chronicles or histories of this Kingdome carrying themselves contempruously and scornfully they committed them to prison and because an Ordinance to punish damnable Blasphemies and Heresies hath been brought into the House of Commons by two worthy Members and that by the prâ—curement of the Clergie as the Pamphlet saith Now for what the Lords have done against Lilburne Oâ—erton Larner and such fâ—llowes in labouring to suppresse â—uch â—editious Presses in punishing them as also in their speedy admitting into their House and thankfull acceptance of the Remonstrances and Petitions of the City of London County of Lancashi 〈…〉 c. And for what Master Tâ—â—t and Master Bacon have done in presenting such an Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies they are highly accouâ—â—ed of by all the godly and Orthodox Ministers and people in City and Country and their names will be famous in all generations when the names of Lilburne Overton c. yea and of all their great Patrons whether in the Army or out of the Army will be a by-word and a curse and canonized in the Kalenâ—â—r of such Saints as John of Leyden Thomas Muncer Kâ—ipperdollâ—â—g c. In page 10. of this poysoned Arrow Overton writes thâ—s Why therefore should you of the Representative body sit still and suffer these Lords to devoure both us and our Lawes Be awakened arise and consider their oppressions and encroachments and stop their Lordships in their ambitious career for they doe not cease only here but they soare higher and higher and now they are become Arrogators to themselves of the naturall Soveraignty the Represented have convayed and issued to their proper Representors even challenge to themselves the title of the supremest Court of Judicature in the Land as was claimed by the Lord Hounsden when I was before them which challenge of his was a most illegall Anti-Parliamentary audacious presumption c. Behold Reader this wicked Sectary labours to set the House of Commons against the House of Lords to make division between them All the hopes of these sonnes of division lie in breaches which they fâ—ment all kind of wayes and in all kind of things wherein there is union as between the Houses the Scots and â—he Parliament the Parliament and the City the Parliament and the Ministry of the Kingdom They have no hopes but in wars fishing in troubled waâ—ers keeping all things in confusion from being setled In pag. 11 12 hee speaks thus Therefore the soveraign power extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors all this kind of soveraignty challenged by any whether of King Lords or others is usurpation illegitimate and illegall and none of the kingdomes or peoples neither are the people thereto oblieged Thus Sir seeing the Soveraign or Legislative power is only from the Represented to the Representors and cannot possibly further extend the power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive and he can communicate no more then he hath himselfe and the Soveraign power not being inherent in him it cannot be convayed by or derived from him to any so that his meer Prerogative creatures cannot have that which their lord and creator never hath had or can have namely the Legislative power Many other strange passages there are both in his Pamphlets and Petition and Appeale made up of intolerable Arrogancy Impudency and Anarchy point blanck against the Fundamentall constitution of the Government of this Kingdom but by these the Reader may judge of the whole ex ungâ—e leonem and so I leave him to the justice of the House of Lords There is one John Lilburn an Arch Sectary the great darling of the Sectaries highly extolled and magnified by them in many Pamphlets called The Defender of the Faith A Pearle in a Dung-hill That Worthy Sufferer for his Countries Liberty this Worthy man a precious Jewell indeed of whom I had thought to have given a full Relation in this Book and to have laid him open in all his colours by following him from place to place and shewing how time after time he hath behaved himself since he came out of his Apprenticeship as by declaring what set him first on work to print Books against the Bishops how hee carried himselfe in the Fleet whilst he was Prisoner there how since this Parliament both before the warres begun and since the warres how whilst hee was Prisoner at Oxford how in the Earle of Manchestors Army how in the City at many meetings about Petitions since he left the warres how before the Committee of Examinations how the first 〈◊〉 he was in Newgate by order of the House of Commons how hee behaved himselfe before the House of Lords and how the second time of his imprisonment in Newgate and how since his last commitment to the Tower but because this Narration alone will take up some sheets there being many remarkable things to be written of him of his insolent loose ungodly practices and of his Anarchicall Principles destructive to all Civill Government whatsoever and I have already filled up that number of sheets I aâ— first intended when I resolved to write this Third Part though I have many things yet to put in this Third Part therefore I must deâ—erre it till a Fourth Part and shall then by the help of God doe it so largely and fully that I shall make his folly and wickednesse known to all men and vindicate the honour and power of the House of Peers from his and all the Sectaries wicked Libells shewinâ— the weaknesse of those Principles That all power in Government is founded upon the immediate free election of all those that are to be Governed And of a necessity that all who are to be subject and obey must be represented And that all who have power in Government must be Representers which I shall doe for the
uncleane c. Now by this the Reader may see the Sectaries agree not some excluding the Lords from all power because not chosen by the universality of the people others excluding the Commons from their power because chosen by the universall people so that according to Master Goodwins doctrine the Lords being of Noble Parentage and well bred not chosen by the rifâ—e raffe of the people Atheists Drunkards the prophane world may be fitter and have more Authority to nominate and appoint who shall be the men that shall order the affaires of Christs Kingdome then the Commons And thus have I set the Pharises and Sadduces one against the other Secondly I propound some Queres to Lilburne Overton c. to Answer against I set forth a fourth part of Gangraena 1. Quere If all subjection and obedience to Governors be founded only upon the parties immediate present election of them and not other wise whether then may any obedience so much as to appeare before answer any questions or submit be given to Justices of Peace Judges Keepers of the great Seale Sheriffs Committees c. who are not chosen by the people 2. Whether any obedience respect coming without resistance upon Warrants sent for may be performed to Majors of Townes or Deputy Majors not chosen by the Town where they serve but appointed by Ordinance of Parliament 3. Whe her if men remove from one Town to another where they had no hand in chusing Majors and Magistrates must they demand a liberty and power to chuse them before they will obey any of their commands and whether must all the young youths of a Town when they come to twenty one years â—or years of subjecting demand in the places where they live a power of chusing Aldermen or Burgesses of Townes before they can submit to them 4. Whether does not a constitution of a Government for such a people and Nation made by the wisdome of Ancestors some hun-hundred years before though not by election of the people one in every year or seven or more but founded upon such and such good Lawes and in succession of persons by birth and inheritance bind a people to obey and subject as well as if chosen by them 5. Suppose in formes of civill Government and constitution of Kingdomes every particular were not so good and exact as might be desired by some and possibly might be yet whether is not a peoples submitting and accepting that forme of Government many years togethera consenting to it and equivalent to a formall Election There is one John Price an Exchange man Cretensis beloved Disciple and one of his Prophets who among others preach for him when he hath any Book to Answer or some Libertine Tractate to set forth This man hath put forth three Pamphlets one about Independencies the other two Replyes or Answers one to the City Remonstrane the other to a Vindication of the Remonstrance in all which he shewes himself to be Schollar to Cretensis and somewhat allyed to Lilburne Overton and the rest of those Sectaries who give all the supreame power of this Kingdome to the House of Commons For in his City Remonstrance Remonstrated and in his moderate Reply he is against the City Remonstrance for giving only a share of the supreame power to the House of Commons and instead of three Estates the King Lords and Commons of which the fundamentall Constitution of the Government of this Kingdome is made up he holds there is but one and that the Commons for which hee gives his Reasons such as they be and puts Queres to the Author of the Justification of the City Remonstrance their scope being all along to give the whole supreame power and not only a part to the Commons Certainly these Books of Master Price were not written in the yeare 1645. but in the yeare 1646. that they agree so with Lilburne Overton c. And if I should use his Master Goodwins Argument against him here I wonder how hee would answer it Those who are chosen by the generality of the Land Worldlings drunkards uncleane persons are not fit to have the whole supreame power of the Kingdome and neither King nor Lords to have any part with them But so are the Commons of England chosen Ergo. Now both the major and the minor are his Tutor Goodwins only the major is stronger as I put it for if according to Master Goodwin because they are chosen by the Common people and not only by Saints they are uncapable of a part of the supreame power because there is an impossibility of a spirituall extraction out of a secular root then much more should they not have the whole supreame power And as this man is bold with the power of the King and Lords to exchange it and give it to the Commons so he is with the City the Court of Common-Councell calling the City Remonstrance made by the Common-Councell the disturber of the quiet and peace of the Church and State c. And so in page 13. 22. there are passages aspersing the Remonstrance and the Common-Councell This Master Price contents not himself to preach only in London but I heare of him by a godly Minister who was lately at Edmunds-Bury that he hath preached there in a house and a godly judicious Citizen told me and some others that he maintained to him some dangerous and hereticall opinions as that men might be saved who were not elected and that if men did improve nature well God would surely give them grace So that it seems this Exchange man sells other wares besides Independency and Separation and does as the Apostle Peter speaks with fained words make marchandize of mens soules Master Price also I suppose this Price was at a meeting here in London where some of severall Sects Seekers Antinomians Anabaptists Brownists Independents met with some Presbyterians to consider how all these might live together notwithstanding their severall opinions and he was as all the Sectaries were for a generall Toleration and they agreed together like buckle and thong only the Presbyterians were not satisfied There is one Master Cradock who came out of Wales and is going thither again to be an Itinerary Preacher whom I have spoken of in page 131. that hee declined coming to the Assembly but now lately October 14. seeing the pay could not be had without the concurrence of the Lords and in all this time having made some leading men his friends hee came to be examined and is passed but besides that he hath gathered a Church administring the Lords Supper in a house at evening he hath preached many odd things in the City straines tending to Antinomianisme Libertinisme as speaking against men of an old Testament spirit and how poore Drunkards and Adulterers could not look into one of our Churches but hell fire must be flashed in their faces That if a Saint should commit a grosse sinne and upon the committing of it should be startled at it
Majors any otherwise but as a Member of that Honourable Court concurring with the rest and then whereas this Libeller calls it an unjust Remonstrance 't is a most just and equall Remonstrance as hath been fully proved by Master Bellamie in his Justification and Vindication of the City Remonstrance and in that Book entituled the Sectaries Anatomized and if I would give liberty to my pen I could further justifie not only the justnesse of it but the necessity of it and show demonstratively that it will never be well with this Kingdome whilst Sectaries are in places of publike trust and that the subjects of this Kingdome can never expect justice nor right whilst men of other Religions then what is established by Law are in places of power and I wonder that the Anabaptists and Sectaries should be so offended at that part of the Remonstrance when as 't is their dayly practise not by faire and just wayes God knowes but by undermining watching for iniquity laying snares for men yea going against all principles Military and Civill of Honour and of Justice to put men from places of Trust and Command of which there are many remarkable unparalleld instances and the world in due time may have a true account of them And lastly whereas 't is said presenting a Remonstrance for procuring Licence and Authority to suppresse all such as have good principles and grounds for their practises that 's most false for in the same Remonstrance against Hereticks Blasphemers Anabaptists c. they petition for the setling of Religion and Church-government according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches which Religion Church-government so built hath certainly good ground for its practise For the second I desire the Reader to observe a few things upon some of the expressions in this Pamphlet that he calls the Anabaptists and Sectaries the meek and quiet of the Land as Master Peters doth the harmlesse Anabaptists then which that there are not a more turbulent unquiet people in the world made of Salt-Peter let this Book witnesse and the language in it given the cheif Magistrate of the City with the railing seditious Libells put out dayly against the King House of Lords Assembly yea and the House of Commons too The Anabaptists of old calld themselves the meek of the Earth and said that now the promise must be fulfilled the meek shall inherite the Earth when they by bloud Rapine cruel Warrs seased on the possessions of others Secondly that these Sectaries will take things for granted and therupon passe desperate censures upon Magistrates Ministers and all when as there is no such thing but quite contrary as going on to aggravate things against my Lord Major and resemble him to wicked Ahaz c. for breaking his promise when as he performed it most punctually and conscientiously considering himself both as a Christian and as a Magistrate in such an eminent place Thirdly that these new Anabaptists as well as the old are guilty of speaking evill of dignities and bringing railing accusation in print against Powers branding the Lord Major with that brand set by God himself on wicked Ahaz this is that Lord Major of London Thomas Adams by name c. A Citizen a freind of mine having been this last summer in Cheshire and divers other Countries upon his occasions heard many Malignants say they would turne Independents for then they should not take the Covenant nor be forced to any thing but be at their liberty June the 11. I was told by a godly Citizen and a cordiall friend to the Publike that some of the Independents have said they will have their way yet whatsoever it cost them In some of the weekly news-Books I have observed passages inserted of the great love and unity in the Army between the souldiers Presbytery and Independency making no breach and in the Perfect Occurrences of the Week calld the two and twentieth Week ending the 29. of May 1646. the Pamphleter tells us 't is very observable to consider the love and unity which is among the souldiers Now I asked about that time a Chaplaine of the Army a moderate Presbyterian whether it was so and how it came about he gave me this answer through the great forbearance of the Presbyterians who suffered them to have their wills and crossed them not took all patiently and said he if the Presbyterians should not have done so but stood upon things as the Independents it had been impossible but the Army had been broken in twenty peeces many a time before this for the Sectaries are of such a proud high spirit that if they had not had their wills there would have been no peace and indeed both in Armies Assembly City there hath been that forbearing yeelding on the Presbyterian party in reference to the publike that the Independents and Sectaries if they had been in their place would never have done though it had cost the totall losse of three Kingdomes I beleeve no age nor story can parallell all things considered the Love Patience long-suffering of the Presbyterians yea the passing by and putting up so many provocations and unsufferable abuses as they have done and that from a contemptible handfull of men in comparison but that 's our comfort That the patient expectation of the poore shall not be forgotten for ever and that God will save the afflicted people but will bring downe high looks I have been assured from divers good hands as Citizens and others that the greatest thing in the City Remonstrance that the Sectaries are offended at is that about places of publike trust they take that most hainously that Sectaries should not have places of honour profit and power which clearly shewes to all the world 't is not a bare Toleration of their consciences of enjoying their own personall Estates in the Land that they seek or which would content them but they look for Preferment Rewards power to have others under them so that 't is a Domination and to be in such a condition that others may seek to them to be Tolerated that they aime at a Toleration and liberty of conscience contents them not but a Liberty of Offices and a power of great places both in Military and civill affaires they stand for Master Burroughs in the yeare 1645. both preached and printed even in that Tractate where he pleades for a Toleration That the Magistrate may to men who differ from the State in greater Errors at least deprive them of the benefits and priviledges of the State notwithstanding their pleas of conscience and in evills of lesse moment put them to some trouble in those wayes of evill so farre as to take off the wantonesse of their spirits and the neglect of meanes some trouble may be layed in the way so that men shall see there is something to be suffered in that way and there is no reason why any should be offended at this yea Master Burroughs
grants one step may be gone further that in such things as men by their weaknesse make themselves lesse serviceable to the common-wealth or Church they may be denyed some priviledges and benefits that are granted to others And of this Master Burroughs gives instances and enlarges it Now certainly if this doctrine were good and true in the yeare 1645. before the successe of the new Modell and the recruit of the House of Commons the doctrine in the City Remonstrance 1646. cannot be bad nor false that would have Anabaptists Heriticks and Schismaticks kept and removed from places of Publike trust If they may be denyed priviledges and benefits that are granted to others and some trouble laid in their way c. for their opinions then certainly they should not be preferred above others to all places of publike trust whilst men who conforme to the true Religion established by the State be kept out yea turned out of places And as Master Burroughs was of this mind so I and divers others have heard Mr Tho. Goodwin ingenuously professe since this Parliament though the Magistrate should forbeare tender consciences that could not come up to the Rule yet it was most equall that the countenance and preferments in the Magistrates hands should be bestowed only on those who conformed to what was established and therefore said hee we desire only to be suffered to live and enjoy the Ordinances but expect no places nor any of that maintenance which is in the States disposing and therefore the Remonstrants in that branch of their Petition were â—arre from Persecution Injustice if Master Burroughs and Master Goodwin may be beleeved and that which they desired most necessary to take off the wantonnesse of mens spirits and the neglect of meanes and in all this theâ—'s no more graines of trouble then might help aginst this wantonnesse c. and the truth of it is these preferments places of publike trust c. have made more Sectaries and Anti-Presbyterians then all the Sermons and Books ever preached and printed by the Sectaries and 't is one of the great springs of all our evills the prime cause of all Injustice Oppression Error Faction and things will never go well with the publike nor the union of both Kingdomes be soundly setled till Hereticks Blasphemers Schismaticks Seekers Anabaptists Antinomians Libertines Brownists and Independents be removed from all places of publike trust both Martiall and Civill and 't is a most righteous thing to Petition for it As the zealous Protestants of this Kingdome could not expect Justice protection from Popish Counsellours Judges Justices c. then in place and we cryed out of it before this Parliament as an intolerable griveance and mischeif to the good subjects of this Kingdome because men but suspected of Popery or whose Wives were Papists were in places of publike trust for by that meanes Papists were brought off and such as were cald Puritants felt their power upon all occasions no more can the Orthodox Presbyterians expect right justice from Sectarian Counsellors Justices of Peace c. especially in differences between them and Independents for all Sectaries looke upon cordiall Presbyterians with a greater eye of malignity jealousie particular interest then any other sort of men and therefore to strengthen their owne party will weaken and discourage them all they can possibly There were some Independents that dining in June last at the house of a Presbyterian who married an Independent were speaking of the Presbyterians that generally all of them desired that help might goe for Ireland and that on the Fast day in June they preached and prayed much for help to relieve Ireland and among other Ministers they named one that should pray thus or to this effect That now Oxford was taken all might goe Lord let them all goe These Independents said the Presbyterians had some design sure they were so earnest for the Army to goe to Ireland but some of the Independents said they had something else or other use for the Army then to goe to Ireland The Sectaries in the Moneth of May last raged extremely and spake desperately so that a Common-Councell man who had heard many of them speak told me he had said to some of them that they must provide Bedlam for them The newes of the Kings going to the Scots the Remonstrance of the City of London with some other things that fell out that Moneth vexed them terribly one Sectary a kind of Gentleman belonging to a Parliament man said in the hearing of some that the King the House of Lords the City the Scots and the Assembly were joyned together but they had the House of Commons and the Army and gave out some such words as if some three or foure thousand horse should billet in the City This man was had before my Lord Major for these words and I being told of it by one who went to my Lord Majors with him I also having an opportunity asked my Lord Major of the truth of it who remembred there was such a thing God grant the King House of Lords City Scots Assembly be well joyned together and agreeing and not only King Lords c. but the House of Commons also The Lord send a perfect Peace and Union between the King and both Houses and give a good understanding and agreement alwayes between Parliament Citie Assembly our Brethren of Scotland These kind of speeches of the Commons and the Army put by themselves as divided from the House of Lords City c. are words of sedition but to vindicate the honour of the House of Commons and the Army from such speeches as these too frequent in the mouths of many Sectaries I can assure the Kingdome from the mouths of many worthy Members of the House of Commons and of Commanders in the Army how much soever these Sectaries presume upon the House of Commons calling them in many Pamphlets of late Their owne House of Commons our House of Commons and upon the Army that they are Independents and for that party that the greatest number of Members of that House by farre are no Sectaries and though some are crept in among them Yet the body of the House are neither Independents Anabaptists Antinomians nor such like and so in the Army there are more Presbyterians then Independents yea if the Army were divided into four parts three parts of the four are no Independents Anabaptists Antinomians c. and therefore I hope to see the day of King Lords Commons Scots City of London Armies the body of the Kingdome all concurring for the setlement of the Reformed Protestant Religion and for the extirpating of Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and all Doctrine which is not according to godlinesse A Citizen an able understanding man related to me and two Citizens within these few dayes that he and a great Independent speaking together about the King this Citizen urged that branch of the Covenant That we have sworn to defend the Kings
Person and Authority and to maintain His just power and greatnesse the Independent replyed presently what was his just power suppose saith this Independent there were a theife and you should make a Covenant with him to maintaine his just priviledges what of that might you not for all that bring him to punishment labouring to bring him to the Gallows were his just priviledges and no breach of Covenant whereupon said this Citizen Is this your interpretation of the Covenant I would never have taken it whilst the world stood in that sense and further said this Citizen when this Covenant was made and sworne what ever you can say against the King as raising Wars against the Parliament and what ever else you imagine It was before this Covenant was taken you knew as much of him before as now so that t is strange you should speak so And then this Citizen reasoned with this Independent against punishing the King David was guilty of Murther and Adultery and there were then Elders of the people Princes and Judges in Israel as well as now and yet none of them offered to question David upon his life or inflict punishment neither do we find that God by the prophets gave any such direction to punish David though by the Law death was due for Murther to other men we know God sent the prophet Nathan to reprove him and to bring him to repentance for his great sinne but not to stirre up the Princes Judges and Elders of the people to proceed against him as they did against Malefactors A Relation and Discovery of the Libertinisme and Atheisme horrible fearfull uncleannesses of severall kinds Drunkunnesse generall Loosenesse and licentiousnesse of living Cosening and Deceiving both of particular persons and of the State and Kingdome fearfull Lying Jugling and falsifying of promises abominable Pride and boasting in the Arms of flesh unsufferable Insolencies and horrible misdemeanors of many Sectaries of these times particularly their Insolencies against the Lawes of the Land the King the House of Lords House of Commons some particular worthy Members by name of both Houses Committees of both Houses both Houses of Parliament as conjunct in their Authority and Ordinances against our Brethren of Scotland the Kingdom of Ireland the City of London the Assembly the whole Ministery of this Kingdom and all the Reformed Churches against inferior Magistrates and Courts as the Judges Justices of Peace Majors of Cities Committes and all sorts of Officers of Justice THe Particulars in all these kinds are so many and so infinite that particularly to reckon them up and give their story would fill a great volume and I have already in the foregoing part of the Book given some instances in most of them and therefore I shall but breifly point at and give hints only upon these severall heads referring the Reader for further satisfaction to many Pamphlets and Books daily printed and openly sold and to his own observation of things 1. The great Libertinisme and Atheisme of many Sectaries appears by their violent and feirce pleading for by word and writing a free Liberty and Toleration of all kind of Religions and Consciences whatsoever and that not only in lesser points of Doctrine but in the most fundamentall Articles of Faith yea and of denying the Scriptures and that there is a God and by the pleading for Liberty in such away and by such mediums viz. that no man is infallible and certaine in any thing he holds that t is possible he may be mistaken c. as do necessarily overthrow all Religion whatsoever There have been within these few yeers some scores of Books written wholly for Toleration and pretended Liberty and some hundred of Books wherein that 's pleaded for together with other things and so farre are the Sectaries gone in Libertinisme * that all true love piety Religion conscience is placed in a generall allowance of what mens corrupted and defiled consciences like and the greatest sinne wickednesse evill that men can commit or be capable of is placed in the using of good means and the power God hath given to hinder and restraine this Liberty There is a Book called Toleration justified printed 1646. asserteth t is not safe to put any bounds to Toleration or to restraine in any thing whatsoever no not in denying the Scriptures and a Deity There is a Pamphlet A Demurre to the Bill for preventing the growth and spreading of Heresie that came out lately since that Ordinance against Heresies was brought in to the H. of Commons that pleads page 3. with many Libertine Arguments against all punishing of those that maintaine there is no God as among others with this We beseech you let not God and the truth of his being be so excessively dispâ—raged as not to be judged sufficient to maintaine it against all gainsayers without the helpe of any earthly power to maintaine it Let Turks and those that beleeve in strange gods which are 〈…〉 gods make use of such power and infirme supporters of their supposed d 〈…〉 s but let the truth of our God the only God the omnipotent God be judged abundantly able to support it self t is a tacit imputation of in 〈…〉 s to imagine it hath need of our weake and impotent assistance There are Queres concerning a printed Paper entituted An Ordinane for the preventing and growing of Heresies c. where among many Libertine questions the second proclaims it self to be Scepticall and Athâ—isticall supposing except men make themselves infallible that the preaching printing and maintaining contrary to these Doctrines That God is that God is present in all places that God is Almighty that God is eternall perfectly holy c. may be the sacred truths of God for ought any man knowes There have beene and are daily many strange speeches uttered wholly tending to Libertinisme and Atheisme A Reverend godly Minister told me July the fourth 1646. he heard and Independent say what if I should worship the Sunne or the Moone as the Persians did or that Pewter Pot standing by what hath any man to do with my conscience A great Sectary pleaded in the hearing of persons of worth from whom I immediately had it for a Toleration of Stage-playes and that the Players might be set up againe I heard a Sectary plead for a Toleration of Witches and I urging that argument that Witches might say they in their conscience hold the Devill for their God and thereupon worship him it was answered that precept against not suffering Wirches was spoken to the Israelites not to us and will you because Witches deale with a familiar spirit therefore send them to the Devill by taking away their lives Many Sectaries often say that all the judgements of God upon us are because we will not receive the Government of of Christ suffer it to be set up among us viz. to let every one beleeve what he will and serve God according to his conscience as also they say if ever
Reader EVill men and seducers wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived as a Fountaine casteth forth water their hearts cast forth wickednesse and yet none greater pretenders to truth and holinesse then these and by these pretences they deceive many This the Holy Ghost in Scripture fore-tells the Stories of former ages testifie that it may not seeme strange to thee if in our daies also Egyptian darknesse be accounted Gospell-light licentiousnesse Christian Liberty and pretended Saints if unmasked appeare reall Devills In two former Treatises the hereticall and blasphemous opinions the scandalous and abominable practices of our Sectaries have been discovered and to the end thou mayest be warned and the truth of God not left without witnesse in Ages to come This third being a higher and fuller Discovery of the Frrours Herefies and Insolencies of the Sectaries is penned by the former Authour and allowed to be printed by him that is thy Friend in the truth Ja. Cranford The third PART of GANGRAENA OR A new and higher Discovery of the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and insolent Proceedings of the Sectaries of these times with some Animadversions by way of Confutation upon many of the Errors and Heresies named As also a particular Relation of many remarkable Stories speciall Passages Copies of Letters written by Sectaries to Sectaries Copies of Letters written from godly Ministers and others to Parliament men Ministers and other well-affected persons an Extract and the substance of divers Letters all concerning the present Sects together with ten Corollaries from all the forenamed Premises Briefe Animadversions on many of the Sectaries late Pamphlets as Lilburnes and Overtons Books against the House of Peeres M. Peters his last Report of the English Warres The Lord Mayors Farewell from his Office of Maioralty M. Goodwins thirty eight Queres upon the Ordinance against Heresies and Blasphemies M. Burtons Conformities Deformity M. Dells Sermon before the House of Commons Wherein the Legislative and Iudiciall Power of the House of Peeres over Commoners is maintained and fully proved against the Sectaries the Power of the House of Commons clearely demonstrated to be overthrowne upon the Mediums brought by the Sectaries against the Lords the late Remonstrance of the City of London justified the late Lord Mayor and the City vindicated from unjust Aspersions our Brethren of Scotland cleered from all the calumnies and reproaches cast upon them and the Magistrates power in suppressing Heresies and Blasphemies asserted As also some few Hints and briefe observations on divers Pamphlets written lately against me and some of my Books as M. Goodwins pretended Reply to the Antapologie M. Burroughs Vindication Lanseters Lance Gangraena playes Rex Gangraena-Chrestum M. Saltmarshes Answer to the second part of Gangraena A Iustification of the manner and way of writing these Books called Gangraena wherein not onely the lawfulnesse but the necessity of writing after this manner is proved by Scripture Fathers the most eminent Reformed Divines Casuists the practice and custome of all Ages By THOMAS EDVVARDS Minister of the Gospel Iude 8. v. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh despise dominion and speake evill of dignities 2 Pet. 3. 17. Tetherefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse London Printed for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Cornehill 1646. The Preface IN this following Book as in a cleare and true Glasse every impartiall and ingenuous Reader may plainly behold the many Deformities and great Spots of the Sectaries of these times Spots of all kinds Plague spots Feaver spots Purpule spots Leprosie spots Scurvey spots Spots upon them discovering much malignity rage frensie great corruption and infection of whom may be said as in Moses Song Deut. 32. 5. They have corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his children they are a perverse and crooked generation O that the Sectaries themselves and others easie to be deceived with good words and faire speeches apt to be carried away with good names and specious showes as godlinesse purity of Ordinances Conscience would but look into this Glasse and continue looking therein diligently in the feare of God reading over this Book and observing what 's here written comparing and examining one thing with another which would they do I am confidently perswaded many of the Sectaries who know not the depths of Sathan would quickly be taken off become out of love with their way and returne and others kept from going after those wayes this would prove a Soveraigne Antidote both to expell the poyson already received and to prevent the taking infection Now that this Book by the blessing of God may the better attaine these ends I shall in generall prâ—mise two things 1. Remove some objections that may lie in the way of the Reader wipe off the dust and dirt cast upon this Glâ—sse that might hinder the clear sight of things 2. Give some Rules Directions and Cautions as for the better understanding of it so for preventing some cavils and mistakes that otherwise might be For the first I observe two things have beene objected against these Books of discovering the Errors Heresies and Practises of the Sectaries First the manner and way of writing 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ing with matters of fact particularising men by name and bâ—ing very bitter and sharpe Secondly the matter as being untrue and consisting most of lyes falshoods and fables Now for the satisfaction of the Reader in the first the manner and way of writing these parts of Gangraena I have drawn up a large Treatise upon this subject viz. a Justification of relating matters of fact and the names of Sectaries as wel as their Opinions and Arguments which I have proved from the Scriptures of the old and new Testament both in commands and examples Orthodox Fathers Augustine c. other Ancient Writers as Bernard c. the most learned and famous among the moderne 〈◊〉 Luther Beza Bullinger Danaus c. the judgement of 〈◊〉 as Baldwin c. from the practise of Sectaries themselves as Donatists c. in all ages both in writing one against another and against the Orthodox and from many strong convincing Reasons and besides these proofs have answered fully all objections of all sorts brought against it as that t is a speaking against the Saints uncovering our brothers nakednesse a going against the Rule of Christ in Matth. 18. which is to tell our Brother alone which Treatise of the Justification of writing these Gangrâ—naes I am confident will not be only satisfactory but triumphing over all the clamors oâ—tcries and objections made by the Sectaries against my Books slaying their Absâ—loms and cutting off the heads of their great Goliahs as that of speaking against the Saints and in the judgement of al learned and ingenuous men stopping their months for ever Notwithstanding al which I cannot but expect 〈…〉 of the Sectaries will still clamor speak evill and
to the like effect After stands up Captaine Leivtenant Vernum and openly saies that in despight of men they would have their exercise adding at last with submission to Authority Presently after Master Parsons who published the Ordinance was sent for and although he shewed the order of the Committee yet he was sent to prison by the Deputy Governour the whole Church was in an uproare and the City is in disorder what the consequence may be we know not we have been and still are affronted by the Garrison and the civill power is in a manner trampled under foot We conceive the publike presumption to interpret an Ordinance of Parliament and to commit to prison the publisher of it is such an act as cannot be paralled in the whole Kingdome We have written to Master Prideaux very earnestly about it and have desired him to impart it to the Committee of the West the like request is made to you that so some speedy course may be taken herein and an answer returned to Exon. 2. August 1646. Your affectioned friends and servants Samuel Clark Richard Saunders Richard Crossingâ— This is a Coppie of a former sent last night by a Post at nine of the clock under Mr Prideaux cover the packet was superscribed for the Parliaments service which packet going out of East-gate was stopt by the Officers of the Garrison and was broken open the Post-boy wasstopt about three houres between East-gate and the draw-Bridge and then a packet was returned and put into his hands againe and he willed to depart the boy being unwilling had twelve pence given him and so went away We are in great haste and have sent this bearer expresse unto whose relation we refer your for more particulars He that commanded the guard gives us certain information that the packet was stopt as above and broken open and he promises to bring three or foure more to testifie it Exon. 3. of August 1646. One of the clock Since upon examinations we â—inde the stoping and opening the Letters to be true UPon Sunday being the second of August 1646. about nine or ten of the clock in the night the aforesaid Committee had dispacht away a packet and Post directed to the Honourable Edward Prideaux a Member of the Honourable House of Commons and at the foot of it superscription for the Parliaments service which packet was cleared out of the Gates by two Constables of the said Citie who said to the Postillian goe hasten on thy way to which some of the guard said and the plague goe with them but Captaine Vernon and some others laid in waite between the Port and the out-work to intercept the Post and took from the Postillion the said packet which immediatly was opened by them and reading the same they laughed and jeered thereat afterwards they commanded some Musketeers to guard the Postilion that he may carrie the packet to the Deputy Governour which they did and after three houres time the said Captaine Vernon and some others returned with a Paâ—ket directed to Colonell Hamman or in his absence to Colonell or in his absence to When the packet was delivered the Postillion replyed this is not my packet I will not goe with this but returne to my Master to acquaint him thereof whereupon some of the Captaines said Sirah get you gone and withall gave him a shilling Copies of Letters and extracts of Letter s written from the Army Garison Townes and other parts of the Countries unto Friends in London and Westminster concerning some Officers Souldiers and Preachers who are Sectaries Gentlemen NOtwithstanding all orders they persist in incroatching on the civill Authority Yesterday in the Market they set Sir Francis Fulfetts sonne a Minister in the stocks under the gallowes before the Guild-hall for being drunk refusing to accept of five shillings tendered by him for the poore he deserved punishment but it was out of their cognizance and their jeers and scoffs did plainly manifest they aimed and envied more at the function then at the fault We have since the departing of the expresse had full testimony of the intercepting breaking open and reading of our Letters by Captain Leivtenant Vernum and some other of the Captaines and sending another directed packet to Governour Hamond instead thereof And this returne they set a guard on the Post-house and had we not been very vigilant and dilligent we should have missed out Letters They soare very high and if their wings be not clipt 't will be very dangerous but if the proverbe be verified pride must have a fall Exon. August 8. 1646. Your truly affectionate Friends Samuel Clark Richard Saunders Adam Bennet Richard Crossing James Gould Gentlemen The Martialists begin againe to shew themselves in their former colours and reassume their late usurpation They have of late rescued a prisoner from the Sergiants Arrest The last Fast day one of the Captaines affronted the Constables in their office in observance of the Ordinance for the Fast not permitting them to question such as ridde and travelled on that day Exon. August 18. 1646. Your friends and servants Samuel Clark Richard Saunders James Gould Richard Crossings A Copie of a Letter written from a godly Minister then in the Army Our Army is lazy they feare that they shal bee disbanded before our deare Brethren depart the Kingdome They raile against the City and Assembly because of the Remonstrance The House of Lords are much vilâ—â—ied by them and our Noble Scots constantly abused In their Sermons Master Del and Saltmarsh preach free grace and say Christ judges not by the eye or eare he regards not mens prayers or duties if they have Christ in their heart though they do not read and pray and trade in duties Christ judges them according to their heart Secondly We have no use of secular power and they that would borrowe the Magistrats power to make a Reformation in the Kingdome of Christ are Anti-christian it is an evident signe that they have not the word nor spirit to speak for them Alas what can the Magistrate convert soules with the civâ—ll sword the wicked are to be slaine only with the breath of Christs lips Isa 11. 4. That was Master Dels Text before the Generall I told them that if this doctrine were true they might disband the Army Thirdly They pressed hard to have the law of Love and Liberty observed that there may be an equality that is their phrase and the Anabaptists Fourthly They are most offended with that passage of the Remonstrance about places of publike trust Fifthly There is no need of Universities for if men be annointed with the spirit and accepted amongst the Saints they are sufficiently qualified for the Ministery Sixthly Paul Hobson the Taylor and Leivtenant Colonell Hewson the one-eyed Shoomaker as Master Peters calls him are the most renouned preachers but Hobson hath saluted the Army with a farwell Sermon and is sent as an Emissary to Exeter to raise a party there Seventhly
Banbury Castle must not be slighted they say it may be a Garrison for the Saints it is conceived to be the strongest in England They use an Argument which takes with people much that if they will joyne with them they shall pay no Tythes and some are so foolish to give out there is a considerable party in all Countries where ere they have been that will stand for them so they may be excused for paying Tythes Ninthly Though that Argument do generally take with prophane men yet they see there are a company of godly men that are willing to pay Tythes to them therefore they urge all Arguments against mixed communion and they assure them that the Assembly will beare with all close dangerous Malignants that can speake Greek and Latine if they be not scandalous in their lives and will conforme to the Presbyteriall government and observe the Directorie Tenthly They would not have the old military Orders observed which was set forth by the Earle of Essex that Blasphemers should be bored through the tongue The Argument which they urged was that sinnes whiâ—h are directly against God should be punnished only by God yet they confesse that bold sinners should be admonished by the Church and beare a spirituall censure I pleaded that men did consist of a soule and body and that both joyned in this sinne the Devill in the soule making use of the tongue to vent Blasphemies against the God of Heaven and therefore it was fit that the tongue should be pnnished and that it was probable that those spirituall meanes should work the better which were used for his reformation and edification and with much adoe by some under-hand dealing with honest Commanders wee prevailed to have the Blasphemer punished I hope there will be a disbanding very shortly if not there are five Regiments that want Colonells and if there could be five Presbyterians put in the Independents would be well ballanced for there are a great many considerable men in this Army well affected to all godly Presbyterians June 3. A Copie of a Lettter to a Member of the House of Commons SIR IF Independents be made Governours of Castles Cities and strong holds as fast as they are taken if under a pretence of frugality for the state and reducing of Regiments Presbyter Commanders are frequently outed and the Independents prefer'd to their places if the souldierie under Presbyterian Commanders be unpaied and thereby inforced to abuse the Country to the dishonour of that party and the contrary party paid and by that meanes gaine affections every where if under a pretence of charity Independents plead in the behalf of the greatest Malignants and by that meanes scrue into their favours to make a party if their agents be working every where to chuse Parliament men of their own opinions if they be devising to send away the Scots into Scotland and the Presbyterian Commanders and souldiers into Ireland ought not these things to be seriously and speedily considered and forthwith indeavours used for the preventing the effects which the premises may produce Your humble servant Some passeges taken out of the Originall Letter sent from a godly Minister in Northamptonshire to a Friend of his a Common-Councell man here in London SOme of Colonell Whalies souldiers quartered with us full of Errours of a high nature The Lord reduce or rebuke them I feare they will scatter much poyson as they spread their quarters alas the poore soules in danger of their seducements They are full of high invectives and scornes against the Parliament Ministery and all kind of religious duties After a fortnights free quarter they had our free leave to march and are marched beyond Market Harborough and are about Lough-Borrow in Lester-shire Though they draw North-ward yet I hope not to the ends that some do hope viz. to encounter with our Brethren I have heard some of them say that had they the opportunity they would be more bitter against them then ever against the Cavaliers but I hope their expectation shall perish Septemb. 1. 1646. The extract of a Letter sent to a Citizen of London from a godly Minister in Darbyshire SEctaries abound strange yea damnable opinions are maintained with much zeal and pretence of conscience by those who I feare were never acquainted with a good conscience Monarchie is misliked and a new fashioned Government too much thirsted after There are so many new fashions in Religion that the true feare of God is almost grown out of fashion Sir I thank you for your remembrance of me and I heare that Master Edwards hath yet more work for a Masse-Priest when it comes out I pray you let me have it August 10. 1646. An extract of a Letter from a godly Minister neer Bristoll to a godly Friend of his in London DEare Friend we have peace for the present and hope of plenty for the future that only which damps our comfort is That whiles the Teachers were removed into corners the envious man hath taken his opportunity and sowen tares which spring up in our neighbour City abundantly and are spread much over the Country the whole Kingdome I think is sick of the same disease Help Lord. A true Copie of a Letter to a tittle of Mr Knollys the Anabaptist which comming to the hands of some of the Committee of Suffolk was shewn me and I extracted it out of the Originall BEloved Brother I salute you in the Lord your Letter I received the last day of the week and upon the first day I did salute the Brethren in your name who resalute you and pray for you The City Presbyterians have sent a Letter to the Synod dated from Sion Colledge against my Toleration and they are fasting and praying at Sion Colledge this day about further contrivings against Gods poor Innocent ones But God will doubtlesse answer them according to the Idoll of their own hearts To morrow there is a Fast kept by both Houses and the Synod at Westminster They say it is to seek God about the establishing of Worship according to their Covenant They have first vowed now they make enquiry God will certainly take the crafty in their own snare and make the wisdome of the wise foolishnesse for he chuseth the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and weak things to confound the mighty My wife and family remembers their love to you Salute the Brethren that are with you farwell Your Brother in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospel Hanserd Knollys London the 13. day of the 11. moneth call'd January 1645. To his beloved Brother Mr John Dutton in Norwich these deliver Leave this Letter at Mr Buttevant his house to be delivered as a bove A Letter from a Sectary with this suprescription To his much honoured Captaine Paul Hobson at Mr Carwithyes house in Exon. Endeared SIR MY best respects and service to you presented That relation which formerly I had unto you hath enboldened me to
Oxford by the Parliament forces hee hath preached in Saint Maries the same day when Master Saltmarsh did besides other times that hee hath preached in Oxford and there goe credible reports from persons of worth both of strange passages preached by him concerning the King and of souldiers in the Army that he could pick out that should be able to open Scriptures draw Doctrines make uses better and more proper then any of the Schollers in the Universitie and that he would make a boy of twelve yeares of age to preach as good Divinity as most of them or to that effect But because I had not these Relations at first hand from eare witnesses I will not assert them till I have fuller proof Master Peters at Plymouth and since at London preached that suppose a Father have five Children one a drunkard another an adulterer a third a swearer and so in the rest and hee cannot reclaim them will hee presently throw them into the Thames will he not wait for their amendment use meanes for their conversion so now in a Kingdome their are some Anabaptists others Antinomians others Brownists others Papists will the Magistrat presently because these cannot beleeve their Truths cut off their heads and kill them with more words to this effect M. Peters preached at Linclons Inne upon that text Acts 5. of Gamaliels counsell and upon that Text in the same Sermon he contradicted himself for his first point taken from Gamaliel that Gamaliel a great man in place a rich man and yet a gracelesse wicked man was this that a man may be a great man in place power and yet a gracelesse man and in the latter part of his Text and Sermon he fel upon speaking of Gamaliels giving that counsel Refrain from these men and let them alone and there he called him good Gamaliel honest Gamaliel wise Gamaliel with many words to that purpose saying I professe I had rather live under Gamaliels Government then any I know of where shall a man read of such a man I had rather live under Gamaliels Government then under any of the Presbyterians And in his pleading for Liberty of conscience upon those words of Gamaliel one of his Arguments against all restraint was because we the English Nation naturally above others were given to change and did not love to be held to any thing in a few years we turned foure or five times we were Papists in Henry the eights dayes Protestants in King Edwards dayes Papists in Quene Marys dayes Protestants again in Queen Elizabeths raigne Master Peters preached on a solemne day of thanksgiving at Christ Church before both Houses the City of London the Assembly and in that Sermon among many other odd passages he would make a marriage that day between the Parliament and the City marry them together and he bid all those who consented to this marriage to hold up their hands he holding up his own but as it fell out this did not take for very few of the Congregation held up their hands I heard not the Sermon but it was related to me by some Ministers and Citizens who did hear it that they beleeve never in the memory of man so weak and so odd a Sermon was preached before such an Auditory In August last Master Peters preached at Stepny upon that Text In me yee shall have peace on which words he discoursed as followes That now every one was inquiring after peace asking for peace desiring peace he told them here was peace in Christ but as for that other peace which they so much asked after though now they had a month or two a time of cessation reprivall for in Gods keeping Sessions yet they must look shortly for Warre and he said for himself though many are â—oâ— peace peace hee was for Warre he said there were times and offers of peace which God offereth to places and if they take them well and good but if not they may never have them more and he cryed out O Stepny Steptny thou hast had thy time of peace and the day of visitation by two famous and worthy lights you have had your morning Star and your evening Star still he spake of two lights some half a score times in this Sermon never taking notice of a third Doctor Hoyle the Minister of the place and speaking of the offers of peace which if men take not they shall never have again he spake of New-Castle and the King how he had had offers of peace in the Propositions lately sent him but for ought he knew for refusing the offer of peace hee might never have it more but he and his Children and that ere long might beg their bread I might further relate some passages of Sermons preached by him in divers other places as Islington where commonly upon his returne out of the Army he payes his first fruits Wapping Fishstreet-hil Lumbardstreet Chensford Kent Holland with other places but I have yet divers things to relate of his conferences and discourses and out of his printed Pamphlets and shall come â—rom his Sermons to some of his Discourses A godly understanding Citizen told me the twenty ninth of May last that Master Peters had said to him a few dayes before that the City Remonstrance was the foundation of all the Cities misery and would be so the Army would disband and the Commanders would come and lay down Armes presently upon it He brag'd also to this Citizen that he would prove the Church of England to be no true Church and meet any man to maintaine it next morning at eight of the clock Upon Master Peters Sermon preached the last of May 1646. at the three Cranes spoken of a little before there were two Citizens being offended at many passages in that Sermon went to him that night to conferre with him for satisfaction and under both their hands they gave me in writing the summe of the conference between him and them which is as followes Upon occasion of Master Hugh Peters preaching at the three Cranes Church in the Vintry we went to speak with Master Peters about his Sermon and finding him at Colonell Rowland Wilsons house we waited on him till he came forth and speaking to him one of us told him we had some businesse with him and would come to him another time apprehending it unseasonable because late he told us we must speak with him now for he was to go forth of London the next morning about foure of the clock We then told him we came to speak with him about some things he had preached that afternoon and the first thing we spake to him of was that he should say men made an Idoll of the Covenant to which Master Peters replied so you do I can meet with none almost in London but they â—ry 〈…〉 the Covenant the Covenant as if we were beasts before we took the Covenant and that made us men he further said that he had taken it as hee thought at
give out that they will never lay down their swords whilst ther 's a Priest in England Who write and print libells full stuffed with invectives and seditious speeches against the Right Honourable House of Peers undoubtedly a Court of Record the highest Court of Iudicature in this Kingdome Who make wicked libells and spread them abroad of Noble men and persons of great place by name as that religious and Noble Earle of Manchestor the Lord Major of London a whole Kingdome as Scotland and a whole City as London Who have endeavored and do by all wayes to involve these Kingdomes into a new War more deadly and destructive then the former And yet Anabaptists of our times are guilty of all these and many more as the Reader may sind proved in this Book and divers others written in these times Thirdly speaking of himself he saith He remaines now where he was for substance fifteen years since which I cannot judge to bee true no nor that he is the same for substance which he was seven years agoe and because I will be brief I will put but one question to Master Peters and that is whether fifteen years or but seven years agoe â—e was for a Toleration of â—ll sorts of Sects Anabaptists Antinomians Seekers Papists c. and thought so lightly of Errors and Heresies as now he does or whether he ever did or durst in New-England in the time of Anabaptists and Antinomians growing there preach such Sermons for a Toleration of them and speake so favourably of them as he hath done and doth here I am of the mind if any man should have told him fifteen or seven years agoe Master Peters the time shall come that you shall live in a Kingdome where all damnable Heresies and wicked doctrines shall be vented by printing preaching and you shall be so farre from seeking to suppresse and hinder them as that you shall make nothing of them preach for a Toleration of them cry them up for Saints who hold them plot act ride work night and day for the upholding of them he would have been very angry boisterous and have said as Hazael to the Prophet Am I a dog that I should do these things nay I am so well perswaded of Mr Peters that he was so farre fifteen years agoe from being of these opinions and running these wayes that I am confident 't is but a few years agoe since he is fallen thus and that the two things that have poysoned him are his being in the Army and his converse with some wicked Politicians of these times who upon matter of worldly interest being men of small and broken estates that they may be great and the Heads of a great party countenance and patronize all kind of abominable Sectaries not caring what becomes of Religion and who prophesies falsly so they may beare rule by that meanes Fourthly Speaking of turning his cheek to the smiter hee saith with Jeremy though he neither borrowes nor lends c. yet this may be his portion Now I wonder he can say so when aâ— his hand hath been against every man medling with all sorts of men a Polupragmaticall medling in the Armies with many abusing the Common Councell and the City of London the Assembly the Reformed Churches our Brethren of Scotland Committees the King and his children and indeed who not I could name particular persons of both Houses of whom he hath spoken his pleasure who have deserved a great deale better of him Fifthly There is an unjust and scandalous passage pag. 11. reflecting upon the City and their Remonstrance as if they remonstrated about their wills and not about things needfull and just grievances and as if the increase of the plague upon the City were for any neglect towards the Parliament whereas I would have Master Peters know and all his party the City of London could not do lesse and have but done their duty the Reformed Churches Scotland the body of this Kingdome and all who are not Independents and Independentish doe bear witnesse of the faithfulnesse of this City to the cause of God and the Parliament and this Remonstrance was so farre from being a matter of meer will as Master Peters words import that I am of the mind and I beleeve not alone in it that it will never be well with England till the City of London the Ministry of the Kingdome and all the Counties as one man make a plainer Remonstrance in a more particular way and manner of all the growing mischiefs and abominations in Church and Common-wealth desiring a speedy and effectuall redresse of them And as for his hinting the cause of the increase of the plague to come from the City Remonstrance or want of the Cities full consent to a match with the Parliament I dare boldly say of him in â—o saying He is a false Prophet a dreamer of dreams speaking the visions of his own heart and declaring false burdens and do offer from the word of God to make it good against Master Peters that if the City of London would oftner Remonstrate and Petition in this kind and use the power they have by their Charter and the Lawes in force to punish Hereticks and Sectaries and disturb their meetings the plague would sooner be removed from them Sixthly That also is a false and untrue Assertion That the design of the Army is onely to obey their Masters the Parliament the slighting the Army is their money triumphant chariots would have broke our necks understood in Master Peters sense viz. of that part of the Army the Sectaries for if it were so as he speakâ— what means the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen that I and many others hear If their only design be to obey their Masters the Parliament what 's the reason they break conte 〈…〉 their Ordinances viz. that against mâ—ns preaching not ordained Ministers that for the better observing of the Monethly Fast those for the setling of Presbyteriall Government c. What means those speeches of some of them If they knew the Countries mind as well as the Countries might know theirs they would have another kind of Reformation then the Parliament is about that they have not so long fought for liberty and now to be enslaved with many such like And if the slighting of the Army is their money and triumphant chariots would have broke their necks certainly they have then had little pay and their necks would have been broken long before now for never was Army better provided for since these warres with moneys recruits all kind of things and many particular men speciall persons of that party which Master Peters counts the Army have been well rewarded over and above pay c. And for triumphant chariots there have been men on purpose employed to provide them triumphant chariots weekly to carry them throughout the Kingdom and forraign parts in the weekly newes books wherein they have been lifted up to heaven in praises
the Inhabitants of London page 7. saith the Assembly are only to advise the House of Commons when they requiâ—r them and have not dealt fairely to side with the Scots or to sway with the City or to 〈…〉 ge the Parliament in the least Twelfthly the Sectaries have carried themselves wickedly and insolently toward the whole Ministry in this Kingdome and that both in City and Country reproaching them and 〈◊〉 against them in Pulpits Presses and in all places threatning them to send them packing to Rome that they will leave never a Preist in England distuâ—bing them in their owne Churches and Pulpits in giving them the lie calling them by disgracefull names as foole knave false Prophet Antichrist Frog in the Revelation pulling them out of the Pulpits keeping them by force from preaching invading their Pulpits against their wills drawing swords against them assaulting them in their houses with weapons of war and driving them from their habitations and laying their Churches wast A large book would not containe all the stories of the Sectaries misusing the godly Ministers in this kind I have many instances with the proofes by me of the Sectaries insolent carriages in these kinds in Oxfordshire Glostershire Summersetshire Wiltshire Bedfordshire Northamptonshire Warwickeshire Lestershire Devonshire it would be too much to particularize all the wicked facts done in this kind by Col. Heuson Major Axton Leiut Webb Capt. Paul Hobson and divers others as also to repeat all the wicked reproachfull names given the godly Ministers of the Kingdom in the printed pamphlets of the Sectaries as the Devils Agents The professed â—nemies of Christ The sworne enemies of Christ Persecuting Presbyters Croaking Frâ—gs and twenty such names and worse Thirteenthly the Sectaries have spoken wickedly against all the Reformed Churches scoffing at their Synods Classes Ordination c. Let their books be looked into and they will be found to have written more scoffingly and reproachfully aganst those Churches then ever the Papists or Prelates did yea they have blasphemed those Churches the eminent servants of God among them and the truth of Christ taught in them What should I speak of the Arraignment of Persecution and his fellowes belching out blasphemies against the reformed Churches many other pamphlets besides that sort are extremely faulty as The compassionate S 〈…〉 riâ—â—ne Divine Light c. The Reformed Churches are ranged by some of the Sectaries with Papists and Turks and Calvin that worthy Instrument of Reformation and one of the Stars of the first magnitude is evill spoken of and â—ancked with the Romanists Fourteenthly The Sectaries have inveighed against inferior Magistrates Courts as Judges Justices of peace Majors of Cities Committees and all sorts of Officers of Justice and have offered severall affronts unto these and t is no wonder that they who with so high a hand dare affront heaven and earth God his truth Ministers and Ordinances the higher powers and the supremest Court of Judicature as I have showed the Sectaries have done should not be afraid of speaking against and carrying themselves uncivilly towards Magistrates in lower places The Courts of Justice in Westminster Hall and all their proceedings have been reviled by Lilburne and other Sectarian pamphlets All the Lawyers have beene cryed downe and reproached in Englands Birth-right and other pamphlets some of the Judges have beene affronted in their Circuits at the last Assizes by some Sectaries as at Hartford and other places Some Justices of Peace for executing Ordinances of Parliament upon Sectaries as that of Tyths and Committing upon blasphemies have beene arrested and sued by Sectaries as on Southwark â—ide as also abused and reproached to their faces and books written against them for discharge of their office besides Constables and Officers who have distrained and served their Warrants have beene molested and sued Majors of Cities Sheriffs Aldermen have beene branded for arbitrary tyrannicall prerogative Aldermen Sheriffs and miscalled at pleasure as in Lilburnes late pamphlets The Lord Majors farewell to his Maioralty Committees in the Countries have beene affronted by Sectaries putting on their hats when brought before them as in Bedfordshire and in one word all sorts of officers of Justice have one way or other by word or deed beene abused by Sectaries either by disobeying the Warrants they have brought or by miscalling them or by branding them in print as Lilburn hath done in severall pamphlets severall officers the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons the Keepers of Newgate he being more insolent and clomineering in prison over all kind of officers then his Keepers over him but above all the Sectaries insolencies towards that faithfull Gentleman Colonel Francis West and other officers under him appears by Lilburnes late libellous pamphlets and by the threatning speeches of some Sectaries comming to see Lilburn in the Tower who being by the Warders spoken unto to give their names and where they dwelt told them they should answer the prohibiting of them from going to Leiutenant Colonel Lilburne and that the time was at hand when they would come in whether the Leiutenant of the Tower would or no. And thus I have given a touch upon severall heads of the Sectaries tumultuous insolent unsufferable carriages but among all their wickednesses and abomiuable courses which may make them justly abhorred of all good men and of these Kingdomes the Reader may observe these following 1. That they make it their work and businesse to corrupt destroy and overthrow all Religion and godlinesse to lay all wast and to set open a wide gate to all error and licentiousnesse of living for the effecting of which they doe not only use all means and wayes for a Universall Toleration of all Heresies Blasphemies Atheisme which may happen to arise that there being such they may be tolerated go unpunished which Toleration alone would cause growth of Heresies fast enough and the ruine of Religion and godlinesse but they plot all wayes and take all courses under heaven that all Heresies and Errors may grow and increase that there may be both abundance of Errors and persons holding them and therefore they use all their power and interest to hinder all things which might prevent the growth of Heresies aâ—d Errors as the settling of Church-government and peace in Church and Common-wealth as the bringing in of Orthodox godly zealous Ministers into places with the establishing of maintenance upon them as the publishing of such Books as might keep men from Errors having suppressed some Books so which have come from New-England as a Tractate against Toleration c. And on the contrary doe any thing though never so unreasonable though never so much against their owne principles though never so wicked and abominable so it will but advance Errors hence they suffer many Emissaries to go from Country to Country from place to place to broach and vent among people all kinds of Errors and that by force of Arms against the will of the Ministers and people
will not be perswaded though never such reason be showed them yea if an Angel from he even or one of the old Prophets arising from the dead should speak against their Opinions and wayes 't is to befeared many of them would yet go on The strong delusion that God hath sent upon many of them to beleeve lies the great interest of divers in regard of preferment and profit the Popes Crown and the Monks bellies the deep ingagements of others to that way by many relations and having mens 〈◊〉 in admiration make it is hard work to convince men though there be never such evidence of Reason I may complaine of the Sectaries of our times as Paraeus doth of some Lutherans and others in his time that things are altogether carried by opinions yea by affections no Arguments no Apologies can take place They that at the will and pleasure of some men do not approve of unprofitable scandalous yea monstrous opinions they are cast off the right hand of fellowship denyed them although they preach Christ sincerely But now in the interim till that Treatise can come forth which I intend shall preoede the Fourth Part of Gangraena I wish the Sectaries to consult Baldwins cases of Conscience who handling that case of Conscience whether the Authors and maintainers of false opinions are to be spoken against by name resolves it affirmatively giving Scriptures and Reasons for it yea showing that false teachers are rather by name to be branded then those who lead only wicked lives and Calvins Tractate against the Libertins giving reasons of his owne practice and answering objections in not only writing against the opinions of the Libertines but naming Coppinus and Quintinus cheife heads of that fastion Secondly a man would wonder at it that the Sectaries should so rage and cry out against me and my Gangraenaes for meddling with matters of fact and nominating men when as long before I put pen to paper in that kind divers of them had in Pamphlets spoken against many Presbyterians by name both godly Ministers and other worthy persons as Master Calamie Doctor Burges Master Prynne c. Master Burton telling in 〈◊〉 Pamphlet a story of me by name a◠Colchester but false and raking 〈◊〉 old matters at Bury against Master Calamie in another Pamphlet call'd Truth still Truth though shut out of doores and all before the First Part of Gangrana was printed and indeed the Sectaries have all along both before my Books came forth and 〈◊〉 since upon all occasions yea such of them as have spoken and written most against me for so doing as M. Saltmarsh M. Goodwin M. 〈…〉 on c. writ against the Pres 〈…〉 rians by name and related all 〈…〉 of fact stories of them and in a disgracefull manner and way comparing them with D. Pockling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in a scoffing 〈…〉 ing abusive way dealing with them and 〈◊〉 hath not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only by Independents to Presbyterians but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 written Books and given us stories and that long before I 〈◊〉 thought of this way of 〈◊〉 Sectaries a◠Anti 〈…〉 ians Anabaptists Familists and that by names with all particulars of their doings as well as opinions and of his judgement upon them as Master Wells his History of the Rise Raigne and Downfall of the Antinomians and some others in that kind so that in this I doe but follow them and write after their Copie and I appeale to the ingenuous Reader how they can with any colour blame that as a great evill and wickednesse in me which they account in themselves zeale of Gods glory and a doing God service especially considering that the Sectaries in their naming of Presbyterians and bringing in matters of fact and stories have proceeded in a sixfold manner and way all which in matters of this kind be the things most liable to blame and exception and which I have all along carefully shunned and declined First the Sectaries in writing Books against the Reformation and Presbyterians have not spared to write against and that in a most reproachfull and vild way whole bodies Assemblies Communities and those the highest and greatest as the House of Peers House of Commons the City of London and Common-Councell the Assembly the Kingdome and Generall Assembly of Scotland some scores of such Books written by Sectaries being in all mens hands whereas in my writing against Sectaries I have spoken only against particular persons but to whole Bodies and Societies I have tendred all due respect vindicating them and their power against the Pamphlets and aspersions of Sectaries Secondly the Sectaries in their writings of matters of fact have not only named ordinary persons but persons of the greatest quality and place abusing them by name as divers Members of both Houses the Speakers of both Houses some of the Lords and some of the Commons the Lord Major of London by name but I have all along declined the naming of persons in authority and Magistracie viz. in that way Thirdly the Sectaries in their personall matters and stories of the Presbyterians have still related things manifestly untrue of which there hath been no ground at all as Master Price ' s story of Master Bellamie 〈…〉 ding it unlawfull to sell Prayer Bookes as the Anabaptists in the Lord Majors farewell of the late Lord Major as some stories of Cretensis Master Burroughs and Master Burton of me the contrary unto them being the truth as a passage in Master Dels Epistle Dedicatory to the House of Commons concerning Master Ley of the Assembly most false as a passage in Master Burtons Epistle of his Conformities Deformity of the new Lord Major known to be untrue and so I could go on with instancing in passages in Master Saltmarsh Lilburne and other such Books manifestly untrue and indeed of all the stories and matters of fact the Sectaries have in their Pamphlets in disgrace of the Presbyterians I hardly know one true one whereas the stories related by me of them the most of them are knowne to many and are certain and I have beene all along carefull as by my Reply to Cretensis is evident Fourthly the Sectaries in their matters of fact have fallen upon Presbyterians with old matters many yeeres ago before Presbyterians yea gone back as farre almost as to their childhood as Master Price did to Master Bellamie and Master Burton goes back to Bury ten yeeres before to finde something against Master Calamie and so I might instance in others but I have confined my selfe within three or foure yeeres and to the times since they were Sectaries Fifthly the Sectaries have brought in against Presbyterians matters of bodily infirmities of their complexions and such like as Saltmarsh in his pretended Answer to my Second Part of Gangraena upbraids me saying Your face and complexion showes a most sadly parched burnt and withered spirit but I have forborne that least I should reproach my Maker for he that made me made them Sixthly many
and idely by going from Country to Country preaching And indeed instead of any Ministers or people opposing the Sectaries out of Policy worldly Interests t is evident t is the high way to some gainfull Place or other to become a Sectarie or to favour them hundreds turning Independents and Sectaries meerly for preferments and Places as heretofore men turned Prelatical and Arminians because of great Livings and how the Independent party have feathered their nests got well for themselves above other men the Reader shall find more spoken of it in this Book 7. As for that which is said I write so against the Sectaries out of a spirit of persecution and hatred of peaceable consciencious men I can say truly if I persecute consciencious peaceable men whom do I then love my love delight and interest is in such and I am so far from a spirit of persecution that I would be glad but to find the same measure from Independents Brownists Anabaptists and others which I would measure unto them if it were in my power namely I would not imprison banish them and such like only hinder them from all places of power and trust in the Kingdome and from spreading their Errors and Opinions to the hurting of others keep the unsound from the sound which if I differed in judgement from what was established in a Church and had nothing else done to me I should never conplaine of persecution and violence for that for t is absolutely necessary for the peace and welfare of the civill State besides what t is for the honor of God in the preventing the spreading of all Errors and Heresies And for a conclusion of this I have the clear and full testimony of my conscience that my appearing against the Sectaries hath not risen from any such base and poore grounds as the Sectaries alledge but from a sense of my duty that I might witnesse to the truth of God in this sinfull and adulterous generation And now to draw to a conclusion of this Preface nothing that hath yet befallen me of scandals reproaches and other sufferings or that shall further befall me in this way of Books set out against me of persecutions and troubles to bonds imprisonments losse of estate shall the grace of God assisting me turn me out of my way of constantly opposing the Sectaries so long as they go on in their way but when they for my writing against them shall speak against me as most vile and abominable I shall answer them as David It was for the Lord that I have done it and I will be yet more vile then thus and though every day naybour in the yeer should bring forth some book against me as bad as Balthazar Paeimontanus writ against Zuingl and Bolsecuâ— against Calvin yet for my part I shall be so far from being troubled that I shall take all those books as Job speaks and bind them as a crown to my head nay if all the Sectaries in England were combined against me and there were as many of them as tiles upon the houses in the City and every one of these Sectaries were a Devill yea had a legion of Devils as I beleeve some of them are possessed with many yet I would go on against them and if the Sectaries should be able out of this Book or any other to take advantage of my zeale faithfulnesse and plainnesse of spirit to make something of some words to stir up the Civil powers to trouble me yet for all that I shall not give them ever but write so much the more pâ—int them 〈◊〉 pray speak against their Errors and if God should give me so into their hands as to be able to deale with me as the Papists did with some of the â—itnesses of the truth yet I am confident they should have no cause to rejoyce but I should overcome even in that like Sampson kill more Philistims by my death then by my life and many Brethren would waxe more â—old to preach and write against them and out of my ashes should arise those who should further discover them I know the Sectarian faction must be destroyed and fall Babell must come downe as well as Babylon and the making of them naked is a preparatory work to the making of them desolate and eating their flesh But O that God would rather give them to see what they have done and make them to confesse give him glory and returne helping to build his House with both hands which they have so laid waste and hindred all this while and O that they would take well this Book look into it and observe Gods hand in finding them out accept of it as it was indeed intended for their good and not cast it away with saying t is sharp and bitter but rather remember that of the Apostle that men must be sometimes sharply rebuked That they may be sound in the â—aith Erasmus often said of the Papacit in his time that it was so corrupt that it weedeâ— acrem medicum a sharp Physitian a gentle would have done no good and therefore he raised up Luther a man of a free and hot spirit that cared not for gold and that feared not great men but went on in the cure of the Church strong and rough humors needing strong phisick to purge them out The foulnesse and strength of the disease of Sectarisme at this time call'd and calls for a strong Pâ—tion and may justly plead against the offence of any acrimonie and quicknesse that may be found in it Jesus Christ himselfe that meeke Lamb of whom it was written he should not strive noâ— cry neither should any man heare his voice in the streets yet his zeale of his Fathers House made him as t is in the second of John to make a 〈…〉 rge of cords and drive all that sold Oxâ—n Sheepe and Doves and the châ—â—gers of money out of the Temple and overthrow the Tables saying unto them that sold Doves take these things hence make not my Fathers House â—n house of merchandise and I remember not that ever I reâ—d of the like sharpnesse and quicknesse of Christ as this in any other case that against the Scribes Pharisees and S 〈…〉 es false Teachers was the likest and certainly the servants of Christ in a 〈◊〉 when the Church of God and Religion is bought and sold and made merchandise of by false Teachers as Saint Peter speaks the precious truths of God and the immortall souls of them for whom Christ died prestituted and sold to the base lusts and selfe ends of men when there are not found in the House of God so good intruders as thâ—se that sell Oxen Sheepe and Doves such profitable creatures but those that sell T 〈…〉 Crocodiles Pipers Serpents and all kind of Monstâ—rs they may and ought at such times and in such cases to imitate Christ and to doe something more then ordinary for the purging of the Church and that may show their zeale for
God and for his House THE TABLE THe Catalogue of the Errours laid down in this Booke from page 2. unto page 17. Animadversions by way of Confutation on the Errors of the Sectaries about civill Government as that all power of Civill Government is founded onely in the choise and election of the present people as that all the legall supreame Legislative power of this Kingdome is in the House of Commons layd downe in the third and fourth sheets of this Book and in page 158 159 160. A Catalogue of some Blasphemies of the Sectaries and a Relation of some passages in their Prayers laid downe in the latter part of the fourth sheet A Relation of a story of some Sectaries in contempt of Baptisme pissing in the Font of the Church at Yakesly in Huntingtonshire and bringing a Horse into the Church and baptizing it pag. 17. 18. which relation is attested by their hands A Relation of some Sectaries here in London annointing with oyle an old blind woman to restore her to sight p. 19. A Relation of a storie of some Troopers in the Army destroying a Dove-House because they were fowles of the Ayre given to the sonnes of men all having a common right in them p. 20. Copies of Letters written from godly Ministers Committees and other persons of quality and well-affected to Members of the House of Commons Minist 〈…〉 and Citizens of London concerning the opinions and insolent 〈…〉 ctises of Sectaries in the Army pag. 21 22. p. 30. 41. 42 43 44 45 46 47. Copies of Letters written from Ministers and others concerning the opinions and practises of Sectaries not belonging to the Armies and Sectaries in generall p. 33. 35 36. 55. 66 67 68 69. Copies of Letters written by Sectaries themselves to other Sectaries or to some of our Ministers p. 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 35 56. 58 59. 62. Copies of Letters written from godly Ministers Committee men and other persons well-affected out of the North concerning out Brethren of Scotland and their Armies p. 71. 72. 73. 74. Copies of Letters written from godly Ministers out of severall Countries to me and other Ministers in the City approving of my manner and way of writing these Books against the Sectaries cal'd Gangrana and of their usefulnesse and the good they have done p. 33. 3â— 40. 74 75 77 78. Copies of Letters written from Holland or New-England concerning some Errours and Practises p. 94. 168 169. A Relation of some opinions of a Lievtenant of a Company in the Army p. 22. A Relation of some words spoken by a Colonell in the Army and another of the Ar 〈…〉 concerning Ireland p. 23. A Relation of the souldiers preaching in Oxford and in the publike schooles p. 23. A story of a Sectarie that would not be married by a Minister as holding it unlawfull and afterwards when he had lived with her casting her of and denying she was his wife p. 24. A Relation of some words and speeches of Sectaries against the Scots Assembly Ministery City the late Lord Mayor p. 24. 25. A Relation of a story of Mr. Jenney and Mrs. Attâ—â—aâ—ay and of Letters sent her from a Prophet and his Doctrine of generall Restauration and of Esau's world and Jacobs words p. 26. 27. A Relation of a Sectarie holding that the Parliament must give the Kingdome that is both England Scotland and Ireland to the Saints p. 28. 29. A Relation of a Troope of Colonell Riches Regiment preaching and dipping in Wales and of a womans dying within a day or two after being dipped by him p. 31. A Relation of a Minister hearing in a meeting of Sectaries one who exercised affirme that he was Jesus Christ and of the Ministers conference with him about it and his standing in it that he was Christ p. 32. A Relation of some sectarian souldiers affronting and disturbing a godly Mininister in the Church and of beating a man for gathering Tythes p. 32. An Information from Norwich under the Mayors hand of a she â—ectary one Priscilla Miles p. 34. 35. A Relation of one Sims a Shoomaker of Hampton with his examination who goes about as an emissary all the West over being apprehended by authority p. 50. A Relation of M. Sickmooreâ— baptizing John Sims p. 51. Animadversions by way of confutation on a Letter of a â—â—e Sectary p. 61. A Relation of severall Positions laid down by M. Dell and preached before the Generall p. 63. A Relation of a story of one M. Kendall a great Sectary who hath renounced his Ministry turned Captain when a godly Minister was to preach he stepped up before him p. 70. 80. A Relation of a story of some Sectaries who refuse to keepe Fast daies or daies of Thankesgiving because they will not give thanks for killing men who affirme they have seen Christ and the Devill p. 80. A Relation of a young maid of 16. yeares of age that preaches p. 86. A Relation of a Minister who boasted he had pulled downe the Bishops and hoped to do as much for the Presbyterians p. 81. A Relation of an Officer in the Army who was cashiered because hee would answer the Sectaries when they spoke for their opinions and against the Presbyterians p. 81. A Relation of severall Sectaries trades-men turned Ministers and other Sectarian Ministers p. 81. A Relation of a Shoomaker of Coventry who goes about the Country venting his erroneous points p. 81. A Relation of one M. Downings preaching at Hackney casting aspersions on the Common Councell of London as if they were for the Cavaleers p. 81. 82. A Relation of M. Jesse commending one Mary Abram to one M. Clark of London to look to his house and how she worked on his son a young youth and being in an Apoplexy to be married to her by an old schoole-master p. 82 83. The Petition of Mr. Clarke to the house of Commons p. 83 84. A Relation how Mary Abraham had before entangled an Apprentice and though M. Jesse knew as much yeâ— he commended her to him and how M. Clarke found a paper in his sons chamber of her agreement with another young man and he showing it to Mr. Jesse he kept it and would not give it him againe saying that this Mary Abraham had confessed her sin p. 85. A Relation of a story concerning Henry 〈◊〉 spoken of in the first part of Gangraena and his examination by a Justice of Peace together with the replies made by himselfe p. 85. 86 87. A Relation of a story concerning a schoole-â—master of Glocester who denies the holy Ghost to be God though he was dealt with by all fairnesse to shew him his errours p. 87 88. A Relation concerning one Andrew Debman a Cooper who can neither write nor read and yet is a great Preacher among she Sectaries p. 88. A Relation of a great Sectary whose wife lay a dying who being spoken to to pray for her said what good would prayer do her or them p. 88. A Relation how
that the godly Mi A Relation of a Letter sent from Newcastle by an Independent testifying the faithfulnesse of the Scots to the King p. 88. â—isters of Newcastle are abused and discouraged by reason of the â—ndependents and other great Sectaries come in their roomes p. 89. A Relation of a story concerning M. Erburies venting of divers Errours at a meeting p. 89. 90. Animadversions by way of confutation of the Errors vented by M. Erbury p. 90 91 92. A Relation of one Sir Worts who would have had a place in Norfolk but being hindred he turned Independent p. 95. A Relation of an old Anabaptist who would oft be drunk and then bewaile the blindnesse of the Church of England p. 95. A Relation of a story concerning a souldier in the Army who went up into the Pulpit against the Minister his will and being brought before the Justice carried himselfe disrespectively for which he was committed to prison and how released p. 95 96. A Relation of some words spoken by one against the Armies going into Ireland p. 96. A relation of one Potter a Smith now turned Preacher who hath drawn many away to separated meetings on the Lords day p. 96. A Relation of some souldiers that infected many where they quartered and of their undecent carriage p. 96. A Relation of one John Durance and of his speaking strangely concerning the King and that there would be no peace in England till there was a generall liberty of conscience p. 96. 97. A Relation of one M. Larking a fierce Independent p. 97. A Relation of a great Sectary who vented many erroneous things and doth a great deale of hurt in Kent p. 97. A Relation of one Brabson a great Sectary who preaches much against Tithes p. 97 98. A Relation of one Cornwell a desperate Sectary who hath put forth divers Pamphlets p. 98. A Relation of M. Blackwood an Anabaptist who printed a Book called the storming of Antichrist p. 98. A Relation of what one M. Nicholas Davison who came from New-England being required by the Independents to go to Guild-hall said to them what hurt they did and how divers Priests turn'd Independents p. 98. 99. A Relation of a young man a Preacher who lived in Holland concerning the carriage of some English Sectaries there and how some of them gave thanks at their meetings for soleration which as they heard had passed the House of Commons and of their justifying M. Archers Book that makes God the author of sin saving they could shew the copies of that p. 99. 100. A Relation of a story concerning a Captain who said the â—oules of the righteous go not to heaven and his exposition on that place Luke 24. this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice p. 100 101. Animadversions on the said exposition of the Captaine p. 101 102. A Relation concerning Mr. Batcheler Licenser Generall of all the Sectaries books pleading for all manner of damnable Errours p. 102 103 104 105. A Relation of the names of some notorious Sectaries p. 105. A Relation concerning one Carter a Sectarie p. 105. A Relation concerning divers Sectaries M. Peters converts and one M. Bunniard who will not keepe Fast-daies but his folkes work on the Fasts p. 105. A Relation concerning one Oats a a Weaver who was arraigned upon his life for dipping one who dyed within 14. daies and one reasoning with him saying that Rebaptization was the way to destroy the creature and the answer made by one p. 105 106. A Relation concerning a Captaine who speake desperately against the City Remonstrance p. 106. A Relation concerning some of the Sectaries that said they would not tolerate the Presbyterians p. 106. A Relation concerning a Captain who preacheth on the Lords daies and puts the Minister by though a godly man p. 107. A Relation concerning a Sectary who said Christs righteousnesse was a beggerly righteousnesse p. 107. A Relation concerning a Sectary who affirmed Adultery and Drunkennesse to be no sin and maintained divers other errours p. 107. A Relation concerning divers Troopers in the Army that hold very desperate and divellish opinions p. 107. A Relation concerning M. Burroughs who spoke against the City for their unthankfulnesse to the Army and spoke strange passages against the City Remonstrance p. 107 108. A Relation concerning M. Symonds of Sandwich who said they should be damned that had opportunity to come into their Church-way and would not and of his foule speech towards a godly Minister p. 108 109. A Relation concerning some Sectaries in the Army who said what had they fought for all this while if the Presbyteriall Government be setled c. p. 110. A Relation concerning one Crab a dipper who spoke very disdainfully of the King p. 110. A Relation concerning a Lievtenant a great Sectarie who holds himselfe able to dispute with the whole Assembly he hath often preached in his scarlet Cloake with silver lace p. 111. A Relation concerning one Webb who preached blasphemy p. 111. A Relation of a Manuscript made by some of the Magistrates of New-England as it was thought for an arbitrary Government in the Common-wealth p. 111 112. A Relation of a Sectary who married a woman and went away from her and will not live with her and how the Church whereof hee is maintains him in it p. 112 113. A Relation concerning M. Saltmarsh preaching and of strange things delivered by him and how he said John Baptists Doctrine was a Leatherne Doctrine p. 113 114. A Relation concerning Cretensis and his Errors with some briefe Animadversions on his 38. Quaeries and Opinions p. 114 115 116 117 118 119 120. A Relation concerning M. Peters relating many of his speeches and passages in his Sermons together with an answer to a Pamphlet of M. Peters entituled M. Peters last Report of the English Wars from page 120. to p. 147. A Relation of M. Treake and of opinions that he holds and of some Articles put up against him p. 147 148. A Relation concerning Richard Overton who hath printed many scandalous things against the House of Peers and many desperate Pamphlets scoffing and scorning of them and his behaviour to the House of Commons and his ill speech of the Ministery p. 148. 149 150 151 152. A Relation concerning John Lilburn an Arch-Sectarie who hath printed divers desperate Pamphlets abusing the House of Lords and divers others p. 153 154 155 156. 157 158 159 160. A Relation concerning John Price M. Goodwins Disciple and of some of his opinions p. 160 161 162. A Relation of Mr. Cradock and of some things he hath preached p. 162. Animadversions on something preached by M. Sympson at Black-Fryers p. 164. The Relation of a story of the beating of a march of a Drum heard in the Chappell of Duckingfield by the Independents at a meeting there with Animadversions on that story p. 164 165. A Relation of a Petition on foot by some Sectaries for a Toleration p. 166 167. A Relation of a story
of one Andrew Wike p. 169 170. A Relation of a story of Katherine Chidley and her sons being at Bury in Suffolke and of Gaffer Lanceter of Bury and his Pamphlet entituled Lanceters Launcâ— p. 170. 171. A relation of a Quarter-Masters preaching and of his telling the people he had a command from the spirit to preach and was under the command of the spirit p. 172. A Relation of words spoken by a Captain in the Army concerning the decolling of the King p. 172. A Relation of a Trooper in Northhamptonshiere standing up in the Church and speaking to a Minister questioning his Doctrine as also some souldiers wounding a Ministers son in that County p. 173. A Relation of a Captaine speaking how they would come against the City of London if the House of Commons should give order so to do p. 174. A Relation of a Sectary saying of the Ordinance of Tythes the Parliament made an Ordinance to rob men and calling those Theeves and Robbers who executed it and of his arresting the Justices of Peace and the Distrainers p. 175. A Relation of an Independent Commander declaring they were against Independent Government as well as Presbyteriall if it should be settled they were for liberty of conscience that no man should be tied to any thing p. 175. Animadversions on a Libellous Pamphlet entituled The Lord Mayors farewell from his Office of Majoral-ty p. 175 176 177 178. A Relation of the true Reason why breaches have been prevented in the Army there being so many Sectaries in it namely the great forbearance patience the passing by provocations and abuses p. 179 180. A Justification of that passage in the City Remonstrance that no Sectaries should be in places of publike trust and what some of the Independents opinions was of that heretofore as most equall p. 180 181. and a laying open the necessity of the Remonstrance taking place in that and what if no Justice nor good can be expected p. 181 182. A Relation of a Discourse between a Citizen and an Independent concerning the King and of the Independents interpretation of the Covenant concerning that part of it of defending the Kings Person p. 183 184. A Relation of the Libertinisme and Atheisme of the Sectaries p. 185 186 187. A Relation of the many kinds of uncleannesses of the Sectaries as Incest c. p. 187 188 189 190. A Relation of the drunkennesse of the Sectaries p. 190 191. A Relation of the loosenesse of the Sectaries p. 191. A Relation of the Sectaries couzening and deceiving p. 191 192. A Relation of the Sectaries grosse lying and slandering p. 192. A Relation of the pride of the Sectaries and boasting in armes of flesh p. 192 193. A Relation of the Sectaries unsufferable insolencies and horrible affronts to Authority particularly 1. Against the Lawes of the Land both Common and Statute p. 194 195. 2. Against the King 195 196. 3. Against the House of Peers 196 197 198 199 200 201 202. 4. Against the House of Commons 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213. 5. Against many particular Members of both Houses by name 213 214. Against Committees of both Houses 214 215. Against both Houses as conjunct in their Authority and Power p. 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223. Against our Brethren of Scotland p. 224 225 226 227. Against the City of London p. 228 229. Against the Assembly p. 230. Against the Ministers of the Kingdome p. 230 231. Against the Reformed Churches p. 231. Against inferiour Magistrates and Courts p. 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240. Among all the wickednesses of the Sectaries the Reader may observe these six following particulars 1. How they make it their worke to destroy and overthrow Religion p. 233 234 235 236. 2. How that when the King cast himselfe into the armes of our Brethren of Scotland they wished he had gone rather to France or Ireland p. 236. 237. 3. Their evill carriage towards our Brethren of Scotland p. 237 238 239. 4. Their prodigious carriage toward the Kingdome of Ireland p. 239 240. 5. Their damnable hypocrisie and dissimulation p. 240. and that in seven particulars 6. Their contemning and abusing Gods Ministers A Relation of a Sectaries grosse couzening one to whom he owed 50. pounds the latter end of the sheet A Relation concerning some passages spoken in a Sermon by M. Knollys an Anabaptist p. 241. A Relation of some passages delivered in divers Sermons by M. Symonds p. 241 242. Animadversions on M. Burtons Conformities Deformity p. 243 244 245. Certaine Quaeries propounded to M. Burton to shew him how he is mistaken p. 247 248. A Relation concerning Green a Felt-maker that preaches in an Alley in Colemans-street p. 248 249. A Relation concerning some Letters writ to worthy Members of the House of Commons Members of the Assembly and other Ministers by godly Ministers concerning the abuses done by the souldiers in the Army p. 249 250 251 252 253 254. A Relation concerning one in Authority and what trickes and devices he used to bring one in to be a Burgesse of Parliament p. 255 256. Certaine Corollaries drawne from the Errours and Heresies laid downe in this Booke Corol. 1. Shewes that by the insolent proceedings of the Sectaries those places of Scripture in Timothy and Peter are made good and fulfilled in our Sectaries p. 256 257 258. Corol. 2. Shewes that Errors and corrupt Doctrine produce a wicked life and loosenesse of manners p. 258 259 260 261. Corol. 3. Shewes that many of the Sectaries are not onely against Church-Government but against Civill Government p. 261 262 263. Corol. 4. Shewes that our evills are not taken away but only changed p. 263. Corol. 5. Shewes into what a condition we are fallen and from what fallen that we can doe and suffer such things as we do p. 573 294. Corol. 6. Shewes what a great plague and judgement to the Land so many Sectaries in the Army are p. 265 266 267. Corol. 7. Shewes that never in any Age or any Christian State there hath been such a sufferance and Toleration as hath been and is in our Kingdome p. 268. 269 270. Corol. 8. Shewes that the Sectaries though they will receive Liberty of Conscience yet they will not give it to others where they have power p. 271 272. Corol. 9. Shews as in a glasse the true cause of all our present evills to be a love of Sectarisme and Errours p. 27. Corol. 10. Shewes well-meaning men should learne to be undeceived p. 278. A Postscript in which the Reader hath an account given him of many Pamphlets put forth against Mr. Edwards since he writ the second part of Gangraena and some brief Animadversions upon them all as M. Burroughs Vindication Gangraena playes Rex M. Saltmarsh's Shadowes flying away c. A Relation of the Names and of the Speeches and doings of the principall Independents and Sectaries spoken of in this Booke Mr. Jesse page 19. 82. 85. Mr.
greater number then the rich wise c. it must be as they will have things in the Common-wealth and if so let it be considered what may and will be the consequence of that whether not a community yea a making the rich poor and the poor rich servants masters and masters servants and if it must not be so then how is it the state Universall 3. What if this Universall people do not or cannot agree among themselves about the government and governors but some are for one way some for another some for such men others for other men and one sort say they are the most and the other say they are the most who shall have power to judge between them and determine the differences 4. If Power of Government be founded on the consent of persons to be governed what if as great a part of the universall people within a few and may be more considerable chuse another man or men then the other greater part chose must they subject to them whom they like not consent not to or may not they set up those they chuse for the governing of them and suppose twenty such great parties chuse all different men may not each set up and obey only their onwe chosen ones according to this doctrine 5. How where and in what manner shall all the Universall people meet men women servants children poor rich beggars to declare their minds what they would have and how things should be carried and whether ever did they or can they meet to make known their minds and who shall be betrusted to take their minds and report it 6. Whether are not the Sectaries the Uuiversall state of England that pretend to have this power over King Lords Commons and whether do they not mean themselves by it in all their Pamphlets and how do they know many things which they confidently assert of the people in their Pamphlets to be the judgement and intent of any other but of their own Sectarian party 7. I desire to know how many of the persons who have writ all these late Pamphlets against the King House of Lords and of the peoples power over the House of Commons to call them to an account and that they may do nothing but what they give them power to do and they may displace them at pleasure as being chosen by them c. had any voiceâ— or power by the Lawes and Customes of this Kingdome to chuseâ—any Members for the House of Commons Let Lilburne O 〈…〉 Larner and the rest of that rable who talk so much of the House of Commons being their chosen ones and that a man ought to obey none but whom he chuses with such like name any Knight or Burgesse whom they chose or were capable to chuse for I beleeve they were of so mean estate that they had not so much free-land per annum required by the Statute for them who have voices Electio 〈…〉 of Knights of the â—â—ire and as for chusing Buâ—gesses in London where they lived they were no Livery men of any of those Companies who have voices in Election so that for ought I know when the House of Commons shall question them for their sedicious Anarchicall Pamphlets aâ— the Lords have most justly done and by these and many other Acts have endâ—ered the hearts of thousand to them they may answer the CoÌ„mons as they have done the Lords and tell them they never chose any of them nor gave them any power they were chosen not by the State Universall all the free-men of England but by a few free-holders and some ricâ— Citizens and tradesmen and therefore let them rule over them if they will and let those who chose them be subject but unlesse they will be content to 〈◊〉 down and be chosen by the Universall people they will not betray their liberty to answer any questions submit to their Authority but appeale from the 〈…〉 to the Universall people or to the Depu 〈…〉 and Trustees which shall be made by this Universall people and that they are likely to do it may be judged by Lilburns carriage to the Committee of Examinations the House of Comm 〈…〉 it self and by the many Pamphlets in the yeâ—re 1645 set out against the House of Commons and that they may say so upon as good grounds yea by the very same upon which they went in opposing the House of Lords I will undertake to make good and of it the Reader may find more about page 155 156. 8. If all power be founded thus upon Election of the persons to be governed and the Commons have all their power thus from Election and from nothing else whether may any be put by from sitting in the House who are chosen by most voices of those Townes and Counties who send them and others chosen by fewer voices by farre sit in their roomes in the Commons House and whether upon Articles clapt in before proved or complaints by the friends of those who have fewer voices may the Committee of Elections or the House it self put by one chosen by most voices and admit the other and according to this doctrine of the people Universall represented being the Lords and Masters of the Commons and the Commons their Deputies and servants how can they contradict their Lords the people to turn back whom they send and put in others 9. Whether may not according to the Doctrines laid down in the late Pamphlets the Counties add Burgesse Towns who have no Knights or Burgesses there to represent them nor have not had of a long time and can yet get no Writs to chuse for themselves answer the House of Commons when sent for as Lilburne and Overton did the House of Lords We are not bound to obey any of your Orders as having none there that represent us or whose Election we have consented to 10. Whether according to these Doctrines of the Sectaries may not such Cities Townes Counties chuse men without Writs and send them up to Parliament demanding to sit there especially after alleadging Petitions and motions made for Writs to chuse and none granted and whether in such cases whilst Towns are without any Parliament men for them may they not refuse to obey any Ordinances made by those whom they never chose nor know not yea may they not according to this doctrin say that all Ordinances whatsoever made before the time their Representors came in they will give no obedience to 11. If all power be founded thus wholly upon the Election of the people to be governed and that all Governors are their meer Deputies servants may do nothing but what they give them a power to do and by Commission from them whether may the House of Commons exercise that power the Lawes give them and go according to the Priviledges and Customes of that House though the people Represented never gave them any such things in Commission nor do not know nor understand them or must they keep only to what
when it should be obeyed may be questioned upon that ground and nothing in Government should be certain but a man may say this Law this Order is null void for how doth it appeare the Universall represented people gave consent or the Representative acted in it from the instructions of the Universall 20. If this Doctrine were true that Magistrates might do nothing but what the greater part of the generality of a Land would have whether many good things would ever have been done that now are and whether in many Kingdoms would ever a Reformation have been effected and whether if the Parliament had gone by the Pole of tagge and ragge would ever Common-Prayer-book Bishops with many other things have been put down which yet I hope the Sectaries dare not say but the House of Commons did well in so doing A Catalogue of some Blasphemies of the Sectaries not mentioned in the First nor Second Parts of Gangraena A Sectarie said That the Prophets in the Old Testament Prophecied two and fifty lyes That in the ninth chapter of the Romans Saint Paul lyed and said he did acknowledge him self to be so to gain some to Christ The same Sectarie being stowed a place of Scripture which were the words of Christ took the book and threw it away and said that was not ordered by the Holy Ghost to be penned but it was the Rogue Printer that did put it in Another Sectary said there is no God or if there be a God the Devill is a God Master Saltmarsh the Sectary preached at Bath that as John Baptist wore a Leathern Girdle so the Doctrin that he preached was Leathern Doctrine A Sectarian Souldier at Bristoll finding fault with something a godly Minister had preached of Christ wondering at their unbeleif this Minister told this Souldier they were Christs words unto whom this Sectarian Souldier replyed Christ spake thus in his darknesse And another time this Minister speaking with the same Sectary about being justified by Christs Righteousnesse this Sectary replyed Christs Righteousnesse was a beggerly Righteousnesse A She-Sectary an Anabaptist said it boastingly again and again That she was every whit as good as Christ no way inferiour to him but equall to him and if she were not so the Scripture was a liar A Relation of some Passages in the Prayers of some Sectaries IT was for certain related to me and to many persons of worth that in June last when the King was with our Brethren of Scotland an Independent prayed publickly to God that God would deliver the King out of the hands of those evill Counsellors in whose hands he now waâ— T is written to me in a Letter and testified under the hands of three witnesses that an Independent in a publick Church prayed thus Lord if thou art not pleased to blesse us in the seducing King and trayterous Queen then blesse us in the Prince his Son or the Duke And at another time the same man prayed thus Lord now that the Sword is drawn let it never be sheathed untill it be glutted in the bloud of the cursed Malignants A Great Sectary in London upon occasion of the City Remonstrance prayed as followes of which prayer many Citizens had Copies and I was told it from good hands it was brought in to the Court of Aldermen O Lord thou knowest there is a Remonstrance to go up to the Parliament which is much to thy dishonour and the hurt of thy Saints for Lord thou knowest the Kingdoms of the Earth by right belong unto us thy Saints Suffer not thy Saints any longer to be trampled upon but stand up for thy people and do not suffer the ungodly to go up with this wicked Remonstrance Confound their device and suffer it to take no effect And Lord we thanke thee that thou hast stirred up some of thy Saints with courage already to protest against it we beseech thee stir up more Lord stir up the women that lie in their husbands bo 〈…〉 es and the children to cry unto their parents every one to be helpfull to one another to stay this Remonstrance Lord we will fast and pray unto thee this day to morrow and the next day O Lord hear our prayers and let our cry come unto thee as thou haâ—t been mercifull unto us so we beseech thee to continue thy favour and love unto us I was told it also by an understanding godly Minister that this Summer about the time of Lilburns commitment by the House of Lord a great Sectary in one of their Conventicles prayed to this effect O Lord cast down or confound all Monarcks aâ—d Monarchies and lift up or advance thy servant Lilburne This Minister had it from some who said they were eare witnesses and I desired to speak with them about iâ— and he promised I should but having not yet spoken with them I do relate it but as a report and not with that confidence as I do things I hear or find written or that I have from godly persons I know who are eare witnesses Some of the Independents and Sectaries use to court God in prayer having as affected straines and strong lines as ever University Preachers used to have in their Sermons at Saint Maries One of them began his prayer Right Honourable Lord God another begins oft-times Immortall God and then makes a stop and pause and then comes on the Seâ—aphinâ—s tongues are tipâ— with thy praises and praying in an affected manner Another Independent spake to God in prayer by way of complaint against the Presbyterians Lord they hate us because we know more of thee then they do but we beseech thee Lord give 〈◊〉 still to know more of thee and let them hate us more if they will A Relation of stories and sundry remarkable Passages co 〈…〉 ng the Sects and Sectaries and amongst others of some Souldiers who are great Sectaries JVly the third 1646. two Citizens honest men related to me this story in the hearing of another Minister and that with a great deal of confidence one of them having laâ—en in the Town where the fact was committed and having spoken with many Inhabitants about it that summer was a two yeares Captaine Beamant and his company being quartered at Yakesly in Huntingtonshire there being a child in the Town to be baptized some of the souldiers would not suffer the child to be carried to Church to be baptized and the Lieutenant of the Troop drew out a paâ—â— of the Troop to hinder it guarâ—ing the Church that they should not bring the child to be baptized and instead of the child being baptized in contempt of Baptisme some of the souldiers got into the Church pissed in the Font and went to a Gentlemans stable in the Town and took out a horse and brought it into the Church and there baptized it and after they had done so such of the Townsmen as spake against them before they went away they did them mischeif and this was
where they meet for that end and I spak with one that came from Oxford in Aug. last who told me they preach now daily in Christs Church one of the greatest Colledges in Oxford in a kind of Gallery where the souldier stands that preaches many sitting on the stairs others standing below and this young man heard one of them preach there discoursing on these words God would require the life of man at a Beast this Souldier expounded that by Beasts was meant a wicked man There are two honest men who last July told me that they had heard an Independent who lives at Dover say it and so had others that the Scots and the Assembly were pests and plagues of the Common wealth the Assembly were a company of dissemblers the Presbytery was Anti-christian and speaking of the Ministers called them that ugly tribe A Commander in the Army of known fidelity and worth told me he had heard Master Peters preach in Hedington Fort against the City of London incensing the Army against the City telling them that after you have done all this they would not have you live nor enjoy any places July the first 1646. I was told by some of the Aldermen of the City who were come that day from the Sessions and from hearing the cause that a great Sectary was brought to the Sessions of Peace before the Lord Major for that having woed a Maid to be his wife and he profering to be her husband she consenting he tooke her by the hand and for his wife but said he would be hanged rather then be married by a Priest calling all our Ministers Priests and perswading her there was no ground in the word to be married any other way whereupon they both consenting came together but afterwards he cast her off and would have nothing to do with her nor allow her no meanes This woman being brought a bed of two Children in her travell related this and was ready to take her Oath the Children were his and that she never knew any man but him Some who come from the Army tell me that the Sectaries in the Army do exceedingly raile against the City and Citizens and call them the Sect of the Adamites A Citizen of London of good ranck told me and divers others that he being at Boston Faire but a little before there was a Commander a great Sectary spake to many whom he met with against the City of London how the City was quite turned against the Parliament and was come to that passe that if the Army came neere London to lye neere them and to awe them they would raise an Army to set them further off and if the Army went north-ward against the Scots they would help the Scots against them this Citizen said he taking notice of it spake freely to this Commander and told him his mind of the faithfulnesse and fidelity of the City and at the same time this Citizen related viz. the fourth day of August that it was given in to some Committee or members of a Committee under two hands that this Officer having an Order for so many Barrels of Powder and a Tunne of Match out of the Tower to send to such a place he never sent it but sold it and afterwards being sold again it came to be brought to the Tower and some knew it to be such Powder that was given out by order to such a man and so it came to be discovered I was told it by two persons of quality a Member of the House of Commons and a minister that some of the Sectarian Souldiers speaking of the Remonstrance called my Lord Major Rascall and for those who had a hand in the Remonstrance they hoped ere long to have the pulling them out of their houses August the 30. Two persons of quality and worth a Reverend Minister and another person in publick imployment went to the Spittle in the afternoone to hear Master Randall out of a desire to be satisfied upon their owne knowledge as having heard many strange things of him and coming they heard him preach on that text A sower went out to sowe from whence he raised this observation That all the Creatures held forth God in Christ and preached the Gospell The heavens declare the glory of God that is the glory of God in Christ and he preached that all the creatures and all actions are Sacraments and do set forth the death of Christ common ordinary eating and drinking do set forth the death of Christ and are to be done as Christ said Do this in remembrance of me He gave no blessing at the end of his Sermon no Psalme was sung there were three great rooms full of people to hear him A mong many Physitians in these times that are Sectaries Independents Anabaptists Seekers I have been told from good hands of two of them these speeches one of them speaking about the Ministers said there was a necessity of the falling of the Tribe of Levi The other about Aprill last at which time the Independents were in their great â—uffe that the Ministers would be a contemptible generation as hateâ—ull within a while as ever the malignant Ministers and Prelates were About the latter end of Aprill last I entreated a Doctor of Physick a godly man and prudent to go along with me to a house not far from Cheapside where some company were appointed to meet me to discover some things to me about the opinions and wayes of some of the Sectaries and there came three who in my heareing and the Doctors related these following particulars of Mistris Attaway Master Jenney and some others of their way and what they related were such things that they had heard from their own mouthes often Mistris Attaway held that the Book of Esdras and some other Apocryphall Books were Canonicall Scriptures that she should never dye and that she should bring forth Children at Jerusalem and that at Jerusalem she should meet with Christ and enjoy him visibly and this Mistris Attaway had so perswaded Jenney that he beleeved he should never dye and both Mistris Attaway and Jenney held themselves as pure from sinne as Christ was when he was in the flesh and this Mistris Attaway told Master Jenney shee had Letters sent her from a Prophet who was shut up for a time and none could come to him only there was a Maid one Ellen whom they among themselves call'd the Prophets Maid that went to him and Mistris Attaway shewed Jenney these Letters which were to this effect that she must go to Jerusalem and he must go with her and he should be a Preacher there have a great hand in repairing Jerusalem and there Abraham Isaac and Jacob should come down from Heaven and meet them and this Prophet by the end of this Summer should come forth with power For the present there was none that was an Administrator and dispenser with power but this Prophet should come with power and do greater works then
Christ saving only he should not dye for the sinnes of men This Mistris Attaway had a great parchment role wherein many things were written and this was to be given to Jenney and this Jenney beleeved all Mistris Attaway told him as fully as might be that he should never dye c. This Mistris Attaway also gave out that there should come ships from Tarshish to fetch away all the Saints to Jerusalem and all that would not turne Jewes should be destroyed and this whole Land should be destroyed and therefore she would goe away before hand to escape This Jenney Mistris Attaway and some of their Tribe held no hell but what was in the conscience the soules mortall they held the Book of Esdrâ—s had great things in it to them who had the spirit to understand it and that there was Esaus world and Jacobs world this was Esaus world but Jacobs world was comming shortly wherein all creatures shall be saved And this Prophet who was shut up was to come forth to preach this new Doctrine of generall Restauration and Salvation of all and though all should be saved yet there should be degrees of glory between those that have been Saints they should be more glorious and those who were the wicked though now restored This Jenney held from that Scripture in Genes where God saith I will make him an help meet for him that when a mans wife was not a meet help he might put her away and take another and when the woman was an unbeleever that is not a Sectarie of their Church she was not a meet help and therefore Jenney left his wife and went away with Mistris Attaway A Commander belonging to the Army told me last July he had seen some of the Sectarian Preachers preach lately with their hats on and sitting he told me he had heard Master Cradock Master Peters and other such Preachers insinuate into the souldiers flatter them all kind of wayes telling them what they had done what fame they had atchieved how they had conquered â—he Kingdome and particularly a little before he heard Master Peters preaching thus you who have conquered the Kingdome done all this service and now when you have done all this might expect your Arrears look to enjoy your Liberties yea and expect preferments good places as you have well deserved it may be you shall be cast into a stincking prison but if it should be so t is the will of God and yee must provide to beare it There is one Thomas Collier a great Sectary in the West of England whom I have spoken of in the second part of Gangraena and have printed some Letters of his in this third part I have seen a Book of his printed in the year 1645. called certain Queres or Points now in controversie examined wherein among other Errours laid down by him he makes Baptizing the Children of the faithfull not only to be vaine bâ—t evill and sinfull yeâ— the commission of Baptizing Children to come from the Divell or Anti-Christ or both And secondly that Magistrats have no power at all to establish Church-Government or to compell any to the Government of Christ by any humane power and upon occasion of discoursing of the power of the Civill Magistrate what hee should do now religion is corrupted and the Magistrates endeavour is to Reforme it and to this end have called an Assembly of Learned men to assist them in this work This Learned Master Collier if he might be thought meet makes bold to present these three words in this case to the Parliament First To dismisse that Assembly of Learned men who are now call'd together for to consult about matters of Religion and the reason this Learned Clark gives is because he cannot conclude that God hath any thing to do there for them he knowes no rule in the Book of God for such an Assembly and therefore cannot expect a blessing The second Word To go on in subduing of Antichristian enemies so farre as by Civill Law they have power for there must by this or some other meanes be a desolation upon the tenth part of the City The third Word is That the Parliament would give the Kingdome to the Saints and for who gives the Kingdom to the Saints so it be done Master Collier will not much dispute whether it be the Lord Jesus immediatly or Jesus by a Parliament only thus much he would have men take notice that by the Kingdome is meant an externall Kingdome for the Saints shall possesse that as well as the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ Hence we may see by Master Colliers words that his Saints viz. those whom he hath described before in the former part of his Book Separatists Anabaptists do look for from the Parliament that they should give the Kingdome to them and all temporall power and rule and take it out of the hands of all others So that the King the Parliament unlesse there be some of Master Colliers Saints among them the Judges and all men who by the Lawes under the King and Parliament have any Civill power of rule in the Kingdome must have it taken from them and given to the Sectaries Saints Yea I conceive by Colliers words not only England but Scotland and Ireland are to be taken from the King and to be given by the Lord Jesus immediatly or by Jesus by a Parliament to the Saints which whether it be not so or no I leave the Reader to judge upon transcribing Colliers own words where giving his second word of advice to the Parliament of going on to subdue Antichristian enemies so far as they have power because there must by this or some other meanes be a desolation upon the tenth part of the City he interprets his meaning in these following words Which I think to be England and those Dominions belonging to it Scotland and Ireland I conceive this to be the time that the Kingdome is to to taken from him who shall arise and subdue three Kings that is Kingdoms speaking great words thinking to change times and Laws but the Judgement shall fit and take away this Dominion to consume it and destroy it to the end Dan. 7. 26. Therefore let not your hearts faint neither your hands draw back God will finish his work The third Word is that they would give the Kingdome to the Saints Dan. 7. 27. Who gives the Kingdome to the Saints The judgement that pulls down the power and Kingdome of the one gives to the other Whether iâ— be the Lord Jesus immediatly or Jesus by a Parliament I shall not much dispute but leave it to your considerations Only thus much take notice that by the Kingdome is not only meant an externall Kingdome for the Saints shall possesse that but the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ c. This Collier as it appears by his Letter before mentioned
and what you hear from above as-concerning that way either pro or con I have sent you inclosed a copy of the Articles of their Covenant according to promise thus with my kindest respects remembred to your self and to Mr. Holinworth I take leave and rest Sir Your affectionate friend being much obliged Feb. 9. 1645. Some passages Extracted out of the Original Letter written from a man of worth in the Army to a person of worth here in London which Letter was writ presently after the taking of Oxford BEcause a man is a Presbyterian he shall be turned out of his command and to compasse it they have sent as far as Pendennis for an Accuser to London for another and Bristow for a third and all they can say against our Adjutant General Gray who is an honest godly Scoâ—shman is that three quarters of a year since he was met as they think drunk because as they remmember he faultred in his speech and all because he is Major Generals Officer Mr. Peters said That was not all he had made a Faction in the Army by seducing many to the Presbyterian party so it seems its counted a Faction with them to hold what the Parliament allowes A moneth since they have laboured all they can to get hands for to be Governour of Oxford and he being here on set purpose the Petitioners are instructed to repair to the Generals at such a set time and the Tragical cornical actor out of the tyring room of his own contriving comes and tels the General what a providence t is that God hath stirred up those good men to such good intentions in such a juncture of time when it happened that was there whereas he and they were sent for Sermons are daily preached to this effect That God will rather honour himself with a few then with many witnesse this Army which they hope will be an instrument to subdue all that oppose them whether under the most specious show of righteousnesse and profession of an old ragged religion A Coppy of some Letters and some Extracts of Letters written out of the North concerning our Brethren of Scotland and their Armies which I have thought fit to print because of Letters and many Libels that have been printed against them Some Passages taken out of a Letter the Original whereof I have by me written by one of the Committee in York to a friend of his in London THe lamentable complaints spread abroad concerning the Scotish Taxing the Country so much are occasioned from want of money for they have no meanes from any part of England to subsist but by Assessing that corner of England where they now quarter If consideration be had by the Parliament that they are neglected in wanting what was promised it will cleer them in that matter As for their misdemeanors they go not unpunished with them for there was the other day at Richmond one suffered vivi comburium for committing uncleannesse against nature a week since they have disbanded Vandrusks regiment which were men of the worst carriages in all the Armies As for the businesse at Tickhill which so troubled all men after full examination of the abuses it is found that the English Irish and Dutch were the authors of the outrages no Scot was guilty thereof and two of them have been shot to death therefore My couzen was last week at the Court and is much satisfied concerning the behaviour of our Brethren both toward King and Parliament He told me it was wise fair and honest June 12. 1646. An Extract of a Letter written from a Citizen in York to a Common Councell man here in London I Am sorry that when we expected an end it s feared a worse contention begins we hear by some Letters this week from London one came from Saltmarsh Minister that a Petition from the Brethren is since put up to both Houses with 20000. hands for which they had thanks returned though the Common Councell of the City were high in their expressions that if the Petition were delivered they should be accounted Incendiaries or such like Colonel N. writes also of this Petition About 10. or 14. daies since one Butterfield a malignant that did live at Middleham and other four writ to the General of the Scots That if he would send a Regiment to quarter there he would ensure them to enjoy Midhelam Castle they sent a Regiment thither and the Colonel sent the Letters with the mens hands to the Captain of the Castle and bid him take care of it and proceed against Butterfield and the other four as he saw cause The like was promised of Boulton Castle but their treachery both revealed by the Scots themselves Some passages taken out of a letter written from a godly Christian who was sent from London into Scotland about some speciall businesse Mr. F. I Pray remember me to Mr. Bolton and let him know that in Scotland there is a precious people a learned and godly Clergy who are resolved in their low condition not to rest upon strength of Armies nor confederacies with Nations for deliverance from their Armies without Reformation but in a lively Faith in God and performance of the Covenant There is a Sermon every morning before the Parliament in the Parliament House where the power of God is so eminently seem that I am not able to expresse it St. Andrewes Decemb. 20. 1645. A Letter from a godly Minister out of the North concerning the Scots My Dear friend YOurs was not a little welcome to me nor am I put to it to send you a requitall The Newes here is so good that I can hardly hold my pen for joy the Kings coming to the Scotish Army in all probability will prove one of our greatest mercies since these Wars began And never did I hear of any Christians carrying themselves so boldly and faithfully in reprooving their Prince so humbly before their God so innocently towards their brethren so desirously of a settled and wel-grounded Peace as the Scots now do they labour with much earnestnesse the Kings conversion tell him plainly of his blood-guiltinesse have sent for out of Scotland the ablest Ministers to converse with him have banisht all Malignants six miles from his Person by Proclamation refused to entertain him with any token of joy told him he was a great sinner before God and that he must give satisfaction to both Kingdoms The malignants droop who were gathering towards him out of both Kingdomes The French Agent who was active in making a Breach is much discountenanced The Nobles and Ministers professe their earnest longing after a happy Union the setling the government of Christ in his Church which being done they will presently return in peace The Independents themselves stand amazed at their wisdom resolution and fidelity Zeal doth accompany all their actions with humility The malignant party which was much feared is born down the mouths that were so wide both of Independents and malignants are sowen
not onely with a bare Imprimatur but set before it the commendations of Aâ—sefull Treatise of A sweet and excellent booke making for love and peace among brethren or some such discourse In Buckingh â—mshire there are many notorious Sectaries as at Ailâ—bury one Dagnall a Book-seller a map of errors who to a godly Minister denyed Originall sinne and maintained other wicked opinions one Barre a Weaver and at Châ—sham or thereabouts one Hâ—ch spoken of at large in the First part of Gangraena and another a Gentleman who was an Officer in the Army a great Seeker There is one Carter having but one eye a Sectary at Watton in Haâ—tfordshire and a great Prâ—acher who keeps Conventicles on the Lords day there being greaâ— resort to him never coming to the publike Assemblies There are many Independents and Sectaries at or neare Lewis in Sussex some of the chiefe being Mr. Peters Converts as one Mr. Banniard Minister one Mr. Postlethwait one Mr. Crafts as I remember the name Mr. Bunnâ—ard will not preach upon nor keep the Fast-dayes being at London on a Fast-day hee would not goe to Church a Gentlewomâ—n who lives in his house useth to spin upon the Fast-day And there are divers Sectaries in that Town that work openly on Fast 〈…〉 yes Oats the Weaver spoken of in the First and Second parts of Gangraena being arraigned upon his life at Chensford the last Assize for dipping one Anne Martin who 〈…〉 ied some fourteen dayes after and being found not guilty was bound by the Judge to his good behaviour and made to â—ind Sureties that hee should neither preach nor dip and yet notwithstanding the very next Lordâ— day hee preached in Chensford and goes on still in Essex preaching his errors The people of Wethersfield hearing that Oats and some of his companions were come to their Town seased on them onely Oats was not in the company and pumped them soundly And Oats coming lately to Dunmo 〈…〉 in Essex some of the Town hearing of it where hee was fetched him out of the house and threw him into the river throughly dipping him A Citizen who was at Chensford when Oats his triall was having some knowledge of him reasoned with him that setting aside the dispute of the lawfulnesse of Rebaptization in prudence it could not be well done to doe that which in ordinary reason would destroy the creature viz. in cold weather to dip weakly persons Unto which answer was made by one Teach an Anabaptist and a companion of Oats that God had made a promise in that case When thou goest through the fire and through the water I will be with thee And when this Citizen said that was not understood literally in that sense it was insisted upon that it was to be taken in that sense The City Remonstrance and my books are exceeding hatefull to the Sectaries in the Army they speake desperately against the City and the City Remonstrance as among divers other speeches a Captaine of Lievtenant Generall Cromwells Regiment of Foot spake words to this effect That the City Remonstrance was as devillish a thing as ever was penned by man which this Captaine in his testimony against Adjutant Generall Gray June the 19. being examined did give in himselfe under his owne hand of which I have seen a true copy taken out of the originall Records I have been told also from good hands that my books are so hated among the Sectaries in the Army that no Commanders nor Officers dare be knowne to have them or to read them and some Presbyterians whose names I shall conceale getting the books have been forced to read them by stealth in the night in their beds when they have been sure none should carry tales of them The Presbyterians and Orthodox have been glad to deale with my books in the Army as the Protestants are glad to doe with Bibles Mr. Perkins Works c. in Countries as Spain where the Inquisition is in force A godly young man and a Scholler who hath been in the Quarters of the Souldiers divers times with them yea some of the great outâ— when they were in the West in July last told me and some other company that hee had heard some of the Sectaries in the Army say they would not tolerate Presbyterians though they toleâ—ated all others because they looked upon them as most destructive to them September 23. I was told from good hands both from a Minister in the City who hath relation to the place and from one who came from the place that a Captaine of the Army quartering with his Company at a Town called Auster in Warwickshire preacheth in the Parish Church sometimes twice on the Lords day and the Minister though an honest man is glad to stand by A godly Minister of Bristow preaching in Bristow by way of Exhortation to exhort men to goe out of themselves and to rest on Christ one stood up in the Church either whilst hee was preaching or presently upon finishing his Sermon telling him that hee had preached Antichristianisme to exhort men The same Minister related it that a Souldier a great Sectary finding fault with something hee had preached of Christs wondring at their unbeleefe hee told him they were Christs words to which this Sectary replyed Christ spake thus in his darknesse or in the time of his darknesse This Minister also one day discoursing with this Sectary about our being justified by the righteousnesse of Christ the same Sectary replyed Christs righteousnesse was a beggarly righteousnesse A godly Minister who lives in Somersetshire told me of a Sectary and a Sequestrator who to him maintained Adultery was no sinne and to another Minister that drunkennesse was no sinne but a help to see Christ the better by Hee told me also that some Sectaries having a Book among them called The fulnesse of Gods love maintained generall election that God had chosen all men to life and that election was of all men with whom this Minister reasoned alledging that in the 9. of the Romanes vers 11 13 c. and telling them the word Election implied it was of some not of all for if I come and chuse I take some and leave others but if I take all I doe not chuse There is a godly Minister who came out of the Army lately and understands the state of it very well that told some Members of the House of Commons there are some whole Troops in the Army that hold such desperate opinions as denying the Resurrection of the dead and hell which relation I had from a worthy Member of the House with the names of the Parliament men to whom it was told and of the Minister who told it I was told by some honest understanding men who heard Master Barroughs preach that on the day of the last Thanksgiving in September hee preaching at his Lecture at Michaels Cornhill on Psal 78. 42. spoke against the City for being unthankfull to the Army the Instruments of their deliverance
24. A godly and understanding young man told me that a Quarter-Master belonging to a Regiment of horse coming up into a Pulpit to preach prepared the Country people for his Sermon by saying they should not wonder to see a man in such a habit to preach for he had a command from the Spirit to preach and he was under the command of the Spirit and must do accordingly and told them though they might say he was no Scholar yet that was no matter for the Spirit without learning could enable a man to the work A Gentleman of good understanding told me lately before other company that he meeting with a Captaine of horse belonging to Cromwells Regiment as 't is commonly calld with whom he rid some miles and dined also at the Sheafe in Daintry the last of August this Captain told him that the Parliament and Scots were agreed that was the newes of delivering up the King to Colonell Poyns who was with his forces to convay him as farre as Trent or thereabouts and then Cromwells Regiment was to bring him up to London to see him safe convayed to the Parliament and if he would not signe the Propositions then he said the Parliament would decoll him and thus they will decoll him acting with his hand in putting it to his own neck in away of cutting off and this Captain added further that he thought it would never be well with this Kingdome till the King was served so This man in his discourse speaking of Presbyteriall Government said it was a hundred times worse then Episcopall This Captaine when he came to Daintry enquiring for his Company where it quartred and not hearing suddenly where they were quartered was much troubled miting his hand on his breast that at such a time as this of going to fetch up the King hee should be away and hee took care for fresh horses for his journey Northward to fetch up the King This last August I was informed from a good hand viz. one who came out of Northamptonshire that some of that Regiment calld Cromwells Regiment quartering in Northamptonshire would not suffer the Ministers to preach quietly but affronted them among others one Master H. a godly Minister going to his Cure one S. a Trooper who quartered in that Town pleaded that Jesuites should have their liberty of Conscience as well as other men and in the afternoon when this Minister had done preaching stood up in the open Church speaking to the people pretending as to question some things delivered but indeed fell upon venting to the people the doctrine of Universall Grace that no man was condemned for any thing but unbeleef whereupon Master H. spake to him why do you not speak to somewhat which I preached as you pretended upon that this Trooper said I accept against that you preached for saying we might not question God but where he hath given us a word for such a thing we must beleeve it without questioning him to whom Master H. replyed if you will question God you may well question me I was told at the same time by one who came out of Northamtonshire that one of the Sectarian souldiers laid his hand on his sword and said this sword should never be laid down nor many thousands more whilst there was a Priest left in England I have been told it by severall that in Northamptonshire some of the Sectarian souldiers being in company with a young Scholar a godly Ministers sonne in Northamptonshire one Master Smith and venting some of their opinions he reasoning against them and belike putting them to non-plus they wounded him terribly so that it was thought he could not live yea it was feared hee was dead already A worthy Member of the House of Commons told me at the latter end of August last that Letters were written out of Hampshire from some persons in place there to Members of the House of Commons complaining that the souldiers who billited there carried themselves so ill as that if they continued there they could not serve them but must leave the Country for they infuse such poysonous opinions against all Government and persons of Authority as that none of us shall be regarded August the 12. I was certainly informed from eare witnesses that a few dayes before two very godly and understanding men well known had discourse with a Captaine belonging to Colonell Hammonds Regiment who positively maintained and affirmed these things to them speaking them often as his opinion and the rest of the Army of his way That the House of Commons was the Parliament of England and not only a part of it That if this House of Commons should give any Order for them to go fight with the Scots they would go That if the House of Commons should give order to come against the City of London they would do it and he spake of the City of London with much detestation saying hee was perswaded the City of London hated that Army with other words to that effect This Captaine asked them if they heard not of the plot to destroy the Army to send part of them into Ireland to be there cut off so the sending of forces into Ireland was interpreted This Captaine to another honest man either the same day or within a few dayes maintained the same things in substance so that one of them telling a Colonell belonging to the Army what this Captaine had said that upon an order of the House of Commons they would as willingly fight against the City of London and Scots as ever they did against the Cavaleers the Colonell answered readily it was no such wonder for he beleeved it was the sense of a great many in the Army A person of worth who was at the Bath this Summer told me that he had heard Master Saltmarsh and Master Del preach there before the Generall but never heard them pray for forgivnesse of sinnes and said he was glad he had heard them that he might know what manner of men they were It hath been told me by two or three of the Town of Wantwich in Barkshire that at a Town neer Wantwich and in Wantwich a great Market Town a Sectary belonging to the Army preached in the Parish Churches one of the Texts upon which he preached was out of the Revelation where he spake much of Antichrist and that all those were Antichristian who were for childrens Baptisme and that none could be saved unlesse they were rebaptized The man when he had done preaching at Wantwich spoke to the people and desired them to object what they could against his Sermon and he would answer them he did not bid them come to his chamber to be satisfied as many would but he was publikly ready to answer any objections made against what he had preached There is a very honest man of Master Whitakers Parish in Bermondseystreet told me that one Marshall of that Parish a great Sectary refusing to pay his Tyths according to the Ordinance of
Commons the Knights and Burgesses assembled in Parliament by the voluntary choyce and free election of the people thereof with whom and in whose just defence I le live and die maugre the malice of the House of Lords and in page 18. he in way of deâ—ision calls the Lords House the Superlative House and speaking of the Lords laughing at his answers he saith of that House such carriage such a Court For indeed Comedies Tragedies Masks and Playes are more fit for such idle kind of men And above all other Demonstrations of the outragious insolencies of the Sectaries against the House of Peeres let the Reader peruse that Pamphlet entituled An Anatomy of the Lords tyranny and injustice exercised upon Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne which is throughout insolent both for matter and manner particularly page 12 13. Lilburne writes that he being in the painted Chamber desired Master Brisco one of his Keepers to go and tell the Lords from him that seeing they had the impudencie and boldnesse to tread the Lawes and Liberties of England under their feet and did so contemne and undervalue the authority of the Honorable House of Commons to whom he had appealed as yet to go on in their illegall courses with him with whom by Law they had nothing to doe that he must be forced in the highest nature he could to contemne and despise their proceedings and therefore was resolved not to come to their Bar without a forcible compulsion and to come in with his hat on his head and to stop his eares when they read his charge in detestation and bearing witnesse against their usurpations and injustice page 14 15. Lilburne writes he thus spake to the Lords And my Lords I tell you to your faces that by right the House of Commons are your Judges as well as mine in this case and I doe not doubt but to live to see the day that they will make you to know whether you will or no that they are so and of their justice and protection I doe not in the least doubt And therefore my Lords seeing you have dealt so illegally and tyrannically with me as you have done I now bid defiance to your power and malice to doe the worst you can And therefore my Lords I protest here before the God of Heaven and earth if you shall be so unworthy as to persevere in endeavouring the destruction of the fundamentall Lawes and Liberties of England as at present you doe I will venture my life and bloud against you to oppose you with as much zeale and courage as ever I did any of the Kings party that you set us together by the eares with page 21. Lilburne saith all his catriage and expressions before the House of Lords in the case now betwixt them to be as justifiable by the Law of this Kingdome and in the eyes of all understanding men as for a true and just man to draw his sword and cut the theif or rogue that sets upon him upon the high-way on purpose to rob him of his life and goods and in page 23. hee earnestly beseeches the Honorable Committee to remember the Commoners and improve all their interest to punish or at least effectually to curb the Lords House Thus the Sectaries in their Petitions and all their Pamphlets printed speaking of the Lords House and of their proceedings they give such kind of termes as these Barbarous Tyrannicall Arbitrary Illegall unjust dealings worse then the unjust Stat-chamber it selfe Insolent unheard of usurpations intrusions and many such like And in divers Pamphlets now of late the Parliament being spoken of is understood only the Commons of England they call'd the Parliament by way of exclusion of and opposition to the H. of Peers and Books written on purpose and dispersed given freely to stir up the people to adhere to the Comons as considered apart and distinct in interest power from the Lords with unworthy reflections upon the Lords as The last warning to all the Inhabitants of London p. 7. Mind your own good and cleave fast to the House of Commons let no sorcery or sophistry divide you from them the Lords are not to go before the Commons in determining what concerns the Nations their large answer to your last City Petition for Church-government and suppression of Conventicles insinuates they would allure you from the Commons therefore observe them watchfully and trust them accordingly So A word in season to all sorts of well-minded people in this distracted Nation with Answers to the City Remonstrance and divers other Pamphlets 4. The Sectaries have been guilty of and daily are of abusing contemning and taking away the power of the House of Commons given it by the Lawes Constitutions and Customes of this Kingdome and though in many Pamphlets especially this last yeere they cry up the House of Commons and seeme to give them not only their owne power but the power of the King and House of Lords making both them meere ciphers yet it will be found by many of their principles laid downe they have destroyed the House of Commons and doe break their Priviledges speak their pleasure of them both by words and writing as often as they please Many Pamphlets and whole Books have beene written by Sectaries against the House of Commons it selfe and not only against Committees or particular Members charging the House with tyranny injustice oppression horrible pride seeking of particular interests Arbitrary Governm 〈…〉 breaking of Magna Charta and going against the Liberties of the subject resembling them to the Star-chamber High Commission Court to Strafford and Canterbury refusing to answer any questions upon the command of the House scorning to Petition the Commons either to sue for their favour or to acknowledge their justice and after such favour shown as to release without petitioning yet taxing them with dishonesty and demanding reparations for imprisonment for the abundant proofe of which I referre the Reader to many Pamphlets written by Sectaries as Englands Birthright The Copie of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne to a friend Lilburnes Innocency and truth justified Englands lamentable slavery with other Letters printed about that time Another word to the wise written by M. John Musgrave A Pamphlet entituled An exact collection of the Parliaments Remonstrances Declarations c. A Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens and other free borne people of England to their owne House of Commons out of which I shall faithfully transcribe some passages that the insolencies of the Sectaries against the House of Commons may be observed Lilburn in his Letter to his freind writes thus page 1 2. That Master Corbit being in the chaire and telling him he was commanded by the House to demand a question of him Lilburn instead of answering him desired to know the cause of his commitment and M. Corbit replying the House was not bound to declare unto him the cause of his commitment thereupon Lilburne answered Then I have beene a long
held it not lawfull to go fight against them others of the Sectaries have reasoned against sending releif thither as saying whom should we releive to â—e Protestants there were an unworthy people that Kingdome had cosâ— us more to keep it then ever we goâ— by it that it was 〈◊〉 to hazard that Army upon it which was so faithful and 〈◊〉 for much for us with other words to this purpose other Sectaries have laughed at the Presbyterians being so forward in preaching and praying for releif to be sent over in all hast into Ireland A Gentleman in publick place told me not long since he had heard an Independent say upon discoursing of the hazard of the losse of Ireland that it was not a three penny matter to England if Ireland and Scotland both were lost England had no need of them severall strange speeches have fallen from the Sectaries in reference to Ireland Tenthly the Independents and Sectaries have spoken written and dealt most unworthily with the City of London a whole book might be written of all the calumnies reproaches abuses that have beene offered the City of London within this last twelve months especially about that late excellent Remonstrance how hath the late Lord Major the whole Court of Common-councell and City Remonstrance been written preached spoken against by the Sectaries of the Army City and Country giving reproachfull names raising wicked lies upon them and for nothing but for petitioning the Parliament for setling the Government and declaring themselves for the Covenant against Hereticks Scismaticks and Blasphemers Cretensis that great Sectary cals the late Lord Major of London and the Common-councell Brethren in iniquity with me the Author of the Pamphlet call'd the Lord Majors farewell from his Office of Majoralty resembles the late Lord Major to wicked Ahaz saying the Saints will say of him in succeeding ages this is that Lord Major of London Thomas Adams by name Lilburne in his Pamphlet entituled Londons Liberty calls by way of scoffing the Prerogative Lord Major Adams A Sectary in the Army call'd him rascall The Common-councell and Citizens have beene commonly call'd the Sect of the Adamites and in print to in the Pamphlet The just mans justification pag. 16. The Sectaries frequently cal the Citizens Preist-riden slaves They have in Pulpits beene call'd the great mountaine that hinders the liberty of the people refined Malignants and that if ever this Kingdome was brought into slavery the City would be the cause of it some of the Sectaries have said that the King the Scots and the Common-councell did drive on one designe it were too long to reckon up al the abuses offered the City of London and the Honorable Court of Common-councell by some of the weekly Pamphleters as the Moderate Intelligencer Perfect Occurrences and by some Sectarian souldiers threatning that they would as willingly come against the City as ever against the Cavaliers The City Remonstrance hath beene branded by them one Captaine in the Army said the Remonstrance was as devilish a thing as ever was penned by man Lilburne in his Londons liberty in chains discovered page 36. speaking of the City Remonstrance calls it that most devilish wicked bloudy unchristian Papisticall Remonstrance of the Prerogative men of London c. Other Sectaries have call'd it that monster with many heads the â—ifteene headed monster a base railing Remonstrance M. Peters hath spoken his pleasure of it in the Pulpit and the Moderate Reply to the City Remonst with the City Remonstrance remonstrated have many naughty passages against the Common-councell and City Remonstrance as that it was the disturber of the quiet and peace of the Church and State c. but I shall passe them by and transcribe only one passage out of M. Burtons Conform Deform where in the Epist Dedicatory to the present Lord Major he writes thus Give me leave tobeseech you that you would improve the whole power of your office among other evils for the not only suppressing but utter obliterating out of all Records of memory or mention that late Remonstrance of London which like the Trojan horse is stuffed with such matter as if the importunity of some might have had its desire would unavoidably hale in ruine both to City and Country Nor doth any thing more clearly demonstrate that spirituall judgement of blindnesse and hardnesse of heart to be upon all those who have their heads and hands in that Remonstrance and wilfully persist in the prosecution of it now in cold bloud then the unnaturall hating and hunting after the destruction of those very men as our mortall enemies who have with the extrem hazard of their lives been honoured of God to be the preserâ—ers of them our City and Country c. For the spirit of that ten-horned beast is now making warre with the Lamb and this spirit warreth under new colours not red but white whose word is Reformation and this under afair colour of a Covenant by vertue wherof pretending a just title to the War he hopes by the help of the Remonsstrance and the prime Authors thereof and their adherents to erect a new bestiall Tyranny over soules bodies and estates under new names and notions Elevently the Sectaries have carried themselves towards the Assembly with the greatest scorne and reproach that ever any sort of men carried themselves towards such a company of Ministers learned and godly and called by a Parliament to advise with in matters of Religion O how many books have beene written against them within these two last yeers or thereabouts as The Arraignment of Persecution Martins Eccho and their fellowes O the railing bitter disgracefull passages in Li 〈…〉 ns Letter to Mr. Pryn Tender Conscience religiously affected and divers other Pamphlets against the Assembly calling them the black-coats in the Synod Dâ—ivines good for nothing but to be burnt having two hornes like a Lamb but a mouth like a Dragon teaching the Parliament to speak blasphemy against those Saints that dwell in heaven O how commonly by word of mouth and in writing is the Assembly call'd Antichristian Romish bloudy the plagues and pests of the Kingdome Baals Preists Diviners Southsayerâ— all manner of evill being spoken of them A Ballad hath beene made of them having a first and second part wherein they are scoffed with the title of Black-bird Divines the name of the Ballad is A Prophecy of the Sâ—ynâ—eards Destruction to the â—uâ—â— of the merry Souldier or the jovâ—â—ll Tiâ—ker this Ballad calls the Assembly Swinheards saith these Swineheards are sitting to build old Babels Tower The Assemby â—â—th beene abused all kind of wayes threatned if they give advise to the Parliament against a Toleration of Independents they shall be chastised as evill Councellors disturbers of Church and State no lesse then great Strafford or little Canterbury all kind of imputations charged on them and they made by the Sectaries the cause and ground of all evilâ— that are upon the Kingdome The lâ—st warning to
whom you thus see shall come to preach againe in this City and have free Liberty of his Ministrie when all damnable Heresies and Errours shall be vented by preaching and writing and yet shall never speake against them this man who hath preached and written with so much earnestnesse against bowing at the Name of Jesus against people coming up to the Raile about the Table to receive the Lords Supper against Christs dying for all men sufficiently when the Divinity of Christ shall be denied the Scriptures denied to be the Word of God when all Churches Ministry and Sacraments shall be denied he shall never write nor preach against them yea this man who will not yeeld now to Bishops in a Ceremony or some outward matter of order to keepe his Ministry shall afterwards yeeld to the people and submit to base conditions contrary to his judgement as to forbear baptizing some of his peoples children and to let singing of Psalmes be suspended with other such like and all to enjoy his Ministry and Church Certainly the people would have beene ready to have stoned such a man and said it could not bee or if they had believed it fewer certainly would have pitied him or visited and rewarded him in prison nay when Mr. Burton was in prison if any man had sent to him such a Message that he should do what he does now viz. write against and be a more bitter enemy against the Reformed Churches our Brethren of Scotland yea the godly Ministers Mr. Calamie c. then ever Canterbury was or Dr. Wren certainly the man would have defied such a Message and said as Hazael am I a dog that I should do so and yet now we see what he hath done and doth daily Mr. Burton surely is in a sad condition and I have often thought of him to be in the case of that Idolater the Prophet Esay speaks of 44. Esa 20. hee feedeth of ashes a deceived heart hath turned him aside that he cannot deliver his soule nor say is there not a lye in my right hand The Lord in mercy open his eyes and give him repentance for this last five years work and particularly for writing his last Book cal'd Conformities Deformity Thrdly I shall propound a few Quaeries to Mr. Burton to show him how he is mistaken all along in his grounds 1. Let me ask you M. Burton why you are so angry with the Magistrate the Assembly Sion Colledge the City for establishing and setling of Church-Government if it bee of God and they are perswaded so why should they not be for it and if Independency Brownisme Anabaptisme c. be not of God as they are well assured they are not why should they not be against them hinder and suppresse them M. Burton you will upon your rash and weake perswasion hinder Presbytery all you can the Administration of the Sacraments in a Presbyteriall way may not then the Magistrate upon strong perswasions after serious debates by a learned Assembly and Scripture-grounds satisfying their consciences enact by a Law Presbytery and forbid Independency c. 2. Mr. Burton whether is this a good Argument because Jeroboam did evill by a Law and commandement to set up the golden Calves at Dan and Bethel therefore Asa Hezekiah Josiah c. might not lawfully command the true worship of God in their Kingdomes and put down the false and whether may not Magistrates lawfully make use of their power from God for good because some Magistrates abuse that power for evill and if it be no good Argument as certainly 't is not then hath M. Burton said little against the Magistrates power in matters of Religion for this is the way of his reasoning in Conformities Deformitie and the strength of the man 3. Pray M. Burton let me ask you this question suppose the Parliament would by a Law or Ordinance set up Independent Government and the Church way would you account this so great a sinne as Hypocrisie Idolatry c. and if not how can you then the setting up of Presbyteriall Government especially seeing the question is not so much about this or that particular but the enacting by a Law that which all should conforme to 4. Mr. Burton I am serious with you pray answer me here are such and such men hold all kind of errours and vent them up and down and they say 't is their conscience would you have them suffered to preach write and infect all that come neare them if there be no such evill and danger in errours but they may be preached printed why were you so fierce and violent against the Bishops and their Chaplaines for preaching writing Arminian Popish points though they vented them in an orderly way in comparison of your Saints who goe from Country to Country venting errors in their own Pulpits and when called to preach by Authority not intruding into other mens Pulpits and printing with license not in contempt of Authority There are divers other Sectaries to be discovered and their waies and preachings laid open as Greene the Felt-maker who was one of the first Mechanicks that presently upon the first sitting of this Parliament preached in our Churches publikely as at Algate and elsewhere and was one of that company that went over with Colonell Homstead about Summer was two yeares to Trinidado but is returned lately and now preaches in an Alley in Coleman-street once on the Lords day and once on the weeke day where there is great resort and flocking to him that yards roomes and house are all full so that he causes his neighbours Conventicles as Cretensis and others to be oft times very thin and Independents to preach to bare walls and empty seats in comparison of this great Rabbi as Spencer sometimes the Lord Brooks Coachman an early Preacher too as Gorton who hath lately set forth a Book cal'd Simplicities Defence against Seven-Headed Policy wherein are many dangerous and erroneous passages but I cannot speake of them now the fourth part of Gangraena will supply what 's now wanting I have lately seen divers Letters and some Petitions that have been written and sent up from godly Ministers and others to Worthy Members of the House of Commons to some Members of the Assembly to other Ministers in the City and Citizens concerning the insolencies tumults and strange carriages of many Sectaries Commanders and Souldiers as also other persons both men and women of their Sect but it would be too long to give a Copy of them as I have done of others in the former part of this Book and therefore I will onely relate the Contents of some of them In one Letter a godly Minister about Bristow writing to a Member of the Assembly tells him he had formerly written to him of a preaching Troope that had infected the Countries with errours but now he wâ—ites to him that many of them breake into houses steale Horses and have been indighted here These are our Saints saith he who need
Pills and that without being wrapt in gold yea Arrian Socinian Tenets and what not We heare of no Remonstrances famous Speeches plain home Sermons now against errours in doctrine as heretofore no Committees sitting upon Books to deale with Mr. Dens Mr. John Goodwins M. Burtons and divers others as with Mountagues Dr. Jacksons and Cosens Books Magistrates Ministers too silent the people also too contented and quiet yea many instead of crying out and being pained at heart love to have it so will prefer a man and give a great deale for some to preach errours among them and disturbe their faith when as they will give nothing for an able man every way qualified to preach the truth God may take up that complaint of our present times which he doth by Jeremie My people have committed two evills they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and hewed to themselves broken Cisternes that can hold no water hewe and be at a great deale of cost and paines for puddle poysonous water but reject and slieght a fountain of pure and living waters 6. Coroll Hence then we may see from all the Errors Heresies Insolencies of many Sectaries in our Armies and among the Souldiers laid downe in Gangrâ—na what a great plague and judgement of God to this Land some of our Armies and Souldiery have been and are now more then ever namely in that so many Commanders and Souldiers diffused throughout the Body of the whole Army yea some whole Troops and Regiments should be desperate Sectaries and Hereticks We must needs be under a great plague to have those who should be the Instruments of our safety and have the sword in their hands to be such kinde of men and to do as they do Heresies and Errors in any men are a great evill upon a Land a sad matter but in the Souldiery 't is armed impiety who by power and force may propagate and spread all kinde of errors and opinions without controle and by marching from Countrey to Countrey have opportunity of infecting all parts of a Land Certainly the Sectaries in the Armies I speake now as a Minister of the Gospell judging of things according to Scripture and not according to carnall policy and outward appearance are the greatest plague and judgement of God that hath been upon this Kingdom this hundred years when I heare daily of the errors they scatter the insolencies they commit and see what great evills they are the cause of in Church and State I often thinke of a passage in a famous Speech made by Sir Edward Deering in the beginning of this Parliament speaking of the corruptions in Religion among us to be first remedied before the Scots Army then in the Land to be considered of used these words or to this effect Let the sword rage from North to South or 't is better it should rage from North to South rather then the corruptions in Religion not be taken away so say 〈…〉 it had been better the Sword of the Enemy had raged from North to South then this Sword of Heresie and Plague of Error like a Gangrene should over-run the Kingdome as it doth T 〈…〉 is destroyes the precious soules and I am fully assured the Sectaries in the Armies have destroyed more soules and overthrowne the faith of more with their heresies and wicked opinions then they have killed the bodies of their enemies with their Swords The constitution of our souldiery so many Sectaries being in our Militia besides that 't is a great and fearfull plague of it selfe 't is a great cause of all other evills 't is that which emboldens the Sectaries all the Kingdome over and encourages that party to do so many wicked things as they doe daily affront the House of Peers abuse Scotland the City of London Ministery publikely print preach all kind of abominable errours 'T is that which awes the good party oâ— at least out of policy makes them not so zealnus and oâ—solute against the errours of the t 〈…〉 'T is that keeps the Church Government from going on a pace that is a great remora to the punishing of Hereticks c. 't is that indeed which hath infested and infected the Kingdome so generally There are few of our Eâ—issaries and not 〈◊〉 Sectaries but are oâ— have been Souldiers belonged to the Armies as Chaplaines or one way or other have followed the Campe they all smell of the Army Hich Knollys Erbury Dell Sâ—ltmars 〈…〉 Peters 〈…〉 cheler c. we 〈…〉 ay truly say 〈…〉 a B 〈…〉 Our Ar 〈…〉 the N 〈…〉 of all 〈◊〉 and a 〈◊〉 evills and 〈◊〉 we may see the true cause why all the Sectaries are so 〈◊〉 warre and keeping up the Armies can not abide to he 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 ing because their Kingdome is in larged and maintained thereby but certainly it will never be well with the Kingdome till the Armies be disb 〈…〉 ded or at least 〈◊〉 〈…〉 delled the Sectaries put 〈…〉 God be me 〈…〉 ifull unto 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 in strange handâ— and things are come to a strange passe and all wise men who have read Hiâ— stories understand any thing and by together many of the Sectaries Speeches and Practises conceive it cannâ—â— but be very perillous to have the sword in so many ma 〈…〉 mens hands and scare a new Tiragedy to be acted like that in G 〈…〉 and at M 〈…〉 ster by the old Anabaptists yea worse 〈◊〉 The godly Orth 〈…〉 Ministers and Christians and all true hearted English men may 〈◊〉 out and say as in 10. Psal Helpe Lord 〈◊〉 wicked walks â—n every fidâ— when the vi 〈…〉 and with the Prophet M 〈…〉 lachie 〈◊〉 Mal 15. 〈…〉 the proud happy yâ—â— they th 〈…〉 yea they that 〈◊〉 God are 〈◊〉 delivered The Sectaries of our Armies invading the Pulpits abasing the godly Ministers laying wast and prophaning the publike places 〈◊〉 apart for Gods worship are like 〈◊〉 and like 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Houses of God in possession nay they are like to those husbandmen in the 20. of Luke that reasoned among themselves saying This is the heire come let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him The Sectaries knowing that so long as the godly Ministers and such a Ministry continues in the Kingdome they shall never doe their worke bring in all heresie and confusion the inheritance shall not be theirs therefore they set themselves to destroy the Ministry and Ministers that the inheritance may be theirs The Apostle Paul 2. Tim. 3. bids Timothy know this that the perilousnesse of times stands in false Teachers seducers creeping into houses to lead captive silly women and in men reprobate concerning the faith resisting the truth and not in so much in war famine nor other calamities which happens to the body and therefore makes this preface before it this know also implying it was not so well known and stirring up Timothy the better
Articles put in against him and be so violently prosecuted And if the Sectaries dare do thus whilst they are a labouring for a Toleration as they say before they know whether they shall prevaile and have the upper hand when t is evident the House of Peeres the Kingdom of Scotland the City of London the Ministery of the Kingdome and the body of the people are against them yea and whatever they vapor the greater part of the House of Commons too what will they do if ever they should get their way established by a law and come to have all the strength of the Kingdome in their hands what will they doe when they are masters of the Presbyterians that thus persecute them whilst they are Probationers Qâ—id facient Domini aâ—dent cum taliâ— fures and therefore by these beginnings of Persecution these Kingdomes of England and Scotland may judge what to trust to and look to finde if ever these men come to have power in their hands they will be as bad as the Circumcelliones among the Donatists as those Anabaptists to the Citizens of Munster they will be desperate persecutors of the faithfull Ministers of Christ thinking they shall doe God good service in killing them The Lords may know what to trust to if ever the Sectaries prevaile The Scots had best look to it also they will finde them worse neighbours a hundred times then ever the Bishops were all the reformed Churches had need contribute their help against them for if they prevaile they will all suffer and be much disturbed in their place The Assembly of Divines shall feele their liberty of conscience The City of London and Citizens shall be reckoned with and paid for their Petitions and late Remonstrance The House of Commons also may assure themselves they shall feele their power when they are grown strong enough as is evident by many threatning passages in Pamphlets of the Sectaries especially those Members of the House who are not theirs but have vigorously appeared against them they will pull them out by the head and ears and kick them out of the House Certainly the House of Commons so great and understanding a body notwithstanding many flattering Petitions of late to them crying them up in late Pamphlets above the House of Peers and protesting deeply to be at their service and command against all the world cannot be so weak as to beleeve them and to think if the Sectaries get power into their hands and overthrow the House of Peers Ministers City that they shall escape and not follow after they have written spoken done as much against them as the House of Peers Ministers Citie and no question will again as they see their advantage or are discontented or upon some new light that they were not chosen by all the free-men of England but only by the Prerogative men the Freeholders No man knowes where these Sectaries will stop or stay or to what Principles they will keep and is there any safety then in adhering to such a party and caring to please them who are off and on T is evident even in those Books made against the House of Peers and in which the Commons and their Power are so cried up that many things are laid down destructive to that House and in the midst of flattering the House of Commons they brand them with in justice medling with what they have nothing to do with as matters of Religion As the fit takes them they now will cry crucifie them crucifie them but what may they expect from that party if once all the Militia and strength should be in their hands To conclude this Corallary I say God keep me and all true Presbyterians from that liberty of conscience the Sectaries would give us if we lay at their mercy and liberty of conscience were theirs to give 9. Corall Hence then from what I have laid downe of the Sectaries as in a Mirrour and Christall Glasse we may with open face behold the true bottome cause of all our evils and mischeifs both in Church and State the maine reason of the obstructions of all good things why Religion and Church Government not yet settled why Ireland not releived peace not attained and the great ground of all the miseries upon us why such jealosies and differences have beene betweene England and Scotland such discontents taken at London why the Assembly and godly Ministers of the Kingdome slighted many well-affected Counties offended Petitions not regarded the well-affected discouraged many great greivances not remedied many Delinquents protected and not call'd to an account strange Articles given to some in Armes at some places contrary to Ordinances of Parliament illegall elections of Members of the House of Commons taking place so many scandalous pamphlets against Monarchie the House of Peers and House of Commons sold openly such high insolencies committed against the House of Peers as never were in any age with many more namely that great love and favour of Sectarisme and Errors in too many persons of our times This is the spring that feeds all our evils the primum mobile or great wheele that turns all the rest about Hence t is no matter though Ireland be lost England and Scotland embroyled Parliament and London at a distance the godly Ministers hearts lost the Kingdome offended Armies and great Taxes continued c. rather then any thing be done against Sectaries Sectaries must not be dis-eased or displeased what ever come of it they must be nourished and increase Erastian principles must be maintained and cried up prophanesse let alone open wicked men joyned with and all to further Sectarisme and Liberty of Conscience so called Whosoever knowes and hath observed the present affairs and state of things cannot but see the truth of what I now say and I challenge any man to instance in any one thing at least for these last twelve months wherein so many evils have been and are upon us but I will rationally resolve into that and though other pretences have been held out as sometimes priviledges sometimes the liberty and safety of the subject sometimes godlinesse sometimes unseasonablesse an unfit time c. many things folded together and indeed the love of Sectarisme sometimes so wrapt up in them that not discerned by all as in all ages men have not wanted pretences yet â—is apparent to all wise men that this is the very cause Is it not evident whatever hath been pretended the true cause of all the jealosies differences and faults found with the Sâ—ots to bee a great love and care of Sectaries whom we know the Scots so hate and therefore have done it out of revenge Is it not evident the true and only reason of the Cities being so slighted reviled such a change of carriage towards them to arise from their appearing against the Sects and Errors of the times and striking in with the Ministers to joyne for a thorough Presbyteriall Government have not all the
cald Divine Light manifesting the love of God unto the whole world is to plead for a generall salvation of all men and devills and that Christ hath paid the Price of his bloud for them all Divine Light pag. 19. Divine Light pag. 11 12 13. Divine Light pag. 11 13 14 23. The proofe of this is in p. 36. of this Third part of Gangraena * Vid Pareum in hunc locum Nemâ— nescit ut post consummationem saeculi fiat temporis abolitio sequatur aeternitas * Divine Light manifesting the love of God unto the whole world page 5. Vide Divine Light Manifesting the love of God * Proof p. 22. of this Third Part. * Proofe A godly Minister of this City told me he heard an Independent Minister maintain this Opinion before company Animadvers * Proof of this Third Part of his Gangaena page 107. * Proof vide p. 84. of this Third Part. a Proof p. 36. of this Third part b I have been told from good hands of severall Anabaptists brought before the Magistrate who have refused to take an oath and of others who would speak the truth as in the presence of Christ but not sweare c Proof p. 147. of this Third part of Gangraena d Proof Pamphlet entituled Certain Queres 1645. by Thomas Câ—lyer and in Third part of Gang. p. 28. e Vid. Pamph. entit An alarum to the H. of Lords p. 1. f Proof pamphlet Overtons defiance to the H. of Lords p. 6 Proof vide pag 111 112 of this Third part of Gangraena Proof vide Master Burtons Conformities deformity the whole scope of the Book being to maintain this among other pages vide pag. 7 8 13 14 15. and for Animadversions on this the Reader shall find in the latter part of this Book Pamphlet entituled A Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens and other Free-born people of Engl. to their own House of Commons p. 12 13. * Many Ministers M. Spurstowe M. Cardel M. Wills my self with others heard this Exposition given in the presence of a thousand people at least * For proof Vide pag. 23. 24. of this Third Part of Gangraena Animadvers ☞ ☜ * Vid. Overtons petition to the High and Mighty States the Knights Burgesses in Parliament Assembled ☞ * Last Reports of the English Wars p. T. Ames lib. 5. de Conscient c. 25. De mutua obligatione inter Magistratus et subditos A Remonstr to the House of Commons page 19 20. * Proof Vide page 35. of this Third part of Gangr * For proof Vide M Bellamâ—es justification of the City Remonstrance p. 11. * Proof p. 114. of this Thâ—rd Part of Gangr * Proof p. 107 of this Third part of Gangr Vide Doct. Bastwicks utter rouâ—ing of the Army of the Independents Epist to the Reader ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ * pag. 51. 52. Certain Queres * pag. 18. 19. page 22. 25. page 27. page 27. ☞ page 28. page 29. ☞ Animadvers ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ * Bristoll ☜ ☜ A Seeker ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ It hath been usuall for men given to fafour heresieâ— Schismes to speak evill of the zealous Ministers who oppose them so Constan the Emperor often call'd Athanasius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impiâ—m item 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sâ—elestum Theod. lib. 2. cap 16. * A fit man to be a Deacon of an Independent Church ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ Animadver ☞ ☜ ☜ Second part of Gangrana 131 Blackwood Apostolicall Baptisme or a Rejoynder to M. Blake p. 81. 82. I am of opinion that Heaven received few such souls â—s this Sectarie and Christ saith non retipio tales animas * Sâ—e Mr Walwins Pâ—edict of Master Edwards conversion Whisper in M. Edwards eare c. * Bushers Book of the old Edition page 19. New Edition page 23. ☞ ☜ Animadvers * This Pamphlet is generally spoken and beleeved by all to beâ— his and many of his Church have openly said so to 2 John 10. 11. ☜ Minors no Senators A Discovery of New lights This was upon occasion of the City Remonstrance * It was in some of the Newes Books of that week * Master Burroughs the morning starr preaching about seven a cloke in the morning and Mr Greenâ—al at three of the clock in the afternoone ☞ ☜ ☞ He speaks of the surrender of Oxford Animadvers * Quaest nonâ— Quinam habent pâ—testatem excommunicaâ—di Resp Classium Synodum est quando diâ—â—iculâ—as aliquae subest commu 〈…〉 consiâ—io declarare decernere quinam debeanâ— excommunicari * Ecclesiae ta 〈…〉 en particulares â—t carâ—m communio postulat naturâ— lumen aequitas regularum exemplorum Scripturae docent possunt 〈…〉 ac saepissime etiam debent confoederationem aâ—t consociâ—tioâ—em mutuam inter se iniâ—e in Classibus Synodis ut communi consensu subsidâ—o mutuo utantur quantum commode â—ieri potest in iis praesertim quae sunt major is momentiâ— Ames lib. 4â— de Conscient cap. 29. quaesh octâ— * Mr. Peters message from Sir Thomas Fairâ—ax ☜ * This is fully proved in the first sheet of this Gangraena and in some sheets following this * Vid. A Letter eâ—tit Englands lamentable slavery The Copy of a Letter from Lic vâ—en Col. Lilburne to a Friend A Pamphlet call'd A Question and an Answer Lil 〈…〉 es 〈◊〉 â—â—d Truâ—h jâ—s 〈…〉 Englands Bâ—rth-right ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ Vide Mr Pryns Animadvers on Mr Goodwins Theomach pag. 22. Master Pryns Truth Triumphing over falshood pag. 106. 107. 108. * City Remonstrance Remonstrated pag. 23 24 25 26. Page 7. City Remonstrance Remonstrated Animadvers Animadvers * The inclosed is the first Letter in this Third Part of Gangraena pag. 21. a copy of which was given me from the Citizen in whose Letter it was inclosed and not from the Gentleman to whom it was written ☜ * The Parliament may by this see what prejudice some of these Independent weekly Pamphleters doe them by speaking of their affaires whilest under debate and before finished and how by their expressions in their Newes Books the reformed Churches abroad and many at home come to be greatly offended with the Parliaments proceedings as if they denyed the Three Persons in the Trinity whereas this debate was not upon the Assemblies presenting the Articles of Religion but upon an Ordinance to punish wiâ—h death those who should deny the Terms expressed in the Ordinance where among others Person was but for the thing whatsoever was said of the word Person it was Voted at that time ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ * Epist Zuing. Oecolampad lib. z. ☞ ☜ * Mr Rurr 〈…〉 enicon pag. 34. * Mr Burroug 〈…〉 enicon pag. 36. 37. ☜ ☜ Animadvers * Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens and other Free-born people of England to their owne House of Commons An Alarum to the House of Lords a Vide A Pamphlet ontit A Parable p. 4. 12. 16 as