statesman in his Polit. tels us The same Last will not fit an English and a Scottish foot The English must be ruled more by love Now if two nations so neer in one Iland are not alike free but must be differently governed then certainly Nations remote from one another are not alike free Besides to particular persons yea bodies of people many providences accidents may fal out to make one and the same people and particular persons not so free as sometimes they have been there are some Parents who were free but having incurred the Law are tainted in bloud so their children also some are taken captivs or have sold themselves for a necessity and so their children are servants to A nation having bin saved by some Prince from ruine though before a free state may now make him and his Heirs according to such Lawes King over them nay Amesius in his Cases of Conscience saith It cannot be denied but that a people forced by necessity may sell themselves to a King to be all his servants Gen. 47. 23. 5. T is apparent that in one and the same Nation as England all the subjects have not the same priviledges and freedoms but some have more then others some are not liable to be pressed to war to bare such Offices serve in Juries c. as others are some have voices viz. Freeholders to chuse Knights of Shires others have not some Cities Towns have Charters and large priviledges in severall particulars to send Burgesses to Parliament which other Towns have not and certainly the Peerage of England have priviledges and liberties which every Jack-straw hath not 6. I demand of the Sectaries whether in their Pamphlets speaking of election and consent they meane an immediate present choyce and consent of the present men now to be governed or else an election consent in the first constitution of this Kingdom and Government by our Ancestors many hundred yeers ago Now if they mean this last how do they know but that this Government wherein the King and Lords have such a power was by consent and agreement it being consented such a man should be King and such persons Nobles who by birth should have such power and then such people according to such agreements should have power to chuse some men who together with King and Nobles should make Laws by which the Nation governed the King should have such power Nobles such priviledges and people such liberties but now if they meane the first an immediate election of the present peopl that they are to obey none but so chosen 't is most false and a principle destructive to the sundamentall government of this Kingdom and destroying the House of Commons as well as the King and Lords and for the clearing of that I would propound two things 1. That in this Common-wealth of England none have any power of Government at all either in a lower or higher Sphere either by election of the whole body of the people for all chuse not but some onely or founded upon election as the sole cause and ground for none of the people can chuse neither are men capable to be chosen till according to Lawes Writs are granted forth or Charters given by Princes and Lawes to such Corporations and yet then the peopl must go in chusing not according to their wills but to such rules agreed on by Laws and after men are chosen some conditions also and rules must be observed before the persons so chosen have power of government these chosen Commons must be returned and sworne take such oaths before they can â—it or if they do their election is ipso factâ— nul and they made uncapable ever to fit again so that t is evident that election of some part of the people not the whole is only a partiall cause not the totall and plenary cause or rather the true cause is because such a man according to Lawes and Customes of this Kingdome is now in such a place whereof one of the conditions for such a place is election so and so determined by former Lawes but now in many Officers of this Kingdome who have power of government to heare judge and do many Acts no sort of the common people have any power at all to chuse as in Justices of Peace they have been alwayes and still are made without any such election so the Judges of the Land Sheriffs with divers other Officers and therefore much more may the King and Peers who by the fundamentall Lawes of the Land have an heredâ—tary power in Parliament to which the Kingdom hath agreed and yeelded obedience so many hundred yeers exercise their power without any electon of the people 2. That certainly people are bound and tied to Lawes Rules as well as Kings and Nobles and that Covenants Compacts Oaths of Allegiance c. made on their part bind them as well as Princes oaths I ever took it for granted that Princes had not been bound and their people left at liberty and freedome to do what they pleased I alwayes thought fundamentall constitutions of Government made many hundred yeers before and ancient bounds set by Lawes with birth-right inheritance having gone through an uninterrupted succession of many Pâ—ogenitors had been a right and interest to Princes which the meer will and pleasure of common people could not have taken from them and I conceive that according to the conssitution and Lawes of this Kingdome which gives all sorts their rights though some more some lesse 't is agreed on that the Peers of this Land should have a Legislative and judiciall power and they and their heirs be in such ranck born with such and such priviledges over others 7. This Position of the Sectaries the Universal people having such a power without whose election all Government is void their Dagon and great Image which they fall down before and worship is a meer Chimâ—ra a monstrum horrendum a Babell which I could shatter and break so to peeces as not one stone should be left of it nor so much as the stump but I may not now give all my thoughts for feare of being too voluminous only I will hint a few things in this place by way of Question and referre the Reader to what I further say in page 154 155. c. 1. I Desire to know of these Sectaries what or who is this state Universall whether all the men women and children born in England men-servants maid-servants poore people and beggars together with those of the better sort and whether if all these or the greater part of these taken one equally as well as th' other be the state universall have they the like Soveraigne power over the King and Parliament 2. Whether in what this state Uuniversall will do with the King Lords and their owne House of Commons it must be carried by the most voices of this state universall so that if all the beggars poor people servants children be a
of their Faith as one Goodman Goffery Master Harrington upon questioning with Master Denn spak of committing him to Lincoln to which he replyed He cared not but this he took ill to be molested in his way and told the Justice he was bound to the Committee of Examinations upon a Bond of two hundred pounds to appear before them at any time at four and twenty hours warning and he made use of that as an argument against his troubling of him to whom Master Harrington replyed How can you do that appear before the Committee aâ— so short a warning when as you are now almost a hundred miles from London This Master Harrington a Justice of Peace and a religious man told me he had had several Anabaptists before him upon several occasions and they have alwayes refused to take an oath saying they would not swear There is one Beedle of Glocestar sometimes School-master there who denies the Holy Ghost to be God had a Manuscript by him of his own making pleading against the Third Person of the Trinity which being known some in Authority in that Town questioned him and getting this manuscript have sent up either the Originall or a true Coppy to some in Authority and place here but the last newes I heard of him he hath not been questioned as yet by those above Bishop Vsher that learned and godly Divine coming this summer through Gloster spake with him and used him with all fairnesse and piety as well as strength of Arguments to convince him of his dangerous Errour A Minister of the City of Glocester told me the Bishop laboured to convince him telling him that either he was in a damnable Errour or else the whole Church of Christ who had in all ages worshiped the Holy Ghost had been guilty of Idolatry but the man was no whit moved either by the learning gravity piety or zeal of the good Bishop but continued obstinate There is one Andrew Debman an Anabaptist and a Preacher among them a Cooper by trade a sorry fellow that can neither write nor read and yet is a great Preacher among the Sectaries This blind Bayard would fain Preach in the Parish Church of Algate saying if they would let him Preach there his Sermon would be worth the Parish five pounds by a collection for their poor from his followers and he hath further said if they doubt of his ability to Preach let them give him a text at the Church door when he is going in to Preach and he would Preach of that whereby they should see what he could do and one speaking to him concerning a City Colonell if he would be a member of their Church he would make a good member among them this Debman replyed that for his part he beleeved if this forenamed Colonell would give all his Lands and Estate he could not be received into their Church There was a great Sectary who had his wife lay a dying and she did die of that sicknesse to whom some wel-affected neighbour spake that he should in this dangerous case pray for his wife he answered what good would prayer do her or you either you think prayer will do much good I had this relation from them to whom he spake it An Alderman of this City and a moderate man so acknowledged by the Independents not long since received a Letter from Newcastle concerning our Brethren of Scotland which Letter he shewed to some Common Councell men and other Citizens and the Letter was written from an Independent in Newcastle to this Alderman wherin he confesses that the Scots have dealt very faithfully with the King and told him That if he would not Sign the Propositions he must expect no help from them and that they would keep to their Covenant and not desert the Parliament of England with words to that effect I saw the Originall Letter and I read it twice over written from a Townsman of Newcastle a man of some place there to an Honorable member of the House of Commons wherein he complains that in Newcastle all was like to runne to ruine for want of Government and from the faction of the Independents there that their good Ministers were so abused and discouraged by them that they would not stay but had left them or were going away as Master Prideaux and Doctor Jenison some Independent Preachers sent thither will neither Baptize Children nor administer the Lords Supper but say they came not thither to do such drudgery this was twice repeated in the Letter Doctor Jenison was sent for thither again but for a stale and he acquaints this Parliament man that the Independents have a designe one way or other either by threatning some men to give their voices or by pretending some reasons to try to get an Ordinance to bring in a man for Major this year who is a Sectary but he desires this Honourable Member of the House of Commons to stand their Friend in the House and hopes that seeing we have fought for Liberty that town shal have their liberty in free choice of a Burgesse for Parliament and of a Major the chief Officer of their Town This Gentleman also complaines in his Letter that without so much as ever acquainting the free Burgesses or once calling a Common-Councell an Ordinance was procured to appoint an Independent Deputy Major which if we should have done so as the Independent party did what out-cries would there have been of breach of Liberty Upon this Letter being communicated to me I asked a worthy Member of the House of Commons why the Scots would suffer in Newcastle the Independents to domineer so and abuse the godly Orthodox Ministers and not teach them better manners he answered the Scots because of giving offence were tender of medling in any thing with the Civil Government but rather suffered these things so much against their minds that they might give no occasion of complaint There is one Master Erbâ—ry spoken of in my first part of Gangraena who about June or the beginning of July last as he was going to Wales lay at Marlbrough one night and being in the Town he came to a house where commonly once a week many good people of that Town meet together to confer and discourse of good things and there Master Erbury spake to them many being there present to this purpose that he knew not what they might expect but he came neither to pray nor to preach but to learn of Christ and of his Saints and making a discourse to them he declared his opinions venting himself against Christ being God affirming he was only man pleading for universall Redemption speaking against Baptism all ministry using words to this effect that he knew not how they stood affected or how it was with them but with many Christians it was thus with them that they knew not what to do without a man in black cloathes or a black man among them but that was for the time when Christians were
which they would have and occasion shall prove their ruine the means to overthrow all their Conventicles separated Meetings they are greedy of a warre to establish them but as now the beating of â—his Drum drove them out of the Chappell broke up their Meeting so shall the warre which they have sought overthrow all their Opinions Meetings and cast them out of England for ever as the Bishops and their faction were greedy for a warre against the Scots to support their greatnesse and Ceremonies and have been active to promote this second warre which hath proved their ruine so the Independents plotting and driving on for warre shall break their necks and break up their Conventicles and cause the Kingdoms to cast them out as an abominable branch and the issue of all the warres and bloud they thirst after shall be that some of their Heads shall be served by the Presbyterians viz. put into that bloud which themselves have caused perish by it and that most justly as King Cyrus was by Tomyris that Scythian Queen putting his head into a tub of bloud and saying Satia te sanguine quem sitisti nam insatiabilis fuisti and therefore let the Independents and Sectaries take heed of a new warre and make use of this warning given them at one of their Meetings Some Passages taken out of a Letter sent from a godly Minister in Northamptonshire to a Friend of his in London Good Cousin I Pray read seal and at your best leasure deliver the inclosed wherein I have related some particulars very soul though there be many more and more blasphemous It s a wonder amongst us that other Souldiers cannot be found but such as fight against the soul doing more hurt that way then they can do good any other way If the Parliament take not a course with them they shall certainly become our future rods or God himself will overthrow them in our sight take a note of the particulars and keep them for I have not time Septemb. 24. 1646. Some Passages extracted out of two Letters sent from a godly Christian in Lancashire to Friends in London LOving Friend God hath safely returned our Friends in health whatever our Petition produceth yet we have this comfort that we have done our duty The Sectaries here have got a Petition on foot for a Toleration and hope they shall not wait so long at the Commons door for an Answer as ours hath done Sir SInce our Petition was received into the House of Commons where it produced an Ordinance for the setling of the Presbyterian Government in this County the Sectaries have promoted an Anti-Petition here and in Câ—eshire they stile it The Petition of the peaceable and wel-affected that desire liberty of conscience as was promised by the House of Commons in their Declaration they ordered formerly to be read in Churches They have inserted some other plausible things into it the better to draw on hands promote it with great secrecy shew it to none but to such as before-hand they have some assurance will sign it It was framed and set on foot by the Members of the Church of Duckingfeild but I am confident they admit to sign it Seekers Soul-sleepers Anabaptists Rigid Brownists c. We hear of one Minister in our County who hath signed it that is a common Drunkard and two or three young Scholars who have begun to preach without Ordination one of which affirmed to me and some others that hee would defend Independency with his bloud Master Taylor and Master Eaton are wonderfull active both in Cheshire and Lancashire they much improve who is become agreat zealot for them hath threatned some of the godly Ministers that live near him to make their places too hot for them for denying their Pulpits to Master Eaton We have through the mercy of God a learned and active Clergy in our County sound and Orthodox who I hope will be assisted with many able and active men in their work of Government but Cheshire is miserably become a prey to the Sectaries they have set up already there two or three Independent Churches and are setting up two or three more hath so farre incouraged them discouraged and born down the Orthodox wel affected Gentlemen and Ministers that they could never to this day get any thing done against them We are as sensible I beleeve as any County in England and fear the carriage of things is such as will make the Kingdom weary Men speak here freely and say that now men may safelier blaspheme all the Persons in the Trinity then speak many things that are true of some Members of Parliament The suffering the Church of God to be rent and torn in peeces by Heresies Seismes and Divisions the retarding the releif for poor bleeding Ireland the greiving and sadding the hearts of our Brethren of Scotland with many other things makes us fear that the Lord hath a further controversie with us Octob. 10. 1646. A Minister told me lately hee having a Living given him or faire for it some Sectaries Independents and Antinomians desiring to bring in a Sectary and an Antinomian thereupon procured to petition the Patron for the Sectary and against this honest Minister and to effect their businesse the more probably they set down to the Petition the names of some Inhabitants who were for the Orthodox Minister in the behalfe of this Sectary when as they were against his coming in and never knew or once imagined their names were subscribed A Copie of a Letter written from a godly Minister in Holland to some Reverend and godly Ministers here in London Reverend Brethren I Have been sparing in writing unto you albeit I here have great need of correspondence in respect I am as it were alone among so many of different dispositions and nations I acknowledge the blame in my selfe who have not sought it of you of whose willingnesse I am confident Now a particular occasion hath forced to break off wherein I desire your resolution The Currents that are brought over hither these last two weeks make mention that the Assembly of Divines are about the penning of the Articles of Faith and that when the Article concerning the Trinity was presented unto the Parliament they would not admit of the word Person because it is a word not used in the first three hundred yeers and was the cause of great division and troubles in the Christian Churches This seemeth very strange unto many here seeing the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1. 3. was never nor is otherwise translated in the Latin French Dutch nor our language neither have any excepted against it but Antitrinitarians Arrians and Socinians and others of that sort I have spoken with the Dutch Ministers concerning this and they admire that the Parliament seemeth to have such respect unto those damned Hereticks and the more that the Orthodox in Poland in their late Declaration would not grant the name of Brethren in Christianity to
that have had more money and now demand more hundred thousand pounds â—hen all Scotland is worth if it were to be sold that they stood for the King to come to London and to be disposed of by their advice for nothing else but to get great offices about him and places at Court that they seek nothing but to encroach upon the rights and liberties of this Nation in severall of their demands and therefore what true English man can beare it They have given out of their Armies that they exercise strange cruelties robberies plunderings in the Countries notwithstanding all their great pay and yet they have done nothing for it what have they done almost this two last yeeres say the Sectaries nay some Sectaries have given out we owe them nothing they have had more then their pay comes to Presently after the newes came of the Kings going to the Scottish Army there were many jealousies raised and reports given out by the Independent party that all the forces of the Kings out of Newark were joyned to the Scots and gone along with them that Letters were intercepted going from the King to Oxford to wish them to holdout so many dayes and they should have releife that two thousand Irish were come to joyne with the Scots for the King against the Parliament that the Scots had broken the Covenant in detaining the King and in not delivering up Ashburnham with divers such fables and since all along we have by that party some fine stories or other told of the Scots as of so many thousands out of France to joyne with them and so many thousand fresh men come out of Scotland into England and Informations and Examinations printed of strange things the Scats will do and the King hath spoken of since he went to them reports of stories of Robin Hood and little John of Cocks and Bulls plots that would be discovered of the Scots and some great Noble men Now for proof of the Sectaries being guilty in these particulars I referre the Reader to divers of the Sectaries libellous Pamphlets against the Scots as Master Burtons Conformities Deformity A black cloud in the North a late Declaration by way of Letters c. to divers of the Weekly newes Books of late and particularly to the Imperfect Diurnall Immoderate Intelligencer Vnperfect Occurrences three sworne servants of the Independents and to his owne remembrance and observation of things For conclusion of this there are none so hated in this Kingdom by the Sectaries as our Brethren of Scotland not the Papists not the Prelates not the Malignants they exceed the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Doctor Wren c. who never spake with that bitternesse against the Generall Assembly and Church-government as some Sectaries have done for instaâ—ce let Master Burtons Conformities Deformity be perused in what he writes against the Generall Assembly and Church-government of Scotland and it would be thought rather to be Canterbury redivivus then Master Burton for whom the Ministers of Scotland and other godly Christians there put up so many prayers but their hatred and malice against the Church and Kingdom of Scotland God will in due time remember and visit And their extreme malignity against our Brethren of Scotland appeares principally in four things 1. Though some of that party have given great testimony to them of their faithfulnesse and worth yet without any cause of theirs or change in them the Scots coâ—tinuing constant and firme to their first principles and I challenge all the Sectaries to give but one instance to the contrary they have turned Jewes against them and spoken evill of them all they could 2. If any one Sectary take the Scots part as seeing their faithfulnesse to the publick and so declare it though yet at the same time be speaks against the Scots Church-government Covenant c. and come to be in question and trouble upon some things though we see Sectaries strangely brought off of all troubles notwithstanding all misdemeanors he is deserted by his party may lie and perish in prison and the reason is given in print to all the world if we may beleeve it for his complying with the Scots to drive on some wicked designe of theirs and combining with them whereas the same party declares in print the honesty and justice of the Scots for the redresse of the great greivances of his Countrey and though strangers to him yet upon the goodnesse of the Cause furthering it with all their power to bring it to the hearing of the House of Commons and he professes he neither knows nor can suppose the Scots to intend any other wicked desigâ— but the setling of the Presbyterian Government among us 3. In the many bloudy speeches divers of the Sectarian party have spoken against the Scots viz. that they would as willingly fight against the Scots draw their swords against them as ever against 〈◊〉 Cavaliers that if they had an Order from the Commons to go against the Scots they would go as willingly as ever against the Cavaliers that it would never be well with us till we had beaten the Scots out of the Kingdom that if they would not go out now we had conquered the Kings party we would go lead them out with divers such speeches 4. In making it their great busines to corrupt and poyson mens minds with false notions and apprehensions about the Scots as if they were the most perâ—idious people that ever were many stories in this kind might be told but I will content my self with relating one which is most certaine as having it from the mouth of a godly minister upon whom the experiment was made There was a great Gentleman of the Independent party I will not say he was a Member of the House of Commons who laboured to possesse a godly Minister of some note in his Countrey against the Scots and walked alone with him two houres to represent to him the state of things oâ—â—â—ring him confidently and that he should finde that the Kingâ—ad â—ad poysoned the Scots and made them all for him he had corrupted the Army the Scots Commissi 〈…〉 the Convention of Estates yea the generall Assembly it selfe and they would be all 〈…〉 s much for him as ever the Cavaliers were with severall other things he laboured to pos 〈…〉 e him with of the City of London the Army c. but the best was the Minister wanted faith to beleeve him and laughed secretly that this Gentleman should think to catch old birds with chaffe Ni 〈…〉 ly the Sectaries and Independents have spoken and carried themselves unworthily to the bleeding condition of the Kingdome of Ireland and the Protestâ—â—ts there some of them have justified the Irish Rebellion that they did it for the liberty of their consciences and for their Country and what had the English to doe in their Kingdome the Irish did no more then what we would have done ourselves if it had been 〈◊〉 case and that they
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
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
trouble you the Danes and Saxons never mastered this â—and by power but by our home-bred distempers To prevent those fears let English-men keep to their proper Interests and Scots to theire and I know not why we might not marâ—ch into Bavaria and Lorain before they come to us and make them pay all old Arreares I must confesse I am divided between Ireland and the Palatinate only I quiet my self in this that we may doe both And againe pag. 9. And if our back-doore were well shut at home how might Euphrates be 〈…〉 yed up I meane the West Indies and the East too offer themselves to our devotion And not only Master Peters but divers other Sectaries do in a sort deifie this Army I beleeve never was there an Army or rather one sort of men in the Army viz. Independents and Sectaries so cryed up in Pulpits Pamphlets Speeches and that to their faces as this is I might relate passages out of Sermons printed Pamphlets of the Saints in the Army the Independents calling them the strength preservers deliverers of the Presbyterians the instruments under God by which we enjoy all c. But I must abreviate and conclude this with a speech lately related to me of a great man of Master Peters his Religion that a discourse arising about the great Turk seasing on some of our Merchants goods in Turkis upon occasion of the difference between King and Parliament the Ambassador there being on the Kings side and what course there might be to help it he answered to this effect we had an Army that the terror of it was such that we needed not to feare the great Turke but it might go to the gates of Constantinople and demaud right 8. Master Peters designe is to plead for the keeping this Army on foot still and that in England for this Winter at least and to possesse men of the need of it and to perswade against the disbanding of it by any meanes and to work this the more he runnes into praises of the Army and Commanders of which the Reader may find such passages as these page 6. Your demand about the disposing the Army is not so proper for a private pen to engage in yet this I may say that other Nations in our condition would think if they look round about them and within them the disbâ—nding an Army if trusty ought not to be a work of haste When the seas are down in England I think the passage into Ireland will be easier and if we can maintain a defensive Warre this Winter I trust the spring will invite many over thither in the meane if these faithfull Commanders were in Garrisons without any designe be it spoken you have alwayes an Army ready the private souldier will still runne to his honest and well known Commander c. Briefly I say this to your question that this Army was hardly gotten and I wish it may be as hardly disbanded and so page 10. speaking of preserving the conquests hee writes thus By the same meanes the mercy is gained it may be preserved if men yea good men were instrumentall in the one they must be in the other And of their praises that they may not bee disbanded see page 5. I find our Souldiers generally in the old forme rather wondering then boasting admired by the enemy for their gallantry and Conduct And page 6. Feare not that Army whose Commanders like Samuel can ask any County or Town where they have been whose Oxe or Asse have they taken 9. Master Peters closely but shrewdly strickes at that neer conjunction and union joynt interest of both Nations as one by vertue of the Covenant in a uniformity of Religion in Doctrine Government and Discipline and labours to divide between them by hinting passages to look upon them not as one but as two Kingdomes having different interests for proof of which the Reader may take notice of these following passages page 7. Let us remember England as it was never conquered but by faction so it can never be ruled but by love the same Last will not fit an English and a Scottish foot they came not suddenly to what they enjoy and therefore should give England a little breathing over what is propounded it will be their mercy to keep what they have and ours to be growing up to what we desire So page 10. To prevent those feares let English men keep to their proper interests and Scots to theirâ— I would as soon credit a Garrison to a known honest godly English man differing from me in his opinion c. And pray Master Peters why not a known honest godly Scotch-man differing from you in his opinion implying a Scotch-man though a known honest godly man differing in opinion you would not trust 10. Master Peters strickes at the City of London and their Remonstrance page 11. in these passages speaking of our late enemies saith Their highest designe now is to make it Royall you may remember how willing I was once to have made a match my weaknesse was such that I did not study whether both parties were well agreed and my simplicity kept me from thinking of a Corrivall and let London know that if they think a Parliament sits the quieter by being so near them so 〈◊〉 think when the Parliament doores are shut up at Westminster their shops will hardly stand open at London Iâ— the clashing of swords cannot be heard yet death climbing up their windowes by the increase of the plague calls for something And in the same page again Had the Citizens Remonstrated more about their debts due and lesse about their wille they might have had more thanks and it may be by this time some might have kept Orphanes from their doores that â—ry for the money lent to supply the States use 11. Mr Peters designe in his Answer to seven Queres is to represent and render himself all along as some great Statesman and knowing man a great Traveller and of great experience a man beloved of godly men and respected at home and abroad a man of great interest in the most Learned and godly men of other Nations as Master Forbs the Scotchman Doctor Ames a man so active as if he did all and so wise as to give Answer to Queres and Counsell and Resolution to Parliament men as by some passages in these Answers it should seem this friend was in the hardest matters both of Church and Sâ—ate a man that could not be missed by the Parliment or the Army not spared out of England and such hints have bâ—â—n given out both in Sermons and in Speeches Now the whole frame of the Queres and Answers shewes this to be his â—â—me but more particularly these passages page 4. Master Richard Sâ—â—wâ—y a Member of the House who was of our Counsell in this work I preached at Worcester at our coming in and did observe a doore open to the Gospel Master Peters was of the Counsell belike for taking of Worcester
and the man who preached upon the coming in of the Parliament forces to the Town And I beleeve he and others of his followes were of the Councell to get Colonell RSpanâ— to be sent to take Worcester when that gallant Colonell Waley had done the deed that so a Presbyterian might neither enjoy the honour nor the fruit of his labours And though I have never been at Worcester yet upon report of credible persons I can make another observation then Master Peters upon his preaching at Worcester and the â—aâ—â—iâ—on and Government there viz. instead of a door open to the Gospel a doore is opened at Worcester to Independency and to all kind of Sects a doore opened for â—lemenâ— Wrighâ—eâ— that Antiscripâ—urist Sceptick spoken so much of in my first part of Gangraena to be â—here and to 〈…〉 iâ— Heresies and Blasphemies And I am certainly informed 〈◊〉 Sectaries are already publike Preachers in the City of Worcester oâ— Master 〈◊〉 who was before at Waâ—wick and â—he Master M 〈…〉 And so page 6. Master Pâ—ters gives 〈…〉 ll he â—â—s 〈…〉 he Army may be as hardly di 〈…〉 as it was go 〈…〉 â—e â—â—ates the disease of our pre 〈…〉 di 〈…〉 and prescribes the â—uâ—eâ— he 〈…〉 directions about sending to forraigne States page 8. 9. about the ordering of our Counsells and affaires page 10. 11. 12. and then in page 13. 14. he comes to a formall discourse concerning himself where he tells the Reader fine stories of himself And if my different judgement offend any my Answer is that with much expence of money and time with diligent inquiry into Reformed Churches I have taken paines to satisfie my self and remaine now where I was for substance â—ifteâ—â— years since resolving by that experience to keep a window open to more light and truth though scoffed and slighted my care hath been to acquaint my self with the most learned and godly in the Country where I travell First I lived about six years neer that famous Scotchman Master John Forbs with whom I travelled into Germany and enjoyed him in much love and sweetnesse constantly from whom I never had but incouragement though we differed in the way of our Churches Learned Amesiusâ—reathed â—reathed his last breath into my bosome who left his Professorship in Freisland to live with me because of my Churches Independency at Roterdam and charged me often even to his death so to look to it and if there were a way of publike worship in the world that God would own it was that He was my Collegue and chosen Brother to the Church where I was an unworthy Pastor and I thank the Lord such a Church it continues to this day that truly I slightly took up nothing in that kind nor did I loose all my seven years being in new-New-England amongst those faithfull learned godly Brethren whose way of worship if we professe it will not be groundlesse when their wriâ—ings are examined And so much for Master Peters designe in his last Report of the English Wars The second maine thing in his Pamphlet is the manner and way he takes to effect his designe and aime the better which though at first view it be seemingly carried in severall phrases with a great deale of moderation to the Presbyterians and a desire of propagating the Gospel Religion Piety the name of God Religion and preaching being often spoken of and of maintaining yea inlarging the glory of the English Nation and the Rights and Liberties of the Subject Yet indeed 't is written and calculated for the Meridian of Independency and Sectaâ—isme in every particular of it so as there is not one passage in it but I could easily reduce to that Praedicament and draw all the lines to that center clearly shewing 'tis for the advancing of that party which that he may do the man cares not what hee writes but instead of a faire full open true Relation of things he writes very partially in some things falsly in other things hypocritically and doubly in most and were I at leasure to write Animadversions on every line of this Pamphlet and give a full Answer to it laying one thing to another I could discover many mysteries of iniquity in it and shew it to be exceeding pernicious both to Church and State and very prejudiciall to the League and Union between the Kingdomes and such a peece of Politicks that in this juncture of things an Arch-Jesuite if he were imployed to write would make much such another I shall give some instances First his Relation of Worcester businesse is very partiall much wronging that gallant Gentleman Col. Whaley giving the honour of reducing Worcester to others who hath deserved better at the hand of Master Peters and some others then to be so served This Gentleman did very great service at Naseby Field this Gentleman reduced that strong Castle of Banbury besides many other gallant services that he hath done but because he is a Presbyterian and an Antilibertine therefore others who never did that worke at Worcester nor in Naseby Field c. must have the honour of his labours and must enter upon them reaping that which hee hath sowed with much faithfulnesse valour hazards The relation of this businesse of Worcester is so partiall that 's the best can be said of it that I have been informed from persons of much worth and trust that when Col. Whaley read it he went to a great Commander of the Army speaking to this purpose do you not see how Peters hath abused and wronged me and shall he be suffer'd well if I meet him I will cane him soundly and a Commander of the Army told in some company to a Lieutenant Colonell a great Sectary that he had heard Colonell Whaley wherever he met Master Peters would cane him if not cut him for his relation of Worcester businesse Secondly speaking of Schismaticks and Opinionists he instances in Anabaptists and calls them the harmelesse Anabaptists which is a false Epithite given to them for what Sect or fort of men since the Reformation this hundred years have been more harmfull surely Master Peters cannot but have read or at lest heard of the Tumults Wars Tragedies Out-rages Rapes raised and committed by the Anabaptists in severall parts of Christendome especially in Germany and Mâ—â—ster Slâ—idan Bullinger Schluselburgius Horlensius Guido de Bres with many others have laid these open to the world And if we look upon our Anabaptists at home and consider what many of them have done and do dayly how can we call them harmlesse Are they harmlesse who in contempt of Baptisme have pissed in the Font have fecht a horse into the Church and baptiz'd it Who assault with violence godly Ministers put them out of their Pulpits by force openly affront them and invade their Pulpits whether they will or no Who make tumults and riots in Countries Who kill tender young persons and ancient with dipping them all over in Rivers in the depth of Winter Who
reports of victories other mens valiant acts attributed to them and they upon all occasions pleaded for excused and fair glosses put upon the â—oulest actions of any Commanders and Souldiers of that party so that a man would wonder Master Peters should write thus but that he will say any thing if it be for the Sectaries and they who know the man and his manner what stories he hath told in Pulpits of baâ—â—ells that he hath been in and how many victories have been atchieved will never marvell at what he writes here Seventhly For that Master Peters speaks of Master Forbes and Am 〈…〉 s of that constant sweetnesse and incouragement in the one towards him and of the speeches of the other to him even to his death I much doubt of the truth of them and that upon these grounds However Master Forbes might be great with him before â—e declared himself for Independency and the Church-way yet I have been told from a godly understanding Minister who lived many years in Holland and that in the time of Master Peters being there both before he was looked upon as an Independent and 〈…〉 wards viz. all the time till he went to New England that when Master Forbes by the power of the Bishops faction was put by his place of Minister to the Merchant Adventures at Roterdam he would have received the Lords Supper at Master Peters Church Master Peters Independency or Church-way not being visible then but Master Peters offering to put upon him or requiring some of his Church-way devices spake something to Master Forbes of things in that kind which Master Forbes neceâ—ted with so much indignation and scorn knowing what love and â—espect he had shown to Master Peters and what experience Master Peters had had of him and that now besides all his sufferings in Scotland he was put by all in Holland for refusing the Ceremonies and the Bishops wayes that now being deprived both of Ministry and Sacraments and coming to Master Peters as his great friend he should offer to question him of his state of grace or propound his Independent 〈…〉 icks to him before he could be admitted that he spake very sharply to him telling him in these words or to this effect He would not come to the Lords Supper with him if he would have â—im nor have communion with a man in such a way And I beleeve there was little love or sweetnesse passed between them afterwards or little incouragement that Master Peters ever after had from that learned and godly Scotch-man And as for the story he tells of learned Amesius for no other end as I know but to gain credit to himself and the Church-way I much question that he should speak so of the Independent way and give such a charge about it as Master Peters relates as also that he left his Professorship in Frizland to live with Master Peters meeâ—ly upon that reason because of his Churches Independency and my grounds of doubt are these First Because in Doctor Amesius his Works I find Principles against the Independency of Churches as in his Book of Cases of Conscience the fourth Book cap. 29. in answer to that question Who have the power of Excommunicating Among others who have power he saith Synods and Classes when any difficulty ariseth have a power to declare and decree who they be that ought to be excommunicated 〈◊〉 in his Medullâ— Theologie 〈…〉 the first Book Chap. 39. having spoken of a particular Church he comes in with this Cantion or Proviso Notwithstanding particular Churches as their communion requires the light of nature the equity of rules and examples of Scripture teach may and also often ought to enter into a mutuall confederation and association among themselves in Classes and Synods that they may use the common consent and help as much as conveniently can be especially in all those things which are of greater moment I 〈◊〉 also in Amesius his Works many passages against other Principles of the Independent way at the use of Suspension from the Lords Supper to goe before Excommunication which is denyed by the Independents with many others Now the writings of men are more to be regarded and beleeved then the words of such a man as Master Peters especially in favour of his own cause Secondly For Doctor Ames leaving his Professorship in Frizland to live with Master Peters at Roterdam I will not deny that but I doe deny that it was because of his Churches Independency it was upon other reasons and of this I can give the Reader some good account and I must acknowledge it as a providence of God that I many years agoe by reason of my intimate acquaintance with the eminentest and godliest men of those times and with the prime of those who are now turned Independents did hear and know many things of all sorts of godly men both at home and abroad in Holland England New-England which I then little thought I should ever have had any use of but since have been and are of great use in answering Independents when they come and tell the world stories of themselves which men know not how to disprove them Doctor Ames as I have been told from grave godly Ministers for many years before he died was weary of his place in Frizland and would fain have had some place in England he moved and propounded it to some that if he could but have any living or place to preach in though in a remote Village without using the Ceremonies and being put upon subscription he would take it for he had a mind to give himself to preaching and to enjoy the society of English Christians and Ministers and was weary because of that dulnesse and different way in regard of the practicall power of godlinesse he found among those he lived with there and the godly English whom he in the former part of his life had been acquainted with and therefore divers years before there was any thought or speech of Independent Churches or this way he moved for a place in England and would faine have left his Professorship in Frizeland And I am ready to depose I have been told this by one or more godly Ministers of great note 'T is sufficiently known I was well acquainted with Doctor Preston Doctor Sibs Master Bouls Doctor Prestons Tutor Doctor Taylor Doctor Staughton c. and from some of these I had it and I remember I have been in company with Doctor Ames at Doctor Prestons lodging who after the death of King James coming to England and to Cambridge I heard him preach there and well remember the Sermon and Text Jude vers 20 21. but times in England growing worse and worse there being no hope for such a man as he here being weary of his Professorship in Frizland was willing to be Minister of an English Church in Holland since he could not obtain it in England and I make no question if Doctor Ames could have been assured
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
that would be a great sinne in him And now lately this October or at the latter end of September he preached on that Text in Thames-street Wee are not of the night but of the day upon which Text he delivered matter to this effect that since the Apostles times or presently after them there had been a great night but now the day was breaking out after a long night and light was coming every day more then other and there were many Gospel priviledges and of the new Jerusalem that we should then enjoy In that day there should be no Ordinances to punish men for holding opinions there should be no Confessions of Faith there every one should have the liberty of their consciences then as in Micah 't is prophesied of those Gospel times All people will walke every one in the name of his God and wee will walke every one in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever which place was brought for liberty of conscience by him And in that day neither Episcopacy nor Presbytery nor any others should intermeddle or invade the rights of the Saints many such flings he had and this Sermon was preached just upon that time when the Ordinance against Heresies was taken into debate and the Confession of Faith to be brought into the House of Commons so that by these and many more particulars his hints about dipping often and suffering such shewes what the first fruits of these Itinerary Preachers are and what a sad thing 't is men so principled should go among such a people as the Welch with so large a power of preaching as he and his fellowes have Master Sympson the Independent preaching presently after the second part of Gangraena came forth at Black-Friars on June 12. as 't is given me under ones hand and in his Sermon discoursing about the Angels bringing no railing accusation against Satan he advised his people how to behave themselves at this time now the Saints infirmities were laid open First not answer a word as the King of Judah commanded those he sent to Rabshakeh Secondly to pray against them yea and to pray against them by name for God would avenge them Reader take notice of the charity and love of Independents to their Presbyterian Brethren to stirre up the people to pray against them and that by name with giving them an incourragement from Gods avenging which I never read was practised by the Primitive Church but only against Julian the Apostate whom the Church judged with one consent to have sinned against the Holy Ghost These Independents and Sectaries did in many Books before my first part of Gangraena came forth name many Presbyterian godly Ministers and others laying open infirmities committed long before yea abusing Members of both Houses and worthy persons by writing lyes and false things of them as that religious and Noble Earle of Manchester Master Pryn Colonell King Master Calamy with many more and have abused by name in printed Books lately many able and godly Ministers of the Assembly as Master Vines Master Marshall Master Sedgwick Master Gataker Master Ley Master Newcomen Master Seaman Master Hill Doctor Burges with some City Ministers and this is no fault in the Sectaries neither are these worthy men Saints be like in the Independent Kalender nor may the Presbyterians I hope pray against Master Saltmarsh Cretensis Lilburne and others of them by name but for Master Edwards because he hath written of the damnable Errors Heresies and Blasphemies of these times and the better to preserve the people and to make them take heed hath given the names of some of the prime seducers Wrighter Erbury Hich Wallwyn Denne Kissin Lambe Lilburne c. not Saints in his Creed nor their opinions and wayes infirmities but deliberated plotted abominations therefore hee must be prayed against and that by name and as Master Sympson gives him his blessing so his Brother Borroughs presently after the coming forth of the Antapologie preaching at Cornhill was speaking of some that laid open the infirmities of the Saints and that raked up Letters stories and all to bring out against the Saints but of such saith he I will say no more but as Michael the Archangell the Lord rebuke thee which in the carriage of the passage and way of expression was so evidently against me that I beleeve of godly Ministers and Christians twenty told me of it and they said many who heard him spoke of it and said it was a poor thing of Master Burroughs to speak so in the Pulpit he should do well to answer the Book Now as for the prayers of the Sectaries against me and their curses I would have them know that though I am sorry for them they should do so yet I feare not their curses but well understand that when they curse God will blesse and that the curse causelesse shall not come Prov. 26. 2. besides I know in this very thing I have more with me then against me and in many Countries of this Kingdome both North and West I am assured from godly Ministers and Citizens who have been with me that I am in an especiall manner prayed for and many thanks given to God in my behalf for enabling me and stirring me up to this work against the Sectaries There is a godly Minister of Cheshire who was lately in London that related with a great deale of confidence this following story as a most certaine truth known to many of that County that this last Summer the Church of Duckingfield of which Master Eaton and Master Taylor are Pastor and Teacher being met in their Chappell to the performing of their worship and service as Master Eaton was preaching there was heard the perfect sound as of a man beating a martch on a drum and it was heard as coming into the Chappell and then as going up all along the I le through the people and so about the Chappell but nothing seen which Master Eaton preaching and the people that sate in the severall parts of the Chappell heard insomuch that it terrified Master Eaton and the people caused him to give over preaching and fall to praying but the martch still beating they broke up their exercise for that time and were glad to be gone Now I conceive this passage of Providence towards these Independents speaks thus much to them and to the Kingdom especially considering this Church of Duckingfield is the first Independent Church visible and framed that was set up in England being before the Apologists came from Holland and so before their setting up their Churches here in London First that the Independents are for wars desirous of wars to maintain and uphold their Independent Churches by them and thirst for a new warre with Scotland as much as ever an unhappy boy did to be at fisty-cuffes with another boy and for that end provoke the Scots all kind of wayes study all wayes to make a breach with them Secondly The warres
142. pages of this Book I might fill a Book in relating the passages in Discourses Sermons and printed Books spoken in way of boasting of this Army and of particular persons belonging to it of the Independent way calling one Infallible the Saviour of three Kingcomes a second the Terrible a third whom God hath especially fitted for Sea or Land one whom foraigne States would be proud of having such a servant and so of others but I will only point at some expressions in a late Book of Master Burtons called Conformities Deformity wherein the Army is in a sort deified page 17 18. speaking of pressing the Parliament for an Ordinance against Heresies and Schismes he speaks what this Ordinance would do against those men who have prodigally poured their dearest bloud viz. trample upon them and not suffer them to breath in their native aire and thereupon runs out in the extolling of that sort of men in the Army that by them we yet breath that they have beene the preservers of the Land that many glorious victories have made them admirable to the neighbour Nations yea to the whole world and terrible to their professed enemies and ours yea and to pretended freinds too who would master us at home were not these masters of the feild God hath made them the great instruments of the preservation and deliverance of our Country and City from the most desperate bloudy and beastiall enemies that ever the earth bred or hell hatched God hath vouchsafed to cast great favour and honour upon them and as he hath crowned them with so much glory and they have â—ast their crownes at the feet of the Lamb that sits upon the Throne So should we come and first giving all the glory to God gather up those crownes and set them upon the heads of those our Preservers and Deliverers and put chains about their necks so far off should we be from trampling such Pearles under foot or casting them out of our Gates and Ports 8. The Sectaries are guilty of unsufferable Insolencies horrible affronts to Authority and of strange outrages having done those things that all things considered no story of former ages can paralell and here I have so large a feild that I might write a Book in Folio upon this head but I will only give a touch upon the particulars and referre the Reader for further satisfaction to their owne Books 1. Some of the Sectaries have spoken and written that against the Lawes of the Land both Common and Statute as I beleeve neither Papists nor any English men ever did before them I have read divers passages of this kind in divers Pamphlets within these two last yeers as in some books written against Master Pryn but above all Leiutenant Colonell Lilburne in his Just mans Justification page 11 12 13 14 15. and A Remonstrance to their owne House of Commons page 13. 15. 19. damns the Common Law as coming from the Devill and being the great bondage of England the Norman Yoake as the Reader may easily see by these words That which is the greatest mischeife of all and the oppressing bondage of England ever since the Norman Yoak is this I must be tried before you by a Law call'd the Common Law that I know not nor I thinke no man else neither do I know where to finde it or read it and how I can in such a â—asâ— be punished by it I know not such an unfathomable gulâ—e have I by a little search found the Law practises in Westminster Hall to be that seriously I thinke there is neither end nor bottome of them so many uncertainties formalilities puncâ—ilios and that which is worse all the enâ—ries and proceedings in Latine a Language I understand not nor one of a thousand of my native Country-men so that when I read the Scripture it makes me thinke that the practises in the Courts at Westminster flow not from God nor from his Law nor the Law of Nature and Reason no nor yet from the understanding of any righteous just or honest men but from the Devill and the will of Tyrants The Kings Writs that summons a Parliament implying the establishment of Religion showes that we remaine under the Norman yoake of an unlawfull power from which we ought to free our selves Ye know the Lawes of this Nation are unworthy a free people and deserve from first to last to be considered and seriously debated and reduced to an agreement with common equity and right reason which ought to be the forme and life of every Government Magna Charta it selfe being but a beggerly thing containing many marks of intolerable bondage and the Lawes that have beene made since by Parliaments have in very many particulars made our Government much more oppressive and intolerable The Conquerer erected a trade of Judges and Lawyers to sell justice and injustice at his owne unconscionable rate and in what time he pleased the corruption whereof is yet upon us from which we thought you should have delivered us we cannot but expect to be delivered from the Norman bondage and from all unreasonable Lawes made ever since that unhappy conquest By which passages t is evident the Sectaries aime at a totall change of the Laws and Customs of this Kingdom 2. They have spoken and written much against the King speaking of him as a Delinquent terming him the great Delinquent and that he should not come in but as a Delinquent when news hath beene of messages and gracious offers from the King and when his late Letter to the City was spoken of they have slighted all saying we can have them without him and what can he do for us he is a Delinquent They have taken one of his titles from him and given it to that unworthy mean man Lilburne stiling him Defendor of the Faith they have taken other of his Titles as Soveraign Leige Lord Majesty Kingship Regality and given them to the H. of Commons and to the common people making the Universall people to be the King Creator and the King their meer creature servant and vassal and as they have taken from him his Titles so his power denying him all Legislative power and to be one of the Estates of Parliament yea they have pleaded for the King to be deposed and justice to be done upon him as the grand murtherer of England and not only that he should bee beheaded but the Kingdome also viz. this Kingdome deprived of a King for ever and Monarchie turned into Democracie And as they have endeavoured to strip him of all his Titles and power as a King so to take from him all priviledges as a man and a Christian speaking against Ministers praying for him and that he should be excommunicated from all Christian society For proofe of which particulars let the Reader read over the late Remonstrance of many thousand Citiznes to their owne House of Commons and among other passages that in page 6. It is high time we be
plaine with you we are not nor shall not be so contented that you lie ready with open Armes to receive the King and to make him a great and a glorious King Have you shooke this Nation like an Earth-quake to produce no more then this for us We do expect according to reason that you should in the first place declare and set forth King Charles his wickednesse open before the world and withall to show the intolerable inconveniencies of having a Kingly Government from the constant evill practises of those of this Nation and so to declare King Charles an en 〈…〉 my and to publish your resolution never to have any more but to acquit us of so great a charge and trouble for ever and to convert the great rev 〈…〉 w of the Crowne to the publike treasure to make good the injuries and injustices done heretofore and of late by those that have possessed the same and that we expected long since at your hands and untill this be done we shall not thinke our selves well dealt withall in this originall of all oppressions to wit Kings The Just mans Justification page 10. I wish with all my soule the Parliament would seriously consider upon that Law Who so sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed that so wilfull murtherers might not escape the hand of Justice but especially that they would thinke upon the grand murtherer of England for by this impartiall Law of God there is no exemption of Kings Princes Dukes Earles more then of fishermen c. The Arrow against all Tyrants page 11 12. Soveraignity challenged by the King is usurpation illegitimate and illegall c. The power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive So Overtons Defiance to the House of Lords Overtons Petition and Appeale to the High and mighty States the Knights and Burgesset in Parliament Assembled Englands Legall Soveraignâ— power The last warning to the Inhabitants of London with divers such like 3. The Sectaries have spoken written done much against the House of Peeres the supreme Judicature of this Kingdome that House which gives to the Parliaments of England the denomination of the High Court of Parliament as t is a Court of Record and having power of judiciall triall by oath c. of the greatest subjects of this Kingdome in the greatest matters as life estates liberty whose Tribunall and Power hath ever beene acknowledged and dreaded in this Kingdom in all times by the greatest Peeres and persons of the Land and when questioned by them have given all high respect and humble submission as we see that great Favorite the Earle of Strafford did yet this Supreme Court hath beene by word and deed so used by base unworthy sonnes of the earth as the 〈…〉 st Court in England or p 〈…〉 iest Constable never was till these times and certainly the ages to come who shall read the History of these times and the Books of the Sectaries written this last yeere against the House of Lords will wonder at our times and inquire what exemplary punishment was done upon them The facts of some Sectaries abetted and pleaded for also by other of their fellows have been these 1. Refusing upon the Summons Warrants of the House of Peeres to appeare before them and resisting to the utmost so that the Officers have been necessitated to drag them and bring them by force as Overton who in print is not ashamed to relate it 〈◊〉 When they have beene committed and under custody refusing to be brought by their Keepers to the House of Peeres upon command of the House to answer to their charge as Lilburne did keeping his chamber shut refusing to come forth and resisting to the utmost so that glad to carry him by power to the House of Lords which relation also Lilburne hath printed 3. In refusing to answer any questions put them by the House of Peeres 4. In refusing to kneele at the Barre in token of any submission to the House or to be uncovered 5. In appealing from and protesting against the House of Peeres and any power they have over them both by word of mouth and writing drawn up and thrown into the House 6. In stopping their eares in a contemptuous manner that they would not heare their charge read 7. In reproving sawcie taking up and reproaching the House of Peeres to their faces in the House 8. In Petitioning the House of Commons for justice against the House of Peeres and for reparations of dammages using many reproachfull words of that Right Honourable House even in their Petitions as is to be seene in Overtons John Lilburnes and Elizabeth Lilburnes Petitions 9. Threatning the House of Peeres what they will do against them if they maintaine their power and honour and what the house of Commons will do 10. Stirring up and inciting the common People also to fall upon them to pull them downe and overthrow that House The Speeches and writings of the Sectaries against the House of Peeres within this last sixe moneths or thereabouts ever since the commitment of Learner about The last warning to the inhabitants of London are fearfull and strange many Pamphlets having beene written in that time tending apparently to the totall overthrow of the House of Peeres and of having any Lords in this Kingdome denying them all Legislative and Judiciall Power and giving it all to the House of Commons or rather to that Beast of many heads the common People allowing the Commons only so much as they please and for so long making them their meer deputies and servants at will I shall give the Reader a few passages out of their Books and referre for further satisfaction to the Books themselves A Pamphlet entituled The Just man in Bonds writes thus pag. 1. The power of the House of Lords is like a shallow uneven water more in noyse then substance no naturall issues of Lawes but the extubâ—rances and mushromes of Prerogative the wens of Just Government putting the body of the people into pain as well as occasioning deformity Sons of conquest they are and usurpation not of choyce and election intruded upon us by power not constituted by consent not made by the people from whom all power place and office that is just in this Kingdome ought only to arise A Pamphlet call'd A Pearle in a Dung-hill pag. 3 4. speaks thus And why presume ye thus O ye Lords Set forth your merit before the people and say For this good it is that we will raigne over you Remember your selves or shall we remember ye Which of you before this Parliament minded any thing so much as your pleasures Playes Masques Feastings Gaming 's Dancings c. What good have you done since this Parliament and since the expulsion of the Popish Lords and Bishops where will you begin It was wont to be said when a thing was spoyl'd that the Bishops foot had been in it and if the Lords mend not it will be
said of them and justly too For what other have they been but a meer clog to the House of Commons in all their proceedings How many necessary things have they obstructed How many evill things promoted What devices have they had of Prudentialls and Expedients to delay and pervert what is good and subtle policies to introduce things evill The Pamphlet call'd An Alarum to the House of Lords pag. 4. speaking of the Lords imprisoning Lilburne and removing him from Newgate to the Tower of London saith Whether to murther him privately from the peoples knowledge we cannot tell but we judge little lesse And in pag. 5. speaking of the Lords giving order that none must see Lilburne in the Tower but they must first given in their names the places of their habitation uses these words An act so unreasonable and destructive to us that we cannot but take notice of it and let you know That we cannot neither will we suffer such intolerable affronts at your hands If timely cautions will not availe with you you must expect to be bridled for wee are resolved upon our naturall Rights and Freedomes and to be enslaved to none how Magnificent soever with rotten Titles of Honor. For doe you imagine there is none abroad of his mind who though he were dead and destroyed by you would prosecute those works and discoveries of the Peoples Rights which hee hath begun Yes more then you are aware of that can nay and are resolved to paint forth your Interest to the life if you will not content your selves the sooner with what 's your owne and leave the Commoners to the Commons The Remonstrance of many thousands to their own House of Commons pag. 6 7. speaks thus to them Yee must also deale better with us concerning the Lords then you have done Ye onely are chosen by us the People and therefore in you onely is the power of binding the whole Nation by making altering or abolishing of Lawes Ye have therefore prejudiced us in acting so as if ye could not make a Law without both the Royall assent of the King so ye are pleased to expresse your selves and assent of the Lords What is this but to blind our eyes that we should not know where our power is lodged nor to whom we apply our selves for the use thereof but if we want a Law wee must await till the King and Lords assent yet ye knowing their assent to be meerly formall as having no root in the choyce of the people from whom the power that is just must be derived do frequently importune their assent which implies a most grosse absurdity For where their assent is necessary and essentiall they must be as free as you to assent or dissent as their understanding and consciences shall guide them and might as justly importune you as you them Ye ought in conscience to reduce this case also to a certainty and not to waste time and open your counsels and be liable to so many obstructions as ye have beene But to prevail with them enjoying their Honors and possessions to be liable and stand to be chosen for Knights and Burgesses of the people as other the Gentry and Free-men of this Nation doe which will be an obligation upon them as having one and the lame interest then also they would be distinguished by their vertue and love to the Common-wealth whereas now they Act and Vote in our Affairs but as Intruders or as thrust upon us by Kings to make good their Interests which to this day have beene to bring us into a â—lavish condition to their wills Lilburne in his F 〈…〉 s freedome Vindicated p. 7 8 9. speaks thus I must be forced to dâ—nce atâ—endance contrary to Law to answer a Charge without for 〈…〉 or fashion in Law at the Barre of the House of Peeres who know very well or at least might know that I knew as well as any of themselves their power jurisdiction and Prerogative Fountaine from whence they spring and calls the Lords the meere Creature of the peoples Creature the King and the common people the earthly Lord and Creator of the Lords Creator and saith that in the Honorable House of Commons alone by right resides the formall and legall supreme power of England Overton in his Arrow shot into the Prerogative Bowels of the Arbitrary House of Lords as he calls it showes page 10. how he denied subjection to the Lords affirming that if their Officers had shâ—wn a thousand such Warrants to him as they did he would have accounted them all illegall Antimagisteriall and void in Law as having no power over Commoners which are not their Peeres and thereupon stirs up the people to Arme themselves fortifie their houses to â—eat wound and kill their officers that come to fetch them before the Lords and then turnes his speech to the House of Commons Why therefore should you of the Representative body sit still and suffer these Lords thus to devoure both us and our Lawes Be awakned arise and consider their oppressions and encroachments and stop their Lordships in their ambitious careere for they doe not cease only here but they soare higher and higher and now they are become Arrogators to themselves of the naturall soveraignity the Represented have conveyed and issued to their proper Representors even challenge to themselves the title of the supremest Court of judicature in this Land and in page 11 12. Overton saith further Therefore the Soveraigne power extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors al this kind of soveraignity 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 obliged Thus seeing the 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 hee can communicate no more then hee hath himself so that his meere Prerogative creatures cannot have that which their Lord and Creator never had hath or can have namely the Legislative power Indeed all other Courts might as well challenge that Prerogative of Soveraignity yea better then this Court of Lords But and if any Court or Courts in this Kingdome should arrogate to themselves that dignity to be the Supreme Court of Judicatory of the Land it would be judged no lesse then high treason to wit for an inferior subordinate power to advance and exalt it selfe above the power of the Parliament The same Overton in a Pamphlet entituled A Defiance against all Arbitrary usurpations either of the House of Lords or any other page 5. saith And though I be in their Prerogative clutches and by them unjustly cast into the prison of Newgate for standing for my owne and my Countries rights and freedomes I care not who lets them know that I acknowledge nonâ— other to be the Supreme Court of Judicature of this Land but the House of
to hasten releife for Ireland and to passe what was sent up by the House of Commons in reference to Ireland and Oh how were those Lords branded that were thought any way to delay or obstruct succours for bleeding Ireland and yet many of those men who heretofore when helpe could not so speedily nor effectually be had clamored so against the Lords in a time when all Armies in the Feild have beene subâ—lued and hardly a Garrison untaken and great powerfull Armies with all provisions and necessaries for warre have beene ready though Ireland hath beene ready to be lost and in a most desperate condition have beene the great meanes of retarding releife hindring many thousands ready in a body from going speaking against the the Presbyterians for being so forward to send a great part of Army and giving out there was a plot to send away the Army and such like and indeed in this businesse of Ireland Scotland the King their labouring to keepe all things unsetled in Church and State the great wickednesse of the Sectaries plainly appeares I here remember what I heard a worthy and knowing Member of the House of Commons say upon occasion of discourse of the Sectaries How could any man think these Sectaries had any conscience when as to maintaine a party and faction they fomented and nourished jealousies and differences betweene the Kingdomes hazarded the losse of Ireland by hindring releife kept both Church and State from being settled and the great burthens of the Kingdome in takes and Armies from being taken off these men to keepe up their party caring not to let Ireland be lost the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland to be hazarded by a deadly war Gods honour and truth to suâ—â—er and all things to lie wast as they doe 5. Their damnable hypocrisie and abominable dissimulation and I am perswaded there never was a more hypocriticall false dissembling cunning generation in England then many of the Grandees of our Sectaries Now their grosse hypocrifie plainly manifests it selfe in these particulars 1. they have covered all their practises and designes under the pretences of godlinesse honesty saintship purity of Ordinances tendernesse of Conscience a perfect thorough Reformation new glorious truths giving to themselves and their party the name of Saints Saints the godly party tender Consciences and under that covert they destory all godlinesse good Conscience truth are enemies to holy duties strict observing the Lords day humiliation c. encourage protect and cry up for Saints Saints sonnes of Beliall and the vildest of men they have pretended and talked of Reformation but are all for a Toleration and a liberty for all their party to beleeve and live as they lust they have talked of purity of Ordinances and spoke against mixed Communion as one of their grand grounds of separating from us and yet they have spoken and done all they could to keep mixt Communion among us and to hinder a more exact and full purity they talke of tender Consciences and Conscience when as they have Consciences can swallow and digest any thing Ostrich stomacks can lie grossely deceive and cozen prophane the Lords day make nothing of holy duties lay traps and snares to catch men c. they speak of new truths and new light but under those notions bring in all abominable Errors and Heresies into the Church of God pretend the spreading of the Gospel and preaching but in truth the spreading and increasing of all Heresies and Schisme Secondly they have pretended held out selfe-deniall have commended the selfe-denying Ordinance spoken much against mens inriching themselves seeking great places in these times spoken of doing all for the publick and that the Common-wealth might not suffer and yet these men pretending thus by such pretences have got into great offices and places procured great gifts as other mens estates great summes of mony great Arrears with the first and with the highest make use of their times in their places as much as ever any men did both for themselves and their kindred sonnes brothers cosens freinds and many of them before being beggars and meane men are now fat shining and growne great There is hardly a noted Sectary in the Kingdome or lately come out of New-England Holland c. who is in any kind capable of an office place gift or respect but he is in some one or other and hath beene the better for these times 3. The Sectaries have pretended the liberty of the Subject the publick liberties of the Kingdome this they have much held out and this they have fought for they say and not Religon and this is much spoken of in all their Pamphlets and Speeches whereas Sectaries have for the advancing of their owne way and opinions done the highest acts against the liberties of the people that ever were and indeed make nothing of trampling upon the subjects liberties and making them slaves being men that where they are in place and have power carry things arbiâ—rarily making their wills lawes making nothing of going against Charters liberties of the peoples elections c. There are many sad stories in this kind too large to be now related What enemies many of the Sectaries have beene to the peoples petitioning the Parliament to make knowne their greivances what obstructions and blocks they have laid in their way in that kind by printing of and wriring against their Petitions before delivered by branding the Petitioners for then ill-affected refined Malignants driving on the Kings designe and I know not what by preaching against their Petitions by endeavouring to get Votes and Orders against Petitions by labouring to molest the Petitioners to have them sent for to attend Committees to be put to charges kept in safe custody c. is wel known to the Kingdom and sure that 's a great part of the liberty and priviledge of the subject and if they may not be free to Petition what 's become of the liberty of the subject Such Princes in all ages as have been looked upon most for advancing their Prerogative oppressing the people and been a gainst al defensive Arms and other wayes of the peoples seeking their right yet still granted them the liberty of petitioning and would not prejudge that they have allowed preces lachrymae to be the weapons of Christian subjects though not Swords and Guns Whether many Sectaries are not very forward to keep on foot all burdens and greivances of the Kingdomes all payments in their heights great Armies Committees complained of c. I leave to â—hose who know-affairs to determine and if these things be for the liberty of the subject then are the Sectaries for the subjects liberty It will bee found that the Sectaries though they have pretended liberty yet if they should come to have the upper hand they would make the people of England the greatest slaves that ever they were in any time and indeed rule them by an Army and force instead of Lawes
or any of the money Upon this he went to a Counsellor at Law one Mr. W. related his case desiring his councell in it He advised him to make no words of it say nothing but at the Sessions endite him and get a Warrant of a Suddain before he could take councell to fetch him away and it may be being so surprised he would pay him the money rather then stand it out to answer it at the Sessions The Citizen followed his advise when the Sessions came had a bill drawn against him the Atturney who had seen the Bond witnessed there was such a speciall tye the Bill was found and a Warrant sent out for to attach him the Officer serving it and threatning presently to carry him away thereupon this Sectary confessed his evill he entreated his mercy that he would not shame him publikely it should be a warning to him for ever after and so he paying the money the man prosecuted him no further A Relation of some remarkeable Passages of divers Sectaries and of the Contents of severall Letters written up here to London from good hands concâ—rning them THere is one Mr. Knollys an Anabaptist spoken of in my first part of Gangraena and in this third part page 48. 49. a Letter of his is printed this man preaches up and down in severall Churches in London and Southwarkâ— and that with all fiercenesse against Childrens Baptisme and against our Ministers as being Antichristian and having no call to baptize and among other places where he hath preached lately he preached this Novemb. the 15. at Georges Church in Butolph-lane in the afternoone on these words He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved where after he had spoken of beleeving in the latter part of his Sermon comming to speak of baptizing he used these words I have spoken to you of the first part of the Gospell believing I must be faithfull and speak to you of the second viz. baptizing and of that there is as great a necessity as believing and therefore I advise and charge all you who believe to be baptized and whereas it may be you will object you are baptized already I answer that is a lye indeed you were rantized but not baptized and that too was into the name of your God-fathers which was blasphemy and not into the name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost besides they who did it had nothing to do with Baptisme as being no Ministers but Antichristian and whereas heretofore these Ministers of the Church of England rantized into the name of their Godfathers now to mend the matter they do it into the name of their Fathers There is one Mr. Symonds a great Sectarie Mr. Cradocks Colleague who came to London since the wars and preached at little Alhallowes Thames-street and at the Tower where I have been informed from godly understanding men as well Ministers as others that he hath preached severall strange things as for a Toleration and liberty for all men to worship God according to their consciences and in favour of Antipaedobaptisme and so preaching once at Andrewes Vndershafâ— for Mr. Goodwin he preached high strains of Antinomianisme as that Christ was a legall Preacher and liv'd in a dark time and so preached the Law but afterwards the Gospel came to be preached and preaching at Laurence Pountneys summer was twelvemoneth on the day of thanksgiving for taking of Sherborn Castle he spake of the great Victories the Saints had obtained for us viz. the Independents and yet now the Parliament was making Lawes against these Saints with other things to that purpose and as at London he hath preached thus so since he left London this last Summer he preached at Bath before the Generall strange stuffe as I have been told from understanding men who heard him viz. against Presbytery saying it was a limb of Antichrist pleading for liberty of conscience and for those who would not have their children baptized till they came to years of understanding and for Weavers and ignorant mechanicks preaching and speaking of these mens guifts and having the spirit before learned men and men bred at Universities with a great deale of this stuffe insomuch that Mr. Bodeâ— Minister of the Bath as I was informed confuted his Sermon the next Lords day and spake against it insomuch that â—ome of the Independent Souldiers as C. B. c. â—lung out of the Church in the midst of the Sermon and would not heare him out and truly 't is a sad thing that Sir Thomas Fairfax that valiant and well-affected Gentleman should have such kind of Chaplains and Preachers upon all occasions to preach before him as Mr. Dell Mr. Saltmarsh Mr. Peters Mr. Cradock M. Symonds M. William Sedgwick and such like and I have spoken the more of this Mr. Symonds because I hear he is nominated for one of the Itinerary Preachers of VVales that so the Country and Ministers may be ware of him where he comes and that the Assembly when he comes to be approved of may doe their duties and not let him passe so easily as they did Mr. Cradock There is Mr. Burton of London a great Independent who hath these five last years written many wild and weak Pamphlets beginning with his Prâ—testation Protested and ending with his Conformities Deformitie in which Pamphlets the poore man hath laid down many grounds of Donatisme and pure Brownisme yea of Libertinisme and of a generall Toleration of all Religions and hath laid about him striking all who have come neere him without feare or wit whether whole Assemblies and Societies or particular persons he hath cast durt in the face of the Church of Scotland and their generall Assembly our Assembly this famous City of London and the Honourable Court of Common Councell the Ministers of Sion Colledge particular Ministers M. Calamie my selfe and others nay he hath not spared his Brother Prynne his Brother Bastwick his good old friend M. Vicars and in all these five years among all the Books he hath put forth notwithstanding all the damnable Hereticks and Blasphemers among us hath not had the heart to speak one word for God against them which gives too just ground for the world to thinke M. Burtons former oppositions of Arminianisme Popery c. was not out of zeale for God and his truth and hatred of those errours but out of discontent and spleen against the Bishops who had crossed him in his hopes of preferment For if it had been out of zeale against the errours and not out of anger against the men how could he thus patiently beare all the injuries and dishonours of Christ and his truth done by other men even a hundred times worse then before Did Mr. Burton know what some of his wisest Brethren have said and do say of his Books he would give over writing as that his writings are weake and do more hurt then good would to God he would give over his writing Shall I tell M. Burton what Mr. Nye
to speak with me but must send others I am easily enough to be spoken with refusing none as all know who come to me besides how did Master Burroughs know any such had been with me to make me such offers and that I refused and what if some reported to him that which was false might not he be easier abused by a report for he speaks not this of his own knowledge he never came to me nor was the man ever desired to confer with me about any of these particulars then I can be mistaken in this businesse to whom these offers of conferences and satisfactions should have been made 3. For that Master Burroughs page 18. taxes me with concerning what I related about his going out of the Kingdom in my Antapologie that had I been willing to have conferred with him about it as he desired before I printed he should have so fully satisfied me that I could never have stumbled at this I Answer I never was unwilling to confer with Mastet Burroughs about this or any other thing that he should have desired and I can say it truely if he had sent the least boy at any time to me to have desired a conference with me and appointed me where to meet him I should have waited on him but for what is here written I neither know nor remember any such thing that Master Burroughs either by writing or word of mouth ever desired to have spoken with me about his going out of the Kingdom and certainly at that time when I was writing my Antapologie there was no such great distance between Master Burroughs and me but that he might either have come to me or spoke to me of it when he met me occasionally or I should have come to him none of which ever were moved to me and I cannot but wonder at Master Burroughs writing of this and divers other passages 2 As for that hee said hee should have satisfied me upon conference that he went out of the Kingdom not upon the ground I alledge but upon another a call from the Church of Roterdam which he relates page 19 20 21 22. I must confesse I am unsatisfied in it now and so I beleive are all rationall men and let the Reader but aske Master Marshall and Master Calamie who knew the businesse well and Master Burroughs at that time whether they do not beleive he went over to Roterdam upon a complaint made of some words spoken about the Scottish Warre and if I should have given the Reader all that I have drawn up by way of Answer to this it would abundantly clear me and lay open Master Burroughs weaknesse very much but I shall only hint this Suppose the King had in this War prevailed over the Parliament and taken the City and just upon that time Master Peters and Master Wels had gotten away in all haste to New England and suppose after this some man writing of Master Wels and Master Peters departure from England should have expressed this as the ground the danger they were in upon the Kings taking London now if Master Peters and Master Wels should by way of Answer have denied this to be any cause and have alledged their solemne call to their Churches in New England being sâ—nt for again and again and their purposes of going expressed yea and that in the Pulpit before ever the King was in a way of taking London would not all men laugh at such an Answer For is not the contrary evident by the experience of their staying in England now they may stay safely notwithstanding all their call and being sent for they stirre not and just so it was with Master Burroughs and I am confident that had it not been for the danger of those words he would no more have gone to Roterdam then Master Peters and Master Wels go to New England and as himselfe tels the story his putting of giving his resolution of going defering from time to time and from place to place to make any conclusion â—ill the businesse of words grew to a height declares plainly as much besides Master Burroughs at that time was not of the Independent judgement as appears by his Book put out in the yeare 38. writing By Jeremiah Burroughs Minister of the Gospel which was not long before his going over whereas all his Books he hath put forth since he went to Roterdam are By Jeremiah Burroughs without Minister of the Gospel which to them who know the Controversie is a clear proofe he was in the yeare 38. no Independent though afterwards in the writing his other Books he was and therefore declined that Title Minister of the Gospel And whereas in the body of this Third Part in two or three severall places I take occasion to relate some things of Master Burroughs which may by some be ill taken because he cannot answer for himselfe and may be interpreted a speaking evill of the dead I desire to let the Reader know they were both written and printed off long before Master Burroughs sicknesse and death and indeed no understanding man will once imagine a Booke of above Forty sheets could be made written out and printed in a month especially by one who Preaches often and hath many irons in the fiâ—e at the same time and to put it out of all question besides my own testimony the Book-seller and Printer can testifie this Third Part hath been above this quarter of a yeare in the Presse a printing Aâ— for that Pamphlet written against my Second Part Entituled Gangraena playes Rex I Answer breifly Gangraena playes the Parliament that is conforms to what the Parliament hath expressed in the foure or five first yeares of their sitting against the Sectaries and I do offer to make good what I have written in Gangraena against the Sects out of the Declarations Remonstrances Ordinances Covenant Messages and Transactions of the Parliament with Scotland and their Instructions to the Assembly upon divers occasions and could make a better Parallel between the passages in Gangraena and the passages in Declarations Remonstances c. against the Sectaries then the Author of that Pamphlet hath done and am likely to do it though a Postscript is not the proper place for it only I say this would to God there had not beene some men among us and that in place too to have so carried things and brought matters to that passe as to give too great occasion unto many to say The King was a true Prophet in what he spoke in his Declarations concerning Anabaptists Brownists and Sectaries As for that Pamphlet cald Lanceters Lance for Edwards Gangraena I have lately received from two godly Ministers in Suffolk a large relation by way of justification and proofe of what in my Second Part of Gangraena was written of Lanceter as also some other passages related in those papers concerning Lanceter one Chidly and Barrowe but they containing a whole sheet of paper are too much to