truth or as it is in Jesus And this was all the knowledge and experience that I had while under that dispensation of grace or the Son of God manifesting yet the same that they had where I then saw the work but a doing not done salvation but a coming and not come and so saw not any thing then made perfect Then after two years were expired of my beholding this their order in London seeing all the ways and opinions of men with all their feigned righteousness for to be but destruction and confusion I prophesied of their downfall which would shortly after come to pass and which I have since in part seen to be fulfilled for I saw that they were not built upon the true foundation Christ as the rock which would stand 1 Cor. 3.11 and was laid by God but upon the foundation and buildings of men Matth. 7.26 27. laid by men on the sands as that which would shake and fall and would not endure the fire even God when he appeared but would with all their Elements melt before him as dross 2 Pet. 3.10 and with all their fair heavens be burnt up before him as stubble and vanish away before him as smoak and as chaff before the wind Wherefore I seeing them to be thus fitted for destruction and prepared for the slaughter I passed them all by that I might not in my profession be destroyed with them and would not go in or be tyed in covenant to any of them being none of them according to the institution of Christ and they being thus weighed in the ballance of the Righteousness of Christ by Christ and there found too light they vanished away and so ceased as to me And after this legal dispensation of the knowledge of Christ in the flesh and the performing duties after the flesh by me was ended with me John 16.25 and Christ appearing in power and glory to me shewing me plainly of the Father I then saw according to that appearance of God to me in the Father what and where God Christ and the Devil was and is also heaven and hell salvation and damnation what and where that was and is I having had the experience of it all within me and so I saw as to my self a death of the one part as of the Devil hell and damnation with all things at the left hand of God and a living of the other part as of God Christ Heaven and Salvation with all things at the right hand of God which was my dying to the one part as to that on the left hand and my living to the other part as to that on the right hand and which was to me the day of the Lord and a restauration of all things to God where and at which time I saw one dispensation perfected in another or grace perfected in glory the Son perfected in the Father or all things made perfect in God the Kingdom of the Son delivered up to the Father 1 Cor. 15.21 and where I saw all my own works which ever I had done under any dispensation before that of Christ in the Spirit to be burnt up and made void to me with all my prayers which I made books which I had read sermons which I had heard besides and below Christ all now appeared to be of no worth unto me Phil. 2.9 3 9. as to do me any good for I had found one Jesus that was ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things and that had a name above every name that was named of things in heaven and of things on earth in whom I was now found without having my own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ who was now become my worth my life my light and my all who had filled me with himself and whom I saw to be all to me and to do all for me and to have given an end to all things besides himself in me which made me now throw away all my books of Presbyterians Independants Anabaptists Acts 19.18 19. and whatsoever else as the believing Jews and Grecians had done before and to forget all things therein and not to know any thing any where or in any thing either without or within me but Jesus Christ and him crucified and so to know my self in him to have made my progress to him in the Fathers Kingdom the end of my journey where I shall no more be travelling but be at rest with the Son in the bosom of the Father Which is the race that all men are to run the way that all men are to go and the work that all men are to do even to deny themselves Luke 9.23 24. and all things of themselves and to follow Christ till they come to Christ if ever they mean to be perfect with Christ for If thou wilt be perfect Mat. 19.21 go and sell all that thou hast CHAP. III. The Authors Call and Commission to preach what and from whence it was the Parish Priests Call and Commission to preach what and from whence that was WHen God in Christ did manifest himself to me for my conversion the redemption of my body and the salvation of my soul to the perfecting of the body of Christ in and to me as that I knew it and was assured of it in my self what and when it vvas I then savv it all to be in him the same to all men as to me though not manifest unto them and according to vvhat I had received of the Lord. I vvas commanded by the Lord in me to publish and declare to all sorts of men vvithout respect of persons or opinions vvith this Commission follovving First that vvhatsoever I did speak or vvrite it vvas to be my ovvn experience in the Lord of God manifest in flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles 1 Tim. 3.16 believed on in the World received up into glory Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever And that I was not to speak or write any thing that should tend to the continuing John 6.27 advancing or setting up of any thing that should perish or come to an end and be in opposition to the Lord â—esus as the setting up of any thing besides him was but that it should always tend to the advancement of his Kingdom as of love joy peace and righteousness among men through Christ and to the throwing down of Antichrist and his Kingdom with all deceiveableness and unrighteousness of men and what I did I was to do it freely and in love and not be chargeable or burthensome to any Rom. 14.17 to hinder any from coming into the Kingdom of the Lord which was a free Kingdom nor to give any liberty to Antichrists Kingdom which was a Kingdom of gain hire and self interest and which consists of buying and selling the word of God and for which work
stood and measured the earth he beheld and drove asunder the Nations and the everlasting mountains were scattered the perpetual hills did bow that is the mountains of fear sin death the Devil and mens pretended holiness heaven and happiness which is filthiness when out of its place Psalm 64.6 this shall all be scattered and melt before the Lord as mountains standing between the Lord and us and as so many false gods in the way of the true God which hath been said to last for ever yet these shall pass away and be removed out of their places into no place but fly away from the face of him that sits upon the throne whose name is called Faithful and true and that reigns himself for ever and ever world without end And thus one life ends in another life the life of the old man in the life of the new man or we changed from life to life from glory to glory from one everlasting to another til we can change no more Rev 20.11 which shews that there are more changes then one and more everlastings then one as to men and so more lives then one which men are said to live and be changed from till they are changed from all things into God which is their last change A word of Conclusion to the Iudge AND now lastly I cannot but add a few words more and therein affirm both before God and men that ever since I knew any thing of God my whole design both in writing speaking and walking according to the utmost of my power received of God hath ever been and I hope ever shall be still to set forth the glory of God the advancement of Christs Kingdom peace and righteousness among men and the throwing down of Antichrist the Devil and his Kingdom with all deceivableness and unrighteousness of men and whatsoever else is and hath been contrary to the publike peace of this Nation under which we should be protected and no longer do I desire or shall endeavour to write or speak a word then that it should not tend to this even the advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ without partiality or aiming at any private or self-interest of my own or anâ— others distinct but for the publike good of all men whom I desire and do still endeavour in love to serve being made willing to spend and be spent for them notwithstanding the many reproaches revilings and persecutions I meet withal yet still that I would continue a faithful servant to the truth in all things by which I am made free to serve in love and for which I am not only ready to be bound but to suffer All which particulars according to your Lordships desire I do most humbly present you with before this honourable Court and so leave them to your consideration to do as the Lord of heaven and earth shall direct you who works all things according to the counsel of his own will and will glorifie himself in all things that himself doth And now what shall I say more why let the Lords will be done whether in life or death in freedom or imprisonment according to his own will and pleasure be it into whose blessed arms of mercy love joy and peace I do freely give up my self and shall for ever lodge in his bosom of life and salvation there to rest and abide for ever While I was making my answer my accusers with many others of their consorts did all the time of my pleading interrupt me urging many things to me to insnare me and to incense the Judge and Jury against me till the Judge reproved them for it who after he had heard my answer and understanding it knowing it also not to come within the compass of any late Act of Parliament and withal perceiving the malice of my enemies did as the Lord had directed him who before the petty Jury went forth to consult upon their verdict who understood it not themselves neither what they had to do in such a business being all ignorant men both of the Law and of such things acquainted them with the truth of the business that so Justice and Equity might take place whose directions were according to what follows Judge You of the Jury you have heard the evidence and you have heard the answer of his defence which if what he hath said to us be his meaning it is very good and what I believe my self to be truth and we are to take his sense and meaning upon the words and not anothers the words being his own but should we take the very express words of the Indictment without a qualification of them yet it comes not under the Law or Act of Parliament according to the rule of which Act we are to go as for the first thing that he should say Christ dyed for his own sins it comes not neer it though indeed the second concerning heaven and hell comes something neer it yet not so neer as to be found within the compass of it for the Act saith if a man avow and affirm that there is no heaven and hell but that he doth not and this also was by way of dispute or conference after Sermon as you see the witnesses to the Bill do confess and what is said in dispute cannot be said to be avowed and affirmed for it may fall in by way of an Argument c. And as to the last words that everlasting life should end in this life there is nothing mentioned in the Act against it therefore we are not to meddle with it and you are not to bring him in guilty for any thing he is here indicted it being not within the compass of the Act. And thus with other words to that purpose did the Judge speak to the Jury before they gave in their verdict which none that heard it but thought it had been sufficient to have satisfied any honest Jury in the world had they been but rational men yet it satisfied not these for they malitiously brought me in guilty who were prompt to it by my accusers and others that followed them forth of the Court contradicting the words of the Judge saying that they were not to take notice of what the Judge had said neither of my answer but the Bill Being asked the reason why they brought me in guilty they said they could do no less they were so followed by the Priests from place to place and importuned to it that they could be at no quiet for them unless they did it A wise Jury to be sworn and then swayed by other men but this they did to do the Priests a pleasure against me as Festus did to do the Jews a pleasure against Paul Acts 25.9 Then the Judge examined them what crime they found me guilty of they answered they could not tell what but according to the evidence then said the Iudge doth the thing evidenced come within the compass of the Act who again caused
God Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell meaning the grave nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption Psal 16.10 and what this hell and grave is he also calls it the lowest pit or darkness in the deep in which he was shut up and could not come forth the wrath of God lying so hard upon him Psalm 88. or the Lord hiding his face from him and Jonah agrees with the same who when he was in the fishes belly said That he was in hell For out of the belly of hell said he cryed I unto thee and thou heardst my voyce Ionah 2. for when thou hadst cast me into the deep or depth of darkness into the midst of the sea or under many troubles and afflictions and the floods compassed me about all thy billows and thy waves passed over me then I said I am cast out of thy sight or saw thee in wrath yet I will look again toward thy holy Temple where I shall behold thee in love when thou shalt raise me up Amos 9.2 And in Amos the Lord saith Though they dig into hell thence shall my hand take them and your covenant with death and hell shall be dâ—sanulled saith the Lord But it is most sure that there is a hell for the wicked as there is a heaven for the godly and all that are in Christ Jesus And for this let us consider of one Scripture more in Matth. 25. where heaven is said to be at the right hand of God and hell at the left hand compared with Psal 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore meaning in heaven with God and how those on the right hand and that have increased their talents enter into the joy of the Lord as into heaven where they are at rest for ever when those on the left hand and that have not increased their talents go into utter darkness as into hell where is weeping and gnashing of teeth pining and mourning for sin and where they are at no rest And thus there is a heaven wherein eternal life is enjoyed by Christ and all his and there is a hell wherein everlasting punishment is inflicted upon the Devil and all his But let us use the Scripture expression for it if we shall declare it which is according to the mind of God Thirdly That everlasting life should end in this life Answ My Lord for answer to this I do affirm That I never then and so said the words and I do also affirm That everlasting life with Christ in God shall never have an end and that believers or the righteous in Christ go to it as to God enjoy it as God and still remain in it as in God with Christ Colos 3.4 John 3.36 yea after they have been dead according to the Scriptures as the wicked go to hell and damnation and as some who believe not are already in it And thus life everlasting with Christ in God shall never have an end Object But for a further clearing of this some may yet say Is there not a life which shall have an end and yet said to be everlasting Answ I answer That there is a life according to manifestation spoken of in Scripture which seems to have an end or be made perfect in another life and yet said to be everlasting as the life of works and of nature ends and is made perfect in the life of grace the life of grace ends and is made perfect in the life of glory the lesser still swallowed up of the greater the lower of the higher the darker of the lighter the weaker of the stronger to be made perfect and so at last all things end and are made perfect in God Object But how is that which ends said to be everlasting Answ For further answer to this it may also be said That if the first Covenant and Priesthood under the Law with the conditions thereof Gen. 17. Exo. 40.13 14 15 was said to be everlasting as that it was and is during the time of that administration unto us then the life which we lived in obedience to that Covenant while under it which was a life of works of fear and of bondage was as everlasting as that but when that first Covenant and Priesthood with the conditions thereof according to that administration which was said to be everlasting or was made perfect in a second a new and more heavenly then the life which we lived while under the first did end also with the first and so with the same made perfect in a second a new and more heavenly life as in life of grace and freedom faith and love under the second Covenant changed and brought in confirmed and sealed by the blood of the Lord Jesus whose life we then live and are justified by for where there is a change of a Covenant Law Statute Ordinances Conditions Administrations or Dispensations there is a change of a life also to the creature even that life which we are then bound by that Law in our consciences to live which is a change from a Covenant of works to a Covenant of free grace Rom. 2.28 29. or from the circumcising of the foreskin of the flesh in the letter to that of the heart and in the spirit which Covenant it is that God hath made with us according to the Scripture and which we are to live Heb. 8. For after these daies saith he a new Covenant will I make c. therefore a new life will he give And that the word Everlasting and For ever hath an end with us I shall yet prove from several Scriptures for in some Scriptures it is said The earth shall endure for ever as Eccles 1. in others it is said The earth shall be dissolved and burnt up now that earth which shall have no end must be that which had no beginning for whatsoever hath a beginning hath also an end and what that earth is which hath neither beginning nor end the Preacher in Ecclesiastes will tell you But there is a earth which shall have an end and that is the earth which the Devil feeds upon Gen. 3.14 and inhabits in to wit flesh sin and corruption the old man in us that is of the earth earthy together with all carnal wisdom 1 Cor. 15.47 self-righteousness flesh form and formality as that which is not spirit and truth and that cannot endure the fire even God when he appeareth in righteousness why this shall be burnt up Heb. 12.29 consumed and scattered before the Lord as dust before the wind though it is said to be for ever and everlasting as in Habackkuk 3.6 Yet when the Lord shall so come in his glorious brightness as is there spoken of then shall all things of man and that is earthy be scattered bow and melt before him as is written Before him went the pestilence and burning coals went forth at his feet he
Lord Chief Barron Wilde sate Judge of that Assize before whom I was then called and there made my appearance then the Petty-Jury and the witnesses to the Bill being called the Bill of Indictment was read in the Court the particulars whereof are as follows The Charge in the Indictment FIrst that I should say That they were evil Angels meaning the Ministers who preach the Gospel of Christ that told people of damnation and that such ought not to be heard or believed Secondly That all men whatsoever should be saved Thirdly That those that heard me were all in heaven and in glory Fourthly That God was as much in them as in Christ Fifthly That the Day of Judgement was begun 160 years ago Sixthly That there was no general Day of Judgement Seventhly That there was no heaven but in man Fighthly That he that thought there was abell to him there was a hell but he that thought there was no hell to him there was no bell And after the Indictment was read my accusers and the witnesses to the Bill were sworn whose names are as followeth Ralph Nevil of Emload and Giles Collier of Blockly accusers William Petty William Fletcher and John Froobury of Emload witnesses Maâ— 26.60 three in number which was one more then Christ had but never a couple of them swore one thing but differed from each other in their Evidence and who could hardly pronounce their words plain but what they did swear they had also in writing what the pleasure of my accusers was to give them and who were ready as appeared to swear any thing to accomplish their own ends two of them being sons to one that rented the Glebe-land of Nevil one of the accusers for whom they swore and the other the Clerks son of the same Town But this being done I was called to my answer and began with these Propositions as follows My Lord I desire your Lordship that you will be pleased to grant me these few particulars First That my accusers being not men of the same discovery of God that I am may therefore make it appear before this honourable Court that they have taken the Ingagement else they are not to have the benefit of the Law Secondly That no man whatsoever may be suffered to speak any thing against me till they are sworn before this Honorable Court and my face Thirdly That those witnesses which are here ready to testifie in my behalf may be also heard and these Certificates which are here brought after me by several men with several mens names to them may be also read Fourthly That I may have time and liberty given me to answer fully to every particular that may at this time be laid to my charge and having a fair tryal I shall be thankful to your Lordship all which particulars being granted the Court proceeded But before I came to answer their Indictment my accusers presented to the Judge a book with my name to it entituled Mans Righteousness Examined which book the Judge asked me if I would own I answered that unless I heard it read I knew not that it was mine Then said he Here is your name to it I answered again that another might write a book and put my name to it or others of my name might write a book with that title but if your Lordship will be pleased to cause the book to be read that I may hear it I will tell you whether it be mine or no who then read part of it himself where he thought fit and where my accusers directed him All which I answered and owned to be mine as it was read Then said the Judge This book makes more for him then against him for you accuse him for denying heaven and hell when he acknowledges both in his book which book the Judge put in his pocket and so came to the Indictment to which my answer was more large then you will have it here The first particular charged in the Indictment and the answer to it was First that I should say That they were all evil Angels meaning the Ministers who preach the Gospel of Christ said they that told the people of damnation and that such ought not to be heard or believed Answ My Lord there are two administrations in manifestation one of the Law and another of the Gospel First that of the Law is a ministration of wrath death the curse hell and condemnation 2 Cor. 3. because under it sin appears to men unpardoned Secondly that of the Gospel is a ministration of love joy peace life light heaven and salvation for under that sin appeared to men pardoned And those who from Christ preach the Gospel of Christ as Paul did bring tidings of good things when they preach the love of God in Christ to all people that they appear to be good messengers and so good Angels sent of God and such ought to be heard and believed as it is written Rom. 10.15 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things but though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached Gal. 1.1 4.14 let him be accursed saith Paul And you saith he to the Galathians received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus when I preached unto you the Gospel of Christ freely when the other who preach up sin unpardoned to any people after the coming of Christ whose coming is to fulfil all righteousness and overcome all sin for all people are not Ministers of the Gospel but of the Law and so bring not tidings of good things but of evil things wherefore they appear to be evil messengers and so evil angels reserved under chains of darkness so long and such men and doctrines ought not to be heard or believed who believe not themselves John 14 1 6 45. Acts 7.37 But hear and believe in me saith Christ for you shall be all taught of me and Him shall you hear in all things saith Moses And so much of the answer to the first Article to prove them evil angels even as devils who preach up sin unpardoned and hold forth damnation belonging to any people any longer then while they believe not and therefore I affirm that such ought not to be heard or believed who themselves believe not this to be true Secondly That all men whatsoever should be saved Answ 2 Sam 14.14 God hath declared in Scripture both by the mouth of the Prophets and Apostles the salvation of all men without respect of persons who saith He will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6 7. and There is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time And doth God will and desire the salvation of all men Then may we say Lord
was called The Word of God Rev. 19 11 12 13. and not that the Scriptures were so called And let not us rob God of that honour and title due unto himself to give to the Scripture but what the Scripture saith both of God and it self that let us say also The Scripture also saith 1 Cor. 3.6 Iohn 14.19 Rom 10.8 that the Letter kills but the Spirit gives life which spirit is the Word and the Word is Christ I am come that you may have life saith Christ and because I live ye shall live also And this Word even Christ is nigh us in us yea round about us still teaching of us and giving life unto us which is the work of Christ and not the Scripture But this I will say of the Scripture which is what the Scripture saith of it self that it is an outward testimony of God his mind Christ the Word Faith and Eternal Life Heaven and Salvation to those that do believe but not that it self is either of all these or can give unto us the knowledge of it and that we might know the insufficiency of it Ioh. 9.39.40 Christ in it bids us search the Scriptures for saith he in them you think to have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye may have life Yet this Scripture as it is given by inspiration so it is profitable for doctrine 2 Tim. 3.16 17. for reproof for correction and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all good works and not as it lies in the letter but as it is inspired revealed or made manifest in our hearts and minds by the Holy Ghost for saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people Ier. 31.33 34. and cause them to walk in my statutes of loving one another And the Word of God being once written in our hearts it is then profitable for us to teach reprove correct and instruct us make us perfect in the inward man furnish us fit and qualifie us with gifts and graces unto all good works and no otherwise can it do it for us but as it is within us And this is the honour and praise that I will give to the Word of God and to the Scripture to sum it all up in God in whom I desire to know to live to act and enjoy all things of God and I desire not to speak think act or maintain any thing that I have not the letter for as well as the Spirit the truth and mystery of which letter no man knows till he hath it revealed to him by the Spirit and Internal Word that declares the Father plainly which so far as it speaks in me Mat. 11.27 and declares the mind of God to me I shall not be silent And now my Lord I give you many thanks that you have so patiently heard me and given me liberty to speak for my self Yet before I depart I shall desire to present one Scripture more which I shall but onely read and so leave it to the consideration of this honourable Court Said the Judge I thought you had done Answ If your Lordship desire it I have Said the Judge Nay but we will hear your Scripture Answ It is in the sixth of the Acts from the 8. verse to the end And Steven full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people then there arose certain of the Synagogue which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines Cyreneans Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and of Asia disputing with Steven and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake then they suborned men which said we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God and they stirred up the people and the Elders and the Scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the Councel and set up false witnesses Acts 6.12 which said This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the Customs which Moses delivered us and all that sate in the Counsel looked stedfastly on him saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel And now I shall take my leave according as the Apostles in times past have done who when they had suffered for the name of Christ they departed from the presence of the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name so shall I at this time and as daily in the temple and in every house Acts 5.41 42. they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ so shall not I my Lord cease to do the same so far as God shall enable me and so I take my leave of your Lordship And paying the fees of the Court I was discharged for that time CHAP. IX The Authors second appearing at Worcester before Judge Nicholes and the proceedings thereof also his being bound from thence to Oxford how and for what ANd I standing bound until the next Assizes at Worcester which was then six moneths to come my accusers Ralph Nevil and Giles Collier in the mean time imployed men on purpose to follow me from place to place where they heard I preached or came to enquire into my Doctrine Life and Conversation with endeavours to get something more against me to accuse me at the next Assizes following as my self and several persons well knew And they hearing of some difference in dispute that was between some Ministers and my self at Enstone in Oxfordshire where I had before been and preached they came to an Inn in Enston and sent for the Ministers that differed with me of whom they got a certificate of some particulars which they said I there delivered and which they counted blasphemy And when I appeared at Worcester next Assizes before Judge Nicholes my accusers gave to the Judge their certificate which was as follows First That I should say Christ ayed for his own sins as well as the Peoples Secondly That there was no heaven and hell but what was in man Thirdly That everlasting life should end in this life But no witness sworn to it And my accusers having no witness there they with many fair speeches used to the Judge desired him to bind me to appear at the next General Assizes holden at Oxford to answer to what was in this their certificate and what more they in the mean time could find against me For said they to the Judge that being his own Countrey we shall there by that time get something more against him And the Judge willing to do my accusers a pleasure against me as Festus did the Jews against Paul when he left him bound
So Judge Nicholes without any oath made by any man against me demanded of me bail for my appearance at Oxford Assizes which was six moneths after that and would not suffer me to speak for my self but took part with my accusers Then I desired of him law and justice and told him that there being nothing upon oath proved against me there was no reason that I should stand any longer bound Said the Judge if I will have it so you shall stand bound c Answ My Lord if you will make your will a Law I cannot help that but this I know that as you use the exactness of the Lawâ—n condemning those whom the Law condemns so you ought to use the exactness of the Law in freeing those whom the â—aw frees But the Law at this time frees me therefore I desire it No said the Judge you shall not be freed for I understand that you take upon you to preach and never stayed to take your degrees at the University you shall therefore appear at Oxford to answer to those things there And said the Judge if I would take upon me to preach I could preach as well as you and better for I was bred up to more learning then you and yet I wil not take it upon me because I was not called to it c. Answer My Lord I was called to Preach and you were not do you know what the call is if you did you would not oppose it and if it be the Lords will that I must appear at Oxford to answer things as I have done at Worcester his will be done for I remember what the Lord said unto Paul when he was bound from place to place Act. 23.11 Be of good cheer Paul said he for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem so must thou bear witness also at Rome and now am I not only ready to be bound but to suffer for his name and to bear witness of the Truth at Oxford as I have done at Worcester and shall have peace in all things therein knowing it to be the Lords cause for which I stand bound So giving in bayl and paying the Fees of the Court I was dismissed until the next appearance at Oxford CHAP. X. The Authors tryal at Oxford Assizes before Serjeant Green the particular accusations against him and his answers to them with the proceedings of the Court and how also the ignorance of the Jury and the malice of his Adversaries discovered VPon the tenth day of March 1652. I appeared at Oxford Assizes where Ralph Nevil of Emload and Giles Collier of Blockly in the County of Worcester preferred a Bill of Indictment against me to the Grand Jury as they said for blasphemy the Charge therein is as follows The Charge in the Indictment FIrst That I should say That Christ dyed for his own sins at well as the Peoples Secondly That there is no heaven and hell but what is in man Thirdly That everlasting life should end in this life These are the things which by them I was Indicted for as blasphemy and which by the Grand Jury were so found and returned to the Court that I was put upon the tryal thereof But before you come to the tryal I shall speak something of both Juries as of carnal natural men and so ignorant of such things as they were to enquire into concerning me for the natural man knows not the things of God neither can he because they are spiritually discerned but sure for the most part they were but carnal men therefore in such things ignorant men and against such things malitious men as hath been known being also men for the most part known to be of the Bishops and Presbyterian opinion very few of the Independents though there is but little difference between them in their opinions concerning their judgements and knowledge in such things of whom it may be said and also proved as hath appeared by their practise that they aim more at their own worldly private and self-interests then at the glory of God or good of other people and which is well known have been and gladly would be persecutors of those that live godly in Christ Jesus and that are not the same with them in their opinions as hath appeared by some of them which both I and others have already known by experience yet I love them still in the same love as I love all others and will the salvation of their souls as of all others though they may not so love me but hate me for that they never saw or heard from me And therefore it is most evident that they proceeded against me from the malice they had to me and not any thing known by me for any blasphemy there was in it for I am sure there was none neither could any be found either by the Law of God or of man as first for the Law of God I am sure it is not for there is nothing in all the Scripture writ against it however all blasphemy on Gods part is forgiven and Christ hath already answered for it in the behalf of all men And secondly for the Law of man or any late Act of Parliament made against blasphemy I am also sure that there is never a particular contained in this Bill that comes within the compass of the Act as for the first and last particulars in the Bill that Christ should die for his own sins as well as for the peoples and that everlasting life should end in this life there is no mention of it made in the Act. Then for the second that there is no heaven and hell but what is in man there is no mention made of it neither as these words are laid down and expressed in the Bill for the Aâ—â— saith If any shall avow and affirm that there is no heaven and hell then it is blasphemy according to that Act but in this Bill or in these words before mentioned there is a heaven and a hell acknowledged though not such a one as some men would have but such a one as is in man which is according to the Scripture and some mens experience yet not that any other is denyed which by others may be proved and there being in the Bill a heaven and a hell acknowledged it therefore comes not within the compass of the Act and then cannot be found guilty by the Act. Again the witnesses to the Bill do confess that these words fell in by way of dispute or conference after Sermon and were not spoke in Sermon therefore cannot be said to be avowed and affirmed as the Judge did very well make it appear in the tryal and which if the honest behaviour of the Juries had extended so far they before they had condemned it should have examined whether the words in the Bill did reach any Act of Parliament or no that made it appear to be what in the Bill it was said to be without which they ought not to have
did again and again say that Christ suffered not for them as acted by him but as imputed to him and so they became his which he proved from these Scriptures He was made 〈◊〉 for us and The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all And Secondly That he should say There is no heaven and hell but what is in man He did not but did prove from Scripture that there was a heaven and a hell in man not denying any other which by others might be believed as to them And Thirdly That he should say That everlasting life should end in this life He did not but said That there was that written in Scripture which was said to be everlasting yet had an end as he proved from the ending of the first Covenant and Priest-hood under the Law with the conditions thereof which was said to be for ever And Fourthly as to his life and conversation it hath been so civil honest and respective towards all men for all that ever we saw or knew of him that none ever yet could accuse him and therefore we do believe that for the good that is in him and proceeds from him to the edifying of many people he is hated and persecuted To all which particulars we have here subscribed our names and shall be ready to take our Oaths A Copy of a Certificate presented to the Court by many of the godly and well-affected people of Oxford in the behalf of Richard Coppin WE the Inhabitants of the City of Oxford whose names are here underwritten do hereby certifie That Richard Coppin hath several times preached in Oxford and hath been heard by us who never heard any thing delivered by him to our knowledge but what hath been true and sound doctrine according to the Scripture and the manifestation of God to us And we do also certifie that his life and conversation hath ever been towards all sorts of men honest just and upright that ever we could see know or hear of him Concerning which we have here subscribed our names and shall be also ready to testifie upon Oath The first particular Charged in the Indictment FIrst That I should say That Christ Jesus the Son of God and Saviour of the world did suffer for his own sins as well as the Peoples Answ My Lord for answer to this I do affirm and ever did since I knew and declared any thing of God That Jesus Christ the Son of the living God and Saviour of the whole world as he lives in God never acted sin but imputatively all our sins became his were laid upon him John 3.17 1 John 2.2 Heb. 10.5 6.7 Rom. 8.3 Heb. 2.14 Luke 1.74 and reckoned to him by the Father and Jesus Christ as the Son in obedience to the Father freely took them upon himself clothed himself with our flesh sinful flesh and so suffered for sin overcame and condemned sin and all enemies in our nature wherein his appearance in us doth manifest to us that he satisfied the Fathers justice payed our score and set us at liberty though Christ himself which is Mat. 1.23 1 Pet. 2.22 2 Cor 5.21 Isa 53. Rom. 5.10 Iohn 14.19 Emmanuel God with us did no sin neither was guil found in his mouth as saith the Scripture yet he was made sin for us and The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all and by his stripes are we healed by his life are we saved and do live for saith Christ Because I live ye shall live also And now the head cannot be said to live without the body nor the body without the head 1 Cor 11.3 Ephes 5.23 29 30. Heb. 5.3 7.27 1 Cor. 12.12 13 27. so not Christ without us nor we without Christ he being our head and we members of his body of his flesh and of his bones and Christ suffering for the sin of us â—his members may also be said to suffer for the sin of his own body whose body we are for saith Paul Ye are the body of Christ and members in particular and in this sense he may be said to suffer for his own sins which is no blasphemy to say Secondly That there is no heaven and hell but what is in man Answ My Lord for answer to this I do affirm and ever did as aforesaid First That there is a God according to the Scriptures and that this God is the God of truth peace and love and the Father of it who is called a Spirit and whose throne is in heaven Isa 66.1 1 Tim 6.16 1 King 8.27 Jer. 23 23 24. Isa 6.3 and that dwelleth in light and which the heaven of heavens cannot contain and who is not limitted to any time place or person but heaven and earth is full of his glory And so much for God what and where he is Secondly That there is a Devil according to the Scripture and this Devil is the god of sin as of this world which darkens all appearances of good things 2 Cor. 4.4 Rev. 20.1 2 3. whose habitation is in hell and who is limitted to time place and person and cannot go beyond his bounds and is the Prince of darkness and of death the power of the ayr Ephes 2.20 John 8.44 Rev. 21.8 and 12.10 John 5.45 Iude ver 9. the spirit ruling in the children of disobedience which makes them so long to continue the children of the Devil who is a lyar and the father of them and all lyes and lyars are of and in him who shall together with him suffer in hell fire and who is also the accuser of the brethren from whom all accusations proceed with all hatred envy and malice and hath no part in Christ and that this Devil Iam. 3.14 15 Iohn 14.36 1 Pet. 5.8 Gen. 3.15 Psal 110.5 6 as a roaring lyon goes about from City to City from County to County or from Worcester to Oxford seeking whom he may devour till the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah meets with him breaks his head destroys his power frustrates his design and so ruines his Kingdom And Thirdly That there is also a heaven for the righteous in Christ to be saved and made happy in life and salvation with Christ in God and there is a hell also for the wicked in which they are and shall be tormented with the Devil and false Prophets but for the place what and where it is so far as the Scripture is silent in it we are to be silent in it and cannot determine of it any further then the Scripture doth But this we may say with the Scripture first concerning heaven that the Kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost and Behold the Kingdom of God is within you yet on high with God Rom 14.1 Luke 17.20 21. above the earth or any creature And as concerning hell it is in Scripture compared to a grave and we read that Christ descended into it and David saith to
the Act to be read to them and bid them take notice of it yet they could not tell what crime I was guilty of but still said according to the Evidence then the Iudge asked them what the Evidence was and they could not declare it tell they were told it and now how unfit these men are to be made a Iury of such things let all men that hear it take notice Then the Iudge as before perceiving their ignorance shewed them how it came not within the compass of the Act and therefore ought not to be found then said the Iury we will referr it to you Nay said the Iudge I must have your verdict Not guilty then said some of the Iury others said guilty what are you divided said the Iudge I will not receive your verdict till you are agreed and unless you will agree upon it you shall be shut up together in one room all night where you shall have neither bread nor beer fire nor candle But when they heard this they began to murmur within themselves why they should not agree yet the â—udge willing to shew them favour did only rebuke them bidding them to bring in their verdict the next morning by eight of the clock upon pain of twenty pound a piece and where I was then also my self to appear and there according to the request of the Judge I was to give in the heads of my answer in writing which then did and it was there read to the satisfaction of the Court. Then the Jury being again called before they gave in their Verdict used the name or one Veysie of Tainton neer Burford which said they desires to be a witness against him for saying that Christ was the cause of Cains fall No said the Judge â— will hear no such malitious fellows but will keep close to the â—ndictment and you of the Jury are to mention none but to give in your Verdict then said they guilty Now the Judge well knowing the Law and how that those things came not within the compass of it also perceiving the malice of my accusers and the ignorance of the Jury in such things as was then manifested and himself willing to do justice took bayl for my appearance at the next Assizes at which my accusers began to fall mad crying out again for my imprisonment banishment or silencing but the Judge told them he could do neither but must go according to the Law and the Law did not require any such thing Then my accusers to lay another foundation again to ensnare me having missed the former presented to the Judge a paper wherein were many particular points of their own judgement that he should prevail upon me to set my hand to it as that which I would own for truth thereby to confirm theirs I never more to preach against the same but this being offered to me I refused it and desired not to set my hand to other mens writings but to what I write my self unless I may read it and also find it to be truth according to the Scripture and my apprehension then said the Judge in the presence of my accusers take it and read it which I did and gave it to the Iudge again and because my accusers with others reported that I set my hand to all that they had writ as a recantation of what my self formerly writ and declared therefore for the satisfaction of other people the proving of them lyers and clearing my self in it it is here published both what they writ and also what part thereof I refused and what I signed distinctly as followeth A Paper written by my Accusers and presented to the Judge for me to sign which I would not WHereas at several passages in a printed book that goes forth in my name and in a publike discovery at Enston about Iune last several persons have been offended and been induced to believe that I am guilty of holding and publishing blasphemous opinions for the satisfying all such persons and clearing my self I do heartily and sincerely profess and declare against them as follows First That Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God being eternal God and equal with the Father did in the fulness of time take to himself mans nature yet without sin being holy harmless undefiled as the Scripture saith Secondly The Lord Iesus Christ for discharging the office of Mediatorship whereunto he was called by his Father did perfectly fulfill the Law indured the shameful and cursed death of the cross but not for himself being perfectly free from sin but that he might satisfie for the sins of his people Thirdly The third day he rose from the dead with the same body with which he suffered with which also he ascended into heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father Fourthly The bodies of men after death return to dust but their souls which die not return to God who gave them the souls of the righteous are received into the highest heaven where they enjoy God in glory waiting for the full redemption of their bodies and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell where they remain in torment reserved to the Iudgement of the great day Fifthly At the last day such as are found alive shall be changed and all that are dead shall be raised up with the same body which shall be united again to their souls for ever Sixthly God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ in which day the Apostles and Angels shall be judged and all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the Tribunal of Christ to give an account of their thoughts words and deeds and to receive according to what they have done in their bodies whether good or evil These things I believe and do not publish any thing contrary to them and for any passages that have fell from me contrary to these ignorantly inconsiderately or wilfully I do profess my self troubled at and ashamed of but this I excepted against and would not set my hand unto as follows My Lord there are some things which I may set my hand unto but there are some things that are false and I shall not set my hand to that unless they will here make it good by Scripture before this honourable Court Then said the Judge to me What is that you say is false which you except against Answ My Lord â—irst wherein they say several passages have been written and spoken by me to the inducement of several persons to believe that I am guilty of holding and publishing blasphemous opinions which they would now have me to declare against and profess my self ashamed of when I know nothing that ever I spoke or writ since the time of my call that I went forth to declare any thing of God that was so or ever could be proved blasphemy by them though they have endeavoured to do it therefore not to be declared against by me
My Lord Another thing in the fifth particular which they declare as their judgement is that the same body which dyes shall after death be so raised again and united to the soul for ever which thing is false my Lord and I know no Scripture to prove it if there be let them produce it for here they are Then the Judge looking upon them asked if there were no such Scripture but they were silent and answered not a word then Justice Jenkins who sate upon the bench undertook to answer for them and said there is such a Scripture produce it you then said I and let me see it or I shall not believe it but he was silent also and there was no man to be found that could shew that Scripture then I instanced a Scripture in the 1 Cor. 15. to the contrarâ— that the same body was not to rise again but God giveth it a body as pleaseth him which body none of them yet knew Then the Judge perceiving that those things which by them were written and by me excepted against could not by them nor any other be proved he commanded them to be crossed forth before their faces and they had nothing to say for themselves which was to the great shame and disgrace of my accusers and others of their tribe that those things which they have so long held forth and maintained to the people for truth and as their judgments that this should now be crossed out before their faces as an error sure as bad a thing as ever they could have done against themselves in things of that nature which makes it to appear that the greatest blasphemer cryed blasphemy first and these things being crossed out I set my hand to the rest which is as follows and which to my knowledge I never declared any thing contrarâ— to according to the Scriptures and in a spiritual sense in which sense we are to understand all things of that nature The part culars which I signed FIrst that Iesus Christ the only begotten son of God being eternal God and equal with the Father did in the fulness of time take to himself mans nature yet without sin being holy harmless undefiled as the scripture saith Secondly The Lord sesus Christ for discharging the office of Medâ—atorship whereunto he was called by his Father did perfectly fulfill the Law endured the shameful and cursed death of the cross but not for himself being as he was perfectly free from sin but that he might satisfie for the sin of his people Thirdly The third day he rose from the dead with the same body with which he suffered with which also he ascended into heaven 1 Cor. 15. and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father but not with flesh and blood Fourthly The bodies of men after death return to dust but their souls which die not return to God who gave them the souls of the righteous are received into the highest heaven where they enjoy God in glory waiting for the full redemption of their bodies and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell where they remain in torment reserved to the Judgment of the great day Fifthly At the last day such as are found alive shall be changed and they that are dead shall be raised up Sixthly God hath appointed a day wherein he will Judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ which day the Apostate Angels shall be Iudged and all persons that live upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ to give an account of their thoughts words and deeds and to receive according to what they have done in their bodies whether good or evil These things I do believe according to the Scriptures and never publish any thing contrary to them Richard Coppin CHAP. XI The Authors second appearing at Oxford Assises before Judge Hutton and what was there done I According to my engagement appeared the second time at the general Assises holden at Oxford there expecting again to have seen the faces of my former accusers they having before said they would follow me to death but they finding nothing against me came not there proclamation being made in the Court for my discharge and none other having any thing against me to declare one Keat the then Sheriff for that County sitting in the Court being of a bitter spirit and also an enemy to truth as he then appeared stood up as one among the rest of the accusers and informers saying that he could declare something against me which was spoke in London but when he was asked what it was no particular could be mention but said that he had heard very strange things declared by me at S. Dunstons Church in London before a great Congregation of people of great quality to the great dishonour of God and the people disturbance as said this informer Mr. Keet who earnestly importuned the Judge to restrain me from preaching in answer to which the Judge told him that a mans liberty was pretious and there was no reason any man should be restrained from his liberty therein by any mans words whatsoever unless oath were made against him that he had offended the Law Therefore said the Judge I cannot do it upon your words nor any mans else for then I should be partial and I came not onely to bind but to free men Then the Informer Mr. Keat by name receiving those repulses from the Judge was silent and sate him down with shame and then the bitter spirits of others in the University whose mouthes were ready to be opened in malice against me were quashed my freedom ordered and my enemies ashamed CHAP. XII The Authors humble appeal to his Highness Oliver Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland as a General redress for all people My Lord FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord of Lords to call you to this high place of Protectorship under himself and according as he shall protect counsel guide and direct you as he did Christ and the rest of the Kings of Israel so you may act like them in walking before the people to do justice among them For by him Kings reign and Princes decree justice Prov. 8.15 who himself reigns in them to be their wonderful Counsellor And now as according to the counsel of the Lord your Highness hath been pleased to declare your self both by promise and oath to seek the peace freedom and liberty of the people of this and other Nations against oppression and tyranny and to protect them in their just rights and priviledges according to the mind of God written in Scripture for Christian Religion that then in the Lords time and as he himself shall appear to go before you and act in you so you may according to his directions follow him in persuit thereof bringing glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will towards men Which you shall so far as you follow the counsel of the Lord and not of