the Justices of the Peace William Wickins sworn and examined saith that Dr Pordage did deliver in his sermon upon the 29 of Sept. that accursed were the people of Bradfield and their posterity and to you I speak so may you be accursed and your posterity in this world and in the world to come Animad 7. The Dr pretends to and now hath printed hâ—gh visions and so high that even by himself they are likened to the visions of Paul and John in the Revelation so far are they above the raptures and trances of John Becold Matthias and the rest in Germany He hath seen the world of Divells evill spirits innumerable their order and government he hath heard felt tasted and smelt hell in salt sulphur that by amagicall tincturation as his phrase is He hath seen the world of Angells and of them without number bright as the rayes sparkling like diamonds he hath tasted and heard the dews of paradise and hâ—rmonious musick his inward senses were opened to see the kingdom of glory and there he saith he is for his spirituall senses were never shut nor shall be unlesse he return back into the earthly nature pag. 77. He saith this was given to him as an extraordinary favour from God and this he speaks in high languâ—ge and swelling words and now he hath a command from God to publish it some persons are and many more are like specially if the Quakers proceed in every corner of the Land to make the people Antiscripturists which is the great design of the Divell for the Bible makes him a Quaker we say many are like to cry up these visions and cry out upon the ordinances of the Lord Christ The question is concerning their proceedure whence are they whether from God or from the Divell we shall confesse with all willingnesse that if they be from God visions of the Lord they are very admirable and extraordinary as he calls them besides the ordinary dispensations of God to his hidden ones and let it be proved by the Dr or any of his in the world that they are such we shall willingly confesse our selves to be persecuters plunderers theeves lyons as he saith and we trust we shall not be ashamed to give God the glory But if they be from hell and diabolicall then we say the God of heaven did scarce ever permit Satan to act a cheat upon fallen man beyond this delusion of the Dr we do not know but it may be our ignorance we heartily confesse any feigned storie of visions that come neer these the 74 75 76 77 pages of his book do exceed all of the Mahumetans Papists Familists old or new we cannot but look upon them First as tremendous judgements from God upon men who are most righteously punished with believing lies because they receive not the truth in the love of it Secondly as wise providences for the tryall of others of the christian magistrate for the probation of his courage zeal and love to truth and of the private christian for the tryall of his faith that those that are approved may be made manifest Thirdly As a call from heaven to every one of us to keep close to Scriptures to labour for a sound scripturall knowledge of the Lord Jesus to love the truth for the truths sake and to practise it for Christs sake from his love and for his glory The reader hath seen his blasphemies we shall now desire his favour to consider and judge what his apparitions revelations visions are and what his mortification is which was alwaies the pretence of cheates and deceivers John of Leyden did much presse the people to mortification and to a converse with God the precious title of holynesse is assumed by the Popes even those that were conjurers whoremongers dealers with the Divell we shall speak of these in order First Of Angelicall Apparitions We desire to bring them to the scriptures the only balance and lapis lydius that so we may try them by the weights and touch of the word let no man say this is a low dispensation if they do yet their hard words are occasionally our advantage the more these times vilifie the more we desire to magnifie the scripture the wickednesse of these dayes by a kind of antiperistasis intending the small heat of our affections toward them the history of the word is a ground for a divine faith because the authority is divine humane authours we do we can believe but humanely First They were very rare to a very few men and those eminent and extraordinary ones as to Abraham Jacob Daniel c. we believe from Adam to Moses and from him to Christ and from Christ to this day we cannot find thirty persons upon authentick records that have had apparitions of Angels not one Saint amongst many thousands Secondly To those they did appear they appeared seldome most of these few had they had apparitions of Angels but once lesse they had had none at all Thirdly They made no tarriance with them to whom they did appear we believe take all the appearances from the creation to this day and compute the time it will not in all make up one naturall day take them all together not 24 houres Fourthly Very few of them did appear upon their appearances not above two or three at most but most commonly but one and when the scripture speaks of Angels plurally it names their number as two to Lot three to Abraham two to the sepulchre of Christ unlesse it be to Jacob in Gen. 32.2 and to Elisha 2 Kings 6. and to the shepheards Luke 2. Fifthly Their appearance was upon some extraordinary businesse which may be reduced to these four heads 1. Either of tidings and message as of a son and such a son as Isaac to Abraham and Sarah when the one was an hundred yeares old and the other ninety so to childlesse Manoah concerning the birth of Sampson to Zachary concerning John the Baptist and to the V. Mary and the shepheards to foretell to Mary and declare to the shepheards the birth of Jesus Christ and to declare to the women his resurrection 2. Angels have appeared for comfort so to Jacob when he was afraid of Esau to Joshua at the siege of Jericho to Gideon against the Midianites to Daniel in the captivity to the Lord Jesus Christ in his agony 3. They have appeared for deliverance as to Lot out of Sodom when God purposed to rain brimstone to Peter in prison when his chains fell off Acts. 12. 4. They have appeared for direction so to Cornelius to bid him send for a Minister Peter Some of these apparitions were not of created Angels but of the Angel of the covenant the Lord Christ as that of Joshua and Gideon as appears by the context besides these the scripture records very few Austins rule was non credo quia non lego I believe nothing but what I read in the Bible Sixthly Many of these few angelicall
DAEMONIUM MERIDIANUM SATAN at NOON Or Antichristian Blasphemies Anti-scripturall Divelismes Anti-morall Uncleanness Evidenced in the Light of Truth and Punished by the hand of Justice BEING A sincere and impartiall Relation of the Proceedings of the Commissioners of the County of Berks Authorized by the Ordinance for Ejection against John Pordage late Minister of Bradfield in the same County Published for the vindication of Justice and satisfaction of the Conscientious in the name and by the order of the said Commissioners and Assistants With some Notes and Animadversions upon a Book of the said John Pordage intituled Innocency appearing c. By CHRISTOPHER FOWLER Minister of the Gospel at S. Maries in Reding Mos iste semper viguit in Ecclesia ut quo quisque foret religiosior eo promptiùs novis adinventionibus contrairet Vinc. Lyrin adv Haer. cap. 9. 2 Pet. 2.1 2. False teachers shall privily bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and many shall follow their pernicious waies 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Gal. 8. Though an angel from heaven preach otherwise then that we have preached unto you let him be accursed 1 John 2.23 Whosoever denyeth the son the same hath not the father Peccatum nocet personae sed Haeresis communitati Luth. tom 1. p. 260. Hoc est artificiuÌ„ unicuÌ„ Satanae fanaticoruÌ„ quod nolunt videri male docere se jactant sincerissimos fidelissimos cum sunt omniuÌ„ mendacissimi Id. tom 4. p. 339. LONDON Printed for Francis Eglesfiâ—ld and are to be sold at the Signe of the Marigold in S. Pauls Church-yard 1655. To his Highness OLIVER Lord PROTECTOR of England Scotland Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging May it please your Highness WE humbly crave leave to acknowledge that we look upon it as an eminent mercy that under your Highness Government a gracious and a wise Providence hath put an opportunity into the hands of men desiring to fear God to effect what is of highest concernment for the good of soules that they may neither be starved by the Ministers insufficiency nor poisoned by blasphemy nor blinded by ignorance nor hardned by scandall Whilest men slept we are loath to say the masters of the house the envious man hath sown Tares tares full of deadly poison and that poison diffused into the very vitalls of faith and godlinesse and that so subtilly conveyed that Sathan fights against Panatici pugnant contra Christum sub titulo Christi Luther Christ under the notion of Christ Among the many sad Instances in this nation this ensuing Relation presents some of those doctrines to your Highness view Doctrines so directly destructive to the very fundamentalls of Religion that we solemnly professe were it a matter eligible we had rather ten thousand times that we and our dearest relations should die stark mad in chains at Bedlam then to live and die in such execrable opinions against our Lord Jesus In all humility we beg the boldnesse to say that your conscientious and solemn pursuance of Reformation that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus may be glorified will be the life and length of your dayes in this time of trouble as a bond of love upon the hearts of the Godly in this hour of Apostasie whilest you live and leave your memory precious to succeeding Generations Your Highness faithfully devoted in the service of the Gospel in the name of your Commissioners and their Assistants and among them the meanest CHRISTO FOWLER The PREFACE to the READER Courteous Reader THou art here presented with a faithfull relation of the Proceedings of the Commissioners of Berks in the business of Dr. Pordage late Minister of Bradfield in the said County we desire that thou maist read as we do write with a sad heart that such prodigious and damnable heresies should be belched forth in such a land of light both publickly and privately against the person and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ as this Dr. hath done We are well assured that neither the former Parliaments nor the present Governours did intend or mean thus to tolerate though they were tender to consciences truly tender their care was and is for the ejection of Scandalous ignorant and insufficient Ministers and in their room placing Godly Learned Orthodox Divines the noblest work that can be undertaken if we may have liberty to express our thoughts in any Common wealth that calls it self Christian This man formerly placed in and now ejected was none of these first not Godly because he denies the Godhead of Jesus Christ vilifies his precious blood which the * Acts 20.28 Scripture calls the blood of God A Doctrine that wants a name black enough to be called by in which any man living and dying can never be saved and certainly there can be no godliness in that religion in which there is no salvation Secondly Not learned we speak not of that great help and ornament of humane learning whereof this man hath no great cause to boast although by a Charientismus he is called Doctor but because he is ignorant of the chief heads of Religion which even some children of ten years old from their catechisme can deliver in more intelligible termes then he hath done Thirdly Not Orthodox because his doctrines are Diametrically opposite to all those that now are or those that have been received as such by the people of God in all former ages and his exposition and application of the Scripture is a meer wretched and sensless corruption of the sacred text Fourthly No Divine because his heresies are if by the example of the * Appietatem aut Lentulitatem Cic. epistol lib. 3. epist 7. Oratour in Latine we may have leave to coyn a word in English rather Divellity then Divinity The Matter of his Charge for which we referre thee to this relation may be reduced to four heads First Blasphemy and of that the most pernicious directly destroying the very foundation Secondly Pretended Visions of Angels to confirme that blasphemy Thirdly The Doctrine and Scandall of uncleanness the †God most justly punishing impiety with impurity Rom. 1.21 to 24. Issue of that blasphemy Fourthly Ignorance and insufficiency the ground thereof For the first Blasphemy he hath often denied the Godhead of our Lord Jesus which may be called antecedent Blasphemy and called his righteousness a sapless righteousness and his precious blood a vaâ—n thing which are most direfull Blasphemies and consequences of the former The first of these was the damned heresie of a Euseb Eccles histo lib. 5. cap. ult Theodotus the tanner b Ibid. Paulus Samosatenus c Epiphan Haeres 71. Aug. haeres 44 45. Photinus d Ibid. haeres 49. Arrius whom Hierome in apol adv Ruffin calls Damonium Meridianum e Mahomet Alchor c. 5. p. 72. if this may be called Heresie Mahomet f Mr. Rutherfords Survey part 1. cap. 9.
of honour how the Dr had contended with the Dragon three hours in his chamber saying to one another thou lyest and thou lyest and whether she did not relate that the Drs children were strangely acted in their legs and thighs and arms and whether she did not relate to them how Mrs Flavell had been in a trance and how she had found the Philosophers stone which had puzzel'd so many wise men viz. the divinity in the humanity She made an answer in a carelesse way to our amazement and pity sc she could not tell whether she told them so or no perhaps she did perhaps she did not It is wonderfull strange that such extraordinary passages related by her in a glorying way when they were reaking hot nay when it was as she phrased it given in to her to reveal them and she did reveal them to persons of honour and unquestionable evidence who do still attest it and when she was minded of some circumstances of the relation she did remember something of them it is much we say that she should no better remember this her own relation doth not this woman think that she may say any thing to save the Dr from the world The third particular The Drs plea. That these articles come not within the compasse of the Act against Blasphemous and Atheisticall opinions by which Act the Commissioners are limited pag. 54. This he pleads for himself often in his book Answer We are well assured that all fearing God in the nation will with their souls consent with us that the Deniall of the Godhead of our Lord Jesus the making a piff at his precious bloud and calling his compleat righteousnesse a poor vain thing that the Lord Christ is but a type are blasphemies that open their mouth against heaven and are of as high a nature as wretched men or damned spirits can be guilty of and doe at once so directly destroy scriptures duties ordinances graces glory all Now if this defence of the Drs be true we professe our unfeigned sorrow from our inmost hearts that the blessed glory of our dear Lord Christ was no more consulted for if there be no provision made for the stopping of the mouth of blasphemy against the Lord Jesus by the Civile Magistrate We professe we cannot but wonder at the great rashnesse of this Dr and lament the dishonour as we humbly think that this vain man casts upon authority in that he proclaims upon the house top and tells it in Gath that hideous blasphemies against Jesus Christ are not punishable by the Commissioners of the severall counties which God forbid and we believe all the Saints will say Amen And we do with case and comfort perswade our selves that the supreme Magistrate doth not intend it and will never suffer it Whereas some do blame the Commissioners for being immethodicall for not reducing the articles under the head ignorance we answer that the articles alledged and proved do indeed shew him guilty of the greatest ignorance and insufficiency that is imaginable and doth abundantly clear the justice of the sentence yet these articles when they were exhibited were look'd upon as having too much hideousnesse in them that the Commissioners could not find in their hearts to rank them under any other head but that of blasphemy and do still look on them as worthy to be branded with the blackest Epithite that hell can afford And if it be true as some do say it is and therefore do say the Commissioners do they cannot tell what themselves for these articles do not come under the act as they pretend then we shall not be so quiet in our consciences as we desired unlesse we beg leave to say that it was no testimony of over and above kindnesse to Jesus Christ in those persons that drew up that act who they were we professe before the searcher of hearts we know not to draw it up so as not to mention nor mean the safeguarding of his glory from the tongues of blasphemers which are set on fire of hell We say again if it be true we do not say it is so we cannot say it and therefore were we fit as indeed we are altogether unfit we would in all humility beseech his Highnesse Honourable Counsell to take this matter into consideration and to determine as they see cause that so for the future all clamours of men and quibbles of counsellours may be prevented and every article may be reduced under its own proper head The ground of our request is this we are fully perswaded they will never suffer any to be Preachers of the Gospel who are blasphemers of the Lord Jesus who is the substance of the gospel in whom all the promises are yea and amen and whose precious bloud is the bloud of the everlasting covenant We have been pressed in our spirits to this boldnesse through the grief of our hearts because we do in some pittance perceive what through the wretched confidence of profane ones and the secret confidence of morall ones in their own civile righteousnesse and what through the n For so these would be thought acutenesse of Socinianisme and the n For so these would be thought oaringnesse of Familisme and the croaking of the Quakers and the spreading of all these there are very poor mean and slight thoughts all the land over in city and countrey of the glory love bloud and merits of our Lord Jesus who is God over all Blessed for ever And let him be blessed for ever as the great God and our Saviour Amen Lastly Whereas the Dr complains how much he was injured by being represented by his enemies and look'd upon by the Commissioners as a conjurer and sorcerer and one that dealt in Negromancy as he called it and black Magick and to this purpose stuffs out his book with severall allegations of his own dear ones to vindicate himself from Necromancy and sorcery this is nothing in the world but stramineous chaffie stuff put in to fill up a ragged book for the Commissioners did not look upon him as a conjurer but as an impostor who made use of his apparitions and visions as a ministeriall way viz. to confirm his blasphemies to draw in disciples and to confirm those that were so vaunting himself thus what but one but one in the whole creation pretending that other ministers knew no more of the gospel then a dead horse and why because they are not Nicolaitanes and visioners But he complain's much pag. 71. that the Commissioners would not take in his witnesses who could depose how he had preached against conjuration which witnesses he names twice in the margent to make his reader believe how grievously he was wronged Answer Though the businesse be eccentricall yet we will see what the witnesses could have said for the Dr against conjuration they begin thus and say They heard the Dr preach in 653 at Bradfield out of Psal * We cannot imagine what verse or
was she 2 Beware of false joy lifted up with a great deal of joy About four a clock the same Fryday the dark Angel came and stood by the other vision with a knife in his hand and said thou hast had a great deal of joy and offering her the knife bid her dispatch her self and she should enter into that eternall rest her soul so much thirsted after upon this she trembled the bed shook and her Mrs held her The same Fryday she had visions presented upon the wall she saw the world and the resurrection of the dead and the son of man appearing in the cloudes of heaven She saw clearly the vision of a friend of hers of London in her chamber at Southcott her friend was much inclined to this way she much wondred at it and told Mrs Pordage of it who answered her alas so do we we see abundance of those we never knew before when once they come into our way On Saturday Dr Pordage came to her being sent for and prayed in a very strange language she did not very well understand what he said she heard him say Lord but nothing of Jesus Christ but the abysse and the bottomlesse eternity She heard a great noise of drums and trumpets she asked the Dr what the ratling of the drums and trumpets meant he answered her it was an alarme to the spirituall warr One of the nights she saw a vision of young Mr Daniel Blagrave which came to her beds side she took him by the hand and it felt cold she asked the Dr what it meant he answered her that the coldnesse of the hand did signifie his beginning to be cold to vanity She asked Dr Pordage what the visions meant she saw upon the wall he answered that they durst not reveal one anothers visions he did not question but God would discover himself and reveal wonderfull things to her She was from Wednesday noon till Munday noon and did not eat one peice of bread but some times drank a little water and sugar and she saith she was not sick at all after the first two houres and when she was about to eat she had a voice came to her viz 3 The Divell will do more then some Quakers for he will quote the Scripture but it is as some of them do o deceive we are not to live upon bread but upon every word of God and upon that voice she did not eat She saith that she hath oftentimes seen at London flashes of light in her chamber and at last heard a voice which put her into a very great fear and sweat saying to her thou hast married a lump of clay but thou must return to thy first husband which is thy Saviour thou must go to Joppa And upon this she was convinced that these visions were of the Divell because the voice was clean contrary to the Scriptures she saith that she hath heard it reported at * At Mr D. Brs where she then lived Southcott that ere long Dr Pordage should have power from on high to bestow saving graces on whom he pleased That Dr Pordage preached that water baptisme was not the ordinance of Jesus Christ That about Michaelmas in the year 1653 he was commanded by his Angel or from Heaven to give off preaching and take no tithes but since he conceives he hath had a dispensation That in July last 1654 he was to be taken up into heaven and it is said by some he hath been there and dismissed again about his businesse That he cursed the people of Bradfield in the pulpit and their posterity for euer in this world and in the world to come That he faith goodwife Pocock singeth the highest hymnes very sweetly that she knoweth not a word when she begins but is taken with a burning about her heart and when she hath done she cannot repeat a word if it were to gain the world That goodwife Pocock lately came to Collonell Evelyn saying she had a word to him from God viz. have nothing to do with that just man The testimony of Richard Seyward September the 9. 1650. I came into Bradfield Parsonage in the evening and there I heard a very mournfull cry as if it had been one in extreme paines but who it was I knew not but it continued all the time that I was at the door which was well near a quarter of an hour and so it continued when I went away and then the tenth day in the morning I came unto Mr Francis Pordage at the parsonage of Stanford Dingley and he enquired of me what I did think of the noise that I heard I told him I could not tell then he related to me the Lord was about a great work in this kingdom and to this nation and the cause of this cry was one in travell and the pains were so extreme that if I had stayed there but a little longer I might have heard it as far as the town but now she was delivered of a man-child and the travell was at an end and that he and others were eye witnesses of it That in Dr Pordages house in Bradfield the new Jerusalem hath been seen to come down from heaven all of precious stones and in the new Jerusalem there was a globe which globe was eternity and in the eternity were all the Saints That at the said Drs house the face of God hath been seen not as Moses saw him but the very face as one man may see anothers That one being in the said Drs house in a trance the said Drs daughter being by her said that she saw two Angels all in white with crowns over her head That he might say any thing to the men of the world I answer to the best of my remembrance I never 4 False read the animadversion on his protestation uttered any such unchristian maxime much lesse ever held it as my judgement and I confidently believe there is no one in the earth that dare witnesse it with an oath I know very well that Mr Fowler hath been if not the authour yet the reporter of my holding this monstrous tenet for he hath confidently averred and often insinuated into some of the gentry of this County and into his own proselites that I am a * Let the reader judge whether he is a Familist or net Familist and it is my principle to say or unsay any thing that may make to my own advantage which God knowes is a sad scandall and a monstrous untruth and clearly appears to those who know the integrity of my principles conversation to be a blur cast upon me from the contrivance of subtle machivillian policy to prejudice all I say or answer to those horrid things objected against me for if this be once setled in those who are my judges it is vain for me to answer deny or avow any thing But the Lord forgive my adversary for this his unchristian dealing and grant he may repent of it
cleaving of the soul but the fiery deity burning up our lusts and corruptions in the center of the soul Two other passages of blasphemy there were uttered by the Dr that were forgotten by Mr Tickhill the Deponent but after finding his paper he doth remember them and doth assert them as upon oath The first is this That God in Christ and Christ in the saints is the unity in trinity and trinity in unity The second is this That Christ in his preparatory coming by his fiery deity quite consumes and destroyes all sin and corruption which consuming of sin is that doing away of transgression mentioned Dan. 9.24 If it be said Mr Tickhill is severe and rigid and so prejudice may barre the door against truth then Secondly we request that this testimony witnessed and signed with Mr Pendarvis his own hand may be considered These are to certifie whom it may concern that in a sermon at Ildesly Dr Pordage did deliver these following expressions First That Christ was a figure and but a figure Secondly That the Godhead was mingled with our flesh Thirdly That the imputative righteousnesse of Christ was but a saplesse righteousnesse Fourthly the graces and gifts of the spirit were but flesh Fifthly That Dr Pordage did falsely accuse Mr Tickhill of coming on purpose to oppose him neither of us h This work of providence as it were speaking thus as now we see it come to passe yonder is a blasphemer hear him and discover him thought of his being there I went and he with me to preach upon the desire of the people what limitation us'd by the Dr or whether any I do not well remember Ita testor Joh. Pendarvis Second Particular To the second as to his witnesses here we do unfeignedly professe we are even fain to force our selves under much unwillingnesse to this part of the animadversion not that we regard any revilings and censure so as to be troubled but because we are willing to live in peace But because the matter of these articles charged and proved is of so high a concernment that all that is dear and pâ—ecious to souls in heaven and earth is imbarqued in it and because the Dr pretends visions and those of such height and glory as he calls them that the like have not been heard or seen and because his friends do intimate that these Angelicall visions are in order to the pure preaching of the gospel to the Church which hath been in Apostacy many hundred years and because he layes such a weight upon his witnesses Lastly because he hath published them to the world and named them often in the text and margent we think it a duty incumbent upon us to write the truth promising to deliver nothing but the truth and purposing not to write all the truth we might merely for quietnesse sake and to prevent family disturbance Truly it seems somewhat observable that Dr Pordage who hath enjoyed such visions of glory as he saith hath such high discoveries pretends to such a pitch of sanctity and mortification even to perfection Having so much acquaintance in London and in the Countrey and being under so high a charge as Blasphemy Devillisme Vncleannesse and ignorance that notwithstanding all this he should bring no more or no other witnesses in his behalf then he hath done And were it not that we desire to be serviceable to the publick we might have spared this pains we have no itch to be in print for the very consideration what manner of persons the witnesses are hath given no small satisfaction of the Drs guilt to all Christians hereabouts that know him and them The first witnesse for the Dr is Richard Higgs we purpose not to mention the many ill-complexioned and hard speeches which this man hath uttered against the ministry and maintenance This language now a daies passeth amongst many rather for a prime character of a godly man as they stile it then for any fault many and we speak it sadly to see them so befooled have little else to shew for their religion but their being scurrilous against Vniversities Ministers Learning and maintenance Do we speak for our selves in this or for the truth the Lord knows and our consciences know and the day will discover it So that the gospel religion learning might thrive prosper we should desire to be silent though we sate in the dust and whatever become of us or ours or them we can in some measure be contented so that the purity and power of the gospel may dwell in the land This man is brought in by the Dr as his chief witnesse he quotes him often and doth preface his testimony that he is a pious prudent and a learned Christian and therefore to be heeded by the people and believed by the Commissioners Thus he deposeth that he heard the Dr preach at Bradfield upon and for the imputative righteousnesse of Christ and this he attested with much confidence but now observe these particulars Being demanded by the Commissioners very often and earnestly to declare what he conceived the Dr did mean by Christs righteousnesse he would at no hand although he was upon his oath reveal it We were suspicious at first that there might be some ugly speckled toad lying under a wholsome sage leaf some wretched familisticall blasphemy under wholsome expressions nothing more common these late years past have discovered this practise more then many former generations and therefore we pressed him over and over seeing he had been a seven years hearer at times and a man intelligent and one that penned the sermons that he would tell what he conceived the Dr did understand by Christs imputative righteousnesse but there was no prevailing with him he would not tell Being further asked what he himself meant by Christs imputative righteousnesse he would not tell nor answer either this was his weaknesse that he could not tell or else his wilfulnesse that he would not If the first how grosse is his ignorance and how unfit his testimony if the second what unconscionablenesse is this he being sworn to speak the truth But it seems to be his ignorance for Being now prompted by the Dr from whom he confesseth he had the * This practise of the Dr lâ—oks very ill favoured for this is not the first time that he hath done so with his witnesses paper before he came prescribing what he should speak to say the righteousness of Christ was his active and passive obedience he did tell the Commissioners what he meant but being further asked what he meant by Christs active obedience he answered Christs death upon the Crosse This pitifull answer makes us who know his former profession think that the fiery Deity and visions of Bradfield and a typicall Christ are like to make this man to forget if not to slight the knowledge of Jesus Christ in the scripture and now we have mentioned that blessed book denyed by many and wofully neglected by most the reader
was made flesh from whence I did maintain and publish that Christ was God coequall coeternall and coessentiall with the Father contrary to all those blasphemous and execrable opinions which deny Christ to be God so that now I hope the mere uttering of such expressions by way of dispute before an understanding and judicious Committee doth not make me a transgressour according to the true sensâ— and meaning of this act Ans 2. Concerning the persons in Trinity I do here professe and avow from the sincerity of my heart that I believe the Trinity of persons as an article of my faith viz. That there are three persons distinct from each other the person of the Father the person of the Son the person of the holy Ghost yet not so as to prejudice the unity in essence and so I believe the unity as not to confound the Trinity of persons I 18 See the first animadversion where it is affirmed by a judicious and pious person as upon oath the Dr said that God in Christ and Christ in Saints is the Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity asserted from John 17. never uttered any such expressions in that way as to give any just ground of suspicion of my denying the Trinity But I remember about four years since before the Committee of Berks Mr Fowler or Mr Gilbert I remember not which desired the Committe to give them liberty to ask me two or three questions amongst the rest they ask me whether there were three persons in the deity I answered them I believed the Trinity as it is recorded 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost Thus you see I believe the Trinity but do you believe the Trinity of persons said they I replyed I find not the word persons in the text but to put you out of doubt I do not stumble at the word person and this afterward I told to the above mentioned Mr Grip in a private conference some yeares since to whom I affirmed that I found no such expressions as persons of Trinity in the Scripture and that the word person being a schole term was * And why difficult it being the most apt plain significant term that is persona denoteâ— only substantiam primam intelligentem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any substantiam singularem whether living or dead the fathers Greek and Latine agreed to use the word person as signifiing an understâ—nding subsistent There is no term so safe so full Three properties is very improper and dangerous Three qualities absurd and more dangerous Three manifestations Familisticall and hellish Three persons most suitable specially when we adde infinite divine a person in all authours generally denoting a substance living intelligent very difficult to be apprehended by common capacities but I never spake this to prejudice the true notion of the persons in the sacred Trinity which I do cordially believe but only to shew that ordinary Christians should not be too curious in prying into the deep mystery of the three persons in the Trinity but rather content themselves with what the Scripture plainly affirms of the Father Son and holy Ghost as distinct and yet one But to conclude this answer pray consider what hard measure it is thus to pick out a broken sentence out of a long discourse and so to accuse one without relating the circumstance which might serve to clear what otherwise may seem very strange to prejudiced persons The proofs of these Articles The aforesaid Mr John Tickhill of Abingdon This Deponent saith that he heard the Dr deliver before the Committee of this County at Reding that Christ was not God and that he was not Jehovah and being crosse examined he further saith the Dr did endeavour in dispute with great seriousnesse to maintain and defend as his judgement that Christ was not God and that he was not Jehovah and that there was no such expression of the Father mentioned in his this Deponents definition of blasphemy as is mentioned in the Drs answer but saith that his definition was that 19 Observe the Deponents definition of blasphemy and judge whether the Dr did not study an untruth blasphemy was an evill speaking against God derogating from his glory either in his name nature word or works and that the Drs immediate words thereupon were 20 Let the magistrate hearken ruling in the fear of the Lord and let the reader hearken and be astonished at it and grieve what can be more wickedly asserted by the Dr and more punctually proved by any Deponent Hark! he answereth blasphemy is an evill speaking against God and in his paper chargeth me with blasphemy against Christ * That as if is the breathâ— of the bottomlesse pit as if Christ were God hereupon we began a hot dispute about the Godhead of Christ the Deponent asked the Dr if Christ were God who did deny it and put the Deponent upon proof of it whereupon he cited that Scripture John the first In the beginning was the word the word was God To which the Dr replyed he is 21 he is called God so the Arrians of the founder of whom Arrius the godly Emperour Constantine said that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epiphan lib. 2. Tom. 2. Haeres 69. a wicked interpreter the picture of the Divell called God but he is not Jehovah then the Deponent replyed he is Jehovah which the Dr likewise put him to prove then he cited that Scripture his name shall be called Jehovah our righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 and as he remembers the Dr did disallow of that proof as being out of the Old Testament then the Deponent cited that Scripture Rev. 1. He that was is and is to come as being of the same purpose with Jehovah Thomas Trapham Esq one of the Committee sworn and examined deposeth That to his remembrance the word Father was not mentioned in Mr Tickhills definition of blasphemy and he saith the Dr did then deny * Did Dr Pordage speak in the sincerity of his heart as he pretends in his answer to these articles and others that such a thought never entred into his soul let the consciencious judge Christ to be God which he this Deponent acquainted Mr Blagrave with to which Mr Blagrave said if he deny Christ to be God we must take a further course with him then the Dr answered * Why was there not a course taken with him when he denied Christ to be Jehovah Christ is not Jehovah and when Mr Tickhill had confuted him in that argument then he said he was not God the Father The aforesaid Susanna Grip. This Deponent further saith that the Dr came into her kitchin at another time and as she thinks he then came from the Committee and the Dr then said whereas Ministers speak of persons in Trinity there is no such thing there are three that bear record in heaven but there is no such thing as
in regard of present distemper but the said Susanna having reported to severall people in Abingdon and in particular to this Deponents wife that she was at Dr Pordages house and that the people there told her her eyes were opened and she saw at that that time the new Jerusalem come down from Heaven all of precious stones and so on according as in the article the said Susanna told the Deponent on the said Tuesday night that the last time she was at the Drs house she saw the new Jerusalem come down from Heaven a city four square with borders of precious stones and she being asked whether it was not her fancy only she answered she saw it really The Deponent further saith that he asked the said Susanna whether she saw any Angels in the Drs house to which she answered no. But she said the Drs daughter did see two Angels holding a crown over her the said Susanna's head On the Drs behalfe Mrs Elizabeth Blagrave wife of Daniel Blagrave of Southcott Esq sworn and examined deposeth That she never heard Mrs Pendar say she was bewitched by those of Bradfield but she said Mrs Pendar 9 And did not the Dr say so too and did not some more say so likewise and speak high of it and piffe at low dispensations but she hath since confessed that they were from the Divell and gives her reason because the vision did contradict the Scripture viz. tending to this that she must leave her husbands told the Deponent that her visions were from God and that she had never spoke with the Dr in her life This Deponent further saith that Mrs Pendar told her she had been at Mr Fowler his house and that Mr Fowler examined her touching her visions and the Deponent asked her what she said to which she replyed she was sure she had said nothing to him that could hurt the Dr. Thereupon the Deponent askt her if she had told Mr Fowler that the Dr did send those visions to which she answered she could not say the Dr did send them for a world She further saith that Mr Pendar told her that his wife said when she came to London she 10 Then it seems she did say it to him at Reding nay she did confesse it to him again the second time at London after the Drs tryall begun would not say what she had said to Mr Fowler if it were to do again for she perceived it was a snare or trap She further saith she was by when the question concerning young Mr Blagraves hand was put and she askt it her self some in the room and the answer was that the coldnesse of his hand as far as they knew signified his dying to vanity which was delivered in a jesting manner which answer was not delivered by the Dr and the Deponent saith the Dr never gave such an answer in his life as she knowes This Deponent further faith that she heard a muttering that Mr Grip should say that the Dr had perswaded Mr Blagrave to leave all and come and live with him whereupon the Deponent askt Mr Blagrave about five or six weeks since concerning it and the said Mr Blagrave answered to the Deponent that he did not remember that the Dr ever said any such thing to him Lastly this Deponent saith she never knew any thing of the Drs judgement neither did he ever bring her into any judgement and that she never had any discourse with the Dr till she did first begin with him and that if ever he had confirmed her in any thing it was in nothing disagreable to the word of God Concerning the man child mentioned in Seywards testimony Mr Francis Pordage Brother to the Dr and Minister of Stanford Dingley sworn c. This Deponent saith that it was one Mrs Flavell that in the aforesaid testimony is mentioned to be in travell of the child and he further saith that about four years since Mrs Flavell was very earnest in prayer on a day when they were fasting which was at the time when one Seyward came to the door and that the said Seyward knocking the Deponent went down to the door to him This Deponent doth further acknowledge that the said Seyward came to him about the time mentioned in his said testimony to the parsonage of Stanford and that it is probable he did ask the said Seyward what he did think of the noise he heard at the Drs house the day before and that the said Seyward answering he could not tell it is probable the Deponent did relate unto him that the Lord was doing a great work in this kingdom and to this nation and doth confesse that unadvisedly he told him that the cause of the aforesaid cry was one in travell but he doth not remember that he spake any such thing as that the pains were so extreme as that had he stayed longer he might have heard it as far as the town but he doth confesse he said she was in travell of a man-child and that he and many others were eye witnesses of it And the Deponent being asked who it was that was in travell he answered Mrs Flavell And he being further asked what became of this man-child he answereth it was the * How could they be eye witnesses as but two lines above he saith they were of such a man child as this birth death and resurrection of Christ in the nature of Mrs Flavell And he being further askt how the birth death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the nature of Mrs Flavell was so great a work that God was doing to this nation he * And yet but even now he said it was probable he did say so not above ten lines before answereth he never said any such thing He further saith that this travell of a man-child was not any naturall birth of a child out of the womb But the cry that was then made was nothing else but the groaning and intercession of the spirit in her prayer Note that these witnesses following were not examined because the Commissioners were satisfied Francis Knight an understanding christian thought himself bound to witnesse for the truth These are to certify that I having discourse with some of Blewbery who then came from Dr Pordages house and are reputed of his way concerning marriage they affirmed with much heat that marriage was not lawfull but a defilement Secondly that the Dr told me that he thought there was a legion of Divells in his chamber Thirdly I affirm that the Dr preached at Bradfield that water baptisme was not the ordinance of Jesus Christ and I going to him afterwards and telling him I was not so resolved he replyed whosoever looked upon water-baptisme any otherwise then as an Ordinance from John did not look upon it aright and I do offer my self to maintain that if the Dr deny it he hath a face of brasse Francis Knight As for his cursing the people of Bradfield take this deposition before
apparitions were before there was any scripture or written word or if after then when the prophets were very few as to Manoah or in the captivity as to Daniel or before the publication of the Gospel Yet behold here is a man that in the mid-day of the gospel under the compleatnesse of the word who tells us of the apparition of blessed angels to him and his more for number and longer for continuance then all the saints of God from the beginning of the world to this day ever had nay longer by at least 20 times for he enjoyed these apparitions for 21 dayes together and is in the way of visions still he hath had visions for these five years and yet the man no way as we understand extraordinary We professe we know him not otherwise then very mean if he be in any way more then ordinary it is in his magicall grosse ignorance his doctrines of filthinesse and blasphemy his foolish pretence of holinesse his faculty of saying and unsaying Let no man say we rail we hope we know that what we speak is upon record in heaven both what and how and likewise to what end we speak we think it is enough to unloose the tongue of the dumb as it was said of him in the Historian to see such swords even bitter words to be drawn and their point to be set to the very heart of religion and all Godlinesse To see the Jewels of glory taken out of the crow of Jesus Christ by wicked hands and now the Angels must be pretended by their apparitions to become vouchers Oh dreadfull Then secondly what extraordinary service did God send them about When we consider the man what he is for learning very slender for parts very mean as poor as a beggars patcht coat for religion rottennesse for his doctrine a blasphemer of the Lord Christ and a high reproacher of his precious bloud for his way tending to filthinesse for his temptations fallacy and cousenage we cannot imagine what businesse the glorified Angels should have in his chamber for three weeks together Give us leave to debate the businesse a little with this Dr t is possible that by that means truth may appear and give some light to the reader 1. Dr Of which world was that angel that appeared to you in your clothes band and bandstrings was not this directly proved against you and how fumblingly did you answer this very thing was spoken by the Deponent long before the Commissioners were in being why do not you own that apparition now in which formerly you gloried what did an angel of glory come into your chamber and put on your clothes band and strings and cuffes Mrs Pordages and Mrs Flavels angels standing by them was clearly deposed Mrs Bla. angel in her morning coat Mr Bromly could not deny Mr D. B. angel somewhat a bright angel is credibly reported Dr were all these angels of glory 2. Of what world are those angels that come frequently to one of your proselites and stand at her beds side they neither do any thing nor speak any thing do the Angels come from Heaven on such sleevelesse errands 3. Of what world was that angel that appeared to her in Dr Pordages shape band and cuffes just as he used to be when he was going into the pulpit and this apparition more then once tell us is it an angel of light or a fiend of hell 4. Tell us of what world for you have the key to open misteries to use some of his own words was that apparition that came to your aforesaid poor seduced be-pitied proselite that came to her upon a white horse and told her that he was Christ oh dreadfull our hearts and hands even tremble and that she was his bride and that he was come to fetch her away to heaven 5. Of what order was that apparition of a starre or somewhat like it in your chamber at Bradfield that your maid saw and deposed it was it from heaven or not you do not so much as offer a word of answer in your book 6. Of what world were those angels that at severall times gave your maids a pleasant fit of musick in the kitchin when they were washing of their dishes this one of them deposed that she heard it often when there was no musician nor instrument of musick and she saw none playing and the Dr could not except against her evidence could not reply to it nay hath not said a word to it in his printed book since 7. Of what world from heaven or hell were those Angels that made musick for you Dr with Jewes-harps and drums and which you your self heard in your house are such vain and poor employments suitable to the nature of glorified Angels 8. Of what world were those Angels that carried Mrs Brown the Abbesse of your virgin number into heaven we cannot think she went thither of her self where she saith she saw the Trinity and danced before the Trinity and being asked what dance she answered the just man Oh dreadfull 9. Dr Of what world was that angel that counselled you and the compiler of your book not to print the apparition of the heavenly angels to you there is not a word of their apparition to you in all the book that we can find your term there p. 73. is Ministration was not the devil afraid if that were printed the whole plot would be discovered he and you thought that no rationall Christian would believe that those angels did appear in your chamber much lesse three weeks together which you confessed again and again to the Commissioners what equivocating jugling tricks are these Secondly As to his Revelations Revelations properly are either propheticall of things future eorum quae Deus vult de nobis as the revelation of John or else doctrinall eorum quae vult à nobis as the revelation of Paul He received the gospel by revelation and what God would have us believe and practise Now Dr for your doctrines we can find nothing in your raptures but the doctrine of virginity which you offer to prove but come off most ignorantly which doctrine tends to destroy the bond of marriage and so to introduce a more then heathenish community As for your prophesies we confesse there is a great report now among your defiled ones of great prophesies and wonders it hath been said by one of your choise ones lately that whosoever comes to be Parson of Bradfield will find that Miracles are not ceased yet There are only two that we have heard of that look that way First That in July last 1654 you even you Dr should be taken up into heaven with a white staffe in your hand and should come down again and become a great man this was related from your mouth by one of your best friends and therefore unlike to bely you to two persons that desire to fear God who also will if called attest it what evidence would some men have would
they have his Arthingtons and Coppingers proclaim it in Cheapside why the times yet will not bear it Secondly That you said confidently like a prophet that within two years from the time of your speech there should be no government in England neither Parliament nor Magistrate nor any such This will be deposed from your own mouth the last of these we see is false there hath been a Parliament since that time and there are Magistrates at this day This did John of Leyden with his visions and revelations he prophecyed the deliverance of the town of Munster which was delivered up and the prophet was tortured and hanged upon the highest steeple in an iron cage which remains to this day saith Spanhemius as a monument of the Magistrates justice and to learn men to take heed how they despise the Deity Henry Nicholas prophâ—cied that he should be raised from the dead after three daies but his memory bones and all lye rotting to this hour David George prophesied of his rising from the dead too indeed he was raised but not to life but to execution the Senate of Bazill being deceived by his seeming meeknesse and hypocrisie while he was alive and being informed of his wicked doctrines against the Lord Christ when he was dead the Magistrate saith Spanhemius by a solemn ordinance commanded his wretched corps in his coffin to the place of execution and there burnt it to ashes Thus did Hosman whom his disciples called Eliah as our Dr is called Father Abraham who said that Strasburg was the new Jerusalem this fellow was clapt up in prison by the Magistrate the Anabaptists prophesied that he should come out with an hundred and fourty four thousand sealed ones and smite the earth but he never came out but died in prison many more might be recited for these quaking familisticall times but we will name but one more and that is out of New England Mrs Hutchinson when she was imprisoned for her blasphemies by the Magistrate prophesied that she should be miraculously delivered as Daniel out of the Lions den but it proved false she was afterward banished by the Magistrate to Road-Iland from thence removed to the Dutch plantation near a place in the Map called Hell-gate where the Indians contrary to their wont at least beside it slew her some say burnt her and all hers Ob. If it be said did not Mr Knox prophesie of the hanging of the Lord Grange and Mr Wise-Heart foretell the shamefull death of Cardinall Beaton who was hanged over the window out of which he lookt to see the man of God burnt so did not Luther speak many things of Germany and of his own writings that came to passe Ans First These men were sound in the faith and godly Secondly They did not pretend immediate revelations Thirdly They speak by the rules of Scripture as the transgressours shall be cut off and the enemies of God shall consume away Fourthly They spoke them as their judgement they imposed them on no mans faith these were no more revelations and prophesies then what that eminent * Dr Twisse Saint of God whose memory is precious said to one of us upon the breaking of the short Parliament in 1641 concerning the Arch Bishop of Canterbury sc I do much mistake if ever God suffer that man to die in his bed Thirdly As to his visions The Dr speaks much of his visions and those of the dark-world the world of Divells and the light world of Angells and the eternall world of glory and that he is now past Enthusiasmes it seems he hath been acquainted with that cheat of the Divell also and lives in glory the height of these pretended glorious visions renders them but the more deeply diabolicall Visions in Scripture are for the matter the same with revelations only they differ in this that visions are by the representation of the images of things to the mind as to Esay Jeremiah the Scriptures use the terms promiscuously it is commonly received that Paul was converted by a vision Acts 26.19 I was not saith he to King Agrippa disobedient to the heavenly vision he was strengthened in his great labours pains and dangers by a vision Act. 18.8 9. The Lord in a vision by night said to him be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace But what is this to this Dr Paul by a vision instrumentally from a blasphemer becomes a preacher his man by his visions of another kind from a mean preacher becomes a bold blasphemer God doth not now convert men by seeing visions but by hearing sermons we mean by the word the Lord Christ in heaven keeps to his own prayer sanctify them through thy truth John 17.17 What God may do by permitting and ordering the apparition of the Divell to some sinner is another case but it is very rare either for * See Sleidan moribundus suis acclamasse scitur ut cadem qui lectum conscenderet arcerent lib. 23. cap. ult terrour and despair as to Crescentius to whom the Divell appeared as a black Dog with fiery eyes and ears hanging down to the ground or for recovery which is extraordinarily seldome we know but one and that in these dayes and because fit for these dayes take it as it followeth from a godly ear-witnesse under his own hand Dear Sir I have one thing to tell you which is a very remarkable passage of divine providence amongst us here is one Nicholas Earle a Shoemaker sometimes living at Totnes now a souldier in the fort of Plymmouth within this moneth he did estrange himself from God conceiving there was no need of the ministery that it must down and that the Sacraments were but ceremonies and the Sabbath not to be observed to that purpose he argued with some about it on the Saturday my man was present and saw him in his hot contestation falling to the ground he detested those that bear the image of God conceiving himself the only Saint he was against singing of Psalms insomuch that when others did sing he would say they did lie like Divells he resolved to open his Shop windowes the next Lords day but on the Saturday night he was under strong temptations the Divell seemed to appear to him with terrible strange roarings on the Sabbath day he sent for me and when I came at the first I was welcome to him but suddenly he spit in defiance at me seeing him in that temper I left him The Munday about twelve a clock he came to himself and hath a strong conviction of his errours whereas he had left praying for a blessing and returning thanks for the creatures received he is now much troubled at the thoughts of it I have had conference with him he cannot be thankfull enough to God for his mercy in returning him so soon he desires the ministers to blesse God for his return and prayes that he may be stedfast in the truth this that I have written to you is
S. Paul but of his sorrow who sees any evidence The truth is from his visions he saith he â—s come to virginity from thence to the bestiality of marriage from thence either it must be his pleasure that the woâ—ld shall end with this generation which is more then impiously absurd or else he must be for community which is more then probable though more then 1 Some Indians punishing adultery with death even in thâ— greatest without mercy Paganish or else women to bear children otherwise then by men which is more then a Bedlam fancy The premisses considered though we do perswade our selves we have not known the tithe of his abominations and the pranks of Sathan amongst him and his we have ground to believe that his visions were nothing else but Erburies prophesies Mary Gadberries lights poor Gilpins inward voice and the silly womens being taken up into heaven at Newbery with many other small pieces of visioners in the nation collected into one volume and in somewhat a fairer dresse presented by Sathan at Bradfield and printed by him in London for Giles Calvert stationer to the c. Before we shut up this we would desire the reader to afford us a little of his time and patience to read these four considerations First The divine scriptures there is excellency sufficiency and profitablenesse to edification exhortation comfort to convince to convert to confirm all which the blessed spirit works by these as it pleaseth him we know the scriptures can do nothing without the spirit and we are certainly perswaded the holy spirit will do nothing without the scriptures The promise of grace is of both these sc my word and my spirit Isa 59. last which promise relates to gospel times as to the more clear and plentifull vouchsafement of both and blessed be God it is at this day in some measure fulfilled amongst the Lords chosen ones therefore we have reason to believe that the pretended visions of heaven amongst this kind of men are reall delusions of hell designed to thrust out the scriptures As for the onelynesse and fulnesse of the scriptures we offer amongst many that might be offered these few First 2 Thessal 2.1.2 Now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus that ye be not shaken in mind 2 Paul observes thâ—ee waâ—es of deceiving 1. the pretence of revelation 2. the smoothnesse and subtilty of expression 3. the forgery of testimony neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us and that they might not be deceived by either of these he layes down the word as a sure rule and guide The next is that 1 Timothy 6.3 If any man teach otherwise upon what pretence soever and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus and to the doctrine which is after Godlinesse he is proud c. The third is that full text 2 Tim. 3. last All scripture is given by the inspiration of God c. where we have first the authority secondly infallibility thirdly usefulnesse for doctrine c. and fourthly the end that the man of God even Timothy may be furnished and that throughly and that to all good works The last we will mention is that of Peter 2 Pet. 1.19 We also have a more sure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 piscator or most sure word of prophecy The Apostle prefers the voice of God in the scripture above the voice of God upon Mount Tabor and upon this reason the Jewes to whom he writes might possibly question that of Mount Tabor but they never questioned the truth of God in the scriptures And because this argument from the fulnesse of the scripture is profitable in it self and seasonable and direct to our present purpose we had thoughts to shew the judgements and experience of the saints in it but for fear of tiring our reader we will confine our selves to two eminent ones of former and later times The first is Austin how doth he raise and intend all his faculties to discover the glory of the word it is saith he Austin ser 38. ad Fratres in eremo more sweet then hony more pleasant then bread more soft then oyl more pure then silver more precious then gold the meat of angels the dainties of Archangels the glory of the Apostles the confidence of the Patriarchs the hope of the Prophets the crown of Martyres the doctrine above all to be beloved the breasts for the faithfull the wisdome out of the mouth of the most High the queen of all sapiences the science of sciences therefore legite attendite there we find that God is length for eternity breadth for love height for Majesty depth for wisdome it enlightens the mind purifies the heart strengthens faith conquers the devil contemns the world with much more The other is Luther I have saith he agreed with God Luth. loc com class 4. p. 76. pactum feci cum Dâ—o meo that I might not have visions or Angels I am contented that I have the Bible which is abundantly enough to grace and glory this I believe here I acquiesce and I am certain I cantot be deceived Instead of inspiration we have the doctrine of the gospel and in the place of visions we have the Sacraments which shew forth Christ many Fanaticks have set upon me with their visions and revelations boastingly but I answer I would rather have Davids understanding in the word then the visions of the prophets The second particular is this That these visions and revelations have been an old shift of Sathan and a cheat formerly and so down to this day The Gnosticks of them the Valentinians and Cerinthians with others these were horrid railers against Jesus Christ scoffers of the Apostles kennels of all noisomnesse and filth not to be named non-sensicall wresters of that which they pleased to allow for scripture yet they gave out they received ther doctrine by revelation from heaven and it is observable that when Cerinthus was driven to a non plus he said it was revealed to him by Christ and so downwards to the Papacy where we have revelations and visions enough to fill a dung-pot Dr Reynolds in his conference with Hart saith that of these Papisticall visions some were reall some forged the first were from the devil but both first and last were for the devil And after when God raised up Luther with an excellent spirit and the light of the gospel began to dawn and shine in despite of Sathan the Pope the Emperour and begâ—n to spread not only to some towns but Dukedomes and Provinces the devil had no way to help himself but by the trances and revelations of that wicked crew in Germany who * Odio implacabili nos insectantur plus quam papistas they said there were two true prophets David and King John the Tailor and two false prophets the Pope and Luther maligned Luther with a most deadly hatred by far
kingdome of heaven you are of the last sort you were not born so and you were not made so of men but you have made your self so but we tell you again you ignorantly if not wickedly pervert the text for the text is meant of the unmarried nay the very drift of the chapter from the first verse to the ninth is to confirm the bond of marriage as indissoluble against the Pharisees what doth this concern you that have a wife and seven or eight children 9. You are most unhappy in your Marginall text to 1 Cor. 7.38 let them that marry be as though they married not do you think the meaning of the Apostle is that man and wife should not dwell together as man and wife but live as you pretend you and Mrs Pordage have done as though you were not man and wife It is clear that in this you and Mrs Pordage are no more then you and Mrs Flavell 10. Why do you say Christ was born of a Virgin and lived in virginity Christus non duxit uxorem ejus actio est nostra instructio said the Gnostickâ— Respondet Clemens conjugium Christus approbavit doctrina miraculis Chem. exam par 3. leaving us an example was that the reason why he did come When we think of the infinity and glory of the Lord Christ how unsuitable marriage was to him and how his work was to give up his soul a ransome we cannot but admire at the blindnesse of this Dr who still is driving at this that Christ is but a type Why do you say that you had two spirituall worlds discovered to you and apply to these worlds that text Heb. 1.2 By whom also he made the world were the worlds in that verse made by Christ your mundi Idaeales your phantasticall worlds at Bradfield pittifull ignorance 11. Why do you quote that text Heb. 5.14 but strong meat belongs to those that are of full age and have their sences exercised to discern both good and evil and wretchedly apply it to your spirituall sensation as you call it and the opening of your inward sences to see cloven feet and dragons is this the meaning of the holy spirit 12. You say among the devils you saw principalities powers dignities and you say this is answerable to the text Eph. 6.12 Tell us who told you which was this and which that did any one point with a rod and say to your inward hearing there goes a prince there goes a power why do you force that text to palliate the matter and cheat your reader this text proves that the devils are by Gods just judgement rulers of this world but it doth not prove any government or princedome among themselves 13. To hasten You say you had an opening of the eternall world the kingdome prepared where you were as Paul once c. pag. 78 and you call it the world to come and quote for it Heb. 2.5 He hath not put in subjection to the Angels the world to come whereof we speak We do confesse this text is controverted Calvin understands it of the world restored by Christ our right being forfeited by sin Piscator of the mundus renovatus as in 2 Pet. 3.11 * So the Annotations on the New Test others of the gospel world because of the context But we conceive it is hardly sence to understand it as you do of the kingdome of glory for how alien and forreign is it to S. Pauls mind to read that text thus he hath not put in subjection to the Angels the kingdome of glory of which we now eak Though this might have passed for a small mistake in another yet in this Dr it is considerable because he pretends his hearing of the unutterable misteries of that kingdome and therefore his ignorance is observable we believe S. Pauls rapture but not his in the least by any means 14. In the same place you say that your divine transportation was agreeable to that of John 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory What ignorance and wresting of the scripture is this was Christ with you in your chamber at Bradfield what did you behold of the glory of Christ there it is justly charged and fully proved and righteously sentenced against you that you have blasphemed that glory sc his Godhead and bloud and you do not tell us that in this third heaven you saw any thing of either is that sweet prayer to be understood of visions here on earth or of believers coming to and abiding in heaven with Christ for ever 15. So Heb. 10.19 is quoted by you to speak for your entrance into the eternall world by your visions but the text saith no such thing the text doth not say we have an entrance into the holiest by visions which are delusions but by the bloud of Jesus 16. What did you mean to call wisdome and quote for it Pro. 8.20 23. the eternall virgin See the last Annot. Assemb upon the text do you know what you say who is there meant by wisdome is it not Jesus Christ did he shew you the way that leads to the life of virginity to leave your wife why do you call him the eternall virgin is it not to possesse your people against marriage are you out of your wits 17. Why did you insultingly p. 103. charge Mr Trapham a godly person one of the Commissioners and now print him a man of mean intellectualls and why because he never heard of any other death and resurrection of Jesus Christ but at Jerusalem you pittifull ignoramus is not this true doth not the Apostle say Christ being risen from the dead dieth no more Rom. 6.9 and in that he died he died once and Christ was offered once not often Heb. 9. last Now if he died but once he rose but once and both these he did at Jerusalem You say that Mr Trapham never read or never understood these three texts First Heb. 6.6 You Dr is that text understood of backsliders reall crucifying Christ on earth or their wicked trampling and profaning of his bloud now he is in glory was this done by their hands or by their hearts The next you quote is Gal. 3.1 Is this text understood of a crucifying Christ indeed or the shewing forth of his death in the word and Sacraments doth not that very verse say that Christ was set forth amongst them and before whose eyes mark Dr not by whose hands and crucified amongst you not by you For the other text you quote about Christs rising Eph. 2.5 T is true Gods elect were quickened with Christ what then what do you conclude ergo did Christ rise in other places besides Jerusalem The truth is Mr Trapham was transported with a just indignation to hear this mans brother vent such Familisticall stuffe concerning the man child reported by himself to be born at Bradfield sc that this man child