Christ saving only he should not dye for the sinnes of men This Mistris Attaway had a great parchment role wherein many things were written and this was to be given to Jenney and this Jenney beleeved all Mistris Attaway told him as fully as might be that he should never dye c. This Mistris Attaway also gave out that there should come ships from Tarshish to fetch away all the Saints to Jerusalem and all that would not turne Jewes should be destroyed and this whole Land should be destroyed and therefore she would goe away before hand to escape This Jenney Mistris Attaway and some of their Tribe held no hell but what was in the conscience the soules mortall they held the Book of Esdrâ—s had great things in it to them who had the spirit to understand it and that there was Esaus world and Jacobs world this was Esaus world but Jacobs world was comming shortly wherein all creatures shall be saved And this Prophet who was shut up was to come forth to preach this new Doctrine of generall Restauration and Salvation of all and though all should be saved yet there should be degrees of glory between those that have been Saints they should be more glorious and those who were the wicked though now restored This Jenney held from that Scripture in Genes where God saith I will make him an help meet for him that when a mans wife was not a meet help he might put her away and take another and when the woman was an unbeleever that is not a Sectarie of their Church she was not a meet help and therefore Jenney left his wife and went away with Mistris Attaway A Commander belonging to the Army told me last July he had seen some of the Sectarian Preachers preach lately with their hats on and sitting he told me he had heard Master Cradock Master Peters and other such Preachers insinuate into the souldiers flatter them all kind of wayes telling them what they had done what fame they had atchieved how they had conquered â—he Kingdome and particularly a little before he heard Master Peters preaching thus you who have conquered the Kingdome done all this service and now when you have done all this might expect your Arrears look to enjoy your Liberties yea and expect preferments good places as you have well deserved it may be you shall be cast into a stincking prison but if it should be so t is the will of God and yee must provide to beare it There is one Thomas Collier a great Sectary in the West of England whom I have spoken of in the second part of Gangraena and have printed some Letters of his in this third part I have seen a Book of his printed in the year 1645. called certain Queres or Points now in controversie examined wherein among other Errours laid down by him he makes Baptizing the Children of the faithfull not only to be vaine bâ—t evill and sinfull yeâ— the commission of Baptizing Children to come from the Divell or Anti-Christ or both And secondly that Magistrats have no power at all to establish Church-Government or to compell any to the Government of Christ by any humane power and upon occasion of discoursing of the power of the Civill Magistrate what hee should do now religion is corrupted and the Magistrates endeavour is to Reforme it and to this end have called an Assembly of Learned men to assist them in this work This Learned Master Collier if he might be thought meet makes bold to present these three words in this case to the Parliament First To dismisse that Assembly of Learned men who are now call'd together for to consult about matters of Religion and the reason this Learned Clark gives is because he cannot conclude that God hath any thing to do there for them he knowes no rule in the Book of God for such an Assembly and therefore cannot expect a blessing The second Word To go on in subduing of Antichristian enemies so farre as by Civill Law they have power for there must by this or some other meanes be a desolation upon the tenth part of the City The third Word is That the Parliament would give the Kingdome to the Saints and for who gives the Kingdom to the Saints so it be done Master Collier will not much dispute whether it be the Lord Jesus immediatly or Jesus by a Parliament only thus much he would have men take notice that by the Kingdome is meant an externall Kingdome for the Saints shall possesse that as well as the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ Hence we may see by Master Colliers words that his Saints viz. those whom he hath described before in the former part of his Book Separatists Anabaptists do look for from the Parliament that they should give the Kingdome to them and all temporall power and rule and take it out of the hands of all others So that the King the Parliament unlesse there be some of Master Colliers Saints among them the Judges and all men who by the Lawes under the King and Parliament have any Civill power of rule in the Kingdome must have it taken from them and given to the Sectaries Saints Yea I conceive by Colliers words not only England but Scotland and Ireland are to be taken from the King and to be given by the Lord Jesus immediatly or by Jesus by a Parliament to the Saints which whether it be not so or no I leave the Reader to judge upon transcribing Colliers own words where giving his second word of advice to the Parliament of going on to subdue Antichristian enemies so far as they have power because there must by this or some other meanes be a desolation upon the tenth part of the City he interprets his meaning in these following words Which I think to be England and those Dominions belonging to it Scotland and Ireland I conceive this to be the time that the Kingdome is to to taken from him who shall arise and subdue three Kings that is Kingdoms speaking great words thinking to change times and Laws but the Judgement shall fit and take away this Dominion to consume it and destroy it to the end Dan. 7. 26. Therefore let not your hearts faint neither your hands draw back God will finish his work The third Word is that they would give the Kingdome to the Saints Dan. 7. 27. Who gives the Kingdome to the Saints The judgement that pulls down the power and Kingdome of the one gives to the other Whether iâ— be the Lord Jesus immediatly or Jesus by a Parliament I shall not much dispute but leave it to your considerations Only thus much take notice that by the Kingdome is not only meant an externall Kingdome for the Saints shall possesse that but the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ c. This Collier as it appears by his Letter before mentioned
grants one step may be gone further that in such things as men by their weaknesse make themselves lesse serviceable to the common-wealth or Church they may be denyed some priviledges and benefits that are granted to others And of this Master Burroughs gives instances and enlarges it Now certainly if this doctrine were good and true in the yeare 1645. before the successe of the new Modell and the recruit of the House of Commons the doctrine in the City Remonstrance 1646. cannot be bad nor false that would have Anabaptists Heriticks and Schismaticks kept and removed from places of Publike trust If they may be denyed priviledges and benefits that are granted to others and some trouble laid in their way c. for their opinions then certainly they should not be preferred above others to all places of publike trust whilst men who conforme to the true Religion established by the State be kept out yea turned out of places And as Master Burroughs was of this mind so I and divers others have heard Mr Tho. Goodwin ingenuously professe since this Parliament though the Magistrate should forbeare tender consciences that could not come up to the Rule yet it was most equall that the countenance and preferments in the Magistrates hands should be bestowed only on those who conformed to what was established and therefore said hee we desire only to be suffered to live and enjoy the Ordinances but expect no places nor any of that maintenance which is in the States disposing and therefore the Remonstrants in that branch of their Petition were â—arre from Persecution Injustice if Master Burroughs and Master Goodwin may be beleeved and that which they desired most necessary to take off the wantonnesse of mens spirits and the neglect of meanes and in all this theâ—'s no more graines of trouble then might help aginst this wantonnesse c. and the truth of it is these preferments places of publike trust c. have made more Sectaries and Anti-Presbyterians then all the Sermons and Books ever preached and printed by the Sectaries and 't is one of the great springs of all our evills the prime cause of all Injustice Oppression Error Faction and things will never go well with the publike nor the union of both Kingdomes be soundly setled till Hereticks Blasphemers Schismaticks Seekers Anabaptists Antinomians Libertines Brownists and Independents be removed from all places of publike trust both Martiall and Civill and 't is a most righteous thing to Petition for it As the zealous Protestants of this Kingdome could not expect Justice protection from Popish Counsellours Judges Justices c. then in place and we cryed out of it before this Parliament as an intolerable griveance and mischeif to the good subjects of this Kingdome because men but suspected of Popery or whose Wives were Papists were in places of publike trust for by that meanes Papists were brought off and such as were cald Puritants felt their power upon all occasions no more can the Orthodox Presbyterians expect right justice from Sectarian Counsellors Justices of Peace c. especially in differences between them and Independents for all Sectaries looke upon cordiall Presbyterians with a greater eye of malignity jealousie particular interest then any other sort of men and therefore to strengthen their owne party will weaken and discourage them all they can possibly There were some Independents that dining in June last at the house of a Presbyterian who married an Independent were speaking of the Presbyterians that generally all of them desired that help might goe for Ireland and that on the Fast day in June they preached and prayed much for help to relieve Ireland and among other Ministers they named one that should pray thus or to this effect That now Oxford was taken all might goe Lord let them all goe These Independents said the Presbyterians had some design sure they were so earnest for the Army to goe to Ireland but some of the Independents said they had something else or other use for the Army then to goe to Ireland The Sectaries in the Moneth of May last raged extremely and spake desperately so that a Common-Councell man who had heard many of them speak told me he had said to some of them that they must provide Bedlam for them The newes of the Kings going to the Scots the Remonstrance of the City of London with some other things that fell out that Moneth vexed them terribly one Sectary a kind of Gentleman belonging to a Parliament man said in the hearing of some that the King the House of Lords the City the Scots and the Assembly were joyned together but they had the House of Commons and the Army and gave out some such words as if some three or foure thousand horse should billet in the City This man was had before my Lord Major for these words and I being told of it by one who went to my Lord Majors with him I also having an opportunity asked my Lord Major of the truth of it who remembred there was such a thing God grant the King House of Lords City Scots Assembly be well joyned together and agreeing and not only King Lords c. but the House of Commons also The Lord send a perfect Peace and Union between the King and both Houses and give a good understanding and agreement alwayes between Parliament Citie Assembly our Brethren of Scotland These kind of speeches of the Commons and the Army put by themselves as divided from the House of Lords City c. are words of sedition but to vindicate the honour of the House of Commons and the Army from such speeches as these too frequent in the mouths of many Sectaries I can assure the Kingdome from the mouths of many worthy Members of the House of Commons and of Commanders in the Army how much soever these Sectaries presume upon the House of Commons calling them in many Pamphlets of late Their owne House of Commons our House of Commons and upon the Army that they are Independents and for that party that the greatest number of Members of that House by farre are no Sectaries and though some are crept in among them Yet the body of the House are neither Independents Anabaptists Antinomians nor such like and so in the Army there are more Presbyterians then Independents yea if the Army were divided into four parts three parts of the four are no Independents Anabaptists Antinomians c. and therefore I hope to see the day of King Lords Commons Scots City of London Armies the body of the Kingdome all concurring for the setlement of the Reformed Protestant Religion and for the extirpating of Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and all Doctrine which is not according to godlinesse A Citizen an able understanding man related to me and two Citizens within these few dayes that he and a great Independent speaking together about the King this Citizen urged that branch of the Covenant That we have sworn to defend the Kings
Person and Authority and to maintain His just power and greatnesse the Independent replyed presently what was his just power suppose saith this Independent there were a theife and you should make a Covenant with him to maintaine his just priviledges what of that might you not for all that bring him to punishment labouring to bring him to the Gallows were his just priviledges and no breach of Covenant whereupon said this Citizen Is this your interpretation of the Covenant I would never have taken it whilst the world stood in that sense and further said this Citizen when this Covenant was made and sworne what ever you can say against the King as raising Wars against the Parliament and what ever else you imagine It was before this Covenant was taken you knew as much of him before as now so that t is strange you should speak so And then this Citizen reasoned with this Independent against punishing the King David was guilty of Murther and Adultery and there were then Elders of the people Princes and Judges in Israel as well as now and yet none of them offered to question David upon his life or inflict punishment neither do we find that God by the prophets gave any such direction to punish David though by the Law death was due for Murther to other men we know God sent the prophet Nathan to reprove him and to bring him to repentance for his great sinne but not to stirre up the Princes Judges and Elders of the people to proceed against him as they did against Malefactors A Relation and Discovery of the Libertinisme and Atheisme horrible fearfull uncleannesses of severall kinds Drunkunnesse generall Loosenesse and licentiousnesse of living Cosening and Deceiving both of particular persons and of the State and Kingdome fearfull Lying Jugling and falsifying of promises abominable Pride and boasting in the Arms of flesh unsufferable Insolencies and horrible misdemeanors of many Sectaries of these times particularly their Insolencies against the Lawes of the Land the King the House of Lords House of Commons some particular worthy Members by name of both Houses Committees of both Houses both Houses of Parliament as conjunct in their Authority and Ordinances against our Brethren of Scotland the Kingdom of Ireland the City of London the Assembly the whole Ministery of this Kingdom and all the Reformed Churches against inferior Magistrates and Courts as the Judges Justices of Peace Majors of Cities Committes and all sorts of Officers of Justice THe Particulars in all these kinds are so many and so infinite that particularly to reckon them up and give their story would fill a great volume and I have already in the foregoing part of the Book given some instances in most of them and therefore I shall but breifly point at and give hints only upon these severall heads referring the Reader for further satisfaction to many Pamphlets and Books daily printed and openly sold and to his own observation of things 1. The great Libertinisme and Atheisme of many Sectaries appears by their violent and feirce pleading for by word and writing a free Liberty and Toleration of all kind of Religions and Consciences whatsoever and that not only in lesser points of Doctrine but in the most fundamentall Articles of Faith yea and of denying the Scriptures and that there is a God and by the pleading for Liberty in such away and by such mediums viz. that no man is infallible and certaine in any thing he holds that t is possible he may be mistaken c. as do necessarily overthrow all Religion whatsoever There have been within these few yeers some scores of Books written wholly for Toleration and pretended Liberty and some hundred of Books wherein that 's pleaded for together with other things and so farre are the Sectaries gone in Libertinisme * that all true love piety Religion conscience is placed in a generall allowance of what mens corrupted and defiled consciences like and the greatest sinne wickednesse evill that men can commit or be capable of is placed in the using of good means and the power God hath given to hinder and restraine this Liberty There is a Book called Toleration justified printed 1646. asserteth t is not safe to put any bounds to Toleration or to restraine in any thing whatsoever no not in denying the Scriptures and a Deity There is a Pamphlet A Demurre to the Bill for preventing the growth and spreading of Heresie that came out lately since that Ordinance against Heresies was brought in to the H. of Commons that pleads page 3. with many Libertine Arguments against all punishing of those that maintaine there is no God as among others with this We beseech you let not God and the truth of his being be so excessively dispâ—raged as not to be judged sufficient to maintaine it against all gainsayers without the helpe of any earthly power to maintaine it Let Turks and those that beleeve in strange gods which are 〈…〉 gods make use of such power and infirme supporters of their supposed d 〈…〉 s but let the truth of our God the only God the omnipotent God be judged abundantly able to support it self t is a tacit imputation of in 〈…〉 s to imagine it hath need of our weake and impotent assistance There are Queres concerning a printed Paper entituted An Ordinane for the preventing and growing of Heresies c. where among many Libertine questions the second proclaims it self to be Scepticall and Athâ—isticall supposing except men make themselves infallible that the preaching printing and maintaining contrary to these Doctrines That God is that God is present in all places that God is Almighty that God is eternall perfectly holy c. may be the sacred truths of God for ought any man knowes There have beene and are daily many strange speeches uttered wholly tending to Libertinisme and Atheisme A Reverend godly Minister told me July the fourth 1646. he heard and Independent say what if I should worship the Sunne or the Moone as the Persians did or that Pewter Pot standing by what hath any man to do with my conscience A great Sectary pleaded in the hearing of persons of worth from whom I immediately had it for a Toleration of Stage-playes and that the Players might be set up againe I heard a Sectary plead for a Toleration of Witches and I urging that argument that Witches might say they in their conscience hold the Devill for their God and thereupon worship him it was answered that precept against not suffering Wirches was spoken to the Israelites not to us and will you because Witches deale with a familiar spirit therefore send them to the Devill by taking away their lives Many Sectaries often say that all the judgements of God upon us are because we will not receive the Government of of Christ suffer it to be set up among us viz. to let every one beleeve what he will and serve God according to his conscience as also they say if ever
divers particular Members of both Houses by name but as conjunct in their Authority Power and that in both the senses in which the Parliament is taken whether as we meane the three Estates in Parliament in their Legislative power the King the Lords the Commons or whether the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament making the highest Court to punish other Courts and offendors according to Lawes already made and having a power to make Ordinances and to set out rules and directions in emergent occasions of the Kingdome till a Law can be made Now in the first acception of Parliament the Sectaries have by word writing and all their proceedings especially of late overthrowne Parliaments and the fundamentall constitution of the three estates King Lords and Commons and that in denying all Legislative power to the King and Lords and of three Estates leaving and making but one cutting off both King and Lords from their unquestionable legall power according to the Lawes and fundamentall constitution of the Government of this Kingdome yea indeed destroying all the three estates taking away all the power and authority from the King Lords and Commons and placing it in the universall people giving them power to doe what they will and as often as they will as being the Creator of all and making the King Lords and Commons their meere creatures to be disposed of as they please and as the Sectaries are against the power of the three Estates in Parlia to make new Lawes giving this Legislative power only to the Commons and that to at the discretion of the people so are they against the Lawes and Acts already made by King Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament having inveighed against all Lawes from first to last both Common and Statute yea against Magna Charta it selfe calling it a poore and beggarly thing below a Freeman c. of the proofes of which particulars though the Sectaries Books are full I shall only name one place in the Remonstrance of the Sectaries to their owne House of Commons page 15. where they speak thus to the Commons Yee know the Lawes of this Nation are unworthy of a free people and deserve from first to last to be considered and seriously debated and reduced to an agreement with common equity and right reason Magna Charta it selfe is but a beggarly thing containing many marks of intolerable bondage and the Lawes that have beene made since by Parliaments have in very many particulars made our Government much more oppressive and intolerable and in all their Books they speak against the knowne positive Lawes of the Land and cry out for Lawes according to right reason and for naturall primitive rights the just rights and prerogative of mankind which as they are the sonnes of Adam from him they have legitimatly derived of which they make themselves the sole Judges for otherwise our Ancestors who first founded this government and Lawes and the Parliaments ever since in all ages being rationall men have judged the present forme of Government and the Lawes to be most agreeable to Right Reason and Equity for this Nation and accordingly have confirmed and ratiâ—ied them so many times Now if this insolent outragious carriage of many Sectaries be well considered it will be found Treason in the highest forme not only against the King but the Kingdome too as my Lord Cook spake in the case of the Gunpouder Traytors they having plotted endeavoured written many Books done many actions to overthrow the fundamentall constitution and lawes of this Kingdome and that not by blowing up one Parliament but by their gun-powder spirits labouring to destroy all Parliaments in their constitution of three Estates for ever and if Strafford and Canterbury for endeavouring to subvert the fundamentall lawes of this Kingdome though they professed ignorance in many things and for what they did pleaded the command of the King and carried themselves with all duâ—ifull submission to the Parliament not to their faces and in the time of a Parliament endeavouring to overthrow Parliaments and Lawes and confronting them were yet charged and suffered death how many deaths hath Lilburne Overton and the rest of their fellowes deserved who have with so much violence sought the overthrow of the three Estates and the Lawes of the Kingdome and in the stead of the Fundamentall Government Lawes and Constitution of this Kingdome to set up an Utopian Anarchie of the promiscuous multitude and the â—usts and uncertaine fancies of weake people for Lawes and Rules and if these audacious men and their daring books shall escape without exemplary punishment and instead thereof be countenanced and set free I do as a Minister pronounce that the plague of God will fall upon the heads of those who are the cause of it Aâ—d in the second acception of the Parlia for what hath been done by the joynt power of both Houses in their Ordinances and commands yea the power which they claime and is expressed in the Writs by which they make such Ordinances and command obedience to them both the Authority and the Ordinances following from that Authority are denied and reproached all kind of wayes by the Sectaries and here I have so large a feild to walke in that I might make a fourth part of Gangraena in laying open the particulars of this kind but I will only speak a few things In the generall the Authority of both Houses of Parliament in matters of Religion and all Ordinances whatsoever tending that way have beene all violâ—â—ed with a high hand and trampled undeâ— foot with scorne and detestation openly declared against in the strangest manner that ever was in any age Now for the Sectaries opposing the Parliaments Authority to establish Church-government and to set up the true Religion I will among many quote only three First Collyer a Master Sectary in his Queres p. 24. answering that question what power c. saith they have none at all and that t is one of the first and greatest degrees of Antichristian tyranny for man to assume to himself power in spirituall things vide p. 24 25 26 27 28 29. Secondly Mr. Burton in his Pamphlet entituled Conformities Deformity it being the maine scope of his Book speaks against the power and practise of this State and present Parliament to enact a Law to binde all to conformity in Religion and makes it to be the feare of God raught by the precept of men to be hypocrisie idolatry to be that which turnes men away from the truth and so from Christ page 7. 15. and in page 12 1â— he writes thus Aâ—d therefore in this time of pretended Reformation belike the Parliament doth but pretend Reformation because it sets not up by a Law Independencie and Sectarisme Presbyteriall Government the Diâ—â—ctory Confession of Faith Catechisme being all but pretended Reformation with Master Burton to erect this great Idoll to wiâ— a power in man to prescribe Lawes and to lâ—gi 〈…〉 commandements for worship
skins over the Wolves yeeres come out from them and instead of siding any longer with them turne to the Ortho â—ox godly party to help the Lord against them as also such Presbyterians who know the Sectaries well should from all this be stirr'd up to shake off their dulnesse lazinesse and become active vigilant diligent naturally caring for the state of things contending and striving earnestly for the truth of God against the Sectaries of these times and now in the conclusion of this Third Part I will hint a few things both to those who have beene deceived by the Sectaries and to the Presbyterians who well know them To the first sort consider have you not beene too long cheated and carried along with faire pretences almost to the utter ruine of Religion and the Kingdome have you not and doe you not see in many affaires one thing pretended and another intended doe you not see evidently that their godlinesse is gaine and great places that their zeale for preaching and spreading the Gospell is to have all Errors and Heresies of a suddaine spread over the Kingdome and so in other things and will you still suffer your selves to be deceived by them there are some who were courted and complemented with and doe confesse they were deceived by them and have left them doe you so likewise and deliver your selves and the Kingdome thereby out of this Babell Secondly consider you had as good leave them at first as at last for either you must resolve to go thorough with them in all their designes and to the highest which I suppose midling well meaning men intend not but abhor to think of or else if not then when they have by your help effected and brought about their ends they will cast you off and you shall be served with the same sauce as the zealous Presbyterians thus the Prelats served divers whom they made use of and would not go on with them in every thing and so will the Sectaries serve many well-meaning men who know not the depths of Satan therefore 't is better for you to leave them then that they being made strong by your meanes should in the end ruine and destroy you and let such moderate well-meaning men know that if they will still adhere to that party after all these discoveries of them God will look upon them as partakers of all their sinnes will destroy them with the Sectaries and they are like to perish in the gain-saying of Core and therefore I bespeak them in the words of Moses Numb 16. 26. Depart I pray you from the Tents of these wicked men touch nothing of theirs least yee be consumed in all their sinnes feare suspect every motion that comes from that party though it seeme never so good though propounded by others not of their way and if it be not a thing exceeding cleare and certaine to thee take heed of closing in with it rather suspend and advise upon it for these Sectaries often act by other men get good men who see not their depths to promote their cause hiding alwayes the hook of their designes under the bait of priviledge liberty safety godlinesse all which are not regarded by them but the doing of their work the increase of Sectarisme and Error For the other sort the Presbyterians consider what a shame 't is that a handfull of men in comparison should by their activity diligence minding their work bring things to that passe they are in our Armies Councels City Country and the Presbyterians of both Kingdomes ten times as many â—it still as it were and suffer them Oh if so few have done so much and that in a bad cause what might not we doe in a good cause if courageous zealous and intent upon it certainly we might in a short time break the hearts and the neck of that faction and in speciall if the City of London and the Government of it would appeare as they might and when they have begun follow and prosecute it in beginning to put the Lawes in execution against those who come not to Church in punishing those Sectaries who live under their jurisdiction and government for abusing them in print in taking care that no Sectarie have any office or place of government in the City in petitioning the Parliament againe and againe they might by the blessing of God quickly remedy all If I should but mind the City of the solemne Covenant they have taken to endeavour in their places the extirpation of Heresie and Sâ—hisme of what the Kingdome all good and honest men expect from them in this kind of all the affronts and injuries they have suffered from that party and by meanes of that party and of all they shall surely suffer from that party if they prevaile be trampled upon and made slaveâ— used as the poore Citizens of Munster were by the Anabaptists these and many such other would make them take heart arise and be doing but I shall conclude all with turning my selfe to Christ and that in the words of Veâ—elius in alike case against the Arminians of Holland Arise O Lord Jesus have mercy upon these Kingdomes vindicate thy owne glory To thee who with the Father and the holy Spirit art that one and only true God be honor glory and praise for ever Amen Postscript GOod Reader I conceive before this time thou hast expected my larger and fuller Reply to Cretensis promised in the Second Part of Gangraena as also some Answers from me to severall Pamphlets put out against some Parts and peeces of my Gangraenaes as to Master Burrowes Vindication Gangraena playes Rex Lancesters-Laâ—ce Gangraena-chrestum A Discovery of a Beame in Master Edwards his eye A Prediction of Master Edwards conversion A Parable or Consultation of Physitians upon Master Edwards Some passages of Sâ—â—tmarsh against me printed in a Pamphlet against Master Gataker Master Ley and some others Now of all these or most of these I shall give so good an account and reason at this time as I question not will very well satisfie the Reader For my fuller Reply unto Cretensis some part whereof was printed before the Second Part of Gangraena came forth I proceeded no further upon these Reasons Many judicious and learned friends told me I had given such a satisfactory Answer already to Cretensis that they thought the Second needlesse and desired me rather to set forth some other Tractates as also upon the coming out of my Second Part of Gangraena I was assured from some who at the presse and from the presse had seen divers sheets and read some part that an Answer of Cretensis to my Antapologie was printing and would come abroad â—re long whereupon I thought best to deale with Master Goodwin once for all to take that in make it all one work and not to trouble my self any more with him till the man should come to write matter and Reason and not only words and meer flourishes Now before his
may have printed in any of these or any other of this kind I conceive t is highly for their service that they may know what hurt the Sectaries doe them and how the Kingdome takes things and truly next to the glory of God the great thing that moves me to write as I doe of the Sectaries is the great dammage and prejudice that comes to the Parliament by them that as Hester said of Haman to Ahazuerus the enemy could not countervaile the Kings dammage So the Sectaries doings all the Kingdome over in all kind of Mechanicks preaching in making tumults and riots in Churches in driving away godly Ministers and venting all kind of abominable opinions does so much wrong to the Parliament in the Countries severall wayes that they can never countervaile the Parliaments dammage and losse and I have related such things for no other end but to let them know so much and I could wish both Houses had read all passages in Letters sent from severall parts of the Kingdome and from beyond Seas to London which I have sâ—â—ne of this nature aâ— what ill bloud these things breed and how because of the Sectaries they lose a peice in the hearts of their best freinds with many other passages which I forbeare now to relate The Parliament upon many of the wicked doings of the Sectaries as baptizing a Horse making uproares in Churches c. may take up a like speech which Jacob said to Simeon and Levi Ye have troubled me to make me to stinck among the Inhabitants of the Land You have troubled us to make us to lose the hearts of many well-affected people in City and Country and thereby encouraged the common enemy to be ready to gather themselves against us again and we being few in number in danger to be deserted of the people by reason of you we shall be destroyed and our House 7. Whereas some of the Sectaries in their Pamphlets as Master Walwyn and others have often insinuated that I have preached and written so much against the Sectaries out of Policy Superstition worldly and selfe Interest to maintain my owne Covetousnesse Ambition desire of Domination distinction betweene Clergy and Laytie out of a spirit of opposition and Persecution against conscientions and peaceable men all which they have done out of a designe to blast my books among many who know me not not knowing otherwise how to answer them I do therefore that I may countermine the Sectaries in this and take of these prejudices declare as in the presence of God I never have nor do appeare against the Sectaries and Errors of the times from any of these principles but from a zeale of the glory of God and his Truth and that founded upon knowledge and search a compassion to the Souls of poore people deceived and the discharge of my duty and Conscience as a Minister of the Gospel and as for those other of Policy Self-interest c. they have never fallen so much as under my consultation unlesse that I have considered and forecast that what I was doing in writting such a Book and such a Book was against all Policy Self-Interest and the ready way as the times were and are to run the hazard of the ruine of my selfe and my family and that what I write is truth and the Sectaries speeches aspersions I desire the Reader to observe these following particulars and do challenge all the Sectaries to disprove any one particular if they can 1. Many years ago when I was persecuted by some Prelates and their Creatures in no possibility nor capacity by my principles and practices of preforment as the best of the Independents well know I preached against and upon all occasions declared my self against the Brownists Separatists Antinomians and all Errors in that way as well as against Popish Innovations and Arminian Tenets There are many who were my Auditors in those times can and will witnesse what I have preached at London and at Hartford aginst those Errors when I have in the same places preached such Sermons against the prevailing Opinions Innovations and Corruptions of the Prelates that many thought I should never have preached again and indeed was not without manifold sufferings and troubles being put out of places stopped from coming into others and at last Letters missive with an Attachment sent out to bring me into the High Commission Court About thirteene years ago at Magnus Church I preaching against forsaking the Publick Assemblies had on a Lecture night at the same Church a Bill given me up among the Bills to pray for the sick speaking bitterly for so doing At Hartford about 10. years ago when Independency and the Church way began to be fallen too by some men of Note and some people to look after it I preached against it earely and by all wayes laboured to preserve the people About 8. yeares agoe when Errors on the right hand tooke with many I did at a Lecture in the City at Aldermanbury and Coleman-street preach against Apostasie and falling to Errors on the right hand and more particularly at Coleman-street many in that parish being then leaning that way gave some considerations against Errors on the right hand and warned the people of the white Devill quoting a saying of Master Cartwright out of the Proverbs and Master Brightman out of the Revelations against leaving the Church of England and Master John Goodwin was then well pleased with my Sermon that he gave mo great thanks 2. I never yet sought any great things for my self great livings or coming into publicke places of honor and respect to be of the Assembly or to preach in any publicke places before the Magistrates either at Westminster or London but have contented my selfe with small meanes and to preach in private places in comparison having refused many great livings and places preaching here in London for a little and that but badly paid aâ— many well know minding the worke and service little the maintenance I can speak it truly that in these open times when many young men raw preachers men who never bore the heat of the day have got great Livings of two or three hundred a yeere well situated with houses and all accommodations I have for the publick good declined all such offers spent my owne temporall estate to minister to my necessities not having had for almost these two last yeers 40. li. per Annum not withstanding any constant preaching on Lords dayes week-dayes and all extraordinary occasions of Fastings and thankesgiving I have beene willing to forsake my fatnesse and sweetnesse to neglect my profit health benefit of my Familie all advantages and in a sort to sequester my selfe from freinds and all worldly enjoyments to spend my time strengh spirits estate and all in reeding writing studying of the Controversie of these times having prepared many Tractates against the Errors of the times And as for Domination and affecting of Rule and Government I have little meddled in
of one Andrew Wike p. 169 170. A Relation of a story of Katherine Chidley and her sons being at Bury in Suffolke and of Gaffer Lanceter of Bury and his Pamphlet entituled Lanceters Launcâ— p. 170. 171. A relation of a Quarter-Masters preaching and of his telling the people he had a command from the spirit to preach and was under the command of the spirit p. 172. A Relation of words spoken by a Captain in the Army concerning the decolling of the King p. 172. A Relation of a Trooper in Northhamptonshiere standing up in the Church and speaking to a Minister questioning his Doctrine as also some souldiers wounding a Ministers son in that County p. 173. A Relation of a Captaine speaking how they would come against the City of London if the House of Commons should give order so to do p. 174. A Relation of a Sectary saying of the Ordinance of Tythes the Parliament made an Ordinance to rob men and calling those Theeves and Robbers who executed it and of his arresting the Justices of Peace and the Distrainers p. 175. A Relation of an Independent Commander declaring they were against Independent Government as well as Presbyteriall if it should be settled they were for liberty of conscience that no man should be tied to any thing p. 175. Animadversions on a Libellous Pamphlet entituled The Lord Mayors farewell from his Office of Majoral-ty p. 175 176 177 178. A Relation of the true Reason why breaches have been prevented in the Army there being so many Sectaries in it namely the great forbearance patience the passing by provocations and abuses p. 179 180. A Justification of that passage in the City Remonstrance that no Sectaries should be in places of publike trust and what some of the Independents opinions was of that heretofore as most equall p. 180 181. and a laying open the necessity of the Remonstrance taking place in that and what if no Justice nor good can be expected p. 181 182. A Relation of a Discourse between a Citizen and an Independent concerning the King and of the Independents interpretation of the Covenant concerning that part of it of defending the Kings Person p. 183 184. A Relation of the Libertinisme and Atheisme of the Sectaries p. 185 186 187. A Relation of the many kinds of uncleannesses of the Sectaries as Incest c. p. 187 188 189 190. A Relation of the drunkennesse of the Sectaries p. 190 191. A Relation of the loosenesse of the Sectaries p. 191. A Relation of the Sectaries couzening and deceiving p. 191 192. A Relation of the Sectaries grosse lying and slandering p. 192. A Relation of the pride of the Sectaries and boasting in armes of flesh p. 192 193. A Relation of the Sectaries unsufferable insolencies and horrible affronts to Authority particularly 1. Against the Lawes of the Land both Common and Statute p. 194 195. 2. Against the King 195 196. 3. Against the House of Peers 196 197 198 199 200 201 202. 4. Against the House of Commons 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213. 5. Against many particular Members of both Houses by name 213 214. Against Committees of both Houses 214 215. Against both Houses as conjunct in their Authority and Power p. 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223. Against our Brethren of Scotland p. 224 225 226 227. Against the City of London p. 228 229. Against the Assembly p. 230. Against the Ministers of the Kingdome p. 230 231. Against the Reformed Churches p. 231. Against inferiour Magistrates and Courts p. 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240. Among all the wickednesses of the Sectaries the Reader may observe these six following particulars 1. How they make it their worke to destroy and overthrow Religion p. 233 234 235 236. 2. How that when the King cast himselfe into the armes of our Brethren of Scotland they wished he had gone rather to France or Ireland p. 236. 237. 3. Their evill carriage towards our Brethren of Scotland p. 237 238 239. 4. Their prodigious carriage toward the Kingdome of Ireland p. 239 240. 5. Their damnable hypocrisie and dissimulation p. 240. and that in seven particulars 6. Their contemning and abusing Gods Ministers A Relation of a Sectaries grosse couzening one to whom he owed 50. pounds the latter end of the sheet A Relation concerning some passages spoken in a Sermon by M. Knollys an Anabaptist p. 241. A Relation of some passages delivered in divers Sermons by M. Symonds p. 241 242. Animadversions on M. Burtons Conformities Deformity p. 243 244 245. Certaine Quaeries propounded to M. Burton to shew him how he is mistaken p. 247 248. A Relation concerning Green a Felt-maker that preaches in an Alley in Colemans-street p. 248 249. A Relation concerning some Letters writ to worthy Members of the House of Commons Members of the Assembly and other Ministers by godly Ministers concerning the abuses done by the souldiers in the Army p. 249 250 251 252 253 254. A Relation concerning one in Authority and what trickes and devices he used to bring one in to be a Burgesse of Parliament p. 255 256. Certaine Corollaries drawne from the Errours and Heresies laid downe in this Booke Corol. 1. Shewes that by the insolent proceedings of the Sectaries those places of Scripture in Timothy and Peter are made good and fulfilled in our Sectaries p. 256 257 258. Corol. 2. Shewes that Errors and corrupt Doctrine produce a wicked life and loosenesse of manners p. 258 259 260 261. Corol. 3. Shewes that many of the Sectaries are not onely against Church-Government but against Civill Government p. 261 262 263. Corol. 4. Shewes that our evills are not taken away but only changed p. 263. Corol. 5. Shewes into what a condition we are fallen and from what fallen that we can doe and suffer such things as we do p. 573 294. Corol. 6. Shewes what a great plague and judgement to the Land so many Sectaries in the Army are p. 265 266 267. Corol. 7. Shewes that never in any Age or any Christian State there hath been such a sufferance and Toleration as hath been and is in our Kingdome p. 268. 269 270. Corol. 8. Shewes that the Sectaries though they will receive Liberty of Conscience yet they will not give it to others where they have power p. 271 272. Corol. 9. Shews as in a glasse the true cause of all our present evills to be a love of Sectarisme and Errours p. 27. Corol. 10. Shewes well-meaning men should learne to be undeceived p. 278. A Postscript in which the Reader hath an account given him of many Pamphlets put forth against Mr. Edwards since he writ the second part of Gangraena and some brief Animadversions upon them all as M. Burroughs Vindication Gangraena playes Rex M. Saltmarsh's Shadowes flying away c. A Relation of the Names and of the Speeches and doings of the principall Independents and Sectaries spoken of in this Booke Mr. Jesse page 19. 82. 85. Mr.
more no more night nor day summer nor winter 2 Pet. 3. 7 10 11 12. The heavens and the earth which are now are reserved unto fire against the day of judgement the heavens shall passe away the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up all these things shall be dissolved and whatever hath a being after the day of judgement is eternall and for ever so Revel 10. 6. there should be time no longer which some interpret there shall be no time because time shall be finished and this variety of dayes and nights moneths and years and an unchangeable eternity shall follow in the dayes of the seventh Angel but whether that be the meaning or no of the place this is certain that after the end of this world and the generall Judgement there will be an abolition of time and an eternity follow and therefore eternall fire and eternall chains both for devills and ungodly men cannot be meant of a long time but simply of eternall à parte post Thirdly there 's the same reason in every respect why eternall for judgement fire destruction should be taken in the same sense that eternall is when joyned to life kingdome c. but there 't is taken not for a long-lasting time but properly for everlasting and therefore must of necessity be so here and whatever colour glosse or evasion can be brought to evade that of hell torments damnation that they should not be eternall the same will lie as strong against the eternall life and kingdome given to the Saints but they overthrow the whole doctrine of faith break that golden chain of salvation in the eighth of the Romanes in all the links of it Election Vocation Justification Glorification nay further these Errors as they are laid down doe not onely crosse expresse Scriptures and Articles of our Faith but they deny salvation to all men who beleeve not those wicked doctrines making them the great Antichrist formall beleevers and putting the cause of all damnation to devills and men viz. for so long as they are damned upon the not-beleeving and receiving these wicked doctrines That all devills and men shall be saved and that Christ paid the price laying down his bloud for the pardon of all reprobated Men and Angels and that the beleeving of these doctrines is the only true Christian working faith commended so much by the Holy Ghost and of such an efficacy that this faith being but in two or three in the whole world shall yet save all the rest of the Creation then which Doctrines and Positions nothing can be more repugnant to the Christian faith and may properly be call'd doctrines of devills 33. The Trinity of Persons came downe in Christ to suffer Father Sonne and Holy Ghost suffered for their transgressing creature 34. There is a private Kingdom of Christs justice in which he sat Judge over the quick and dead to condemne and execute torments on the rebellious whom he held as prisoners for a time and there is Christs publick Kingdome to which the Private Kingdome must give place and as the Father hath given it to Christ to rule it for ever so Christ hath committed it to the Holy Ghost to enliven all things to bring up all to life and immortality and the Holy Ghost for the Father and the Son shall execute the judgement of love and mercies unto all for the destroying of death of hell 35. That t is unlawfull to pray unto God kneeling 36. That Organs are a sanctified adjunct in the service of God now under the Gospel and that if any man in the Church had a gift of making Hymner he might bring them in to be sung with Organs or other Instruments of musick In severall ages of the Church wanton men who could not be content with the simplicity of the Gospel have brought both into doctrines of Faith and Worship such opinions and practises still as have been most suitable to their genius and education to the principles of such Arts and Sciences in which they were versed as Origen and some others versed in Plato's Philosophy brought in opinions into the Church according to Plato's doctrine Some who have been much addicted to Painting and Imagery they have brought in Images into the Church and now some of our Independents having fancies in Musick singing taking great delight in that way they have pleaded for and brought into the Church Hymnes and Musick 37. That Adultery is no Sin and that Drunkenesse is none neither but a help to see Christ the better by it 38. Though consent of Parents unto Childrens marriage was commanded under the Law to them that lived then yet because that was but a ceremony t is now lawfull to marry without their consent because we live under the Gospel 39. Christs death and sufferings were endured for to be our example not to purchase heaven for us 40. That 't is not lawfull for Christians to take an oath no not when they are called before Authority and brought into Courts 41. That Christ would destroy not only unlawfull Government but lawfull Government not only the abuse of it but the use of it he was destroying both Monarchy and Aristocracy 42. That the Saints besides the spirituall Kingdome and Government of the Church of Christ must have an externall Kingdom to possesse that this is the time that the Kingdome viz. England Scotland and Ireland is to be taken from him who shall arise and subdue three Kingdoms thinking to change times and Lawes and shall be given to the Saints 43. Gracious Lords or Favourable Lords are titles that cannot be proper amongst Christians but are marks of Gentiles 44. 'T is an utter disfranchisement of the people and a meer vassalage for a man to Petition to Courts of Judicature as the House of Peers for his right and to have justice done him 't is no better then a branch of tyranny to force a man to turn Supplicant for his own and of self-robbery to submit thereto 'T is an inslaved and intolerable condition of this Nation that indeed they cannot have their own naturall Rights and Immunities but they must be actuall Petitioners as if their own were not their own of right but of favour 45. That for Crimes and Offences committed in a Common-wealth there should not be certain penalties appointed by Lawes to which the Governours and Magistrates should be tyed but it should be lest to the discretion and wisdome of the Magistrates to inflict what they thought fit in case of such and such Crimes and this liberty should be left that a Magistrate might exercise his gifts of Government which if he were kept strictly to the Law how should his wisdom and gifts be manifested 46. That Protestant States and Parliaments have no power nor liberty to confirm and enact by Law Worship and Church-Government
composed by Protestant Synods who have an eye to the Scripture in what they doe but the assuming of such a power so as to enact a Law to bind all to conformity 't is a falling under that in Esay Their fear towards God was taught by the precept of men 't is with Nebuchadnezzar to erect his golden Image with Jeroboam and his Councell to set up the golden Calves 't is a rejecting of Christ from being King an utter overthrowing of the Kingly Prerogative and Office of Christ and a destroying a foundation of faith 47. That all Power Places and Offices that are just in this Kingdom ought only to arise from the choise and election of the people and that all the power right any man hath in governing and ruling over those he rules stands wholy in the choice and election of those that are ruled and that men need not ought not to yeeld obedience and subjection to the Commands Summons Lawes c. of any but of those they have chosen and who are their Representers and to submit yeeld obedience to any others whom they have not chosen is inconsistent with the nature of just freedoms and to exercise any power not derived from choice is no lesse then usurpation and oppression 48. That all the Legall Supreame Soveraigne Regall Legislative power of this Kingdom is in the House of Commons the chosen Commons of England and in no other whatsoever there 's no other the Svpreame Court of Judicature of this Land but the House of Commons That all Majesty and Kingship inherently residing in the people or state universall the representation or derivation of it is formally and legally in the state Representative or elect and in none else The Supreame power only of right belonging to the House of Commons they only being chosen by the people 49. That the state universall the body of the common people is the Earthly Soveraign Lord King and Creator of the King Parliaments all Officers and Ministers of Justice Underived Majesty and Kingship inherently resides in the state universal and the King Parliaments c. are their own meer creatures to be accountable to them and disposed of by them at their pleasure the people may recall and re-assume their power question them and set others in their place 50. That whatever the Fundamentall Constitutions of Kingdomes and Common wealths have been by forefathers whatever agreements compacts have been of subjection and obedience of such a people for themselves and posterities to one as under Kingly government or to more yet the men of the present age following many hundred years after ought to be absolutely free from what their forefathers yeelded unto and freed from all kinds of exorbitancies molestations without exception or limitation either in respect of persons officers degrees or things and estated in their naturall and just Liberties agreeable to right reason 51. That the House of Commons cannot have any power nor exercise any power justly but what the people who chose them conferred upon them and the common people having given them no power to establish Religion as having no such power in themselves and therefore could not conferre that which they had not therefore the House of Commons cannot assume a power to controule Religion or a way of Church Government upon the people and although the Kings Writ for chusing Knights and Burgesses implies the establishment of Religion yet all implications in the Writs of the Establishment of Religion showeth that in that particular as many other we remain under the Norman yoak of an unlawfull power from which we ought to free ourselves and the House of Commons ought not to maintain upon us but to abrogate 52. That seeing all men are by nature the Sons of Adam and from him have legitimatly derived a naturall propriety right and freedom Therefore England and all other Nations and all particular persons in every Nation notwithstanding the difference of Lawes and Governments rancks and degrees ought to be alike free and estated in their naturall Liberties and to enjoy the just Rights and Prerogative of mankind whereunto they are Heirs apparent and thus the Commoners by right are equall with the Lords For by naturall birth all men are equally and alike born to like propriety liberty and freedom and as we are delivered of God by the hand of nature into this world every one with a naturall innate freedom and propriety even so are we to live every one equally and alike to enjoy his birth-right and priviledge 53. That the body of the people may do all that lawfully of themselves which their Deputies Trustees Representors chosen ones do for them only for greater conveniency they Depute them and they may go no further in any thing nor sit no longer nor dispose of any thing but according to their Commission and power received from the Represented I might here also annex to these Errours many strange and false Expositions of Scripture given by Sectaries in their Sermons and Discourses but I will only give two or three 1 That of Matthew 28. v. 18. Allpower is given to me in heaven and in earth By heaven there is meant the uncreated heaven there are the created heavens and the uncreated heaven here is meant the uncreated heaven the God-head so that the meaning of these words is all the uncreated power of the God-head is given to Jesus Christ 2 That of Genesis the ninth And surely your bloud of your lives will I require at the hand of every beast will I require it That by Beast there was meant a wicked man 3 That of Luke 24. To day shalt thou be with me in paradise that to day was to be referred to Christs saying so not to the time when he should be in Paradise of which the Reader may find more in some following pages 100. 101. In my First and Second Parts of Gangraena page 28. 29. of the First Part Third Edition and in page 1. and 117. of the Second Part Second Edition I have laid down some Tenets of the Sectaries destructive to Civill Government and humane Society but now in this Third Part among these Errors mentioned I have discovered much more of their Anarchicall and Antimagistraticall spirit many of these last Errors plainly showing they are enemies to all Government Order and Distinction and would bring all into a popular confusion and reduce all Common-wealths and Kingdoms into such a condtion as they were before they had Laws Customes of Nations Rulers over them and that as often as the weak judgements and humours of the giddy in constant multitude pleased and this spirit of Anarchy fully showes it self in many whole Books written on purpose some Sermons many Speeches and in many late practises of the Sectaries I have forborne quoting in the margine one or more particular Bookes with the Pages just against the Errours for proof as I have done in other Errors because not only one Book
statesman in his Polit. tels us The same Last will not fit an English and a Scottish foot The English must be ruled more by love Now if two nations so neer in one Iland are not alike free but must be differently governed then certainly Nations remote from one another are not alike free Besides to particular persons yea bodies of people many providences accidents may fal out to make one and the same people and particular persons not so free as sometimes they have been there are some Parents who were free but having incurred the Law are tainted in bloud so their children also some are taken captivs or have sold themselves for a necessity and so their children are servants to A nation having bin saved by some Prince from ruine though before a free state may now make him and his Heirs according to such Lawes King over them nay Amesius in his Cases of Conscience saith It cannot be denied but that a people forced by necessity may sell themselves to a King to be all his servants Gen. 47. 23. 5. T is apparent that in one and the same Nation as England all the subjects have not the same priviledges and freedoms but some have more then others some are not liable to be pressed to war to bare such Offices serve in Juries c. as others are some have voices viz. Freeholders to chuse Knights of Shires others have not some Cities Towns have Charters and large priviledges in severall particulars to send Burgesses to Parliament which other Towns have not and certainly the Peerage of England have priviledges and liberties which every Jack-straw hath not 6. I demand of the Sectaries whether in their Pamphlets speaking of election and consent they meane an immediate present choyce and consent of the present men now to be governed or else an election consent in the first constitution of this Kingdom and Government by our Ancestors many hundred yeers ago Now if they mean this last how do they know but that this Government wherein the King and Lords have such a power was by consent and agreement it being consented such a man should be King and such persons Nobles who by birth should have such power and then such people according to such agreements should have power to chuse some men who together with King and Nobles should make Laws by which the Nation governed the King should have such power Nobles such priviledges and people such liberties but now if they meane the first an immediate election of the present peopl that they are to obey none but so chosen 't is most false and a principle destructive to the sundamentall government of this Kingdom and destroying the House of Commons as well as the King and Lords and for the clearing of that I would propound two things 1. That in this Common-wealth of England none have any power of Government at all either in a lower or higher Sphere either by election of the whole body of the people for all chuse not but some onely or founded upon election as the sole cause and ground for none of the people can chuse neither are men capable to be chosen till according to Lawes Writs are granted forth or Charters given by Princes and Lawes to such Corporations and yet then the peopl must go in chusing not according to their wills but to such rules agreed on by Laws and after men are chosen some conditions also and rules must be observed before the persons so chosen have power of government these chosen Commons must be returned and sworne take such oaths before they can â—it or if they do their election is ipso factâ— nul and they made uncapable ever to fit again so that t is evident that election of some part of the people not the whole is only a partiall cause not the totall and plenary cause or rather the true cause is because such a man according to Lawes and Customes of this Kingdome is now in such a place whereof one of the conditions for such a place is election so and so determined by former Lawes but now in many Officers of this Kingdome who have power of government to heare judge and do many Acts no sort of the common people have any power at all to chuse as in Justices of Peace they have been alwayes and still are made without any such election so the Judges of the Land Sheriffs with divers other Officers and therefore much more may the King and Peers who by the fundamentall Lawes of the Land have an heredâ—tary power in Parliament to which the Kingdom hath agreed and yeelded obedience so many hundred yeers exercise their power without any electon of the people 2. That certainly people are bound and tied to Lawes Rules as well as Kings and Nobles and that Covenants Compacts Oaths of Allegiance c. made on their part bind them as well as Princes oaths I ever took it for granted that Princes had not been bound and their people left at liberty and freedome to do what they pleased I alwayes thought fundamentall constitutions of Government made many hundred yeers before and ancient bounds set by Lawes with birth-right inheritance having gone through an uninterrupted succession of many Pâ—ogenitors had been a right and interest to Princes which the meer will and pleasure of common people could not have taken from them and I conceive that according to the conssitution and Lawes of this Kingdome which gives all sorts their rights though some more some lesse 't is agreed on that the Peers of this Land should have a Legislative and judiciall power and they and their heirs be in such ranck born with such and such priviledges over others 7. This Position of the Sectaries the Universal people having such a power without whose election all Government is void their Dagon and great Image which they fall down before and worship is a meer Chimâ—ra a monstrum horrendum a Babell which I could shatter and break so to peeces as not one stone should be left of it nor so much as the stump but I may not now give all my thoughts for feare of being too voluminous only I will hint a few things in this place by way of Question and referre the Reader to what I further say in page 154 155. c. 1. I Desire to know of these Sectaries what or who is this state Universall whether all the men women and children born in England men-servants maid-servants poore people and beggars together with those of the better sort and whether if all these or the greater part of these taken one equally as well as th' other be the state universall have they the like Soveraigne power over the King and Parliament 2. Whether in what this state Uuniversall will do with the King Lords and their owne House of Commons it must be carried by the most voices of this state universall so that if all the beggars poor people servants children be a
is the known mind of those Countries and Towns that chose them 12. If all power in Government be founded on immediate Election of the People and no sort of men have power further then the Universall people gave them and because they are Representors Trustees Deputies c. may do nothing against the will and mind of the Major part of the Universall people who chose them whether have all the Parliament-men in all their Votes gone according to the minds and desires of those Cities and places that chose them Represented in Petitions and whether in cases of doubt and yet of great importance have they still called their Countries together to know their minds and whether they were willing such things should be viz. Anabaptists Brownists and all kind of Sectaries to enjoy such freedom of meettings all sorts of ignorant Mechanicks to be suffered to turn preachers and to go up and down seducing people whether so great an Army to be still continued in this Kingdom and they Assessed to pay such Taxes for their maintenance and whether Committees shall be still continued in the Kingdom whether great sums of mony and hundreds of pounds in Land per annum in such necessitous times shall be given away on men who little need it and so in other particulars and if things appear to be against the mind of the generalitie of the people whether are the people bound to obey their Orders and Ordinances in such cases 13. If all power of government be upon Election and the chosen ought to go according to the will of the universality of the people suppose it should so happen in a Common-wealth that the greater part of the chosen should apparently go contrary to the trust reposed in them carry things quite against the mind of the people as of the chief City Country Ministry and none should be pleased with their actions but a pure faction a party of men ingaged by offices places of preferment liberty of licentiousnesse of living against the true Religion by Lawes established whether then with a good conscience may and ought this universall people with the consent and assistance of such Governors chosen by them who are known to be faithfull demand to chuse others in their places require justice upon them and so deliver themselves and their Country 14. Whether or no according to these Doctrines of the Sectaries there be any in this Kingdome have any power of government or whom the people ought to obey seeing there is none among us chosen by the universall people no not the Commons in Parliament but only by a part of the people the Freeholders and free-men of Towns which are not the twentieth part of the people of this Kingdom who yet sure are subject to Lawes and should live under obedience 15. Seeing in all kind of lawfull power and superiority every man that obeyes any should chuse him as the Sectaries speak in their Pamphlets and the power of Colonels Captains Commanders in cheif of such a party over Souldiers is lawfull whether may such whole Companies and particular souldiers in such Companies who have Commanders set over them whom they chose not but were unwilling of and desirous of others only 't is the will of the Generall to have it so answer them when they command them we chose you not we will not obey your commands and whether this would be a good answer of the Presbyterian Companies that have Independent Commanders set over them and well taken at a Councell of Warre And whether Colonel Lilburne in the Army would have taken such an Answer well from his Regiment notwithstanding his brothers doctrine And whether if gallant Colonel Whaley before Worcester should have stood upon this Doctrine that those should command in cheif who had the consent of the souldiery there and the people of those parts and thereupon opposed Colonel Rainborough it had been true Doctrine 16. Whether do not the Sectaries â—roâ—â—e themselves in their positions about Election that no men have any power over any to question and judge 〈◊〉 who chose them not and whom they represent not when 〈◊〉 they say the House of Commons may question and punish 〈◊〉 and judge the House of Peer being the Soveraignâ— S 〈…〉 〈◊〉 both of the Câ—â—â—onâ—rs and of the Lords Now certainly neither the King nor the House of Peers chose the House of Commons neither are they the Representors of the King and Peers they represent them not so much as in name having never the Titles of Kings or Lords given them by Lawes and therefore if according to the Sectaries Doctrines the House of Commons have power over King and Lords to judge them which for my part I do not beleeve though they are not their chosen ones then certainly the House of Lords may have power to sentence Lilburne Overton c. though not chosen by them 17. If all power of Government stand solely upon the Election of the present people and hath all its authority upon that whether the power of Governors can continue longer then the people chose them for and suppose the people never intending or once dreaming to chuse them for alwayes but for a time whether when that time they were chosen for expired their power did not also expire and whether may any with a good conscience who beleeves the time is long ago run out for which he chose Burgesses and Knights submit any more to the Summons Orders Censures of the Commons then the Sectaries wil to the H. of Peers and whether can the H. of Commons expect any submission and obedience from the Sectaries who have in the name of thousands declared professedly to the world their time was out for which they were chosen by such a day which day is past and therefore they will find when they come to question some of them roundly upon any of their Ordinances that they will serve them as they do the Lords telling them they have no power over them the time for which they chose them is out 18. Whether according to this Doctrine of all subjection and power founded only in Representation Deputation extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors may not the Ministery of the Kingdome plead exemption from the power of the Commons as the Sectaries do from the Lords saying they have no Ministers there to sit in that House to represent them or who have Deputation from them there may possibly be some Imitators of them in the House of Commons Lay Preachers and gifted Brethren imitating them in their work of Ministry as Apes use to imitate men in the works of their calling but no Representors of them 19. If nothing the representative do be valid or binding but what the greater number of the Universal have given power in whether may not will not the people question all Votes Orders Ordinances as not being tied to them because they know not that the Universall people consented and so every thing
them and so came away letting them do as they would At another time there being Poultrie provided by the good woman of the house for their diet which she killed with wringing their neeks about as the custome of the Country is these souldiers would not have them dressed but threw them away and fecht others cuting of their heads for they would not eate things strangled and such was the carriage of these Sectaries that though John Mathewes be a man well affected to the Parliament and well disposed yet he professed he had rather have Prince Rupert and his Company to quarter there then that Troop of Captaine P. A Copie of a Letter written lately from a Reverend godly Minister in Northamptonshire to a person of quality and worth in London Worthy SIR THough I am perswaded that you know that many Errors abound in the Army yet I cannot think but such destructive tenets as some of them have broacht amongst us when they lately quartered here are not particularly come unto your eares Therefore out of zeal to Gods glory the safty of our Church and Commonwealth Parliament and Ministry I could not but impart what I have heard from their own mouthes and by honest neighbours of them The sacred Covenant bindes me with all faithfulnesse to indeavour to discover Incendiaries hinderers of Reformation of Religion dividers of the Kingdomes c. And truly I cannot think these any other though as yeâ— God hath hindred their sparks which they cast into all the straw which they passe by from flaming into open and violent liscord I can produce both the names and I think sufficient witnesse people are affraid almost to speak against the souldiers that they have seriously spoken as being their judgements and purposes that if the souldiers knew the Countries minds as the Country might know the souldiers they would have another kind of Reformation then this Parliament is about That they have not so long sought for liberty and now to be inslaved That they could goe all England through by force of Arms if they listed That the Country might call the Parliament to account for what they had done for they were set up by them They commonly in derision call our Brethren Jack Sect and say they plot with the King against the Parliament but if there were any occasion of drawing the sword against them they would be more fierce against them then ever against the Cavaleirs They upon long dispure with me cominued in this that there is no such office as the Ministry and it 's blasphemy for any one to say that he is a Minister of Jesus Christ more then any other man such an office was but it ceased A Captaine Reformadoe said their swords shall never out of their hands as long as one Priest continued in England They scorned all our religious dayes and duties call them fools that pay Tythes and them theeves that receive them will beleeve no more Scripture then what they prove by experience to be true I might have heard more but that my heart abhors such seditious and blaspemous speeches They speake most contemptibly of Christs person and as I heare deny either the Trinity or at least the holy Ghost If it be for any publick benefit I will search after more particulars and sufficient proof Sir I am bold to impart my troubled thoughts unto you whom I have cause to judge faithfull to God your Country and your Friend Truly we fear some hurt by these in Arms if a speedy course be not taken with some of them for I find that they stick not to their principle of Liberty but only in receiving it they will not give it if they had the power of giving it unto others For ought I can observe with all their Errours they labour to poyson others where they come My mind will be much satisfied when I shall know you have read these lines concluding my duty of discovering Incendiaries c. discharged till further occasions be offered The good Lord look upon us and save us from these instruments of safety I desire your spirituall health and comfort with all temporall happinesse and successe Sept. 24. 1646. Yours to be commanded A godly young man of Summersetshire or Dorsâ—tshire at whose house a Lieutenant of a Company of Sir Thomas Fairfax Army quartered told me that this Lieutenant maintained these Opinions 1 That women might preach and would have had a gentlewomâ—n in the house this young mans sister to have exercised her gifts telling her he knew she had gifts and had been alone a meditating 2. That if a womans husband was aâ—leep or absent from her she might lye with another man and it was lawfull for sleep was a death and pressed it upon a young Gentlewoman in the house whose husband was then at London 3. That it was unlawâ—ull to kneell in prayer which was maintained by him or some others of his company and when they prayed they prayed leaning There is a godly Minister of some place more then ordinary that was in the Army about Oxford who heard a Colonell of that Army speak it in his hearing and the hearing of many that as for fighting against the Irish he was against it for they did nothing but what they might do lawfully and gave his reasons and grounds for it 1. Because they did but fight for their Religion and Liberty of conscience and for their Lands and Estates 2. That if the whole Commons and body of the people would agree and put down King and Parliament overthrow the Constitution of this Kingdom in King Lords and Commons they might do it as this was told two godly Ministers from whom I had this relation so was it communicated to some members of both Houses June 24. A godly Citizen told me he heard a great Sectary that belonged to the Army say speaking of Ireland he doubted and so did many more in the Army whether it were lawfull to go fight against the Irish and that that Country was theirs as well as England was ours Though the boldnesse and presumption of many of the Souldiers Officers and common Souldiers hath been very great both against the command of God and the Parliament to preach in the open Churches in all Countries and places where they have come putting by many godly and able Ministers from their Office and invading their Pulpits yet their open and frequent preaching in the University of Oxford doth most of all declare their impudencie that they should dare to do it in the midst of so many learned men and in a place so famous for learning and that in the publike schools in Oxford to preach daily and that against humane learning as they did for some time and after complaint of it to the Generall as a thing so scandalous and odious to all ingenuous men and his forbidding their preaching in the Schools yet the Souldiers continue still to preach in Oxford daily in a great house
Parliament men came downe as I take it upon one of the Cities Petitions about Church Government for say the Independents the Presbyterians will get the upper hand he refused to go and answered them who spake to him in words to this effect You little know what you do and whose work you further in opposing the Presbyterians for saith he the Independents in Old-England are nothing like to them of New-England no more then black to white you Independents here do that which we abhorre there I met â—ith this man with one who came from New-England and he held himself there an Apostle for which he was whipped and here hâ— is a great preacher and in great account and this he told to divers This man is accounted a godly man in New-England and went back thither this June For a further proof and confirmation of this here is a person of good account one of the Committee of Account that speaks confidently of informations he hath received of the coming over of Jesuits on purpose to mixe themselves with Independents and the Sectaries to increase that Faction for thâ—ir own ends I have been told also with much confidence that a Gentleman going through Colâ—man-street and seeing great store of People coming out of an Alley asked what the matter was some told him they were Sectaries come now from their Conveâ—â—ticles whereupon standing still to take notice what manner of People they were he sawe come out among them fome whom he had known to be Jesuits and Priests There is a young man a Schollar and a preacher who lived some years in Holland and that among some of our English Sectaries sometimes of the Church of Arâ—bâ—im who tells me they all generally and their Families were Anabaptists and that they made much of that scurrilous wicked book The Arraigment of Persecution These Sectaries not many months before they came over into England namely about the Spring last gave thanks at one of their Church meetings for a Toleration of the Sects which as they heard had passed thâ— House of Commons which the Beformed Ministers of that place hearing of were much troubled at it yet hoping it was not so that God would not leave the Parliament to be guilty of so great an evill after he had done so much for them These Sectaries would speak much against the Covenant and this Preacher hath heard some of them say they would be hanged before they would take it and had rather see one another hanged then to take that abominable Covenant One of the compapany used to preach constantly in the forenoon and then in the afternoon two or three others by turns as Master C. Master A. and when these were from home and there was no preaching then their Families staid at home and would not heare the English Reformed Ministers but some of them said If those Ministers would promise never to preach for Baptisme of Children nor against their way they would hear them Upon the newes coming over of the burning of Master Archers booke that made God the author of sinne they justified all in that book saying what was in it was his to a word and one of them said he could shew the Copy and they spake much against Assembly Parliament and that he had as high a place in heaven as any of them would have and they would make what he had written good This young man once speaking against the opinion they were very angry at him saying what had he to do they would speak against our Ministers with much indignation and scorn as if none of them had any worth A worthy Member of the House of Commons told me the last day of August that one Captaine B. told him we had beene fed by our Ministers thaâ— mens souls when they die went to heaven but now we see a New Light in that they do not go to heaven to whom this Parliament man replyed That the souls of the faithfull do for Christ told the thief Luke 24. To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise unto whom this Captain replyed That to day was to be referred to Christs saying so and not to the time when he should be in Paradise so that the meaning was Christ said unto the thief those words to day but not that to day he should be in paradise with him and so the words were to be read Verily I say unto thee to day and there the point and then after to be read thou shalt be with me in Paradise which though it should not be to the end of the world would be no impeachment of the truth of Christs speech whereupon this Parliament man answered to this purpose this were to make Christ eqivocate and deceive like as your faction does Animadversions upon this Exposition THis Sectary is not the first that hath wrested this place thus but some before him have separated to day from the words that follow and joyned it with the words going before so that the distinction should be Amen I say unto thee to day and then should follow thou shalt be with me in paradise upon which let the reader look Theophylact who handle this place largely and Jansenius Harmony on the Gospell Cap. 143. besides in the Greek Copies to day is joyned with the words thou shalt be and not with the word I say of which read Beza upon the place yea le ts looke upon the words they are an answer of Christs to the Theifs prayer that Christ would remember him when he came into his Kingdome not to remember him in this world to save him from the Crosse and temporall death now Christs answer is accordingly that he shall be partaker of his heavenly Kingdome and tells him the time to day that is thou shalt be with me without any delay and so there shall be no danger that I shall forget thee when I come into my Kingdome for behold this very day I shall take thee to my Kingdome vide Rollock in Cap. 19. Johan The theif in his prayer speaks to Christ as going presently into his Kingdome and desires to be remembred upon his coming thither as now being upon the Crosse in a cursed condition now if Christ had said to him then he should be with him but not told him the time when the theif knowing he should be dead to day but meaning it of a long time two thousand years afâ—er this would not have been so comfortable to the theif besides there was no reason nor need of adding to day to that word I say to th 〈…〉 for the theif knew they were spoken to day yea at that instant to him neither could to day be for asseveration Christ using that word word of asseveraton A 〈…〉 instead of that neither is there any paralell place in Scripture where to day is used in such an acception There is one Master John Baâ—hilâ—r Licenser-Generall of the Sectaries Books and of all sorts of wicked opinions Licenser to Master
about Bridgewater and drew the modell how to storm Bridgewater and who routed the Enemy at the entrance into Cornwall and who reduced Exeter and Worcester to the last point of extremity with many particulars about Bristow and at Oxford but it shall not need there are some men in the Army upon the places keep a true account of these things and in a convenient time will speak and undeceive the world And so Master Peters pag. 12. writes thus How long therefore shall I intreat some three or foure Iâ—inerury Ministers in a County Evangelists went out before Churches were setled how easily might the Land be in some measure reduced to God and their own civill Interests if provision was laid in of this kind But you will object We have about nine thousand Parishes and not a thousand able men I answer You see the need of Itinerants and secondly why may we not follow the practice of other Reformed Churches and gather up godly youths our of shops and send them for improvement somewhere c. Master Peters is carefull to propagate his Church-way at home as well as abroad and that in all haste and at once to over-spread the Kingdome with it by his importunity for three or foure Itinerary Ministers in every County to goe over each County and therefore asks how long he shall intreat implying this was not the first time and indeed the first fruits of these Itinerary Preachers that I can heare of clearly shewes the designe there being three named who have passed the House of Commons for some parts of Wales Master Cradock Master Symonds Master Walter or some such name who are said to be Sectaries and two of them I know to be such and decline coming to the Assembly though appointed by the House of Peers the Assembly should give that House an account of them and lest there should not be Independent Preachers enough for this worâ— Master Peters is earnest to have youths gathered out of shops and sent to Oxford for improvement and though they fall short in Arts and Tongues to be sent abroad But by the way let me ask Master Peters why not some sent to Cambridge but all to Oxford This clearly shewes the designe because Cambridge all the Colledges in Cambridge are Presbyterian but at Oxford there being so many preaching Commanders and Officers they may quickly learn the opinions of the Army and their way of preaching and be sent forth with their desperate Principles destructive both to Church and State 5. Master Peters cryes up magnifies and extolls to the heavens the Commanders in the Army of his Religion and mind and takes occasion to instance in particular men as if there were none to be compared with them as may be seen pag. 6. Fear not the Army whose Commanders like Samuel can ask any County or Town where they have been Whose Oxe or Asse have they taken never fewer complaints nor many men of such quality whose design is only to obey their Masters viz. the Parliament the â—lighting the Army is their money triumphant chariors would have broke our necks So pag. 4. For Worcester I am sorry so little is spoken of it where so much worth and gallantry appeared and indeed I cannot remember where I have seen so much done in so short a time foure Regiments of Foot under the command of Colonell Rainborow came and raised works within Pistoll shot of their Royall Sconce c. wherein Lievtenant Colonell Pride and Lievtenant Colonell Ewers had a chief share whereupon the Enemy accepts of those Propositions you have seen and truly I wish Colonell Raâ—nborow a sutable imployment by sea or land for both which God hath especially fiâ—ted him Foraign States would be proud of such a servant 6. Weakning and darkning the valour faithfulnesse and worth of other Commanders not Independents though of the same Army and of the other Armies in comparison relating matters wrong and very partially for the extolling his own party as the Reader may observe in the Relation of Worcester giving to Colonell Whaley only a preparatory part making a little way for the taking of Worcester but attributing the glory of the work to Colonel Rainborow now Governor of Worcester Colonel Pride c. speaking thus pag. 4. Where when that valiant Commander of Horse Colonel Whaley had done his duty and with the help of Countrey Forces had block up part of the Town foure Regiments of Foot under the command of Colonell Rainborow came and raised works within Pistoll shot c. whereas I have been told from good hands and so I beleeve hath Master Peters before this of the great wrong and injury he hath done Colonell Whaley in this Relation Colonell Whaley before ever Colonell Rainborow was sent having reduced Worcester to the last point and Worcester being in a such condition then that there wanted little else tantuâ—â— non that it was not actually surrendred but of this more afterwards So pag. 6. Feare not that Army whose Commanders like Samuel never fewer complaints nor many men of such quality whose design is only to obey their Masters viz. the Parliament as if no other Army or Commanders like them And so pag. 10. By the same means the mercy is gained it may be preserved if men yea good men were instrumentall in the one they must be in the other conside when you see cause to conside c. as if no other Armies were means to gain Conques and Victories but this nor none other to be trusted to conserve what is won and instances in men to be credited with Garrisons who are honest godly English-men he may know by other passages who are his honest godly English-men viz. Sectaries and such as are opposite to the Scots though differing in opinion as all France being most Catholike trusts it self to their Protestant Leaders So would he have all places of strength and command trusted with Independents Anabaptists though the Parliament be Presbyterian 7. The seventh particular in this Pamphlet is the excessive boasting trusting in and omnifying this Army as if it were omnipotent able not only for all ends and purposes at home but to conquer all Christendome yea the whole world to goe to Bavaria Lorain the Palatinate Ireland France to incounter forraign threatnings and teach Peasantâ— to understand Liberty to secure us against Danes and Saxons yea to cause the West Indies and the East to offer themselves to our devotion the proofe of which the Reader may find pag. 6. Were I perswaded that forraign threatnings were in earnest I wish this Army might be sent to encounter them and teach Peasants to understand Liberty and I would not doubt but to see good fruit of it soon I would rather our men should live upon their wine then they upon our beer So pag. 9 10. What you hear of a conjunction between the Prince of Wales and his Lievtenant Generall the Duke of Lorain with some promises from his Uncle Bavatia need not
give out that they will never lay down their swords whilst ther 's a Priest in England Who write and print libells full stuffed with invectives and seditious speeches against the Right Honourable House of Peers undoubtedly a Court of Record the highest Court of Iudicature in this Kingdome Who make wicked libells and spread them abroad of Noble men and persons of great place by name as that religious and Noble Earle of Manchestor the Lord Major of London a whole Kingdome as Scotland and a whole City as London Who have endeavored and do by all wayes to involve these Kingdomes into a new War more deadly and destructive then the former And yet Anabaptists of our times are guilty of all these and many more as the Reader may sind proved in this Book and divers others written in these times Thirdly speaking of himself he saith He remaines now where he was for substance fifteen years since which I cannot judge to bee true no nor that he is the same for substance which he was seven years agoe and because I will be brief I will put but one question to Master Peters and that is whether fifteen years or but seven years agoe â—e was for a Toleration of â—ll sorts of Sects Anabaptists Antinomians Seekers Papists c. and thought so lightly of Errors and Heresies as now he does or whether he ever did or durst in New-England in the time of Anabaptists and Antinomians growing there preach such Sermons for a Toleration of them and speake so favourably of them as he hath done and doth here I am of the mind if any man should have told him fifteen or seven years agoe Master Peters the time shall come that you shall live in a Kingdome where all damnable Heresies and wicked doctrines shall be vented by printing preaching and you shall be so farre from seeking to suppresse and hinder them as that you shall make nothing of them preach for a Toleration of them cry them up for Saints who hold them plot act ride work night and day for the upholding of them he would have been very angry boisterous and have said as Hazael to the Prophet Am I a dog that I should do these things nay I am so well perswaded of Mr Peters that he was so farre fifteen years agoe from being of these opinions and running these wayes that I am confident 't is but a few years agoe since he is fallen thus and that the two things that have poysoned him are his being in the Army and his converse with some wicked Politicians of these times who upon matter of worldly interest being men of small and broken estates that they may be great and the Heads of a great party countenance and patronize all kind of abominable Sectaries not caring what becomes of Religion and who prophesies falsly so they may beare rule by that meanes Fourthly Speaking of turning his cheek to the smiter hee saith with Jeremy though he neither borrowes nor lends c. yet this may be his portion Now I wonder he can say so when aâ— his hand hath been against every man medling with all sorts of men a Polupragmaticall medling in the Armies with many abusing the Common Councell and the City of London the Assembly the Reformed Churches our Brethren of Scotland Committees the King and his children and indeed who not I could name particular persons of both Houses of whom he hath spoken his pleasure who have deserved a great deale better of him Fifthly There is an unjust and scandalous passage pag. 11. reflecting upon the City and their Remonstrance as if they remonstrated about their wills and not about things needfull and just grievances and as if the increase of the plague upon the City were for any neglect towards the Parliament whereas I would have Master Peters know and all his party the City of London could not do lesse and have but done their duty the Reformed Churches Scotland the body of this Kingdome and all who are not Independents and Independentish doe bear witnesse of the faithfulnesse of this City to the cause of God and the Parliament and this Remonstrance was so farre from being a matter of meer will as Master Peters words import that I am of the mind and I beleeve not alone in it that it will never be well with England till the City of London the Ministry of the Kingdome and all the Counties as one man make a plainer Remonstrance in a more particular way and manner of all the growing mischiefs and abominations in Church and Common-wealth desiring a speedy and effectuall redresse of them And as for his hinting the cause of the increase of the plague to come from the City Remonstrance or want of the Cities full consent to a match with the Parliament I dare boldly say of him in â—o saying He is a false Prophet a dreamer of dreams speaking the visions of his own heart and declaring false burdens and do offer from the word of God to make it good against Master Peters that if the City of London would oftner Remonstrate and Petition in this kind and use the power they have by their Charter and the Lawes in force to punish Hereticks and Sectaries and disturb their meetings the plague would sooner be removed from them Sixthly That also is a false and untrue Assertion That the design of the Army is onely to obey their Masters the Parliament the slighting the Army is their money triumphant chariots would have broke our necks understood in Master Peters sense viz. of that part of the Army the Sectaries for if it were so as he speakâ— what means the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen that I and many others hear If their only design be to obey their Masters the Parliament what 's the reason they break conte 〈…〉 their Ordinances viz. that against mâ—ns preaching not ordained Ministers that for the better observing of the Monethly Fast those for the setling of Presbyteriall Government c. What means those speeches of some of them If they knew the Countries mind as well as the Countries might know theirs they would have another kind of Reformation then the Parliament is about that they have not so long fought for liberty and now to be enslaved with many such like And if the slighting of the Army is their money and triumphant chariots would have broke their necks certainly they have then had little pay and their necks would have been broken long before now for never was Army better provided for since these warres with moneys recruits all kind of things and many particular men speciall persons of that party which Master Peters counts the Army have been well rewarded over and above pay c. And for triumphant chariots there have been men on purpose employed to provide them triumphant chariots weekly to carry them throughout the Kingdom and forraign parts in the weekly newes books wherein they have been lifted up to heaven in praises
shall be content and rest In this Arrow against all Tyrants written as it seems to some Member of the House of Commons page 6. he writes thus Sir We desire your help for your own sakes as well as ours cheifly for the removall of two most insufferable evills daily encroaching and increasing upon us portending and threatning inevitable destruction and confusion of your selves of us and of all our posterity namely the encroachments and usurpâ—tions of the House of Lords over the Commons liberties and freedomes together with the barbarous inhumane blood-thirstie desires and endeavours of the Presbyterian Clergy O the desperate wickednesse of this man and some other Sectaries who have writ such like passages against the Lords and the Ministers and that for no other cause as appeares by this Pamphlet and divers others themselves being witnesses but because the Lords questioning some men for printing the most abominable sedicious cursed libells against all Royall Authority and the fundamentall â—awes and Government of this Kingdome that ever in any age were published and they in the most unparralleld manner of which I beleeve no presidents can bee shewn in any Chronicles or histories of this Kingdome carrying themselves contempruously and scornfully they committed them to prison and because an Ordinance to punish damnable Blasphemies and Heresies hath been brought into the House of Commons by two worthy Members and that by the prâ—curement of the Clergie as the Pamphlet saith Now for what the Lords have done against Lilburne Oâ—erton Larner and such fâ—llowes in labouring to suppresse â—uch â—editious Presses in punishing them as also in their speedy admitting into their House and thankfull acceptance of the Remonstrances and Petitions of the City of London County of Lancashi 〈…〉 c. And for what Master Tâ—â—t and Master Bacon have done in presenting such an Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies they are highly accouâ—â—ed of by all the godly and Orthodox Ministers and people in City and Country and their names will be famous in all generations when the names of Lilburne Overton c. yea and of all their great Patrons whether in the Army or out of the Army will be a by-word and a curse and canonized in the Kalenâ—â—r of such Saints as John of Leyden Thomas Muncer Kâ—ipperdollâ—â—g c. In page 10. of this poysoned Arrow Overton writes thâ—s Why therefore should you of the Representative body sit still and suffer these Lords to devoure both us and our Lawes Be awakened arise and consider their oppressions and encroachments and stop their Lordships in their ambitious career for they doe not cease only here but they soare higher and higher and now they are become Arrogators to themselves of the naturall Soveraignty the Represented have convayed and issued to their proper Representors even challenge to themselves the title of the supremest Court of Judicature in the Land as was claimed by the Lord Hounsden when I was before them which challenge of his was a most illegall Anti-Parliamentary audacious presumption c. Behold Reader this wicked Sectary labours to set the House of Commons against the House of Lords to make division between them All the hopes of these sonnes of division lie in breaches which they fâ—ment all kind of wayes and in all kind of things wherein there is union as between the Houses the Scots and â—he Parliament the Parliament and the City the Parliament and the Ministry of the Kingdom They have no hopes but in wars fishing in troubled waâ—ers keeping all things in confusion from being setled In pag. 11 12 hee speaks thus Therefore the soveraign power extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors all this kind of soveraignty challenged by any whether of King Lords or others is usurpation illegitimate and illegall and none of the kingdomes or peoples neither are the people thereto oblieged Thus Sir seeing the Soveraign or Legislative power is only from the Represented to the Representors and cannot possibly further extend the power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive and he can communicate no more then he hath himselfe and the Soveraign power not being inherent in him it cannot be convayed by or derived from him to any so that his meer Prerogative creatures cannot have that which their lord and creator never hath had or can have namely the Legislative power Many other strange passages there are both in his Pamphlets and Petition and Appeale made up of intolerable Arrogancy Impudency and Anarchy point blanck against the Fundamentall constitution of the Government of this Kingdom but by these the Reader may judge of the whole ex ungâ—e leonem and so I leave him to the justice of the House of Lords There is one John Lilburn an Arch Sectary the great darling of the Sectaries highly extolled and magnified by them in many Pamphlets called The Defender of the Faith A Pearle in a Dung-hill That Worthy Sufferer for his Countries Liberty this Worthy man a precious Jewell indeed of whom I had thought to have given a full Relation in this Book and to have laid him open in all his colours by following him from place to place and shewing how time after time he hath behaved himself since he came out of his Apprenticeship as by declaring what set him first on work to print Books against the Bishops how hee carried himselfe in the Fleet whilst he was Prisoner there how since this Parliament both before the warres begun and since the warres how whilst hee was Prisoner at Oxford how in the Earle of Manchestors Army how in the City at many meetings about Petitions since he left the warres how before the Committee of Examinations how the first 〈◊〉 he was in Newgate by order of the House of Commons how hee behaved himselfe before the House of Lords and how the second time of his imprisonment in Newgate and how since his last commitment to the Tower but because this Narration alone will take up some sheets there being many remarkable things to be written of him of his insolent loose ungodly practices and of his Anarchicall Principles destructive to all Civill Government whatsoever and I have already filled up that number of sheets I aâ— first intended when I resolved to write this Third Part though I have many things yet to put in this Third Part therefore I must deâ—erre it till a Fourth Part and shall then by the help of God doe it so largely and fully that I shall make his folly and wickednesse known to all men and vindicate the honour and power of the House of Peers from his and all the Sectaries wicked Libells shewinâ— the weaknesse of those Principles That all power in Government is founded upon the immediate free election of all those that are to be Governed And of a necessity that all who are to be subject and obey must be represented And that all who have power in Government must be Representers which I shall doe for the
uncleane c. Now by this the Reader may see the Sectaries agree not some excluding the Lords from all power because not chosen by the universality of the people others excluding the Commons from their power because chosen by the universall people so that according to Master Goodwins doctrine the Lords being of Noble Parentage and well bred not chosen by the rifâ—e raffe of the people Atheists Drunkards the prophane world may be fitter and have more Authority to nominate and appoint who shall be the men that shall order the affaires of Christs Kingdome then the Commons And thus have I set the Pharises and Sadduces one against the other Secondly I propound some Queres to Lilburne Overton c. to Answer against I set forth a fourth part of Gangraena 1. Quere If all subjection and obedience to Governors be founded only upon the parties immediate present election of them and not other wise whether then may any obedience so much as to appeare before answer any questions or submit be given to Justices of Peace Judges Keepers of the great Seale Sheriffs Committees c. who are not chosen by the people 2. Whether any obedience respect coming without resistance upon Warrants sent for may be performed to Majors of Townes or Deputy Majors not chosen by the Town where they serve but appointed by Ordinance of Parliament 3. Whe her if men remove from one Town to another where they had no hand in chusing Majors and Magistrates must they demand a liberty and power to chuse them before they will obey any of their commands and whether must all the young youths of a Town when they come to twenty one years â—or years of subjecting demand in the places where they live a power of chusing Aldermen or Burgesses of Townes before they can submit to them 4. Whether does not a constitution of a Government for such a people and Nation made by the wisdome of Ancestors some hun-hundred years before though not by election of the people one in every year or seven or more but founded upon such and such good Lawes and in succession of persons by birth and inheritance bind a people to obey and subject as well as if chosen by them 5. Suppose in formes of civill Government and constitution of Kingdomes every particular were not so good and exact as might be desired by some and possibly might be yet whether is not a peoples submitting and accepting that forme of Government many years togethera consenting to it and equivalent to a formall Election There is one John Price an Exchange man Cretensis beloved Disciple and one of his Prophets who among others preach for him when he hath any Book to Answer or some Libertine Tractate to set forth This man hath put forth three Pamphlets one about Independencies the other two Replyes or Answers one to the City Remonstrane the other to a Vindication of the Remonstrance in all which he shewes himself to be Schollar to Cretensis and somewhat allyed to Lilburne Overton and the rest of those Sectaries who give all the supreame power of this Kingdome to the House of Commons For in his City Remonstrance Remonstrated and in his moderate Reply he is against the City Remonstrance for giving only a share of the supreame power to the House of Commons and instead of three Estates the King Lords and Commons of which the fundamentall Constitution of the Government of this Kingdome is made up he holds there is but one and that the Commons for which hee gives his Reasons such as they be and puts Queres to the Author of the Justification of the City Remonstrance their scope being all along to give the whole supreame power and not only a part to the Commons Certainly these Books of Master Price were not written in the yeare 1645. but in the yeare 1646. that they agree so with Lilburne Overton c. And if I should use his Master Goodwins Argument against him here I wonder how hee would answer it Those who are chosen by the generality of the Land Worldlings drunkards uncleane persons are not fit to have the whole supreame power of the Kingdome and neither King nor Lords to have any part with them But so are the Commons of England chosen Ergo. Now both the major and the minor are his Tutor Goodwins only the major is stronger as I put it for if according to Master Goodwin because they are chosen by the Common people and not only by Saints they are uncapable of a part of the supreame power because there is an impossibility of a spirituall extraction out of a secular root then much more should they not have the whole supreame power And as this man is bold with the power of the King and Lords to exchange it and give it to the Commons so he is with the City the Court of Common-Councell calling the City Remonstrance made by the Common-Councell the disturber of the quiet and peace of the Church and State c. And so in page 13. 22. there are passages aspersing the Remonstrance and the Common-Councell This Master Price contents not himself to preach only in London but I heare of him by a godly Minister who was lately at Edmunds-Bury that he hath preached there in a house and a godly judicious Citizen told me and some others that he maintained to him some dangerous and hereticall opinions as that men might be saved who were not elected and that if men did improve nature well God would surely give them grace So that it seems this Exchange man sells other wares besides Independency and Separation and does as the Apostle Peter speaks with fained words make marchandize of mens soules Master Price also I suppose this Price was at a meeting here in London where some of severall Sects Seekers Antinomians Anabaptists Brownists Independents met with some Presbyterians to consider how all these might live together notwithstanding their severall opinions and he was as all the Sectaries were for a generall Toleration and they agreed together like buckle and thong only the Presbyterians were not satisfied There is one Master Cradock who came out of Wales and is going thither again to be an Itinerary Preacher whom I have spoken of in page 131. that hee declined coming to the Assembly but now lately October 14. seeing the pay could not be had without the concurrence of the Lords and in all this time having made some leading men his friends hee came to be examined and is passed but besides that he hath gathered a Church administring the Lords Supper in a house at evening he hath preached many odd things in the City straines tending to Antinomianisme Libertinisme as speaking against men of an old Testament spirit and how poore Drunkards and Adulterers could not look into one of our Churches but hell fire must be flashed in their faces That if a Saint should commit a grosse sinne and upon the committing of it should be startled at it
24. A godly and understanding young man told me that a Quarter-Master belonging to a Regiment of horse coming up into a Pulpit to preach prepared the Country people for his Sermon by saying they should not wonder to see a man in such a habit to preach for he had a command from the Spirit to preach and he was under the command of the Spirit and must do accordingly and told them though they might say he was no Scholar yet that was no matter for the Spirit without learning could enable a man to the work A Gentleman of good understanding told me lately before other company that he meeting with a Captaine of horse belonging to Cromwells Regiment as 't is commonly calld with whom he rid some miles and dined also at the Sheafe in Daintry the last of August this Captain told him that the Parliament and Scots were agreed that was the newes of delivering up the King to Colonell Poyns who was with his forces to convay him as farre as Trent or thereabouts and then Cromwells Regiment was to bring him up to London to see him safe convayed to the Parliament and if he would not signe the Propositions then he said the Parliament would decoll him and thus they will decoll him acting with his hand in putting it to his own neck in away of cutting off and this Captain added further that he thought it would never be well with this Kingdome till the King was served so This man in his discourse speaking of Presbyteriall Government said it was a hundred times worse then Episcopall This Captaine when he came to Daintry enquiring for his Company where it quartred and not hearing suddenly where they were quartered was much troubled miting his hand on his breast that at such a time as this of going to fetch up the King hee should be away and hee took care for fresh horses for his journey Northward to fetch up the King This last August I was informed from a good hand viz. one who came out of Northamptonshire that some of that Regiment calld Cromwells Regiment quartering in Northamptonshire would not suffer the Ministers to preach quietly but affronted them among others one Master H. a godly Minister going to his Cure one S. a Trooper who quartered in that Town pleaded that Jesuites should have their liberty of Conscience as well as other men and in the afternoon when this Minister had done preaching stood up in the open Church speaking to the people pretending as to question some things delivered but indeed fell upon venting to the people the doctrine of Universall Grace that no man was condemned for any thing but unbeleef whereupon Master H. spake to him why do you not speak to somewhat which I preached as you pretended upon that this Trooper said I accept against that you preached for saying we might not question God but where he hath given us a word for such a thing we must beleeve it without questioning him to whom Master H. replyed if you will question God you may well question me I was told at the same time by one who came out of Northamtonshire that one of the Sectarian souldiers laid his hand on his sword and said this sword should never be laid down nor many thousands more whilst there was a Priest left in England I have been told it by severall that in Northamptonshire some of the Sectarian souldiers being in company with a young Scholar a godly Ministers sonne in Northamptonshire one Master Smith and venting some of their opinions he reasoning against them and belike putting them to non-plus they wounded him terribly so that it was thought he could not live yea it was feared hee was dead already A worthy Member of the House of Commons told me at the latter end of August last that Letters were written out of Hampshire from some persons in place there to Members of the House of Commons complaining that the souldiers who billited there carried themselves so ill as that if they continued there they could not serve them but must leave the Country for they infuse such poysonous opinions against all Government and persons of Authority as that none of us shall be regarded August the 12. I was certainly informed from eare witnesses that a few dayes before two very godly and understanding men well known had discourse with a Captaine belonging to Colonell Hammonds Regiment who positively maintained and affirmed these things to them speaking them often as his opinion and the rest of the Army of his way That the House of Commons was the Parliament of England and not only a part of it That if this House of Commons should give any Order for them to go fight with the Scots they would go That if the House of Commons should give order to come against the City of London they would do it and he spake of the City of London with much detestation saying hee was perswaded the City of London hated that Army with other words to that effect This Captaine asked them if they heard not of the plot to destroy the Army to send part of them into Ireland to be there cut off so the sending of forces into Ireland was interpreted This Captaine to another honest man either the same day or within a few dayes maintained the same things in substance so that one of them telling a Colonell belonging to the Army what this Captaine had said that upon an order of the House of Commons they would as willingly fight against the City of London and Scots as ever they did against the Cavaleers the Colonell answered readily it was no such wonder for he beleeved it was the sense of a great many in the Army A person of worth who was at the Bath this Summer told me that he had heard Master Saltmarsh and Master Del preach there before the Generall but never heard them pray for forgivnesse of sinnes and said he was glad he had heard them that he might know what manner of men they were It hath been told me by two or three of the Town of Wantwich in Barkshire that at a Town neer Wantwich and in Wantwich a great Market Town a Sectary belonging to the Army preached in the Parish Churches one of the Texts upon which he preached was out of the Revelation where he spake much of Antichrist and that all those were Antichristian who were for childrens Baptisme and that none could be saved unlesse they were rebaptized The man when he had done preaching at Wantwich spoke to the people and desired them to object what they could against his Sermon and he would answer them he did not bid them come to his chamber to be satisfied as many would but he was publikly ready to answer any objections made against what he had preached There is a very honest man of Master Whitakers Parish in Bermondseystreet told me that one Marshall of that Parish a great Sectary refusing to pay his Tyths according to the Ordinance of
Parliament was questioned and upon proof before three Justices of Peace was adjudged to pay it but not paying for all this two godly men Master W. and he who told me this story came to demand it or else distraine whereupon he calld these honest men robbers and theifs and said the Parliament made an Ordinance to rob men which being complained of and proved this Marshall was committed Now when he was committed Lilburne assisted him in his businesse came to this honest man who related to me the story to see the Warrant by vertue of which they proceeded to distraine and in fine this Marshall arrested the Justices of Peace who went according to the Ordinance and the Distrainers but at last being brought before the Committee of Examinations he promised to withdraw his action and said he spake those words in his passion and yet since his promise hath renewed his suite and the Justices and Distrainers are now troubled by him A godly Minister of this City told me June 12. 1646. that he discoursing with a Major belonging to the Army about the Government of the Church he told him plainly that they were not so much against Presbyteriall Government though many thought them so as against the being tyed to any Government at all for if the Parliament would set up the Independent Government and injoyne that upon them they should be as much against that as against Presbyteriall Government They held liberty of Conscience that no man should be bound or tyed to any thing but every man left free to hold what they pleased that was the judgement and true genius of that sort of men in the Army calld Independents that in all matters of Religion no man should be bound but every one left to follow his own Conscience There is a libellous Pamphlet entituled The Lord Majors farwell from his Office of Majoraltie which was sent to him in a Letter by an Anabaptist one of the meek and quiet of the earth as he often calls himself and his fellowes in that Pamphlet and coming to my Lords hands over-night next day he heard that it was in print the substance of which Pamphlet is to charge my Lord Major with breach of promise in not endeavoring to procure of the Parliament a publike disputation between the Anabaptistâ— and the Presbyterians and for presenting an unjust Remonstrance to the Parliament for suppressing both Anabaptists and Separatists Now I shall speak something to both these and vindicate the truth against this lying Libeller Secondly I shall Animadvert on some passages and expressions in this Pamphlet For the first my Lord Majors breach of promise upon which hee runns out and descants builds this inference among others That if Master Edwards or Doctor Bastwick had any such blot against us doubtlesse there would be great Volumes of a hundred sheets a peece blazed throughout the Kingdome to disgrace us as your breach of promise I answer breifly the building must needs fall when as the foundation falls my Lord Major broke not his promise but was very carefull of it and mindfull of what you say hee promised namely to know the pleasure of the Parliament and to endeavour the liberty of a publike disputation and my Lord was so consciencious in it both in regard of God and in regard of men that he might not be upbraided with breach of promise knowing well what a generation he had to deale with that he was never at quiet after his promise was made till the House of Commons was moved in the businesse and therefore every time when he â—aw Master Recorder he minded him to move the House he put a note into his hands because he should not forget when he saw him not for some time he writ to him to mind him and was never contented till it was done and Master Recorder did take in his time within some weeks after my Lords promise watching when he might acquaint the House seasonably without interrupting other great publike occasions of the Kingdome and the House of Commons Answer was they approved of the wisdome of my Lord Major in forbidding the disputation at that time and that they would not give consent for a disputation and for the truth of this let Master Recorder be asked and other Members who were present and therefore Master Recorder in all places and to all who speaks to him about it clears my Lord Major that he punctually performed his promise and if it be any such hainous crime to hinder such a tumultuous disputation as that was like to have been let them lay the blame upon the House of Commons if they dare and not upon the Lord Major And what I write in this matter I speak knowingly as being assured of the truth of it from the mouth of him who should know But least the Anabaptists should think whilst I vindicate the truth against a scandalous reproach cast upon the Lord Major I do it out of respects as being glad the Disputation was put off and since denyed I here declare my self that I could wish withall my heart there were a publike Disputation even in the point of Paedobaptisme and of Dipping between some of the Anabaptists and some of our Ministers and had I an interest in the Houses to prevaile to obtaine it which I speak not as to presume of any such power being so meane and weak a man it should be one of the first Petitions I would put up to the Honorable Houses for a publike Disputation as was at Zurick namely that both Houses would give leave to the Anabaptists to chuse for themselves such a number of their ablest men and the Assembly leave to chuse an equall number for them and that by Authority of Parliament publike Notaries sworne might be appointed to write down all some Members of both Houses present to see to the Peace kept and to be Judges of the faire play and liberty given the Anabaptists and that there might be severall dayes of Disputation leave to the utmost given the Anabaptists to say what they could and if upon such faire and free debates it should be found the Anabaptists to be in the Truth then the Parliament not only to Tolerate them but to Establish and settle their way throughout the whole Kingdome but if upon Disputation and debate the Anabaptists should be found in an Error as I am confident they would that then the Parliament should forbid all Dipping and take some severe course with all Dippers as the Senate of Zurick did after the ten severall Disputations allowed the Anabaptists For the second particular my Lord Major is charged with presenting of an unjust Remonstrance to the Parliament for suppressing Anabaptists c I answer my Lord Major presented it not hee went not to Westminster with it but some Aldermen and Common counsell men chosen by the Court The Remonstrance was the Act of the Court of Common-counsell and not my Lords Majors alone nor my Lord
142. pages of this Book I might fill a Book in relating the passages in Discourses Sermons and printed Books spoken in way of boasting of this Army and of particular persons belonging to it of the Independent way calling one Infallible the Saviour of three Kingcomes a second the Terrible a third whom God hath especially fitted for Sea or Land one whom foraigne States would be proud of having such a servant and so of others but I will only point at some expressions in a late Book of Master Burtons called Conformities Deformity wherein the Army is in a sort deified page 17 18. speaking of pressing the Parliament for an Ordinance against Heresies and Schismes he speaks what this Ordinance would do against those men who have prodigally poured their dearest bloud viz. trample upon them and not suffer them to breath in their native aire and thereupon runs out in the extolling of that sort of men in the Army that by them we yet breath that they have beene the preservers of the Land that many glorious victories have made them admirable to the neighbour Nations yea to the whole world and terrible to their professed enemies and ours yea and to pretended freinds too who would master us at home were not these masters of the feild God hath made them the great instruments of the preservation and deliverance of our Country and City from the most desperate bloudy and beastiall enemies that ever the earth bred or hell hatched God hath vouchsafed to cast great favour and honour upon them and as he hath crowned them with so much glory and they have â—ast their crownes at the feet of the Lamb that sits upon the Throne So should we come and first giving all the glory to God gather up those crownes and set them upon the heads of those our Preservers and Deliverers and put chains about their necks so far off should we be from trampling such Pearles under foot or casting them out of our Gates and Ports 8. The Sectaries are guilty of unsufferable Insolencies horrible affronts to Authority and of strange outrages having done those things that all things considered no story of former ages can paralell and here I have so large a feild that I might write a Book in Folio upon this head but I will only give a touch upon the particulars and referre the Reader for further satisfaction to their owne Books 1. Some of the Sectaries have spoken and written that against the Lawes of the Land both Common and Statute as I beleeve neither Papists nor any English men ever did before them I have read divers passages of this kind in divers Pamphlets within these two last yeers as in some books written against Master Pryn but above all Leiutenant Colonell Lilburne in his Just mans Justification page 11 12 13 14 15. and A Remonstrance to their owne House of Commons page 13. 15. 19. damns the Common Law as coming from the Devill and being the great bondage of England the Norman Yoake as the Reader may easily see by these words That which is the greatest mischeife of all and the oppressing bondage of England ever since the Norman Yoak is this I must be tried before you by a Law call'd the Common Law that I know not nor I thinke no man else neither do I know where to finde it or read it and how I can in such a â—asâ— be punished by it I know not such an unfathomable gulâ—e have I by a little search found the Law practises in Westminster Hall to be that seriously I thinke there is neither end nor bottome of them so many uncertainties formalilities puncâ—ilios and that which is worse all the enâ—ries and proceedings in Latine a Language I understand not nor one of a thousand of my native Country-men so that when I read the Scripture it makes me thinke that the practises in the Courts at Westminster flow not from God nor from his Law nor the Law of Nature and Reason no nor yet from the understanding of any righteous just or honest men but from the Devill and the will of Tyrants The Kings Writs that summons a Parliament implying the establishment of Religion showes that we remaine under the Norman yoake of an unlawfull power from which we ought to free our selves Ye know the Lawes of this Nation are unworthy a free people and deserve from first to last to be considered and seriously debated and reduced to an agreement with common equity and right reason which ought to be the forme and life of every Government Magna Charta it selfe being but a beggerly thing containing many marks of intolerable bondage and the Lawes that have beene made since by Parliaments have in very many particulars made our Government much more oppressive and intolerable The Conquerer erected a trade of Judges and Lawyers to sell justice and injustice at his owne unconscionable rate and in what time he pleased the corruption whereof is yet upon us from which we thought you should have delivered us we cannot but expect to be delivered from the Norman bondage and from all unreasonable Lawes made ever since that unhappy conquest By which passages t is evident the Sectaries aime at a totall change of the Laws and Customs of this Kingdom 2. They have spoken and written much against the King speaking of him as a Delinquent terming him the great Delinquent and that he should not come in but as a Delinquent when news hath beene of messages and gracious offers from the King and when his late Letter to the City was spoken of they have slighted all saying we can have them without him and what can he do for us he is a Delinquent They have taken one of his titles from him and given it to that unworthy mean man Lilburne stiling him Defendor of the Faith they have taken other of his Titles as Soveraign Leige Lord Majesty Kingship Regality and given them to the H. of Commons and to the common people making the Universall people to be the King Creator and the King their meer creature servant and vassal and as they have taken from him his Titles so his power denying him all Legislative power and to be one of the Estates of Parliament yea they have pleaded for the King to be deposed and justice to be done upon him as the grand murtherer of England and not only that he should bee beheaded but the Kingdome also viz. this Kingdome deprived of a King for ever and Monarchie turned into Democracie And as they have endeavoured to strip him of all his Titles and power as a King so to take from him all priviledges as a man and a Christian speaking against Ministers praying for him and that he should be excommunicated from all Christian society For proofe of which particulars let the Reader read over the late Remonstrance of many thousand Citiznes to their owne House of Commons and among other passages that in page 6. It is high time we be
plaine with you we are not nor shall not be so contented that you lie ready with open Armes to receive the King and to make him a great and a glorious King Have you shooke this Nation like an Earth-quake to produce no more then this for us We do expect according to reason that you should in the first place declare and set forth King Charles his wickednesse open before the world and withall to show the intolerable inconveniencies of having a Kingly Government from the constant evill practises of those of this Nation and so to declare King Charles an en 〈…〉 my and to publish your resolution never to have any more but to acquit us of so great a charge and trouble for ever and to convert the great rev 〈…〉 w of the Crowne to the publike treasure to make good the injuries and injustices done heretofore and of late by those that have possessed the same and that we expected long since at your hands and untill this be done we shall not thinke our selves well dealt withall in this originall of all oppressions to wit Kings The Just mans Justification page 10. I wish with all my soule the Parliament would seriously consider upon that Law Who so sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed that so wilfull murtherers might not escape the hand of Justice but especially that they would thinke upon the grand murtherer of England for by this impartiall Law of God there is no exemption of Kings Princes Dukes Earles more then of fishermen c. The Arrow against all Tyrants page 11 12. Soveraignity challenged by the King is usurpation illegitimate and illegall c. The power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive So Overtons Defiance to the House of Lords Overtons Petition and Appeale to the High and mighty States the Knights and Burgesset in Parliament Assembled Englands Legall Soveraignâ— power The last warning to the Inhabitants of London with divers such like 3. The Sectaries have spoken written done much against the House of Peeres the supreme Judicature of this Kingdome that House which gives to the Parliaments of England the denomination of the High Court of Parliament as t is a Court of Record and having power of judiciall triall by oath c. of the greatest subjects of this Kingdome in the greatest matters as life estates liberty whose Tribunall and Power hath ever beene acknowledged and dreaded in this Kingdom in all times by the greatest Peeres and persons of the Land and when questioned by them have given all high respect and humble submission as we see that great Favorite the Earle of Strafford did yet this Supreme Court hath beene by word and deed so used by base unworthy sonnes of the earth as the 〈…〉 st Court in England or p 〈…〉 iest Constable never was till these times and certainly the ages to come who shall read the History of these times and the Books of the Sectaries written this last yeere against the House of Lords will wonder at our times and inquire what exemplary punishment was done upon them The facts of some Sectaries abetted and pleaded for also by other of their fellows have been these 1. Refusing upon the Summons Warrants of the House of Peeres to appeare before them and resisting to the utmost so that the Officers have been necessitated to drag them and bring them by force as Overton who in print is not ashamed to relate it 〈◊〉 When they have beene committed and under custody refusing to be brought by their Keepers to the House of Peeres upon command of the House to answer to their charge as Lilburne did keeping his chamber shut refusing to come forth and resisting to the utmost so that glad to carry him by power to the House of Lords which relation also Lilburne hath printed 3. In refusing to answer any questions put them by the House of Peeres 4. In refusing to kneele at the Barre in token of any submission to the House or to be uncovered 5. In appealing from and protesting against the House of Peeres and any power they have over them both by word of mouth and writing drawn up and thrown into the House 6. In stopping their eares in a contemptuous manner that they would not heare their charge read 7. In reproving sawcie taking up and reproaching the House of Peeres to their faces in the House 8. In Petitioning the House of Commons for justice against the House of Peeres and for reparations of dammages using many reproachfull words of that Right Honourable House even in their Petitions as is to be seene in Overtons John Lilburnes and Elizabeth Lilburnes Petitions 9. Threatning the House of Peeres what they will do against them if they maintaine their power and honour and what the house of Commons will do 10. Stirring up and inciting the common People also to fall upon them to pull them downe and overthrow that House The Speeches and writings of the Sectaries against the House of Peeres within this last sixe moneths or thereabouts ever since the commitment of Learner about The last warning to the inhabitants of London are fearfull and strange many Pamphlets having beene written in that time tending apparently to the totall overthrow of the House of Peeres and of having any Lords in this Kingdome denying them all Legislative and Judiciall Power and giving it all to the House of Commons or rather to that Beast of many heads the common People allowing the Commons only so much as they please and for so long making them their meer deputies and servants at will I shall give the Reader a few passages out of their Books and referre for further satisfaction to the Books themselves A Pamphlet entituled The Just man in Bonds writes thus pag. 1. The power of the House of Lords is like a shallow uneven water more in noyse then substance no naturall issues of Lawes but the extubâ—rances and mushromes of Prerogative the wens of Just Government putting the body of the people into pain as well as occasioning deformity Sons of conquest they are and usurpation not of choyce and election intruded upon us by power not constituted by consent not made by the people from whom all power place and office that is just in this Kingdome ought only to arise A Pamphlet call'd A Pearle in a Dung-hill pag. 3 4. speaks thus And why presume ye thus O ye Lords Set forth your merit before the people and say For this good it is that we will raigne over you Remember your selves or shall we remember ye Which of you before this Parliament minded any thing so much as your pleasures Playes Masques Feastings Gaming 's Dancings c. What good have you done since this Parliament and since the expulsion of the Popish Lords and Bishops where will you begin It was wont to be said when a thing was spoyl'd that the Bishops foot had been in it and if the Lords mend not it will be
said of them and justly too For what other have they been but a meer clog to the House of Commons in all their proceedings How many necessary things have they obstructed How many evill things promoted What devices have they had of Prudentialls and Expedients to delay and pervert what is good and subtle policies to introduce things evill The Pamphlet call'd An Alarum to the House of Lords pag. 4. speaking of the Lords imprisoning Lilburne and removing him from Newgate to the Tower of London saith Whether to murther him privately from the peoples knowledge we cannot tell but we judge little lesse And in pag. 5. speaking of the Lords giving order that none must see Lilburne in the Tower but they must first given in their names the places of their habitation uses these words An act so unreasonable and destructive to us that we cannot but take notice of it and let you know That we cannot neither will we suffer such intolerable affronts at your hands If timely cautions will not availe with you you must expect to be bridled for wee are resolved upon our naturall Rights and Freedomes and to be enslaved to none how Magnificent soever with rotten Titles of Honor. For doe you imagine there is none abroad of his mind who though he were dead and destroyed by you would prosecute those works and discoveries of the Peoples Rights which hee hath begun Yes more then you are aware of that can nay and are resolved to paint forth your Interest to the life if you will not content your selves the sooner with what 's your owne and leave the Commoners to the Commons The Remonstrance of many thousands to their own House of Commons pag. 6 7. speaks thus to them Yee must also deale better with us concerning the Lords then you have done Ye onely are chosen by us the People and therefore in you onely is the power of binding the whole Nation by making altering or abolishing of Lawes Ye have therefore prejudiced us in acting so as if ye could not make a Law without both the Royall assent of the King so ye are pleased to expresse your selves and assent of the Lords What is this but to blind our eyes that we should not know where our power is lodged nor to whom we apply our selves for the use thereof but if we want a Law wee must await till the King and Lords assent yet ye knowing their assent to be meerly formall as having no root in the choyce of the people from whom the power that is just must be derived do frequently importune their assent which implies a most grosse absurdity For where their assent is necessary and essentiall they must be as free as you to assent or dissent as their understanding and consciences shall guide them and might as justly importune you as you them Ye ought in conscience to reduce this case also to a certainty and not to waste time and open your counsels and be liable to so many obstructions as ye have beene But to prevail with them enjoying their Honors and possessions to be liable and stand to be chosen for Knights and Burgesses of the people as other the Gentry and Free-men of this Nation doe which will be an obligation upon them as having one and the lame interest then also they would be distinguished by their vertue and love to the Common-wealth whereas now they Act and Vote in our Affairs but as Intruders or as thrust upon us by Kings to make good their Interests which to this day have beene to bring us into a â—lavish condition to their wills Lilburne in his F 〈…〉 s freedome Vindicated p. 7 8 9. speaks thus I must be forced to dâ—nce atâ—endance contrary to Law to answer a Charge without for 〈…〉 or fashion in Law at the Barre of the House of Peeres who know very well or at least might know that I knew as well as any of themselves their power jurisdiction and Prerogative Fountaine from whence they spring and calls the Lords the meere Creature of the peoples Creature the King and the common people the earthly Lord and Creator of the Lords Creator and saith that in the Honorable House of Commons alone by right resides the formall and legall supreme power of England Overton in his Arrow shot into the Prerogative Bowels of the Arbitrary House of Lords as he calls it showes page 10. how he denied subjection to the Lords affirming that if their Officers had shâ—wn a thousand such Warrants to him as they did he would have accounted them all illegall Antimagisteriall and void in Law as having no power over Commoners which are not their Peeres and thereupon stirs up the people to Arme themselves fortifie their houses to â—eat wound and kill their officers that come to fetch them before the Lords and then turnes his speech to the House of Commons Why therefore should you of the Representative body sit still and suffer these Lords thus to devoure both us and our Lawes Be awakned arise and consider their oppressions and encroachments and stop their Lordships in their ambitious careere for they doe not cease only here but they soare higher and higher and now they are become Arrogators to themselves of the naturall soveraignity the Represented have conveyed and issued to their proper Representors even challenge to themselves the title of the supremest Court of judicature in this Land and in page 11 12. Overton saith further Therefore the Soveraigne power extending no further then from the Represented to the Representors al this kind of soveraignity challenged by any whether of King Lords or others is usurpation illegitimate and illegall and none of the Kingdomes or peoples neither are the people thereto obliged Thus seeing the Legislative power is only from the Represented to the Representors and cannot possibly further extend the power of the King cannot be Legislative but only Executive and hee can communicate no more then hee hath himself so that his meere Prerogative creatures cannot have that which their Lord and Creator never had hath or can have namely the Legislative power Indeed all other Courts might as well challenge that Prerogative of Soveraignity yea better then this Court of Lords But and if any Court or Courts in this Kingdome should arrogate to themselves that dignity to be the Supreme Court of Judicatory of the Land it would be judged no lesse then high treason to wit for an inferior subordinate power to advance and exalt it selfe above the power of the Parliament The same Overton in a Pamphlet entituled A Defiance against all Arbitrary usurpations either of the House of Lords or any other page 5. saith And though I be in their Prerogative clutches and by them unjustly cast into the prison of Newgate for standing for my owne and my Countries rights and freedomes I care not who lets them know that I acknowledge nonâ— other to be the Supreme Court of Judicature of this Land but the House of
Commons the Knights and Burgesses assembled in Parliament by the voluntary choyce and free election of the people thereof with whom and in whose just defence I le live and die maugre the malice of the House of Lords and in page 18. he in way of deâ—ision calls the Lords House the Superlative House and speaking of the Lords laughing at his answers he saith of that House such carriage such a Court For indeed Comedies Tragedies Masks and Playes are more fit for such idle kind of men And above all other Demonstrations of the outragious insolencies of the Sectaries against the House of Peeres let the Reader peruse that Pamphlet entituled An Anatomy of the Lords tyranny and injustice exercised upon Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne which is throughout insolent both for matter and manner particularly page 12 13. Lilburne writes that he being in the painted Chamber desired Master Brisco one of his Keepers to go and tell the Lords from him that seeing they had the impudencie and boldnesse to tread the Lawes and Liberties of England under their feet and did so contemne and undervalue the authority of the Honorable House of Commons to whom he had appealed as yet to go on in their illegall courses with him with whom by Law they had nothing to doe that he must be forced in the highest nature he could to contemne and despise their proceedings and therefore was resolved not to come to their Bar without a forcible compulsion and to come in with his hat on his head and to stop his eares when they read his charge in detestation and bearing witnesse against their usurpations and injustice page 14 15. Lilburne writes he thus spake to the Lords And my Lords I tell you to your faces that by right the House of Commons are your Judges as well as mine in this case and I doe not doubt but to live to see the day that they will make you to know whether you will or no that they are so and of their justice and protection I doe not in the least doubt And therefore my Lords seeing you have dealt so illegally and tyrannically with me as you have done I now bid defiance to your power and malice to doe the worst you can And therefore my Lords I protest here before the God of Heaven and earth if you shall be so unworthy as to persevere in endeavouring the destruction of the fundamentall Lawes and Liberties of England as at present you doe I will venture my life and bloud against you to oppose you with as much zeale and courage as ever I did any of the Kings party that you set us together by the eares with page 21. Lilburne saith all his catriage and expressions before the House of Lords in the case now betwixt them to be as justifiable by the Law of this Kingdome and in the eyes of all understanding men as for a true and just man to draw his sword and cut the theif or rogue that sets upon him upon the high-way on purpose to rob him of his life and goods and in page 23. hee earnestly beseeches the Honorable Committee to remember the Commoners and improve all their interest to punish or at least effectually to curb the Lords House Thus the Sectaries in their Petitions and all their Pamphlets printed speaking of the Lords House and of their proceedings they give such kind of termes as these Barbarous Tyrannicall Arbitrary Illegall unjust dealings worse then the unjust Stat-chamber it selfe Insolent unheard of usurpations intrusions and many such like And in divers Pamphlets now of late the Parliament being spoken of is understood only the Commons of England they call'd the Parliament by way of exclusion of and opposition to the H. of Peers and Books written on purpose and dispersed given freely to stir up the people to adhere to the Comons as considered apart and distinct in interest power from the Lords with unworthy reflections upon the Lords as The last warning to all the Inhabitants of London p. 7. Mind your own good and cleave fast to the House of Commons let no sorcery or sophistry divide you from them the Lords are not to go before the Commons in determining what concerns the Nations their large answer to your last City Petition for Church-government and suppression of Conventicles insinuates they would allure you from the Commons therefore observe them watchfully and trust them accordingly So A word in season to all sorts of well-minded people in this distracted Nation with Answers to the City Remonstrance and divers other Pamphlets 4. The Sectaries have been guilty of and daily are of abusing contemning and taking away the power of the House of Commons given it by the Lawes Constitutions and Customes of this Kingdome and though in many Pamphlets especially this last yeere they cry up the House of Commons and seeme to give them not only their owne power but the power of the King and House of Lords making both them meere ciphers yet it will be found by many of their principles laid downe they have destroyed the House of Commons and doe break their Priviledges speak their pleasure of them both by words and writing as often as they please Many Pamphlets and whole Books have beene written by Sectaries against the House of Commons it selfe and not only against Committees or particular Members charging the House with tyranny injustice oppression horrible pride seeking of particular interests Arbitrary Governm 〈…〉 breaking of Magna Charta and going against the Liberties of the subject resembling them to the Star-chamber High Commission Court to Strafford and Canterbury refusing to answer any questions upon the command of the House scorning to Petition the Commons either to sue for their favour or to acknowledge their justice and after such favour shown as to release without petitioning yet taxing them with dishonesty and demanding reparations for imprisonment for the abundant proofe of which I referre the Reader to many Pamphlets written by Sectaries as Englands Birthright The Copie of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne to a friend Lilburnes Innocency and truth justified Englands lamentable slavery with other Letters printed about that time Another word to the wise written by M. John Musgrave A Pamphlet entituled An exact collection of the Parliaments Remonstrances Declarations c. A Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens and other free borne people of England to their owne House of Commons out of which I shall faithfully transcribe some passages that the insolencies of the Sectaries against the House of Commons may be observed Lilburn in his Letter to his freind writes thus page 1 2. That Master Corbit being in the chaire and telling him he was commanded by the House to demand a question of him Lilburn instead of answering him desired to know the cause of his commitment and M. Corbit replying the House was not bound to declare unto him the cause of his commitment thereupon Lilburne answered Then I have beene a long
againe this Sectary speaking of Parliament men about their Ordinance saith But what they are let all the people judge let them consider whether there can be the least dram of honesty or Religion in them or respect to the liberty of this freeborne Nation therein seeing they lay upon us a heavier â—eake then ever was laid upon us in the dayes of the Bishops It will be the greatest thraldom and bondage that â—ver the Kingdome was involved into and by this Ordinance of the Supper I am afraid we shall all go supperlesse to bed and speaking of the Classes Synods he addes if we can finde no Justice there we may appeale for sooth to our Gods themselves the Parliament life everlasting world without end of who 〈…〉 how may we expect 〈…〉 or justice th 〈…〉 that thus before hand w 〈…〉 with the stings of Scorpions and griâ—d us betweene the devouring jawes of such divilish tyr 〈…〉 icall Courts which will even crush our 〈…〉 s in peices and squeese out our very marrow and juyce and 〈…〉 ck out our very hearts bloud like so many greedy 〈◊〉 And as I have shown how the Presbyteriall Government and Ordinances for it have beene by word and writing opposed so I shall give some instances of the Sectaries insolent actings and workings against it In London when according to command of Authority the Ministers and people met to set up the Government to chuse Elders in Congregations some Sectaries came into Churches when they were â—â—using and made a disturbance by objecting openly against the office aâ— at Aâ—dersgaâ—â— and some other Churches other Sectaries joyned together hindered the election objecting they would not chuse Elders till they had chosen Ministers first because their Ministers were put in by the Bishops in former times or by the Parliament of late without their formall choyce an instance of the first was at Michael crooked â—ane where by the meanes of some Sectaries the Election was hindered and is to this day and things were carried with a great deale of confusion and tumult an instance of the second was at Th 〈…〉 Apostles As some other Churches of London where upon the Church doores a paper was set up to give notice of Elders chosen in such places and that they were to be tried at such a time in such a Church and that if any had any thing to except against them they should bring in their exceptions these papers were pu 〈…〉 downe and in their place a scandalous paper call'd severall Vo 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 consciences having a disgracefull picture of a Presbyter having Antichristian written by him in the midst of the Pope and Prelate was set up as for instance 27. of July last on the Church doore in Clements Eastcheap the paper about Elders was taken downe and this paper set up At Dover in Kent when one of the parishes was to chuse Elders the Independents and Sectaries carriage was extreme insolent as the Reader may observe by these following passages written to me in a Letter from a Reverend Minister of that Towne Now for the day of Electing our Elders if a State and the Truth were ever trodden downe at once by men it was in the preparation for that day and the practise of it Before the day some of them went about to perswade the people to hold their liberties and not to bring themselves in bondage They chose our Elders for us and perswaded people to accept of them and being asked by some whether they thought them fit to be Elders in their Independent Church they answered no nor members neither they spâ—ke evill of our best men and accused them of wavering and malice and when some told that if they should chuse such Elders as they named people would not be joyned with them they replied no matter they might then come to their Church and when the day was come and time to chuse our Elders albeit their owne Pastor was preaching in the towne at the same instant yet some of them came to our choyce and there affirmed though not by an open ouâ—cry yet by private perswasions to some that we were not building the walls of Babal and went to divers persous and got them to forbeare giving their voices to Master P. telling them that they knew he would not take it by which meanes we feare he will lose it to be brief we know that they are opposite to order and if there be not restraint will bring all to a lawlesse condition so thinks June 29. 1646. Your loving freind and Brother Eighthly â—he Independents and Sectaries have spoken written and carried themselves very unworthily towards our Brethren of Scotland the Sectaries in the Army City Country and in all places of this Kingdome have at all tables and in all Pamphlets and all kind of wayes abused and railed against the Scots inventing many wicked lies raising groundlesse jealousies and feares of them and that of their Kingdome and State their Army their Commissioners resident here their Generall Assembly of particular worthy persons by name and as they have done thus about this two last yeers with all industry and subtilty imploying Emissaries so more especially since the Kings going to the Scottish Army they have bestirred themselves by their weekly Pamphleters by many libellous Pamphlets written on purpose by many strange and false reports raised on purpose to incense the Kingdom against them and to make them odious I could fill a great book in setting downe all the hard speeches the ungodly Sectaries have spoken against them in Sermons and other discourses in transcribing out of the Sectaries Books all the bitter scoffing lying railing passages written against them in relating all strange facts and cruell unkind dealings of that party against them but they are so well knowne and all wise men so well acquainted with them that I need not much enlarge only for the sake of weake ones who live remote I shall touch upon a few things and truly t is the honour of our Brethren of Scotland that the Sectaries hate them so infinitely for would they have beene false or remisse in the Covenant and to their principles they should have beene the great favorites with them and might have had what they would but because they were too honest and not to be corrupted by any worldly thing and they looking upon them as the great thing that letteth and will let untill it be taken out of the way therefore they have sought to blast them and destroy them all kind of wayes they could desire They have therefore laboured to possesse the people by word and writing that the Scots are a false dishonest selfe-seeking People all for their owne ends and alwayes were that they coâ—ply with the Kings designes are firmly his as ever the Cavaliers were that they will joyne with the King against the Parliament a mercinary people that have got a world of money and sent it out of the Kingdome in whole barrels full
that have had more money and now demand more hundred thousand pounds â—hen all Scotland is worth if it were to be sold that they stood for the King to come to London and to be disposed of by their advice for nothing else but to get great offices about him and places at Court that they seek nothing but to encroach upon the rights and liberties of this Nation in severall of their demands and therefore what true English man can beare it They have given out of their Armies that they exercise strange cruelties robberies plunderings in the Countries notwithstanding all their great pay and yet they have done nothing for it what have they done almost this two last yeeres say the Sectaries nay some Sectaries have given out we owe them nothing they have had more then their pay comes to Presently after the newes came of the Kings going to the Scottish Army there were many jealousies raised and reports given out by the Independent party that all the forces of the Kings out of Newark were joyned to the Scots and gone along with them that Letters were intercepted going from the King to Oxford to wish them to holdout so many dayes and they should have releife that two thousand Irish were come to joyne with the Scots for the King against the Parliament that the Scots had broken the Covenant in detaining the King and in not delivering up Ashburnham with divers such fables and since all along we have by that party some fine stories or other told of the Scots as of so many thousands out of France to joyne with them and so many thousand fresh men come out of Scotland into England and Informations and Examinations printed of strange things the Scats will do and the King hath spoken of since he went to them reports of stories of Robin Hood and little John of Cocks and Bulls plots that would be discovered of the Scots and some great Noble men Now for proof of the Sectaries being guilty in these particulars I referre the Reader to divers of the Sectaries libellous Pamphlets against the Scots as Master Burtons Conformities Deformity A black cloud in the North a late Declaration by way of Letters c. to divers of the Weekly newes Books of late and particularly to the Imperfect Diurnall Immoderate Intelligencer Vnperfect Occurrences three sworne servants of the Independents and to his owne remembrance and observation of things For conclusion of this there are none so hated in this Kingdom by the Sectaries as our Brethren of Scotland not the Papists not the Prelates not the Malignants they exceed the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Doctor Wren c. who never spake with that bitternesse against the Generall Assembly and Church-government as some Sectaries have done for instaâ—ce let Master Burtons Conformities Deformity be perused in what he writes against the Generall Assembly and Church-government of Scotland and it would be thought rather to be Canterbury redivivus then Master Burton for whom the Ministers of Scotland and other godly Christians there put up so many prayers but their hatred and malice against the Church and Kingdom of Scotland God will in due time remember and visit And their extreme malignity against our Brethren of Scotland appeares principally in four things 1. Though some of that party have given great testimony to them of their faithfulnesse and worth yet without any cause of theirs or change in them the Scots coâ—tinuing constant and firme to their first principles and I challenge all the Sectaries to give but one instance to the contrary they have turned Jewes against them and spoken evill of them all they could 2. If any one Sectary take the Scots part as seeing their faithfulnesse to the publick and so declare it though yet at the same time be speaks against the Scots Church-government Covenant c. and come to be in question and trouble upon some things though we see Sectaries strangely brought off of all troubles notwithstanding all misdemeanors he is deserted by his party may lie and perish in prison and the reason is given in print to all the world if we may beleeve it for his complying with the Scots to drive on some wicked designe of theirs and combining with them whereas the same party declares in print the honesty and justice of the Scots for the redresse of the great greivances of his Countrey and though strangers to him yet upon the goodnesse of the Cause furthering it with all their power to bring it to the hearing of the House of Commons and he professes he neither knows nor can suppose the Scots to intend any other wicked desigâ— but the setling of the Presbyterian Government among us 3. In the many bloudy speeches divers of the Sectarian party have spoken against the Scots viz. that they would as willingly fight against the Scots draw their swords against them as ever against 〈◊〉 Cavaliers that if they had an Order from the Commons to go against the Scots they would go as willingly as ever against the Cavaliers that it would never be well with us till we had beaten the Scots out of the Kingdom that if they would not go out now we had conquered the Kings party we would go lead them out with divers such speeches 4. In making it their great busines to corrupt and poyson mens minds with false notions and apprehensions about the Scots as if they were the most perâ—idious people that ever were many stories in this kind might be told but I will content my self with relating one which is most certaine as having it from the mouth of a godly minister upon whom the experiment was made There was a great Gentleman of the Independent party I will not say he was a Member of the House of Commons who laboured to possesse a godly Minister of some note in his Countrey against the Scots and walked alone with him two houres to represent to him the state of things oâ—â—â—ring him confidently and that he should finde that the Kingâ—ad â—ad poysoned the Scots and made them all for him he had corrupted the Army the Scots Commissi 〈…〉 the Convention of Estates yea the generall Assembly it selfe and they would be all 〈…〉 s much for him as ever the Cavaliers were with severall other things he laboured to pos 〈…〉 e him with of the City of London the Army c. but the best was the Minister wanted faith to beleeve him and laughed secretly that this Gentleman should think to catch old birds with chaffe Ni 〈…〉 ly the Sectaries and Independents have spoken and carried themselves unworthily to the bleeding condition of the Kingdome of Ireland and the Protestâ—â—ts there some of them have justified the Irish Rebellion that they did it for the liberty of their consciences and for their Country and what had the English to doe in their Kingdome the Irish did no more then what we would have done ourselves if it had been 〈◊〉 case and that they
Reader to look Mr. Cartwright on the Proverbs 2. That when the King freely cast himselfe into the Armes of our Brethren of Scotland in Covenant with us and did nor go for Ireland France or into Scotland to Montrosse and the Rebels there as he might have done which courses as they might have proved most sad and dangerous to himselfe and his posterity so very pernicious to these Kingdomes in the continuance of a most destructive civill Warre and sad effects thereof the Independents and Sectaries were so farre from blessing God for keeping the King from running those ways and inclining his heart rather to go to our Brethren in Arms and Covenant with us that they were much troubled at it and some of them have expressed as much wishing the King had gone rather to France or Ireland then to the Scots An Independent speaking with a Presbyterian of the Kings going to the Scots the Presbyterian answered him what would you have had the King done Would you have had him gone to Ireland the Independent replied it had been better for us if he had gone for Ireland then now though may be not better for himselfe And since the Kings being with the Scots the Sectaries have expressed themselves as being afraid of nothing more then the Kings yeelding to the Propositions and a peace thereupon A great Independent speaking of the Propositions said God forbid the King should signe them and some speaking of the Kings refusing the Covenant an Independent said Gods blessing of his heart for refusing of it and I have been told from good hands that so 〈…〉 e of the Independent party underhand make use of some instruments to keep the King off from taking the Covenant and hint some encouragements to him if he refuse it all which showes the abominable wickednesse of our Sectaries that they would rather have had the King runne upon the destruction of himselfe and his Kingdomes then their Independent opinions to be hazarded by the Kings agreeing with his Kingdomes and settling of Church and State 3. The transcendent wickednesse of the Sectaries and Independent party appears by their evill carriage towards our Brethren of Scotland by whom as by a speciall meanes under God both the Kingdome and they came in a capacity to be freed from Tyranny and Popery and it hath been acknowledged since this Parliament even by some of themselves that they were the first meanes and instruments of casting off oppressions and Popery and how usefull and instrumentall from first to last the Scots have beene to this Kingdome and Parliament all the world cannot but know who knowes any thing and without whose helpe according to all humane reason and second causes the Sectaries had not been in a way of doing the Scots any wrong notwithstanding all which such hath beene the horrid ingratitude of the Sectaries that they have and doe hate them infinitely worse then the Papists and Malignants have with all possible Art and industry reproached viliâ—ied them by printing and reporting by word of mouth all kind of evill of them studied to put upon them them all affronts and disgraces sought all occasions to fall out with them and to engage in warre against them not caring to involve these Kingdomes in a most deadly and destructive warre that they might be revenged on the Scots for the Covenant and the Presbyteriall Government and the Sectaries have a long while made account of a warre with Scotland and ordered many things in reference to that that they might be ready for it Many of the Sectaries made such reckoning of falling ouâ— with Scotland that the last yeere some of them bought many score chaldron of New-castle coles thinking thereby to get a great deale of moâ—ey and being disappointed have lost much by the bargaine otheâ—s of them perswaded their freinds to lay in good store of Coles for their provision the lâ—st winter because of wars with Scotland and when Lilburne was in prison in Newgate upon Order of the House of Commons one coming to visit him in prison and giving him twenty shillings to releive him there Lilburne told him for his love he would doe him this good turne wish him to buy in his store of Coles because of a breach that was likely to be with the Scots It would be too long to relate all the stories have beene told me of severall passages and discourses used by Sectaries tending to a warre with Scotland both by Sectarian Chaplains Commanders and others of that way as preaching to souldiers of another party Formalists rising up against you but they shall fall under you as the pressing upon some imployed to Treat with the Cavaâ—ierâ— to give them conditions contrary to Ordinances of Parliament and all reason that our Armies might be at liberty to deale with the Scots aâ— of endeavouring to remove some Commanders out of the way because looked upon as great friends of the Scots as of some imployed to sound and try men in City and Army how they stood affected to a warre with Scotland as saying that they had been upon the Scots before now but for this City and that they would upon Order from the House of Commons go as willingly against the Scots as ever against the Cavaliers as intercepting and opening of Letters of the Scots staying their Messengers at Courts of Guard by Independent Officers as as I shall therefore draw to a conclusion upon this head and conclude that in the Histories and Chronicles that shall be written of these times the Sectaries wickednesses in reference to the Scots will be recorded and fully spoken of and they will be infamous for it to all generations and some particular men among them who now hold up their heads full high will be by name branded for their â—alsities and unworthy dealings with the Scots and not caring to have involved the Kingdomes in a new warre for their fancies and New-light of which themselves hold they have no such assurance or certainâ—y but before next weeke they may see a contrary light 4. Among all other wickednesses of the Sectaries their carriage towards the Kingdome of Ireland and the Protestants there is prodigious some of them having justified that Rebellion others having reasoned against sending helpe many of them having retarded and hindred help from going none of them as I know having beene forward and earnest for sending helpe but have cast in many objections raised and nourished needlesse fears and jealosies of the Scots and of plots at home not caring to have Ireland lost over and over againe rather then their particular opinions or designes should in the least be hazarded In the beginning of the Rebellion in Ireland when wee had no Armies on foot nor knew not the way of warre and wanted many advantagâ—s we have now yet how was the House of Peeres cried out on great multitudes coming up to Westminster in a tumultuous way ready to pull the Lords out of their House and all
to hasten releife for Ireland and to passe what was sent up by the House of Commons in reference to Ireland and Oh how were those Lords branded that were thought any way to delay or obstruct succours for bleeding Ireland and yet many of those men who heretofore when helpe could not so speedily nor effectually be had clamored so against the Lords in a time when all Armies in the Feild have beene subâ—lued and hardly a Garrison untaken and great powerfull Armies with all provisions and necessaries for warre have beene ready though Ireland hath beene ready to be lost and in a most desperate condition have beene the great meanes of retarding releife hindring many thousands ready in a body from going speaking against the the Presbyterians for being so forward to send a great part of Army and giving out there was a plot to send away the Army and such like and indeed in this businesse of Ireland Scotland the King their labouring to keepe all things unsetled in Church and State the great wickednesse of the Sectaries plainly appeares I here remember what I heard a worthy and knowing Member of the House of Commons say upon occasion of discourse of the Sectaries How could any man think these Sectaries had any conscience when as to maintaine a party and faction they fomented and nourished jealousies and differences betweene the Kingdomes hazarded the losse of Ireland by hindring releife kept both Church and State from being settled and the great burthens of the Kingdome in takes and Armies from being taken off these men to keepe up their party caring not to let Ireland be lost the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland to be hazarded by a deadly war Gods honour and truth to suâ—â—er and all things to lie wast as they doe 5. Their damnable hypocrisie and abominable dissimulation and I am perswaded there never was a more hypocriticall false dissembling cunning generation in England then many of the Grandees of our Sectaries Now their grosse hypocrifie plainly manifests it selfe in these particulars 1. they have covered all their practises and designes under the pretences of godlinesse honesty saintship purity of Ordinances tendernesse of Conscience a perfect thorough Reformation new glorious truths giving to themselves and their party the name of Saints Saints the godly party tender Consciences and under that covert they destory all godlinesse good Conscience truth are enemies to holy duties strict observing the Lords day humiliation c. encourage protect and cry up for Saints Saints sonnes of Beliall and the vildest of men they have pretended and talked of Reformation but are all for a Toleration and a liberty for all their party to beleeve and live as they lust they have talked of purity of Ordinances and spoke against mixed Communion as one of their grand grounds of separating from us and yet they have spoken and done all they could to keep mixt Communion among us and to hinder a more exact and full purity they talke of tender Consciences and Conscience when as they have Consciences can swallow and digest any thing Ostrich stomacks can lie grossely deceive and cozen prophane the Lords day make nothing of holy duties lay traps and snares to catch men c. they speak of new truths and new light but under those notions bring in all abominable Errors and Heresies into the Church of God pretend the spreading of the Gospel and preaching but in truth the spreading and increasing of all Heresies and Schisme Secondly they have pretended held out selfe-deniall have commended the selfe-denying Ordinance spoken much against mens inriching themselves seeking great places in these times spoken of doing all for the publick and that the Common-wealth might not suffer and yet these men pretending thus by such pretences have got into great offices and places procured great gifts as other mens estates great summes of mony great Arrears with the first and with the highest make use of their times in their places as much as ever any men did both for themselves and their kindred sonnes brothers cosens freinds and many of them before being beggars and meane men are now fat shining and growne great There is hardly a noted Sectary in the Kingdome or lately come out of New-England Holland c. who is in any kind capable of an office place gift or respect but he is in some one or other and hath beene the better for these times 3. The Sectaries have pretended the liberty of the Subject the publick liberties of the Kingdome this they have much held out and this they have fought for they say and not Religon and this is much spoken of in all their Pamphlets and Speeches whereas Sectaries have for the advancing of their owne way and opinions done the highest acts against the liberties of the people that ever were and indeed make nothing of trampling upon the subjects liberties and making them slaves being men that where they are in place and have power carry things arbiâ—rarily making their wills lawes making nothing of going against Charters liberties of the peoples elections c. There are many sad stories in this kind too large to be now related What enemies many of the Sectaries have beene to the peoples petitioning the Parliament to make knowne their greivances what obstructions and blocks they have laid in their way in that kind by printing of and wriring against their Petitions before delivered by branding the Petitioners for then ill-affected refined Malignants driving on the Kings designe and I know not what by preaching against their Petitions by endeavouring to get Votes and Orders against Petitions by labouring to molest the Petitioners to have them sent for to attend Committees to be put to charges kept in safe custody c. is wel known to the Kingdom and sure that 's a great part of the liberty and priviledge of the subject and if they may not be free to Petition what 's become of the liberty of the subject Such Princes in all ages as have been looked upon most for advancing their Prerogative oppressing the people and been a gainst al defensive Arms and other wayes of the peoples seeking their right yet still granted them the liberty of petitioning and would not prejudge that they have allowed preces lachrymae to be the weapons of Christian subjects though not Swords and Guns Whether many Sectaries are not very forward to keep on foot all burdens and greivances of the Kingdomes all payments in their heights great Armies Committees complained of c. I leave to â—hose who know-affairs to determine and if these things be for the liberty of the subject then are the Sectaries for the subjects liberty It will bee found that the Sectaries though they have pretended liberty yet if they should come to have the upper hand they would make the people of England the greatest slaves that ever they were in any time and indeed rule them by an Army and force instead of Lawes
and would trample as much upon the City of London and the Countries as ever John of Lâ—yden and Knipperdolling did upon the poor Citizens of Munster 4. The Sectaries hypocrifie appears by their pretending a bare liberty only peaâ—â—ably and quietly to enjoy their owne consciences and that without any offence or molestation to others And however if this might not be granted after they had helped to overcome the common enemy they would quietly sit downe and leave the Kingdome not offer to make any disturbance and this was held out along time in their speeches and in many books I have heard Master Peters speak thus and he was wont in many places to speak thus and the Apologists in their Apologeticall Narrat 〈…〉 supplicate the Parliament to look upon them as those that doe pursue no other interest or designe but a subsistence be it the poorest or meanest in their owne Land with the allowance of a latitude to some lesser differences with peaceablenesse as not knowing where else with safety health and livelihood to set their feet on earth But by these and many other specious pretences being increased in number and power and having gotten the sword into their hands now they speak out and are not contented with a bare Toleration but stand for all the places of power honor and profit in the Kingdome crying out of the City Remonstrance most of all because it petitioned against Sectaries being in places of publick trust its apparent a Domination they aime at and to have things in such a posture that they may suppresse all the Orthodox hence many speeches have sallen from them to this purpose that they will never lay downe the sword whilest there 's a Preist lefe in England that they will pack them all away for Rome and this last yeere in many places where they come they ordinarily will not suffer the Ministers to preach in their owne Churches Pulpits but by sorce hinder them yea pull them out of Pulpits threaten them assault them hence they will not endure zealous godly Presbyterians to enjoy any places in the Armies or other where but watch for iniquity use all tricks and unjust wayes to keep them out and turne them out of which there are many examples 5. The Sectaries abominable hypocrisie showes it selfe in yeelding to things against their mind and conscience that thereby they may be in a capacity and inabled to destroy and overthrow what they seeme to be for working and using all their power against it as for example many of the Sectaries took the Covenant and do take it which they hate with al their souls that so they might come into such places keep such places where being they improve those places all they can to destroy the Covenant and the contents of it hindring a Uniformity and the neerest conjuction in Government c. and are all for a Toleration and instead of endeavouring to extirpate Heresie Schisme they promote it all they can and plead for strange forced interpretations and Jesuiticall equivocations of the Covenant contrary to all literall sence the generall scope and the minds of those that made it alwayes so declared from first to last 6. The Sectaries great hypocrisie is seene in that in their speeches oft-times many of their Pamphlets and for divers of their actions why they do such things and why they refuse this and that as not hearing our Ministers preach not joyning to our Assemblies not paying their Tyths with many such they alledge the Covenant and bring that for their ground t is against such an Article of the Covenant or such a clause of an Article when as t is knowne to God and hotoriously manifest to all the world they care not at all for the Covenant make nothing of it but daily with a high hand breake every-Article and every clause of each Article but their doing and refusing of such and such things are upon other grounds and ends as the saving their purses their destroying of a settled Ministry the increasing and spreading of all Errors and Heresies and bringing in of confusion into Church and State I could write a large book upon this subject how the Sectaries daily break the Covenant and are indeed like to those spoken of in Daniel 11. 32. Such as do wickedly against the Covenant I will begin with the first clause of the first Article indeavouring the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine worship Discipline and Government c. when as they daily write with all bitternesse against the Church of Scotland their Discipline and Government c. yea have furthered the printing and spreading wicked books against the Government of the Church of Scotland written by Prelats and their greatest enemies O how is Master Burton in his Conformities Deformity in his 19 20 21. pag. guilty of breach of Covenant in writing so against their Church Government as to stirre up Princes and all civill powers against them as much as against the Popes Supremacie I might proceed to show though they take the Covenant into their mouth yet they go against that clause of indeavouring to extirpate Heresie Schism prophanesse c. on the contrary indeavouring the spreading and growing of all Heresies Errors and so I might in the rest but I shall conclude this with one word which is that they are fearfully and hypocritically guilty of the breach of the solemne League and Covenant and that if ever the Sectaries should be a meanes to involve and ingage in a war against Scotland our Brethren in their weakest condition even when their Armie 's put to the worse might in the head of their Armie spread before God the solemne League and Covenant and appeale to heaven to help them as the great Turk did once in such a case against the Christians and might well trust that God who is a God keeping Covenant a God of truth that helped the Turks against the Christians in such a case would help them his servants against the Covenant breaking Sectaries 7. The Sectaries hypocrisie appeares in casting that upon others and unjustly charging them with such things which themselves are faulty in both practise and purpose to practise only speak against such and such things in another party that others being suspected by this meanes and they not they may compasse their ends the better thus they have given out many reports and raised jealousies upon many worthy men as if not right that they sought not the good of their Country Religion but only preferment and their owne ends that so they being taken to be the faithfull men might raise their owne fortunes and bring about their owne designes many Sectaries have given out things on purpose of the Scots that they are false and alwayes were for their owne ends c. the better to hide their owne basenesse being indeed that themselves which they falsely cast upon our Brethren Thus the Sectaries give ouâ— that if
said again and again of his Protestation Protested I will if he will not be angry with him it was this that in that Book there was grosse Brownisme which he nor his Brethren no way agreed with him in and that for his part he would as soon subscribe to the Book of Common-Prayer as to divers things there Shall I tell him what Mr. Symonds of Roterdam one of the moderatest and modestest of that way said upon the comming forth of his last Book Conformities Deformitie to a friend of his that shewed it him and asked him of it no I will forbear least it should trouble the old man too much I could tell some stories of Mr. Burton and his Church I have a relation given me in writing by 〈◊〉 whâ— was present and heard all about a difference that fell out in the time of the Church-meeting between M. Burton and a Butcher and some others of his Church about prophecying but 't is too long to insert here and I promise it the Reader in the 4 part of Gangraena I have been told a late famous story by divers godly Ministers of the City of a great falling out betweene Mr. Burton and some of his Church about singing of Psalmes Baptising of Children prophecying and somewhat else and upon some Brethren cal'd in to hear the businesse how far M. Burton yeelded in those particulars both against his judgment and his practise but I must reserve that too I could make large Animadversions on his Pamphlets and show many strange positions in them beside contradictions falshood weaknesse hard speeches against the faithfull servants of God much pride and arrogancie but I will for present animadvert a few things only on his last Book Conformities Deformitie in a Dialogue between Conformity and Conscience and I shall refer all I have to say at this time to three heads 1. To show the scope of Mr. Burtons Book and what the man would have in it 2. To represent to M. Burton and the Reader the great evill of it and how unlike Mr. Burton is to what himselfe was formerly 3. Propound some queries to Mr. Burton to show him how he is mistaken all along in the ground he goes upon For the first his main scope is under the name of Conscience to represent the Sectaries as the only conscientious men and under that colour to plead for a Toleration of them all and an indempnity from all restraint by the civill Magistrate and under the name of Conformity to brand all Presbyterians and to speak against all establishment of Religion and Church-Government by Magistrates and Synods as great Hypocrisie Idolatry rejecting Christ from being King c. destroying the foundation of faith and in his prosecuting this besides Sion Colledge the Assembly the City of London the Ordinance for preventing the growth of Heresies which he fals fouly upon he railes fearfully and speaks most wickedly against the Generall Assembly and the Scottish Church-Government saying that in the Generall Assembly there is the like Supremacie set up which the Pope 〈…〉 selfe claimeth â—ver Kings States Kingdomes Common-wealths that 't is a spirit of Antichristian pride and tyranny of rebellion and treason in lifting up a Papall Throne above Kings and Kesars above Kingdomes and Common-wealths to the ensâ—aving of the whole Nation in their soules bodies aâ—d estates that it sets up in the Church an Oracle of Infallibility and such a Supremacie as no true-bred English Christian can interpret for other then Antichristian Tyranny and all under the name of a Christian Presbyterian Church-Government that if that Presbyterian Government be set up thereby our Fundamentall Lawes Priviledges and power of Parliaments Liberties and freedome of all true-bred English Subjects would be brought under perpetuall bondage worse then that eitherof Egypt or Babilon all which and much more the Reader may find in page 19 20 21. of-that Booke For the second Mr. Burtons great evill and how unlike Mr. Burton now is to Mr. Burton formerly it may apppeare thus in that M. Burton in all this booke builds up againe the things he formerly destroyed undoing all his owne acts agreeing with Canterbury Pocklington c. in their Principles and Practises against the Reformed Churches particularly the Scots and their Church-Government M. Burton being Cantuariensis redivivus nay let me not wrong the dead though they were great Enemies to the Scots and Presbyteriall-Government yet in all their writings I doe not find such rancorous malicious passages against the generall Assembly as in this Booke of M. Burtons he makes use indeed of the Bishops and their creatures Arguments and weapons against the Presbyteriall Government and the Reformation but withall goes higher and in patronizing and pleading for all Errours and Heresies under specious pretences as they did Arminian Popish and Socinian Doctrines not writing one word against all the Heresies and Blasphemies of these times but speaking against my books and Dr. Bastwicks for the discovering of them O how is M. Burton fallen I heard a godly and â—â—arned Divine say lately of him upon reading his Conformities Deformity that he had alwaies thought M. Burton to be a godly man but he now thought him the greatest Apostate in England He should not have wondered much to have seen such a book written by John Goodwin but that M. Burton should he could not have believed it had he not read it and certainely in his writing this Booke and many others God left him the man is departed from all his former principles of zeale and love to truth he can finde no Deformitie now in Heresie nor Blasphemy but onely in Conformity to Presbyteriall-Government and the Magistrates non-Toleration of Errours The Lord hath made him a fearfull example and all men may take warning by M. Burton for turning Independents who before he turned Independent was so zealous against the least Errours and the least Innovation in Worship as that he would straine things and make a great matter of a little but now he hath no heart against the greatest Errours he can doe nothing in all his Pamphlets for the honour of Christ he can see no deformitie in all the Blasphemies Heresies of these times but onely in the Orthodox Reformed Churches and Presbyteriall-Government and that which aggravates his sin is he hath done this after sad and serious admonition given him in the fourth Corollarie of the first Part of Gangrâ—na and after a great sicknesse this Book being stiled by himself in his Title page The first fruits of his late recovery from death to life If any man 9 or 10 years ago when M. Burton was upon the Pillory for writing against some great men who favoured Popish and Arminian Tenets should have said to the people this man whom you now see thus suffer and whom you so love and adore the time is coming when he shall plead for a Toleration of all Religions and speak against the Magistrate for defending Religion by Lawes and Edicts this man
Pills and that without being wrapt in gold yea Arrian Socinian Tenets and what not We heare of no Remonstrances famous Speeches plain home Sermons now against errours in doctrine as heretofore no Committees sitting upon Books to deale with Mr. Dens Mr. John Goodwins M. Burtons and divers others as with Mountagues Dr. Jacksons and Cosens Books Magistrates Ministers too silent the people also too contented and quiet yea many instead of crying out and being pained at heart love to have it so will prefer a man and give a great deale for some to preach errours among them and disturbe their faith when as they will give nothing for an able man every way qualified to preach the truth God may take up that complaint of our present times which he doth by Jeremie My people have committed two evills they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and hewed to themselves broken Cisternes that can hold no water hewe and be at a great deale of cost and paines for puddle poysonous water but reject and slieght a fountain of pure and living waters 6. Coroll Hence then we may see from all the Errors Heresies Insolencies of many Sectaries in our Armies and among the Souldiers laid downe in Gangrâ—na what a great plague and judgement of God to this Land some of our Armies and Souldiery have been and are now more then ever namely in that so many Commanders and Souldiers diffused throughout the Body of the whole Army yea some whole Troops and Regiments should be desperate Sectaries and Hereticks We must needs be under a great plague to have those who should be the Instruments of our safety and have the sword in their hands to be such kinde of men and to do as they do Heresies and Errors in any men are a great evill upon a Land a sad matter but in the Souldiery 't is armed impiety who by power and force may propagate and spread all kinde of errors and opinions without controle and by marching from Countrey to Countrey have opportunity of infecting all parts of a Land Certainly the Sectaries in the Armies I speake now as a Minister of the Gospell judging of things according to Scripture and not according to carnall policy and outward appearance are the greatest plague and judgement of God that hath been upon this Kingdom this hundred years when I heare daily of the errors they scatter the insolencies they commit and see what great evills they are the cause of in Church and State I often thinke of a passage in a famous Speech made by Sir Edward Deering in the beginning of this Parliament speaking of the corruptions in Religion among us to be first remedied before the Scots Army then in the Land to be considered of used these words or to this effect Let the sword rage from North to South or 't is better it should rage from North to South rather then the corruptions in Religion not be taken away so say 〈…〉 it had been better the Sword of the Enemy had raged from North to South then this Sword of Heresie and Plague of Error like a Gangrene should over-run the Kingdome as it doth T 〈…〉 is destroyes the precious soules and I am fully assured the Sectaries in the Armies have destroyed more soules and overthrowne the faith of more with their heresies and wicked opinions then they have killed the bodies of their enemies with their Swords The constitution of our souldiery so many Sectaries being in our Militia besides that 't is a great and fearfull plague of it selfe 't is a great cause of all other evills 't is that which emboldens the Sectaries all the Kingdome over and encourages that party to do so many wicked things as they doe daily affront the House of Peers abuse Scotland the City of London Ministery publikely print preach all kind of abominable errours 'T is that which awes the good party oâ— at least out of policy makes them not so zealnus and oâ—solute against the errours of the t 〈…〉 'T is that keeps the Church Government from going on a pace that is a great remora to the punishing of Hereticks c. 't is that indeed which hath infested and infected the Kingdome so generally There are few of our Eâ—issaries and not 〈◊〉 Sectaries but are oâ— have been Souldiers belonged to the Armies as Chaplaines or one way or other have followed the Campe they all smell of the Army Hich Knollys Erbury Dell Sâ—ltmars 〈…〉 Peters 〈…〉 cheler c. we 〈…〉 ay truly say 〈…〉 a B 〈…〉 Our Ar 〈…〉 the N 〈…〉 of all 〈◊〉 and a 〈◊〉 evills and 〈◊〉 we may see the true cause why all the Sectaries are so 〈◊〉 warre and keeping up the Armies can not abide to he 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 ing because their Kingdome is in larged and maintained thereby but certainly it will never be well with the Kingdome till the Armies be disb 〈…〉 ded or at least 〈◊〉 〈…〉 delled the Sectaries put 〈…〉 God be me 〈…〉 ifull unto 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 in strange handâ— and things are come to a strange passe and all wise men who have read Hiâ— stories understand any thing and by together many of the Sectaries Speeches and Practises conceive it cannâ—â— but be very perillous to have the sword in so many ma 〈…〉 mens hands and scare a new Tiragedy to be acted like that in G 〈…〉 and at M 〈…〉 ster by the old Anabaptists yea worse 〈◊〉 The godly Orth 〈…〉 Ministers and Christians and all true hearted English men may 〈◊〉 out and say as in 10. Psal Helpe Lord 〈◊〉 wicked walks â—n every fidâ— when the vi 〈…〉 and with the Prophet M 〈…〉 lachie 〈◊〉 Mal 15. 〈…〉 the proud happy yâ—â— they th 〈…〉 yea they that 〈◊〉 God are 〈◊〉 delivered The Sectaries of our Armies invading the Pulpits abasing the godly Ministers laying wast and prophaning the publike places 〈◊〉 apart for Gods worship are like 〈◊〉 and like 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Houses of God in possession nay they are like to those husbandmen in the 20. of Luke that reasoned among themselves saying This is the heire come let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him The Sectaries knowing that so long as the godly Ministers and such a Ministry continues in the Kingdome they shall never doe their worke bring in all heresie and confusion the inheritance shall not be theirs therefore they set themselves to destroy the Ministry and Ministers that the inheritance may be theirs The Apostle Paul 2. Tim. 3. bids Timothy know this that the perilousnesse of times stands in false Teachers seducers creeping into houses to lead captive silly women and in men reprobate concerning the faith resisting the truth and not in so much in war famine nor other calamities which happens to the body and therefore makes this preface before it this know also implying it was not so well known and stirring up Timothy the better
to speak with me but must send others I am easily enough to be spoken with refusing none as all know who come to me besides how did Master Burroughs know any such had been with me to make me such offers and that I refused and what if some reported to him that which was false might not he be easier abused by a report for he speaks not this of his own knowledge he never came to me nor was the man ever desired to confer with me about any of these particulars then I can be mistaken in this businesse to whom these offers of conferences and satisfactions should have been made 3. For that Master Burroughs page 18. taxes me with concerning what I related about his going out of the Kingdom in my Antapologie that had I been willing to have conferred with him about it as he desired before I printed he should have so fully satisfied me that I could never have stumbled at this I Answer I never was unwilling to confer with Mastet Burroughs about this or any other thing that he should have desired and I can say it truely if he had sent the least boy at any time to me to have desired a conference with me and appointed me where to meet him I should have waited on him but for what is here written I neither know nor remember any such thing that Master Burroughs either by writing or word of mouth ever desired to have spoken with me about his going out of the Kingdom and certainly at that time when I was writing my Antapologie there was no such great distance between Master Burroughs and me but that he might either have come to me or spoke to me of it when he met me occasionally or I should have come to him none of which ever were moved to me and I cannot but wonder at Master Burroughs writing of this and divers other passages 2 As for that hee said hee should have satisfied me upon conference that he went out of the Kingdom not upon the ground I alledge but upon another a call from the Church of Roterdam which he relates page 19 20 21 22. I must confesse I am unsatisfied in it now and so I beleive are all rationall men and let the Reader but aske Master Marshall and Master Calamie who knew the businesse well and Master Burroughs at that time whether they do not beleive he went over to Roterdam upon a complaint made of some words spoken about the Scottish Warre and if I should have given the Reader all that I have drawn up by way of Answer to this it would abundantly clear me and lay open Master Burroughs weaknesse very much but I shall only hint this Suppose the King had in this War prevailed over the Parliament and taken the City and just upon that time Master Peters and Master Wels had gotten away in all haste to New England and suppose after this some man writing of Master Wels and Master Peters departure from England should have expressed this as the ground the danger they were in upon the Kings taking London now if Master Peters and Master Wels should by way of Answer have denied this to be any cause and have alledged their solemne call to their Churches in New England being sâ—nt for again and again and their purposes of going expressed yea and that in the Pulpit before ever the King was in a way of taking London would not all men laugh at such an Answer For is not the contrary evident by the experience of their staying in England now they may stay safely notwithstanding all their call and being sent for they stirre not and just so it was with Master Burroughs and I am confident that had it not been for the danger of those words he would no more have gone to Roterdam then Master Peters and Master Wels go to New England and as himselfe tels the story his putting of giving his resolution of going defering from time to time and from place to place to make any conclusion â—ill the businesse of words grew to a height declares plainly as much besides Master Burroughs at that time was not of the Independent judgement as appears by his Book put out in the yeare 38. writing By Jeremiah Burroughs Minister of the Gospel which was not long before his going over whereas all his Books he hath put forth since he went to Roterdam are By Jeremiah Burroughs without Minister of the Gospel which to them who know the Controversie is a clear proofe he was in the yeare 38. no Independent though afterwards in the writing his other Books he was and therefore declined that Title Minister of the Gospel And whereas in the body of this Third Part in two or three severall places I take occasion to relate some things of Master Burroughs which may by some be ill taken because he cannot answer for himselfe and may be interpreted a speaking evill of the dead I desire to let the Reader know they were both written and printed off long before Master Burroughs sicknesse and death and indeed no understanding man will once imagine a Booke of above Forty sheets could be made written out and printed in a month especially by one who Preaches often and hath many irons in the fiâ—e at the same time and to put it out of all question besides my own testimony the Book-seller and Printer can testifie this Third Part hath been above this quarter of a yeare in the Presse a printing Aâ— for that Pamphlet written against my Second Part Entituled Gangraena playes Rex I Answer breifly Gangraena playes the Parliament that is conforms to what the Parliament hath expressed in the foure or five first yeares of their sitting against the Sectaries and I do offer to make good what I have written in Gangraena against the Sects out of the Declarations Remonstrances Ordinances Covenant Messages and Transactions of the Parliament with Scotland and their Instructions to the Assembly upon divers occasions and could make a better Parallel between the passages in Gangraena and the passages in Declarations Remonstances c. against the Sectaries then the Author of that Pamphlet hath done and am likely to do it though a Postscript is not the proper place for it only I say this would to God there had not beene some men among us and that in place too to have so carried things and brought matters to that passe as to give too great occasion unto many to say The King was a true Prophet in what he spoke in his Declarations concerning Anabaptists Brownists and Sectaries As for that Pamphlet cald Lanceters Lance for Edwards Gangraena I have lately received from two godly Ministers in Suffolk a large relation by way of justification and proofe of what in my Second Part of Gangraena was written of Lanceter as also some other passages related in those papers concerning Lanceter one Chidly and Barrowe but they containing a whole sheet of paper are too much to
Ghost hating the light once known blaspheming the work of the Spirit and so I might instance in the rest though I beleeve I could give better grounds why Master Saltmarsh should a great deale more probably bee guilty in that kind then he can upon any pretence of me though I professe I do not charge him with that sinne but the charging godly Presbyterians for writing against Errors and Heresies with committing the sinne against the holy Ghost and despighting the Spirit and sinning wilfully is the great charity and brotherly love of Sectaries divers of them having done thus Master Price charging M. Bâ—ll 〈…〉 ie Master Goodwin Master Brinne and M. Saltmarsh me But I would have Master Saltmarsh know ti 〈…〉 not his bugbar of charging me with the sin against the holy Ghost and threatning me with flashings lightnings and praying against me for contending earnestly for the Faith once delivered unto the Saintâ— against certaine men crept in turning the Grace of God into lasâ—iviousnesse can scare me to make me go out of my way and I find this branding with the sinne against the holy Ghost of Orthodox men by Sectaries to be no new thing but very old used by the Donatists in Saint Austins time who as Augustine showes in his writings accused the Orthodox of being guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost Fifthly for his two stories he relates of discourse with me upon two severall times speaking together they are deceitfully and falsely related the greatest part concealed and what is related not justly set downe I writ them both downe in my Diary espâ—cially the last immediatly after I left Master Saltmarsh and so can give a just and good account of them but they are too long to be inserted in a Postscript and of the first that being at Master Vicars his house and in his hearing he hath given the Reader already a good part of it in his Schiâ—â—â—atick sifted little I think to M. Saltmarshes credit And now good Reader the next Tractate thou shalt expect from me shall be a Tractate against a Toleration which I hope by the end of the next moneth or the beginning of February may be in thy hands and nothing by Gods help shall divert me or re 〈…〉 d that I am resolved if twenty Pamphlets should be written against this Third Part to let them all lie till I have put forth a Treatise against Toleration and pretended liberty of Conscience And now finally Brethren pray for me that God would be in a speciall manner with me in the setting forth of that Tractate at this time and that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified and â—hat I may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men and that my service which I have for this Kingdome may be accepted of the King Parliament and all that are in authority of the City of London the Ministers of the Kingdome and of all Saints Amen FINIS a Paraeus in 2. Galath v. 9. Hodiâ— quid fit Opinionibus res geritur imo affectibus Nulla Argumenta nullae Apologiae locum inveniunt b Baldwin Cas Consciâ—n lib. 4. cap. 7. pag. 10. 53. 1055. Falsorum dogmatum Propugnatores nominatim perstringendi sunt quomodo enim alias ab auditoribus caveri possunt c Calvin Instructio adversus libertines cap. 4. * The Vision of God by Cardinall cusanus The third part of the Rule of perfection by a Cappuchian Friar Another booke written by a Preist A mesius lib. 5. de Coâ—sc c. 14. ☞ ☜ * Cal. Instr advers libert c. 4 Quod autem Quintinus ejusque socius ex Sartoribus Doctores facti atque ita immutati sunt id in causa â—uit quod delicate molliter vivere vellent nec sibi putarent labores convenire Propterea coÌ„modius omni no existimarunt ut quemadmodum sacerdotes monachi cantillando sic ipsigarriendo vitam quaererent ☞ Erasmus saepe dixit Deus dedit huic postâ—emae aeâ—ati propter morborum magnitudinem acrem medicum Mel. Adam vit luth p. 162. For proofe of this vide Pamphlet entituled Little-Nonsuch printed at London very lately pag. 2. Animadvers Little Nonsuch pag 4. Animadvers * Danaeus in his Tract de Haeresibus cap. 4. 3. Among other Errors of the Origenists shows this to he one that in the interpretation of Scripture they would perpetually Allegorize so that they left nothing certain in the word of God neither that Paradâ—se nor Adam nor Eve nor the waters nor any thing which Moses laies down in the whole Book of Genesis Whereupon Augustine writ 12 Books de Genesi ad literam against such Allegorists and Corrupters of the Scripture Little Nonsuch pag. 5 6 7 8 9 10 c. Animadvers * Vide Ainsworth in Lev. 18. v. 19. ☞ For proof of this see page 25. of this third Part of Gangr This Doctrine was Preached at a Funerall sermon in London brought to comfort men against that trouble of death They shall 〈◊〉 and he removed from their friends and â—e strangers to the affairs bâ—low This point was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bâ— way of Answer i 〈…〉 upon and amplified I and divers other Ministerâ— were â—are witnesses and spake together of the Sermon when it was done I have been told it also from good hands â—hat an Independent Minister of great note when he was dying 〈◊〉 to his wife and friends to have a care how they used his body when it was dead for 〈◊〉 should know what they did to him Animadvers Animadvers Animad vers * This Error the other three last mentioned were preached last Sept. 17 at a Funeral Sermon by an Independent of great note I many other Ministers were â—are witnesses of these doctrines * Proof Webs Pamph. writteÌ„ against my first Part of Gangr page 6. * Respondâ—o Baptismum Johannis discrepasse à Baptismo Christs qua tenus Christus Baptizat interius baptismâ— spiritus Et hac in parte diffâ—rt Baptismus Christi ab omnibus Ministâ—orum Sacrorum baptismis nihil autem discrepasse à baptisme ceremoniali à Christo instituto nisirationâ— temâ—oris significationis clâ—ritate quâ— ante Chriti manifestationem taâ—ta non suit quanta post cam Non sâ—â—us ac Apostolorum baptismus ante mortem Christi diversâ—â— suit à baptismo ab ipsis post mortem ejus administrato pag. 25. 26 27. * Proof of the 10. and 11. Errors pag. 36 37. of this Third Part. * Proof p. 80. of this Third part Proof of the 13 14 pag. 80. of this Third part Proof of the 15. pag. 21. Proof of 16. pag. 80. 45. Vide Proofe of these pag. 20. of this Third part * Vid. Proof of this pag. 107. * For proof see a Book entituled Divine Light manifesting the love of God unto the whole world with the true Church printed in the year 1646. * Divine Light maniâ—esting the love of God pag. 25. The maine scope of that Pamphlet