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
the Kingdome and live like Kings and Emperors and like lawlesse men none such being of Gods creation there will never be an end of this Parliament which by its everlasting continuance by the abuses of lawlesse and rotten-hearted men will become the most absolute burthen and greatest oppression that ever was upon the people when as in times by past it used to be their only remedy from their oppression and oppressors In a Pamphlet entituled Yet another word to the wise there 's a Letter directed To Master John Musgrave chosen to present the Countries greivances to the House of Commons which Letter speaks thus But the House of Commons instead of hearing and redressing your greivances have added new greivances unto those which formerly you have suffered in their owne quarrell against the common enemy they have unjustly imprisoned you these last twelve moneths protected Traytors among themselves from the Law c. Yet we shall rather with tears seek their repentance then their persisting in such courses seeing they are placed in lawfull authority and have a good Cause though they seeke too much their owne c. And as for their lamentable submission to the Bishops servants the Presbyterian Synodians in establishing that wil-worship and Popish maintenance which now themselves doe well know to be jure diabolico through these blind guides their Diviners and Southsayers inability to answer their Queres whereby to prove themselves jure divino surely if they will notwithstanding obstinatly persist in such wilfull dangerous and unwarrantable courses they will doubtlesse show themselves to be fighters against God his truth and people to their owne destruction without speedy conversion In a Pamphlet entituled Liberty against Slavery there 's a Letter written by a Sectary call'd An eâ—cellent Letter written by a prisoner to a worthy Member of the House of Commons where are these passages O where is justice may not these royall plunderers as well justifie all their Robberies and Depraedations as either our House of Commons or the House of Peeres these kinds of imprisonments and commitments Nay is it not the greatest injustice when done under the colour of justice Sir I assure you it were lesse greivous unto us to die at once then to be thus inslaved and famiâ—hed in your cruell prison houses where we are exposed to all misery contempt obloquie and scorne of the worst men and thereby the hearts of our wives and aged Parents broken with greif Sir be pleased to consider how by these and the like doings the affections of many thousands of people is estranged from you who have formerly adventured all to uphold you in your authorities and if this course be continued we shall not we cannot thinke and say lesse then that the Parliament and not the Prerogative makes us a bondage and miserable people And some already do not spare to say that the Parliament is now become the burthen of the Kingdome You were intrusted by the people for their good and not for the continuation of their thraldome let us then have justice which without showing your selves to be most unjust men you cannot any longer deny us The Pamphlet entituled Englands Birth-right page 33. speaking of the Commons in Parliament saith By which manifest abusing negligent and not true using the Lawes oppressions mischeifes greivances are no lesse if not far more increased then they were before the Parliament began and many times by the powerfull interest of a faction in the Parliament to save some one two or three of their Members undeserving credits they so violate the knowne unrepealed and declared Law of the Land yea and their owne Votes Ordinances Declarations and Protestations as if they had never made them I say all these things considered ought not the free men of England who have laboured in these destroying times both to preserve the Parliament and their owne native freedomes and birth-rights not only to chuse new Members where they are wanting once every yeer but also to renew and inquire once a yeere after the behaviour and carriage of those they have chosen Lilburne in that Pamphlet of his call'd Innocency and Truth justified page 75. speakâ— thus of the House of Commons But it may be you will say the House of Commons is not at leasure by reason of publick I answer lesse then an hours time will serve my turne in this particular and t is very strange in 5. yeers space so much time cannot be found from the publick to transmit my busines sure I am they can find time enough to settle great rich placâ— upon some of themselves and to enjoy them for al their owne Ordinances to the contrary yea and I know some of them hath plurality of places and I say the thing I desire of them is more justly my due then any of their great places are theirs and therefore I hope they have no true cause to be angry with me for craving justice at their hands And page 37. I am absolutely of this mind that neither a Committee of the House of Commons nor the whole House of Commons together can justly imprison me or any other contrary to a Law which at present there is not some Ordinance made both by them and the Peers publick at present to overthrow it But I have severall times been imprisoned by the Committees and by Vote of the House of Commons it selfe contrary to a knowne Law made this present Parliament by themselves against which there is at present no Ordinance published and declared by them and the Peeres for the Cognizance of Ergo I say they are tied in justice according to tenor of this Law to give me reparations against those persons that were cheife instruments either in Committees or in the House of Commons it selfe to Vote and take away my Liberty from me contrary to this Law and for my part I doe accordingly expect my reparations for my late causelesse molestations and imprisonments A pamphlet entituled A Remonstance to their owne House of Commons page 11. speakes thus to the Honorable Commons For we must deale plainly with you ye have long time acted more like the House of Peers then the House of Commons we can scarcely approach your doore with a request or motion though by way of Petition but ye hold long debates whether we break not your Priviledges The King or the Lords pretended Prerogatives never made a greater noise nor was made more dreadfull then the name of Priviledge of the House of Commons Your Members in all Impositions must not be taxed in the places where they live like other men Your servants have their priviledges too To accuse or prosecute any of you is become dangerous to the prosecutors â—e have imprisonments as frequently for either witnesses or prosecutors as ever the Star-chamber had and ye are furnished with new devised arguments to prove that ye only may justly doe those grosse injustices which the Star chamber High
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
readinesse to hear the grievanâ—s of the subjects and their power pleaded for and that by Lilburne himself pag. 74 75. of his Pamphlet call'd â—nnocency and â—ruth justified where pleading to have his businesse of his sentence in Star-Chamber to be transmitted up to the Lords from the He use of Commons by way of Answer to Objections against it he hath these words If I be transmitted up to the Lords I confidently beleeve I shall get forward out of the former experiences of that Justice that I have found there and I will instance two particulars first when I was Prisoner in the Fleet c. but that 's too long for me to write down and I shall rather refâ—rre the Reader to the Book pag. 74. Secondly May 4. 1641. the King accused me of high Treason and before the Lords Barre was I brought for my life where although one Litleton servant to the Prince swore point blanck against me yet had I free liberty to speak for my selfe in the open House and upon my desire that Master Andrewes also might declare upon his Oath what he knew about my businesse it was done and his Oath being absolutely contradictory to Master Litletons I was both freed from Litletons malice and the Kings accusation at the Barre of the whole House and for my part I am resolved to speak well of those that have done me justice and not to doubt they will deny it me till such time as by experience I find they doe it And in pag. 56. of Lilburnes Innocency and Truth justified he writes thus Againe I say a Commiâ—tee of the House of Commons is not the whole Parliament no nor the whole House of Commons it selfe according to their owne Principles and therefore in my judgement they are not to act contrary to a known and received Law and therefore cannot justly imprison any man contrary thereunto neither by a Committee of theirs nor by the whole House of Commons it self they being not according to their own Principles the whole Parliament but a part of it and therefore that which is established by the whole as a Law is by 3. Estates and 〈◊〉 Ordinance by 2. Estates cannot justly be contradicted by a part namely the H. of Com. but one Estate much lesse by one of their Committees which is but a branch of that one Estate and therefore for my part I judge a Law to be a Law untill it be made voide by all the three Estates that made it or at least by the two Estates joyntly that takes vpon them to make Ordinances in this time of necessity to make voide a Law at present c. And therefore I am absâ—lutely of this minde that neither a Committee of the House of Commons nor the whole House of Commons together can justly imprison me or any other contrary to law against which at present there is not some Ordinance made both by them and the Peers publike at present to overthrow it But I have severall times been imprisoned both by Committees and by vote of the House of Commons it self contrary to a known Law made this present Parliament by themselves against which there is at present no Ordinance published and declared by them and the Peers for the cognizance Ergo I say they are tyed in justice according to the tenor of this Law to give me reparations against those persons that were cheife instruments either in Committees or in the House of Commons it self to vote and take away my liberty from me contrary to this Lâ—w and for my part I do accordingly expect my reparations for my late causelesse molestations and imprisonments And as Lilburne in these passages gives the House of Lords an equall legislative power with the Commons making them one of the three Estates as well as the Commons and expresly saith the Commons are but a part of the Parliament and that the Commons cannot make void a Law unlesse it be by the two Estates joyntly viz. the Lords and Commons all which are contrary to the many wicked Pamphlets printed in this year 1646. by which the Reader may observe what difference there is between the same Sectaries in the year 1645. and the year 1646. such new light hath the successe of the new Modell and the recruit of the House of Commons brought to the Sectaries so Lilburne and the Sectaries by many actions of theirs have owned and established the power of the House of Lords as well as of the Commons as In their severall Petitions to the Lords House as well as Commons for abolishing Episcopacy and in severall other particulars which clearly proves the legislative power of the Lords as well as Commons for is not that a part of legislative power to repeale former Lawes Statutes as wel as to make new and if the Lords had not a power over Commoners that of Judicature why was Lilburne so earnest with the House of Commons and in print expresses to the great and high abuse of the House of Commons their delaying of having their votes transmitted concerning his sentence in Sar-chamber yea and that against some Members of the House of Commons by name Again if all the power were in the House of Commons why did he not rest contented with their votes but desire the Lords concurrance and that for the punishing even of Members of the House of Commons as in page 75. pressing the Commons to transmit their votes by way of answer to an objection What justice can you expect from the Lords seeing Master Smart hath spent foure or five hundred pounds he shewes his cause to be different from Master Smarts in that he is to have justice upon those whose estates are not sequestred as Master Smarts Adversaries were but some of them still sit in both Houses And lastly if the House of Lords have no power to try or judge Lilburne a Commoner but their offering so to do be a high usurpation invasion of the Commons rights why did not Lilburne when he was accused of high treason before the Lords Barre upon his life as himself makes the relation page 74. appeale then from the House of Lords to the House of Commons And as Lilburne himself the head of the Sectaries in these Anti-Parliamentary principles owned the power of the Lords equall with the Commons and prefer'd their justice before that of the House of Commons though not chosen by the people so Cretensis alias * Master John Goodwin brings Arguments from the House of Commons being chosen by the people against their power of making Lawes in matters Ecclesiasticall and the peoples submitting to them because they are chosen by the riffe raffe of the Land all sorts of men worldly men drunkards c. having a right of nominating persons to a Parliamentary trust and power These are a secular root out of which Cretensis conceives an impossibility that a spirituall extraction should be made For who can bring a cleane thing out of an
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
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
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
doe to be tolerated and suffered nay in many places they cannot serve God quietly nor live in peace but are affronted molested thereatned yea their lives hazarded The Dommation and Insolencies of the Sectaries in England both in City and Country are unsufferable and beyond all example and let but all things be considered the nature of the Lawes and civill Government of England that all the people are subject to the same Lawes and all the Countries of this Kingdome under the obedience of King and Parliament none exempt not some parts under one and some under another as in the Cantons and some other Countries as also that great and solemne Covenant taken for the nearest uniformity in Doctrine Government c. and the extirpation of all heresie schisme c. with some other such like considerations I am ready upon my life to make it good at the Barr of both Houses that there is in England the greatest sufferance and countenance of a Dissenting party from what is held out and established by Authority that ever was in any age where there was a Christian Magistrate or that is in any part of the world whatsoever at this day the Toleration in Holland France Transylvania c. in many things falling short of that liberty the Sectaries here enjoy I had thought upon and drawn up twelve pregnant particulars with the proofes wherein the Toleration here is greater then in those Countries but I must defer them till the fourth part of Gangraena having enlarged this part already so much beyond the former parts and my intentions and shall conclude this seventh Corollarie that if the Sectaries shall be still suffered to go on and all kind of errors and opinions vented for the future as they have been for these three or foure last years this will be such a thing as never was read or heard of in any age or among any people that the end and issue of a solemne Nationall Covenant made with God another Kingdome and one another for Reformation should end in a universall Toleration and Confusion both in Church and State 8. Corollar Hence then we may plainly see by many speeches passages in Letters facts insolencies of the Sectaries related in this Book that the Sectaries hold not to their principles of Toleration and Liberty of Conscience but only in receiving it they will not give it when and where they have the power of giving it unto others The Sectaries in all their Bookes Sermons Speeches Discourses contend for liberty of Conscience and that no man should suffer any thing from another for his differing in opinions from him or be hindered in printing and speaking his conscience and yet if the Reader do but remember the severall passages I have laid down of the Sectaries dealings with godly Presbyterians in City and Country Army and Ministry and in all places he must necessarily conclude when they are grown strong enough and where they can they will suffer none but themselves In all ages Hereticks and Sectaries at their first rising when but a few and weake have cryed for Toleration liberty of Conscience but when by being let alone they have grown to great numbers and by their industry subtilty and activity have got power in their hands then they have been the greatest persecutors of all others denying all liberty to the Orthodox and this the Ecclesiasticall Histories of all times both ancient and moderne show Thus the Donatists Arrians Anabaptists of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Holland with other such like maintained and pleaded for a Toleration â—anquam prâ— aris focis and yet after a time that either they got Princes and Magistrates 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 or being increased in number got the sword into their 〈◊〉 they killed banished spoiled of their goods threw out of offices and places all those who were not of their opinions And thus our present Independents and Anabaptists notwithstanding all their pretences of liberty and conscience have and do where they are in power and can by any way or means suppresse prosecute Presbyterians to the utmost and indeed for this very end plead for liberty and worke night and day too get into all places of power and command both military and 〈…〉 It wâ—re too long to relate all the instances of godly Ministers and other worthy men troubled and complainâ—d of by them to Committees of honest Christians troubled by theâ— means for discharging their consciences in petitioning the Parliament and Common Councell of all the godly Ministers put by from preaching in their owne Churches by Sectaries and of their retusing to let godly Ministers of the Presbyterian judgement preach in any Chappels and Churches where they have power of the many threatning speeches spoken by them against the godly Ministers that they would leave never a Preist in England that the Presbyterians should be dealt with as Malignants sequestred ere long and such like of their not licensing any books or matters of Intelligence but stopping the Presse all they can to men not of their judgement of their incensing and strring up the Parliament in printed books to punish godly Ministers for laying open the Errors of the times of their labouring to keep out of all places in Parliament Armies Livings c. Orthodox godly men of their putting affronts upon hindring of pay turning out of places by one trick or other the faithfullest and worthiest men if Presbyterians yea going against all principles of Justice Honor Rules of Warre Gallantry What should I speak of all the affronts neglects complaints of troubles vexations which have happened to many gallant valiant faithfull Commanders and all because Anti-Independents by meanes of the Sectaries as Sir Willam Waller Major Generall Massey Major Generall Skippon Colonel Harvey Colonel King Colonel Whaley Major Fincher Adjutant Generall Gray Lieutenant Colonel Kempson Lieutenant Colonel Jackson c. besides the putting by of some from their places what gallant man almost is there but hath beene heaved at complained of some way or other affronted by some Sectaries and neglected by having men put over their heads into commands and they unpreferd though places void There are strange but true stories in the Army in this â—ind and some keepe a Register of them and when time shall serve may make them knowne though for the present because they see how strong the streame runs and for the quietnesse of the Army they are silent though they cannot but speak to their friends of these things I have been told from a good hand upon the occasion of Adjutant Generall Grayes being questioned at a Councell of Warre for reading the City Remonstrance that a great Commander of that Army writ a letter to another great Commander to this effect that he wondred that they who were so much for liberty of conscience and a Toleration for themselves would not afford the same to other men but that Adjutant Generall Gray because he was a Presbyterian and that according to his conscience should have
of the Sectaries in their writings against the Presbyterians the Assembly godly Ministers the Scots and particular persons by name have done it in the most scornfull prophane blasphemous and abusive way even to the abusing of the Scriptures the Spirit of God Proaching Prayer and other Ordinances as ever was heard of in any age witnesse The Arraignment of Persecution Martins Eccho Cretensis and divers others but in my Discoveries of the Errors Heresies Practises of the Sectaries I have shunned all such wayes setting my selfe plainly to discover the Errors and abominable Practises confuting them with Scriptures and Reason and in a serious sad manner applying the danger of those evils to the consciences of all both Presbyterians and Sectaries and thus much for removing that stone of offence out of the way taken from the manner and way of writing 2. For the matter of this Booke that there 's a Truth in the Opinions Stories Practices related in it notwithstanding the clamours and speeches of the Sectaries that they are lyes all lyes I desire the Reader to observe and remember these following particulars 1. That the Sectaries of our time are so shamelesse in this kind as to say all things written against them are lyes thus they have said the stories of the old Anabaptists in Germany written by Sleydan Bullinger Lambertus Hortens 〈…〉 s other worthy men were lyes and they would not beleeve them so Master Saltmarsh in one of his Pamphlets against Master Ley denies the truth of those stories and other Sectaries in Pamphlets before him have said the same affirming if the King had over-come the Parliament stories would have made them as bad as the Anabaptists and the Princes of Germany prevailing against them set men on work to set them out so but all was false Now if our Sectaries will speak and write thus of all the relations of the old Anabaptists how can it be expected but that they will cry all downe for false written of themselves So our Sectaries will not beleive the stories of the Antinomians Anabaptists Familists in New England of Mistris Huchinson and the rest but say all is false all lyes and some of them have cryed out of Master Wells his Booke of the Antinomians of New England as much as of mine 2. The truth of the maine substance and matter of this Booke both for opinions and matters of fact is in the Booke it selfe by quoting Books knowne to hundreds by naming of persons knowne for witnesses by relating of things common in the times and these set by the Errors in the Margents or joyned to the matter so manifest that he that runs may read it and rationally there can be no more question made of them then whether the Scots tooke New-Castle the Parliaments Forces had a Victory at Nazeby Feild there be such a man as M. Hugh Peters or John Lilburn 3. That the Sectaries have used devices and found out inventions on purpose to possesse people that relations of things in my Books are false when most true as for instance some Sectaries that have been of the same name of those Sectaries that I have related stories of though they could not but know by many circumstances and particulars in the stories they were not the men but others have said Ther 's a story related of me I am the man he speaks of and t is all false for I was at such a place then and could not do so thus one Webb an Officer in the Army did telling the people in the West where he found Gangraena that the story of Webb was of him I am that Webb in Gangraena and 〈◊〉 all false I never preached such things nor was ever questioned about such things or did such things related This a godly Minister in the â—â—st of England told me he heard one Webb an Officer in the Army speak thus to the people to possesse them against Gangraena Now I writ not of that Webb but another Webb a younger man here in London not one of the Army who put out a Booke for the vindication of himselfe where he confesses most of the things and this other Webb could not but by many passages related as of the age as of being a Schoole-Master as of the Christian name and divers others but know well enough I meant him not and yet by this did he labour to blast my Book Again some who having beene mentioned in Letters written up to friends and printed by me have come to my house denying peremptorily those things spoken of them in the Letters desiring to know who writ them that they might have â—eparations I having told them their names withall writing to those Ministers to know more fully their grounds of such relations they have returned 〈…〉 e Answers that those things were most true and they would make them good when ever they should question them in which kind I could give divers notable instances but the nature of a Preface not admitting many I will relate only one namely of Master Mascall of Dover spoken of in a Letter sent from Dover subscribed by five hands to a Member of the Assembly printed in the Second Part of Gangraena in p. 135. of the Second Edition who presently after the coming forth of that Book coming to my house with a friend of his and mine formerly denyed positively and peremptorily what was written of him in the Letter declaring he was of another judgement then to speak so of our Ministers and Synods as is expressed in that Letter holding our godly Ministers to have a lawfull calling and Synods to be needfull wherupon I writing to one of the Ministers all passages that passed betweene us and desiring to know what he said to it he sent me this Answer Worthy Sir I received your Letter dated June the 18. but could not conveniently Answer it till now because I would see the carriages of the Independents on last wednesday when we chose our Elders What we wrote of Master Mascall we can cleare and will maintaine and much more and according to your advice you shall not faile of sufficient testimony if that Letter be crossed whereas he saith that he holds our godly Ministers to have a lawfull calling he will not say it in Dover till he have distinguished the word godly into a shadow For his saying they never kept Church-meetings in time of the publicke exercises it s a very false untruth and for his seeming to accord with us in our account of Synods he knows that we hold it a duty to combine Churches and to have a combination rule the Elders and Pastor of a Congregation which we know they will never allow Thus much in breife for Master Mascall who I dare say will not challenge any man in Dover for that that is done against him or if he doth will find as ready an Answer as ever man received by man Your loving friend and Brother MICH. PORTER June 29. 1646. And thus much for
the First generall head concerning the manner and matter of this Book For the Second the commending some directions and taking off some misconstructions and cavils for the better understanding of the subject matter and manner of this Booke let the Reader observe and consider these following 1. That the Sectaries run such around of all opinions as that they are come to hold many Popish and Prelaticall opinions and to go upon the Papists grounds and mediums for many of their Tenets which in the Errors Positions and Practises reckoned up in this Booke the Reader may observe as the 5 6 7 36 Errors nay there 's almost no Popish or Prelaticall principle and Error but many Sectaries are fallen into it and in the practise of it as being against the Perfection Sufficiency Perspicuity of the Scriptures being for Pope Toleration and a Dispensation for want of an Infallible Judge as the Papists are for the Pope upon that ground denying preaching to be the word of God and the service of God as much or more then ever any of the Prelates did being for Musick Organs Hymns in the publick Assemblies holding anointing the sick with Oyle maintaining Perfection in this life with some Popish Friers besides divers other Popish Errors hence divers Popish Bookes written by Preists and Friers have beene Translated and lately set forth by some Sectaries sold openly and I suppose Licensed because the Stationers names for whom printed and Printers names expressed 2. The Reader shall find in this Booke the Sectaries Designe and Practise not to be only corrupting Religion running out into extravagancies and strange conceits that way but to be against Magistracy and Civill Government their designe of opposing setled Government and bringing an Anarchy and Confusion into Church and State being here so fully laid open that they who run may read it T is in this Book unvailed and the wâ—â—king of this spirit in all sorts of Sectaries and places clearly manifested they have in Terminis in divers Pamphlets and some Sermons declared against Monarchie and Aristoâ—acie and for Democracie they have expressed themselves in such a manner concerning that that they make it noe other then an Anarchie making all alike confounding of all rancks and orders reducing all to Adams time and condition and devolving all power upon the state Vniversall and promiscuos multitude whom they make the Creator and Destroyer of Kings Parliaments and all Magistrates at there meere pleasure without tying them to any rule or bounding them by any lawes 3. I doe more punctually and particularly give the proofes of the Errors and Heresies named in this Third Part then in the two â—ormer with Animadversions by way of Confutation or Observation upon more of the Errors and Practises then I did before as having beene desired by some so to do and being that which I judge will make the work more profitable and the Reader shall finde the proofs of the Errors set in the Margents just by them and the Animadversions under every particular Error or else of divers of them put in one where the Errors are more of a kind and the Reader will finde I have in all Books quoted all along to prove the things I charge the Sectaries with dealt very punctually and faithfully and I challenge them to name any one thing quoted false or wrested among so many and for other Relations I have them from such knowne godly Ministers and Christians being eare and eye witnesses of them that I cannot easily be deceived t is possible some circumstances of order time place number may in some stories be mistaken and yet the maine storie true as we see in Histories of battles and other humane things they often are though I know nâ—ne such and have beene in all circumstances as well as substance as faithfull and carefull as a man can well be and I can say it that of all the particulars in this kind that I have related in these three Books besides many matters of fact in Antapologia which in all amount to some thousands I do not know of any one particular related by me excepting one that I have reason to suspect was not true and yet that was written me in a Letter by a Reverend and godly Minister and was the voice of the Country and all I did was only printing that Letter no otherwise affirming it which particular when the untruth of it shalâ— be made apparent to me from the man himselfe or his freinds I shall be ready and have offered it to some who have spoken of it to right him publickly in print 4. Whereas some Letters written to my selfe or some other Ministers are printed in this Booke which have some passages in them casting honor and praise upon me resembling me to some Worthies in their times as Luther c. for which I may be censured as being the hand instrument of publishing my own praises and counted vain-glorious I do by way of taking off this exception desire the Reader to consider these things First that I have left out of Letters many passages which reflect honour on my selfe constantly passing by such Titles Epithites and other expressions that are matters of praise in all particulars excepting the justifying of my work in writing thus against the Sectaries Now my Books for the manner and way of writing having beene so cried out of by all the Sectaries and many weak Christians by their meanes having beene also offended I thought it necessary to print some passages of Letters from godly Ministers giving testimony to my Books and approving me in the way of my writing them justifying me by the practise of Morney Plesseus against the Papists and of Luther and the judicious Reader shall find if he observe I print no other passages that may so much as reflect any kind of praise upon my selfe but only those that justifie my undertaking in this kind against the Sectaries and which the Lord knowes I print not so much for my selfe or my owne praise but for the sakes of others that they may be satisfied of my Books against all the calumnios cast upon them and profit by the reading of them Secondly T is not unknowne how the Sectaries by writing and speaking have set themselves to disparage me and to cast scornes of all kinds upon me such as hardly ever were upon any man in any age and all to weaken my esteeme credit and authority with the people that being looked upon as a man so weak that a woman can answer my writings and that I know not how to put the Nominative Case and Verb together c. all I do against the Sectaries might be slighted as not worthy to be looked upon Now it being apparent this is the designe of the Sectaries and their master peice and God by his providence without my seeking in the least stirring up many learned men to bear witness to my works in Letters to their Freinds which have beene brought to me and in
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
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
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
and what you hear from above as-concerning that way either pro or con I have sent you inclosed a copy of the Articles of their Covenant according to promise thus with my kindest respects remembred to your self and to Mr. Holinworth I take leave and rest Sir Your affectionate friend being much obliged Feb. 9. 1645. Some passages Extracted out of the Original Letter written from a man of worth in the Army to a person of worth here in London which Letter was writ presently after the taking of Oxford BEcause a man is a Presbyterian he shall be turned out of his command and to compasse it they have sent as far as Pendennis for an Accuser to London for another and Bristow for a third and all they can say against our Adjutant General Gray who is an honest godly Scoâ—shman is that three quarters of a year since he was met as they think drunk because as they remmember he faultred in his speech and all because he is Major Generals Officer Mr. Peters said That was not all he had made a Faction in the Army by seducing many to the Presbyterian party so it seems its counted a Faction with them to hold what the Parliament allowes A moneth since they have laboured all they can to get hands for to be Governour of Oxford and he being here on set purpose the Petitioners are instructed to repair to the Generals at such a set time and the Tragical cornical actor out of the tyring room of his own contriving comes and tels the General what a providence t is that God hath stirred up those good men to such good intentions in such a juncture of time when it happened that was there whereas he and they were sent for Sermons are daily preached to this effect That God will rather honour himself with a few then with many witnesse this Army which they hope will be an instrument to subdue all that oppose them whether under the most specious show of righteousnesse and profession of an old ragged religion A Coppy of some Letters and some Extracts of Letters written out of the North concerning our Brethren of Scotland and their Armies which I have thought fit to print because of Letters and many Libels that have been printed against them Some Passages taken out of a Letter the Original whereof I have by me written by one of the Committee in York to a friend of his in London THe lamentable complaints spread abroad concerning the Scotish Taxing the Country so much are occasioned from want of money for they have no meanes from any part of England to subsist but by Assessing that corner of England where they now quarter If consideration be had by the Parliament that they are neglected in wanting what was promised it will cleer them in that matter As for their misdemeanors they go not unpunished with them for there was the other day at Richmond one suffered vivi comburium for committing uncleannesse against nature a week since they have disbanded Vandrusks regiment which were men of the worst carriages in all the Armies As for the businesse at Tickhill which so troubled all men after full examination of the abuses it is found that the English Irish and Dutch were the authors of the outrages no Scot was guilty thereof and two of them have been shot to death therefore My couzen was last week at the Court and is much satisfied concerning the behaviour of our Brethren both toward King and Parliament He told me it was wise fair and honest June 12. 1646. An Extract of a Letter written from a Citizen in York to a Common Councell man here in London I Am sorry that when we expected an end it s feared a worse contention begins we hear by some Letters this week from London one came from Saltmarsh Minister that a Petition from the Brethren is since put up to both Houses with 20000. hands for which they had thanks returned though the Common Councell of the City were high in their expressions that if the Petition were delivered they should be accounted Incendiaries or such like Colonel N. writes also of this Petition About 10. or 14. daies since one Butterfield a malignant that did live at Middleham and other four writ to the General of the Scots That if he would send a Regiment to quarter there he would ensure them to enjoy Midhelam Castle they sent a Regiment thither and the Colonel sent the Letters with the mens hands to the Captain of the Castle and bid him take care of it and proceed against Butterfield and the other four as he saw cause The like was promised of Boulton Castle but their treachery both revealed by the Scots themselves Some passages taken out of a letter written from a godly Christian who was sent from London into Scotland about some speciall businesse Mr. F. I Pray remember me to Mr. Bolton and let him know that in Scotland there is a precious people a learned and godly Clergy who are resolved in their low condition not to rest upon strength of Armies nor confederacies with Nations for deliverance from their Armies without Reformation but in a lively Faith in God and performance of the Covenant There is a Sermon every morning before the Parliament in the Parliament House where the power of God is so eminently seem that I am not able to expresse it St. Andrewes Decemb. 20. 1645. A Letter from a godly Minister out of the North concerning the Scots My Dear friend YOurs was not a little welcome to me nor am I put to it to send you a requitall The Newes here is so good that I can hardly hold my pen for joy the Kings coming to the Scotish Army in all probability will prove one of our greatest mercies since these Wars began And never did I hear of any Christians carrying themselves so boldly and faithfully in reprooving their Prince so humbly before their God so innocently towards their brethren so desirously of a settled and wel-grounded Peace as the Scots now do they labour with much earnestnesse the Kings conversion tell him plainly of his blood-guiltinesse have sent for out of Scotland the ablest Ministers to converse with him have banisht all Malignants six miles from his Person by Proclamation refused to entertain him with any token of joy told him he was a great sinner before God and that he must give satisfaction to both Kingdoms The malignants droop who were gathering towards him out of both Kingdomes The French Agent who was active in making a Breach is much discountenanced The Nobles and Ministers professe their earnest longing after a happy Union the setling the government of Christ in his Church which being done they will presently return in peace The Independents themselves stand amazed at their wisdom resolution and fidelity Zeal doth accompany all their actions with humility The malignant party which was much feared is born down the mouths that were so wide both of Independents and malignants are sowen
of their Faith as one Goodman Goffery Master Harrington upon questioning with Master Denn spak of committing him to Lincoln to which he replyed He cared not but this he took ill to be molested in his way and told the Justice he was bound to the Committee of Examinations upon a Bond of two hundred pounds to appear before them at any time at four and twenty hours warning and he made use of that as an argument against his troubling of him to whom Master Harrington replyed How can you do that appear before the Committee aâ— so short a warning when as you are now almost a hundred miles from London This Master Harrington a Justice of Peace and a religious man told me he had had several Anabaptists before him upon several occasions and they have alwayes refused to take an oath saying they would not swear There is one Beedle of Glocestar sometimes School-master there who denies the Holy Ghost to be God had a Manuscript by him of his own making pleading against the Third Person of the Trinity which being known some in Authority in that Town questioned him and getting this manuscript have sent up either the Originall or a true Coppy to some in Authority and place here but the last newes I heard of him he hath not been questioned as yet by those above Bishop Vsher that learned and godly Divine coming this summer through Gloster spake with him and used him with all fairnesse and piety as well as strength of Arguments to convince him of his dangerous Errour A Minister of the City of Glocester told me the Bishop laboured to convince him telling him that either he was in a damnable Errour or else the whole Church of Christ who had in all ages worshiped the Holy Ghost had been guilty of Idolatry but the man was no whit moved either by the learning gravity piety or zeal of the good Bishop but continued obstinate There is one Andrew Debman an Anabaptist and a Preacher among them a Cooper by trade a sorry fellow that can neither write nor read and yet is a great Preacher among the Sectaries This blind Bayard would fain Preach in the Parish Church of Algate saying if they would let him Preach there his Sermon would be worth the Parish five pounds by a collection for their poor from his followers and he hath further said if they doubt of his ability to Preach let them give him a text at the Church door when he is going in to Preach and he would Preach of that whereby they should see what he could do and one speaking to him concerning a City Colonell if he would be a member of their Church he would make a good member among them this Debman replyed that for his part he beleeved if this forenamed Colonell would give all his Lands and Estate he could not be received into their Church There was a great Sectary who had his wife lay a dying and she did die of that sicknesse to whom some wel-affected neighbour spake that he should in this dangerous case pray for his wife he answered what good would prayer do her or you either you think prayer will do much good I had this relation from them to whom he spake it An Alderman of this City and a moderate man so acknowledged by the Independents not long since received a Letter from Newcastle concerning our Brethren of Scotland which Letter he shewed to some Common Councell men and other Citizens and the Letter was written from an Independent in Newcastle to this Alderman wherin he confesses that the Scots have dealt very faithfully with the King and told him That if he would not Sign the Propositions he must expect no help from them and that they would keep to their Covenant and not desert the Parliament of England with words to that effect I saw the Originall Letter and I read it twice over written from a Townsman of Newcastle a man of some place there to an Honorable member of the House of Commons wherein he complains that in Newcastle all was like to runne to ruine for want of Government and from the faction of the Independents there that their good Ministers were so abused and discouraged by them that they would not stay but had left them or were going away as Master Prideaux and Doctor Jenison some Independent Preachers sent thither will neither Baptize Children nor administer the Lords Supper but say they came not thither to do such drudgery this was twice repeated in the Letter Doctor Jenison was sent for thither again but for a stale and he acquaints this Parliament man that the Independents have a designe one way or other either by threatning some men to give their voices or by pretending some reasons to try to get an Ordinance to bring in a man for Major this year who is a Sectary but he desires this Honourable Member of the House of Commons to stand their Friend in the House and hopes that seeing we have fought for Liberty that town shal have their liberty in free choice of a Burgesse for Parliament and of a Major the chief Officer of their Town This Gentleman also complaines in his Letter that without so much as ever acquainting the free Burgesses or once calling a Common-Councell an Ordinance was procured to appoint an Independent Deputy Major which if we should have done so as the Independent party did what out-cries would there have been of breach of Liberty Upon this Letter being communicated to me I asked a worthy Member of the House of Commons why the Scots would suffer in Newcastle the Independents to domineer so and abuse the godly Orthodox Ministers and not teach them better manners he answered the Scots because of giving offence were tender of medling in any thing with the Civil Government but rather suffered these things so much against their minds that they might give no occasion of complaint There is one Master Erbâ—ry spoken of in my first part of Gangraena who about June or the beginning of July last as he was going to Wales lay at Marlbrough one night and being in the Town he came to a house where commonly once a week many good people of that Town meet together to confer and discourse of good things and there Master Erbury spake to them many being there present to this purpose that he knew not what they might expect but he came neither to pray nor to preach but to learn of Christ and of his Saints and making a discourse to them he declared his opinions venting himself against Christ being God affirming he was only man pleading for universall Redemption speaking against Baptism all ministry using words to this effect that he knew not how they stood affected or how it was with them but with many Christians it was thus with them that they knew not what to do without a man in black cloathes or a black man among them but that was for the time when Christians were
Saltmarsh Creâ—ensis Walwin Webb and divers other Sectaries who hath been a Man-midwife to bring forth more monsters begotten by the Divell and borne of the Sectaries within this three last years then ever were brought into the light in England by all the former Licensers the Bishops and their Chaplaines for fourescore years he hath licensed Books pleading for all soâ—ts of Sectaries as Seekers Antinomians Anabâ—ptists c. as Sâ—â—t 〈…〉 sh and Walwins Books and for Antibaptists denying since Christs death all Baptisme by water as Wâ—bbâ— Book page 6. where is â—id down that I 〈…〉 Baptisme which was water did end at the coming of Christ and that there is no Baptisme by water instituted by Christ yea for Antiscripturists Arians Anitrinitarâ—ans Questionists and all Blasphemers as is apparent by his licensing that late wicked Pamphlet call'd Some modest and humble Queries concerning a printed paper Intituled an Ordinance presented to the Honourable House of Commons c. where if the Reader do but compare the former part of that Ordinance in what cases only that Ordinance inflicts death viz. upon the wilfull and obstinate publishers of such damnable Heresies and Blasphemies with the second Quere made upon that Ordinance whether it be agreeable to the mind of Christ for men to inflict the heavie censure of death upon their Brethren for holding forth such Doctrines or opinions in Religion suppose contrary to admonition which for ought the Inflicters know except they make themselves infallible may be the sacred truths of God he must needs find thus much pleaded for that therefore such blasphemies and Heresies contained in the Ordinance yea Atheisme it self for that is in the Ordinance that God is may not be punished with death because for ought any man knowes they may be the â—acred truths of God and the maintainers and publishers of them our Brethren So that at once in this Quere upon the Ordinance all the fundamentalls of Christian Religion are overthrown and such Doctrines and opinions as are contrary unto them for ought any man knowes except he make himself inâ—allible may be the sacred truths of God yea grosse Scepticisme and Atheisme is brought into the Church This Master Bachiler hath Licensed severall Pamphlets for a Toleration yea noâ— only for a limited bounded Toleration of some Sects and opinions as suppose Anabaptists Independents but for a Universall gâ—nerall Toleration of all consciences and opinions as may be seen in Walwins Books licensed by him yea he hath licensed unlice 〈…〉 sed Books printed before he was borne as a Pamphlet entituled Religious Peace made by one Leonard Busher and printed 1614. wherein there is a pleading for a Toleration of Papists Jewes â—very person or persons differing in Religion and that it may be lawfull for them to write dispute confer print and publish any matter touching Religion either for or against whomsoever And that the wickednesse of Master Bachiler the Independent may the more appear I desire the Reader to observe in his licensing this and some other Books these following particulars First He gives not a bare Imprimatur to his Book of Bushers but gives his Imprimatur with a speciall Recommendation in these words This usefull Treatise entituled Religious Peace long since presented by a Citizen of London to King James and the High Court of Parliament then sitting I allow to be reprinted and so to some of Saltmarshes Books Smoake in the Temple Groanes for Liberty Reasons for Vnity Love and Peace c. We have Imprimaturs with speciall approbations and discourses of the lovelinesse exellenty sweetnesse glory shining in them Secondly in the reprinting of this Book for generall Toleration call'd Religious Peace Master Bachiler made some materiall alterations and writ in the margins of such places in the Book where some speciall passages were for Toleration that they should be printed in a great letter differing from the letter in which the body of the Book was printed for that end no doubt that the Reader might better observe them and this I was told from a person of some quality and a Scholler who saw the Originall Book wherein such alterations were made and told me they were the same hand with that whiâ—h gave License to the Book I shall give the Reader an instance or two and no more whereas Bushers Copie page 16 is thus Therefore I humbly desire his Majestie and Parliament with all godly carefulnesse to consider that 't is not possible that the Church of Rome called Catholick or those that ate descended of her and have received their Faith and Discipline from her ever was or could be the Apostolick Church call'd Primitive Church or shee that is descended from her Master Bacheler changes it from Faith and Discipline into Ministery and Ordination reading it thus and have received their Ministery and Ordination from her That passage in the old Edition page 11. printed in the same letter the whole Book is viz. Therefore as the Papist when they complaine of the Turks and Pagans for their bloody persecution do therein condemne themselves because they are found to do the same yea worse for 't is a greater tyrannie for one Christian to force and kill another then for Turks and Pagans to kill a Christian for that is no such great wonder seeing it is a Paganish part who have no better knowledge but Christians should have better knowledge and more mercy then to play the Pagans against Christians is in this new Edition printed in a different character a greater letter neither is this the only Book wherein 't is discovered John Bachiler treads in the steps of some Licensers who went before him being acquainted with Index Expurgatorius but in Webbs Book he altered and changed as in the second part of Gangraena I at large have shewed The man hath justified and acquitted the former Licensers Doctor Baker Doctor Bray Doctor Heyward Doctor Weeks and the rest of that race who in the point of licensing were Saints to him who hath licensed such books and things that I am confident none of them durst have done for feare the people would have risen up and torne them in peeces and certainly the people would never have borne with such books in the Bishops dayes besides should any man before the sitting of this Parliament have writ or licensed such Books of which good store have been both writ and licensed within this three last years that man or men whoever they had been had without all question been first questioned and proceeded against by this Parliament of all men This Bachiler is such a desperate Licenser that nothing now in that kind can stick with him having swallowed down those wicked Queries upon the Ordinance against Heresies and Blasphemies and I am afraid that if the Devill himselfe should make a book and give it the Title A plea for liberty of conscience with certaine Reasons against Persecution for Religion and bring it to Mr. Bachiler hee would license it and
have said to him in the second part of Gangraena and shall say in this third I purpose to reckon with him once for all in another Tractate This Master Saltmarsh this last half year hath much followed the Army a fit place for him and of him and his Doctrine there the Reader if he turne back â—o page 45. may read more When Oxford was taken he was one of those famous Preachers who preached at Saint Marles as the weekly newes Books gave it out as fit a man to credit the Parliament and the Reformation with the Universitie as his Brother Peters Master Saltmarsh being to preach in the Army on a Fast day this Summer made a Preface by way of Apologie that he preached not for the Fast he would not he understood to preach as upon that occasion or that his Sermon was a Fast Sermon He hath been at Bath this year and there in one of the lesser Churches preached that at John Baptist wore a leatherne girdle so his Doctrine was leather at Doctrine He would have preached at the great Church but the Minister would not give way whereupon he came to the Ministers house to contest with him about denying him his Pulpit and speaking so of him to them who came for leave especially seeing he had never seen him before unto whom the Minister replyed he had heard of him by M. John Ley and Master Thomas Edwards and was fully satisfied concerning him besides he said I have heard of one Master Saltmarsh who in the time of the former differences between the King and the Scots viz. before this Parliament made verses to incense the King to Warre against the Scots when he went into the North and that when the late Oath made by the Bishops of c. came forth went many miles to an Archdeaâ—on to take that Oath upon his knees unto which Master Saltmarsh replyed he was then in his darknesse and the Minister of Bath rejoyned he thought him to be still in the smoak There is Cretensis alias Master John Goodwin a monstrous Sectary a compound of Socinianisme Arminianisme Libertinisme Antinomianisme Independency Popery yea and of Seep 〈…〉 cisme as holding some opinions proper to each of these This man for twelve yeares last past hath disturbed the City of London with broaching continually one Error or other which was the true cause why the Bishops and their Chap 〈…〉 es suffered him though in severall particulars irregular according to the Bishops wayes to preach when they put down others and would not suffer them and all because by his conceits and fancies he would disturb the Puritan party I could alledge what Mr Burton coming to 〈…〉 e him in those times prophessed of him what M. Thomas Goodwin hath said of him for his opinions about justification and what others of the Church-way have said of him but I shall reserve them A Reverend and learned Divine of another Kingdome hearing him pray and preach gave this judgement of him before he turned Independent that he had hereticum ingenium his genius seemed to be for Error and as some men discover a naturall inclination and a disposition to one evill more then another some to theft being given more to st 〈…〉 ling some to lying so is Master Goodwin to Heresie and Error seems to be made for a Heretick I shall instance now only in a few things by which the Reader may judge of the man and of his way A very godly and judicious Minister told me that he being at London about Spring was a twelve month he went to heare Master Goodwin preach who preaching upon that subject how hard a thing it was to beleeve the Gospel aggravated the hardnesse of beleeving by these Reasons one was because there were many contradictions in the Scripture as they appeared to us and he instanced in divers as about Justification c. A second was because take two men of equall abilities for holinesse learning parts and these shall expound the Scripures different wayes so that which Exposition shall a man take to in this case Now besides these he gave divers others such Reasons never salving or reconciling any of them so that the Minister professed to me he trembled to heare him and hath looked upon him ever since as a wicked man judgeing the scope of his preaching was â—ather to make unbeleevers and Atheists then to work Faith in men Another godly Minister tells me that some judicious hearers among the rest a Gentleman of parts going to heare him preach on a Lords day he then was upon the Majestie of the Scriptures and among other instances to prove the Majestie of the Scriptures he spoke of the contradictions in the Scripture and went over many particulars and so left them without any solution or Answer at which this Gentleman was so offended that he spâ—â—e of this to divers the same day and said the Sermon was enough to have made all them Atheists who heard it A godly Minister in the City hearing him preach and as I remember it was on his Tuseday Lecture at his Conventicle house upon that point that there were many necessary truths that cannot be proved by Scriptures save only by a strong hand of Reason and instancing in that point of proving Christ to be God he runne over those Scriptures brought to prove Christ to be God and answered them with the Arian and Socinians evasions and so left them never taking away those Answers as if the man would in a subtle close way whil'st he seemed to prove somthing else and confute the Anabaptists sow the seeds of Socinianisme This Minister was much troubled at it spake of it to many Ministers of the City how no Socinian could have pleaded against Christ being God more then M. Goodwin so far as concerned the eluding of those Scriptures which are the proofs of it and could not but leave a tincture in the mind of the Auditors that it could not be proved by Scripture that Jesus Christ was God seeing the cheif and most pregnant places for it were so Answered These practises and way of Cretensis brings to my mind the practise of Sebastian Franck a Learned man and indeed the most Learned Sectary of all the Sectaries in these latter times both before him and in his age who hath written a Book ex professo to shew the discordances of Scriptures laying down many instances in this kind and so leaving them without shewing any harmony or agreement Which Franck being a great Seeker and Enthusiast did it without all question upon a designe to drawe men off from the Scriptures to Revelations Two religious and understanding Citizens told me the tenth of June last and said they could bring many more to attest it that they heard not long before Master John Goodwin preach at his Conventicle as followes That we should not condemne any thing for an Error till we had taken as much paines in the searching out whether it were so or no as
trouble you the Danes and Saxons never mastered this â—and by power but by our home-bred distempers To prevent those fears let English-men keep to their proper Interests and Scots to theire and I know not why we might not marâ—ch into Bavaria and Lorain before they come to us and make them pay all old Arreares I must confesse I am divided between Ireland and the Palatinate only I quiet my self in this that we may doe both And againe pag. 9. And if our back-doore were well shut at home how might Euphrates be 〈…〉 yed up I meane the West Indies and the East too offer themselves to our devotion And not only Master Peters but divers other Sectaries do in a sort deifie this Army I beleeve never was there an Army or rather one sort of men in the Army viz. Independents and Sectaries so cryed up in Pulpits Pamphlets Speeches and that to their faces as this is I might relate passages out of Sermons printed Pamphlets of the Saints in the Army the Independents calling them the strength preservers deliverers of the Presbyterians the instruments under God by which we enjoy all c. But I must abreviate and conclude this with a speech lately related to me of a great man of Master Peters his Religion that a discourse arising about the great Turk seasing on some of our Merchants goods in Turkis upon occasion of the difference between King and Parliament the Ambassador there being on the Kings side and what course there might be to help it he answered to this effect we had an Army that the terror of it was such that we needed not to feare the great Turke but it might go to the gates of Constantinople and demaud right 8. Master Peters designe is to plead for the keeping this Army on foot still and that in England for this Winter at least and to possesse men of the need of it and to perswade against the disbanding of it by any meanes and to work this the more he runnes into praises of the Army and Commanders of which the Reader may find such passages as these page 6. Your demand about the disposing the Army is not so proper for a private pen to engage in yet this I may say that other Nations in our condition would think if they look round about them and within them the disbâ—nding an Army if trusty ought not to be a work of haste When the seas are down in England I think the passage into Ireland will be easier and if we can maintain a defensive Warre this Winter I trust the spring will invite many over thither in the meane if these faithfull Commanders were in Garrisons without any designe be it spoken you have alwayes an Army ready the private souldier will still runne to his honest and well known Commander c. Briefly I say this to your question that this Army was hardly gotten and I wish it may be as hardly disbanded and so page 10. speaking of preserving the conquests hee writes thus By the same meanes the mercy is gained it may be preserved if men yea good men were instrumentall in the one they must be in the other And of their praises that they may not bee disbanded see page 5. I find our Souldiers generally in the old forme rather wondering then boasting admired by the enemy for their gallantry and Conduct And page 6. Feare not that Army whose Commanders like Samuel can ask any County or Town where they have been whose Oxe or Asse have they taken 9. Master Peters closely but shrewdly strickes at that neer conjunction and union joynt interest of both Nations as one by vertue of the Covenant in a uniformity of Religion in Doctrine Government and Discipline and labours to divide between them by hinting passages to look upon them not as one but as two Kingdomes having different interests for proof of which the Reader may take notice of these following passages page 7. Let us remember England as it was never conquered but by faction so it can never be ruled but by love the same Last will not fit an English and a Scottish foot they came not suddenly to what they enjoy and therefore should give England a little breathing over what is propounded it will be their mercy to keep what they have and ours to be growing up to what we desire So page 10. To prevent those feares let English men keep to their proper interests and Scots to theirâ— I would as soon credit a Garrison to a known honest godly English man differing from me in his opinion c. And pray Master Peters why not a known honest godly Scotch-man differing from you in his opinion implying a Scotch-man though a known honest godly man differing in opinion you would not trust 10. Master Peters strickes at the City of London and their Remonstrance page 11. in these passages speaking of our late enemies saith Their highest designe now is to make it Royall you may remember how willing I was once to have made a match my weaknesse was such that I did not study whether both parties were well agreed and my simplicity kept me from thinking of a Corrivall and let London know that if they think a Parliament sits the quieter by being so near them so 〈◊〉 think when the Parliament doores are shut up at Westminster their shops will hardly stand open at London Iâ— the clashing of swords cannot be heard yet death climbing up their windowes by the increase of the plague calls for something And in the same page again Had the Citizens Remonstrated more about their debts due and lesse about their wille they might have had more thanks and it may be by this time some might have kept Orphanes from their doores that â—ry for the money lent to supply the States use 11. Mr Peters designe in his Answer to seven Queres is to represent and render himself all along as some great Statesman and knowing man a great Traveller and of great experience a man beloved of godly men and respected at home and abroad a man of great interest in the most Learned and godly men of other Nations as Master Forbs the Scotchman Doctor Ames a man so active as if he did all and so wise as to give Answer to Queres and Counsell and Resolution to Parliament men as by some passages in these Answers it should seem this friend was in the hardest matters both of Church and Sâ—ate a man that could not be missed by the Parliment or the Army not spared out of England and such hints have bâ—â—n given out both in Sermons and in Speeches Now the whole frame of the Queres and Answers shewes this to be his â—â—me but more particularly these passages page 4. Master Richard Sâ—â—wâ—y a Member of the House who was of our Counsell in this work I preached at Worcester at our coming in and did observe a doore open to the Gospel Master Peters was of the Counsell belike for taking of Worcester
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
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
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
and Church government and to presse them upon every mans conscience w 〈…〉 is it but with Nebuchadnezzar to erect this golden Image and with an immortall Law of the Medes and Persians to bind all men to fall downe and worship it Or what is it but with Jeroboam and his Councell to set up the golden Calves with a strict comandement of universaâ—l conformity none daring among all those ten Tribes openly to proâ—esse the pure worship of God saving the Prophet Elijah to whom these seven thousand were not knowne The Parliament may do well to take notice that he resembles their settling Church-government and Religion among us to Nebuchadnezzars erecting his golden Image and Jeroboams setting up the golden Calves Thirdly the Pamphlet entituled The tender Conscience religiously affected descanting upon a part of the Preamble of an Ordinance made by the Lords and Commons concerning suspension of ignorant and scand alous persons from the Lords Supper where the Parliament saith never any of Gods servants since theâ— foundation of the world had 〈◊〉 high and strong engagements beartily and sincerely to endeavour the compleat establishment of purity and unity in the Church of God then we have charges the Parliament with speaking of blasphemy and aske where had the Lords and Commons this large Commission to middle in the affairs of King Jesus so farre c. 2. For the Sectaries opposing all the Ordinances of Parliament in matters of Religion and tending to Religion to say nothing now of Ordinances in civill mâ—tters as the additionall Ordinance of Accounts Lillurnes Innocency and Truth justified page 69. the Ordinance of Excise the Ordinances for Takes spoken against in Englands birth-right page 44 4â— t is so apparent that I can give not only passages out of Books written against all the Ordinances in that kind but relate insolent tumultuous practises contrary unto and in scorne and contempt of the Ordinances of Parliament There are many books and passages in books written against the Ordinance of Tyths as that Pamphlet call'd Ordinance for Tyths Dis 〈…〉 ted Englands Birthright A Copie of a Letter written to Master William Pr 〈…〉 with divers others wherein they speak both against the thing and the Parliament calling Tyths Antichristian Jewish Diaboli 〈…〉 the root and support of Popery c. charging the Parliament with breach of â—ovenant for making that Ordinance There are Sermons preached all the Kingdome over against this Ordinance of Tyths that being one of their subjects commonly in all their preachings and the Sectaries in places have abused and beaten those who have beene gathering of Tyths and themselves deny payment and provoke others not to pay by all the meanes they can A great Sectary in Bermonsey parish being call'd in question for non-payment of his Tyths by vertue of the Ordinance of Parliament said of that Ordinance the Parliament had made an Ordinance to rob men and they who executed it were theeves and robbers The Ordinance against mens preaching not being Ordained how hath it beene scoffed at in severall Pamphlets of the Sectaries and how doe souldlers and every mechanick not only disobey it but put by many godly Ministers from their Pulpits preaching whether they will or no causing many tumults and riots in Churches yea threatning and laying Ministers by the heeles for publishing it The Ordinance for the better observation of the monthly Fast how hath it beene and is slighted by the Sectaries spoken against as legall popish not observed but things done in contempt of the Fast and when civill Officers have questioned people for travelling and worldly works on those dayes some Sectaries have opposed them in the execution of their offices the proofe of which particular and that of committing a Minister to prison for reading the Ordinance against Lay mens preaching the Reader may finde it in the Letters sent from the Committee of Exeter to some in London The Nationall Covenant taken by both Houses and appointed by Ordinance with solemne instructions for all to take it how fearfully is it scoffed at and jeared in many Books of the Sectaries Arraignment of Persecution c. and forced Jesuiticall equivocations and interpretations put upon it by many as by Walwyn in A word more to Master Edwards as by Cretensis in his large Preface to the Reader before his Anapologesiates Antapologias The Nationall Covenant is called a double faced Covenant the greatest make-bate and snare that ever the Devill and the Clergy his Agents cast in among honest men in England in our age which I dare pawne my head and life so to prove it to be in a fair and publick discourse against the greatest maintainer thereof in England Lilburns Londons liberty in chains discovered page 42. The Directory established by Ordinance is in severall Books of the Sectaries spoken much against resembled to Jeroboams calves said to have contradictions to the Canonicall Scriptures Turners Heavenly confidence for Syons Saints page 64 65. scoffed at in a Ballad call'd A Prophecie of the Swinâ—herds destruction The Ordinances for the Presbyteriall Government and the Government it selfe in the going to set it up have beene preached written against and all manner of wayes opposed by the Sectaries What hath beene more familiar and common with the Sectaries in their Pulpits and Books then to call the Presbyterian Government Antichristian a â—lim of Anti-christ Tyrannicall Lordly cruell a worse bondage then under the Prelates a bondage under Taskmasters as the Israelites in Egypt besides many bitter jeares and scoffs have beene made both of the Government and Ordinances as 〈◊〉 The Arraignment of Persecution Martins Eccho Ordinance for â—yâ—â—s dismounted The last warning to all the Inhabitants of London as also they have made disgracefull pictures of the Presbytery one printed and joyned to a paper call'd Severall Votes of tender consciences another to a Pamphlet call'd The tender Conscience religiously affected But among all the Sectaries Books abusing the Parliaments Ordinances about Presbyteriall Government let the Reader take notice of the Pamphlet call'd Tender conscience religiously affected propounding questions of weighty consequence in which the Author descants upon the Ordinances of Parliament and charges them with speaking blasphemy and many other crimes and the Ordinance for Tyths dismounted where that Sectary speaking occasionally of the Ordinance of Parliament for the Lords Supper saith For indeed at the first onset it was not policie to rush such a diabolicall and villâ—nous invention point blanck upon us with an It is decreed and ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament But after a more mysterious manner of Ordination slily intrude it upon us unawares in the godly and specious vizor of Rules and Directions as if our Parliament men â—ad such a spirituall and holy care â—ver â—s to give us such wholsome and 〈…〉 directions 〈…〉 indeed under this innocent apparition in the shape of Lam 〈…〉 they are no other then ravening Woolves rending and tearing us in p 〈…〉 ces
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
Articles put in against him and be so violently prosecuted And if the Sectaries dare do thus whilst they are a labouring for a Toleration as they say before they know whether they shall prevaile and have the upper hand when t is evident the House of Peeres the Kingdom of Scotland the City of London the Ministery of the Kingdome and the body of the people are against them yea and whatever they vapor the greater part of the House of Commons too what will they do if ever they should get their way established by a law and come to have all the strength of the Kingdome in their hands what will they doe when they are masters of the Presbyterians that thus persecute them whilst they are Probationers Qâ—id facient Domini aâ—dent cum taliâ— fures and therefore by these beginnings of Persecution these Kingdomes of England and Scotland may judge what to trust to and look to finde if ever these men come to have power in their hands they will be as bad as the Circumcelliones among the Donatists as those Anabaptists to the Citizens of Munster they will be desperate persecutors of the faithfull Ministers of Christ thinking they shall doe God good service in killing them The Lords may know what to trust to if ever the Sectaries prevaile The Scots had best look to it also they will finde them worse neighbours a hundred times then ever the Bishops were all the reformed Churches had need contribute their help against them for if they prevaile they will all suffer and be much disturbed in their place The Assembly of Divines shall feele their liberty of conscience The City of London and Citizens shall be reckoned with and paid for their Petitions and late Remonstrance The House of Commons also may assure themselves they shall feele their power when they are grown strong enough as is evident by many threatning passages in Pamphlets of the Sectaries especially those Members of the House who are not theirs but have vigorously appeared against them they will pull them out by the head and ears and kick them out of the House Certainly the House of Commons so great and understanding a body notwithstanding many flattering Petitions of late to them crying them up in late Pamphlets above the House of Peers and protesting deeply to be at their service and command against all the world cannot be so weak as to beleeve them and to think if the Sectaries get power into their hands and overthrow the House of Peers Ministers City that they shall escape and not follow after they have written spoken done as much against them as the House of Peers Ministers Citie and no question will again as they see their advantage or are discontented or upon some new light that they were not chosen by all the free-men of England but only by the Prerogative men the Freeholders No man knowes where these Sectaries will stop or stay or to what Principles they will keep and is there any safety then in adhering to such a party and caring to please them who are off and on T is evident even in those Books made against the House of Peers and in which the Commons and their Power are so cried up that many things are laid down destructive to that House and in the midst of flattering the House of Commons they brand them with in justice medling with what they have nothing to do with as matters of Religion As the fit takes them they now will cry crucifie them crucifie them but what may they expect from that party if once all the Militia and strength should be in their hands To conclude this Corallary I say God keep me and all true Presbyterians from that liberty of conscience the Sectaries would give us if we lay at their mercy and liberty of conscience were theirs to give 9. Corall Hence then from what I have laid downe of the Sectaries as in a Mirrour and Christall Glasse we may with open face behold the true bottome cause of all our evils and mischeifs both in Church and State the maine reason of the obstructions of all good things why Religion and Church Government not yet settled why Ireland not releived peace not attained and the great ground of all the miseries upon us why such jealosies and differences have beene betweene England and Scotland such discontents taken at London why the Assembly and godly Ministers of the Kingdome slighted many well-affected Counties offended Petitions not regarded the well-affected discouraged many great greivances not remedied many Delinquents protected and not call'd to an account strange Articles given to some in Armes at some places contrary to Ordinances of Parliament illegall elections of Members of the House of Commons taking place so many scandalous pamphlets against Monarchie the House of Peers and House of Commons sold openly such high insolencies committed against the House of Peers as never were in any age with many more namely that great love and favour of Sectarisme and Errors in too many persons of our times This is the spring that feeds all our evils the primum mobile or great wheele that turns all the rest about Hence t is no matter though Ireland be lost England and Scotland embroyled Parliament and London at a distance the godly Ministers hearts lost the Kingdome offended Armies and great Taxes continued c. rather then any thing be done against Sectaries Sectaries must not be dis-eased or displeased what ever come of it they must be nourished and increase Erastian principles must be maintained and cried up prophanesse let alone open wicked men joyned with and all to further Sectarisme and Liberty of Conscience so called Whosoever knowes and hath observed the present affairs and state of things cannot but see the truth of what I now say and I challenge any man to instance in any one thing at least for these last twelve months wherein so many evils have been and are upon us but I will rationally resolve into that and though other pretences have been held out as sometimes priviledges sometimes the liberty and safety of the subject sometimes godlinesse sometimes unseasonablesse an unfit time c. many things folded together and indeed the love of Sectarisme sometimes so wrapt up in them that not discerned by all as in all ages men have not wanted pretences yet â—is apparent to all wise men that this is the very cause Is it not evident whatever hath been pretended the true cause of all the jealosies differences and faults found with the Sâ—ots to bee a great love and care of Sectaries whom we know the Scots so hate and therefore have done it out of revenge Is it not evident the true and only reason of the Cities being so slighted reviled such a change of carriage towards them to arise from their appearing against the Sects and Errors of the times and striking in with the Ministers to joyne for a thorough Presbyteriall Government have not all the
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