in regard of the many Sectaries among us and the height they have risen unto as ever we were before for their help against the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant partie and therefore happie England both for the present and for the future that now wee are coming to a Peace we are so joyned and wrapped up in Covenant with Scotland that the Peace and Vnion is not of England alone but of both Kingdoms and that this is our advantage I shall commend to the Readers consideration some particulars out of the Speeches of Mr. Solicitor a prime able Member of the House of Commons and Mr. Burroughs a chiefe man among the dissenting Brethren Mr. Solicitor speaking of the benefits that will redound to this Kingdome and the advantage we shall have by a nearer Association with the Scots and by their coming in to this purpose for our assistance showeth that certainly they are many The third is this that whosoever we doe come to a Peace whom Gods time is come that we shall have one yet their coming in in all probability it will cause us to have a better a surer and a better grounded Peace then if they doe not come in And likewise what peace soever we have that it will be perpetuated and be the securer for us and our posterity to reap the benefit of it But how is it like to be when there shall not onely be our owne Kingdome but a Brother Kingdome an entire Kingdome one of the same Religion with us one that loves their liberties as well as we when they shall bee ingaged in point of interest with us when the same Law the same Acts of Parliament that shall compose the differences when if it be broken on our parts in any thing that concernes us they cannot conceive but that it may be their case the next day because it all depends upon one Law one and the same title and their interests is the same So that if there were nothing else in it but that we were like to have the better peace and on better termes and whatever it be 't is likely to bee kept the better to us and our posteritie if nothing else were in it that were much to our advantage surely if by some considerable summe of money wee might have brought in and have them at the end of this Peace and interested in it as well us our selves Master Burroughs saith how happy should wee be if wee might have them in a neere union with us And a people that have carried themselves with as great honour and faithfulnesse with as great wisdome and order in the most difficult worke that ever a people did undertake in those by and intricate paths that were before untrodden Certainely that they undertooke at the beginning of their worke but a few years since it could not but bee looked upon with the eye of reason as the most unlikely worke ever to have proceeded aâ— any worke hath ever done and yet how hath the Lord been with them and with what wisdome and graciousnesse have they carried it So that from the consideration of all I have said in this Corallary and from these passages in these speeches t is good by all meanes to preserve the union of England and Scotland and seeing we shall be so happy in a neere union and God is so much with them and carries them thorough with so much wisdome and graciousnesse and that wee shall have the better Peace and have it the better kept by having them at the end of it and interested in it as well as our selves let 's hearken to no Sectaries nor Independents false surmisings evill reports and scandalls cast upon our Brethren of Scotland but pray and seek by all means a more near union and communion betweene that Kingdome and this for there is a blessing in them and for my part I had a great deale rather fall and perish if the will of God were so with the Kingdome of Scotland and the Presbyterian party in England standing for the Covenant and the truth professed in all the Reformed Churches then to grow and flourish for a while with the Sectaries standing for a Toleration of all Sects and Opinions yea then to be a King among them as Iohn of Leyden was at Munster FINIS Errata First part Epist Dedicat. pag. 2. Parenthesis ends after your pleasure Epist. Dedic p. 8. l. 13. r. can you think Preface p. 6. l. 2. r. eternall p. 6. l. 16. r. rejected p. 9. l. 22 dele and p. 11. l. 5. r. eternall Gangraena second part in the Licence r. Dauâ—us p. 66. l. 19. r. many p. 27 l. 26. r. Cosens p. 29. l. 4. r. formally p. 30. l. 37. r. his p. 34. l. 14. r. by snatches p. 36. l. 13. r. shovve p. 41. l. 22. after but dele a. p. 45. l. 101 r. aggravating p. 45. l. 27. for and the proofs r. and the persons upon proof p. 45 l. 28. r. to the nature p. 46. l. 9. after Scotland add France p. 46. l. 25. r. desired p. 47. l. 17. after as dele yet p. 47. l. 20. r. moneths p. 48. l. 7. r. Sun p. 51. l. 34. r. not p. 54. r. Presbyterians p. 55. l. 13. dele that p. 56. l. 23. r. hovv p. 57. l. 18. r. quum p. 58. l. 22. r. undeniably p. 58. l. 24. r. vvords p. 58. l. 37. r. imputation p. 100. l. 14. r. of p. 123. r. VVrighter p. 127. l. 31. r. books p. 114. l. 27. so to that purpose p. 128. l. 12. r. are men p. 132. l. 13. r. Sprat p. 146. l. 2. r. propagating p. 66. marg note r. sanctitate p. 72 73 c. for M. Allen r. M. Alley p. 89. r. proved p. 97. r. mendacia THE TABLE THe first part of Gangraena is by the Printer cast into two severall numbers of pages which divides the whole into two the first consisting of 66. Pages the other of 116. Pages according unto which division the Reader must goe in finding out the Contents specified in these following Tables The first Table shewing the Contents of the first Division consisting of 66. pages besides the Preface is as follows THe Authors Preface wherein are laid down these Particulars 1. The Authours long expectation of a Reply to his Antapologia according to the great words given out of a Reply by the Independent Party 2 The reason of his so long silence and discontinuance from the Presse 3 His purpose and resolution of often coming into the Presse for the time to come 4 The Authours account to the Reader of the nature of the present Book and his scope therein 5 The hatred malignity reproaches from the world yea misconstructions from friends which Ministers who appeared against the errors of the times have met with as Christ the Apostles Fathers Athanasius Augustine Hierom modern Writers as Luther Zuinglius Calvin 6. Their undaunted courage constancy in going on against errours notwithstanding all their sufferings 7 The
saddest of all and yet too true Orthodox worthy persons who being in places of Power for preventing mischiefs and evills questioning some Sectaries for their unlawfull meetings and false Doctrines have been lookt upon ever after with an evill eye and opportunities watcht to molest and displace them In a word there hath not been to this day any exemplary restraint of the Sectaries as ever I heard by vertue of any of your Ordinances but they are sleighted and scorned and as it was formerly with the Kings Proclamations against the Iesuits Priests Papists and forbidding to go to Masse there were the more Priests in the Kingdom and more went to Masse the Proclamations being never looked after and when any zealous Protestants in place did go to execute them they had little thanks for their pains and those they questioned were to hard for them getting off so preaching of lay-men was never more in request then since your Ordinance against it Presbyteriall Government never more preached printed against then since your Votes Orders and Ordinances for it never more dangerous unlicensed Books printed then since the Ordinance against unlicensed printing and when men have been complained of for the breach of Ordinances as that of lay preaching c. how are they dismissed and preach still infect still look what wayes were taken heretofore by the Popish party and Prelates who pretended to be Protestants in favour of the Papists Arminians and discountenancing zealous Protestants the same will be found to be now in use in behalfe of the Sectaries against Presbyterians and if you be but pleased to review your own Remonstrances either in former or in this present Parliament or remember the maximes and grounds you proceeded upon in questioning many and by what rules you judged of intentions to overthrow the Protestant Religion and to advance Popery Armianisme and then look upon the Proceedings of some you will finde the same steps trod in now and the same course taken in favour of the sects But an Epistle is too narrow a compasse to particularize all things of this kinde and a word is enough to the wise And yet I do not say Your Honours have done these things for there are matters of this nature you hear not of and upon complaints of things that have come immediatly to Your Houses there hath been some redresse yet such things are done by Committees or Persons under Your Power and Government and no effectuall wayes taken to prevent discover or remedy these things Now I humbly submit to Your deep judgment whether God account not men guilty of that which is committed by others under them they having power to hinder it as also whether it will not be interpreted by men that there is certainly great countenance and favour above or else persons below dare not do as they do And be pleased to suffer me as a Minister of Christ to bring to your remembrance which I do in all humility these following Scriptures Levit. 26.25 1 Sam. 2.29 30 31 32. cap. 3.12.13 14. 1 King 12. cap. 31.13 cap. 33.34 2 King 10. from 19. to 33. Jerems 30.31 Dan. 5.5.2.2 23.24 25 26 27 28. Amos 2.9 13.14 Hag. 1.2 4 5. Gal. 6.7 Revel 2.13 14 15 16 18 19 20. Which texts of Scripture with the examples laid down in them I name not as if I would compare your Honours with Jeroboam Belshazzar c. or charge on you their facts in kinde or that I wish such evills should come to You no let the interpretation of these Scriptures be to your enemies and the fulfilling of them to them that hate You but because whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning and all the things which were threatned and hapned to Eli Jeroboam Jehu Belshazzar c. were for examples and written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come therefore I minde You of these Scriptures that you may fear to fall into any such kinde of sins or to suffer such to be done when 't is in Your power to hinder The sects have been growing upon us ever since the first year of Your sitting and have every year increased more and more things have been bad a great while but this last year they are grown intolerable and if Schisme Herosie c. be let alone and rise proportionably for one year longer we shall need no Cavaliers nor enemies from without to destroy us Certainly God looks for other manner of fruit from you the great Deliverances Victories Successes the solemn Covenant Protestations Remonstrances Declarations made to God this Kingdom the Kingdome of Scotland and all the Reformed Churches call and speak for other kinds of things The Reformed Churches abroad wonder at these things and say Why may not the King as lawfully tolerate Papists one false Religion as the Parliament suffer all sects to grow Besides their love zeal and prayers for you begins to languish and grow faint Our dear Brethren of Scotland stand amazed and astonished and had they not seen these things could not have beleeved them The Orthodox godly considerable party both Ministers and people in City and Country by whose means under God you are now so strong and lifted up above your enemies are grieved offended and much discouraged the common enemy scornes blasphemes and reproaches the Reformation looking upon us as given up to a spirit of giddinesse and errour The Malignants every where turne Sectaries and Independents siding with them and pleading their cause and they do wisely there being no such way as that to save their purses live quietly and to undermine you and effect the enemies work And what can think you will be issue of these things It is high time therfore for your Honours to awake and be doing to suffer no longer these Sects and Schismes these disorders and confusions that are in the midst of us but to fall upon some effectuall wayes as you in your great wisdomes shall finde out and to do something worthy a Parliament in this kinde also Do this and God is on your right hand to helpe you and you shall not be removed for ever the Kingdom of Scotland the Reformed Churches this great City with the Ministers to stand by you and to honour you Do it not but let things still run on thus and all kinde of errours confusions c. increase and know God is a righteous God and will require it at your hands visit and be avenged for these things And let no man flatter you with your great prosperity and successe that your mountain is now so strong that you shall never be moved but remember that God is a God changing the times and seasons that removes Kings and sets up Kings Dan. 2.21 that can quickly bring down that part of the wheel below which was highest that made a sudden change to Belshazzar in an hour Dan. 5.3 4 5 6. That God who is said to scatter Kings can scatter you Psal. 68.14 Look upon
in it they conceive many plots at once to effect it they have plot upon plot and lay snare upon snare Machiavel and the Jesuits are but punies and fresh men to them I am confident they had so laid their plots cut out their way removed the rubs prepared all things so as that they had set their time by which they should effect their ends and speak out what they would have Now God delights to bring to naught plots to disappoint the devices of mens hearts to blast and blow upon tricks and under-boord workings to take the wise in their own craftinesse and wherein men deale proudly to be above them the ripening growing big of plots is commonly the fore-runner of the downfall of the plotters and the miscarriage of their plots for the further clearing of which the Reader shall doe well to consider what God speakes in Iob. 5.12 13 14. Psal. 37.12 13 Isa. 29.15.16 Isa. 30.1 2. and indeed God is such an enemy to plots devices tricks that he will crosse and disappoint his owne children in their workings devisings and contrivances even for good when they are too plotting anxious or delight and please themselves too much in them and this he does often lest they should attribute the events of things to their counsell care c. and that the worke may appeare to be of himselfe and not of men that God may be knowne to be Deiu activus non passivus as Luther expresses it upon a like occasion and that God doth not use to call Martin Luther or anie of his Saints to be his councellor but that he doth all things according to his own counsell hence we are commanded to be carefull for nothing or thoughtfull but in everie thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made knowne to God Now if God will go quite crosse and contrary to the counsells workings of his servants for the maintaining his Church and truth and bring about all quite another way then he will much more carrie the counsells of the froward headlong and make them meet with darknesse in the day time and grope in the noone day as in the night 5. Sympt of the certaine destruction of the Sectaries is this That Independencie and Sectarisme in England is a meer Faction a partie grown to this height upon particular interests nourished and favoured all upon politike grounds and ends Independencie now is no religious conscientious businesse but a politike State Faction severing and dividing it selfe upon other private interests from the publike interests of this Church and State and the interest of both Kingdoms united by Covenant In a word 't is just such anoanother Faction as the Arminians was in the Netherlands I believe that seven or eight years ago Independencie and the Church way had somwhat of Religion and conscience in it manie then falling to it much upon those grounds though even then there were other ends in it also as I have showne in my Antapologie But now since these times of troubles and difference betwixt King and Parliament these foure years last past wherein men have seen some probabilitie and possibilitie in these times of warre and unsettlement of things to bring about and effect those things they could not hope for before it hath been and is matter of faction particular aimes and ends and not of conscience and pietie as all wise men may see and is apparent by these particulars First 't is not carried on as a way of God as a matter of Religion and Conscience in Gods way and with Gods means but carried on altogether with policie art plots trickes equivocations mentall reservations lies falsenesle doing anie thing though never so unjust and unrighteous if it will further and advantage that way and hinder its opposite viz. Presbyterie and the settlement of the Church yea declining and forsaking the profest principles that way and going contrary threunto in razing the verie fundations of Independencie and the Church way Secondly There are multitudes of persons in all places who doe not so much as know or understand anie of the principles of Independency and thé Church way yea that hate most of those principles if they were tied to live according to them that yet are great sticklers for Independencie and the Sectaries yea are the heads and patrons of it in all places and upon all occasions and this is observed by manie wise men that take those who now are friends for it and stand for it upon all occasions among them all there is not one in ten that conscientiously and in his judgement holds that way to bee of God or is an Independent which cleerly showes 't is a Faction Thirdly All other errours and opinions Sectaries of all sorts as well as Independents are encouraged nourished favoured and the worst of them though being so abominable 't is not anie policie to appeare for them yet one way or other under one notion or other are pleaded for dealt gently with either delayed and put off or brought off by one meanes or other and are freely suffered to grow and increase and no way taken to suppresse or discourage them which cleerly showes Independency is a Faction and hath other designes then that of Conscience in furthering the growth of all sorts of Sectaries holding tenets against their principles as well as ours by Licensing their Books c. and upon all occasions shelters and protects all sorts of them Fourthly that Independencie is a Faction and not matter of Conscience appeares because all these following sorts and ranks of men come in unto it 1. Needie broken decaied men who know not how to live and hope to get somthing turn Independents and sticklers for iâ— 2. Gailâ—ie suspicious and obnoxious men who have been or are in the lurcâ— and in feare and danger of being questioned or have bin questioned they turn Independents to escape questioning or if questioned that so they may come off the better Independency being a Sanctuarie and the horns of the Altar where many obnoxious persons fly and are safe and many of these guilty persons that they may merit the more prove fiercer Independents and Sectaries then manie others 3. Some who have businesses causes and matters depending strike in with the Independent Sectaries pleading for them that so they may finde Friends be sooner dispatcht fare better in their causes c. 4. Ambitious proud covetous men who have a mind to Offices places of profit about the Army Excise c. turn about to the Independents and are great zealots for them 5. Libertines and loose persons who have a desire to live in pleasures and enjoy their lusts and to be under no government they are fierce and earnest for Independents and against Presbytery 6. All wanton-witted unstable erroneous spirits of all sorts all Hereticks and Sectaries strike in with Independency and plead they are Independents 7. Such who have no minde to peace nor to the settlement of
things either out of hope whilest things remain unsetled Bishops and former times may come in again or that love to fish in troubled waters or are afraid to lose Offices and Places that may fall with the ending of these troubles these persons strike in with Independents and side with them 8. Many who in our Churches are discontented at the faithfull preaching of their Ministers close to their consciences at their Admonitions and Suspensions from the Sacrament because loose scandalous or because of some difference upon their Tithes or such like forsake our Assemblies and betake themselves so Independents and Sectaries of which I could give divers instances all which showes the Church-way and Independency to be nothing else but a Faction Now Factions and Parties in Kingdomes and Commonwealths though they may prevaile to a great height and grow for a time especially in troublous unsetled States in the Springs and Falls of Kingdoms and Commonwealths yet when they come to be discovered laid open and come to some head and ripenesse they use to fall and be cast out If we consult with the Scriptures or with the Histories and Chronicles of Kingdomes as the French and English c. wee shall finde the strongest powerfullest Factions and Parties both in Churches and States who have had divided interests from the Publike have come downe and miserably perished and we may see this fully made good in the Anabaptists of Germany the Arminian Faction in the Netherlands and our late Prelaticall Faction who though they were all growne so high as they hazzarded the ruine of the Countreyes and Commonwealths wherein they arose yet they all fell and were brought downe and so shall it be with this Sectarian Faction can they think that either God or these Kingdoms will suffer these men long or that the people will be alwaies bewitched with them no the eyes of men will be open and they will be discovered every day more and we shall see them falling down like lightning 6. Symps. Their reaching after and medling with all kind of persons and things grasping of all at once labouring to ingrosse all Offices places power into their hands and those of their party stâ—ighting abusing trampling on one way or other all that stand in their way are their opposites there being nothing Military Civil Ecclesiasticall but they have an eye upon and do endeavour to have a hand in not caring in the least when it furthers their designes to discontent all sorts and ranks of persons King Parliament our Brethren of Scotland the City of London reformed Churches Assembly the godly Ministery of the Kingdome particular worthy persons in the Armies among the Gentry c. they make account to carrie all before them to get all to be for them by one means or other and in time to breake all that shall dare to appeare against them or crosse their wayes Now in all States and Kingdoms Polupragmaticalnesse in some persons greedinesse and over-hastinesse to have all and thereupon offending and provoking many hath been a fore-runner of their fall I shall onely instance in this Kingdome and of the late times which all remember What it was that ruined the Bishops and their party but their grasping and medling with all at once Church and Commonwealth together England and Scotland both provoking also all sorts of persons against them Nobility Gentry City Ministers common people whereas as many wise men would often say and comforted themselves in the worst of those times if the Bishops and that party had dealt but with a part at once one Kingdome onely as England or or the Church alone or Commonwealth alone letting the other Kingdome be quiet to enjoy their Lawes and suffering men to enjoy Religion and their Ministers though they had some pressures upon them in Commonwealth yet in all probability in time they might have had their wills but now the Bishops and that party oppressing both Church and Commonwealth at once grasping to have all they will lose all and we see what is befallen the Bishops and that party so our Sectaries medling with both Kingdoms at once with Church and Common-wealth together and having provoked all sorts of men Nobility Gentry Ministers City People our Brethren of Scotland will not be able to stand long but King Parliament Scotland City Ministery Countrey will be so against them as they must fall let who will or can hold them up 7. Sympt of the downfall of the Sectaries is the great sinnes and wickednesse of that party who are even now ripe for judgment and their iniquities almost full and I am confident that for this many hundred years there hath not been a party that hath pretended to so much holinesse strietnesse power of godlinesse tendernesse of conscience above all other men as this party hath done that hath been guilty of so great sinnes horrible wickednesse provoking abominations as they are The Sectaries are full of Ephraâ—â—â—â— gray haires though they will not know it and these following sinnes and courses presage their ruine viz. their deep hypocrisies and pretences of Religion and Conscience meerly to serve their lusts and to bring about their own ends their perjuries and breach of solemne Covenant with God making nothing at all of it their great unthankfulnesse and ill use of Gods mercies and deliverances their great ingratitude and unkindnesse to men particularly to 〈◊〉 Brethren of Scotland their blood guiltinesse in destroying the lives of many by dipping weakly and ancient persons in rivers in cold seasons and in the destroying of so manie soules by Errours and Heresies and drawing them from their faithfull Pastours their horrible uncleannesses and lusts their fearefull despising and mocking of all Gods faithfull Ministers and Ordinances their oppressions injustice and unrighteous dealings with manie they have had to doe with and where they have anie power their base self-seekings seeking their owne things their honour profit advancement of their Faction under pretences of selfe-denyall and the publike good their holding of damnable Heresies and all kinde of abominable Errours their horrid blasphemies against God Christ the Scriptures and all his Ordinances their Machiavillian policies Jesuiticall equivocations falsnesse and treacherousnesse their underminings and laying snares for men their countenancing standing for the unworthiest vilest of men so they will be for their faction their justifying and pleading for a Toleration of all religions and consciences even to blasphemies against God and his Word their inventing of lies and raising scandalls upon the worthiest and innocentest men as Ministers and others to blast them with the people their prophanenesse and loosenesse of life in making nothing of the Lords day daies of Fast and Thanksgiving nor of holy duties as praying c. their carnall confidence and trusting in arms of flesh their using of wicked and unjust waies and means to compasse their ends not standing upon any rules or keeping to any principles so it may advantage them violating bonds of friendship
the Court party the great Counsellours of state and Prelates whose height was like the height of the Cedars and were strong as the Oaks yet the Lord destroyed their fruit from above and their root from beneath and cannot he do so to you I beseech you fear considering the great dishonour of God and his name and the sad estate of things under your Goverment lest God bring some great afterclap upon you and have an after reckoning either giving you up at last to the hands of those that are now in armes against you or sending an evill spirit of division among your selves and the two Nations or making use of the Sects that party when grown stronger who have been so much suffered to grow under you to become thorns in your sides and pricks in your eyes to cast You out and to teach you new Law and new Divinity as they have done already in many of their Books as Englands Birthright A Letter from an Utter Barrester A Letter call'd Englands lamentable slavery Lilburns Letters to Mr Prynn to a Friend Innocency and truth justified cum multis alijs or by sending some other judgement as the Pestilence c. all which I earnestly pray God to prevent And truly when I think of things by my self and behold to what a height Errours Heresies c. are come and withall reflect upon the great things God hath done for you the many powerfull Sermons you have had preached before you about the Nationall Covenant and against the Sects the many Petitions representing the evill and danger of these things and yet how little is done our evills of this kinde rising higher and higher in the increase of false doctrines and a greater multiplication of schismes every day then other I tremble for fear lest for the want of zeal in suffering so many dishonours of God and his House to lie so long waste the word be gone out of his mouth already which he spake against Eli I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy Father should walke before me for ever but now the Lord saith Be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed But to draw towards a conclusion there is no other way to prevent all this wrath but to be zealous and repent to do something speedily and effectually against the Errours Heresies Schismes Blasphemies and confusions of these times Ob. But if any shall object It cannot be done now it will discontent and disingage the Sectaries who are a considerable party and so may prove dangerous to the Parliament in this juncture of time by causing many to fall off their Service Ans. Are we afraid of discontenting disingaging and losing a few men and not discontenting and losing God! shall God be displeased to please men shall we fear the want of mans helpe whose breath is in his nostrils and not fear God! O that we would once cease from man for wherein is he to be accounted of Secondly I Answer This objection is taking counsell but not of God a covering but not of Gods spirit Isa. 30.1 this carnall policie of suffering corruptions in Religion for fear of losing a party and strengthening Kingdoms hath proved the ruin of families and Kingdoms be pleased to remember Jeroboam Jehu c. who out of policie for fear of losing a party and strengthening the other side set up and suffered the golden Calves and Priests of the lowest of people and this very thing became a snare and the losse of the Kingdom to them and I might shew out of Ecclesiasticall Histories many examples of sad things befalling Princes who out of policies or any carnall respects have suffered all sorts of Sects and Heresies but I will only instance in one out of Baronius of Valentinianus senior who suffered in the West the Christians to embrace what faith every one of them would and to follow what Heresies they pleased but how well and safely the end of it declared for both his sons were slain by the faction and treachery of the Gentiles Gratian by Maximus Valentinian junior was strangled in a halter And yet afterwards the same Emperour by edict commanded the houses and places where the Maniches met to be confiscate 't is storied of Amaziah that he had hired a hundred thousand mighty men of valour for a hundred talents of silver but a man of God came to him to dismisse his Army namely that part of it the children of Ephraim and told him in answer to his carnall objections that God had power to help and to cast down and for his hundred talents the Lord was able to give him much more then this 2 Chron. 25.7 8 9. so say I whoever or what numbers soever shall desert the Parliaments Army and Service for their suppressing the Sects and putting in execution their own Ordinances God hath power to help and cast down and is able to cause many more then these to adhere to them and no question besides Gods help and blessing which uses to accompany setling true Religion and destroying false the hands of the Kingdom of Scotland would be the more strengthened the City of London the Ministers and all who love truth peace and order would adhere more firmly and the Parliament would be both stronger and make themselves famous both at home and abroad to all generations Thirdly supposing the Sectaries to be as potent as is falsely surmised by themselves yet I humbly conceive it stands not with the Honour Power Wisedom nor Piety of a Parliament for fear of losing a party to be afraid of maintaining their own Ordinances and punishing those things that they know are bad In such a case fiat justitia ruet coelum Fourthly the sons of Zeruiah are not now too hard for you God hath made you stornger then ever by giving you many victories battell upon battell and one strong hold after another so that if any will fall off from you for doing your duties you need not care and who knowes but that all these victories are sent to take away all excuse to answer this objection and to encourage you to this work God inforces upon turning the dayes of fasting into feasts therefore to love the truth and peace and from deliverances to pay our vows and make good our Covenants as in Zech. 8.19 Nahum 1.15.16 Psal. 16.14 17 18 19. And thus having in some poor measure discharged my conscience towards God your Honours and this Kingdom in the Discovery made in this Book of many sects and Sectaries I leave the issue and successe to God humbly taking my leave as Dr Holland that learned man and Doctor of the Chair in Oxford was wont to do of his Colledge upon going journies saying I commend you to the love of God and hatred of Popery so do I commend both Houses of Parliament to the love of God and his truth and the hating of all Sects and
so cal'd and many other sectaries and between those who are turbulent Sectaries and meerly seduced but I write this Tractate to preserve many tender consciences from falling by giving warning to them beforehand as Christ did in Mat. 24.23.24.25.26 that they may fear and tremble and look to themselves as also that I might brand errours and false doctrine too well thought of and too kindly delt with in these times Ans. 4. I may justifie the ranking and joyning of Independents with other sectaries not only because all the sectaries though never so vild are Independents agreeing in that opinion of Independencie as also all the sectaries the worst of them even those who deny the Scriptures the Divinity of Christ c. do separate from the Church of England refusing communion with her in the Sacraments and other Ordinances as the Independents do but because the Independents do joyn themselves with the other sectaries adhering to them and to this day have never stood as a divided party from them but upon all occasions have and do make one common body with them to hold together against the Orthodox and Presbyterians I am able to give many instances of many of the Independents both Ministers and people pleading for the Anabaptists Antinomians and other sectaries that they might be tolerated as well as themselves and upon all occasions of complaints against severall sects siding with them to bring them off yea their joyning together in choise of Burgesses for Parliament and in divers other matters against the Presbyterians as also in closing together in Church-fellowship Independent Churches admitting of and continuing Anabaptists Antinomians to be members besides not censuring vild sectaries as Seekers who have fallen from their Churches so that I do the Independents no wrong to put them in the same Catalogue with other sectaries themselves having in so many particulars gone hand in hand with them but that which is the fullest demonstration of all other is this The sectaries being now hot upon the getting of a Toleration there were some meetings lately in the City wherein some persons of the severall sects some Seekers some Anabaptists some Antinomians some Brownists some Independents met some Presbyterians also met with them upon their desire the better to understand what they would have the intent of which meeting was to consider how all these might have the liberty to their way and practice in this Kingdom and to perswade the Presbyterians to be willing to it and to helpe to effect it for them now the result of these meetings was that all these severall sects were agreed and held together for pretended liberty of conscience the Independents as well as the others holding together with the rest of the sects as buckle and thong some professing at one of the meetings it was the sin of this Kingdom that the Jewes were not allowed the open profession and exercise of their religion amongst us only the Presbyterians dissented and opposed it And much about the same time that this meeting was in London in another place some of the best of the Independents were not ashamed to move for a Toleration not only for themselves but all other of the sects that agreed in fundamentals against Popery THe second part of this Tractate and indeed the principall to the better understanding whereof the first part tended and upon which also the third and last is grounded sets down the Catalogue it self containing many Errours Blasphemies and Practises of the sectaries of this time together with a Narrative of some remarkable Passages and stories as also some Letters and an extract of Letters concerning the present Sects Now the Errours Heresies Blasphemies in this Catalogue particularized may be referred to sixteen heads or sorts of Sectaries as namely 1. Independents 2. Brownists 3. Chiliasts or Millenaries 4. Antinomians 5. Anabaptists 6. Manifestarians or Arminians 7. Libertines 8. Familists 9. Enthusiasts 10. Seekers and Waiters 11. Perfectists 12. Socinians 13. Arians 14. Antitrinitarians 15. Antiscripturists 16. Scepticks and Questionists who question every thing in matters of Religion namely all the Articles of Faith and first Principles of Christian Religion holding nothing positively nor certainly saving the doctrine of pretended liberty of conscience for all and liberty of Prophesying And in one or other of these sixteen formes may all the Errours and Blasphemies reckoned up in the following Catalogue be well placed and unto one of these heads easily reduced yea for many of these errours the very same are held not only by one sort of the forenamed sects but by divers of them And I desire to commend to the Readers serious and sad consideration three particulars concerning the errours and sects of this time and the rather because they were not so common to the sects in the ages before at least not the two first 1. That among all these sorts of sects and sectaries there are hardly now to be found in England for to this Kingdom and to these four last years do I confine my self all along in this discourse any sect that 's simple and pure and not mixt and compounded that is any sect among them all which holds only the opinions and principles of its own way without enterfering and mingling with the errours of other sects as for example where can a man finde a Church of simple Anabaptists or simple Antinomians or simple pure Independents each of them keeping to their own principles as Anabaptists to Anabaptisme Independents to Independencie and holding no other but rather do we not see by experience that both the severall kinds of sects and most persons of each kinde are compounded of many yea some of all One and the same society of persons in our times being both Anabaptisticall Antinomian Manifestarian Libertine Socinian Millenary Independent Enthusiasticall yea among the Independents who are of all the rest accounted best where can any man shew me an Independent Church strictly so called or a man of them hardly who symbolizes not with the other sects holding beside Independency neither the opinions of the Chiliasts nor of the Libertines nor other strange opinions The Army that is so much spoken of upon all occasions in the news Books Pulpits Conferences to be Independent though I conceive upon good information that upon a true muster of the whole Commanders and common souldiers there would not be found above one in â—ix of that way yet of that Army cal'd by the sectaries Independent and of that part of it which truly is so I do not think there are 50. pure Independents but higher flown more Seraphicall as a Chaplain who knows well the state of that Army expressed it made up and compounded of Anabaptisme Antinomianisme Enthusiasme Arminianisme Familisme all these errours and more too sometimes meeting in the same persons strange monsters having their heads of Enthusiasme their bodies of Antinomianisme their thighs of Familisme their leggs and feet of Anabaptisme their hands of Arminianisme and Libertinisme as the great
do or what wayes soever they take 143. That the Presbytery and Presbyteriall Government are the false Prophet and the Beast spoken of in the Revelations Presbytery is a third part of the City of Rome yea that Beast in Revel 11. that ascends and shall kill the two Witnesses namely the Independents 144. That there are Revelations and Visions in these times yea to some they are more ordinary and shall be to the people of God generally within a while 145. That the gift of miracles is not ceased in these times but that some of the Sectaries have wrought miracles and miracles have accompanied them in their Baptisme c. and the people of God shall have power of miracles shortly 146. That anointing the sick with oyl by the Elders praying over them with laying on of hands is a Church-ordinance for Church-members that are sick for their recovery 147. 'T is ordinary for Christians now in these dayes with Paul to be rapt up to the third Heavens and to hear words unutterable and they cannot wel have assurance of being Christians that have not found and had experience of this 848. That Christian Magistrates have no power at all to meddle in matters of Religion or things ecclesiasticall but in civill only concerning the bodies and goods of men 149. That for a people to wait upon man for a form to worship God by was Idolatry Nay for a people to wait upon Parliament or Assembly for a form to worship God by was worse then corporall Idolatry 150. Whatsoever errours or miscarriages in Religion the Church should bear withall in men continuing still in communion with them as brethren these the Magistrates should bear with in men continuing them in the Kingdom or Common-wealth in the enjoyment of the liberty of Subjects 151. That the Parliament having their power from and being entrusted by the people the people may call them to an account for their actions and set them right and straight and seeing this present Parliam doth ingrosse law-making and all law-executing into their own hands contrary both to reason and the true meaning of the Law the Free-men of England ought not only to chuse new members where they are wanting once every yeer but also to renew and enquire once a yeer after the behaviour and carriage of those they have chosen And if they finde they never did any good or are groundedly suspected to be unserviceable that then those that chuse and sent them may have liberty to chuse more faithfull able and better men in their places 152. If God command such a thing to be done in his Word and the Magistrate now come and command the same to be done though a Christan ought to have and would have done it because of Gods command yet now he ought not to do it because the Magistrate commands it 153. All the earth is the Saints and there ought to be a community of goods and the Saints should share in the Lands and Estates of Gentlemen and rich men 154. That 't is lawfull for a man to put away his wife upon indisposition unfitnesse or contrarieâ—y of minde arising from a cause in nature unchangeable and and for disproportion and deadnesse of spirit or something distastfull and averse in the immutable bent of nature and man in regard of the freedom and eminencie of his creation is a law to himself in this matter being head of the other sex which was made for him neither need he hear any Judge therein above himself 155. 'T is lawfull for one man to have two wives at once 156. That children are not bound to obey their Parents at all if they be ungodly 157. That Parents are not to catechise their little children nor to set them to read the Scripture or to teach them to pray but must let them alone for God to teach them 158. 'T is unlawful for Christians to defend Religion with the Sword or to fight for it when men come with the Sword to take it away Religion will defend it self 159. 'T is unlawfull for Christians to fight and take up armes for their lawes and civil liberties 160. 'T is unlawfull to fight at all or to kill any man yea to kill any of the creatures for our use as a chicken or on any other occasion 161. That using of set forms of prayer prescribed is Idolatry 162. Davids saying I am a worm and no man must be understood literally yea he was both a man and no man in the same literall sense 163. That the Scripture speaks but of one kinde of faith 164. Some of the Sectaries in London do hold That in Suffâ—lk there is a Prophet raised up to come and preach the everlasting Gospel to them and he staies but for a vocall call from Heaven to send him which is expected daily and that this man is the Prophet spoken of in the Scripture 1 Iohn 25. That Prophet in that Scripture distinguished from Christ and Elias is this man raised up in Suffolk 165. That it could not stand with the goodnesse of God to damne his owne creatures eternally 166. That God the Father did reign under the Law God the Sonne under the Gospel and now God the Father and God the Sonne are making over the Kingdom to God the holy Ghost and he shall reign and be poured out upon all flesh 167. That there shall be a generall restauration wherein all men shall be reconciled to God and saved only those who now beleeve and are Saints before this restauration shall be in a higher condition then those that do not beleeve 168. That t is not lawfull for a Christian to be a Magistrate but upon turning Christian he should lay down his Magistracie neither do we read after Cornelius was baptized though he were a Centurion before and a man in command and authority that ever he medled any more with his band call'd the Italian band 169. Man lost no more by the fall then all the rest of the whole Creation fell into with Adam all the world being condemned to death and desolation yea the heavens and the earth also so that you may as safely conclude that all the whole Creation lost life and salvation to glorification by Adams transgression as to conclude that man lost salvation by Adams transgression 170. Man hath not by Christ brought unto him eternall life and salvation but only such a life as all the whole Creation hath together with him for the second Adam hath not purchased eternall life to glorification for man 171. All the creatures shall assuredly partake of the Gospel of peace and that our Lord the great Prophet spake something to this purpose when he saith Go preach the Gospel to every creature though they cannot heare to life and glorification and Christ is the great Prophet of his Father to declare his Fathers counsell to the whole creation and he is the great High-Priest which offereth
creature that doth much hurt by keeping under ground but it once above ground then 't is contemptible and easily taken Some of the Sectaries have been provoked enough to set down what they would have both by earnest intreaties from beyond seas and at home by commands in a kind by upbraidings for not doing it and yet to this day they cannot be brought to it and I judge 't is for these Reasons 1. Because they cannot well agree among themselves of any system or body 2. Because they know not how long they shall be of this mind nor how much further yet they may go 3. Because what they set downe may offend manie of their owne party and loosen all the rest of the sects from them 4. Because some Grandees and Persons of note who are gone further will not be well pleased at it 5 Because when once given under their hands and that after so long expectation it will be judged by all rationall men their utmost strength which if it should have answer upon answer as no doubt it will and the weaknesse of it discovered and laid bare they are lost among manie and will suffer exceedingly in the esteem of all intelligent unprejudiced men whereas now by being silent they bare the world in hand as if they had some great matter of strength manie before they speake and utter themselves are thought to bee wise and to have much in them who when they have once spoken are easily seene thorow 7. In their quoting Authours for them who are acknowledged for the main to be professedly against them and in their quoting pieces of Authours and not the whole leaving the latter part which would explain their meaning thus the Donatists did Cyprian and yet he was much against them as he professes and so Augustine complains of the Donatists integrus non allegarunt Scripturas thus the Author of Sions Prerogative Royall quotes many Presbyrians for severall things who professedly were of another way and one Mr. E. as the Reader may observe in an Extract of one of the printed Letters quotes the Churches of France Scotland c. for the Independent way who are knowne to be professedly against it and so the Author of The bounds of libertie of Consc. quotes the Leydenses Profess for him who professedly speak against it and in one sentence hee leaves out some three times words all of them belonging to one sentence which would shew the sense of those learned men to be against him as notorious a falsification as I think is to be found in any Papist and so Mr. Iohn Goodwin in his point of Justification quotes Calvin Bucer and others who are knowne ex professo to be of another judgement and hee quotes my Antapologie with other Authors to justifie his opinion when as I have professedly at large spoken against what he maintains and among other places which he peâ—verts I shall name one where he cites the former part of the sentenâ—e leaving out the latter which had hee but nameâ— would have been an evident conâ—uâ—ation oâ— him 〈◊〉 just with me as the Devill did by Christ Psal. 916. leaving out the last part to keep thee in all thy wayes 2 â—he Sectaries and the Jesuites agree in many things 1 As the Jesuites are ramous for sending out Emâ—â—laries into severall Countries to corrupt not contenâ—ing themselves to do mischiefe at home â—o do our Sectaries send forth their members into all Counties and places of this Kingdome they lay hand upon them and send them as a Church act to preach such and such errours to rebaptize c. 2 The Jesuites have their piae â—â—â—udes holy deceits for the propagating of their cause fictions made things to deceive the people so have our Sectaries many for the spreading of their partie 3 â—he Jesuites insinuating themselves get into 〈…〉 houses and acquaintance into gâ—eat Ladies and Geâ—â—lewomens and into Princes Courts and Houses and follow State matters meet to contrive and consult not preacâ—ing too much nor following their studies too hard so do many of our Sectaries gâ—t into acquaintance and favour with great Noblemen Parliament-men â—ellâ—cite follow them work by the great Ladies and Gentlewomen consult and deâ—ate of matters Civill c. 4 The Jesuites are full of equivocations 〈◊〉 reservations say one thing but meane another speak things in a sense of their own dâ—fferent from what it is in the common accepâ—ion so are our Sâ—ctaries 5 The Jesuites have alwayes one plot or other never give out are working active men if crossed in one then are trying in another and have many 〈◊〉 in the fire at once that if one do not take another may nothing discourages them but on they go so it is with the Sectaries of our tiâ—e active nimble men restlesse spirits never without plots and â—iâ—e designes with 〈◊〉 of many at once that if some mis-carrie yet others may bring forth 6 Thâ— Jesuites will work and act where they are not thought to be by others aâ—d by instruments unsuspected not appearing themselves but bringing about their ends in such a manner as a man would never dream of so our Sectaries will not appear themselves in many things when yet the hand of Ioab is all along but get their work done by others who also draw others to them 7 The Jesuits make all things give place to their designes to advance the Catholike cause and so they may compasse them they are not mannerly to stand upon tearms but will take any person out of the way who stands to hinder them use severall indirect means to effect what they have plotted run great ventures and hazards but they wilâ— go thorow so the Sâ—ctaries of our times are daring men will attempt tâ—Iâ—gs a wisâ— man would think they should be afrâ—id of will try to break any man or work him out that stands between them and home and do things though otherwise against their principles The Sectâ—ies and the Netherland Arminians agree 1 The Arminians at first flatterâ—d the Mâ—gâ—stâ—ateâ— declyning Synods and Ecclesiasticall Assâ—mblies all they could and still appealing to the Civill Magistrate crying up the power of the Civill Magistrate in Ecclesiasticalls ascribing to the Magistrate the ultimate and highest Jurisdiction and power of giving judgement in matters purely Ecclesiâ—â—ticall reasoning that to the Magistrate alone immediately under Christ did belong the judgement where controvâ—rsies of faith did arise in the Church and they aspensed the Orthodox Ministers for not giving so much of this the Reader may finde enough in Voetius and Vedelius so do our Sectaries all of them are against Synods declyning them manie of them say they will in all matters of Religion give account to the Parliament or so any Committee appointed by them and say they give more to the Magistrate then the Presbyterians and in that kinde have odious insinuations to reflect upon Presbyterians 2. The Arminians at first broached but
it in running away with another womans husband is now sufficiently known to Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Saltmarsh and is one of the lyes like all the rest in Mr. Edwards Gangrâ—ena This wretched woman one of Mr. Goodwins and Mr. Saltmâ—rshes Saints as they make all without any distinction whom I speak of in Gangraena among other new truths and glorious lights preached that all the Devils should be saved alledging that place in Zachary sending forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein there is no water against which Doctrine one of the company objected and said sister what say you to that of Matth. 25. Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels unto which Mistris Attaway replyed that by everlasting in that place was meant while day and night lasted but not eternall after day and night were ended March 13. Two honest Citizens coming to me about some Sermons an Independent Minister had preached in London one of them told me he lately had a man and maid-servant who were Anabaptists and that when he was abed they would set up and juncket together making Sack-possets and such like provision of his purse and in sum this male Anabaptist got the female Anabaptist with child and after married her The Master speaking to him of breach of Covenant how he had covenanted not to marry in the time of his Apprentiship till his years were expired he said it was a divelish Covenant and so would not keep it On the sixteenth of March a Member of the Assembly of Divines related this following story for a certain truth which he knew to be so only would not name the persons that a Sectary one of Master Goodwins and Master Saltmarshes Saints and beleevers a Seeker by Sect sought to gain the good will of a Virgin to be his wife and when she consented and was contented to it hee propounded that they might lie together at nighâ— at which motion she startled saying not till we are married to which answer this Seeker replyed that marriage was but an idle Ceremony they were now man and wife before God having promised one another whereupon they went to bed together and next morning after the Seeker had satisfied his lust he ranne quite away and left his bride and instead of one Seeker there were two the daughter thus forsaken and her mother who was widdow to seek after him In a Book lately printed call'd the Ordinance for Tyths Dismounted which book also was given into the hands of one Parliament man as I can prove by a great Sectary who may justly be thought the Author of it there are such passages of reproach against the Parliament as are not to be paralled in any writings except some of the Sectaries In pag. 6.7 8.40 this Sectarie speaking of a passage in the Ordinance of Tyths made by the Lords and Commons hath these following words Had not such a passage gone under the Title of the Lords and Commons who are chosen for the weale of the people I should not have judged it an act of humanity but rather the result of an Hell-bred conspiracy by the Divell and his Angels to confound us with their unreasonable malice c. and this was the first stone these Master-builders laid in their blessed Reformation And in another place of the Book speaking by way of scorne calling it that most religious and spirituall Ordinance for the supper as absolute Ordinances as unalterable at the Directory these words are brought in For indeed at the first on set it was not policy to rush such a diabolicall and villanous 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 Directions as if our Parliament men had such a spirituall and holy eare over us to give us such wholsom and pious Directions while indeed under this innocent Apparition in the shape of Lambs they arâ— no other then ravening Wolves rending and tearing us in peeces and again speaking of Parliament men in that Ordinance for Tyths Dismounted there are these words 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 the free-borne Nation therein seeing they lay upon us a heavier yoake then ever was laid upon us in the dayes of the Bishopâ— And again this Sectary the Author of the Ordinance for Tyths Dismounted speaks thus of the Parliaments Ordinance concerning suspending scandalous persons from the Lords Supper It will be the greatest thraldome and bondage that ever 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 calling them High Commissions he addes if we can finde no justice there we may appeal forsooth to our Gods themselves the Parliament life everlasting world without end of whom how may we expect mercy or justice then that thus before hand whip us with the stings of Scorpions and grind us between the devouring jawes of such develish tyrannicall Courts which will even crush our bones in peeces and squeese out our very marrow and juyce and suck out our very hearts blood like so many greedy Cannibals Vid. plur ibid. The Sectaries generally cannot endure any man who speaks against or complains to Authority of any who bâ—oach Errours though never so great as for example a godly understanding Christian told me within these three dayes that because he complained of a man who denies both the Son and the holy Ghost to be God therefore the Independents and all the Sectaries among whom he lives deadly hate and revile him and since the time that the weekly newes Books have mentioned a Vote to be passed in the House of Commons for drawing up an Ordinance against Paul Best that Antiâ—rinitarian and Blasphemer some of the Sectaries have spoken boldly and bitterly against it and saying they would be loth to be any of them that should give a voice or have a hand in the proceedings against him with other words to that effect There is an Independent of Mr. Carters Church who speaking against our publike Assemblies often quotes that Scripture in Rev. 17.5 Babylon the great the mother of Harlotâ— interpreting it thus Rome is the mother Church and all the Parish Congregations of England are the daughters which are Harlots and this having been objected against this Interpretation that the Apologists acknowledge many of our Congregations to be true Churches he and divers other Independents say they are not of the Apologists minds The Sect of Seekers growes very much and all sorts of Sectaries turn Seekers many leave the Congregations of Independents Anabaptists and fall to be Seekers and not only people but Ministers also and whosoever
free people and should do what they did voluntarily and not be compelled but now contrarie to this they had assessment upon assessment and rate upon rate Some passages also in his prayer were repeated as that hee prayed the Parliament might not cart the Ark nor meddle with making Lawes for the Saints which Jesus Christ was to do alone Since Oats commitment to Colchester Jaile there hath been great and mightie resort to him in the prison many have come downe from London in Coaches to visit him as a godly Minister who came out of Essex told me And I have a Letter by me from a Minister in Colchester sent last week to a friend of his in London wherein he writes thus Oats the Anabaptist hath had great resort to him in the Castle both of Town and Countrey but the Committee ordered the contrarie last Saturday There is one Collier a great Sectarie in the West of England a mechanicall fellow and a great Emissarie a Dipper who goes about Surrey Hampshire and those Counties thereabouts preaching and dipping About a fortnight ago on the Lords day he preached at Guilford in the meeting-place and to the company of one old Mr. Close an Independent Minister who hath set up at Guilford and done a great deale of mischiefe having drawn away many of the well-meaning people from the Ministerie of those godly Ministers whom before they much prized there this Collier exercised and it was given out in the Countie he was a rare man and the people came from the Towns about to heare him This fellow in his circuit at an exercise where he was preaching to many women for rebaptization and dipping made use of that Scripture to that purpose as it is reported Isa. 4.2 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man saying Wee will eat our owne bread and weare our owne apparell only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach And truly it is a sad thing there should be such Emissaries so like the Devill their Master compassing the earth and going about seeking whom they may devoure in the severall parts of the Kingdome North East West and South not one part free for the East and South we who live in these parts know it fully for London Kent the Associated Counties As for the West besides this instance of Collier I received a Letter out of Dorsetshire dated March 13. written by a godly Minister from thence Sir I am not yet furnished to my mind with particulars of that nature you expect but with the help of my fellow-Ministers in these parts I shall send them to you in an exact Historie of our Westerne confusions And for the North besides many instances I could give you of Hull Beverley York Hallifax c. of Independent Churches gathered there and of many Anabaptists and other Sectaries in those places I shall only desire the Reader to mind these three or four lines written to me from a countrey further North I received the books sent me and shall make the best use I can of them the one I keep for mine owne use the other I pleasure friends with and truly never more need in our Countrey for whereas formerly wee wanted the Ministerie now wee have such varietie and strife amongst them that truly I know not what will become of us A person of qualitie and a godly man told me April 15. meeting me accidentally in Westminster Hall that saith he just now neere the House of Commons doore I had discourse with a great Sectarie viz. one of Wrights Disciples and presently the man came into the Hall with another great Sectarie and he shewed me him and the discourse was as followes That he would be loth the Parliament should bring Paul Bests bloud upon them for his denying the Trinitie Whereupon this Gentleman answered him that he could prove cleerly out of the Scriptures a Trinitie of Persons Vnto whom this Sectarie replied How will you prove the Scriptures to be the word of God and this Sectarie reasoned against them saying there were twentie severall Scriptures as many as Translations and Translations are not true for so the Priests will tell us that this is not rightly translated and for the Originals there are divers Copies besides I cannot understand them neither is it my fault that I do not In sum the man reasoned there was no Religion at all in the Kingdome but all Religion he knew of was To do justly and be mercifull Vnto which the Gentleman replyed The Heathen they were just and merciful and therein did as much as you This Sectarie re-joyned For ought he knew the Heathens were saved as well as any now A godly Minister of the Countie of Middlesex told me April 16. that there was a great Sectarie and a Souldier because he had perswaded a family that he was well acquainted with and where the Sectarie much resorted to cast him off and to have nothing to do with him this Sectarie conceiving it to come from this Minister when this Minister came downe one day to this house this Sectarie came to the house and enquired for him to speak with him this Minister fearing the Devill might stir him up to do him some mischiefe refused to speak with him as having no businesse with him this Souldier and Sectarie sent him in word if he would not come out to him hee would come in to him Whereupon hee desired the Master of the house hee might be safe in his house and as hee came in love to him so hee would defend him and let him returne home in safetie whereupon the Master of the house sent out a servaâ—t to him to be gone for this Minister had nothing to say to him and as the servant was going this Sectarie was already come in whereupon the servant asked him why hee came in without bidding hee replyed to speak with Master upon that the servant caught him by the collar and said hee should not the Master hearing them bustle together hee went out and his wife followed to oppose him and in conclusion having his knife before ready by his side hee reached it to pare the dirt off his shooes to shake it off against that house because they would not receive him as making himselfe an Apostle and when hee had done so he departed There is one Master Durance a Preacher at Sandwich in Kent a bold conceited man and an Independent who since the beginning of this Parliament was a Washing-ball-maker or seller of washing-balls here in London but now turned Preacher and being never ordained Minister hath consecrated himselfe to be one of the Priests of the high places Among many high affected straines of new light and strange expressions which the man uses in his Sermons prayers to get himselfe a name by viz. of a Washing-ball-maker to become such a rare man these are some Hee prayed to the Trinitie to take care or cure of these three Kingdomes God the Father to take
were quickly dried up and so will the Sects now and we may expect it so much the sooner because the visible symptomes and fore-runners of destruction are upon them And therefore I shall now toll the great Bell for the Sectaries the Anabaptists Antinomians Independents Seekers c. and hope shortly to ring it out and to preach their Funerall Sermon or rather keep a day of publike Thanksgiving and rejoycing for the bringing downe of the Sectaries and the breaking up of their Conventicles as well as for the downfall of the Popish and Prelaticall partie And that they shall shortly fall and be dried up as a floud and though they have been in great power and spreading themselves like a green Bay-tree yet that they shall passe away and not be that they shall be sought for and not found I shall give these Symptomes 1. Their horrible pride insolencie and arrogancie extolling themselves and their partie to the Heavens with the scorning vilifying trampling upon and despising of all others and that in such unparallel'd wayes as no age câ—n shew the like and that not only against particular persons of all ranks Nobles Gentrie Ministers but great bodies and Societies as the Parliament of England the Kingdome of Scotland the Common Councell of the Citie of London Assembly c. The Luciferian pride high spirit and haughtinesse of the Sectaries of all sorts in all places and businesses and towards all persons they have to do with in their writings speeches gestures actions is seen and spoken of thorowout the Kingdome and breaks out daily in their impatiencie of being contradicted or having any thing said against their way in their endervouring to break and crush all that will not dance after their pipe in their not caring to hazzard and ruine all Religion both Kingdomes but they will have their wills and so in manie other things Now God assures us in the Scripture that Pride goes before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall Prov. 16. 18. that A mans pride shall bring him low Prov. 29 23. that When pride cometh then cometh shame Prov. 11.2 and God threatens by his Prophets he will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease and will lay low the haughtinesse of the terrible Isa. 13.11 Dan. 5.20 and indeed pride hardens mens hearts and when their hearts are lifted up and their minds hardned in pride then God throwes them downe 2. The Sectaries in promoting of their wayes and cause are grown extream violent desperate and unreasonable knowing no rules of moderation nor forbearance they go violent ways and like Iehn dâ—ive furiously they do those things daily which wise staid considerate men would never have done nor anie but mad men and which anie man who hath his eies in his head may see must needs destroy them God hath hid wisdome from them and befooled them leaving them to do manie things against sense and reason God hath left them yea given them up to those courses and waies of which I could give divers instances which no wise men would ever have taken and which makes them abhorred of all good and moderate men Now the befooling of men hiding wisdom from them leaving them to rashnesse and violence are presages of ruine according to that saying quos Deus vult perdere hos dementat and according to that of the Prophet I will hide wisdom from them Nullum violentum est perpetuum is seen in daily experience and we may remember that the violence and furie of the Prelaticall partie did undoe them and according to all humane reason without that it had been impossible to have câ—st them out being so deeply rooted in the lawes and customes of this Kingdome and therefore the Sectaries before they are rooted and setled being so violent furious and daring far above the Bishops what can we expect but their speedy downfall give them but rope enough and they will hang themselves they run so fast and â—ide so fiercely that they cannot but fall and break their necks they drive so furiously and madly that they cannot but overthrow all 3. The great prosperitie strange successe and marvailous prevailing of the Sectaries in their waies opinions their devices and designs for the most part taking effâ—ct and succeeding so as they are mightily increased many fallen unto them and 〈◊〉 wind almost favouring them whereas on the other hand the Presbyterian partie both our Brethren of Scotland and the Godly Ministers and People in England have beene sorely afflicted much crossed and troubled to to see things as they are The Scots have beene sorely visited with Sword Pestilence in their own Land obstructed reproached evill intreated by many in this Land the Assembly the godly Ministers and people of the Kingdome despised scorned and abused severall wayes yea deserted and looked upon with an evill eye as if the troublers of Israel and worse then Malignants so that they have beene forced manie a time to cry out to God Heare O our God for we are reproached Now great prosperitie successe in a bad way and in the use of bad meanes as lyes scandalous reports under-minings plottings false-dealings c. is a great Symptome of destruction both to particular persons and to a partie whom God intends certainely to destroy he fattens before and lets them bee verie happie thereby to prepare them for the day of slaughter whom hee meanes to doe good unto in the latter end and deliver he afflicts and laies them low before laies the Foundation deep that he may build high and for this let the Reader consult with these foure places of Scripture Ier. 12. 1 2 3. Psal. 37.7 and 10.35 36. Psal. 73.3 4 5. and 18 19 20. Psal. 92. 7. the sum of all which places is to teach us that the more men prosper in a bad way and flourish more then ordinarie having what their hearts can wish bringing all their devices to passe the more sure they are of being puld out as sheep for the slaughter and prepared for the day of slaughter and that within a little while they shall not bee nor their place found but brought to desolation as in a moment and utterly consumed and then when they are at their height of flourishing then is it that they shall be destroyed for ever great prosperitie is but a lightening before death and as a great calm which presages the more dreadfull storme and tempest 4. The great plotting of the Sectaries laying their counsells deep contriving and working continually night and day by all kinde of waies and means and all kind of instruments to effect their worke and to carrie on their way I do not think this manie hundred yeares there hath been a more cunning plotting undermining generation in the Church of God then our Sectaries or more plots and devices of all sorts on foot more irons in the fire within so few years as hath been and is among them there 's nothing they doe but they have a design
De Eccles. quaest 5. c. 11 p. 342 343. Papistici Doctores turpes scelerati sunt in deliâ—iis vivâ—â—t omnes à Papa summo illorum Pontifice ad infimum usque Pâ—râ—chum multi non â—aevi modo sed flagitia etium gravissima inter illos reperiuntur vide ibi plura Willets Synops. Second General Controversie of the Church Quest. 3. of the notes marks of the Church pag. 98 Amesi Bellarm. Enervat De Notis Ecclesiae Legantur igitur vitae Pontificum Romanorum de Sanctitatem Pontificum * Vid. Minors no Sentors pag. 26. These laws would save that Vbiquitary perturber of sollicitor and stickler at most of our late elections Mr. Hugh Peters a great deâ—l of unnecessary unfiting pains sollicitation and abuse of the Pulpit to the peoples great disgust for his own private lucre and advancing the designs of his party * Vid. Independ rasing their foundation p 2 3 4 5 * This Mr. Randal is known well to many godly persons and is a godly man a Schoole-master about Stepny and a Minister also not that Randal the Antinomian and Familiâ—â— * This Letter which Cretensis here prints was written by an Apprentise boy an Anabaptist of Kiâ—â—ius Church unto Kiâ—â—â—â—s himself who belike by himself or some other communicated it to Cretensis * Calumny araigned and cast Pag. 22 17. I could prove I say by the Commission aforesaid that Mr. Prynne hath done all these things on purpose to despite the Spirit of God to defame the Gospel to make the ways of godlinesse and religion hateful to the world to encrease divisions to multiply distractions to bring a snare and evil day upon the Parliament to expose the whole Kingdom to ruine and destruction * Master Walker Master Roborough by wriâ—ing Master Câ—alamie in preaching * March 30. Three honest godly Citizens after supper comming to speak with me as they were with me Cosens came to speak with me and was brought into the room where these three Citizens were and I spake nothing to him nor he any thing to me but in their hearing who will testifie this and more Oretens pag. 40. This Counter-Information I had from the mouth of the said Cosens himself and have the particulars under his hand Cosens going to heare Mr Clare preach I received a Letter last week out of the Country subscribed with â—o hands of Godly Ministers testifying to my work and earnestly intreating my constant persuance with a promise that I shall not want what their prayers and endeavours can contribâ—â—e to that work A Letter from a godly Minister cut of Warwickshire written thus M. Edwards Book does much good here I have received severall Letters from particular Ministers in Essex bearing witnesse and so Letters out of Kent to the same purpose and from other places * The 11. errour specified in the former part of this book is in the Catalogue of Errours contained in the first part of Gangraena which slâ—pt me before I was aware and therefore upon comparing of both together I put it out and reckon not that but make these Errours to begin here at number 23. which otherwise should have been number 24. * Osiander publicè in Schola proponâ—t nos sola essentiali Dei justitia justos esse essentiali ejus vita vivere vel victuros esse essentiali ipsius gloria glorificari essentiali illius charitate ad diligendum Deum proximum propter ipsuminflammari gravissimè errare omnes qui putent aliâ re quam solo uno vivo Deo Patre Filio Spiritu sancto nos posse justificari vivificari glorificari glacie frigidiora docere qui doceant nos tantum propter remssioneÌ„ peccatorum reputari justos non etiam justitiam Christi essentialem divinam perfidem in nobis habitantis vit Osiand pag. 228. * The Sectaries who call themselves the Saints and beleevers if they have husbands and wives that will not turn Sectaries they may leave their owne because they are unbeleevers and joyne themselves to other womens husbands and other mens wives I read in a Letter subscribed by W I. and E.I. Wiâ—liam Ienny and Elizabeth Ienny written out of Holland to one in London Deare friends as you have cast off many Antichristian yoaks so proceed to cast off all a chiefe vvhereof are unequall marriages * Vide Saltmarsh Divine Right of Presbyterie * Pamph. entit Tender Con. relig affect p. 14 15. Do not the Synod having two â—oâ—ns like a Lamb but a mouth like a Dragon teach the Parliament to speak blasphemy against those Saints that dwell in heaven And speaking of the Preamble to one of their Ordinances wherein the Parliament acknowledged their strong engagements heartily and sincerely to endeavour the compleat establishment of puriâ—y and uâ—itie in the Church of God for these are the Parliaments words not the Assemblies this book cals this blasphemy and saith of the Lords and Commons For shame leave speaking blasphemy Remember the judgements upon the VVhore for her blasphemie VVhere had the Lords and Commons this large Commission to meddle in the affaires of King Iesus so far as to determine to have a compleat establâ—shment of puritie and unitie Vide p. 22. of this present book ' and pag. 7. * Mr. Durance an Independent Preacher at Sandwich * This was spoken in the hearing of three Citisens and given mee under the hand of one that heard it who also told this Smart he would make it publike The Presbyterians may do well to take notice that the Sequestration of their estates and hanging at Tyburn was designed and counted good enough for them if some Independents and Sectaries might have had their will This is the libertie of conscience they must expect when the Sectaries grow so strong as to have power to effect it * A Minister out of Essex writing up to a Minister in London of a horrid blasphemy I sent to a Minister of that Towne to enforme me of the truth of it which accordingly be hath The vvord is so horrid and obscene that I forbeare to expresse it This Clarkson is spoken of also in this book p. 7 8. Cretens frontis picio Luther de servo Arb. c. 207. p. 319. Vid. mine Animadvers part I. pag. 9. A godly Minister who heard it will depose it if called and so will many more who heard it a Pamph eâ—â—it Toloraâ— justified Vide pag. 27 of this book Mr. VValvvyns speech * Vide Pamph entit Letter of advice to the Assembly In case Paul Best continue in his opinion his heresie through ignorance whether is it not possible that God may yet have mercie on him as hee had on Paul the Apostle and in his due time bring him to the knowledge of his truth as hee did the Apostle Paul VVhether it can be demonstrated before-hand but that Paul Best what ever his heresie be may possibly in Gods secret will be ordained to conversion hereafter as well