of the darkness of this world Eph. 6. 1â— world and their subjects which presented themselves as passing before our eys in state and pomp all the mighty ones appearing to be drawn in dark ayery clouds Chariots with six or at least four beasts to every one besides every figured similitude of a Coach was attended with many inferior spirits as servants to the Princes But concerning the shapes and figures of the spirits you must know they were very monstrous terrible and affrighting to the outward man Those that drew the clowdy Coaches appearing in the shapes of Lions Dragons Elephants Tygers Bears and such like terrible beasts besides the Princes and those that attended them though all in the shapes of men yet represented themselves monstrously mishapen as with ears like those of Cats cloven feet ugly legs and bodies eys fiery sharp and piercing Now besides these appearances within the sperits made some wonderful impressions upon visible bodies without as figures of men and beasts upon the glass-windows and the Cealings of the house some of which yet remain But what was most remarkable was the whole visible world represented by the spirits upon the Bricks of a Chimney in the form of two half-Globes as in the Maps after which upon other Bricks of the same same Chimney was figured a Coach and four horses with persons in it and a footman attending all seeming to be in motion with many other such images which were wonderfull exactly done Now fearing lest there might be any danger in these Images thorow unknown Conjuration and false Magick we endeavoured to wash them out with wet cloaths but could not finding them ingraven in the substance of the Bricks which indeed might have continued till this day had not our fear and suspicion of witchcraft and some evil design of the Divel against us in it caused us to deface and obliterate them with hammers Now what the divels end in the former Apparitions and these figurative representations was The Lord knows but it was certainly evil even as it was against Christ when he shewed him in vision the kingdoms and glory of the world to make him fall down and worship him but Gods end in permitting it was very good even to bring us neerer to himself in a stronger dependance upon his eternal power and to make us more watchful against the subtilty and power of Satan as you will see afterward when I come to speak of the effects of these things in reference to our spirits But to thut up this relation of the objects we saw in this dark world I must add this That were but the eys of men opened to see the kingdom of the Dragon in this world with the multitudes of evil Angels which are everywhere tempting and ensnaring men they would be amazed and not dare to be by themselves without good Consciences and a great assurance of the love and favour of God in protecting them by the Ministration of the Holy Angels 2. As to the objects of the inward and outward smell I must let you know that vvithin the three vveeks space in vvhich these vvonders appeared at several times the evil Angels or spirits did raise up such noisom poisonous smells that both the invvard and outvvard part of those that vvere exercised vvith them became much disturbed and offended for thorovv the sympathy betvvixt the body and the soul The sulphurious hellish smells much exercised both by magical tincturation 3. In reference to the objects of taste you must knovv that sometimes both in the day and night we were exercised with the loathsom hellish tasts of sulphur brimstone foot and salt mingled together which were so loathsom to our Natures as that they were ready to cause great distempers and nauseousness in our bodies but the invisible power of Jehovah supported us beyond our own strength 4. In relation to our inward and outward g These things may be strange to those who do not know that the soul hath fivefaculties of spiritual sensation which are natural and proper to its essence touch we were much exerciced both in body and soul as to our souls we sometimes felt such strange magical wounds and piercings by the fiery darts of the devil that none can express but those that have been exercised in some measure as Job was who felt the poyson of those invenomed Arrows which came upon him by the permission of the Almighty which like the Scorpions in the Revelations sting and pierce those they touch as to our bodies we felt material impressions from the powers of darkness very noxious in themselves to our natural spirits and life but cheerfully born by invisible support and quiet submission to the Will of God h I shall not speak of the internal faculty of hearing till I come to the objects belonging to the other internal world But to Conclude by these wonderful and strange exercises we could not but have strong apprehensions and lively resemblances of the torments and miseries of Hell where sulphur fire brimstone poysonous smells darkness monstrous horrid shapes and sights are the entertainment of the imprisoned spirits But now I come to the other internal world which we may term Mundus Luminosus or the light world which with its various objects was then likewise opened to the inward Senses 1. THen I shall here set forth the objects of the inward eye which were then seen by us There appeared then to our inward sight multitudes almost innumerable of pure Angelical spirits in figurative bodies which were clear as the morning-star and transparent as Christal these were Mahanaim or the Lords host appearing all in Gen. 32. 1 2. manly forms full of Beauty and Majesty sparkling like Diamonds and sending forth a tincture like the swift rays and hot beams of the Sun which we powerfully felt to the refreshing of our souls and enlivening of our bodies Now in the beholding the multiplicity variety and beauty of these spirits with the various wonders and objects of this world clothed in the purest tincture of Light and i The Angels in Scripture appeared oft in the variety of the purest colours Dan. 10. 6. colour we could not but bless the God of heaven who by the eys of wisdom and hand of power brought forth such glorious Creatures and now shewed them in their several beauties to us in a time of tryal and temptation 2 In relation to our inward sense of hearing There were many musical sounds and voices like those which John heard upon Mount Sion then heard by us the sweetness harmony and pleasantness of which cannot be expressed nor that spiritual joy and delight which by them was infused into our souls uttered by the tongue being ready to ravish our spirits into the high praises of eternal Jehovah 3. In relation to the faculty of smelling the tongue can hardly express those Odours of Paradise and heavenly perfumes which then were smelt piercing into the very spirit with a cherishing
righteousness Ans I thus deliver the truth As I was paraphrasing on that portion of Scripture mentioned in the 9 of Dan. 24. of everlasting righteousness I did say words to this effect That the imputative righteousness of another was a sapless righteousness to all those that had no right or interest in it I shall desire a little to explain my self on this Proposition that the imputative righteousness of Christ in this sense will prove a sapless righteousness For he that hath not the Spirit of Christ dwelling in his heart by faith notwithstanding all this application of Christ and his merits yet to him it is but a sapless righteousness so saith the scripture He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his notwithstanding his application of the imputative righteousness of Christ to himself but here I do not deny the imputative righteousness of Christ nor his active and passive obedience to be the material cause of his justification yea I own and acknowledg Christs righteousness to be the souls righteousness in point of justification when it is applyed upon a true ground according to the true sense of the Spirit in the Scriptures 3. Article That they should look to the fiery nature of Christs Deity in the centre of their souls burning up the dross and chaff of their lusts and corruptions Ans For the explanation of this Article we must consider these are Scripture-Metaphors and Christ is often clothed with a garment of fire according to that of Paul Heb. 12. 29. Our God is a consuming fire and in another place Christ shall come in flaming fire None or few understand these Scriptures or the like of elemental material fire but either of the fire of his divine love to burn up our lusts and corruptions or the fire of his divine justice or wrath in destroying sin and sinners 4. Article That the fiery Deity of Christ mingles and mixeth it self with our flesh Ans I was then speaking of the mystical union betwixt Christ and his Church And in the illustration of this union I applyed that expression out of the 5 of the Canticles He mingleth his Wine and his milk together so in this union Christs divine nature mingleth it self with our humanity his spirit with our flesh This expression Mr. Tickle was pleased to charge with blasphemy asking me what I meant by flesh I answered in conference By flesh I understand not the sinfull and fleshly part of the soul that lusteth against the spirit for with this there can be no union 2. By flesh I mean not the outward elementary flesh of the body but by flesh I understand our pure humanity the pure regenerated part of the soul the converted part of our spirit and thus the spirit of Christ and regenerated part are really in union one with the other according to the Apostles phrase We are made partakers of the divine nature And against this answer he had nothing to reply 5. Article That Christ was a Type and but a Type This was in conference He asked me whether Christ was a Type or no I answered Christ was a Type so expressed 1 Tim. 2. 21. How was Christ a Type replyed Mr. Pendarius I answered His life and conversation was a Type that is a pattern and example for us Christians to square our lives and conversations by Who denies this said he Why I affirm no more said I then that Christ is a Type Is he but a Type replyed Mr. Pendarius I answered Why lie you thus on the catch I say Christ is a Type but I will not affirm Christ is but a Type And this they both confess in their Answers 6. Article That the gifts and graces of the Spirit are but flesh I confess I said the common gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh but this I opened after this manner That they were but fleflly weak and carnal in point of justification in point of trust and confidence in regard of salvation and life eternal and no otherwise as their own Witnesses on examination confessed before the honourable Committee of Berks. To conclude As for these Articles especially all the latter I look not upon them as under the cognizance of the Act yet for your satisfaction I have transcribed my former Answers and doe here present them again to your consideration by which you may clearly see my innocency in reference to the horrid opinions for which I am accused John Pordage This being read by the Clerk we were all commanded to withdraw About an hour or two after I was called in again and they told me if I would I should have an Order to fetch in my Witnesses to prove what they could on my behalf in reference to that Charge I replyed That I hoped my Discharge and Answer were sufficient and that they would not put me to the trouble and charge of traversing this business viva voce by my Witnesses again in that besides my Discharge I had brought all their Depositions delivered by Oath to the Committee of Plundered Ministers which I desired might be then read before them because the Witnesses could but say viva voce what was there wrote down Hereupon I delivered them to be read and so being handed to the Clerk the Commissioners asked me how they should know them to be true I replyed The Clerk delivered them as a true Copy and I would affirm on my Oath that they had not been altered since I had them But notwithstanding this they rejected them alleadging that they would not take notice of any written Depositions taken out of another Court but that I must again bring in the former Witnesses to testifie what they could by word of mouth so that all the reasons and arguments I could use could not prevail with them to free me from the charge and trouble of From the first to the last I could not have the least civil just request granted me which might either advantage my cause or free me from trouble and expence bringing in my Witnesses again for which the Clerk was then commanded to draw me up an Order BERKS By the Commissioners for ejecting of Scandalous Ministers October 19. 1654. At the Bear in Speenhamland Dr. Pordage of Bradfield hath this day again attended and hath exhibited an Answer in writing to the Articles exhibited against him Ordered that the said Dr. do attend again before us on this day fortnight at this place at which time he is to give answer to the additional Articles now exhibited against him and to produce his Witnesses if he have any for proof of his defence and Summons are to issue out for that purpose if he desire the same Then they told me they had a new Charge of Articles against me which were these that follow then openly read by the Clerk Articles against Doctor Pordage Parson of Bradfield to prove his ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry 1. IMprimis One Mistriss Lewin being with child and near
after he had answered the cross Interrogatories by writing when Mr Tickle was sometimes raised into seeming passion against me from accidental discourses that fell in upon examination But I shall here discover my own meaning and bring in the intended evidence of my witnesses in reference to this Article my meaning then notwithstanding Mr Tickles rash allegations was this by flesh I meant the pure regenerated part of the soul with which the spirit of Christ is united according to that of the Apostle Eph. 5. 30. For we are members of his body of his flesh c. My Evidence was this there were present three witnesses viz. Mr. Francis Pordage Minister Mrs Mary Pocock and one Robert Bolt who offered to attest upon oath that they being present at the Committee of plundred Ministers about March 27. 1651. heard me upon the interpretation of this Article That the Fiery Deity of Christ mingles it self with our flesh explain my self thus That by flesh I understand not the sinful fleshly part of the soul that lusteth against the spirit for in this there can be no union for these are contrary neither by flesh did I understand the outward Elementish flesh of the body but by flesh I understood the pure Regenerated part of the soul But this Testimony they rejected and would not receive it as Evidence denying to examine the witnesses in regard they were not present at Ilesley where Mr Tickle alleadged this was spoken But I believe the Judicious Reader will finde this Testimony to be more pertinent to the clearing of the truth in reference to my sence in the former Proposition then what Mr Tickle hath uncertainly according to his best remembrance asserted To the second Article Mr Tickle saith That I delivered That the Imputative righteousness Taken October the fifth at Newbery November 2. of Christ is a sapless righteousness And being further examined by interrogatories he answered to the first of them That this was fully and roundly delivered in my Sermon at Ilsley But to the second Interrogatory which was this Whether it was with a limitation or without he thus answers That he doth not d Though he remembers none yet it was spoken with a limitation as you shall see afterward remember any addition therein unless it were in opposition to the righteousness which as he said I called sapless Being further examined Nov. 22. the same Deponent said that I did not deliver any such Limitation as I made in my answer thereunto and that there was no such word as except spoken nor any thing like it Roger Steevens sworn to the same Article deposed that I delivered November 22. in a Sermon at Ilesly That the righteousness of Christ was a sapless righteousness And that he doth not remember any thing to the contrary but that the same was an intire sentence and onely so And that to his apprehension the e This man is known to be a great proselite of my accusers and one exceedingly prejudiced against me and one of a sharp rigid spirit drift of my Sermon was to take away the strength and efficacy of the righteousness of Christ And this deponent further said that in the aforesaid Sermon at Ilsley I delivered these words that you are not to look to this meaning as the Deponent f These are not positively delivered and therefore no legal Testimonies apprehended Christs righteousness but to the Fiery Deity burning in the Center of our souls consuming and destroying sin there Which said words did not immediately follow the words that I used when I said the righteousness of Christ was sapless but the same were further off in my Sermon To his best remembrance Now I shall present the Depositions of my own Witnesses touching the second Article Mrs Mary Pocock being sworn and examined Decemb. 7. was asked At the Bear in Reading by me whether she heard me deliver the second Article at the Sermon at Ilsley viz. That the imputative Righteousness of Christ was sapless she replyed she was then present at the sermon and did hear these words delivered then being further asked Whether delivered with a Limitation or without a Limitation she answered that it was with a Limitation Then she was further asked what that Limitation was She reanswered that it was with this Limitation g This proof being positive is of more weight in Law and according to Reason then both the former except the Fiery Deity of Christ be in the Center of our souls burning up our lusts and corruptions And being further asked whether these last words were spoken together with the other words to make up one sentence she said yes in these express words vez That the Righteousness of Christ was sapless Except the Fiery Deity of Christ be in the Center of our souls burning up our lusts and corruptions After this I brought three h Mr Francis Pordage Mrs Mary Pocock Robert Bolt witnesses more to be sworn touching this Article Their Evidence was this which every one in particular intended to give in in writing after this manner viz. I do confess I was present before the Committee of plundred Ministers the 27 of March 1651 where I did hear the Doctor upon his examination touching that Article That the Imputative Righteousness of Christ is a sapless Righteousness deliver himself to this purpose That to him that hath not the spirit of Chtist indwelling in his heart by Faith notwithstanding all his application of Christ and his merits it is but a sapless Righteousness so saith the Scripture he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his But this Testimony and Evidence the Commissioners rejected and would not suffer the witnesses to depose it upon oath In the next place I certified the Commissioners that I had present divers knowing Christians that were constant hearers of me who were ready to depose on oath what the scope of my Ministery was and what they had frequently heard me hold forth in it touching Christs Imputative Righteousness But the Commissioners rejected this Testimony also and would not hear the Evidence of these intended witnesses saying that it was not to the purpose but meerly dilatory To which I replyed that although the proofs were weak and altogether impertinent yet being Judges they ought to hear them and afterward to judge of their force or invalidity and I further told them that this proceeding of theirs in thus preventing and rejecting the testimony of my witnesses in not suffering them to depose what they could did much strengthen my belief of the common report spread abroad the Country That they had resolved beforehand to condemn and eject me whether by right or wrong At this Mr Traphams choler seemed much to be stirred that the Court of which he was one should thus be charged saying with much passion that this should be looked upon as a contempt and an affront against the Court. But the Commissioners peremptorily resolving not to
single eye of thy glory All things within and without stand naked and unvailed before thee being more then transparent to thy all-discerning sight I therefore appeal from mans day Iudgement and condemning Sentence to thy day Iudgement and acquitting voice from mans dark erroneous sight to thy penetrating clear all-seeing eye Thou knowest I am not guilty of these Blasphemies and horrid things laid to my charge Thou knowest that my solemn protestation is from the sincerity of my heart Thou knowest that it never entred into the intention of my soul to deny the holy Trinity or the Godhead of Christ whom I own to be God coequal and coeternal with the Father Thou knowest I am not guilty of holding that Christ was not perfect or that his righteousness is not a fruitfull powerfull everlasting righteousness or that his bloud is not cleansing meriting reconciling bloud Thou seest how my innocency in reference to these things is overshadowed with the dark clouds of false aspersions and undue accusations Othou bright Eye of Divine Glory dost not thou see and behold the innocent sufferings of my person name Estate and Family for thy sake Dost not thou know that I have been oft cast into the Den of Lyons and into the fiery Furnace of wrath and envy for thy names sake O gracious God how oft have I been reviled numbred amongst transgressors made as a scorn and odium amongst men looked upon as the off-scouring of the earth and now at last civilly put to death cast out of their Synagogues and by unjust entence ejected out of that Estate which was thy gift and all this for thy truth and life O blessed Majestie dost not thou behold the naked simplicity and simple innocency of thy servants spirit who to the utmost of his power resigns up his body soul and spirit to follow the righteous Law of Sanctity Purity and Virginity through the mortification of the sences the crucifying of the old man and the casting away of the body of sin in conformity to the cross death and resurrection of Christ that so at length by the supply and vertue of thy spirit there might be an actual conquest attained over sin hel and death O thou Eye of Eternity thou beholdest my will resigned to thine without moving this way or that as to the permanency of or freedom from these sufferings O my God thou knowest I can neither desire the continuing censures and condemnation of the world nor the justification of my person and thy cause from the mouthes of the just though in pure obedience to thy will calling me to it I have addressed my self to the higher Powers that they might be left inexcusable and have by writing exhibited the innocency of that life imbodied in flesh which by the envy and subtilty of Satan hath been so much levelled at and over-clouded by the mists and arrows of wrath and darkness And now I stand resigned in obedience to thy will the true rule of righteousness to continue a publick signe and witness-bearer of Christs sufferings and to be made yet more vile and contemptible for his sake who enduring the Cross and despising the shame now sits enthroned at thy own right hand O omniscient Majestie thou knowest we are neither the better nor the worse for the justification or condemnation of our fellow-creatures there is no satisfaction in man or the things of man therefore the spirit of thy servant flyes to thee like a dove into the true Ark of rest to be caught up into thy eye and to be taken into thy heart and bosom-love for in such union oft lies union of hearts union of wils and union of spirits there is satisfaction only O how my soul groans after this union with thee and presential enjoyment of thee O my God even to feed continually on the tree of life to live in the day and light of thy glory to see and behold the beauties of thy inmost holy habitation to eat yea to banquet on Christs flesh and to drink and that abundantly of his holy bloud to be replenished and drencht throughout with the wine and oyle of the holy Ghost for the full enjoyment of which thy servant shall continually wait upon thee retiring from the broken Cisterns of the Creature to thee the Fountain of all good to whom with thy eternal Son and holy Spirit be rendred of Saints Angels and all creatures glory praise and Halleluiahs for ever Now I have run through the substantials of my Appendix in which I have exhibited the reasons grounds and issue of my appeal the last of which hath been a denial of affording me a re-hearing whence I am forced to appeal to the just Judge of heaven and earth who will certainly render to every one according to his works even reward and honour to the innocent but judgement and disgrace to the guilty and though my adversaries may yet proceed to add iniquity to iniquity even to justifie by writing what they have most unjustly acted against me yet I shall have much peace in my conscience in what I have here done to shew impartially the truth of things however the prejudiced world steere their judgement of me which cannot but be very hard and injurious if they believe that late Named M. L. Register c. Though t is certain he never made the Pamphlet nor Epistle to it Pamphletier who reckons me guilty of Sorcery uncleanness blasphemy c. as though they had been proved against me referring the Reader to the whole proceedings which as he saies are shortly to be made publick Now if we may judge of these by their Praecursor I can expect nothing but such a misrepresenting of the proceedings as M. Ford produced before sentence and to be condemned for what I was accused of and for the horrid things exhibited against me which was the rule of the Commissioners proceedings as the Author of the Praecursor in page 5. expresseth in these words Who were to proceed secundum allegata exhibita as really they did for they gave sentence according to the crimes alleadged and exhibited against me not secundum probata or things legally proved and really by the false reports of some of the Commissioners since And by the bitterness and untruths of the Author of the Praecursor sentence concerning what hath been proved against me I cannot expect any thing better then to be represented guilty of blasphemy sorcery uncleanness Rantism and all things that may seem to make me vile and contemptible and worthy of death or See the Praecursor page 1. in the last notes upon the Epistle and pag. 3 at the latter part banishment But in reference to this I desire only the Reader seriously to weigh the proofs on both sides which have faithfully been transcribed by me from the Depositions together with those other evidences I produced to clear things which the Court would not admit of though in equity they ought to have done it I say I desire these may be seriously weighed together because it is unsuitable to that devoted silent life and way I desire to live in to make rejoinders and frame replies by way of contest and dispute being willing rather to enjoy my God in the retired silence of abstract contemplation and to lie under the reproaches sladers revilings and passionate censures of my adversaries then trouble my spirit with any more things of this nature especially in this time when Christ is entring into a severe Judgement with all Isa 66. 16. Isa 65. 18. flesh and making way for his coming in power and glory to make all things new and cause old things to be no more e remembred JOHN PORDAGE FINIS Reader Whereas by the sides of most Articles in the third Charge it is wrote not proved at all the sense is That nothing was said at all to prove them And further know that my affairs not permitting me to attend the Printing many faults have escaped the most considerable of which thou maist here take notice of ERRATA PAg. 5 r. Punietur l. 15 16. a fine for Government r. Parliament and for Parliament r. Government p. 7. l. 9. dele his l. 5 9. a fine r. Pendarvis p. 11. l. 12. r. the want p. 26. l. 2. r. chap. 3. l. 3. r. Rev. 12. p. 27. l. 8. a fine r. As it is here stated p. 30. l. 1. dele when p. 33. l. 11. for returned r. retired p. 36. r. further time p. 41. in marg d for is r. I am p. 41. l 8. a fine dele were p. 54. l. 6. a fine dele reserve p. 56. l. 7 ab Art 1. r. depose p. 68. l. 8. mid Paragh for word r. world p. 73. marg a r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marg f r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 74. l. 1. r. cloudy p. 77. l. 14. for persecution r. perfection l. 23. del out l 9. a fine for external r. eternal p. 79. l. ult r. your persecutions p. 80. l. 13. r. of by the Prophets l. 23. r. your kingdom p. 88. l. 9. for certified r. rectified p. 91. l. 6. ad fin r. that it is p. 92. l. 2. r and that p. 94. fig. 22. l. 2. r. the first p. 96. in marg del that p. 97. l. 22. r. could not do it p. 102. l. 6. a fine r. accuser p. 101. l. 3. r. know p. 107. l. 25. r. politie is contrived p. 113. l. 28 9. r. union of eyes
sequestrations you will speedily bring Iudgements Commotions and Desolations upon your selves and others Do but look into the book of the Revelations and you shall finde that the oppressions and cruelties acted upon those who were slain for the witness of Iesus and for their testimony to the truth were a cause of those viols of wrath and vengeance poured upon the kingdom of the Beast And what can you expect but the like judgements if you continue in such fierce persecutions For have you not civilly put me to death having killed my name and credit and blasted as much as in you lay the purity and integrity of my life Have not you by sentence cast me out of my Estate and so ruin'd as much as you could my person and family making both contemptible by your calumnies aspersions and cruel Sentence But what shall I return to you for this Shall I pray for fire to come down from Heaven to execute Gods just wrath upon you No no God forbid For though the Law of Nature prompts us to preserve our selves and our own just rights and interests though by the prejudicing of our enemies as requiring an Eye for an Eye and a tooth for a tooth yet the Law of Graâ—â— â—ommands to take up our crosses and deny Name Life Liberty Estates Relations in whatever they may draw us to Crosse the Royal Law of Love which bids us love our enemies and bless those that curse us and pray for those that despightfully use us and so return good for evil However I could not but discharge my duty as a Christian in thus presenting your sin before your eys that so you may search and try your hearts and return again to the Lord and that you may judge your selves and so escape the fierce Iudgement of God I shall therefore commit you to the Eternal Essential Word which is able to convince you of this heinous sin of persecution and cry in your Consciences Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harm This is the engraffed word which is able to save your souls by giving you true repentance and remission of sins with a total change in your Spirits from wrath to love from strife to concord from the nature of the Serpent to the Innocency of the Dove which is the cordial desire and prayer of Yours to serve you not in the will of the wrath but in the righteous will of God JOHN PORDAGE To all my Christian Friends and Acquaintance in Berkshire and elsewhere scattered Christian Friends IS it not a sweet thing for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity But we live in such perilous times wherein we see not onely Egyptian against Egyptian and Formalist against Formalist but even Christians against Christians and those of the Ministery we see at civil war amongst themselves the more rigid and legal against the more spiritual and tender yea in their particular interests against one another Surely therefore the kingdom thus divided against it self cannot stand long Especially if we consider that the greatest part of them are not able to bear any amongst them that exceed their ordinary forms and systemes of Doctrine with more pure spiritual and divinely-rational discoveries of God and Christ And how many others are there who profess Religion of this rigid confined stamp and model that think they please God in judging and persecuting all those who are not like themselves though more knowing and spiritual And really we finde that the holding forth the most pure and precious truths of Christ begets much envy and persecution And though a Christian were ever so innocent and inoffensive in his conversation yet this were not a sufficient guard to preserve him from the tongues and uncharitable practices of such men as the following narration will demonstrate for nothing will satisfie the Lusts of these persons but such dainties as the very gifts and graces of the spirit which they prey upon by rash censures and invectives terming those things divelish which are divine and the very glory of a Christian and those persons deceivers who live most in truth and least in the deceiveableness of unrighteousness O what a sore judgement is this for true Christians to be so stygmatized by the malice of those who would be esteemed so as to be printed Hereticks Blasphemers Familists Enthusiasts Antiscripturists Sorcerers and what not And to be proceeded against as such by Mulcts and illegal Sequestrations and all because the true Christian cannot bow down and worship the Golden Calves and Images that the pretended Christians set up from the Invention of their own Imaginations Christian Friends the world yea you your selves have wondered at my long silence and well you might for I have wondred at my self in it For I have long lain under the rods of mens tongues the stripes of reproaches and the burdens of sad and heavy censures and condemnations I have seen my self in the prison of mens dark Imaginations and narrow Conceptions yea which is more the truth of my Faith purity of my principles and innocency of my conversation have as it were been dashed in pieces against the Rocks of ignorance and darkness by the mistakes or malice of my enemies So that truly I may say I have fallen into the hands of spiritual thievs and robbers who would have plundered me of that holiness integrity and uprightness which the Lord hath bestowed upon me Yet hitherto I have not opened my mouth nor pleaded the least for my own Innocency I have not wrote nor Apologized for my self in print but have sate down in silence resolving to enter into its secret Chamber till this Indignation was overpast believing that by quietly lying down under this wrath enmity opposition condemnation and contradiction of sinners I might in time overcome and wear it out Looking upon this as a better way then to have entred into contest by setting Scripture against Scripture and Argument against Argument which might have more awakened the Fiery Passions of the adversaries Whereas quiet retired silence was more likely to have quenched the violence of these fires and stopped the mouths of those Lyons Hence in this passive retiredness I have long suffered to see whether it might be a shelter to me from the hotter and more weighty persecutions of my enemies But now this season is past And as there hath been a time to be silent so now there is a time to speak that truth and innocency may no longer suffer under the notion of error and guilt For my enemies having proceeded so far as formally and actually to sentence and condemn me and as it were to crucifie me between transgressors Hereticks Familists Ranters Sorcerers and endeavouring in print to justifie their actions by representing me as guilty of all they lay to my charge that so I might be made a publike spectacle and as a prodigious sign to be gazed and wondred at I say they having done all this against me
before it was heard Hereupon the Chairman commanded Langly the Clerk to read these following Articles in open Court Articles against Dr. Pordage of Bradfield 1. That the fiery Deity of Christ mingles and mixes it self with our flesh 2. That the imputative righteousness of Christ is a sapless righteousness 3. That the discoveries of the sinfulness of sin the terrors of the law the death of Christ the free-grace of God are fleshly and flashy discoveries 4. That the liberty and freedom spoken of purchased by the blood of Christ and applyed by the dinging and cleaving of the soul to is not a liberty or freedom from the guilt of sin the curse of the law the wrath of God but the fiery Deity of Christ in the center of our souls 5. That by Male and Female Gen. 1. we are to understand by Male the Deity by the Female the humanity and that these two became one flesh these things were delivered without any limitation whatsoever 6. That gifts and graces of the Spirit are but flesh 7. That Christ is a Type and but a Type 8. That Christ is not God 9. That Christ is not Jehovah Tickle witnesseth After these Articles were read the Chair-man demanded my answer to whom I replyed That I had been acquitted from all these four years since by the Committee of plundered Ministers and that after a full hearing and debate therefore I desired that according to Law they would pass by these old ones but if they had any that were new told them I was ready and willing to receive and answer them I further replyed I hoped they would give me the liberty of a Felon who after tryall and acquitment cannot be questioned for the same thing again to which Mr. Dunch replyed with much seeming fierceness You are worse then a Felon for ought I know Which language coming from a Judge to the Defendant before tryall let all sober persons judge of who are acquainted with the rules of civility morality or Christianity Here Mr. Hewes the Minister interposed affirming That a Felon might be acquitted at one Assizes and hang for the same thing at the next of which he gave an instance in a story not worth the relating To which I replyed only this That it could not be for the same he was acquitted of before but I seeing that he had gone ultra crepidam beyond his Office and beyond reason said no more to him though he was very bitter and pragmatical speaking oft as Judge although he was but an assistant and that only in reference to ignorance and insufficiency But afterward applying my self to the Chairman I further urged that these Articles were not within the cognizance of the Commissioners in that I had been discharged from them by those who had full power and authority to do it After this all were commanded to withdraw and about an hour after I was called in again and asked for my discharge I answered I came now only to know my Charge and that I had not my Discharge there but would bring it when they would appoint me Then they declared That notwithstanding my Discharge in another Court yet it was the judgement of the Commissioners that they had power to take cognizance of the Articles exhibited whence they made this Order viz. BERKS By the Commissioners for ejecting of Scandalous Ministers c. October 5. 1654. At the Bear in Speenhamland Dr. John Pordage Rector of Bradfield in this County hath in obedience to our Warrant dated the 18 of September last to him directed this day attended and pleadeth that he hath been already discharged from the Articles that are exhibited to us against him by the Parliament and the late Committee of this County and therefore not again to be questioned or proceeded against for the same by these Commissioners But the said Doctor hath produced no such Discharge Resolved upon the Question That by vertue of the Ordinance of his Highness the Lord Protector and his Councel for ejecting of scandalous ignorant and insufficient Ministers and School-Masters The said Commissioners have power to question the said Doctor upon the said Articles and that notwithstanding his Plea as aforesaid of a former Discharge And it is thereupon Ordered That the said Doctor do give his positive answer to the said Articles unto us on this day fortnight being the 19 instant at this place whereof he is not to fail Now this was the substance of the things which were transacted the first day of my appearance which I have here presented in truth and righteousness to the impartial Reader My second appearance before them was the 19 of October at the same place The Commissioners then sitting were these M. Wightwick Chairman M. Danch Mr. Evelyn Mr. Bell Mr. Mils The Ministers Mr. Woodbridg Mr. Fowler Mr. Hughes with some others The first thing they demanded was my Answer to the Articles exhibited against me But I desired them to receive my Discharge which I hoped would be instead of a full and satisfactory Answer So I produced it and it was received by them and delivered to the Clerk who after it was read took a Copy of it and then returned it to me again The Tenor of it was as followeth At the Committee for Plundred Ministers March 27. 1651. VPon hearing the Cause in presence of parties and Councel on both sides concerning Dr. Pordage Minister of Bradfield in the County of Berks And upon reading the Papers and Examinations depending against him before this Committee and full hearing what could be said by both parties This Committee have taken the said Cause into serious consideration and debate and do thereupon Order that the said Cause be dismissed and the same is hereby dismissed GILB MILLINGTON Afterward they asked me how they should know that this was a true Copy I returned answer I received it from their Clerk there present who knew it to be true And besides I had a friend by who being with me when I received it could attest the truth of it by Oath Then they waved my Discharge and called for my particular Answer to the Articles alleadging That notwithstanding the Discharge the Commissioners had judged the Articles under their cognizance So that after I had pressed my Discharge with as much earnestness as in modesty I could they still hastily calling for my further Answer I was necessitated to give in this which followeth My Answer to the Articles exhibited against me consists in these Particulars 1. Partic. I Humbly conceive that none of the Articles exhibited against me are comprehended in the Act Entituled An Act against several Atheistical Blasphemous and execrable Opinions derogatory to the Honour of God and destructive to humane society without the sense and meaning of the words expressed in the Act be stretched and wrested beyond the litteral scope and drift of the Act. And this is not my judgement only but the judgement of some pious and judicious Lawyers of this Land Which thing in
insufficiency John Pordage This being read we proceeded to the proof of the first Charge of Articles attested by Mr. Tickle one of the Assistants whom I desired to see sworn in the open Court alleadging that I was altogether ignorant whether he had sworn or not but the Clerk affirmed that he had done it already but after much dispute it was granted that I should hear him sworn in the open Court Then I craved liberty to cross examin him openly and began to put my Interrogatories to him but this just prinviledg they peremptorily denied me though I used many reasons and arguments to shew the equity and reasonableness of it Then they commanded me to write down my Interrogatories which should be proposed and answered in private without my presence according to their fixed resolution Then all being commanded to withdraw I wrote down my Interrogatories and when I gave them in I desired they might be asked in the open Court but it was denied Then I requested that I my self might be present at the cross-examination though all the rest withdrew urging that although I had given in my Interogatories yet there might be many necessary circumstances and questions emergent in the Examination which I could not then give in in writing nor make use of without I was present which yet might serve very much to clear the truth but notwithstanding this and more which was then said I could not prevail but was commanded to withdraw After this I was called in again and as I thought to receive Mr. Tickles Answers to my Interogatories which though I pressed it with much earnestness was denied they resolving as it seemed to me by their Answer to keep them private till publication which appeared to me very partial dealing in regard I could not know how the Questions were answered against the time of making my defence by Negative Witnesses But afterward importuning the Court to examin my Witnesses according to their own Order I was interrupted by their commanding of the Clerk to read a third Charge of Articles exhibited against me by Mr. Fowler an Assistant Minister to the Commissioners whose zeal moving swifter then the Clerks slow reading of the Articles caused him to take them out of his hands and to read them himself with much courage and resolution The Articles were these that follow Further Additional Articles Exhibited against Dr. Pordage by Mr. Fowler Minister of St. Maries in Redding 1. THat the righteousness of Jesus Christ was a poor vain sapless righteousness The wisdom of the Commissioners and the Piety of the Ministers their assistants rejected all my Witnesses against this Charge of 37 Articles except one whom they examin'd two or three questions concerning the most inconsiderable Article 2. That Jesus Christ was not perfect alleadging that Text to confirm it because he cryed out My God my God Why c. 3. That the bloud of Christ was not meritorious of any mans salvation 4. That it was a poor thing to live upon the bloud of Christ and fetching it over again in a contemptuous kind of speaking Pish said he thou art a babe thou knowest nothing to live upon the bloud of Christ is a poor thing 5. That one speaking to him of the glorious persons in Trinity he he replyed Persons in Trinity Pish there is no such thing and again There is no such thing as persons in Trinity 6. That it was a weakness to be troubled for sin 7. That he might say any thing to the men of the world Nothing said at all to prove this Article 8. That he asserted he knew nothing to the contrary but that a man might company with more then one woman being taxed with keeping carnal company with a woman in London 9. That he hath very frequent and familiar converse with Angels 10. That a great Dragon came into his Chamber with a tail of eight yards long four great teeth and did spit fire at him and that he contended with the Dragon 11. That his own Angel came and stood by him while he was expostulating with the Dragon and the Angel came in his own shape and fashion the same clothes bands and cuffs the same bandstrings and that his Angel stood by him and upheld him 12. That Mrs. Pordage and Mrs. Flavel had their Angels standing by them also Mrs. Pordage singing sweetly and keeping time upon her breast and that his children saw the Spirits coming into the house and said look there Father And that the Spirits did often come into the Chamber and drew the Curtains when they were in bed 13. That the said Mr. Pordage confessed that a strong enchantment was upon him and that the Devil did appear to him in the shape of Everard and in the shape of a fiery Dragon and the whole roof of the house was full of Spirits 14. That Mrs. Margaret Pendar acquainted with this Doctrine of Spirits and pretended to be converted by Visions of Angels doth think This was the one onely Article of this whole Charge which they would examin this my Witness unto being one of the most inconsiderable that she was bewitched by them of Bradfield Her Confession SHe was taken ill upon Wednesday in the afternoon in July 1653. about nine of the clock the same night there appeared the vision of a man standing at her beds feet on Thursday the next day he had a book in his hand and stood by her all that day and said nothing On Friday it spake audibly unto her saying Why art thou so discomforted I answered A wounded conscience who can bear He replyed He that hath wounded thee will make thee whole I spake much of mine own unworthiness he answered There was worth in Christ and he had paid a ransom for me Then he told me that that book in his hand was the book of the Lamb and that my name was written in it I saw the book a broad book with a parchment-cover and I saw writing in it and then was I lifted up with a great deal of joy About four of the clock the same Friday the dark Angel came and stood by the other Vision with a knife in his hand and said thou hast had a great deal of joy and offering her the knife bid her dispatch her self and she should enter into that erernal rest her soul so much thirsted after Upon this she trembled the bed shook and my Mrs. held me The same Friday I had visions presented upon the Wall I saw the world and the resurrection of the dead and the Son of man appearing in the clouds of heaven She saw clearly the vision of a friend of hers in London in her Chamber at Southcot her friend was much inclined to this way she much wondred at it and told Mrs. Pordage of it who answered alas so do we see abundance of those we never knew before when once they come into our way On Saturday Dr. Pordage came to her being sent for and prayed
the Witnesses might be open that so the people might as well hear the proof as the accusation but this could not be granted Then I requested that I might be present this was also denied So two Witnesses were privatly examined to the second Charge whose examination concluded that daies transactions in reference to me and I received an Order to appear before them again the 22 of November at the the Bear in Redding BERKS By the Commissioners for Ejecting of Scandalous Ministers November 2. 1654 at the Bear in Speenhamland ORdered that Dr. Pordage of Bradfield now present do appear again before us on Munday the 22 instant at the Bear in Redding as that he then give in his Answer to the further additional Articles now exhibited against him And it is further Ordered That the said Dr. do then produce his Witnesses and bring in his Interrogatories in writing upon which he will examin the Witnesses in his defence or cross-examin them produced for proof of the several Charges against him On the day prefixed I appeared at the appointed place the Commissioners then sitting being Mr. Dunch Chairman Major Fincher Mr. Trapham Mr. Stround Mr. Cook Mr. Nutkins The Ministers Mr. Fowler Mr. Lee Mr. Woodbridg Mr. Tickle Mr. Hughes with two more Just as they were going to Dinner I was called in and asked for my Answer to the last Charge of Articles I told them it was ready but I should be very long in delivering it but if they thought fit I would give it in before dinner At this one Mr. Trapham a Chyrurgion and Commissioner began to be very ruffe pressing me to give in my Answer and to leave it with them I replyed that it was in my power whether I would give it in in writing only or by word of mouth and that I resolved of the last So I was commanded to withdraw After dinner being called in again I read this Answer following and then delivered it to them in writing My Answer to the third Charge of Articles I present in this form following I Shall first present something by way of general Preface and so descend As I was expressing the first part of it I was much interrupted by Mr. Dunch who passionately cryed out they would not hear it bidding me come to my particular Answer though they would oft hear me railed against by the accuser and others in open Court without the least reproof to particulars In the first place then I look upon the first Articles charged upon me by young Mr. Tickle to be as the casting of my innocent person with Daniel into the Lions Den but those Articles as the mouthes of the Lions I conceive were stopped so that they could not hurt me because the Authority and just proceedings of two former Committees authorized by Acts and Ordinances of Parliament with some other legal Priviledges had sufficiently muzled the mouthes of those Lionish Articles And as for the second subscribed by an unknown name I believe there hath not been not cannot be any thing proved which may render me obnoxious to any legal guilt As for my third Charge brought forth by Mr. Fowler who is both my Accuser and my Judge I look upon it as the designe of the evil one to cast me with the three children into the hot fiery Furnace of unparalleld wrath and envy for I know it will one day appear that these Articles were raked together from a spirit of bitterness and spleen which seem to me as the furnace heated seven times hotter by the fire of wrath to burn up and consume my name Liberty Estate and Posterity But be it known unto you oh you Judges and Commissioners I am not solicitious what the event may be I know the God whom I serve in the integrity of my heart who is Jehovah the true and only God is able to deliver me from this hot fiery furnace and to punish those who cast me in But however God as yet may order and dispose of me in reference to the execution of my enemies intents I believe my strict and holy conversation with my holding forth what God in the riches of his grace hath bestowed upon me will clearly demonstrate that I am no such person as the false and unworthy aspersions of these Articles represent me to be As to the particular Articles which are raked together in much confusion without reducing of them to their particular heads of Scandal or Insufficiency many of them being incapable justly to be referred to either I thus begin my Answers Art 1. THat the righteousness of Christ was a poor vain sapless righteousness 1. Part. Ans This Article was in my former Charge and I was cleared of it by two Committees who had power legally to acquit me even as they did 2. Part. Ans I do cordially acknowledg That Christs righteousness is not a poor and sapless righteousness but very pretious being the material cause and spotless robe of a Christians justification and that every Saint ought to be found in this righteousness of Christ in point of justification and not in his own self-righteousness 3. Part. Ans I deny that ever I spake such words without some limitation which limitation if annexed would free me from any guilt resulting from such expressions and though any one should swear I spake those words yet that could not render me justly guilty it not being declared what preceded or followed in the series of my discourse And I have many Witnesses sufficiently known and pious who being constant hearers of me have testified by Oath and will upon occasion again that the scope of my Ministry drives not against the due application of Christs righteousness to the souls of believers but against the misapplying it to those who have not the spirit of Christ living in their hearts purifying their consciences and subduing their lusts Art 2. That Jesus Christ was not perfect alleadging that Scripture to confirm it My God my God Why hast thou c. 1. Part. Ans I do nakedly without any vails profess that I ever did and still do look upon Christ as a most perfect copy and pattern to square our lives and conversations by yea and to be a perfect Mediator in reference to that work he undertook for the redemption of the world being free from the least tincture either of original or actual sin and truely the thought of any such thing never lodged in my heart 2. Part. Ans But suppose I uttered such expressions as these yet the manner of it will sufficiently free me from that guilt my accuser may hope and believe I am obnoxious to by it I confesse I uttered these or the like words yet it was only by way of relating what I heard in a Sermon of Mr. Erberies in Somerset House who at that time endeavoured to enumerate Christs supposed imperfections whereof he made his crying out on the Cross in those expressions one Now I leave it to your considerations whether
now this was not the way to cover a work of darkness 3. She sometimes went to London to the Lawyers whilst she was there some belonging to that Family accompanying her who found that as she had related she was in great troubles at Law and were convinced that she returned on that account Now in reference to most of these particulars in which I have contradicted and denyed the alleaged circumstances and further vindicated my self they are exactly agreeing with what I have in writing confessed and acknowledged by Laughton himself from whom this charge is pretended to be received and by the Nurse of the child subscribed by them both before witnesses which acknowledgement I shall produce when I see occasion And by this I hope it may appear to moderate sober and judicious men that this Libelling charge drawn up so falsly enviously and yet so subtilly calling from the dead a business past some nine or ten years since which though it were criminous as it is not were invalid legally to prejudice by the Act of Oblivion or General Pardon as all other things pretended to be spoken or acted by me before 1651. according to the judgement of judicious men which I leave to the Commissioners to consider of I say that this is but the effect of the evil and wicked policy of my Accuser brought forth to prejudice and overcloud that pure and innocent principle which I profess and faithfully live to and the better to cover that evil design they have against my person and livelyhood And now I appeal unto you the Commissioners and to all that are pious and sober minded whether my enemies do not deal very unreasonably enviously and unbeseeming Christians from this business so long since past in which nothing criminous is positively objected against me to draw such horrid conclusions as commonly to report that I now live in base Lust and wantonness notwithstanding my commending of and owning the Virgin-Life I say whether this be not exceeding hard measure and ungodly dealing let all judge But I see the design of the Devil in it which my enemies may be ignorant of which is to overcloud and darken by monstrous lyes and scandals which are the smoak of the bottomless pit that Life of Purity Chastity Mortification Self-denyal and heavenly injoyments which God hath favoured me to live in and so to affright all from my acquaintance which otherwise might very much prejudice and overthrow his Kingdom For the old Serpent knows very well as also my neer friends and acquaintance that for these four years even since the time of my great tryals by the extraordinary Temptations and Representations of the devil that I have been abstracted more then ordinary from all outward things giving my self up wholly to Prayer Watchfulness Mortification and constant self-denial in dying to all earthly pleasures even to things permitted and accounted lawful as finding many things which ordinarily are embraced to be great hinderances of the souls progress to God and great burthens to a spirit which hath tasted much of that tree of Life which groweth in the midst of the Paradise of God and great clogs to a soul that sees through the vail of the sensitive Nature into the Spiritual Glory of Eternity but what I have enjoyed and experimented in this time of my extraordinary mortification and self-denyal in the death of the Animal man and rising of Christs Image in me is not seasonable now to declare yet for the glory of my God and the undeceiving of those who strangely mistake me this much in all humility I must say that did my accuser and my enemies know what I have enjoyed in this way of the cross of the secret hidden treasures of Eternity and of the out-goings of divine goodness were they but acquainted with these discoveries of celestial Glory instillations of the heavenly dew and secret touches of the Holy Ghost did they but know those bright irradiations of Eternal Light those strong motions of divine Life and pleasant streams of eternal Love together with those deep sufferings in bearing Christs Cross which I and many in my Family have in this time experienced they durst not thus condemn me and judge me as an evil doer and one that lives in the Lusts of the flesh But my God hath taught me to Bless whilst they Curse to pray for them whilst they design to ruine me and to love them whilst they hate me and to say with Christ Father forgive them for they know not what they do This I thought fit in all humility to annex to that Libelling charge concerning Mrs Flavel from which I have undeservedly suffered so much by the malice of the devil and now I shall proceed to answer the remaining Articles one of which is intermixed with the former seven that concern Mrs Flavel which is this Art That we have changed our Names Answ 'T is well known that we own and subscribe our Names in our civil converse with the world as this and my former Answers testifie I shall therefore wait to see whether any one dare swear to this Article and though we did in our own private family call one another by Scripture names yet I conceive it did not concern the civil Magistrate to take Cognizance of such a thing it being not practised to make any disturbance or confusion in the State Artic. 8. That I am extreamly covetous taking five shillings at a time to marry one Answ I wonder my accuser should let this Article pass whose Consequence is so much against Reason as to argue me extreamly covetous for one such poor inconsiderable act done six or seven years since and I appeal to the inhabitants of Reading and Mr Fowlers own Conscience whether he hath not taken ten shillings oftener then five for marrying Art 9. That my preaching doth not tend to Edification Answ I can bring those that are knowing spiritual and sober Christians who will assert that my preaching doth tend to Edification and to the building up of souls in the true knowledge and Love of Christ and I believe these my accusers will be found to be like those of Chorazin and Bethsaida of whom Christ said that if the mighty works which were done amongst them had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah they had repented long since in dust and ashes and was Christs Ministery ineffectual because they did not believe but remained in the hardness and impenitency of their hearts neither doth it follow that my preaching doth not tend to Edification because those that bring this Article through their unbelief are not edified by it For there are many that come from places round about that are edified strengthned and refreshed by it and there are many that have been enlightned convicted and converted by it who still receive quickning growth and comfort under it confessing that God is in it of a truth as finding it instrumentally effectual to the pulling down of the Kingdom of sin and satan and to
his uncertainty four years since all which compared with that Answer of his given by oath at my late Tryal that this Article was delivered in the same express words for the substance of them cannot but shew that he hath almost if not altogether incurred the sin of perjury Now all this being well weighed cannot but demonstrate that this testimony is of no force at all And although I formerly gave no answer to this Article because it was not sworn to positively but with reserves and alterations and that by one Witness only and came not under the Act of Scandalous Opinions yet I shall now speak something to it and shew you the Deponents mistake which was in leaving out this word onely which inserted makes it appear with a more innocent face But now I shall further answer That I delivered this sentence thus which I still own viz. That the second preparatory work that Christ did in the soul of a true Saint for the manifesting of his glory in it was the instating of the soul into a glorious liberty and freedom which doth not onely consist in the liberty and freedom from the guilt of sin the curse of the Law the wrath of God but also in the enjoying of the spirit of Christ in the centre of the soul there purifying our natures mortifying our lusts and restoring us into the Image of God And so this truely presented is a glorious truth though as Mr. Tickle by mistake delivered it it seemed monstrous To the fifth Articli Mr. Tickle saith that I did deliver That by male and female Gen. 1. Octob. 5. we are to understand by male the Deity and by female the Humanity and that these two became one flesh k This seems to relate to all the former Articles as well as to this as may be seen in the Charge but how well it agrees with the answers to the cross-interrogatories let the Reader judge These things were delivered without any limitation whatsoever Mr. Tickle being further examined on this Article to this Interrogatory viz. Whether I spake this as my own avowed judgement or as the judgement of some other person Answers thus That I delivered those expressions of the Article with approbation and that therefore he had cause to believe it was my judgement and as far as he remembers it was delivered as my judgement Here the Reader may observe that Mr. Tickle doth not answer directly and nakedly as a Christian should but subtilly and indirectly like a Sophister For he answers that I delivered this with approbation but whether this approbation was from my self or from some other I might then cite he doth not express passing it over in silence Afterward he saith he hath cause to believe it was my judgement which is a meer prevarication but no answer to the question which was not Whether he believed it to be my judgement but Whether I delivered it as my judgement or as the judgement of another To which in the last clause he answers somewhat viz. That I delivered it as my own as far as he remembers But though this be somewhat to the question yet not much to the purpose it being no legal proof or evidence for his memory might fail him Now the reason of this Interrogatory was in that Mr. Tickle some four years since when this was better in his memory then now it can be gave in this that followeth under his own hand to the Committee of Plundered Ministers viz. l This is taken out of the Depositions then taken before the Committee That Gen. 1. By male we are to understand saith Mr. Pordage The Deity by the female the Humanity This he gave from a Rabby with that approbation Now how consistent this is with his late answer to my Interrogatories let all judge especially with that part of it in which he affirms that as far as he remembers I delivered it as my own judgement But now to answer something positively to this which may give satisfaction to judicious and knowing Christians I acknowledge that in the Sermon before mentioned I delivered for substance this which follows viz. That another preparatory work that Christ did in the soul of a true Christian for the manifesting of his own glory in it was the bringing up the spirit of the soul into a glorious mystical yet real union with himself and after I had proved the truth and substantiality of this union betwixt Christ and a Christian from several Texts of Scripture which directly evinced it I came by way of illustration to speak of that Scripture Gen. 1. out of which I said that by male and female according to the judgement of a learned Rabby The Deity and pure Humanity might be shadowed forth which by union become one the male representing the Deity the female the pure Humanity or regenerated part of the soul which by union is made partaker of the Divine nature By this you may see that if Mr. Tickle had been but a charitable and knowing Christian he needed not have troubled himself and me about this Article To the sixth Article Mr. Tickle saith that he heard me deliver in discourse with Mr. Pendarvis That the gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh Taken Octob. 5 Being further examined he saith that to this sixth Article there was no m He dares not swear there was no explanation of it in the discourse but how this agrees with M. Pendarvis his Deposition let the Reader judge especially in point of charity in reference to me limitation whatsoever in the delivering of it Here the Reader must know that Mr. Pendarvis was summoned by me to witness to the truth in this particular but he came not alleadging that he could say no more then what he had already deposed Whereupon I desired the Commissioners after information that I had summoned him to hear his former Deposition read but they peremptorily denied it By which I clearly saw that they had more mind to take all occasion of advantage against me then to be fully informed of the truth of things But Mr. Pendarvis his Deposition given in before the Committee of Plundered Ministers was this viz. That the Doctor in conference did say That the gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh and I opposed him but then the Doctor replyed by way of n Compare but this with Mr. Tickles Answer and judge whether he did not much vail the truth by it explanation that he understood them only to be flesh that is weak in point of rest and trust on them for eternal life and salvation and in this I agreed with him Correspondent to this was my answer to and explanation of this Article before the Committee of Plundered Ministers which three Witnesses were ready to depose on Oath before the present Commissioners who refused to hear their testimony To the seventh Article Mr. Tickle saith That he heard me deliver in discourse that Christ is a Type
the Fiery Deity of Christ be in the center of our souls burning up our lusts corruptions which is but equivalent to that Scripture He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Now whether the absolute positive proof of this witness be not stronger in Law then the proofs of the other two which are not positive and absolute let the wise judge But secondly Admit I spake even as my enemies pretend yet the Commissioners had no power to retrospect to words spoken six yeers since for the Ordinance by which they are to act judgeth onely those who shall be found HOLDING OR MAINTAINING c. Now they cannot say that I hold or maintain this being I have declared otherwise in my Protestation Thirdly What I did then speak was some years before the being of the Act of Scandal of which I was not accused within six months after it was spoken and therefore it is not within the reach of that Act. Fourthly This was long before the Act of Oblivion Fifthly The discharge I received from the Committee of plundred Ministers takes away all legal guilt from this Article and puts it past the Cognizance of these Commissioners And although the late railing abusive pamphleteer pretends that in the Order of the said Committee There is not the least mention made of discharging Named M. L. Clerk to the Commissioners though t is certain the paper was not of his composing me from the fact and that it doth onely dismiss the cause out of that Court The Reader must know this vail and pretence comes either from ignorance or subtilty for it is not there expressed that the cause was dismissed out of the Court but Ordered that the Cause should be dismissed which is general and it is there added The same is hereby dismissed Now the dismission of the Cause on the Defendants part doth really discharge from the fact as those that have knowledge in the Law and are acquainted with the proceedings in Chancery and other Courts known very well and if you read the discharge pag. 4. you will finde it very full for 't is there expressed That upon hearing the Cause in presence of parties and Council on both sides and upon a full Hearing what could be said by both parties This Committee order the said Cause to be dismissed c. And though it be pretended the reason of dismission was because they had no proper cognizance of the cause and were not invested with power to Eject It is a great untruth for the reason was because they could prove nothing worthy of ejectment against me for had they found sufficient ground I had as surely been ejected as I was acquitted as it is well known to those who were at the tryal But to conclude the thirty two members of Parliament who were of that Committee at my tryal many of which came much prejudiced against me by the false reports of my adversaries knew better their own power then to receive such a formal tryal of a cause they had not proper cognizance of and to give such a serious and full dismission of it Thus much I thought fit to add to this last particular to shew the vanity and error of their exceptions against my discharge which as able Lawyers tell me is undoubtedly firm Sent. And several other hellish Opinions and is otherwise scandalous as by the said Depositions may more fully appear Obs Here their bitterness manifests it self in thus Arraigning me without cause Why are not those other hellish Opinions expressed And why is it not mentioned in what I am otherwise scandalous For I am sure the Depositions shew no such thing as they pretend nor give instance of one act which may be truly called scandal Sent. And it is likewise declared that upon the matter proved against him The said Doctor Pordage is ignorant and very insufficint for the work of the Ministry Obs The Commissioners never proceeded to examination in reference to this of ignorance and insufficiency contrary to their own Ordinance pag. 624. for they have not the priviledge of that exception made in m 624. where this disjunctive proposition is Upon such examination or proof made upon oath the same page as to me notwithstanding their pretensions in this part of the Sentence For 1. if they ground this their judgement upon the Opinions before mentioned their ground is not firm for we see those Opinions have not been legally proved against me and besides this is a confounding the distinct heads of scandal and ignorance c. against the tenor of their own Ordinance 2. If they bottom it upon n He was brought to witness to that Article viz. That I was ignorant and very insufficient for the work of the Ministry Hastlets Deposition it is a notorious piece of o Qui statuit aliquid parte inaudita altera aequum licet statuerit haud aequus fuerit Sen. injustice 1. In regard he was not examined till the day of Sentence I having no time given me to make my defence 2. In that he was objected against as a Common Drunkard and so an insufficient witness 3. In that his testimony was single without any concurrent evidence and so not legal Whence it appears that my Judges in thus aggravating my guilt with the terms of ignorant and very insufficient c. aggravate their own condemnation in the eye of the Righteous Judge of all things Sent. It is declared under the hands of six of the said Commissioners and seven Ministers their assistants c. Obs I shall conclude my Observations on this Sentence with some things it is requisite for me to discover and lay open touching the Qualifications and Dispositions of some of those Ministers and Commissioners which agreed to this Sentence of Ejectment Here I shall begin with the Ministers ANd first with Mr Tickle who some yeers since hath shewed himself a bitter and professed enemy against me in a Pamphlet Entituled The bottomless pit smoaking in Familism put forth by him 1651 In which he bedivels me all over calling me Familist pag. 49. There is one Pordage a Familist who cares neither for Scripture nor Reason and pag. 81. The God of the Familists whom they generally serve is the Divel The sink of sin and in his Epistle brands me for one that will say and unsay any thing giving a mistaken instance in these words And at the same time at Redding could call in all with o These men will not permit me to explain my meaning when by speaking either short or obscure I am mistaken by any I meant not so This he speaks in reference to that dispute about the Deity of Christ and here confesseth that I did not stand to the ownment of what he then and hath since accused me of about the Deity of Christ How then durst they Sentence me for denying it when in the discourse I said I meant not so as he here confesseth Now whether this person