make pictures of hell e. g. I as Christ Godded in God a typicall Christ you are Christed partakers of the divine essence that of God to God and body and soul to the grave fleshly ordinances carnall scriptures c. We need not quote the texts where these phrases are neither need we name the men that handled them thus indeed we cannot they are more in number then we can count The Dr in his printed answer to this article speakes much of the souls union We desire to speak a word not to amaze as he doth but to benefit the Reader We do acknowledge a reall spirituall eternall union between Christ Saints when we think of it sometime a little fire kindles and we say Lord what is man our hearts close with that of a godly learned * Reynold Conf. with Hart. cap. 1. Divis 2. man spoken upon an occasion something like this and very proper to these dayes the unity saith he that the Scripture notes is of three sorts first of persons in one nature secondly of natures in one person thirdly of natures and persons in one quality in the first is one God in the second is one Christ in the third is one Church i. e. The company of the elect called and sanctified by one spirit partakers of one Baptisme knit to Christ by one faith among themselves in one love to serve one Lord in one hope of one eternall glory the first and second of these unions we desire to believe because they are written and to admire because they are exceeding glorious the last union by the spirit and faith we desire to feel and experimentize in our own souls knowing that in these cob webby times of vain speculations one beam of Gods love one drop of the bloud of Christ upon our hearts one witnesse of the spirit in ordinances will doe us more good then all the meteors and notions in the world But as for H. Ns union of being christed in Christ and I. Ps. union of the deity and pure humanity to be one flesh and W. E. union of God is in thee and thee and the N. Qs union to be Christ a part of God we desire to look on them as more abominable then abomination it self nay more ugly then hell it self To the second and third his answers followeth Concerning the little horn Dan. 7. to be Christ This article was four years since exhibited against me from which I was discharged by the Committee Richard Higgs John Higgs and Richard Luington attesting on oath that I paraphrasing on the seventh of Daniel and speaking of the little horn said that some interpreters would have the little horn in the letter to be Antiochus Epiphanes a bloudy and persecuting tyrant others think the little horn to be the Turk who is a great persecutor of Christians * Mark this phantasticall ignorance if not worse for by such a mysticall liberty names may be applyed that we dare not name which how dreadfull is it But in the mystery in regard of his power we will apply it to the power of Christ in a christian who is often in Scripture resembled to the horn of David and to the horn of salvation and that upon three considerations In regard that Christs power in the soul doth appear to be a little horn a small despised instrument to sence and reason for flesh and bloud look upon it as a poor instrument in regard of bringing down the strength of sin in us Secondly In regard of sin and 6 This man belies the Divell who quakes at an ordinance much more at Christ's power his fear that Christ will exert and put forth an act of power into the heart through an ordinance is so great that he even trembles at the thoughts of it the very addresse to the solemn reading of a chapter will make the Divell sad he is afraid of the issue your anti-ordinance men in England are the best friends that he hath had this many a day Sathan who laugh the power of Christ in the soul to scorn yet before him his accursed kingdom must fall 3. In regard of its birth beginning in the soul it is at the first as a very 7 We have heard the parable in regard of grace that to be little at first but never of Christs power to be little till now litttle grain of mustard seed yet in due time it will destroy the kingdom of sin and set up the kingdom of holynesse in us having thus drawn away the vail from this article I hope it appears with a more tolerable and innocent face That I am very ignorant and insufficient for the work of the Ministry I believe those that exhibite this article against me upon tryall will be * All the precedent articles prove it if some of them should not come within the act for blasphemy which plea iâ— his Diana yet they all prove him to be ignorant and insufficient in a very high degree of both found very ignorant and insufficient to judge of it and as to those that are to be my judges I hope they will not make their wills the rule of ignorance and insufficiency But proceed according to the Canons of pure reason or supernaturall revelation in giving judgement concerning this particular the event of which I leave to God The proofs of the aforesaid articles The aforesaid Mr John Tickhill of Abingdon This Deponent saith that the Dr did deliver that by male and female Gen. 1. We are to understand by male the Deity by female the humanity and that these two are one flesh and being crosse examined he further saith that the Dr did deliver these expressions with approbation and the Deponents hath cause to believe it was his own judgement and as far as he doth remember it was delivered as his judgement The second was fully proved upon oath before the Justices by Francis Smith of Bradfield who went to the Dr about it being much offended and told him the little horn made war with the Saints yet the Dr did still pertinaciously maintain it and spake evill of those that opposed him in it The aforesaid George Aslet of Bradfield further deposeth and saith That the said Dr about a moneth since did deliver that doubtlesse the Apostle in that text 1 Cor. 6. know ye not that your bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost did not 8 Why doth the Dr quarrell at this text unlesse it be urged here as a forcible argument against fornication mean these earthly bodies And this Deponent further saith that the Dr did deliver that by that text Gen. 18. vers 19. I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him c. was not meant the outward houshold of Abraham but his inward houshold his will and affections which he was Lord Paramount over and he quoted that text in the last of Joshua as for me and my house we will serve the Lord which
with new tongues they shall lay hands on the sick God will bring them to glory and God the Father will deliver up to them the keyes of his everlasting Godhead To conclude This never enough accursed doctrine of a typicall Christ did spread like a gangrene in Calvins time a little after in England by Henry Nicholai born in Amsterdam an ignorant man but a crafty hypocrite and one that had a kind of deceiving violence in his smooth language of love since that in New-England by Gortyn and his disciples and then again in England very lately Mr Rutherford who is good at surveys and viewing gives a most shrewd guesse that the tokens of this soul-plague are to be seen upon the books of Mr Saltmarsh c and now at this day this plague-mark is visible to every eye and creeping about many hearts Is it not a sad thing that persons should take in such notions of Christ that do altogether destroy Christ that blaspheme his person reproach his bloud deny his purchase and that make his infinite love and grace to poor sinners to signifie just nothing in which notions a man cannot be godly while he lives and must be damned when he dies for the rise progresse growth and continuance of found godlinesse flowes from the right knowledge of Jesus Christ Do we not see these figure-makers and makers of types which God never made which never came into his heart what shadowy empty creatures they are the Socinians and Familists have nothing for the soul reall in this world their light is darknesse their sublimated notions froth their words bubbles their holinesse mere varnish their austerity Pharisaisme their fasting and prayer when they do it a device to entrap souls their publick demurenesse private loosnesse their comfort a delusion What they shall have in the next world in case of finall impenitence which the Lord of mercy forbid is reall indeed but what is it but a sence of wrath and guilt of sin even against this now blasphemed Jesus Christ a worm of conscience a lake of fire the gnawings of heart which are really so grievous that no heart can think or guesse and all this without remedy without ease even for ever and ever The eighth and ninth Articles of the first charge First That Christ was not God Secondly That Christ was not Jehovah Adde to these the fifth article of the last Charge viz. That one speaking to him of the glorious persons in Trinity he replyed persons in Trinity there is no such thing and again there is no such thing as persons in Trinity The Drs answer to these are as followeth That Christ is not God that Christ is not Jehovah I do acknowledge that such expressions were uttered by me but I hope the bare expressions of such * Hâ—bemus confitentem It had bin far better said such horrid diabolicall blasphemies then such negations this is very improper and so mincing what Christian heart can bear it negations do not make me come within the guilt of the act for it must be known what words preceeded such expressions and what followed to say in preaching there is no God doth not make the preacher guilty of atheisme if the words going before be but annexed the fool hath said in his heart there is no God so do but joyn these words with the 15 What former you should have said with the latter this is put in as a miserable wretched shift say that such a blasphemer is an adulterer yet joyn these words with it viz. he goes a whoring after his own inventions this is not culpable former Christ is not God the Father Christ is not Jehovah Jehovah taken strictly for the person of the Father the first person of the glorious Trinity I say add but these words and there is nothing blasphemous or culpable in such expressions Though I do acknowledge that such expressions fell from me viz. that Christ is not God that Christ is not Jehovah yet I never avowed or maintained such propositions they were only uttered by way of * False they were the points disputed on dispute and that upon this occasion Mr Daniel Blagrave then being chair-man of the Committee demanded of Mr Tickhill what blasphemy was he answered an evill speaking against God the 16 Untruth so thick a man may feel it read the proof Father * Who heard you reply so neither the chairman nor your brother nor Mrs Pocock a studied untruth I replyed a lame definition of blasphemy had Mr Tickhill said evill speaking against God which is a word implying the Trinity in unity there had been no occasion given of contest for the ground of the expressions arose from the weaknesse of his definition of blasphemy in that he said blasphemy was evill speaking against God the Father to which I replyed his definition of blasphemy doth not reach to that for which he accuseth me for what he chargeth me with is not * What is this but a deliberate consulting of a whole series of untruthes blasphemy against God the Father but against Christ God the Son I have uttered no evill speaking against God the Son but seemingly to my accuser in saying that his imputative righteousnesse would prove a saplesse righteousnesse to all those that had not the fiery deity in the center of their souls burning up their lusts and corruptions Mr Tickhill then replyed to that Committee pray take notice that the Dr denyeth Christ to be God which I prove out of John the 1.1 Who can make sense of this stuffe the Dr wants a good memory read the proof To which I replyed Christ is not God the Father but God the Son Christ is Jehovah and so called the Lord our righteousnesse said Mr Tickhill to which I replyed Christ is not Jehovah if you take Jehovah for the personality of the Father this is the truth as the whole Committee of Berks then present can testify and I was then by their vote cleared of all the unworthy aspersions and dismissed and 17 Untruth the business dismissed but you were never discharged since upon proof of witnesses dismissed and that after a full hearing by the Committee of plundered Ministers I humbly conceive that if the former act did expressely adjudge and condemn evill speaking against Christ yet my delivering such expressions in an ex tempore dispute viz. that Christ was not God or Jehovah did not make me obnoxious to the guilt or penalty of that act because pag. 980 and 981 they only shall be condemned as guilty who shall avowedly professe maintain or publish in words or writing such and such execrable opinions c. Which I never did nay I professe avowedly the contrary and declare in the sincerity of my heart that the thought never entred into my soul to deny the Godhead or deity of Christ and I have avowed maintained and published by preaching that Christ is God out of John the first and twelfth The word
even the Divells scarce ever durst utter The Dr. hath brought in his Protestation Ans Be pleased to read the animadversion upon it for present consider the Elcesaits Priscillianists and Familists they took liberty to dissemble in their own defence though they did so upon different grounds The e Alphons de Castro adver haeres l. â—0 Elcesaits took a liberty to say any thing because they held that God was more pleased with truth in the heart then displeased with falsity in the mouth The f Aug. de haer haer 7. Priscillianists they allowed in themselves the denying of the truth because they held it better to conceal the truth with lying and perjury then to confesse it with shame and infamy The a Cambden Annal. l. 2. p. 18 219. Familists held it was lawfull for them to deny upon their oathes before Magistrates what they list or before any other which were not of their own Family which of these the Dr. will choose for his brethren we cannot resolve it is lâ—ke he will acknowledge none of them for his master nor is it needfull that one Heretick should learn of another for the same Divel may teach them all in severall ages the same Errors Heresies and Blasphemies as b Cal. instruc adv Libert c. 1. p. 435. opusc Calvin observes The fourth and last head is ignorance and insufficiency we shall leave it to the conscience of every impartial Christian whether his shewing himself grossely ‖ That is the most favourable word we wish there be nothing of pride contempt and scorn ignorant of the Lord Jesus in his Person and Offices even to a denial of them and that with reproach and this in publique his sencelesse allegorizing of the Scriptures be not a sufficient ground for being sentenced ignorant and insufficient As for our awn particular if we know our own hearts we have not been acted in this businesse through spleen passion or personal respects but in sincerity desiring and according to our meannesse endeavouring the glory of Jesus Christ and the good of precious soules nor do we find our selves moved and we desire we may not with those unworthy * Robbers lions Fierie furnaces partiall cruell envious unjust killing the Prophets crucifiers c. These and such like are the sweet flowers of his meeke Rhetorick in his book to this purpose speak the Familists against the Puritans in their supplication to King James printed An. 606. aspersions and reflections cast upon any of us by himself his Lawyer or his partie As for the Dr. himself we heartily wish that God may vouchsafe him repentance unto life and that God would be pleased to open the eyes and turn the hearts of those poor seduced people who are Belepered with these impious and impure doctrines and that God would make and keep the Commissioners of this County and all the counties of this Nation Conscientious in and Couragious for the Truth C. F. The Reader is requested to observe that that Note p. 18. beginning Lastly whereas the Dr. complains c. is misplaced and page 84. at the beginning of the page let him take in this The Drs. Answer In the Preface page 5. line 3. read plurality for penalty p. 8. marg r. read for was p. 17. l. 18. r. so for too p. 18. l. 14. r. soaringnesse for oaringnesse page 20. l. 1. for there read theirs p. 24. mar The Quae. dele The. ibid. at the end of the margin for dejected by these renowned r. detected by the summoned p 26. l. 16. r. Acerrimi for Acerrini p. 27. l. 1. for so r. for p. 40. l. 16. read worke for world p. 78. l. 12. read bear for blaze p. 79. l 5. r. Isleworth for Haworth p. 84. l. last r. our for one p 98. l. 7. r. salt for soft p. 99. l. 24. r. procedure for procedence p. 101. l. last read crown for crow p. 111. margin r. ω for ο penult p. 119. mar r. quam for quod p. 127. l. 25. r. vocans for vacans p. 159. l. 34. r. at for all p. 168. l. 2. r. enemies for exercises ibid. l. 33. r. Antichristian for Antichristianisme p. 169. l. 6. r. ever for either ibid. l. 9. Harnesse for hardnesse There are other Literal faults and faults in pointing which thou art desired to mend or passe by A Just narration of the proceedings of the Commissioners of Berks upon Articles of Blasphemy pretended visions uncleannesse c. exhibited and proved against John Pordage late minister of Bradfield in the said county MOnday the eighteenth of September 1654 being the first day of the Commissioners meeting a charge of articles was then exhibited to them against Doctor John Pordage Rector of Bradfield in this county who was thereupon by warrant dated the same day under the hands and seals of five of the said Commissioners required to appear and give answer to the said articles on thursday the fifth of October following at the Bear in Speenhamland by Newbery On which day the said Doctor accordingly appeared but produced no answer onely pleaded he had been formerly discharged from the matters charged against him in the said articles by the Parliament and the former Committee of this county which no way appearing to the Committee it was then resolved by them that by vertue of the Ordinance they had power to question the said Doctor upon the said articles and did then order him a copy of the said articles and further time to give in his answer thereunto till thursday the nineteenth of the said October At which time the said Doctor again appearing after many demurres by him made to the authority of the Commissioners in a comtemptuous way and manner he did exhibite his answer in writing to the said articles But additionall articles being then exhibited against him the Commissioners ordered him a copy thereof and gave him a fortnights time to bring in his answer to the said additionall articles and then to produce his witnesses for proof of his defence and justification to both the said charges and had summons granted for his said witnesses accordingly On thursday the second of November the said Doctor made a further appearance and gave in his answer to the said additionall articles and further additionall articles being then exhibited against the said Doctor the Commissioners ordered him a copy thereof and gave him furrher time to give in his answer thereunto till the two and twentieth of the said November at the Bear in Reading at which time they appointed to proceed upon the whole and ordered witnesses to be then and there produced on both sides as well for proof of the said severall charges as of the Doctors answer and defence thereunto and summons were issued out for that purpose On the said two and twentieth of November the Commissioners meeting at the said place and receiving the Doctors answer to the third paper of articles proceeded to examination for proof of the
passive obedience to be the materiall cause of justification Yea I own and acknowledge Christs righteousnesse to be the souls righteousnesse in point of justification when it is applyed upon a true ground according to the true b So Mr Erbery would say that Christ was God according to the Scriptures in his sense sense of the spirit in the Scriptures The proof of this article The aforesaid Master John Tickle examined to this article This Deponent saith that the Doctor delivered that the imputative righteousnesse of Christ was a saplesse righteousnesse And being crosse examined to this article and asked by the Doctor whether these words viz the fiery deity of Christ in the centre of our souls burning c. were not added as some limitation to this second article This Deponent saith he doth not remember any such addition as is mentioned in the interrogatory unlesse it were in * Thus which righteousness Dan. 9.24 Is not the saplesse righteousnesse of Christ But the fiery c. opposition to the righteousnesse of Christ which he called saplesse and he farther saith the Doctor did not deliver any such limitation as he makes in his answer thereunto and that there was no such word as c Let the Christian Reader observe this passage except spoken nor any thing like unto it Master Roger Stephens of Reading Gentleman sworn and examined To the second article this Deponent saith that Doctor Pordage delivered in a sermon at Ildesly that the righteousnesse of Christ was a saplesse righteousnesse a mere empty thing Observe what was the drift of the Drs sermon and he doth not remember any thing to the contrary but that the same was an intire sentence and only so and that to his apprehension the drift of his sermon then was to take off the strength and efficacy of Christs righteousnesse And this Deponent farther saith that in the said sermon the Doctor did deliver these words viz you are not to look to this meaning as the Deponent apprehended Christs righteousnesse but to the fiery deity burning in the center of the soul consuming and destroying sin there which last mentioned sentence did not immediately follow the words which he used when he said the righteousnesse of Christ was saplesse but the same was farther off in the midst of his sermon On the defendants part In behalf of the Doctour to this article Mary Pocock sworn and examined This Deponent being asked whether she heard the Dr deliver the second article viz. That the righteousnesse of Christ was saplesse and whether it was delivered with a limitation or not saith it was with this limitation viz. Except the firery deity of Christ be in our souls burning up our lusts and corruptions And this Deponent being asked whether these last words were spoken together with the other words to make up one sentence saith yes thus that the righteousnesse of Christ was saplesse except the fiery deity of Christ be in the center of our souls burning up our lusts and corruptions Richard Higgs of Sulhamsted Turner sworn and examined This Deponent saith that he hath been a hearer of Doctor Pordage at certain times for five or six years last past and that during that time for ought the Deponent knows the scope of the Doctors Ministry hath not been against the right or due application of Christs righteousnesse but against the mis-application thereof for ought he knows But this Deponent being asked whether he hath been a constant hearer of the Dr he saith he hears him very often but he is at his own parish in the mornings and sometimes he is absent at other times but he hath often heard the Dr. And this Deponent being further asked what he hath usually heard the Dr preach concerning the imputative righteousnesse of Christ he saith he cannot charge his memory but hath a note to which he would reflect for recollecting of his memory and thereupon produced a note drawn in the form of an examination in which what he should say was prescribed unto him which note was given him from the Dr as he confesseth and being asked what himself or what the Dr meant by Christs righteousnesse he saith he cannot depose f This witnesse the Dr called godly sober learned was the animadversion But here the Dr interposing saith that Christs righteousnesse is his active and passive obedience Upon which the Deponent was further asked what was Christs active obedience he saith it was his suffering on the crosse Daniel Roberts of Reading feltmaker sworn and examined This Deponent saith he doth not remember he ever heard the Dr preach above once which was about three years since at Bradfield on the g The men of his perswasion keep the Lords day on this account because it is the custome of the nation Sabboth day as the Deponent was going to Wayhill Fair and that then the Drs text was upon that Scripture The Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a treasure hid in the fields which treasure the Dr did soundly apply to the righteousnesse of Christ and that he did very much extoll the righteousnesse of Christ but he doth not remember any expression of imputative righteousnesse and that to his best remembrance the Dr did explain the righteousnesse of Christ to be his obedience to his Fathers will as far as the Deponent could judge and the Deponent being asked whether the Drs drift in his sermon were not to advance an inherent righteousnesse he saith he cannot remember Animad first Animad 1. and that in these three particulars First as to the Articles secondly as to the Drs witnesses thirdly as to his plea. First particular As to the articles we entreat the reader to observe that these two articles deposed and the other two of which anon were not collateral passages but the main heads of Dr Pordage's sermon his text was Malachy 3.1 his Doctrine That God doth usually prepare his way in the hearts of his people before he comes in with his glory to them He proceeds thus There are severall preparations laid down by Divines as the conviction of sin the terrours of the law the death of Christ the free grace of God which are said he but fleshly and flashy discoveries I shall give you said the Dr the preparations according to the six dayes work in the creation the seventh being that glorious rest when God comes in with his glory to the soul The first preparation is a glorious union which union is the fiery deity of Christ mingling and mixing it self with our flesh The second is a glorious righteousnesse Dan. 9.24 which righteousnesse is not that saplesse imputative righteousnesse of another viz. Christ as he explained it but the fiery deity burning in the center of the soul The third is a glorious liberty which liberty said the Dr is not a liberty and freedome from the guilt of sin the curse of the law the wrath of God purchased by the blood of another and applied by the
is not meritorious of any mans salvation The fourth article of the last charge That it was a poor thing to live upon the bloud of Christ and fetching it over again in a contemptuous kind of speaking Piff said he thou art a babe thou knowest nothing to live upon the bloud of Christ that is a poor thing Answer To the former of these articles being the fourth of the first charge the Dr gives no particular p And gives this reason in print viz. not being within the act against blasphemy Observe what use this man makes of that act in his printed answer he puts in the word only a notorious untruth pag. 43. studied on purpose to deceive He saith that Mr Tickhill did mistake which is not a mistake in the Dr bâ—t an impudent untruth answer His answers to the third and fourth articles of the last charge are as followeth viz. To the third I call heaven and earth to witnesse that such thoughts never entred into my soul nor did such words come out of my mouth for my judgement ever hath been and still is that the bloud of Christ is satisfying reconciling and cleansing bloud that it is interceding redeeming meriting bloud in relation to all those who through faith and patience come to inherit eternall life To the fourth I acknowledge that about four years since some such expressions were uttered by me to Mr Grip but without any such intent as may be supposed by my accusers and not with that circumstantiall aggravation of repeating it in a contemptuous manner which is but q Read the proof is not this an interjection of scorning a supposition of my adversary and cannot be attested upon Oath without his witnesse pretends infallibly to r How should we know your thoughts but by your words know my thoughts and purposes Again this being spoken to a particular person upon a particular occasion might be true if the circumstances of the discourse were accordingly added though as here presented it seems very monstrous Therefore to make things clear I shall here insert some particular circumstances which may present this article though in a new yet with a true face I coming to Mrs Grips house she s Untruth took me into a private room to have some conference with me alone where she t False read the animadversion breaking forth into a violent passion of tears weeping and wringing her hands and pouring forth â—itter complaints and invectives against Mr Fowler as that he was a gracelesse man a lier and a slanderer not worthy to come up into a Pulpit or to have the name of a Minister of Christ with other such bitter expressions the cause of which was as she then told me Mr Fowler 's reporting about that she then lived in adultery with a gentleman not far off and after her passion was somewhat allayed she brake out into these or such like expressions of high assurance Christ hath loved me and died for me and justified me by his blood from all guilt of sin I am an elect person a justified person and what is this Mr Fowler to u Oh the invention of man not such a word spoken charge sin upon me these and other expressions fell from her to this purpose from some of which I feared she was drenched with †A mere figment and base contrivance of his own heart Antinomianisme and told her more then once it was a poor thing to live upon the bloud of Christ and to look so much upon that except she had the nature of Christ and the spirit of Christ asking her where was the meeknesse of Christ the patience of Christ to suffer as an innocent lamb quietly w Oh amazeing that any man could devise such untruths so many and all fore-thought and deliberate not a true word But still she cried out she lived on the bloud of Christ I told her it was a poor thing to be thus exalted with notions of the bloud of Christ without mentioning sanctification and those holy graces which flow from Christs nature dwelling in the soul Now by these expressions of mine my scope was to make Mrs Grip see the necessity of sanctification and of a pure and holy life and not to make void the blessed effect of the bloud of Christ applyed accordâ—ng to the mind of God and true meaning of the scriptures and now having related the x See what Mrs Gâ—ip deposeth to these circumstances at the end of her deposition circumstances as near as I can rememember I believe a sober and knowing Christian will not judge me either y This fardell of studied untruths is very scandalous scandalous or ignorant for these expressions The proofs of the fore-mentioned articles The aforesaid Mr John Tickhill This Deponent further saith that the Dr delivered that the liberty and freedome spoken of and purchased by the bloud of Christ is not a liberty or freedome 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 And this Deponent being crosse examined by the Dr further saith that the very summe and substance of this article was delivered fully and roundly by the Dr in the expresse words for the substance of them and that without any limitation to the best of his remembrance Master Christopher Fowler Minister of S. Maries in Reding and one of the Assistants to the Commissioners sworn and examined deposeth That about three weeks or a moneth since this Deponent acquainted Master Daniel Blagrave the younger that these Commissioners did intend to 2 This gentleman with others was summoned to appear by a warrant from the Commissioners to testify his knowledge as to this article and some others but did not appear The Quae. What that clause intends in the Ordinance viz the Commissioners shall issue forth summons when the persons summoned will appear if they please and if they will not they may chuse for so some have answered had the appearance bin according to the summons the doctrines and deeds of darknesse had bin more dejected by these renowned summon him to testifie what he knew of Dr Pordage's doctrine in relation to Jesus Christ and thereupon among other things the Deponent asked him whether he did not hear the said Dr deliver that the bloud of Christ was not meritorious of any mans salvation to which be answered he had heard him speak to that purpose Susanna Grip wife of John Grip of Reding Joyner sworn and examined This Deponent saith that she told Dr Pordage it was a high thing to live upon the bloud of Christ to which he replyed piff to live upon the bloud of Christ that is a poor thing and repeated the same again and said thou art a babe thou knowest nothing to live upon the bloud of Christ that is a poor thing whereupon the Deponents heart fell almost dead with fear at his words And the said Susanna
how he could raise such a report saying she did not think he could have bin such a Divell and there solemnly did averre before some Christians that she did not speak to the Dr so much as one word of Master Fowler and did conceive it to be a plot to affright her So that as the Dâ—s lying answer was premeditated through wickednesse her answer upon her oath was premeditated also through providence Thirdly As to that passage of the Drs contriving or some of his Angels what Master Fowler should report c. Master Fowler remembers not any such thing reported by him to any of the gentry as his own judgement the truth is many of the gentry have rather wondered at his sparingnesse and silence when occasion of such discourse hath bin offered the ground of which silence was sincerely this when he looked upon the reports of many six or seuen years since and the suspicions of some godly persons he durst not justifie her and on the other side when he looked upon her profession gifts expressions temptations he durst not condemn her especially when he looked upon her temptations which he believed to be reall and his judgement is that a tempted person may without any great difficulty discern the temptations of another whether they are from pretence and hypocrisie or whether they are from reality and feeling especially if they have frequent conference What passages of lewdnesse there have bin or whether any he knovves not he hath spoken unto them both of this very sin six years since in private and both did deny it he leaves them and the issue to God but the rise of the Drs forgery and lying he believes upon good ground to be so false that he thinks the first deserves the Pillery the second may claim the whetstone and the Dâ—s design to blast her testimony vvill stand heavy upon his account unlesse he come to be vvashed vvith that most invaluable bloud of Christ vvhich he hath esteemed as a poor thing Fourthly Again consider that this Deponent Mistris Grip did relate this of the Drs blasphemy to Master Fowler and the other of apparitions with indignation grief before ever the ordinance for ejecting came forth saying to him and others shall this blasphemer continue to bewitch souls and will the higher powers do nothing shall such be tolerated also now whether this woman who professeth tendernesse of spirit even against the least untruthes having spoken much against this mans blasphemies and visions before any Commissioners were in being and there being betwixt them no personall grudge as to the world she is a looser and did expect to be so before hand should so solemnly depose before God and Angells an untruth we leave it to the judgement of indifferent men Fifthly Besides if the Drs discourse were as he pleads clearly against his own conscience such as it is in his answer let the Reader consider what colour even in the least can there be for Mistris Grips question viz what then Dr and his answer to that question viz. I do not use to reveal my self but I do not know what the matter is I must speak to you for consider what is there in the Drs answer but that any man may speak to any person But this is just like Master Erbury who when he had spoken most bitter things against the Lord Jesus to an understanding christian of which you shall hear by and by clapt him on the arm telling him I do not use to reveal my self so to others The truth is the Dr seeing Mistris Grip to be fixed and knowing her testimony would be looked on as consciencious and in some hopes of his own foolish heart thinking to make her a Proselyte and on that account having revealed to her that which he knew would very much discover him he thought to try this last attempt whether he might affright her out of her testimony but this would not do she being throughly resolved to go through all reports to bear witnesse against such horrid blasphemies for the glory of Jesus Christ But the Dr goes on and saith she is perjured and why because she saith she never railed against Mr Fowler in her life see p. 62. 1. Consider her answer registred by the Clark and read by him at the command of the Commissioners to all the people 2. Mrs Grips answer was this The Lord knows it is all false false never never any indifferent person may see the question is not whether she did ever rail in her life but whether at that time as the Dr pretends and which railing at that time upon such a report was the rise and ground of the Drs discourse with her And here the Commissioners did severall times offer the Dr and all his friends that if any one could say any thing to evidence the Drs answer to be true whâ—ch Mrs Grip did depose to be false he should be heard with all freedome and willingnesse but no man appearing to the point in hand the Commissioners proceeded to some other articles for which this bold fellow doth asperse them for unconscionablenesse injustice But who are his printed witnesses p. 62. with which he makes a noise and clamours upon the proceedings by this way deceiving many and hardening more 1. Mr Richard Stockwell is quoted and set forth by the Dr as a pious sober Christian pag. 63. Ans We wish him so with all our hearts this man was profered his oath if he could testifie any thing of Mrs Grip railing at Mr Fowler as the Dr pretends in his answer she did which he could not do and so was not admitted as a witnesse Obj. But the accuser saith this man Richard Stockwell is an Erburist Ans And he must say so still upon the reasons which he gave to the Commissioners till Richard Stockwell saith no. Having so fit a season we desire leave to speak a little of Mr Erbury we have no thoughts in our hearts to rake up the ashes of the dead he is gone to his account and stands or falls to his own master we do it in a little subserviency to the glory of Christ by undeceiving if he please to make us instrumentall if it be but one soul in the nation especially about London and in this county Upon personall knowledge and upon the oath of Christians if called to it we declare that these were his positions First That the Father in flesh is the Son Secondly That the Father in Adam and so downward is Christ Thirdly That the fulnesse of the Godhead is in Christ and the saints as the soul is in the head and foot Fourthly That Jesus Christ was man as he and no more God Fifthly That it is blasphemy to say that Jesus Christ made an atonement for the sins of Gods elect Sixthly That coming to a murderer sentenced to die he said thou hast killed a man what if thou hadst killed a hundred I tell thee for thy comfort God is in thee but thou
was made flesh from whence I did maintain and publish that Christ was God coequall coeternall and coessentiall with the Father contrary to all those blasphemous and execrable opinions which deny Christ to be God so that now I hope the mere uttering of such expressions by way of dispute before an understanding and judicious Committee doth not make me a transgressour according to the true sensâ— and meaning of this act Ans 2. Concerning the persons in Trinity I do here professe and avow from the sincerity of my heart that I believe the Trinity of persons as an article of my faith viz. That there are three persons distinct from each other the person of the Father the person of the Son the person of the holy Ghost yet not so as to prejudice the unity in essence and so I believe the unity as not to confound the Trinity of persons I 18 See the first animadversion where it is affirmed by a judicious and pious person as upon oath the Dr said that God in Christ and Christ in Saints is the Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity asserted from John 17. never uttered any such expressions in that way as to give any just ground of suspicion of my denying the Trinity But I remember about four years since before the Committee of Berks Mr Fowler or Mr Gilbert I remember not which desired the Committe to give them liberty to ask me two or three questions amongst the rest they ask me whether there were three persons in the deity I answered them I believed the Trinity as it is recorded 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost Thus you see I believe the Trinity but do you believe the Trinity of persons said they I replyed I find not the word persons in the text but to put you out of doubt I do not stumble at the word person and this afterward I told to the above mentioned Mr Grip in a private conference some yeares since to whom I affirmed that I found no such expressions as persons of Trinity in the Scripture and that the word person being a schole term was * And why difficult it being the most apt plain significant term that is persona denoteâ— only substantiam primam intelligentem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any substantiam singularem whether living or dead the fathers Greek and Latine agreed to use the word person as signifiing an understâ—nding subsistent There is no term so safe so full Three properties is very improper and dangerous Three qualities absurd and more dangerous Three manifestations Familisticall and hellish Three persons most suitable specially when we adde infinite divine a person in all authours generally denoting a substance living intelligent very difficult to be apprehended by common capacities but I never spake this to prejudice the true notion of the persons in the sacred Trinity which I do cordially believe but only to shew that ordinary Christians should not be too curious in prying into the deep mystery of the three persons in the Trinity but rather content themselves with what the Scripture plainly affirms of the Father Son and holy Ghost as distinct and yet one But to conclude this answer pray consider what hard measure it is thus to pick out a broken sentence out of a long discourse and so to accuse one without relating the circumstance which might serve to clear what otherwise may seem very strange to prejudiced persons The proofs of these Articles The aforesaid Mr John Tickhill of Abingdon This Deponent saith that he heard the Dr deliver before the Committee of this County at Reding that Christ was not God and that he was not Jehovah and being crosse examined he further saith the Dr did endeavour in dispute with great seriousnesse to maintain and defend as his judgement that Christ was not God and that he was not Jehovah and that there was no such expression of the Father mentioned in his this Deponents definition of blasphemy as is mentioned in the Drs answer but saith that his definition was that 19 Observe the Deponents definition of blasphemy and judge whether the Dr did not study an untruth blasphemy was an evill speaking against God derogating from his glory either in his name nature word or works and that the Drs immediate words thereupon were 20 Let the magistrate hearken ruling in the fear of the Lord and let the reader hearken and be astonished at it and grieve what can be more wickedly asserted by the Dr and more punctually proved by any Deponent Hark! he answereth blasphemy is an evill speaking against God and in his paper chargeth me with blasphemy against Christ * That as if is the breathâ— of the bottomlesse pit as if Christ were God hereupon we began a hot dispute about the Godhead of Christ the Deponent asked the Dr if Christ were God who did deny it and put the Deponent upon proof of it whereupon he cited that Scripture John the first In the beginning was the word the word was God To which the Dr replyed he is 21 he is called God so the Arrians of the founder of whom Arrius the godly Emperour Constantine said that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epiphan lib. 2. Tom. 2. Haeres 69. a wicked interpreter the picture of the Divell called God but he is not Jehovah then the Deponent replyed he is Jehovah which the Dr likewise put him to prove then he cited that Scripture his name shall be called Jehovah our righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 and as he remembers the Dr did disallow of that proof as being out of the Old Testament then the Deponent cited that Scripture Rev. 1. He that was is and is to come as being of the same purpose with Jehovah Thomas Trapham Esq one of the Committee sworn and examined deposeth That to his remembrance the word Father was not mentioned in Mr Tickhills definition of blasphemy and he saith the Dr did then deny * Did Dr Pordage speak in the sincerity of his heart as he pretends in his answer to these articles and others that such a thought never entred into his soul let the consciencious judge Christ to be God which he this Deponent acquainted Mr Blagrave with to which Mr Blagrave said if he deny Christ to be God we must take a further course with him then the Dr answered * Why was there not a course taken with him when he denied Christ to be Jehovah Christ is not Jehovah and when Mr Tickhill had confuted him in that argument then he said he was not God the Father The aforesaid Susanna Grip. This Deponent further saith that the Dr came into her kitchin at another time and as she thinks he then came from the Committee and the Dr then said whereas Ministers speak of persons in Trinity there is no such thing there are three that bear record in heaven but there is no such thing as
should follow shortly after our dear brother Love Or Coppin to whose book that crawls with blasphemy the Dr gave his approbation Or John Tawney or Everard who set their mouths wide open against God and man or Elizabeth Pool or Goodwife Geffreys who even stink above ground we that live round about him do not know any godly person but shuns him as a very monster it is a frequent blind he puts upon his reader by citing in his own behalf and against the Commissioners the godly party For our parts we dare not say that any Socinian or Familist is or continuing such ever can be a godly man our reason is because such deny the Deity and satisfaction of our Lord Jesus from the sound and feeling knowledge whereof proceeds and streams out all reall and sound godlinesse a godly Familist or Socinian sounding in our ears even as great a contradiction as a godly Turk God forbid that we should speak one pick against holinesse better that our tongues should be dumb then our mouthes utter and our hands wither then our pens should write one tittle to blemish it We desire to look upon it as the most glorious thing in the world and we would rather if our own hearts do not deceive us seek our bread and the bread of our little ones with holinesse in our hearts and lives in a howling wildernesse then to enjoy all the scepters of the world without it yet give us leave to say if it be but to ease our hearts that it is a trouble to us that Blasphemers Antichristians Anti-scripturists should go up and down under the precious name of men fearing God by which artifice they harden themselves in their impieties and infect souls with their blasphemies We do forethink that that expression of a godly Turk will sound harsh but we know not why it should 1 See Dr Calovius Socinis proflig p. 33. 34. Ignatius calls the predecessours of the Familists and Socinians the seducing serpent or the Devil preaching to destruction The Fathers denied the Ebionites to be Christians The Samosatenians were accounted and called God-killers God-deniers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quantum in ipsis quia divinam Christi naturam negabant because they denied 2 Efficitur prob dolor ut Jesu Christi religio Turcis sit ludibrio cap. 1. Johan p. 7. explic Christ to be God by nature Socinus himself saith that the Protestants held opinions that made their religion ridiculous to the Turks what were those opinions why in speciall this that Christ is God so then if we would deny the Deity of our Lord Christ as do the Familists and Socinians we were in a fair way not to be ridiculous to but to agree with the Turks again this 3 Hac ratione Turcas ad Ch. religionem allici posse ibid. p. 2. Wretch tells us that one reason of his writing against the figment as he calls it of Christs divine nature was to make the Turks turn Christians therefore by a parity of reason they that do deny the Divine nature of Christ in this point may quickly turn Turks Valent. Gentil a blasphemer of Christs divinity was not 4 Non puduit eum subsidium petere ex Alchorano Aretius Hist Val. Gent. cap. 1. ashamed to seek arguments to help himself out of the Turkish Alcoran And 5 Alciatus Mahometista sactus est idem cap. 2. Alciate one of his complices as he confessed himself was turned down-right Mahometan Calvin in his instruct ad Lib. calls them rake-hells dogs swine we fear that in giving smooth language to villanous seducers of his kind we use more manners then will do the gospel good Dr Twisse a late learned pious man did call them Atheists and he often said to one of us that all gospel Atheisme was against the Lord Jesus Christ in a little measure we find it amongst the Gnosticks and Arrians and for some Centuries their main spight and quarrel was against the Lord Jesus after for more Centuries in the kingdome of the Papacy where their damning errour is in dividing and so by consequence destroying both the efficacy of Christs grace and the fulnesse and compleatnesse of his righteousnesse as to justification upon the account of which last some learned men when zeal was in request have said That a Papist living and dying in the doctrine of the Councel of Trent can never be saved in this last Century the Libertines and Fanaticks in Germany and the Netherlands the Socinians in Poland and the Familists in England what do they mainly do but pour forth their venome against the Divinity personality and righteousnesse of the Lord Jesus To shut up all the Court Drs in the late Kings time began much to vary their expressions using such in which they might have the company of the Socinians as affecting to call Christ their Great master sometimes their Lord and master that a man could hardly discern by their prayers whether they respected most the Lord Jesus or their very good Lord and Patron God hath found many of them out cast them out the desire of our hearts to God is that Familisticall Allegorizing Antichristian doctrines may be shut out from thence and all Pulpits of the land that the name of our Dear Lord Jesus Christ may be magnified in us and we in him And so we come to the remaining articles of the third and last charge The sixth article of the last charge That it was a weaknesse to be troubled for sin The Drs answer I do not remember that any such expression as this ever dropped from my mouth and I am perswaded that no one dare assert it with an oath which if they could not make much to their purpose for with a charitable construction it might thus be made forth That it is a 3 wretched want of any reall experience for no man is so much troubled for his sin and laments over it and abhorres himself as he that hath the sense of Gods love the more assurance the more repentance weaknesse for one to be troubled for sin who hath the assurance of Gods love his sin pardoned his person justified sanctified and his will converted from and crucified to sin for such a one should be triumphing in the power of faith love enjoying sweet heavenly communion with God and saying oh Death where is thy sting and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Whereas trouble for sin thus pardoned and mortified may be an engine for Satan to make a soul question Gods love and to bring it out of a spirituall enjoyment of God into a slavish fear and disturbance The proof upon this article Note that Mrs Grip was the witnesse intended for the proof of this article who did and doth attest it and will depose it Mr Benjamin Woodbridge Minister of Newbery and one of the Assistants to the Commissioners sworn and
mind Animad 10. Upon this Doctors pretence of Holinesse height of mortification abstractednesse from the world living on the tree in the midst of Paradise c. Ans This is not the way of Gods Saints Abraham is dust and ashes Jacob lesse than the least mercy Job abhors himsâ—lfe David cryes out Loâ—d who am I Peter calls himselfe a sinfull man and Paul the least lesse than the least of Saâ—nts Thus did not the Fathers or Martyrs boast of but complaine against themselves The richest Mines lye lowest and the deepest rivers make the least noise But he must praise himselfe or else who will that knowes God and how how should he be like his predecessors of ancient and later times As Simon a Epiphan contr haer pag. 18. Tom. â— lib. 1. Magus a horrid blasphemer of Christ a sink of filthiness and Lust a man of very slender parts and a shallow judgement and so fell to deceive the people by Magicall tincturation as the Doctor phrases it he bewitched the people of Samaria This wretch gave out that he was some great one he called himself the power of God and gave out that he came downe from on high and the people presently said so even from the least to the greatest they said this man is the great power of God Acts 8.10 yet Peter tells him he was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity ver 23. he kept a Harlot whils he lived and was brui ed to pieces when he dyed The false Apostles and b Idem Haer. 31. pag. 56. Tom. 2. lib. 1. Gnosticks by what name soever distinguished from their severall ring-leaders how did they vaunt themselves as the knowing men of the world and the spirituall ones soaring in their notions they had their mysticall stuffe and unintelligible words but very Caterpillars of Hell upon every green herbe let the * Gal. 3. Phil. 3. 2 Pet. 2. 1 John 2. Jude the whole Epistle Apostles Paul Peter John and Jude be considered speaking their unerring judgement of them they called them Witches Dogs ungodly wanton bruit-beasts presumptuous ignorant cursed Children Antichrists Lyars filthy Dreamers despisers of Government for whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever This vaunting of heigths hath ever been the way of Heretiques Epiphanius observed long since that the Gnosticks of all sizes and all the rest Dignitate c. they boasted themselves with honourable titles to convey their poysonous Doctrines and Calvin of late sub praetextu nominis c. they labour to raise an esteem to themselves and so to seduce the simple under the pretence of sanctity Thus did Antonius Pocquius hear him speake for himself as one raised of God in these Last dayes thus we are now taught of God I understand nothing for God is my understanding thanks be to God by the spirit of renovation I am raised from the Dead I am quickned with Christ called with Angels I am past the Law an heire of Immortality our Soules are the secret dwellings of Divinity the world is burnt up in me by fire c. You will say what was this Pocquius sure a holy man yes if you will take his own word but heare what Mr. c Furcifer nebulo impius infal x poreus very often Calv. Instr ad lib. cap. 23. his censure of Pocquius Calvines censure was of this high-flown Meteor this Sathan transforming himselfe into an Angel of light Calvin terms him a rake-hell a villain ungodly unlucky a Swine c. yet Calvin was a man of singular patience and meeknesse insomuch as Epiphan said of himselfe that he did compell himself to write the blasphemy and filthiness of Heretiques for the good of future generations so did he even force himselfe to rehearse the ungodly and uncleane practises of the Libertines to name their persons and to set such deserved brands upon their names for the glory of the Lord Jesus and saving souls from being taken in the snare of the Devil David George of Delph in the Netherlands an Impostor a pattern both of detestable Heresies and abominable filthinesse â—parbemius in his naration of the Original of Sects pag. 21. he gave himselfe out for the Christ of God he called the Scriptures imperfect nay childish and carnall he cozened his Disciples of their Money he pretended persecution for the sake of Christ as this Doctor doth in his book and although a man would think that no person could be so irreligious or irrationall to entertain his horrid Doctrine yet a very great multitude were seduced by this vile wretch his meanes of seducing were these three 1. A crafty way of instilling his opinion into others creeping into mens mindes by little and little through subtile and wary insinuations for he would not reveale his horrible mysteries but to those who were totally his owne 2. by counterfeiting a comely majesticall kinde of countenance but 3. and chiefly by an outward shew of a holy life and a mortified conversation and his frequent and seemingly * Mâ—re austere than any Gapucian fasted three dayes together Ruther Sur. cap 4. fervent pouring out his prayers unto God at last when his Vizard began to be torne from his face by some of the Netherlands who knew him who fled to Basil for succour this wretch partly through the gnawings of a tormented conscience and partly through fear of the civill Magistrate pined away and died miserably in the year 1556. Henry Nicholas whose Blasphemies are justly accursed to the pit of Hell and whose secret whoredoms and filthinesse were at last detected yet how did this man pretend austerity holinesse perfection giving out in his gibberish that he was anointed in the hoary age of the holy understanding at the beginning he watched divers nights and fasted and prayed and praised and then came to visions and thence to the Devill Faustus Socinus that wretched Caitiffe and incarnate fiend who made it his businesse to confute that inveterate figment as he calls it more then Satanically of the Deity of Jesus Christ yet this man also pretends much meekness modesty using towards those that did detest and oppose him the sweet compellation of Brethren and that in such a sweet way as many now adayes do language it toward blasphemers he would commend Luther Oecolampadius others and as it were by a side winde of their commendations saile into the port of his own ample praises he †Dr. Cheynect rise and groath of Socianisms pretended to be a reformer of the reformers nay of the reformation it selfe he looked on other men and gave it out amongst his Proselites as low men as the Doctor calls the Ministers of a narrow stamp he saith that God in this last age intends to make many new and glorious discoveries and slily intimates as though he were the man ordained of God to erect the temple of Christ many more might be named but these are too many and truly we should admire at
the worse for the justification or condemnation of our fellow-creatures but why so when men fearing God are authorized to proceed judically against persons for Blasphemies and Lewdnesse proved by the oaths of honest knowing men and are found guilty is this to be never the worse for Wickednesse to be punished Truth vindicated the hearts of Gods people rejoyced the Soules of men to be delivered from the hands of destroyers the simple to be undeceived the mouth of wickednesse to be silenced is all this never the better Doth not this strike at all civill government and judicial proceedings for cui bono are they We are neither the better nor the worse if it be replyed we i. e. we in our selves are never the worse we answer what is there more said by the Doctor than any Felon in Newgate may speak for himselfe let any admirer of his either he or she shew the difference if they can 7. But Doctor why doe you call the Magistrates from the highest to the low ones your cause hath been before both your fellow creatures is not this the language of Babilon amongst your Babel Quakers where did you learn thus to speak what Scripture Author or indeed any man did ever learne you this the Quakers are not Men but Monsters 8. Why did you not in your appeal cleare your selfe of that suspition of bastardy which you yet lye under what is the matter you doe not speak a syllable of it did you forget it or are you guilty afraid of more discoveries you have said that you would spend 500. pound but you would right your self from that libelling charg as you terme it why doe you not begin you doe but vapour nay you doe worse by farre you design to harden your fellowes and cheat silly women the Lord prevent and follow you and us that we may cease to adde sinne to sinne and one transgression to another Lastly you conclude your appeale thus My soul flyes to thee as a Dove to the Ark of rest to be taken up into thine Eye O how my Soule groans to be taken to a presentiall enjoyment of thee to feed continually on the tree of life c. We warne you in love though you may call it as you have done the fire of wrath that a m We advise the Reader to that searching piâ—câ— of Perkins vâ—z Hâ—w farre a man may goe and be a reprobate professor may goe to Hell in his duties and doe you thinke to goe to Heaven in your Blasphemies A man may loose his Soule in a good cause and doe you thinke to save yours in a bad one nay the worst that ever was Unlesse you look on that Jesus whom with burning arrowes you have pierced and mourne which God grant your high expressions may cheat your Proselites whilest you live and deceive your owne Soule when you dye which God forbid Animad 14. Toward the Vindication of the Commissioners from the unmortified tongue of this pretendingly mortified Doctor 1. He excepts against Mr. Dunch and why because Mr. Dunch looked upon him as worse than a Felon and asked him how he durst to deny the God-head of Iesus Christ this was before the Ordinance came forth for ejection Answ A savory Speech from a Religious Zealous Gentleman our Soules desire that of his owne Order he had more company in his Gospell-Zeale which is according to knowledge pray how did Saint Paul looke on the false Apostles who did not arrive to that height of expresse Blasphemy as you have done in any proportion did not he look upon them as witches How did Peter look upon the Gnosticks when he called them cursed children going in the way of cursing Balaam How did Polycarpus look upon Marcion when he called him the first begotten of Sathan or Constantne upon Arrius when he named him the Image of the Devill How doe you thinke the Senat of Bazil looked on David George when they did execution upon his bones and burned them to ashes How did the Senat of Geneva look upon Servetus a Spaniard a Blasphemer of the Son of God when they burnt him pouring out his Soul in the midst of his Blasphemies in the very fire and this was done by the advise of Calvin Oecolampadius Melancthon and the Churches of Helvetia How did the Senate of Berne look on Valentine Gent. they arraigned him and sentenced him to Death for his Blasphemies against the Lord Jesus and the Sentence was executed upon him Aretius tells us he dissembled at the very place nay at the very point of Execution and when they were ejecting him out of the world as you did when you were ejected out of your living he boasted se pro gloriâ altissimi pati that he suffered for the glory of the most high God did not the Senate look upon him as bad as a Felon to come neerer How did Queen Elizabeth look upon Hacket think you a Blasphemer of the Lord Christ when he was hanged and quartered and whereas commonly people at such a spectacle are compassionate now by the hearing of the Blasphemies of this Seducer upon the Ladder as soon as the Ladder was turned as * Multitudine postulante demittitur exenteratusque membratim dissecatur Annal. par 4. Cambden tells us they cut him down and pulled out his very heart When Gortyn and his crew had vented these three things especially in New-England See the History of New-England pag. 186. Anno 1643. 1. That Christ was no otherwise borne than in the heart of Believers and that he and his were personally Christ 2. That Ordinances were but Silver shrines made for Diana 3. His disowning of and contempt against the civill Magistrate How did many of these godly Magistrates look upon them there how did Mr. Cotton publickly and privately presse the Magistrate not to suppresse their Doctrines only but to punish them as Malefactors Nay Mr. Wilson an humble tender meek-hearted man did professe that if the Magistrate should condemne them he would be the first man should throw the first stone at them How did the Magistrates in England look on * Prefat Barth Legat. Ob nefandos errores Hareses detestandas Blasphemias execranda Dogmata the Kings writ to the Sheriffe of London the Narrative of King James by Mâ— Sparke Printed 1651. at the latter end Barth Legat of London for these Blasphemies amongst many others 1. That Christ was not God 2. That there were no Persons in the Trinity 3. That Christ was not God from everlasting but began to be God at his Incarnation 4. That the Apostles did teach Christ to be Man onely 5. That Christ was not to be prayed unto Who for these Heresies was convented condemned and burnt in Smithfield Anno 1611. How did they look upon * Super refandis haeres Câ— inthi Vale tiniani Arrii Mâ—cedonii Sim Magi Man King James hiâ— Wâ—it to the Sheriffe of the County ubi supra Edward Wightman of Burton upon Trent
Salvation he that will goe to Heaven out of Gods way must enter in without Gods leave The next is Mr. Nutkins who is reproached by the Doctor for blinde Zeale and rigidnesse of Spirit A most unjust and false accusation the man is a man of eminency for knowledge piercing into the Scripture Soundnesse and Piety a man fearing God above many a long stander and a great proficient in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and one of those happy man he that loves the truth for the truths sake and our Lord Jesus in sincerity The last that were present but not named are Master Stroud and Major Fincher whom this Doctor calls more moderate than the rest yet their hands were to the Sentence we reply yea and their hearts too and we believe that they would go from one end of the County to the other upon their bare feet rather than it should not be done to rid the Souls of people from such a Blasphemer to whom they give no thanks at all for his seeming commendation The last Commissioner named by him but not present is Colonel Arth Evelyn a person of Conscience and Honour whom the Doctor calls A chief contriver of the designe against him and that he set the wheel of others Zeal and false Passion in motion and that he prejudiced him in London and the Country telling all he met that he was abominable and monstrous c. Ans As for designes we are not in the least conscious of any unlesse it were a design to advance the good of Soules and to vindicate the fundamentalls of the eeverlasting Gospell from the tongues of Blasphemy and Lewdnesse as for this Gentlemans driving on a designe and setting others on worke and telling all he met that the Doctor was abominable here are three untruths in a breath not one sentence true no not one 'T is confessed that he hath said to some that this Doctor was an unworthy false ignorant man before he was sentenced in which he spake his knowledge and he looks upon his ejection as an act of justice in God and an act of conscience for God in the Commissioners and a good mercy from God to the Countrey We cannot conceive what design this Gentleman is in a capacity to entertaine against this Doctor upon any selfe account as this man insinuates as though his ejection were not justice but some Plot we doe really assure our selves that the Commissioners can truly rejoyce that their proceedings were not in fleshly wisdome but in singlenesse and sincerity in this businesse and so long as they have rejoycing in themselves they doe not regard the censure of others they know the praises of men cannot cure or cool the Conscience in point of guilt neither can the strife and reviling of tongues in the least disturb the Conscience in point of uprightnesse it matters not what all the world saith so God speak peace onely they take notice that It was very unrighteous and unconscionable daring in this blown-up Dr to speak evil and that so publickly of his superiors we doe not believe that any of those great Friends of his with the frequent report of whom we poore Countrey people are amused would ever incourage him to or will support him in these unjust practises we believe it is and desire it may be farre from them we believe he made more bold to vent his spleen upon the account of his friends out of his owne presumption than ever he will have thanks for his labour As for the Ministers used at pleasure made and represented as it pleased the Doctor amongst his owne of all sizes and conditions their answer is this They desire to be found in the blessed righteousnesse of the Lord Christ whom they desire to love above their lives that in him they may appeare blamelesse before the Father and they do sincerely though weakly labour to buckle upon their bosome the breast-plate of righteousnesse which will keep the faces and reproaches of men farre enough off from their hearts They crave leave to say as their betters have said when they resisted to blood non patimur sed videmur pati We seem to suffer in the eyes of men we doe not suffer in our owne Consciences They hope they are not guilty in the transaction of this businesse to suffer as Malefactors in the account of Christ and they know they are most unworthy to suffer as witnesses upon the account of Christ They remember what Luther said when the Popes paper Bull roared against him sure said he I am afraid because I am unworthy of such an honour as to suffer for Christ this roariag Pope meanes not me What are they that they should then be reviled maligned for the sake of Jesus Whether they have cast the Doctor with Daniell as he meekly saith into the Den or with the three Children into the fire or whether he hath not cast the glories of the Gospell and the joyes of reall Saints into Sathans Den quantum in se and into the fire of the Pit the day will reveale that great day of Revelation These Ministers humbly tell their Fathers in Christ and all their fellow-labourers that they have been so inured to the noise of Nilus that they scarce heare it now they have been so accustomed to the reproaches of Anabaptisticall Arminians Anti-sabbatarians Anti-Christians Anti-ordinanced men c. that they hope they are not vain they are become deafe to them they are even almost Scandall-Proof To conclude this Doctor calls the Commissioners Crucifiers Plunderers of his holinesse at the entrance of his book and now grosly slanders some of them Oh what would these men doe if they had but the liberty of their hands as they have of their tongues he clamours as though he were Persecuted when he is indeed the Persecutor he doth not suffer but act Persecution Let the Reader judge whether the Commissioners Persecute him or he Persecutes the Commissioners what would these men doe if they had power they sparkle rage and fury through their eyes and tongues the Lord grant the Gospell may never feele the weight of their hands the little finger of the Familist and Quaking Antiscripturist would be heavier than the arme of Queen Mary former persecutors would passe for mercifull men in comparison of these Haeretici sanguinarii and the more spirituall the Heresie the more bloody 't is true they have either been smiling and fawning and meek as they call it in the cradle but it is as true they have ever prov'd foule and bloody in the saddle Blasphemy in hardness would be matchlesse in cruelty It is good for us to draw nigh to God in this glorious compleat though now vilified righteousnesse of Jesus Christ who hath and doth and will deliver us The last note upon this Doctors Appendix pag. 106. concerning his Appeale to the Higher Powers HE saith many were against his appeale and his Petitioning the higher Powers and why because it was a thing too