Coleman-street Conclave Visited. AND, That Grand Impostor, the schismatics Cheater in Chief (who hath, long, slily lurked therein) truly and duly discovered.  
Containing a most palpable and plain Display of Mr. John Goodwin's Self-conviction (under his own handwriting) and of the notorious Heresies, errors, Malice, Pride, and hypocrisy of this most huge Garagantua, in falsely pretended Piety; to the lamentable misleading of his too-too credulous Soul-murthered Proselytes of Coleman-steet & elsewhere.  
Collected, principally, out of his own big-bragadochio and Wavelike-swelling and Swaggering Writings, full-fraught with Six-footed Terms, and flashy rhetorical Phrases, far more than Solid and Sacred Truths. And may fitly serve (if it be the Lord's will) like Belshazzars' handwriting, on the Wall of his Conscience, to strike terror and shame into his own Soul, and shameless Face; And to undeceive his most miserably cheated and enchanted, or bewitched, Followers.  
By JOHN VICARS.  Genes. 34.31. 
Should He deal with our Brethren, as with Varlets? or vile Men?  1 Sam. 17.29. 
What (therefore) have I, now, done? Is there not a Cause?  Pro. 19.25. 
Smite a Scorner, and the Simple will beware.  Psal. 120.3, 4. 
What shall be given to thee, or, what shall be done unto thee, O, thou false Tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with fierce coals of juniper.  Psal. 139.21, 22. 
Do I not hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee (and thy Truth?) and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred, yea, I count them my very enemies.  
London: Printed for Nathanael Webb, and William Grantham, at the greyhound in Paul's churchyard, 1648.   

To the READER.  
CHristian Reader, (whither Presbyterian, prelatical, or Independent) I have thought fit, briefly, to premise unto thee three or four Considerations, both for Thy better satisfaction, and the clearing of mine-own integrity and ingenuity, as also by way of anticipation of some objections which perhaps may arise in thee touching the manner of my penning and publishing of this ensuing Treatise. viz: That, whereas, first of all, it may, peradventure, be imputed unto me for levity or indecency, in thus prefixing Mr. Goodwin's picture to this my Treatise: I answer, in brief (though I could say much more in justification of what I have, herein, done) That when I considered the excessive Pride of the man, to be so shamelessly (Narcissus-like) in love with his own picture, as to have it (or to suffer it to be) prefixed before, at least, three or four of his formerly published heretical and most poisonous Pamphlets, I therefore resolved so far to indulge his own humour and tumour of Pride, as to set him forth in his proper posture, with an Ecce Homo-, Her's the man, That is the Patron of heresy, and Shame of Divinity. As for the emblem over his head, of the windmill and weathercock; Certainly, 'tis no more than his Vanity and Vitiosity of mind have justly merited, which is continually coining and Contriving, in his busy-brain and heretical-heart, one blasphemous error or another (Still) to pollute and poison the souls of his miserably Seduced Proselytes. For the Motto out of his mouth, 'tis but his own fraudulent and fallacious Engine, whereby he (Still) hopes to help himself, at a dead lift, when he is closely put to it; Namely, to print and protest to his Proselytes, That he (poor innocent Man) is evermore (herein) unhappy, to be continually mistaken in what he writes or speaks, and to have his words daily wrested, and taken always in the worst Sense: By that Motto, therefore, I thought fit to mind him of his own Machivillian-Machination, wherewith he familiarly abuses his too credulus Coleman-street Companions. As for Moro-Mastix, A whip for a Fool, (which, you see, He scornfully puts away with his hand, as a too-stinging Noli me tangere); 'tis but in a just requital of his most heretical Hagio-Mastix, his lashing and lying against Truth and her pious Presbyterian Servants. And, as for that notorious lying-elogy, penned by (it seems) one of his prime and most precious Proselytes, under his picture; I was (I confess) so transported (at the first sight thereof) with holy indignation against it, that I could not forbear to retort those blasphemous untruths into the teeth of the malapert Master & his daubing-Disciple; & to let the world see (more truly) the insolent arrogancy of the One, and the lying-Vanity of the Other. And whereas, yet again; 'tis like it will be objected by Some; That surely, notwithstanding all you have hitherto said; yet this making his picture, especially in such a posture, will but exasperate and provoke more and more wrath and discontent, both in their writing and speaking against us for it. To which I answer; Truly, my Brethren, in my judgement, It is most fit it should do so, yea, and vex, and sting them to the very quick: You know (Dear Friends) who it was that said. 
Num. 25.17, 18.  Vex the Midianites and smite them. And why must this be so? The Lord himself gives the answer and reason. Because they vex you with their wiles, and gull and beguile you. And, I beseech you, tell me; what have we gotten, all this while, by our so tender handling these angry-Nettles? Have they not, thereby, stung us the more fondly? Whereas, had we, at the first, handled these thistles, brambles and briers (like the plain ploughman) with roughly-grasping hedging-cuffs of just and lawful severity; we had (I doubt not) long ere this, made them bend and bow: whereas, now, by most unseemly and sinful sufferance, they are become unto us (like Israel's Canaanites) thorns in our eyes and goads to our sides, to prick and spoil us, if the Lord, in mercy, prevent it not. But, whereas, in the last place, it is more than probable, that Some (yea, many) will be too apt to tax me with toomuch rigidness and austerity of my Style, in writing too-roughly and bitterly against him: To these I reply, That I cannot but wonder, that any (especially Independents) should, herein, reprove or reprehend me, since, even this their great pretended Master of Moderation, himself, doth so frequently and familiarly use this manner of writing, even as if it were connative and genuine unto him; yea, in his most impious answer to ever to be honoured Mr. Edward's his famous Antapologia, he hath written a piece of a Treatise in justification of this manner of writing: But, what need I? (nay, I even disdain) his pattern or practise (as 'tis his) to apologise for me, herein? Since the whole-stream and Current of the Sacred Scripture, it Self (whose Copy to write by, cannot but be, above all, most Comely and canonical) doth so amply authorise, and so abundantly justify this manner of writing (which the world calls rough and rigid) in a narrative or historical way of most sharply reproving the Works and obstinate Workers of iniquity, impiety, and blasphemy against precious and unspotted Truth; yea, and that, with such ironical-jeerings and scoffings of them, such bitter and biting taunts and terms (with holy reverence to God's word be it spoken) most justly cast upon them, as it is hardly possible for any other pen to do more, or more sharply or cuttingly, as the Apostle Paul pertinently expresseth it. Titus. 1.13. And, truly, my Christian Brethren, if ever any incorrigible-Worker of iniquity, any bold and blasphemous-heretic (together with his brother Paul Best) in this our age, deserved to be soundly & severely lashed (even by that most just law of Like for Like, Judg. 1.5. and, by that right rule of wise King Solomon, of answering a fool according to his folly. Pro. 26.5.) then, certainly, this proud, this presumptuous Fool most worthily meriteth to be met with all, and measured by his own bushel (as, I hope, ere long, he will, by a far better and abler pen than mine is) and to be most soundly and severely whipped and scourged, that, if it be possible, he may become sound in the faith; which, the Lord, knows, is my souls desire for him. These things, good Reader, I have, here, thought fit, I say, to premise to thee; thus (if it may be) to take off all unjust prejudice from thee touching myself, and my manner of writing, in this ensuing Treatise; Wherein, if I may prevail with thee, and obtain acceptance of ●y poor labours from thee, I have all I expect, and shall bless God for it; If not, I will not (yet) be daunted nor disheartened in so warrantable a work and way: But, however, shall (by God's gracious assistance) in all Christian Charity to thee, and godly resolution in myself, rest,  
Thine, in the Truth, as it is in Jesus, to serve and love thee, J. VICARS.   

A Postscript to the Reader.  
Courteous Reader:  
PRovidence having occasionally brought this ensuing Letter of my very Venerable, Learned, and Religious friend unto my hands, and, It in no little measure concerning, Me, and this my Treatise (though not in a positive approbation or allowance of it, as not being by him perused, by reason of his bodily infirmity: yet in respect of his fair and friendly esteem, opinion, and persuasion of me, It's unworthy Author, and of my former Labours heretofore seen and esteemed by him; viz. my Parliamentary Chronicle, my schismatic sifted, and others of these kinds: And especially considering that this Reverend and Religious Gentleman, does in this his Letter, manifest and declare (like an impregnable and immovable Rock) his Christian courage and constancy, his faithfulness and fervour to hate and oppose all the illegitimate and spurious errors and Heresies, of these backsliding and apostatising times) I therefore have made humbly bold (as conceiving, it not a little concerned his own ever most duly deserved honour) thus to make it public to the World, that all may see, that (blessed be our God) Truth wants not valiant Champions to vindicate her pure and spotless honour, if occasion be offered, which Letter (in brief) is as followeth.  

To my much esteemed friend Master John Vicars.  
My worthy friend,  
IT is my loss as well as grief, that I am not able to peruse your Manuscript; Surely, I should have found in it, that Zeal and wisdom, that quickness and meekness, that Conviction and clearness, that Piety and Reason, that candid ingenuity in relating, and that solid modesty in confuting, which would have well become yourself, advanced Truth, and have enervated specious errors. But I am not well, and have been enforced (lately) to omit preaching in my place, and am still indisposed to study, pray for me. Get the view to be supplied by a better eye, and be confident that I join with you and all good men, for the Truth of Christ against all Heresies and Blasphemies.  
Feb. 29. 1647. Sir, Your truly assured friend is, Obadiah Sedgewick.    

A pertinent parallel and Premonition to all pious Presbyterians, touching a very great and Common mistake among the most and best of them; viz: That We and the Independents differ not in any fundamentals, but only in matters of Discipline or Church-Government: Whereas, the contrary is, here, most unquestionably proved. Viz: That they are most obstinate Rebels, both in Opinion and Practice, and perfidious violators of such a main and principal Foundation as will inevitably ruinate all other Fundamentals of true Religion, if allowed unto them.  

The voice of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, against Moses and Aaron. Num. 16.1, 2, 3.  
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rose up before Moses and Aaron, with certain of the Children of Israel, 250 Princes of the Assembly, famous in the Congregation, men of renown. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, & said unto them: ye take too much upon you, Seeing all the Congregation of the Lord are holy every one of them; and the Lord is among them. Wherefore (then) lift ye up your-selves above the Congregation of the Lord?   

The Voice of Independents, Anabaptists and other Sectaries against the Parliament and Assembly.  
Our Independents, Anabaptists, Antinomians, and suchlike Children of error and schism, Men (I confess) famous in their generation, many of them, for Parts and gifts, have gathered themselves together, in private Conventicles, yea, and in public Assemblies too, against our Parliament and Assembly of Divines, and say seditiously unto them and of them, in their Pulpits and Pamphlets; Ye take too much upon you, in going about to Conjure all our Religion and Worship of God, into your Parliament and the synodical Circle of the Assembly, Seeing that all our Congregations are made up, only, of holy Saints, and a Godly Party, even every one of them. Wherefore (then) lift ye up your-selves above us, the Congregations of the Lord? and go about to prescribe unto us Rules and laws how and where we should worship God? And (thus) make your-selves Lords and Kings over our Consciences, and over the Congregations of the Lord, since none on Earth, but only King Jesus in heaven, hath any thing to do with us, either in conscience or practice, as touching Religion and Worship, but we, and all else are therein (being all of us Saints and holy-ones) to be tolerated and left to the liberty and freedom of ours and their own consciences, without any restraint or the least thought of intended coercive power of any civil Magistrate on earth whatsoever.  
Now then, good Reader, and you especially my dear Presbyterian brethren, let me beseech you, in the bowels of the Lord Jesus (for the honour of our God, and the helping forward of the propagation of the true Reformed Religion, according to our sacred Covenant) sadly and seriously to consider (from this present parallel, so appositely answerable one part to the other) that the difference and division of all sorts of Sectaries from us, is (in them) First, no less than heinous Rebellion in opposing, and (as the Apostle Jude says, ver. 8.) despising Dominions, and speaking evil of those dignities which God himself hath setup and ordained, yea such Rebellion, as the Lord, ye know, in that 16 of Numbers most severely punished with a most unparalleled confusion; and therefore I beseech you not to extenuate and mince (as too many of us now adays do) the sad and bad, and very wide breach, which is most unhappily and most unholily made by the Independents, and all other Sectaries; by saying that our difference is not in fundamentals, but only in point of Church discipline or Government, as if that (if it were no more) were a slight thing, and not so worthy our zealous opposing and blaming of them even therein; Whereas (besides that, ye see what a high and heinous Rebellion it is against the Lord, and against his Vice-Gerents here on earth) ye ought most seriously to lay to heart, that without Church-discipline (which is the hedge, pale, and strong wall of Religion) in what a desperate danger of utter destroying is God's Garden, the Church, most rarely and richly adorned with all sorts of sweet and odoriferous flowers, wholesome herbs, and soul-preserving plants, if you take away the pale or fence thereof, and lay and leave it open, that so wild and vile Boars and Beasts of all sorts, I mean, Independents, Anabaptists, Prelates and Papists, may most easily rush in and root-up all those sweet and fragrant flowers and precious plants? But withal, I may most faithfully and firmly avouch and aver it, that the difference is yet far greater and more grievous between us Presbyterians and even those whom we mincingly call mere or pure Independents, and that in a grand fundamental, yea such a fundamental, as is and will be the main means of total and terrible, not only shaking, but shattering in pieces, and utter ruining of all fundamentals in the true Religion, and of making that breach of all breaches, the destruction of all Religion, even so as may by no means be admitted or endured (Unless we are resolved to drive away God and all other Good from us, and that without remedy or recovery) I mean, accursed and intolerable Toleration, of all opinions and practices (which, if permitted to them, I see no reason, but must be permitted to All, and so, a universal Toleration) which most, if not all Independents claim to themselves; and so, an epidemical libertinism, or Liberty of Conscience as they call it. In this respect also-, therefore, I say, and hold that all sorts of Independents among us, (separating themselves into their private Conventicles, & unwarranted Church Way, as they call it, against all Authority and Power of the King and Parliament, the unquestionable sovereign and supreme magistracy, ordained by God himself; and in resisting whose Ordinance, they apparently oppose and resist, even the Lord God of Heaven, Himself; are not, by any means to be admitted or permitted amongst us, neither is their Separation or Division from us to be so extenuated or so minced by us, as to give any the least allowance to them in their open rebellious ways of worshipping God, where, when, and how they please, Since, especially, as here you have most evidently and undeniably seen (by that foresaid most apposite & pertinent parallel) their Sin (herein) being no less than open & odious Rebellion (which is the sin of Witchcraft) against God's righteous Authority here on earth, notwithstanding their plausible pretences (as, here, those Rebels, did) of saintship, (forsooth) piety and holiness in everyone of them, though most falsely, in their (thus) most directly rising up against Moses and Aaron, as our Independents do (now adays) against the most just and righteous Authority of Parliament, and their power, in constituting, under them for their assistance, in matters of Religion, the Synod or Assembly of Divines at Westminster, even as the Lord appointed and constituted Aaron under Moses in holy things. Which serious Premonition and Consideration, I beseech the Lord, in the riches of his grace, and in the multitudes of his mercies to poor, unworthy and almost quite dilacerated (because apostatised) England, to lay, sadly and seriously to the hearts of All, both in Parliament, Assembly, City, and Country, to make them, thereupon, more zealous for the Lord, and his most righteous Cause, even a long and most longed-for thorough-Reformation, according to our most solemn and sacred Covenant. Amen and Amen.  
J. VICARS.    

Coleman-street Conclave Visited.  
NOt without exceeding just and most important cause did the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the Fountain and Foundation of Truth, yea, Truth itself, (by way of Premonition, Caution, and heavenly counsel) tell us before hand: That in these latter days, False-christs' and false-Prophets would arise amongst us; saying, Lo, here is Christ, 
Mat. 24.23, 24.25, 26.  or, Lo, there he is. And shall with lies, and deceivable signs and wonders of pretended parts and piety, so craftily carry themselves, 
Mat. 13.21, 22  that (if it were possible) they shall deceive the very elect children of God. Behold (says our Saviour) I have told you of this before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you (see, here, how our Saviour ingeminates the caution, as a thing of serious consideration) Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers, (Mark here also, how near our Saviour comes to our Sectaries practices, & rebellious Church-ways, as they call them, now adays; or, he is in shops, barns, and such like private Conventicles) believe it not. And, as the Apostle Paul says, so cunningly and craftily will they outwardly appear (in white, innocent, and silly lambskins) as, 
2 Cor. 11, 13, 14.  thereby to transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel (says he) for, even Satan can transform himself into an Angel of light. And, therefore, one, very wittily, and most worthily distinguishes these close Hypocrites from openly profane men, 
Black Devils and White-Devils.  and loose livers, into Black-Devils and White-Devils; 
John 6 70.  And our blessed Saviour himself confirms the truth of this distinction, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? even Judas Iscariot, that sheepskin-devil, who, so craftily and demurely demeaned himself in an outward show of parts and piety, as that none of the honest and true hearted Disciples could discover him to be so, but thought him as honest and holy a man, as the best of them all; till Christ discovered and uncased him, and his own close sin, at last, found him out, and showed him to them all to be a grand Hypocrite, indeed. 
White-Devils the most dangerous Deceivers and Soul-destroyers.  And therefore truly these White-Devils are so much the more desperate and dangerous destroyers of men's souls, by howmuch the more slily and insinuatingly, they (with serpent's subtlety) insensibly creep into their bosoms and souls, and so most devilishly undo them. Wherefore, the Lord Christ told the Pharisees, especially, among the Jews, 
John 8.44.  That they were of their father the devil, and that they did his works, he was a liar and a murderer from the beginning; yea, and the Father of lies. And so, indeed, are all his hypocritical schismatical sons, young White-Devils from their grandsire Satan, that old white-devil; even such as cannot abide the Truth, no, nor abide in the Truth; but, by lying errors, Heresies, and most damnable Opinions, become (like Satan himself) murderers of men's most precious souls. And, have we not, here, now, found out a white-devil, indeed, a pharisaical Hypocrite in grain, 
Mr. John Goodwin, a most notorious White-Devil, indeed, and a Grand Impostor.  a Grand Impostor, to purpose? I mean Mr. John Goodwin, that cozening Cajaphas, and monstrous Metropolitan of Coleman-street Conclave, a most sly and subtle Deceiver, and desperate murderer of men's and womens' precious souls, by his intolerable Pride, self-seeking Singularity, and plausible Popularity; but, all of them nauseously stinking most strongly in the entrails and reality of them, of the filthy snuffs of rotten Pelagianism, Socinianism, Arminianism, and almost of all sorts of Sects and schisms, and most dangerous and damnable Opinions: But yet, all of them, so confidently and craftily gilded-over with specious shows and deep pretences of piety, and protestations of singleness of heart and sincerity, and with such studied terms and rhetorical phrases of artificial Sophistry, (wherein, 
Prolicit ampullas & Sesquipedalia verba.  he is one of Satan's most exquisitely documented Disciples) and interlaced or interlarded with such bombasted six-footed, enchanting terms, and deep dissembled flourishes, vows, and attestations of God, 
Horat. de arte Poeticâ.  Angels and men, of nothing but simplicity of spirit, and saintlike sanctimony in this good man; thus to puzzle men's understandings, and to dazzle their eyes, and delude the judgements, even, oftentimes, of deeply discerning spirits, who, on a sudden, peruse his works or writings, until the file of second thoughts, and more serious consideration (by the help of God's grace) comes upon them; and then they most palpably appear in their connative colours, and smell most unsavourily of abominable Collusions, dangerous and damnable Heresies, schisms and Blasphemies. And thus for these many years, he hath most boldly gone on to deceive the world, but especially his own miserable soul, and cauterised conscience; and is now become like the smith's anvil, or a Nethermilstone, more and more obdurate, 
M. Goodwin like the smith's anvil, or a nethermilstone.  and inpenetrably hardened by often hammering and hatching his notorious errors and Blasphemies, even to this very day, in flatly denying Scripture fundamentals, as, God's eternal decree of predestination to reprobation; yea, the translated Scriptures, and Originals too, to be the ground of our faith. In justifying man's free will to supernatural good; universal redemption of all both good and bad; man's natural reason to be the ground of faith; 
M. Goodwins damnable heresies, briefly mentioned.  And his natural abilities to improve gifts of nature, and moral endowments, so, as to merit salvation. And such like most detestable and damnable Pelagean, Arminian, papistical and Socinian Heresies. And withal, he hath gotten one most notorious cheating Engine to help himself (as he hopes) at a dead lift, and to harden himself in these his wickednesses and deceivable practices, the smoothlyer to cheat his pitifully puzzled Proselytes (beside the lying and flattering Encomtums and eulogies most unjustly bedawbing him over, even by these his own bewitched sycophantical Followers, who magnify and elevate to the clouds, his falsely pretended Piety and precious Parts, gifts and graces (forsooth) Namely, That, when he is put, clostly, to it, by any of his solid sound and learned Opposites and Antagonists, 
M. Goodwins grand-Engine to cheat All that will believe him.  about these or any other his damnable Opinions: He most dissemblingly and deceitfully professes and protests to his Proselytes, and those that will believe him: That (Goodman) 'tis his great unhappiness to be, still, mistaken both in his preaching and writings. And, this base and beggarly put-off is also, by him, most boldly backed with that Scripture; Every day they wrest my words and all their thoughts are against me for evil. 
Psal. 56.5.  And this he hath done in print, in the front of his Pamphlets, Calumny arraigned and cast; Hagio-Mastix, and others, whereas the Lord of heaven knows, and all that read impartially can truly testify, He does but cry whore first, as the Proverb is; he himself being the most egregious liar and Slanderer; as anon in its more proper place, you shall see most truly and punctually proved under his own hand. And thus most audaciously, and with a brazen face, and (as the Prophet says) even with a whore's forehead, 
Jer. 3.3.  he denies and disclaims his own bastardly brats, his wicked holding or maintaining of any such dogmatic and dangerous tenets, or ever having preached or written any such impious or damnable heresies and destructive opinions, as are above, or besides, or contrary to God's written Word; yea, though we have his own words under his own hand writing, or printed Pamphlets, most evidently and undeniably testifying the truth of what we object against him; as if, because he is wilfully blind himself, he could as easily or forcibly blind our eyes and stop our mouths, and befool our judgements, that we should neither be able to see, or say, or believe the visible and undeniable evidences we hear and see, read and have in his words and writings against him, which is such intolerable and unparalleled impudency, as hath hardly been heard or found in any heretics, or schismatics, before and besides him. But now to come to the matter, which I mainly intend in this little Treatise of the discovery of his most false and fallacious double-dealing with God and the world, and his bold and blasphemous opinions and errors frequently and most confidently brewed and broached by this Arts-Master, or Arch-Master of impudency and impiety, who yet most lyingly protests and professes the contrary, and that he (Good man) does all in the* integrity and sincerity of his soul. I having lately read (as oftentimes I, 
Simulata pietas est duplex, im● Diabolica iniquitas.  heretofore, have done, many of Mr. John Goodwins other Works) a pretended rare masterpiece of his, now lately printed and published, entitled, The Authority of Divine Scriptures Asserted, gaudily garnished and pranked up with a flourishing Frontespiece, 
The Authority of Divine Scriptures asserted.  and big-promising Title, and his Picture (forsooth) bravely set out by the side of it (like a Vimners brave Bush at the Tavern door) to grace (or rather disgrace) the porch of that stately structure, and underneath it, some of Mr. Daniel, tailors, most abusive and flattering poetry, or encomiastic lying lines besmearing it. And (as my custom is, in reading any men's labours) I first reading his Epistles, and after them, the ensuing Subject or Matter of his book, whereas, I most seriously expected to have met with an ingenuous and just recantation of his wicked and blasphemous dealings with the Translated-Scriptures, yea and the originals too, in his Hagio-Mastix, 
Hagio-Mastix.  I contrary wise encountered a second scelerous encounter of his, against the said sacred Scriptures, and a strong and strenuously struggling endeavour in him, most superciliously and proudly to maintain yea and magnify what he had formerly said and held in his foresaid hellish Hagio-Mastix, pretending (in this second assault) only the use of his forementioned old Engine, viz: how He (good man) was miserably mistaken in his meaning and managing of that business; and now, in this last book, most perfidiously and proudly pretending an Asserting of the Authority of the translated Scriptures, whereas he falls a fresh into a swaggering humour of saucily tampering with, and temerariously contaminating of the Sacred Scriptures with his pernicious and polluted pen, even as desperately and deceiveably as he did before; and, as he had formerly done, in a deluding half sheet of paper, 
M. Goodwins Candle to the Sun.  which he called A Candle to the Sun. Which he printed and published immediately after the just hue and cry of God's people against his felonious Hagio-Mastix, as if he would have made us believe that he would have stopped that sacrilegious thief for us, which, indeed was most worthy to have been apprehended and severely punished by the hangman; But he did but therewith also more and more abuse us, by his, thus, juggling with us. But, because, I know, that Dolosus versatur in generalibus, and that therefore 'tis not so fair play to deal too long in generals, I will now, therefore, briefly and truly come to particulars; and first will show the Reader the double-dealing of this notorious white-devills most deceitful heart, and tongue and pen (for they all go together, as our Saviour himself says; 
Mat. 12.34.  Out of the abundance of the heart the tongue speaks) out of what I have seriously observed, even to admiration and amazement, in his Dedicatory Epistle of that foresaid book, to the Parliament; wherein, first, 
Divine Authority of the Scriptures asserted, Epist. to the Parlc.  I shall take notice (though it comes not first in order or place of his other fawning expressions therein, yet because it so peculiarly concerns the Parliament and his vapouring love thereof and respect thereunto) of his most false and fallacious juggling and dissembling with Both those Houses, professing such obedience to their authority, and reverend assent and respect to their weighty employments; whereof and unto whom he useth these words. 
Pag. 2. line 21. and p. 4. l. 14.  I am not conscious to myself of any refusal of subjection to any just law or imposition of men. And again; I reverence the great concernments of the kingdom (and I hope Religion and Reformation are two of the greatest of them all) in your hands, wherein, from the beginning, I have served you with all faithfulness and simplicity of heart, hithereto. Now, then, whither Mr. Goodwin be a fair-dealing honestman; or, does not her play the notorious juggling Jesuit with Equivocations, 
The first trial of M. Goodwins honesty; and discovery of his notorious juggling & hypocrisy.  and mental reservation's with the Parliamet, and in all these expressions show himself a notorious liar and abominable dissembler, let any discreet and impartial man judge. For, what greater rebellion and disobedience, or refusal of subjection to the Parliaments most just ordinances or impositions can there be, than, that now, when as they are, and long have been, about the work of Reformation in matters of Religion and Church-Government, wherein they have fixedly resolved to settle the Presbyterian-way, for Mr. J.G. (with others his schismatical Companions, and brothers in iniquity) of his own giddy head and head strong humour, not only without, but contrary unto Parliamentary-authority; or any other lawful power given unto him, to set up a churchway of his own, and most rebelliously and Schismatically; with unbending boldness and obstinacy, to this very day to persist in it? Again, How hath this obedient Gentleman scoffed and jeered at, yea, reviled and abused the Ordinances of Parliament, especially, that, about the preventing and restraining of the spreading of Heresies, errors, and blasphemous opinions, in an anonimous Pamphlet containing 38 Queries against that Ordinance, which was printed by one Symmons for Overton (two of Master Godwin's prime and most pernicious Pandours to all his printed and published spurious Brats, Anno 1646) and Master J. G. being indubitably believed, yea assured to be the bold broacher and impious Author of those blasphemous Queries. Together with his 12 subtle and most deceivable Cautions, full fraught with sly insinuations, and most abusive expressions against the work and way of Reformation, intended by the Parliament; These 12 Cautions also being printed by, and for these two foresaid base Brokers, who, for filthy lucre, set forth all, or most of his bold botcheries and blasphemies. Thus you see how obedient Master Goodwin is and hath been to yield subjection to the just and lawful impositions of men in lawful, yea supreme authority, in his practices thus far. And now let us see how he reverenceth them in their great concernments of the kingdom, and with what faithfulness and simplicity of heart this good and meek-minded man hath observed and respected the Parliament in his judgement and reverend opinion of them; And this cannot be better seen and shown than under his own hand writing (herein also) in his proud and pernicitus piece, entitled, innocency's Triumph, and in his lavish and licentious preaching in Coleman-street, where also he hath notoriously endeavoured to blend and blemish (if not quite extinguish, as much as in him was,) the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Parliaments; printing and professing, That the generality and promiscuous multitude of the World, who have aright in nominating persons to Parliamentary trust and power, are but a secular root, out of which (the Independents conceive, and Master J. G. with them, 
Mr. John Goodwins radical reverence unto, and pious Opinion of the Parl●.  that) there is an impossibility that a spiritual extraction should be made; and that a man may as well bring a clean thing out of an unclean (in Jobs expression) as make a spiritual extraction out of this secular-root which hath no authority (no authority, mark his words) from Christ to nominate or appoint who shall order the affairs of Christ's Kingdom, or institute the government of his Church, &c. Thus, Mr. Goodwin, in sum, insinuating, that, on this ground, the Parliament hath no authority or power to enact Laws or Statutes in matters of Religion, &c. as learned, religious, and ever to be honoured Master Prin, in his 
* Truth triumphing over falsehood, and Antiquity over Novelty, p. 106, 107, 108 &c.  excellent answer to Mr. J. G. hath at large related, and judiciously and truly dilated to Mr. Goodwins eternal shame (if, at least, he had any in him, for he outfaceth all, with most bold lying, and subtle denying All, as if he (poor man) were still mistaken, and misinterpreted, in all he speaks or writes, yea, notwithstanding that Mr. Prin affirms (and I am most confident his testimony is true) that Mr. Goodwin voluntarily confessed these things before the Parliaments Committee) and for which his so unsufferably, audacious, 
Oportet mendacem es●e memorem & audatem.  and presumptuous affronting and undermining the Parliaments undoubted privileges, he was most worthily sequestered from his living in Coleman-street, and should have been farther proceeded against to imprisonment, &c. had he not been favoured by some, far more than he deserved. Yea, and as Mr. Prin testifies in that foresaid place, this most notorious liar, who (as you heard before) did pretend such reverence and obsequious observance to the great concernments of the Kingdom in the Parliaments hands, and who (in this his t'other day's Epistle to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, professed, like an immarbled Dissembler that he had from the beginning, thitherto, served them with all faithfulness and simplicity of heart) did in a most daring manner, even whilst he was under examination, most boldly preach over the same things, in substance, again, in his pulpit, on a solemn Fast day, and published them with additions, in two several printed Pamphlets; yea, and after his censure for this his foul delinquency and obstinate insolency, he did once more in a higher strain than before, (like an incorrigible Delinquent or Malignant indeed) preach these notorious slanders against the Parliament; showing himself most palpably a man most desperately despising Government 
1 Pet. 2.10. & 1 Tim. 3.2, 4, 5  (at least any government that the Parliament should establish, not suitable to his fancy) stiffly self wild, and boldly speaking evil of dignities, notwithstanding those his most false and fallacious brags and boastings of himself, like a proud Pharisee, indeed, to the contrary.  
Again, this notorious white-devil or fly Hypocrite, and most arrogant pharisaical justiciary of himself, in the foresaid Epistle to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, 
2 The second trial. Epistle to the Lords and Commons, pag. 1. l. 25. & pag. 2. l. 5.  hath these words. I speak the truth, and lie not to your honours; It is more easy to me to suffer than to complain. And so tender am I of the reputation of those that have mistaken me (to qualify a hard action with a soft expression) that I can hardly desire a perusal of my vindication, lest thereby, they also may possibly suffer. And again, (for these his expressions are all of them to render himself a most mild, patient, tender-hearted Saint, to All, in All, that is done unto him, or said or written against him.) I am not conscious to myself of the least wrong I have ever done (Mark these words, good Reader, I beseech thee) either to man, 
Pag. 2. l, 21. M. Goodwins big boast of his own innocency and meekness of Spirit.  woman, or child, in word or deed. Now, how honestly, holily, and uprightly, he hath dealt in all these, let these following particulars (faithfully taken out of his own writings and expressions, extant in print under his own hand, which I will but briefly touch upon) abundantly manifest and declare to God and Men. And first, I shall pray the honest and religious Reader to take notice how Mr. Goodwin hath made good these his so seeming serious protestations of his piety and probity, his mildness and sweetness of spirit, in his answering of reverend, religious, and learned Master George Walker, a most eminent and ancient Minister of God's Word in London; who had, formerly, most soundly, gravely, and godlily convinced him to be a notorious Socinian, Pelagian, and Arminian: To whom, in his bold reply thereunto, Mr. Goodwin uses these words, and most uncivil and unseemly terms. That Mr. Walker a Minister of Jesus Christ, should transform himself into the likeness of an Angel of darkness, and besmear the brightness of his face with the grease and soot of hell, 
1 M. Goodwins meek spirit to reverend M. Walker.  is the most unnatural and unreasonable Netamorphosis that ever was heard of. Again, five sober words (of Mr. Walker's) would have gone farther with me, (and see here what sober words this mould-man himself useth to a grave and godly Minister) than a thousand crackers, or the raging reasonless roaring of ten thousand Beelzebubs. Again, I regard no more, the rage or rubbish of any man's tongue (though, in many degrees of outward greatness and power, Mr. Walker's superiors) than I do the dung that passeth from him; therefore Mr. Walker might have kept his Earthquakes, and Whirlwinds, and fires, 
M. Ricraft's Nosegay of such rank smelling flowers as grow in M. ●. Goodwins garden, p. 6.7.  and have sold them for bugbears to scare children. And again, a heap of Mr. Walker's errors, absurdittes false and forged cavillations whereby he has laid a new dunghill before my door. These with very many more such like (yea and worse if it were possible) most base, sordid, and scurrilous expressions, hath Mr. Goodwin, that meek man used against that godly, grave, and faithful servant of the Lord, as may, more at large be seen in Mr. Ricraft's Nosegay collected together; or in Mr. Goodwins own answer, which here for brevity's sake I omit to recite. And thus you see whither this man speaks the truth and lies not, and is so moderate, temperate, 
2 M. Goodwins meek spirit toward ever to be honoured M. Prynne.  and tenderly affected, touching the reputation of other men, as before he most falsely braged and boasted of? But, Secondly, see again I pray you, what a patient, and easy-sufferer of the (pretended) indignities done unto him by others, this man is, as he would make the Parliament, and all people else believe, in his most base and abusive dealing with ever to be honoured, learned, and religious Mr. Prin, 
Calumny arraigned and cast.  in his Book entitled, Calumny arraigned (to omit his false and foul-mouthed standers of this said Gentleman, in his other book also most falsely entitled, Innocency and Truth, triumphing together, which I myself (I think) did pretty well tell him of, not long since, in my Letter, to him) which was immediately after printed, but, 
Innocency and Truth-triumphing together.  God knows, unknown to me, till it was printed) wherein how remarkably he hath given himself, and his own conscience the lie, by that most dissembling and lying vapour of his innocency in his Epistle to the Parliament, from having done the least wrong to man, woman, or child, by word or deed, and how apt he is qualify a hard action with a soft expression, yea, and how tender he is of other men's reputations; That most slanderous and scurrilous pamphlet of his (without any other witness) will most abundantly testify against him, even under his own hand-writing, to his indelible shame, and everlasting infamy, considering these his loud and proud boastings of innocency therein. In which his said most scurrilous pamphlet, called calumny arraigned and cast, he deals just like a thief. who being pursued with a hue and cry, stop thief, stop thief, he runs before and cries aloud, stop thief, stop thief, whereas he is the thief himself: just so, crafty Mr. Goodwin runs fast before, and with a full mouth, yea, a foul mouth, cries out, calumny arraigned, calumny arraigned, whereas himself is the grand Calumniator and slanderer indeed. And that the Reader may take the more serious notice of his most vile and abusive dealing with Mr. Prin, in that his calumny arraigned and cast, and may see, and know, also what wicked use is made of that his book, by others that are the Malignant enemies of Truth, and of a sound Reformation, against Mr. Prin (just, it seems, as Mr. John Goodwin in his heart desired, though his lying tongue, hath in his foresaid Epistle to the Parliament, pretended and protested the contrary) know, good Reader, That one Symmons a most desperate prelatical Priest, in a late printed and published Treatise of his, which (without shame or honesty) he calls A Vindication of King Charles; 
Vindication of K. Charles, p. 129.  being, it seems, very angry with Mr. Prin, for writing a famous History of the infamous lives of the Arch-Prelates and Bishops of England, with a most vindicative spirit, took occasion from Mr. Goodwins most lying and slanderous pen, in that his said 
* Calumny ar. p. 12, 13, 14, &c.  Calumny arraigned and cast, most vilely to rail and be revenged on Mr. Prin, only with Mr. Goodwin's pen, and most wicked reviling phrases and lewd language, of that base book of his, in the page mentioned in the margin before, calling Mr. Prins style, or manner of writing, The Dialect of Dragons, and telling his Readers, that Mr. Goodwin solemnly protested (as there indeed he does) that he could hardly refrain from taking a solemn Vow and Protestation in the sight of God, Angels, and Men, never more to have to do with Mr. Prin in word or deed, until he were turned Christian. 
M. Goodwins most unchristian Charity toward Mr. Prin.  (See here good Reader, and admire the most merciless, and wicked uncharitable charity of this notorious dissembling Saint, in pretended meekness and innocency, thus to un-christian such a truly religious Gentleman, and to make a Turk or infidel of him! Tantaene animis coelestibus irae! These, together with many other such like rotten rubbish of his rancorous pen, did that prelatical Priest cite and reciteout of Mr. Goodwins said base Book, too tedious and irksome here to relate, thus to abase and abuse that most pious and precious Gentleman Mr. Prin. And, tell me, now good Reader, is not this a temperate, moderate, and meek spirited Saint, thus to abse a man far more righteous than himself? a man whom God himself hath most highly honoured, not only to believe, but gloriously also to suffer, and bear about with him on his body, the most honourable marks of martyrdom. for the truths of the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet this Mr. Goodwin, (most like an impudent and notorious Whetstone-lyer, and prodigious hypocrite) to protest he never knew, or was not conscious to himself (ah brawney and cauterised conscience) that he had ever wronged man, woman, or child; and how tender he (good man) was of the reputation of his mistakers, lest they also might suffer therein by his means. O egregious dissimulation, of as unparalleled an Impester, I think, as ever was read or heard of! But now to proceed; Thirdly, to instance no more, as I might many others, 
3 M. Goodwins meekness, and tender-heartedness toward reverend and religious Mr. Edwards.  (even any that have written against him, or made any sound or solid discoveries of him and his rotten heretical heart, and, who, to purpose have pinched his sore, & gangrened galled-back) How most abominably and basely, unscholarly, yea, unchristianly hath he also abused learned, religious, pious, and painful M. Edwards, of honourable memory, both in his most scurrilous Cretensis & also in his as weak as wicked-work and lying lines, in answer to M. Edward's his elaborate and learned schismatic-stinging Antapologia; in both which base books, 
Cretensis. Reply to Mr. Edward's his Antapelogia.  and most paltry pamphlets of his, because he was utterly unable to refute Mr. Edward's his invincible truths, against him and his schismatical crew, with strong and convincing arguments: O! with what base and bitter terms, he falls a railing, calumniating, and slandering of Mr. Edwards, his person and parts? just like a Billings-gate-brawler, or, a Turn-again-lain-Scold, most falsely (as all ingenuous and judicious Scholars know) and maliciously slandering this learned and religious Gentleman, and solid Divine, with familiar nonsense in his writings, want of Grammar-learning, yea of ability to write true-English, and most shamelessly calling and counting him, a man totally void of wit or understandeng, grace, goodness, and honesty, in such an uncivil and even brutish manner, as if he himself, indeed, had dofft & quite thrown away all conscience, Religion, and honesty, yea even humanity, itself, or manly nature and nurture, and were fallen out of his wits and stark-mad, and all because worthy Mr. Edwards, had like a faithful Physician and skilful chirurgeon or exact Anatomist, 
The true cause of M. I. Goodwins rage and rancour against M. Edwards.  curiously cut out, and launched to the quick, and found and laid open to the eyes and understandings of all impartial and unprejudiced Ones, the most noisome and odious leprosy of Mr. Goodwins pestilent and pernicious rotten heart (both in Mr. Edward's his famous Antapologia, and in all the three parts of his gallant Gangrena) to Mr. Goodwins eternal indelible shame and deserved infamy, with all truly religious, judicious, and ingenuous, both Scholars and Christians; but, the particularising of all which Mr. Goodwins most base and unworthy dealing with M. Edward's (as, is above only most briefly touched) I have here purposely omitted to avoid prolixity, the rather because both those Mr. Goodwins base books, and most paltry pamphlets were so lately written, and those his abominable abuses therein scattered and bespattered are so fresh, or, rather stalely-stinking, I doubt not, in most men's memories.. And thus, as you see, hath this monstrous and most malignant Rabsheca railed on, and reviled these faithful servants of the Lord (notwithstanding, yea, most contrary to his foresaid most false and fallacious profession of such a tender temper toward the reputation of other men, and of being so fair and facile a sufferer of (pretended) wrong done unto him, rather than a doer of wrong to man, woman, or child, in word or deed) And thus most like a mad man and one directly out of his wits, or like a swaggering Swashbuckler, crossed in his humour, hath Mr. Goodwin, without fear, wit, or honesty, with his most licentious and pernicious pen, even most stupendiously abused such eminent and excellent, religious, grave and godly Gentlemen, as I may confidently avouch, and easily justify, have more true piety, honesty, conscience, and constancy, (in holy things) in either of their little fingers, than this puffy-puck-fist, Mr. John Goodwin, has in all his fat-fed body, hollow heart and all. And now in the fourth and last place, (though when I wrote the third instance immediately before this, I intended no more instances for the proof of this second trial of Mr. Goodwins honesty, or rather the discovery of his notorious hypocrisy,, yet) there now, about this time, coming forth in print, another most paltry pamphlet of this our unblushing Cheater, and boldest Champion for schism and heresy, entitled Zion college Visited, 
4 Mr. Goodwin's tender-heartedness and meekness of spirit toward the reverend and religious Ministers of London.  (whereas he might have been better busied in having been (as he is) a vicious Visitor of his own Coleman-s●reet Conclave) and finding it so full of filthy weeds, of slander & calumny against all the Religious & reverend Subscribers of a book of those our famous and faithful London Ministers, entitled, A Testimony of the truth of Jesus Christ, &c. & too easily observing (the Lord knows with grief of heart) that M. I G. had therein also most foully and falsely abused All of them, being about 52 in number, (at its first impression) with most scandalous terms and jeers; and all because they also had so nearly touched his copyhold of heresy, and stung the gauled back and cauterised conscience of this most impious Impostor, and scelerous schismatic; I, hence, therefore, perceived what store of matter he had administered more and more to show and set forth his abominable hypocrisy and dissimulation, both with God and men; as, briefly, thus it shall now, most plainly appear. Whereas this notorious Dissembler had, as I mentioned before, most proudly, falsely, and fallaciously, protested and boasted, In his Epistle to the Lords and Commons in Parliament aforesaid, How tender he was of the reputation of those that had mistaken him in his words, or writings, as to qualify their hard actions with his soft expressions, lest they might possibly suffer by aught he should write in his own vindication: professing also that he was not conscious to himself of the least wrong done by him to man, woman or child, in word or deed. See now, good Reader, how he hath performed those protestations of his, even the clean contrary way, (just as he did with those other three most eminent, and well deserving Gentlemen aforesaid) to all those religious and reverend Ministers of London, the grave and godly Subscribers of the Testimony, aforesaid, In which discovery I will be as brief as may be, and most faithful (by God's grace) in the relating of some of the most slanderous terms, and impious scoffs and jeers, put upon those grave and godly Subscribers. In the very Title page of his vicious visitation of Zion college, he scornfully terms the Ministers Testimony; a Pamphlet pretended to be written by the Ministers of Christ in London Province, & in the same page he most falsely charges all the 52 Ministers with indirect and unchristian dealing. In the first page of the book itself, at line 8, he most proudly claims 
* Dan. 5.19. The fair flowers of M. Goodwins garden, or rather, the stinking weeds growing on the dunghill of his Syon-Col. Visitation.  Nebuchadnezar's prerogative (to retort, here, his own words most justly upon himself) over all the 52 servants of God, To slay whom he will, and whom he will to keep alive. To Saint his own Disciples, and make Scythians of the most pious Presbyterians, that stand in his way and oppose his most wicked and odious opinions, and thus, as he did, before, most abusively un-christian Mr. Prin, so here he doth most barbarously Anti-christian, at once, all those 52 most learned grave and godly Ministers that have faithfully attested against him. And in the same first page, he calls the said reverend Ministers religious Testimony to the Truth of Christ Jesus, in most inferior contempt and scorn. A few papers lately come out of the press, calling themselves; A Testimony, &c. and there also taxes them with impudence and boldness. Page the third, he jeers the Ministers in these words, That those learned and pious men had so forgotten themselves in the body of their book, as to break the head and Title of it. Page 4. he tells the Ministers, they have as imperiously sentenced errors and Heresies, as if the Chair of papal infallibility were, of late, translated from Rome to Zion college. And in the very last line of this page, he tells a downright lie of the Ministers concerning the Covenant. And in the fifth page, he jeers them with merely and proudly tantologicall emptynes; and in the same page, slanders and jeers them about the Parliaments tolerating of errors and Heresies. Page 6. He tells them they have prefixed a single-coloured Title, to a particoloured book. Page 9 He most notoriously jeers the Ministers, thus, 52 Church men in Conjunction with 60 Church livings. And in the same page, most wickedly belies & slanders them. Page, 11, He calls them dissemblers, shameless prevaricators, unconscionable dealers, and wicked men, whose hearts did not smite them, though they had (unjustly) drawn up a bloody charge against him. Page 16, He slanders the London Ministers (and excepts not one of them, all along) with dissimulation and partial connivance where they please, and charges them all with most unworthy, and contra-conscientious defaming of men; jeering them with their double diligence, together with the help of an evil eye. And page 18, in one and the same line, calls all the London Ministers, lions, and his brethren too; Then it seems he is a brother of lions by his own confession. Page 19, He slanders them to be stigmatizers of God's Truth, with the odious names of infamous and pernicious errors and Heresies; and most wickedly tells them, that he finds the best of them all no better than briers, to their deep shame and confusion of faces. And page 24, He most jeeringly tells the Reader, he is arraigned at the tribunal of Sinon college (mark the jeer) for an heretic; and, hopes to help this lame dog over the style, by a note in the marg. as he (he says) was informed. These good Reader, and such like, are the fairest flowers in that Mr. Goodwins garden, or rather, the most stinking weeds on his Zion college Visiting dunghill; And at the conclusion of all, on the back side of his Book, or paltry pamphlet, he thinks to put off the Reader with two or three lines of literal or verbal faults, or, errata pusilla, whereas, from the Title page to the last line of the pamphlet, 'tis full fraught and all over stained and bespotted with, little, or nothing else than gross and base abuses, or, ingentia menda & mendacia. And, are these the fruits and effects of this pious and patient gentleman's professions and protestations, of such a tender temper, and soft expressions, to qualify hard actions, lest he harm the reputation of his Antagonists. O intolerable juggling and dissimulation! O abominable, and even formidable white-devil, indeed, thus to hope to gull and beguile the world with such gilded pills of hypocrisy, and mischievous conzening! We have an old adagy; 
Ne Hercules adversus duos.  Ne Hercules adversus duos. But this great Goliath scorning a single-duel with a little David, as Mr. Walker, Mr. Prin, or Mr. Edward's, must boldly and blasphemously bicker with the whole Army of the Lord's Prophets, 50, or 100 at once, are nothing for this Garagantua to encounter and scuffle with. Nay, in his pride and cruelty to those 52 reverend Ministers, that dare oppose his pernicious lying ways, he fears not, 
M. Goodwin fitly compared to Nero.  and cares not to imitate, yea transcend, bloody Nero, that Roman Tyrant, who wished that all Rome had but one head, that he might smite it off at one blow: Nero's was but a wish, but M. John Goodwins a real wicked act, who (as much as in him was) set all the heads of the reverend London Ministers precious reputation, upon the shoulder of his pernicious pamphlet, & with the sword of his lies and slanders, smites and strives to cut them all off at one blow of his scandalous Calumniations. And therefore to close up this passage, and to pass to the rest that follows, I will here make bold to make use of Mr. Goodwins own terms in his vile Visitation of Zion college, page 22, and retort his own rhetoric into his own face, in these words, with a little addition: Let the Sun of Christian ingenuity be ashamed, and the Moon of human candour be abashed; for, (questionless) such a sly and subtle Sophister, such a gross and grand impostor, such a bold and un-blushing blasphemer, hath not been found or heard of among the sons of nature, or of God, for many Generations. O what a loss hath the Church of Rome sustained that Mr. John Goodwin turned not Jesuit all this while! certainly had it been so (but, God be praised, it is not so, 
3 The third trial of M. Goodwins pure Piety.  I think, yet, somewhat fear it) o what a fruitful servant would he have been to have purloined proselytes to that Antichristian Synagogue! But now to proceed to a third trial of this impious and and impudent Impostors integrity and simplicity of heart, in the things which more immediately concern God and true godliness.  
Again, in the Third place, In that foresaid Epistle of his to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, before his said 
* Authority of Scriptures asserted, p. 3. l. 6. & p. 4. l. 3.  Book, I could nor, but, even with astonishment of Spirit, take notice of another notorious vapouring profession of his, backed and bound up with an attestation to heaven, even of God himself to bear record of those things he now speaks, which the Lord knows (in him) are apparent untruths, yea, downright lies; His words are these. 
* Hear o Heavens, and give care, o earth: o what a child hath the Lord brought up, thus, to rebel, and dissemble with him! isaiah 1.2.  I call God for a Record upon my soul, that I have not the least touch of a desire to be wise, in the things of God, either above or besides what is written in the Book of God. And again. For myself, my love is such to the precious souls of men, that I cannot, knowingly, suffer any suspicious Doctrine, or loose opinion, in the things of God, to pass through the World, near unto me, unexamined; especially, when any considerable number of men are like to suffer. Mark, good Christian Reader, these words of Mr. John Goodwins, yea, mark and tremble at them, as most justly thou mayst, that a man should thus fearfully turn Atheist, so boldly to dare to call God, on his soul, to witness such a horrid and hideous lie against himself, as, I shall, ere I have done with this passage, (to my souls-sorrow, for his sake; and to his own just shame) make it most evident and apparent to God and all men, that read and hear it. And though I might, here, launch out into an Ocean of notable discoveries of his deceive ableness in this particular; yet, I will confine myself to as succinct a relation of instances herein, as with all possible convenience I may; and by God's assistance, but briefly touch some few discoveries of foul and fearful contradictions of this his proud and perjurious Protestation, most wickedly giving himself the lie, and laying him open and naked to be a most hateful Hypocrite and unsufferable Dissembler. And, first, I shall touch upon his notorious juggling and subtle insinuation for the scelerous and Serpentine working and winding in of a Toleration of all Opinions among us, which you may find in his Printed and published Theomachia, a Sermon preached by him to his Colemanstreet Proselytes; In which Printed piece of his, in the Epistle to the Reader, and pag. 11.33. & 44. to 52. (as worthy Mr. Prin, 
1 M.I. Goodwins fly insinuation of a Toleration of all opinions by that engine of h●s, his Theomachia  in his Animadversions on that Sermon, most judiciously and soundly observes, he hath most injuriously raised unjust jealousies on the Venerable Assembly of Divines at Westminster, viz. That they in their sitting and consulting, there, about the settling of Church Government, do but increase our misery and bondage, reject the truth, conjure all men's gifts and parts into their synodical-circle (as there he contemptuously calls it) and that the joy of our faith will be decreased, and evil increased by them, &c. And, then, in the body of the Sermon, he struggles, and endeavours to maintain (from Gamaliel, whose words, Act. 5. (though Gamaliel himself (as Mr. Prin excellently notes) was no Apostle, no, nor Christian neither, yet) Mr. Goodwin makes to be his Text to that Sermon, as if they were as true as Gospel, although it is exceeding clear from ver. 38, 39 that Gamaliel himself, in those words, doubted of the truth even of the Gospel itself, yet) thence, I say, Mr. Goodwin strives to maintain, That Toleration of all Religions and Opinions whatsoever, is most just and lawful, and in his Theomachia useth these words following in justification thereof; viz: That it is the greatest impudence (or folly) under heaven, for any, whomsoever, to appear, to oppose or lift up a hand or thought against any way, doctrine, or practice whatsoever (mark good Reader, his presumptuous expressions) claiming or pretending, 
Toleration of all religions justified by Mr. John Goodwin, from Gamaliel's words, Acts 5. In his Theomachia, p. 18.22, & 52, & elsewhere in that said Pamphlet.  its original from God (which claim or pretence as Mr. Goodwin will have it, all heretics and schismatics do most stoutly and stiffly urge and lay hold on, for the justification of all their Heresies, errors, schisms, and Sects whatsoever, be they ever so detestable, damnable, and pernicious) till men have security upon security (to use his own words) evidence upon evidence, yea, all the security that men in an ordinary way, are capable of, and foundations as clear as the noonday that such ways or doctrines and practices are only pretences: And, that we ought not to act to the value of one hair of our heads against them, until we see their condemnation written with a beam of the Sun by the finger of God himself. A brave piece of pernicious Doctrine, indeed, for Mr. John Goodwin, and all other his brother-hereticks to run headlong to Hell without control, if it were as easily granted, as 'tis here most boldly, 
sion-college Visited, r. 29.  but abominably claimed, and that, but from a heathenish authority. And yet notwithstanding this so plain and evident demonstration of Mr. Goodwins eager and urgent (though as craftily as can be) desire to advance this wicked work of Toleration of all Religions and Opinions, yet, in his last and late published Pamphlet, called sion-college Visited; he most deceitfully and audaciously protests against the allowance of this or any other wicked or dangerous opinion, most impiously calling God to witness the same, though we have so many clouds of Witnesses to the contrary against him; And in these words he boldly breaks forth. I here solemnly profess in the sight of God, Angels and Men, that whosoever they are that bear the errors and wicked Opinions of the times, as a burden of sorrow upon their hearts and souls, I bear my part and share with them. Nor do I believe (says he) that any of the London Ministers, who seek to render me the hatred of men, by the imputation of Delinquency in the contrary, have run either faster or farther, in the way of God for the pulling up of those noisome weeds out of the fields of Christ among us, than I have done. And again, a little after, in the foresaid page, he, thus, goes on; I have again and again in several of my Writings (I, indeed, Sir, if we had you not fast in your own Writings to testify against you, you would, I see, baffle and abuse us all to the purpose, who thus, dare deny these things, notwithstanding that we have your own hand-writings to dash you in the face of your bold denials) declared my sense (and juglingly too, yet plain enough to discover your naughty heart) and judgement to be, that no error whatsoever ought to be tolerated; but that every error sufficiently detected, (I here's the depth of the Deceit indeed) and evicted, aught to be proceeded against, &c. and then at last, he gives you, forsooth, two Expositions of the height of these his juggling interposals, viz: 1, lest intending to crucify thieves, we crucify Christ; therefore if they do but only pretend Christ (as all heretics do) you must not once dare so much as to touch them. 2 Lest we make thieves of those who err of infirmity like men; therefore hold they ever so dangerous or damnable opinions, and be ever so long or desperately hardened in them, and obstinately maintained by them, and are not, and will not be convinced of them; yet this must be accounted infirmity in them, and till God himself from heaven writes the foulness of their fact on their forehead, that he that runs may read it, we must not dare to touch them for it, & this is the most deceivable sense of this Religious gentlemen's pleading against a Toleration, even as you have seen and read from his own hand-writing. See therefore, from hence, good Reader, and be astonished at the extreme wickedness, and most audacious deceiveableness of this man's heart, which, as the Prophet says, is desperately wicked, 
Jer. 17.9.  that (thus) struggles to be wise (contrary to his own words before) above and besides the written word of God, in the things of God, whereof, I suppose, ye will all grant) this is one, and a most essential one to. Secondly, 
2 M. John Goodwin maintains man's freewill to supernatural good.  Mr. J. G. (in his brave book, so beautified, as aforesaid, with his paltry picture (for sooth) at the portal or front, and with the addition of Don tailors most false and flattering verses) most impiously endeovours to justify That a natural man hath free will and power to do supernatural good, 
The divine Authority of Scriptures asserted, p. 168, 169.  as our famous and faithful, loyal, learned, and religious London Ministers have in their late most excellent and zealous Testimony of the Truth of Jesus Christ, their great Lord and Master, discovered out of Mr. Goodwins foresaid Divine Authority of Scripture Asserted, where he hath these very words. That if God should deprive men of all ability and power to repent and believe, and yet should still move, persuade, and beseech them with pathetic allness of affection, wherein he expresseth himself in the Scriptures, even to those that perish, as well as to those that are saved; This would seem very hard yea, harder than injustice itself, but this (Says Mr. J. G.) is not so. A palpable lie against God and his Word, for the Lord very frequently and earnestly (as M. G. himself, before, confesses, commands and urges that to be done by man (and that most justly) though man hath no ability to do the thing commanded, nor is God bound to bestow ability on him thereunto, he having once had it, but most wilfully lost it; and then he there adds a most false and lying simile or example, to confirm his foresaid bold and blasphemous Charge thus laid on God, 
Here, Mr. I. Goodwin most blasphemously belies the Lord God, in this Simile, & like a Dunce in Divinity) misstaking the thing attributes that to God which man absolutely did to himself. And so he deals with God again. P. 202. l 6. &c. Ibid. p. 200.  viz. If a King (Says he) cutting off a man's legs, yea, though in a way of justice, and then commanding him, yea, and urgently persuading him with heart-melting expressions of love, and bowels of tender mercy, to run a race with one that hath his legs and limbs and is swift of foot, and to come as soon to the Goal, as he that so runs with him; this were (Says M. Goodwin) a bloody carriage in the King, and savouring of unmanly insolency over the poor wretch in his misery, &c. And so, he applies all this to God, and insinuatingly and most blasphemously makes God the author of man's infidelity and impossibility of doing God's will. Marvellous strange it is, methinks, and I cannot but wonder what was become of Mr. John Goodwins Divinity, when he wrote this, thus to slander God with cutting off man's legs, whereas 'tis well known to all that rightly know God's Word, that God gave man perfect legs and limbs, but man only cut off his own legs himself, and so made himself wickedly and wilfully unable to do God's will. 
Ibid. p. 202.  Again, this wretched Truth-wresting man says; That if God should not make men capable of believing, that is, should not endue them with such principles and abilities of reason and understanding, as by the diligent improvement thereof, they might come to be willing and ready to receive grace upon their repentance and believing in God; wicked men would (and might) have their mouths upon against God's dealing with them, and be furnished with just excuses for themselves: Thus, still, either making God a cruel Master, or a false Impostor, yea, and he is not ashamed, or afraid (as our loyal, learned, and religious Divines have noted in their excellent Book entitled, A Testimony, &c. pag. 13.) most falsely, and blasphemously, to make the blessed Apostles, Paul, and Peter, to be asserters, countenancers, and maintainers of this Arminian Doctrine of Free will; saying, assuredly they are so, (but tells us not where we may see it is so) and that, therefore, the false Doctrine of free will, ought not to suffer any dispuragment for being found among the tenets of Arminius. And is not Mr. Goodwin (thinkest thou, good Christian Reader) most blasphemously saucy with the sacred things of God in this particular also, Above and besides you, most cross and contrary to the written Word of God? Again, in the third place, Mr. Goodwin (as out learned and religious London Divines have farther discovered in their excellent Testimony to the Truth of Christ) in his foresaid, 
Testim. p. 14, 15.  Divine Authority of the Scriptures asserted, 
3 M. I. Goodwins dangerous opinion concerning the nature & ground of Faith. The Divine Authority of Scriptures asserted, p. 182. & 189.  hath these most dangerous words, and therein holds a most pernicious opinion against the true nature and ground of faith, viz. That those that are without the Gospel written or preached upon such terms, as we daily have it among us, have sufficient means (if not large and plentiful) for believing, namely, they who only have the heavens, the Sun, Moon and Stars, and God's goodness in governing the World (thus only) to preach the Gospel unto them, That is to say, Heathen Philosophers, Turks, infidels, and such like, who never heard otherwise of Christ) they also have reason sufficient (if not in abundance) to think the same thought, and to judge the same judgement, even with us who have the letter of the Gospel, in the point in hand, that is, to believe the Gospel as well as we, even by the preaching of those Apostles, (these are Mr. Goodwins own words) the Sun, Moon, and stars, God's patience, goodness, and bounty on governing the world, &c. And that 'tis clear from the Scriptures, that all the world, even heathens, and unbelievers, who have not the letter of the Gospel, have sufficient means of believing, That God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him which (Says M. Goodwin; and here's the marrow of the business) is all the faith which the Apostle makes simply necessary to bring man into God's love and favour; yea, and to prevent the wrath and indignation of God which is to come. And if this be so, (as 'tis most false, and unfound, to say and hold, the Scriptures being most plentifully against it) then, what need of Christ? without particular applicatory faith in whom, and in whose righteousness imputed to us, it is impossible to please God; and out of whom, all the most glorious and glittering works of civil and moral righteousness of the most famous moral Philosophers, and heathens in the world (and, farther, they did not, they could not go) were but as St. Augustine says, splendida peccata, specious, gay, and gaudy sins: yea, and without whom, 
Isaiah 64.6.  as the holy Apostle says, All our righneousnesses are but as filthy clothes, and menstruous rags. No marvel then, if this brazen-faced man, Mr. Goodwin, be yet more hold with God, and the holy things of God, both above and beyond the written Word of God, and dares thus to jest with such sharp edged tools, and thus to tamper and tincle by his subtle and satanical sophistry, with that most excellent grace of faith, in preaching publicly, in his seditious Conclave, or Conventicle in Coleman-street; That man's own reason must be the ground and foundation of faith; 
Faith must be grounded upon man's reason; says Mr. Goodwin.  yea, and that God did not care for that faith which was not (thus) bottomed and founded. This he both preached, and stoutly struggled to maintain in divers Sermons, as aforesaid, and this was assured and testified to me by a very honest, intelligent, and religious friend of mine, who purposely went to hear him on this subject, and the truth whereof was afterwards seconded, and confirmed unto me by the testimony of Mr. William Greenhill, preacher at Stepney, who himself told me (upon occasion of conference with him about these things) that he himself heard Mr. J. G. deliver this lying Doctrine, and said unto me, that it grieved him very much to have heard him deliver such a dangerous point, with such boldness and confidence as Mr. Goodwin did. Nay, more, my old loving, and well beloved friend, Mr. Henry Burton, lately deceased, told me, and my wife, at mine own house, in the presence and hearing also of Mr. Burton's own wife, and of one M. Carter, once a Perfumes of gloves in London, but now an Officer in Sir Thomas Fairfax Army, That Mr. John Goodwin had publicly delivered, both in preaching, and (as I remember) in print also, a most wicked and damnable doctrine (to use Mr. Burton's own words) touching justifying faith by Christ's righteousness imputed unto us which he directly denied, and from which he most audaciously detracted; 
Justifying faith by Christ's righteousness imputed to us, denied by M. Goodwin.  and Mr. Burton vowed most seriously before us all, that he also would publicly preach against M. Goodwin touching this point, notwithstanding that the said Mr. Carter came to my house, with Master and Mistress Burton, at that same time, purposely to entreat, and, as he did, earnestly to persuade and beseech Mr. Burton, that, by any means, he would not clash with his brother Goodwin in a public contestation in the pulpit, urging what a prejudice it would be to the (Independent) cause, if Mr. Burton should do so, and what pity it was, that two such ancient and eminent brethren should, thus, fall foul upon one another: But yet for all this, Mr. Burton protested most vehemently, and earnestly, that he would not be dissuaded nor diverted from his said resolution; 
M. H. B. Protested against Mr John Goodwin touching this point of justifying faith.  and yet (notwithstanding this huge seeming hubbub and noise herein) about a quarter of a year after, Mr. Burton coming again to my house, together with his wife, add I demanding a friendly reason why, in all that time, he had not performed his so serious promise and protestation of preaching against Mr. Goodwin, as aforesaid; Mr. Burton told me, That in that interim, his brother Goodwin (the Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth, and use his own words to me) and he had met together, and that Mr. Goodwin had promised him seriously to recant what he, therein, had delivered, and to give public satisfaction to the world about the same, and that for this cause only he had desisted from his purpose aforesaid. But no such matter was ever done by Mr. Goodwin, neither could I (nor I think, any else that knew Mr. Goadwins pride and high spirit) ever believe he had so much honesty, humility, or self-denial, to do any such thing. But, however it was, here was notable double dealing somewhere, I forbear to judge or say where. And about this very point, had my learned grave and godly friend, Mr. Walker, a notable bickering to the purpose with Mr. Goodwin, and gave him a sore and sure foil therein, which (it seemed) was one of the greatest causes of Master Godwin's most irreligious and irrational false and foul-mouthed dealing with that reverend Gentleman, as was forementioned. And yet, this wretched man (this is one of his sore wretchednesses and miseries, indeed) hath divers times since, and now more lately in his most mischievous and horribly lying paltry Pamphlet, 
M.I.G. proved a most impudent liar for the whetstone.  entitled, Zion college Visited, (not out of any self-denial, I believe, but, for very shame, utterly denied that ever he printed or preached any such doctrine, but, rather, the contrary orthodox truth therein, and (as if this man were given over to a reprobate sense and benumbed stupidity of soul and conscience, to lie for the Whetstone, as our proverb is) that he never held the ●● credere, to be the faith that saves us; and thus he plays in and out, and at bopeep, fast and loose with God's people, and God's most ●oly things without shame or honesty, when he is narrowly sifted and closely put to it. And now tell me, good Christian, and impartial Reader, if this be not strange love to the precious souls of his soul-murthered Proselytes, who hold all these opinions most stiffly, with himself; yet so tender is he, as he pretends, as not to suffer any suspicious doctrine, or loose opinion, in the things of God, to pass by him unexamined, to the prejudice of any: Or, rather, Is not Mr. John Goodwin a most notorious and nefarious liar and dissembler herein also? And, as a yet farther (out most false, godless and ungrounded) testimony of his large (indeed too large) love to the souls of all men and women in the World, without exception, both good and bad; He presumptuously preacheth (or rather prateth) with undaunted confidence and a most cankered conscience, That most wicked-opinion and false doctrine of universal-redemption; 
universal-redemption taught and maintained by M. Goodwin, in his Conclave in Coleman-street.  upon occasion of delivering which doctrine, he neither shames nor trembles blasphemously to call and count God an Impostor or Deceiver; as I was most credibly informed by a very judicious and truly religious friend of mine, who purposely went to hear him on that point; and the truth whereof, I need not much struggle to justify, he having printed no less in his Divine Authority of Scriptures asserted. Yea, Mr. Goodwin accounts those to be Saints, and says they are holy and heavenly men, who deny that there is one God in three Persons; & this he hath a vouched in a serious assertion of his, under his own hand, in his Hagio-Mastix; Take his own words (good Reader) and then thou wilt the more clearly judge of his most bold and blasphemous juggling and cheating, in this particular. And though for myself (saith Mr. Goodwin, here) I can and do without scruple, subscribe to the truth of this Doctrine, yea, and am ready, God assisting, to die (observe this proud Cheaters words) for it; viz: That God is one in three Persons. Yet, I know some who deny it, whom, notwithstanding this denial, I know also, in part, by mine own experience and acquaintance, but more fully by the testimony of others (worthy credit in as great a matter as this (see here how this most wretched man seems to undervalue this tenet, in as great a matter, as this, say he, as if this were but a small matter which him) to be of exemplary life, fruitful in good works, holy, heavenly Christian in all their conversation, as far as men are able to judge & liscern; shall we (then) say (says this Orthodox man of Coleman-street) that such men as these hold not the foundation of Religion? (as if this were no foundation of Christian Religion; whereas it is plainly affirmed to be one, by the blessed Apostle S. John the Evangelist in these words. There are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are One. See here, what a wicked man is this, 
1 John 5.7.  to justify them for sound, that deny this! and so he goes on to jeer those our Presbyterian Brethren, that reprove such denials, thus.) But it is none of the least or lowest of our classic Intrusions (mark his jeers) to umpire among the Stars (I mean the doctrine of Christian Religion) and to determine positively, and above all possibility of mistake, which are of the first, which are of the second, which of the third magnitude, and withal, to call them All by their names, as if they knew them as exactly as he that made them. And is not here a most bold blasphemer, and a most andacious dissembler, and out-facer of God and men? Nay more, this notorious heretical man, is so impious and bold (notwithstanding all his deceivable boastings, what an 
* sion-college Visited, p. 23.  Enemy he is to all errors and Heresies, yea most shamefully and audaciously, calling God, Angels, 
Predestination unto reprobation of the wicked utterly denied by Mr. I. Goodwin.  and men to the witness thereof) as flatly and peremptorily to deny and utterly to overthrow (as much as in his rotten heart consisteth) another main pillar, and most essential fundamental point of Christian Religion (just like his father Arminius) and teacheth his Disciples stiffly and stubbornly to deny it also, viz. 
Synod of Dort, c. 1. Artic. 6. p. 5  God's eternal decree of Predestination unto Reprobation, of all wicked and unbelieving ones, notwithstanding that the whole famous Synod of Dort and Arles asserted, but especially, the holy Scriptures themselves, do most evidently confirm the infallible truth thereof. And therefore, what a most unblushing cheater, and intolerable obdurate liar is this? thus to dare, in the face of God, Angels and men, to protest himself to be so sound and orthodox, such a mourker for, and hater of errors and Heresies, who flatly denies such a main and principal fundamental point of Christian Religion, as Predestination. Truly, good Reader, I might most justly deny to have any thing to do with such an one as 
* Contra negantem, principia, non est disput andum.  denies grounds and principles of faith and Religion. I will therefore herein plead for myself, in meddling thus much with this wretched man M. J. Goodwin, as the holy Prophet Elisha did, for himself, in another case, in these his words. And Elisha said, As the Lord of Hosts liveth, 
2 Kings 3.14.  before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehosaphat the King of Judah, I would not look toward thee (meaning wicked Jehoram) nor see thee: so truly say I, I profess sincerely, were it not that I regard the sacred presence of precious Truth, the blessed Son of the great Lord and King of heaven and earth; As mean and unworthy a poor-servant of the Lord as I am, I would disdain to have any thing to do, in the least measure, with such a degenerous, and ignoble, and abominable Deceiver, as Mr. John Goodwin is: but I say, for precious truth's sake, and for zions sake I could not hold my peace, nor withhold my zealous pen. Again, 
4  in the 4th. place, to show that this good man is most tenderly affected with love to the precious souls of men (yea, and he calls God, upon his soul to record therein, 
M. I. Goodwin abuseth the Authority of Sacred Scriptures in his Hagio-mastix. Sect. 28. p. 57  o transcendent boldness and impiety!) that he has not the least touch of desire to be wise in the things of God, either above or besides the written Word of God; This most egregiously unblushing deceiver having heretofore most abominably abused the Authority of the sacred Scriptures (and let him timely take heed, lest for this, and the rest of his abuses of God's Word, for the upholding of his damnable opinions, that most fearful curse of God fall upon him, which the Lord himself hath denounced against those that add unto, or diminish from his holy Word, or wrest it to their own wicked wills, 
Deut. 4, 12.  even the severe infliction of all the curses and plagues that are written in the Book of God, 
Revel. 22.18, 19  and to have his name blotted out of the Book of life) in his most bold and blasphemous book entitled Hagió-Mastix; which book (as is worthily noted by our learned and religious London Ministers, in their most excellent Testimony) hath these words, 
A Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ. p. 5.  and this positive assertion, under Mr. John Goodwins own hand writing That it is no foundation of Christian Religion to believe that the English Scriptures, or that Book, or rather Volume of books, called the Bible, translated out of the original Hebrew and Greek Copies, into the English Tongue, are the Word of God. A horrid and hellish indignity offered to God in his Word, and a most intolerable and accursed injury offered to all God's English people, to ruinate (as much as in him is) the ground of their faith and salvation. Now hereupon M. Goodwin having been by divers godly Christians, with Divines and others, much reproved for it, and as diligent endeavours, as could be, made by some faithful and zealous Christians in London, and particularly by one Mr. Thomas Underhill, 
M. Goodwin complained of to the Parliament, about his Hagio-Mastix.  an honest and Religious Citizen and Stationer, who endeavoured to have him and his blasphemous Book to be called into question, and him severely to be punished, (as justly he deserved) by the Parliament, though all in vain (such potent props have these irreligious and rotten builders procured in Parliament, both against Gods and man's Laws, and all justice, both Divine and civil) hereupon Mr. Goodwin begins to sweat and swagger, and (being rubbed upon his galled back) to kick and winch most notoriously in print. And first, most furiously (and therefore nonsensically) thrusts forth a little more foam and froth of his madbrain, in half a sheet of paper, which, he most vainly and slashily called A Candle to the Sun, hoping (but in vain) therewith, 
A Candle to the Sun.  for the present, to have stopped the mouths, blinded the eyes, and stifled the judgements of men; but indeed, thereby making the matter as bad or worse than it was before. Whereupon, hearing himself most justly, still cried out on, both in public and private, for that his most irreligious slandering of God's sacred Word, and most wickedly invalidating the divine authority of it (especially in such a time, when most impious and audacious Anti-Scrip●urists rose up among us, boldly and blasphemously denying the Sacred Scriptures to be the Word of God.) At last (the Lord, it seems, suffering him still to run himself out of breath, in his accustomed blasphemies, and damnable errors; as a just punishment of adding one accursed error to another, even unto his eternal perdition (if not timely and truly repented and recanted) he sets forth another hugely blustering book or rather paltry and pernicious Pamphlet, which like a most intolerable cheater and dissembler, he calls or entitles, The Divine Authority of the sacred Scriptures asserted: Wherein I for my part (and I believe others also) expected, and verily hoped (but yet with no little reluctation of spirit, fearing the contrary) he would now have proved so ingenuous as to have honestly and humbly denied himself, and recanted his former foul error in his Hagio-mastix; but perusing the Book (as I did, I confess, with no little sorrow and indignation at what I read and found therein, in his discourse of the main business) I found him strongly begin to struggle (like a Wasp or Hornet overwhelmed in a honey-pot) to maintain and justify 
Authority of sacred Scriptures asserted, p. 2.7. l. 21.  (to his just shame and confusion of face, if possibly it could be) whatsoever he had formerly written in his hateful Hagio-mastix; accounting us all either fools or frantics, that had so opposed, that, his pious piece, forsooth, & single simplicity in all he had delivered therein; yea calling us, in a most jeering malicious manner, Plowers who had made long furrows by our unjust accusations, upon his back; 
Ibid p. 7. l. 19  & thus proceeds from pag. 13 to pag. 17. where he hath these words. That notwithstanding that he had the bush of abundant authority at his back (like the man in the Moon) yet he, good man, was abused with shameless outcries, both to Magistrates and people, as if he were one of strange opinions, an asserter of dangerous Doctrines, and a spreader of I know not what absurd (he might have said, and justly too, of damnable) errors and Heresies. And so he runs on, like a subtle (I had almost said a Satanical) Sophister, with seven positions or conclusions, to prove this main matter, and impious position (which here he seems stiffly to deny; and which, our learned and religious London Divines have truly cited out of his own foresaid Pamphlet pag. 18. l. 36.) viz. 
Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ, &c. p. 5.  That, questionless (Mark his impudent confidence) no writing whatsoever, whether Translation or original, are the foundation of Christian Religion. And yet pag. 13. himself confesseth, 
So, Hagio-mastix, p. 35, 36.  That the Scriptures translated (as touching the matter, substance, and things generally contained in all the Books called canonical, (and who ever took them to be the word of God otherwise?) are of Divine authority, and the unquestionable Word of God. And then comes with this juggling distinction (thinking to cheat others as himself) viz. Sensu suno, forsooth, and then, also sensu insano (which must and does follow in this his own sense) he denies the authority of the Scriptures, 
M. I. Goodwins Sensus sanus & insanus, to know the Scriptures, discovering his gross folly and fraud, thereby.  as afterward you shall see more clearly. O what a most strangely impudent graceless juggler, and wicked wrangler with the Truths of God is this? And so, at last, in his seventh Position, or Conclusion against God's Word translated, (hoping to help his own lame dog over the style, as our proverb is) he most sottishly and foolishly concludes, (O the wisdom that is from above, how it confounds and ensnares the wisdom of the carnally wise! and enforces them to confess the Truth even against their wills and purposes, 
Magna est veritas & valebit. Authority of the Scriptures &c. p. 17.  and catches the crafty in their own wiliness) he concludes I say; That the true and proper foundation of Christian Religion is not ink and paper (see here the folly and madness of this man) not any book or books, not any writing or writings, whether Translations or originals; But that substance or matter, those gracious Counsels of God concerning the salvation of the World (of Believers, not of All, Good, and Bad, as John Goodwin holds) by Jesus Christ, represented and declared, both in Translations and originals, are indeed, the Word of God, and foundation of our Faith and Religion. See, here (then) good Christian Reader, what an abominable dissembler and juggling Impostor, is here discovered out of his own words, thus strangely to say and unsay; Before to make it out of question, (as our learned and religious London Divines testify from his own words) That no writings whatsoever, whether Translations or Originals, are the foundation of Christian Religion; And here again; That both Translations and Originals, are the foundation of our Faith and Salvation. only, we must, I say, take his lame and beggarly distinction, of sensu sano and insano; his denial to be the ink and paper, the bare book and books written, without the Sense and substance of the holy and divine matter in them contained, and most necessarily comprehended and intended, which I wonder what Sot, but Mr. Goodwin himself, otherwise takes it? And yet, this I will not be ashamed nor afraid to affirm (notwithstanding the subtle and sly distinctions of this juggling John) That even the Scriptures or Translations written with ink and pen, the book or books called canonical (to say no more) are the unquestionable Word of God, and foundation of our faith and Religion; otherwise, why did out blessed Saviour himself ask his Disciples and the rest of the Jews, continually, as in that most pertinent place of the Evangelist. Jesus said unto the young man that desired to know the way to eternal life. 
Luke 10.26. Mat. 4.6, 7, 10. John 5.39. & 7.52.  What is written in the Book of the Law? How readest thou? And frequently also, It is written, It is written: And so, Search the Scriptures, that is, the written Scriptures. O then the undaunted and deceivable impudency of this heart-hardened Hypocrite, this wicked white-devil, indeed, that thus swaggers against the very written Word of Truth, with his base and blasphemous distinctions, and impious exceptions and evasions therein. And then also, he most basely and abusively wrangles with our avouching that the Scriptures Translated or Originals, 
Syril college Visited. p. 2. 1 Cor. 3.11.  are the foundation of our faith and Religion; and thereupon tells us, that thus we go about to build upon two foundations, and then quotes that of the Apostle to the Corinths, Other foundation can no man Lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, and so goes jeeringly on (just, still, like himself) except (Says he) Jesus Christ be transubstantiated into ink and paper; and so, most wickedly, and blasphemously concludes, That no kinds of books or writings whatsoever, either Translations or Originals, (these are his own Words) can be, in the Apostles sense, any foundation of Christian Religion. O intolerable deceiver, and abominable abuser of the Word of Truth. And thus he most impiously and impudently goes about to make Christ and his written Word two opposite and distinct things, and two material and contradictory confounding foundations, whereas this assertion of his is false, 
Ephes. 2.20.  and a lying one: for, does not the same Apostle Paul, most clearly and plainly say? ye are built upon the foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets, (which must needs be the Scriptures written, Translations and Originals, how else should we come to know and believe them?) Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. See, here, now, then, are not the written Scriptures called and counted most plainly, by the Apostle, the very foundation? Yea, and the same holy Apostle goes farther, and says thus of the Scripture written by himself. 
1 Cor. 3.10.  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise Master builder (Mark these words) I have laid the foundation (as a rule for others) and others build thereon. See then, o thou false tongued, and rotten-wrangling-hearted Mr. John Goodwin, does not the Apostle plainly, here, profess himself even a Master-builder, and to have laid the very declarative foundation, not the super-structure, as thou most lyingly sayest? But the super-structure is built upon this his foundation, by other men, as there thou seest the Apostle himself says, but, which thou only most boldly and blasphemously deniest. And thou thyself hast (thus) built hay and stubble upon this faithful foundation of the Apostle, for the fire of God's wrath to burn up, in his day of reckoning and trial. And where, now, then, is thy impious and brazen faced lying jeer? most falsely put upon the learned and religious Subscribers of the Province of London, who, thou most slanderously sayest, call and count thy denial of the super-structure, only, to be the foundation, an infamous and pernicious error against the Scriptures? And is not this 
* M. I. Goodwins bold and base abusing of the sacred, Scriptures clearly discovered. Jer. 50.38.  madman in errors and heresy, this desperate heretical juggler (Think you) quite and absolutely out of his wits, and stark drunk with heresy, thus to bluster with, and thus to abase and abuse the sacred Scriptures of God, and his grave and gracious Ministers thereof, yea, and all us English Christians also therein, so as to make us believe, that we are so silly and simple, as to hold and believe, that the bare or mere ink and paper, the written or translated book or books, the words or terms (and he might as well have added the very falsities and errata in the translating or printing of some words in the Bible) so barely and simply considered and separated from the substance, sense and matter of the whole frame of God's counsels and contrivements, for the salvation of man by Jesus Christ, therein contained and promulgated to the world, are the Word of God, and the foundation of our faith and Christian Religion? 
M. I. Goodwins most desperate dissimulation, with God and men.  and that (as you heard before) the Sacred Scriptures Originals Translations, or written, are but a superstructure, not the very foundation of our faith and Religion? If this, then, be not blasphemous malice or mischief, or (at best) palpable pride, to show his flashy and frothy wit, or down right heretical rottenness of heart, against the Truth, in this wretched man, I know not what is; Thus, contrary to his own words before mentioned (yea, and to which, he most desperately and audaciously calls God to record upon his soul) That he has not the least touch of desire to be wise in the things of God, either above or besides what is written in the Book of God. Let God and man judge in this case, whether this man be sober or mad, in the things of God. Certainly, if I be not mightily mistaken, this ungodly man hath most exactly acquired, and gotten the Jesuits gi'en to cheat and cozen poor credulous souls (only turning the terms a little) Theirs was, 
M. I. Goodwin, is expert at the Jesuits gin, mutatis solum modo terminis.  Si, non Castè, tamen Cautè, and his is, Si, non Verè, tamen Vafrè. If not Conscienteously, yet as craftily as may be. And, thus, he can make, even the sacred Scriptures themselves, to speak what language he listeth, to be Orthodox, or Heterodox, true or false, valid, or invalid, even as he will, and where, and when he will.  

M. I. Goodwins proud & vainglorious boasting of his most miserably misled Proselytes.  And, now, in the fifth, and last place; In reading Mr. Goodwins foresaid paltry and pernicious pamphlet, which he falsely and fraudulently calls, The Divine Authority of Scriptures asserted; I could not but with deep admiration take notice of another passage in his Epistle to the besotted Coleman-street Conclave sons and daughters of this their glastly Ghostly-father of error and heresy; in which Epistle, 
Epistle to his besotted Sons and Daughters of Coleman-street Conclave, p. 3. l. 6. & 20, 21.  in the page, and lines noted in the margin, he hath these words. I shall endeavour to leave as much of my spirit with you, as I know how, when my bodily presence shall be otherwise disposed of. And, again; You are (Says Mr. Goodwin) my present joy, and will be (I hope) my future crown. Now, in reference to these proud & supercilious self-stated expressions of this their holy-hearted Master, John Goodwin (who, it seems, hath a monstrous conceit of his own spirit, that (living or dead) he would gladly hae it, by a Pythagorean transmigration, to come tumbling into the breasts of his beloved (or rather bewitched) Proselytes, 
M. Quarterman one of M. Goodwins Disciples, his most blasphemous and atheistical speeches and opinion touching the sacred Scriptures.  I shall, here, therefore, give the Reader a remarkable testimony of the fruits and effects of the precious spirit, and deceitful desire of this heretical Doctor of damnable Opinions; in one of his tall. grown Disciples, and dear sons of his Coleman-street Conclave, vi●: bold and blustering Mr. Quarterman of Southwark lately deceased; who, since the printing and publication of Mr. Goodwins hateful Hagio-Mastix, had, it seems, sucked no little soul-murthering poison from it and his other impious printing and preaching on the falsly-pretended asserting (but, indeed assaulting) of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures; Insomuch that this foresaid wretched atheistical fellow, M. Quarterman, in the month of February last, 1647, being in company with one Mr. Bisco, an Independent Minister, in the Parish or Precinct of Thomas in Southwark, the said Mr. Bisco and he had private conference about the Scriptures, wherein, Quarterman took occasion to tell Mr. Bisco, that, indeed, heretofore, still before his reading of the Scriptures he used to put off his hat, but of late he would not, holding it mere Idolatry and Superstition: Why, says Mr. Bisco, do you not hold the Scriptures to be holy and worthy to be reverently and religiously used and read, or words to this effect? No, replied Quarterman, I hold and believe, That there is no more holiness in them than is in a dogs-tail. Hereupon, Mr. Bisco began to be much grieved and moved, professing that he feared lest the house would presently fall on their heads, and very sharply reproved him for those words, but Quarterman (according to his accustomed bold and insolent manner of carriage) was as angry and testy as Mr. Bisco could be, and gave out among his neighbours and acquaintances of his one schismatical condition, that Mr. Bisco was a very frowards and passionate man, and had used him thus and thus, upon such an occasion; whereof Mr. Bisco understanding, on the Wednesday following (a day, of their accustomed set-meeting in their churchway, as they call it) Mr. Bisco took occasion, in the presence and audience of about twenty or thirty of them, then met together, in a sad and pathetical manner, to acquaint his Congregation (Quarterman also himself being then and there present among them) to tell them the cause of his just displeasure at Mr. Quartermans' wicked words against the Scriptures; whereupon Quarterman, again, most blasphemously broke out into these, or the like words; That he would maintain and justify, there was no more holiness in the Scriptures than was in 20, in a 100 Dogs-tayls. And within a day or two after, speaking with a neighbour of his about these passages, and his said neighbour reproving him, he replied again, There was n more holiness in the Scriptures than was in his cat's tail. All this (besides the substance of it testified by many others) I received from the mouth of one of Mr. Biscoes' Congregation, who was present, on that Wednesday, in the Assembly when Quarterman spoke the words, and stood close by his ●lbow and perfectly heard him, and the same party told me, that on the very same day seven-night following, Quarterman without any the least sign of repentance for what he had said, departed this life. And, another friend of mine speaking with one of Mr. Goodwins Congregation about these words on Quarterman, and telling him that that marvelled they did not excommunicate him out of their Church, the said party answered him, that indeed they did intend it, but that he died before they could do it. And thus, good Reader, thou seest what a spirit of bold and blasphemous atheism this proud Priest of Coleman-street had most fearfully transmigrated into the breast of this wicked blasphemer, one of his dear Disciples, (according to that old adagy, 
Malus Corvus, malum Ovum.  Malus Corvus, malum Ovum, an evil Bird, an evil Egg) and what a present joy and future Crown, such desperate Disciples are like to prove to this their heretical Master, and most poisonful Pastor. Again, I could not but take special notice of one more most notoriously false and fallacious expression of his, in the Epistle to his (more deluded, than) beloved Proselytes of Goose-Alley, alias, Swan-Alley, in Coleman-street, wherein, among divers other most fawning and flattering expressions to befool their miserably blind folded eyes, and bewitched souls and understanding into a fool's paradise, he hath these words. 
Epistle to his besotted and poisoned Proselytes, p. 3. l. 24 & p. 4. l. 2.  You have not suffered your minds to be corrupted from the simplicity of the Gospel, nor yourselves to be baptised into any other Spirit than that which speaketh {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, 1. expressly in the Scriptures, &c. Again, You have kept yourselves out of the dint of that sore judgement of God, which the Scripture calls; A delivering up unto an unjudicious mind; together with a great deal more of such like notorious lying, and deluding stuff, in those three or four pages of that Epistle. Now were it not that this deceitful man, proudly prizes all his Geese to be Swans, and most besottedly thinks, like the Ape, his own brats fairest, He, most falsely, admiring them, and they most flatteringly adoring him, as not very long since, divers of his Disciples did (upon occasion of his Hagio-Mastix, being reproved and reprehended by God's people) setting out a whole Treatise in intolerable commendation of this abominable deceiver, as if he had been the most Scraphicall and superexcellent Saint that ever earth produced, and without any shame or honesty, subscribing their names unto it, Audactèr jurantes in verba Magistri; he saying, and they swearing to what he says, and thus both of them, interchangeably triumphing, and trumpeting out highest Eucomiums, elegantest eulogies, 
Sic mulus ●●●lum scabie.  and proud panegyrics of one another's most ignoble names and shames, whereas, all this while, they and their most audacious Master, like Korab, Dathau, and Abiram, are but notorious obstinate Rebels, and run on in a bold rebellious course of resisting the supreme authority of the Kingdom, and insolently despise all Dignities and Dominions, which their fanatical and schismatical spirits have not set up, and cannot pull down, as they Impiously desire. And, thus, here's the good prophet's proverb, indeed, most rightly fulfilled, Like people, like Priest. Were it not thus, I say, 
Hosea, 4.14.  how durst this man of impudence, thus boldly and unblestringly boast and brag that his Coleman-street jingling cockleshells are such precious pearls, such solid and dainty Disciples, as will not suffer their minds to be corrupted from the simplicity of the Gospel, and that have kept themselves (O braveselfe-bottomed ones) out of the dint of that sore judgement of God's fearful delivering up to an unjudicious or unsound mind, or of God's just sending them strong delusione to believe a lie, yea, a very many lies, vented and invented, by their most deceitful Master, whereas the Lord of heaven knows, and all truly godly over the whole City, yea and country too (whose eyes the Lord hath opened and anointed with eyesalve of truth and singleness of spirit) do, alas, most evidently see the clean contrary, both in him, and his miserably blindfolded foolish proselytes, who are all of them (for the most part) most deeply died, even in grain, with all the foul and filthy Spots, (which are not the spots of God's children, but) of all the dangerous and most damnable, heresies, errors, and most wicked opinions, before recited and demonstrated to be the deeply imprinted and impressed stains of their great highpriest, their grand Cajaphas, Mr. John Goodwin, after whose pernicious pipe, they dance most delightfully? yea, and I say again how dares this even Whetssone liar, so audaciously lie, even in the face of God and men, in saying that his Proselytes of Coleman-street, suffer not themselves to be corrupted from the simplicity of the Gospel, nor to be baptised into any other spirit than that which speaks, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, expressly the Scripture language; Whereas this grand Metrapolitan of Coleman-street, under a false colour of gifted men, 
M.I. Goodwins the great Metrapolitan of Coleman-street Conclave.  forsooth, suffers divers of his Disciples, and especially, one of his prime Proselytes, one Mr. Tailor, a Mercer in Paternoster-row, and other such like mechanical daubers with untempered mortar (whom he their great Master of misrule hath some other serious avocations, some jeering and quibbling paltry pamphlet to publish, and thereby (seed vacant) in a ministerial manner, to officiate and preach to his people; And this foresaid most tender-hearted Hen, must cluck his pretty chickens under his wings, must gather together his he-saints, and she-saints of Coleman-street, and all, this above and besides, yea, and most contrary to that Spirit which speaks, 
Rom. 10.15.  {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, express Scripture Language, which says most directly, and clean against their practice; How shall they preach except they be sent? And again, No man taketh this honour to himself, 
Heb. 5.4.  but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 
Jerem. 14.14.  And therefore o how near do they come to that condemnation or accusation of the Lord God himself by the holy Prophet Jeremy. The prophet's prophecy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, (false new lights) and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own hearts. See here, good Reader, Mr. Goodwin, and his deceiving and deceived Disciples condition, 
Jerem. 23.21.  most exactly, and, even, ad amuss●●, deciphred to us. And again, The same Prophet says most appositely to our present purpose, I have not sent these Prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. Thus, I say, how near they come to this most just and severe accusation of the Lord himself to be called and counted pseudo-Apostles, and false Prophets; and how far both Mr. Goodwin himself, their great Master, and his scandalous scholars of Coleman-street, are from that false and flattering Encomium which he most daringly and deceitfully attributes to them, of Not suffering themselves to be corrupted from the simplicity of the Gospel, not to be baptised into any other spirit than that which speaks, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, 1. c. expressly the Scripture language. And so, consequently, what a most notorious liar and cheater of his soul-murthered poor proselytes, Mr. John Goodwin is, All that have impartial and unprejudiced eyes of understanding, and which look not with Master Godwin's false and fallacious spectacles, may, by God's mercy, most easily see and discover. But, whereas, there is no doubt, 
An Objection, in justification of the preaching of gifted men.  they will here object for themselves, that they conceive & believe gifts & able parts in men, of what rank or condition soever they be, are (together with their great Master and Metrapolitan Mr. Goodwins, and his holy Conclaves chamber-call, or authority) to be a very sufficient call for them to preach and exercise their parts and gifts, even in a ministerial way, and that they have the bush of Scripture-authority at their backs (to use Mr. Goodwins own fine phrase) to uphold and maintain them therein: 
Answer.  I shall give no other answer to this most false and frivolous Objection, than to desire any impartial and judicious Christian, to read that excellent Treatise, now lately come forth, entitled Church-Members set in joint, by one Filodexter Transilvanus, and he shall therein, by God's grace, receive abundance of most solid satisfaction and confutation of Mr. Goodwins, and his cozened, and cozening companions irreligious sauciness with Holy-Things in this way. And I shall here only give the Reader (as a small sip and taste of what he may more fully drink with a full draught, out of the work itself, not as any digression, but, as a most pertinent addition to the truth of what I said before) one excellent passage; 
Church Members set in joint. p. 13.  which I have purposely extracted out of that foresaid Treatise, for the Readers better present satisfaction which is this. One Chillenden, the author's Antagonist, a notable schismatic, makes this objection in that foresaid place. Talents must not be hid in a napkin, What then? (answers the Author) Therefore you would have every man improve his talon in a disorderly way. This is fine reasoning. Peradventure a Subject in some Kingdom may be everyway better qualified for the well managing of the sceptre than the King himself, may that gifted man, therefore take upon him to dethrone his lawful King, or, to rule in equal power and authority with him in his Kingdom? A woman also may possibly have more wisdom and fluency of tongue and parts, than her husband in the family, or more knowledge and grace than a Minister in the Church: may she therefore usurp authority over her husband in the family, or over the Pastor in the Church? The truth is, this excellent sciptor-principle (miserably perverted by self-willed schismatics) hath been the dark collar wherein that powder hath been hid, which hath almost blown up all Government, both in the Church, State, and Army, and hurled all things into a black, and undigested chaos of confusion, all over the Kingdom, both in City and country. And it is a most deplorable and sad sight to see that such as pretend to Religion and the fear of God, should border so near upon the Spirit of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, as to be of the same mind, and to speak the very same language with them; Thus this excellent Author. Of which said most pertinent allusion to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, I have, I hope, in the beginning of this my present Treatise, as a Preface unto it, made a pertinent parallel, fit, I think, to be seriously noted and observed.  
Thus, good Reader, thou hast seen a small parcel of the most unparalleled and unpatterned unblushing impudence, and deceivable impiety of this most hateful Grand Impostor, and schismatics Cheater in Chief, the mischievous immoderate Moderator of the accursed Conclave of Coleman-street, Master John Goodwin, and the most of all these forementioned dreadful discoveries undeniable, under his own hand-writing, against him; To whom, now, I beseech thee, say (Good Reader) may not the Lord, the great and terrible God, the only dreadful Searcher of the hearts and veins of all men, say and speak in his just displeasure, even as he did to the wicked and deceitful train, by holy David. These things hast thou done, 
Psal. 50.21.  and I kept silence, and therefore thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thyself: But, I will reprove thee, and (in my due time) set them in order, before thine eyes. O, Mr. Goodwin, you that, thus, forget what a wise, all seeing and dreadful God you have to deal with, in whose presence you have done all these things, like Nimrod that mighty Hunter before the Lord, 
Gen. 10.9.  to God's great dishonour and the intolerable abuse of your Brethren; O consider these things, I beseech you (and the Lord give you grace and space so to do) lest he tear you in pieces, 
Gal. 6.7.  when there is no hope of help, or deliverance, for you. Sir, be not deceived, God is not, cannot be mocked; whatsoever you sow, that you shall reap; for, unquestionably, 
Good counsel to M. I. Goodwin, if he be not, by hardness of heart and pride of spirit, uncapable of it.  all things are naked and lie wide open unto the eyes of him with whom you have to do; And the subtlest Politician that ever was in the World hath ever had, to God's all-seeing eyes, Corpus fenestratum, a heart and breast full of windows to discover most easily the Abditissima & penetralia Pectoris, the most intimate and deepest designs, even of Machiavils heart himself. Think not then (I pray Sir) in the pride of your heart and accustomed stubborness of your perverse spirit, That you can dance naked in a Net, and no man discover your nakedness? and that, because you will not, therefore we cannot see your juggling and double-dealing with God and men: And be not herein, like a little foolish child (as in truth, you hitherto have been all along) who because he blinds his own eyes, thinks nobody else sees him. But, believe it, Sir, if you will, still, harden your heart, and pride yourself in these your pestilent and pernicious deceivable dealings, by your adulterate errors and spurious opinions, to infatuate, yea, fascinate and bewitch others and yourself, and will not see these your most scelerous and sacrilegious sins, and foul enormities, by the light of God's Word and Christian counsel, you will, one day, (if not timely and truly repented and prevented) see them, and smart for them, and be made everlastingly miserable by them, by the flaming light of hell-fire.  
And, now, to conclude, with a word to my moderate Presbyterian Brethren; If any Eliab, or Christian Elder Brother, whosoever, shall (as He did unjustly and unkindly blame his blessed younger brother David) check this my cordial zeal and unfeigned fervour (the Lord knows) for God, & his most pure & precious Truth, 
1 Sam. 17.28.  because I saw my most dearly beloved Presbyterian Brethren, both of the Ministry and others, most basely abused and scandalised and scorned by this ungodly great Goliath, for his big blustering pretended parts and gifts (mainly, if not merely) of subtle sophistry and intolerable impudence, I mean, Master John Goodwin, who, thus, continues still, most boldly to outbrave and proudly to oppose and defy or defile those Scripture Truths, and all Truths faithful Champions, who, necessitously, and as they are justly bound, do oppugn him therein; And if they shall (which, God forbid) unjustly and unkindly count it pride or arrogancy, or any other naughtiness of heart in me, that I, a poor, mean, and despicable younger brother, in parts and gifts, in comparison of him, and thousands others of my Presbyterian Brethren, have thus taken upon me to encounter this great Goliath, this huge Garagantua, in merely pretended piety, and this hungry Helluo Errorum, this greedy Heliogabolus, and desperate devourer, and smooth digester of all kind (almost) of horrid heresies, who hath so scornfully and contumeliously, all along defied the Presbyterian army-hill of the living God? to any such I will only answer for myself (now at the last, as I briefly did at the first, in my Title-page) in holy David's fervency, honesty, humility and brevity; What have I, now, done? Is there not a cause? Should I suffer such a wretched proud man to deal with my reverend, religious, grave and godly Presbyterian Brethren, as with Varlets or vile men? to ravish them of their reputation, their precious good name, for piety, probity, and sound learning? No, truly, my dear Brethren, For Zion's sake, the Lord knows, I could not hold my peace, nor withhold my pen; for precious truth's sake, and her faithful servants sakes (whom I saw and observed to be continually so baffled with, and so grossly abused by this bold and unblushing mountebank) I could not let him alone. And, because I have very good reason confidently to believe that hereby I have mightily molested a humming Hornets-nest, I, therefore, undauntedly resolved, by the grace of my God, to prepare my back for the smiters, & my cheeks for them, 
Isa. 50.6, 7.  that, I doubted not, would endeavour to pluck off the hair (of my honest actions and intentions, if they could) and not to hide my face from their shameless spitting of calumny and slander upon it. For, I know the Lord my God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded; and therefore have I set my face like a flint, and know that I need not be ashamed of what I have, herein, done. All, therefore, good Christian Reader, which I desire of thee is that thou wilt, with Christian candour and ingenuity, accept my plain dealing labours herein, and courteously overlook and passe-by my human infirmities, and pray for the weak and unworthy Author, who in the Lord desires to love and serve thee. J.V.  
FINIS.  
Trin-Uni Deo sit omnis honour & Gloria.