AN APOLOGY FOR THE Ministers of the County of Wilts, in their Actings at the election of Members for the approaching PARLIAMENT.  
In Answer to a Letter sent out of the said County, Pretending to lay open the dangerous Designs of the Clergy, in reference to the approaching Parliament.  
Wherein is showed, The notorious falsehood of the said Letter: How injurious it is to the Gentlemen elected: and the dangerous design of it against the Ministry.  
By some of the Defamed Ministers of the Gospel in the same County.  

Humphrey Chambers, D.D.  
John Strickland.  
Adoniram Bifield.  
Peter Ince.   Neh. 6.8. Then I sent unto him saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thy own heart. 1 Cor. 4.5. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every man have praise of God. 
London, Printed for Ralph Smith, at the Bible in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange. 1654.   

An Apology for the Ministers of the County of Wilts in their actings at the Election of Members for the Approaching Parliament.  
ALthough Christians in general, especially the Ministers of the Gospel, must look and prepare for reproaches in this life, and may wear them as a crown of Glory, when they are unjustly cast upon them; yet the Apostle Paul's often endeavours to quit himself from sleightings and slanders, that his Ministry might not be blamed or blemished through him, seems to us a sufficient warrant for any, Christians or Ministers, to seek to remove such slanderous imputations, as being openly and falsely raised against them, tend to the dishonour of Christianity, or Ministry, or both; especially when the Actors in this injury are high pretenders to an extraordinary pitch of holiness, religion and piety; whose words may therefore plead for credit where they come. This is an Apology for appearing in print at this time, in Answer to a Letter lately printed and published, sent out of Wiltshire to a Gentleman in London, pretending to lay open the dangerous designs of the Clergy in reference to the approaching Parliament. This Letter pretended to be written to a friend in London, was intended and calculated as we see by the hasty printing and publishing of it, generally for all England, publicly to calumniate the Clergy and Gentlemen chosen to serve in the next Parliament for the County of Wilts, and to prepare contempt and scorn for them in the hearts of all men, so far as the credit or cunning of the Compiler of this Letter could possibly prevail for that end; yet it is said to be written by a true friend to the public interest and all peaceable men: to which we have not much to say, though the spirit of this Letter seem not to subscribe the testimony which the writer thereof bears to himself. But our main business is with the Letter itself, the dangerous design whereof is manifest, viz. to render the Clergy (as he calls them) despicable in the eyes of the people, which will more fully appear in the Answer to the Letter itself. In which the Author pretends to answer the expectation of the Gentleman to whom he writes, in giving a true account of passages relating to the choosing of Members to sit in Parliament for the County of Wilts; but how much he hath disappointed the expectation of his friend, will appear to the impartial Reader, when we shall have discovered the falseness both of his Narrative and Invective. It seems this man was very angry, and therefore quarrels with all that stand in his way, and some are apt to think it was because himself was not chosen, at least because his friends were passed by: and if this be true, the ingenuity of the Noble Theban that went home rejoicing that there were so many men fit than himself to serve the public, would have saved him all this labour.  
We will not so far prejudice that Noble Gentleman whom the Author of this Letter hath sufficiently described, and unworthily traduced, and whom by way of honour we shall name, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, as to make any Answer to what is in this Letter charged upon him; he needs no Advocate in what he did, acting as we are confidently assured with a public spirit, and desirous to do his Country real service. Nor will we so far lessen the esteem of those Gentlemen chosen in our Country to serve in the next Parliament, as to undertake their defence, against that reproach which is boldly and generally cast upon them in this Letter; aetatem habent. We are much assured, having particular knowledge of the Religious integrity and eminent faithfulness of many of them, that they have no way deserved that black calumny he seeketh to fasten upon them, as unworthy time-serving men, and such as never did the State any service. Si accusasse sufficiat, quis erit Innocens. Neither do we know why this single accuser should think so highly of htmself, as to expect that he should bear down with the weight and warrant of his own Letter, the reputation of those Gentlemen, whom their Country hath honoured, and in assurance of their fidelity entrusted with whatsoever is dear unto them in this world. But since the Penman of this Letter, (whether upon his own account, or with advice of others, we know not) is pleased to vent the heat of his indignation against the Clergy, as he is pleased to style them, and to set some of us by name as ringleaders of the faction in the front of those Ministers of the Gospel in this Country whom in his Rhetoric he calls a Scottish faction, Politic state Parsons, a time-serving generation, selfseeking Parsons, the corrupt Clergy, Rigid foolish men, a corrupt selfseeking generation of men, and to bend all his forces against us and them, as carrying on some dangerous design in our activity about this election of Members to the Parliament, concerning which he makes such a horrible outcry: We conceive ourselves bound in duty towards God, and for the upholding of the credit of our Ministry, so much reproached by him, to examine the Bill of high complaints laid in against us. The accusation in which we with the rest of the brethren of the Association are charged in this Letter, is either by way of Narrative, or Invective; and we shall answer unto both. By way of Narrative it is affirmed for truth, first, That the Ringleaders of this faction were, Dr. Chambers, Mr. Byfield, Strickland; these, with the rest of the brethren of their Association gathered together a great number of people, and taught them their lesson beforehand. To which we answer:  
First, see how this man stumbles at the threshold; the truth is, the first of those mentioned in the Catalogue, his acting in the business, except upon the day of election, was next to doing nothing in it: which we mention not because any of us know any cause why we or any other should be either sorry or ashamed, of being more active therein; but the truth is, upon a pressing occasion he was out of this Country for above a fortnight together, and came not to his own house till the night before the election: and not to Wilton, till a great part of the company were gone unto the Hil on the day, and at the time of the Election: and so it fell out by providence that he had not opportunity to gather together a great number of people, much less to teach them their lessons before hand: By this the Reader may see how little truth is to be expected in the rest, when there is so gross an untruth in the beginning. And we see evidently, that the writer of this Letter watcheth for our halting, and beareth us so much good will as to take us up before we be down.  
Secondly, suppose it had been true of all the three Ringleaders mentioned, with the rest of their brethren, as it is more particularly charged upon one of them (who hath learned, though he be by name reviled with the title of Scribe and Pharisee, yet not to revile again, but to commit himself to him who judgeth righteously,) that they were active, and exceedingly bestirred themselves in that election, busly intermeddling with more than ordinary diligence and activity. What is their crime? how can they be truly charged as offenders, and over busy intermedlers in that which concerns them not, who are members of the same Commonwealth with others, and therefore are as much concerned in the welfare thereof as any others: In the peace thereof we shall have peace.  
But it may be the crime is our more than ordinary diligence and activity: To which we answer, what we have now done? is there not a cause? Surely more than ordinary diligence and activity is very justifiable when the case is more than ordinary. Can we expect to see another Parliament, in which the Interest of all that is or should be dear unto us in this world, as Christians, and as Englishmen, can be more concerned then in this present Parliament? Nay, are there not a generation of men amongst us, who are acted by such principles as do manifestly tend to the subverting of Law, destruction of Propriety, and the utter extinguishing of the Ministry of the Gospel, and shall we sit still?  
Another Charge is, That we with the rest of our brethren of the Association taught the people gathered together by us, their lesson beforehand, to cry up only those ten men named in our List.  
To this we answer: That there was a List given out of ten names, we shall not deny; neither do we know any just exception to be made against it; we are confident the compiler of this Letter would have found no hurt at all in it, if that List which he abetted, and which many were brought violently to abet, had been owned by us, and followed by the Country in their election; so as that the fault was this, that we did not teach them to cry up their List; but we demand any shadow or proof of this, that we taught the people to cry up only those ten men mentioned in that List, which he calls ours, which yet 'twas no more ours then those Gentlemen of the Country, who were also concerned in it with ourselves. Nay, we do with much confidence affirm, that it was often expressed to several men, that men were left to their free liberty, if they were not satisfied in any of the ten to put in any other fit person or persons in their room, and accordingly some did take that liberty. Neither did we ever persuade any person to adhere to any of the ten, further then upon the general account of their fitness to do their Country faithful service, and that was in truth the depth of our design, that such men, and such only might be chosen.  
Another charge is, That we did teach the people to brand others, as namely Lieut. Gen. Ludlow, Col. Eyres, etc. (who were nominated by approved faithful men in the Country) with the names of Anabaptists, Levellers, to render them odious to the generality of the judicious people, by these false and malicious imputations.  
Ans. We do again demand proof of this charge, that any of us did ever teach any one to brand Lieut, Gen. Ludlow, Col. Eyres, etc. with the names of Anabaptists, Levellers; we do with confidence affirm, that as we did not ourselves, so neither did we hear any other to put them into this dress, till we found them so clothed in the Letter. But suppose that some did use those expressions, will it follow that they were taught by us so to do? we think the leaders of their party would not take it well if we should charge upon them all those reproachful, scornful, and reviling speeches, uttered by very many of their followers upon the place, against such who might have expected better language from them. We expected upon the mention of two in their List, the Author would have given us the names of all the rest in my List, and not have left us to spell out the meaning of an etc. and to defend ourselves from branding with reproachful names, we know not who. It were no difficult work we think to find out the rest of the names in that List; but since the Author of that Letter is pleased to conceal them, we will not further provoke him by the mention of them.  
It is true that List was commonly called by the company upon the place, the Anabaptists List; because the number in that List did either consist of such, or some of the most notedst sticklers for it went under that denomination; and so it will not be strange, that there should be frequent mention of the name Anabaptist: yet we do again deny that we did brand any of them with those names, Anabaptists, Levellers, or taught others so to do: And thus the groundwork fails him; surely then those other words, to render them odious to the generality of the judicious people by those false and malicious imputations, must needs be left to stand alone, and signify nothing; only because the words may be of good use if they be rightly applied, we shall borrow them, and retort them with much more clearness of truth.  
The Author in this Letter hath branded the faithful Ministers of the Gospel, not only in this Country, but throughout the Nation with the titles of a corrupt Clergy, a corrupt selfseeking generation of men; and divers such like reproachful terms to render them odious to the generality of the judicious people by those false and malicious imputations.  
Another charge, at least insinuated against us, is, That some hundreds gave their voices who were either Cavaliers, or else of inconsiderable estates, not worth 100 li. and therefore uncapable of choosing by the model of the established government.  
Although the words may be as well applied to those that voted for his List, and with as much truth, as to the other side; yet because there is in this Letter nothing but what is intended either directly or by insinuation to cast an odium upon us: We shall therefore say that we do not know of any one person that came thither upon any of our requests or desires, that is liable to either of those exceptions. And we do again put the Author to this fair issue, either to make proof but of one so qualified as is mentioned, that was brought thither to give his vote, by us: or else to say, that he hath wronged us in this insinuation.  
The next charge is more express, though it hath as little truth as any of the former. He saith, it was agreed upon at length that the several lists should be called one by one, and so put to the yeas or no's, without naming any other in competition with the former: but this order was violated by the Clergies party, by which means, through the instigation of the Scottish faction Lieut: Gen. Ludlow was put by.  
A. Whereas he saith, it was agreed upon at length that the several Lists should be called one by one: the truth is, it was agreed upon at first, upon the first coming upon the place: But it is apparently false, that this order was purposely violated by the Clergy party; for the truth was, though it was agreed on by the Sheriff and those Gentlemen that were about him, and near unto him, yet we are confident the agreement was not known unto the tenth man, when the question was put. And upon this mistake the generality did look upon the question, as if there were a compatition, and so did cry up him whom they did most affect and desire; and it was some time before this mistake could be rectified, which yet was as much endeavoured by those whom he calls the Scottish faction, as by any of their party that appeared on the other side: so that the violation of this Order was only by a mistake. And it is apparently false that by means of the violation of this Order, through the instigation of the Scottish faction, Lieut. Gen. Ludlow was put by; for the truth is, he was put by for want of voices. That that Noble Gentleman hath been serviceable to the public, we shall not deny, or go about to diminish his worth; yet we see no reason to subscribe to that odious comparison, as if he had been more serviceable to the true interest of the State, than all the men that are chosen, put them together. And we doubt not but the modesty and ingenuity of that Gentleman is such, that he will give them little thanks for putting him in the balance alone against the ten, many of whom have been eminently serviceable in their places, and to whom the Lieut. G. Ludlow will think it no disparagement to give them the right hand of fellowship. Whether it were the desire of that Gentleman to be mentioned for the place, is much questioned by some who pretend to know something; it is strongly suspected that his name was made use of without his consent, to make way for others; and if this be true, surely he will give them but little thanks for their labour, in making use of his name to such an end; however we are confident, so great an assertor of the liberties of the people cannot take it well, to have his name made use of, to impose upon the people so as it shall be accounted a crime for any not to appear for him.  
The next charge is, These Politic State Parsons neglected the preaching of their Lecture at Sarum, that they might bawl with open mouth no Ludlow, no Ludlow, till they were even hoarse again; they chose rather to spend their breath in decrying honest men, then in preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.  
Ans. The truth is, the Lecture at Sarum (which he not without some scorn calls their Lecture) upon the day, and at the time of the election, was for that time omitted, but not as he saith neglected; there may be sufficient justifiable reasons for the omitting of the Lecture for a turn, which yet will not amount to a neglect of it: and we suppose this was a justifiable ground for that omission; The greatest part of the Auditors were called to another special service, in which they were very much concerned, which could not be done at any other time. It is neglected by those, who when they have time and opportunity, do not frequent it: and then it will be easy to judge, who they be who do neglect the Lecture at Sarum. This is evident, the Ministers who are called to preach that Lecture, are far more ready to bestow their pains in preaching of it, than some of those who are so forward to turn this single omission to our reproach, are to attend upon it; there is only this difference, the Ministers did once omit it, and those men never come unto it.  
For that other part of the charge, That we did bawl and cry with open mouth no Ludlow, no Ludlow, till we were even hoarse again, choosing rather to spend our breath in decrying honest men, then in preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus: We answer there was a necessity of decrying some, as will appear by what is confessed to be agreed upon, viz. That every one should be put to their yea and no's, without naming any other in competition with him: for we demand how it was possible for us to give our votes according to that agreement, when there were so many in nomination, without decrying some. It is confidently affirmed that this course was agreed on by their own motion and desire; and if that be true, let the world see how they deal with us; put us on a necessity of crying, and then beat us for crying: But he saith, we did decry honest men. An. That which was to be decried at that time, was not who were honest men, but amongst many honest men, who were most fit to serve in Parliament; surely the choosing of one doth not at all necessarily question the honesty of him that is refused. Whereas he saith we chose rather to spend our breath in decrying honest men, then in preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus; we answer, this work we were then called to, was not to preach the Gospel, but to choose members for the approaching Parliament; that was the work of the day.  
Besides these partculars in the Letter by way of Narrative, relating to ourselves, there are two passages in the letter relating to others, though charged obliquely upon our account, which are not to be omitted.  
The first in these words, What shall I say of the impudence of these men? One Stone a Factor for them, and a vassal to them, went up and down at the election like a mad man, crying out, Now friends appear for the Church of God or never; poor man! can he put no difference between appearing for the lusts of men, and the Church of Christ? between the Classical usurpations of ehe selfseeking Parsons, and the truth of Christ?  
An. By that person whom he reproachfully calleth one Stone, is meant Mr. William Stone of Sarum, a man of known sufferings for, and fidelity to the public, and whose integrity in point of Religion (for aught we know, or have heard of) is unblemished. He desired us to let the world know that neither the words ascribed to him by the inditer of this letter, nor any to the same purpose, were spoken by him; howbeit he seethe no cause to extract, or blush at them, if he had spoken them; though he abhors the spiteful commentary which is made upon them; he knoweth very well how to distinguish betwixt Christ's Church and men's lusts, and wisheth that distinction were better studied, and held on all sides; but as to the speech fully ascribed to him, he looketh upon it as a mere figment, invented to bring him in within the scrape, that he might have a share in the reproach the writer of this letter was resolved with his best skill to cast upon the Clergy, and all that were friends unto them.  
The other personal charge is in these words: Sir, I had a sight of a letter writ by one Burges, a person of the confederacy, sent to one of his brethren in this County: his words are as followeth: Sir, I hope you will be active to engage all that ever you can to appear with us for such men as will be valiant for the truth; and be ready to meet Dr. Chambers, Mr. Byfield, Strickland, Ince, etc. and that we may not be divided, there shall be a Last of the ten to be chosen given to every one that appeareth for the best interest; let us not be accessary to our own ruin, and give occasion to the succeeding generation to curse us, by not putting forth our interest to the utmost for choosing right men. If we remember the last men that met at Westminster, what they were voting by and withal, how the monster of their malice was even brought to the birth, it will make us active for a better choice. Besides what this Parson writ in his letter, he told the party, before one Mr. Dyer, that there was a commission coming out for ejecting Ministers, and that he would be in danger of being outed his living, that should not appear with the Ministers at the election. To this we answer.  
By that person whom he reproachfully calls one Burges a parson of the confederacy, he meaneth Mr. Daniel Burgess, whom we look upon as a godly and able Minister of Jesus Christ, but no Parson of the confederacy; for we own no such thing in his sense: we are indeed in an association with many others of our godly brethren, in a way of Christian communion, but not of a subtle combination. That the Author had a sight of that Letter written by Mr. Burges, we will not deny; but we are assured that he hath not truly recited the said Letter, as appears by a copy of it, which we have under Mr. Burges his hand: his words in the close of the letter are not as they are above recited, but as followeth: I pray you let us not be accessary to own ruin, and give the coming generation cause to curse us, by not exerting ourselves to the utmost for the choosing of sound and faithful men: if we remember the last men that met at Westminster, and what they were voting to ruin, have not we cause to adore that hand of providence that dashed their design (the monster of their malice) when it was even come unto the birth, and now points us our to a better choice? the same Lord give us wisdom timely to improve it. The ingenious Reader cannot but observe a considerable difference, and so Mr. Burges is not obliged to own that letter as his, which his accuser hath so mangled; yet because he doth own it for the substance, we say that we see nothing in it, that would have turned to his reproach, if it had fallen into the hands of one that had been willing to give it a candid Interpretation. For these words so confidently affirmed to be spoken by Mr. Burges to the party before one Mr. Dyer, That there was a commission coming out touching Ministers, and that he would be in danger of being outed of his living, that should not appear with the Ministers at the Election; Some of us have spoken with Mr. Burges and Mr. Dyer, and they confidently affirm the charge to be falls throughout, and deny the words, so that we may well apply the following words unto the Author, The world may see how he maketh lies his refuge, and hath recourse to carnal weapons.  
Besides this Narrative, by way of Invective he chargeth us,  
1. With being of the Scottish faction, and promoting of the Scottish interest. To this we answer:  
1. In general, that we can the better bear their bitter revile, because the most eminent servants of God in their generations, after whom we are not worthy to be named, Luther, Calvin, and others met with the selfsame usage, not only from Popish Adversaries, but even many who pretended to higher attainments in religion, scorned, derided, and loaded them with reproach: Doubtless the Gospel would have less Reproach, and the Professors thereof more love amongst them, if at the length these Scripture rules might obtain place and practice in good earnest, amongst those that name the name of Christ: Let us not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. And again, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking be put away from you with all malice. But to come more particularly to the sharp Invective against us.  
These words, Faction, Interest, and Scottish joined with them, are words of late much come into use amongst us, but of that ambiguity, when they are used by way of Invective, that few can tell the meaning of them, it lying in the breast of him that doth impose them upon others, to express in what sense he means them; and therefore till the Author speaks out what he intends by this charge, we shall only say at present: that when there hath been so much blood unhappily shed betwixt the Professors of the Gospel in England and Scotland, it savoureth not much of a Christian spirit, now that there is a hope of a Union betwixt the Nations, to foment a perpetual enmity betwixt them, by making Scottish still a proverbial expression of what is evil. What we can probably imagine to be his meaning in this Invective, will be fully answered in the examination of some of these Invectives that follow.  
2. He doth charge us, that we make the oppression of Tithes and fat Benefices our great Diana, which makes us in business so active to uphold them. To this we answer.  
First, Whether we do make Tithes, and worldly gain, and fat Benefices our great Diana, the accuser we are sure cannot tell; possibly we may be of another frame of spirit before the Lords eyes, than we are before his; certainly it would savour more of a Christian spirit to leave secret things to the Lord our God.  
Secondly, What crime is it to desire to uphold and enjoy the established way of maintenance by Tithes, which for so many hundreds of years hath been settled upon the Ministry, both by Custom and Law? We are very sensible that there are many men justly chargeable with the sin of covetousness, in reference unto Tithes. But then the compiler of this Letter should do well to consider whether it be not more likely to be those who covet to take them to themselves when they have no right unto them, than those who desire but to enjoy their own by the same propriety that any man hath in his estate.  
Thirdly, For that maintenance settled by the Law of the Land upon the Ministers of the Gospel, we own it, and take it, in all Christian freedom of spirit, blessing the Lord, who hath dealt with us in outward things beyond our deserts or expectations; and we would ask the writer of the Letter a question in his care; whether if he could get one of those fat benefices he speaks of, settled by Act of State upon himself and his posterity, for his good service in decrying the Ministry, would he then take it for Idolatry or superstition to enjoy what he calls the oppression of Tithes: this we are sure is very evident in the practice of many that are the loudest criers against this intolerable oppression, that they are content to liquour their fingers in it, and it is their greater grief and burden that they may not keep that to themselves, to which they can pretend no more right than a Tenant to detain his Rent from his Landlord: And because we are now upon the business of Tithes, we shall examine another passage in the close of the Letter relating thereunto. In those words, This corrupt selfseeking generation of men will not cease from busy intermeddling in State matters and raising factions, till the maintenance of the Ministry be brought into one Treasury, and equally divided. In Holland (you know) where the Magistrate takes a strict account, the Ministers dare not busy themselves thus in State-affairs. To this we say.  
First, This is indeed a grand project, which some men please themselves so much with, as that it is very probable they have already laid out what place they shall get in this new office.  
Secondly, In this passage there is more than a hint of the grand intention of this design of the common Treasury for the Minister's maintenance, viz. to make the Ministers to be less active and busy, especially in crossing the wills of those upon whom they are made to be so dependant; and if that be the intention of those men, whom with are charged to be so active in crying down, we shall not need to say much to justify our activity, especially to all judicious men, who are sensible of the great mischief t●at must needs come unto Religion, by such a course, especially when this dispensation of the Gospel shall fall into the hands of such who serve the Lord that they may serve their Bellies, and in order thereunto must serve the times, and therein the various lusts, humours, and interests of their masters upon whom they do depend. Nevertheless we doubt not but that if God have any pleasure in us, and delight still to dwell amongst us, he will reserve a number that have obtained mercy to be faithful, who will not be turned out of their way by such byasses of humane dependences, and if ever they should be lead into that temptation, God will deliver them from the snare and the evil of it.  
Thirdly, How inconsistent is this project with the complaint before of the oppression of Tithes? will that be lessened by taking them into a common treasury? we doubt the Country man will not find it so, when Tithes shall be required by more severe exactors then ever Ministers were; So as that the world may see the ease of the people is not intended, no not by those who make the loudest cry of the oppression of Tithes.  
Thirdly, He doth by way of charge against us, rank us with that sort of men who have caused the late broils in this Nation and Scotland, and who will not cease plotting and combining till we embroil the Nation again in blood, if the Lord in mercy prevent not.  
Answ. We answer, we abhor the mention, either of abetting the former broils, or of plotting and combining to embroil the Nations again in blood; and we demand of the accuser, to make good his charge as to any of us, or to lay aside such cursed provoking insinuations against those who desire to be peaceable in the Land.  
Fourthly, We are charged to carry on a design to bring the Nation again into Egyptian bondage, and to set up ourselves, & our Classical Diana by civil sanction, and to that end to endeavour to procure a considerable number of Members that may vote in the next Parliament an Assembly or Convention of Ministers to make Canons for the enthralling the consciences of men, and to impose upon, and domineer over our brethren.  
Answ. Whether his friend to whom he writes, be as he says, so considerate (that we say not so inconsiderate) as to observe such a design carried on by us with the rest of the Clergy of this Nation, we cannot tell; but this is evident, himself is so suspicious, as that he can create Imaginary Plots and designs, and so uncharitable as to put the grossest misconstruction upon an innocent action; and for our Innocency, we can appeal to God, and do testify in the presence of the allseeing God, that we desire no such power, nor affect no such dominion over the consciences of men; we tremble at and abhor the thought of it, knowing that it is best with the Church of God when men have least to do in making Laws in it, and when they intent mainly the establishing and observing of the Laws of Christ the King of Saints; and if to be subject to his laws, be with this man to be brought again into Egyptian Bondage, surely though he rank himself amongst the Saints, yet Jesus Christ (we doubt) will rank him amongst those who say we will not have this man to reign over us: If there be a desire in any to promote such a settlement in matters of Religion as may be agreeable to the mind of Christ, and consistent with the due liberty of tender consciences, we know not how that should be accounted making Cannons to enthral the consciences of men.  
Fifthly, We are charged that we will rather join with the vilest of men, then with such as cross our carnal interests, and descent from us, though never so godly; and this he sayeth he plainly seethe.  
Answ. For that of our joining with the vilest of men, we suppose he speaks this in reference to the Election, and to our activity at it; and if so, we say, it is a most false and unchristian accusation, and such as could not have been fastened upon us, by any discerning eye. But there is no sense against the calumnies of men, forestalled with prejudice, and blinded with malice. It may be the penman of this Letter reckons all those amongst the vilest of men that are not registered in his Catalogue of Saints, and so would have dominion founded in grace and Saintship to be the only qualification for government. We deny not but it were much to be wished that governor's might always be endued with grace and the knowledge of God in Christ, added to their other qualifications; but we cannot subscribe to that principle which is truly called a State-heresie by the Author of the true estate of the case of the Commonwealth in reference to the late established government, viz. That godly persons though of small understanding and little ability of mind in public affairs, are more fit for government, than men of great knowledge and wisdom, if endued only with natural parts and moral virtues: But if our Author be not infected with that heresy, we further answer, when he shall be pleased to tell us whom he doth mean by the vilest of men, and in what act of ours he did plainly see our joining with such, we shall be able to give a better account by way of answer to him; and in the mean time if he have not too much work upon him already to make good his other charges against us, we shall put him to that farther trouble, to name but any one of the ten that were chosen, whom we cried up and voted for, that can in the least give an occasion to such a charge; and in this he hath a double task to make good; one that the party is of the vilest of men, and the other that we voted for him; and we are well assured, he cannot make good either the one or the other. We list not to recriminate, and desire to avoid all personal reflections; otherwise possibly there might be some just ground found to retort the charge, but we forbear. Only we desire him seriously to consider with whom he joins in his slandering of the Ministers of the Gospel; surely this is the practice of the vilest of men.  
For that other branch of the charge, our not joining with those who cross our carnal interests and dissent from us, though never so godly.  
A. We answer, We do so far honour, and prize, the power of godliness, as that we should be hearty glad to close with such in whom we find it, in all ways of love and peace; it hath been our prayer, and shall be our endeavour, that all who accord in fundamentals of Gospel-truth and holiness, may be brought to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; we hope (through mercy) we have learned not to value our carnal interest before the Church's peace and unity; and to think and speak of divisions, emulations, and breaking into parties and factions, amongst those that are truly godly, as we do think and speak of theft, whoredom, murder, and the like fruits of the flesh. But yet we say,  
First, we dare not under the specious pretence of joining with the godly party, close with any who are, or seem to be such, in actings of that nature, as are destructive, not so much to our carnal interest, as to the true interest of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God: (for so we do conceive the upholding of the Ministry and its maintenance is more the interest of the Gospel than our own) lest whilst we seek to knit with men, we disjoin ourselves from God; and whilst we would make up strife with others, we make a greater breach between God and our own souls.  
Secondly, we see but little hope that ever there should be a happy closure with those who do so factiously engross all the honour of Saintship, yea honesty and faithfulness, to themselves and their own party; for so the Author seems to carry it throughout the Letter. Himself and his party he mentions as the poor despised Saints, as the approved faithful men in the County, honest public spirited men, men that are most faithful to the public interest, such as have been valiant in the field, and ventured their lives in the high places for the liberties of the people; such as have all along in the greatest revolutions and dangers appeared in their purses and persons for the true interest of the Nation, such as have poured out floods of tears and prayers for the cause of Christ; But the rest who do oppose them, or not join with them, are called a Time-serving generation, a company of time-serving Cavaliers, and corrupt persons, such who in the greatest Revolutions and Dangers durst not show their faces, unless it were at Oxon, where some of them sat and acted; a company of unworthy time-serving men, such as never did the State any faithful service, such as do unworthily and vaingloriously in their own persons hunt after worldy honour, and popular applause, and do even hate and abhor the poor despised Saints.  
An. We would be loath to be justly ranked amongst those who do hate and abhor the poor despised Saints; we desire to love and honour them all, as the excellent ones in whom is our delight; yet we do hate and abhor that cursed dividing principle, whereby Godliness and Saintship is made a faction with many; whilst they enclose and monopolise it unto themselves and their own party, so as that none shall be counted Godly and Saints, owned, loved, and esteemed as such, but those of their own way: we do not doubt but that God hath many whom he will own as Saints, who yet are branded as carnal, nay as antichristian; And we could hearty wish, that even amongst those who are most forward to ascribe and appropriate this title to themselves, that there were more of Saintship to be found in them. The true Saints of God are indeed often despised and reproached by the men of the world; but it is certainly no evidence of Saintship to be despisers and reproachers of their fellow brethren, and of any of the faithful Ministers of the Gospel: If the tree must be known by its fruits, how little Saintship shall we find amongst many of those who yet do engross all unto themselves?  
We shall not go about to make ourselves guilty of that which we have already condemned in the Author of this Letter, viz. making odious comparisons and descriptions of all that are not of our party; yet we are not assured of this, either that all who did appear for that List, for opposing whereof we are so much reviled, were Approved faithful men, publique-spirited men, etc. nor that they only of that party were the only honest, approved, faithful, publique-spirited men in the County; being very confident, that there are very many in our County, who though of a different persuasion in matters of Religion, from the Author and his party he so much commends, yet are approved faithful men, faithful to the public interest, for which so much blood hath been spilt, and treasure spent, such as have been valiant in the field, and ventured their lives in the high places for the liberties of the people, such as have all along in the greatest Revolutions and Dangers, appeared in their purses and persons, for the true interest of the Nation: such as have poured forth floods of prayers and tears, for the cause of Christ; and who cannot be justly accused for sitting and voting at Oxon.  
Upon the whole, this we demand, as the poor servants and despised Ministers of Jesus Christ, that upon the receipt of this our Reply, he do either make good the truth of his public Narrative, and Invective, as to ourselves, whom he hath particularly named, and reproached, which we are confident he shall never do: or else that he do us right, by making some acknowledgement that he hath done us wrong. If he will do neither, let him know, who ever he be, that his Letter will dog him to his deathbed, and if he obtain not pardon for it in the blood of Christ, (which from our hearts we wish him) it will stand up sadly against him at that day when without shall be— Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  
Besides this Narrative and Invective against us, the heat of his indignation vents itself farther against our Association. The Author of this Letter having failed thus as we trust, in finding occasion or fault against us concerning the Kingdom: he endeavours further, to find it against us, concerning the Law of our God, attempting to turn it at least to our reproach, that we as fellow brethren, yea as yoke-fellows, labourers together in the work of the Gospel, do maintain a communion and fellowship together, for mutual assistance in our common work. This we cannot but say something to, lest any should be canslesly biased, by great and empty words, to judge harshly and falsely of some poor unworthy servants of Jesus Christ, who desire to be faithful. His words are these.  
Sir, by this days work you may judge of the issue and fruit of the Ministers association in this County, which may rather be called a subtle Combination, than a Christian spiritual Communion, as they manage it: you will hear of the like proceed in other Counties, especially where this Association is carried on, the same being divised as a shelter upon a Politic account against an approaching storm.  
For the Author to wrest the fault, if there were any, of the late election of members for Parliament upon the Association of Ministers, is so groundless an attempt, as that it proveth only that the Author of this Letter being resolved to take the first occasion, loudly to reproach the Association, caught hold of this in his anger, before ever he considered whether it were of weight or no for his purpose. The truth is, so little influence had our Association upon this Election, as that in all the meetings of the Brethren, where we were present, never was any the least consultation about it; we professedly decline in our meetings all intermeddlings in matters of civil concernment, so as that day's work was no more the issue and fruit of our Association, than Tenterden steeple was the cause of goodwin's sands.  
But he saith our Association may rather be called a subtle combination, than a Christian spiritual Communion, as we manage it. He should have done well to have told the world how we do manage it more like a subtle combination than a Christian spiritual communion; and if he could have done it, he would not have spared us: but we see he hath learned that principle, Boldly to calumniate, and then something will stick. And because he wants whereof in particular to accuse our actings in this Association, therefore he doth quarrel with out Intentions, and tells the world that this Association was devised as a shelter upon a Politic account against an approaching storm.  
They rise above their measure doubtless, who take upon them to judge of heart designs and intentions, and thereby to condemn actions apparently good, if well meant. But to satisfy the world, and to justify our innocency, we are not afraid nor ashamed to lay open the bottom of our design in this Association, and how it hath been managed all along. The Brethren are united in Christian love, for mutual assistance and advice one with another, in that common work of the Ministry to which we are called, and those meetings which have been hitherto in this Association, have been managed to the Christian comfort and edification of one another, and of the beholders, blessed be God for it; and we trust in Jesus Christ they shall be so ever.  
Though our Adversary be pleased to call it a subtle combination, yet we can appeal to him whom we desire to serve in the Gospel of his Son, that we intent nothing but a Spiritual, holy, Christian union improved (so far as our frailty will permit) in the exercise of those uniting graces of love, humility, self-denial, meekness, and brotherly kindness, for mutual edification in faith and love which is in Jesus Christ. And if thus to unite be a grief of heart unto any, yet we are sure it is a rejoicing of heart unto many, who behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren thus to dwell even together in unity.  
The ends that we propounded to ourselves, before expressed, are such as we are sure no tongue but such as is set on fire of Hell, can speak against; and the blessed fruits and issue of such an Association, through the good hand of God upon it, will be such as none but such as are too much possessed with the spirit of envy can envy us the happiness thereof. We have long groaned under the evil and the mischief of our divisions, and we find that most of our jealousies and jarrings are occasioned by our strangenesle and distance; and upon this account our brethren at the last general meeting, testified unanimously, and very affectionately, their desire to have such brethren, who differ in matters of Church constitution and order to join in with them, that as far forth as we are come we may walk together in love and cheerfulness by the same rule; and if this might be obtained, we believe it would be acceptable to the Lord, and a ready way to make a grave wherein to bury for ever much of those unlively jealousies, enmity, and unbrotherly bitterness which sadly appeareth amongst some whom we cannot otherwise judge of but that they are brethren.  
The Author seems to be possessed with the spirit of jealousy, and of evil surmisings; since he can get nothing against us, he will surmise that there is something; and if he cannot charge our actions, he will judge our hearts and intentions, and from thinking there may be, concludes surely there is something very blameworthy in us; as the Jews of Asia, seeing Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the City supposed that Paul had brought him into the Temple, and cried out, Men of Israel help, this is the man that brought Greeks into the Temple, and hath polluted this holy place. How much this is against the law of love, he may do well to consider, for love thinketh no evil. It is storied of Cambyses, he did but dream his 〈◊〉 should 〈◊〉 King of Persia, and for this he put him to death: so this man doth but dream of plots and designs of a subtle combination, and a politic device, and he presently concludes, so it is: and what he would do unto us if he had power in his hand it is easy to judge; even that which (to use his own words) would make our cares to tingle, and our hearts to ache: which leads us from his Invective to his threaten.  
He tells us of an approaching storm; and again, as it was with the Prelates in entering their Protestation in the former Parliament, they prepared a Rod to whip themselves with, and digged a pit wherein they themselves did fall: so will these men do, that which they have designed for upholding their corrupt interest, will be the Ruin thereof: and again those rigid and foolish men will not see the hand of God which is gone out against them, but go on in their vain ways of opposition, notwithstanding they have been so often disappinted: yea the work of the Lord shall prosper, and God will ere long separate his faithful Ministers and servants from this corrupt selfseeking generation of men. And again, though good men should be silent and sit still, yet the Lord himself will shortly avenge the cause of his people, and bring deliverance in a way which we think not of, which will make the ears of some to tingle, and their hearts ache.  
In all these passages he doth threaten the Ministers shrewdly, with what is coming upon them, and no marvil, Quicquid speramus facile Credimus; he hopes to see the downfall of the Ministry, and so easily believes it, and it may be thinks it will never be well till it be so. It is no new thing to meet with peremptory predictions of the ruin and downfall of the Ministry, which yet through the goodness of our God have fallen to the ground without expected accomplishment; and it is no small mercy that God hath beaten out the Teeth of our Maligners; that they only can bark and not by't, that their tongues only and not their hands can reach us: yet the world may see they do what they can, and therefore the Author here doth not so much Prophecy of, as Project our ruin, by rendering us odious both to the People, by ranking us with the Prelates, and also to his Highness and his Army, by provoking them against us, as being of that sort of men who have caused the late broils, and will yet again imbroile the Nation in blood if God in mercy prevents not: In which he deals with us and the rest of the Clergy of this Nation, (as he styles them) as the Persecuters did in the Primitive times with the Christians, they put the bodies of Christians into the skins of wild beasts, and then set wild beasts upon them for to tear them, so he puts us into the shapes of his own conceits, of his own apprehensions, and his own slanders of purpose to make us ugly, and to render us vile and contemptible, that so the more easy way may be made for our ruin: But our trust is in our God who knows our hearts, that he will in due time clear our Innocency against those malicious suggestions, and make it appear to his Highness and his Army, and to the whole Nation, that as poor weak servants of Jesus Christ, we desire jointly to promote the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the prosperity of the Commonwealth in which we live.  
But he tells us we will not see the hand of God which is gone out against us, but go on in our vain ways of opposition notwithstanding we have been so often disappointed. To this we answer.  
We fear we have been all of us too unobservant of the Lords hand, both of chastisement and mercy too when it is lifted up over us, but surely it is our blindness, or else the Lords hand hath not been altogether stretched out against the contemned Ministry of this Nation in Judgement, of latter times: we think there was a time not long since, when many sadly feared, and others strongly hoped that the despised, disowned Ministers of England should quite have shaken hands with their maintenance and Ministry together, and had done so, had not the Lord then appeared in the Mount wondrously, and unexpectedly, for the rescuing his poor servants. We have often thought it our duty to acknowledge this work of God, and to walk humbly, carefully, and thankfully before the Lord in regard hereof. Our comfort and hope at the worst was, that our Lord Christ hath his Stars of all magnitudes in his right hand, and that unless he remove the Candlestick he will continue his Stars amongst us, how much soever they be clouded by the reproaches of many adversaries; and our hope and comfort still is, that we have the same Lord who hath delivered us, upon whom to trust that he will yet deliver us; And we hearty bless God for the instruments under him of our deliverance, and we hope that they shall never have cause to repent, they nor their posterity, that they have rescued a poor despised Ministry from rapine and ruin.  
The Author seems to be desirous the world should think that he is no enemy to the Ministry, but only to such as are corrupt, self-seekers, busybodies, and therefore,  
1. He makes an honourable mention of some whom he calls faithful Ministers, and saith, God will e'er long separate his faithful Ministers and servants from this corrupt selfseeking generation of men; But if this corrupt selfseeking generation of men be the whole Clergy of the Nation, as he seems all along to carry it, than they stand all without the reach of his charity, and cannot any of them obtain so much from him, as to hope that they are in the number of God's faithful Ministers and servants, yet we doubt not but that even amongst those whom he calls, this corrupt selfseeking generation, God hath many precious ones even amongst those whom he accounts as the filth and ●he off-scowring of all things; Many faithful ones whose Ministerial abilities, admirable success in winning souls to God, diligent and powerful Preaching, sound and wholesome doctrine, peaceable demeanour, and holy and exemplary conversation doth distinguish them and separate them from a corrupt self-seeking generation: and this separation we doubt not but God hath already made in the hearts of those who are truly sensible of the many gracious works the Lord hath wrought by them, and who for their works sake do account them worthy of double honour.  
2. He prays that God would forgive these men, for they cause the Ministry of Christ to be evil spoken of, and to stink in the nostrils of people who do but deride them as a company of vain busybodies.  
Who would have expected after all this dirt cast upon us by the Author, to have found in him so deep a sense of the reproaches cast upon the Ministry of Christ? but alas, a few good words in the close will not be sufficient to wash off the guilt of all his former reproachings and revile: how much himself doth stand in need of the benefit of this prayer, will appear to the judicious reader, if we do make a very little alteration in it; God forgive this man for causing (as much as in him is) the Ministry of Christ to be evil spoken of, and to stink in the nostrils of the people by his deriding of them as a company of vain busybodies, for their doing of that which no law of God or man doth forbid unto them. And we would desire the Author of this Letter to examine his own conscience in secret, upon this Interrogatory, how tender soever he seems to be of the reputation of the Ministry that he would not have it to stink in the nostrils of the people, whether that which troubles him at the very heart be not because he sees us, and other poor servants of Jesus Christ, notwithstanding all open and secret counter workings, still to retain a high place both as to our persons and Ministry in the love and esteem of multitudes who truly fear the Lord; however it will sound in his cares, we shall take the boldness in all humility and thankfulness to our good God for his abundant kindness towards his unworthy servants, to assure him that the despised Ministry and Ministers of the Gospel in this Nation, even at this day do finds (blessed b● the Lord) much love in the hearts of very many who walk humbly and closely with the Lord their God; nor do these servants of God discover any more eminent effect of the hard speeches which are in word and Print uttered against them by bitter men of several spirits and interests, than the blowing up of the affections of many of God's people to a stronger flame of love towards them and their Ministry; which therefore we hope the Lord will teach and strengthen his weak servants with greater faithfulness to fulfil to his own glory, the stopping of the mouths of their enraged adversaries, and the good of the poor of his flock who wait on him.  
We are glad to hear that the Author of this Letter bethinks himself at last of the Christian weapons of Faith Hope, Patience, Prayers, and Tears; it was our hard lot to fall into his h●nds whilst he was making use of other more sharp weapons; Psal. 57 v. 4. yet if he and those of his party, of whom he speaketh, be in good earnest to stand to those spiritual weapons only, for the time to come we shall desire to make use of no other; and if we fight on both sides with these Arms, there may at last be hope that we may be brought together into the bond of truth and Christian love, to serve our God with one consent according to his blessed word.  
All the revenge we will take of our accuser for his injurious dealing with us, shall be to join him with ourselves in our prayers to the Lord (though possibly he may scorn the motion, as not thinking that we have any acquaintance with God) that he would deliver both him and us from every evil work, and keep us to his heavenly Kingdom to whom be glory for ever, Amen.  
FINIS.   

Books newly printed by Ralph Smith, viz.  
Mr. dickson's Exposition on the whole Book of the Psalms in three Books.  
The Christian Charter, showing the privilege of Believers in this life, and in the life to come: by Mr. Watson Minister of Stephen Walbroke; the third Edition, much enlarged.  
Also, Mr. watson's Art of Divine contentment; the second Edition.  
Mr. Hutchinsons' Exposition on the six small Prophets, viz. Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.  
Mr. Hutchinsons' Exposition on the three last Prophets, viz. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.  
An Exposition on the whole book of Ecclesiastes, by that late learned and pious Divine, Mr. John Cotton Pastor of Bostock in New England.  
A Sermon of Mr. Simon Ash at the funeral of Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker. Together with a Narrative of his pious life. The second Edition, many other Poems and Elegies added.