THE ARRAIGNMENT OF HYPOCRISY: OR, A Looking-glass for Murderers and Adulterers; And all others That Profess Religion, and make show of Holiness, yet deny the Power and Practice thereof in their Lives and Conversations.  
Being a fearful EXAMPLE of God's Judgements on Mr. Barker, Minister of God's Word at Pytchley two miles from Ketterin in Norhamptonshire; Who For living in Adultery with his near Kinswoman, and concealing the Murder of her Infant, was with his Kinswoman and Maidservant executed at Northampton.  
With the strange manner of the Discovery of that horrid Murder; And their several SPEECHES immediately before their Deaths.  
Printed at London by John Crouch and T.W. 1652.   

To the Reader.  
IT is not unknown to many in Northamtonshire, and elsewhere how strict a Professor, and how much followed this Minister was by many People who were termed Puritans; for his Person and Profession, I shall have that Charity, as to pass by, But for his crime, which was Adultery and Murder, (being the reigning sins of these Times) he having already suffered for the same, I shall only give you the brief Relation thereof, and refer you to his own Speech at his Death.  
He having a near Kinsman, who at his death committed his only Daughter to his care and Tuition, who growing to maturity, he tempted to his Lust, and got her with Chide, and the closer to hid his sin, and the shame thereof from the eye of the World, and his wronged Wife, procured Savin, and gave it her to destroy her Child, but that failing, he juggled so with his Maidservant, that with the help of the Mother, they barbarously and inhumanly mudered the same.  
But God (that will not let Murder go unpunished) discovered the same by a little Boy, who being in an Appletree gathering Apples, saw Mr. Barker dig the Hole in the Orchard, and the Maidservant bring the Child and put it therein. Vale,  
Thine J. C.   

THE Arraignment of Hypocrisy. Mr. Barker's SPEECH.  
DEar Friends, I ought rather to fall a weeping over you, then to begin to speak to you; but I can do neither as I would; for indeed my strength is spent as well as my time, but yet as well as I may (God enabling me) I will endeavour to give the world satisfaction in clearing my conscience, speaking the truth in the discovery of mine offences: You know, and I think here is none ignorant, that two things have brought me to this sad, fatal, dismal place, Murder and Adultery; and for the latter of the two I confess myself exceeding faulty; I am foully guilty of Incontinency, and I think that in this kind there is not any like me in the world, so gross an offendor have I been, very unclean, & wonderful vile that way, although those that knew me did not think I had been such a wretch. It is my fault I confess that brought these two already dead, of my family, to their end; so that I may say, I have sinned, I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand be against me and my father's house; for I have a long time continued in this gross vile sin of uncleaness, and have many times expressed it by wanton words, thoughts, and actions, and that to her who was near to me, near allied to me, dear to me, that was committed to my care by her dearest friends, who hoped better than what hath befallen.  
This odious sin I committed with her that professed Religion, that had excellent parts, that was well proportioned, that was beautiful, that had good gifts, one that had received much illumination by me, and I received much good by her; Oh that I might have died to have preserved their lives! But oh! such a vile wretch I have been, that although I preached against that sin, yet I lived in it, though I had many checks of conscience, and many reproofs by others Sermons that I heard in divers places, yet I lived in it, and continued so to do, and so I am persuaded I should have done till I had died in that sin, and been damned for that sin, if God had not taken this course to bereave me of this great sin, my Master-sin, my bosom-sin, this abominable sin, for which I now abhor myself: Oh that I could lament and mourn for this sin, & all other mine offences with tears of blood, yea as many as I have done water since my sinning, and that against such light and knowledge! O that I should live in and love such a sin so long, that was a Minister, a Preacher, one that was noted and followed all the Country over, such a man as I in an eminent Calling; but my Hypocrisy was very great to live in such a sin, such an odious sin, such a base course of life, under a Cloak of Religion, a mere form of Godliness, so that it may be justly said of me, What hast thou to do to take my Word into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to be reform? Yet was I taken for a sincere, and (as the World counts them) a Puritan-Minister, I was taken for a strict godly man, but alas there was no such matter in me. (Beloved) I fell into this grievous sin, and all other my offences, for want of Religion, for want of holiness, that was the cause of my dangerous falling; for had Religion been in me in truth? had a good foundation of holiness been grounded and settled in my soul, I had never so foully miscarried as I have, and been such an offence and offender as I am? I have been (I confess) a great offence to true Religion, to the faithful Ministry, and to the holy profession of the Gospel: it is true that offences shall come, but woe to them by whom the offence cometh, and that heavy woe hath overtaken me, and falls very sore upon me, that I should be a great means and cause of scandalising the truth: Oh, how is my mind distracted! Oh, that I could do God some service, some honour now at the last! Oh that I could convert all you that hear me! Oh that the words of a dying man might take impression upon you, to work in you a hatred of all sinful ways! Oh that I could be an instrument of good to you, to turn you from your sinful ways! But I know to my grief, my fall is that which some do rejoice in, that they may hereby take occasion to jeer, sing, and rhyme of it on the Alebench: Well take it from me (and they are the words of a dying man) that the falls of the faithful are the destruction of the wicked; Christ himself was set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; But by one miscarriage they will take occasion and liberty to sin, although they destroy themselves; Now will such say, Come man, do not you know how such and such, and such strict dissembling Puritans have lived themselves? Thus will they encourage themselves and others in all sorts of voluptuous ways: But consider this I beseech you, that this your resolved plodding on in sinful ways and stumbling at the falls and infirmities of God's Servants, your taking offence at the falls of the Saints, will break your necks into Hell as it hath done mine, if the Lord be not infinitely merciful to me for Christ's sake; And that woe that falls on me, will fall on you to your everlasting perdition: Oh, but I have been the cause of the death of these two already dead, & of a thousand thousand souls, which I fear will take liberty presumptuously to sin by my evil example: Oh for God's sake, as you love your precious souls, do not (I charge you) speak evil of the truth of God for my fault: Speak as bad as you will of me, for you cannot speak bad enough, but let me tell you thus much, and I speak the truth, that all those whom the world calls Puritan-Preachers, Puritan-Professors, are the best people in the world, however the world doth esteem of them, and judge them. I tell you my grievous fall was for want of true Grace, for want of embracing the Truth for the love of Truth; Know therefore thus much, That although holiness and holy men be scoffed at, yet without holiness ye shall never see God; you must walk in the Truth, and abide in that way that is called Puritanisme, or ye shall never come to Heaven, but shall certainly be damned; therefore do not say in dislike of Religion, that it is naught, or that God's ways be not right; do not say the Sacraments, Preaching, Prayer, Meditation, God's Ordinances, holy Duties, are naught, and they are naught that use them, and that because I am scandalously fallen, do not say they are all such: No, let it be far from you, let the burden lie upon me, I codfess I was naught, and so are all such Hypocrites as I am; but I beseech you speak not evil, open not your mouths against the Gospel or Profession, God's pure Worship and Service, for my being a wretch; God's Service is holy, his ways good, safe and delightful, and full of Honour; and it is better to be his servant then to be servant to the greatest Monarch on earth; I pray you then labour to be his Servants, and to obey his Will and Commands, set down in his Word, go you by that Rule I have swerved from: Oh that I was assured of being his Servant! How would it comfort my heart, and cheer up my spirit in the great strait I am now in! Oh that the Lord would lift up the light of his countenance, that I might have som● little glimpse of his favour! Oh that the LORD would open one little crevise to me, that might apprehend his love! Oh what is one drop of Christ's Blood worth? what would I give to have it? He was answered, He might have it for nothing, the Brazen Serpent Jesus is set forth, Now whosoever can by faith apprehend his love, and apply it to themselves, are justified and sanctified before God. Oh then (said he) pray for me as for your own souls, you that are in Covenant with God, your prayers are prevalent: Oh pray that this hard heart of mine may be softened! Oh pray that the Lord would be good unto me, or else I shallbe damned presently, I am now going whence I shall not return, even into eternity of glory or torment, Oh what shall I do! it had been good for me I had not been borne; Death is terrible to all out of Christ, and the Lord is not reconciled to me in Christ, hides himself from me, Then pulling down his hat over his eyes, he mournfully said, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he shut up his tender mercies in displeasure? will the Lord cast off for ever? will he be gracious no more? These his complaints occasioned much mourning and bewailing his estate. Then said Mr. Ball, Mr. Barker I have told you that you have so much dishonoured God, that it may be the Lord will not honour you so far as to manifest his love to you, he reserves that till afterward. Then said he, I have done with the first, my foul sin of uncleanness: Now for the Murder, of which I do here upon my death profess, I am not guilty neither in act ●or in consenting to the death of that Infant; the Lord forgive, and so do I my violent persecutors with all their bitter and malicious intendments and proceed against me; indeed I confess that many murderous thoughts have gone thorough my soul; but these, although they deserve death by God's Law, yet man's Law takes no hold of them, yet for these bloody thoughts, and my lustful filthy unclean life, I have deserved this death, and a worse too, and herein I desire to magnify the just hand of the Lord in bringing to light my shameful foul offences, and I desire to magnify all his holy Attributes, his Mercy, Justice, wisdom, Power, Truth, Goodness, and the rest of them, in that he hath now let me have experience of them all, that in as much as I have dishonoured him, he most justly hath dishonoured me, and brought me out, and made me visible by such a Correction as this, for other Chastisements that were more gentle, would not serve, nor stay me from my greedy pursuit, and going on in this vile course of life, exceeding vicious, I that taught others did not learn myself, for which I earnestly crave pardon of Almighty God, (which he did very fervently, and (I hope) effectually) Than he sung the 31. Psalms, some of all the three Parts, as much as was convenient for that occasion. When that was ended, it was demanded of him, that if he had no hand in the Murder, but were guiltless, why and for what end he made the Grave; He answered, when he made the hole, it was his Maids and Kinswomans' opportunity, for they told me (said he) it was to receive such things as modest men and women may easily conceive what. Then he was asked why he did not diligently inquire further, having such a just cause of suspicion: He answered, I confess myself too blame and faulty herein. Then he was asked, Why he had a hand in procuring Savin for his Kinswoman whom he loved so well, and from whom he had received so much good, and to whom he endeavoured to do so much good? He answered, therein he did but as he was requested and entreated, and for it he was but a Messenger for both of them; his Kinswoman and Maid told him, that if she had some of that to take, it would bring down those things which used to come monthly, the stopping whereof made her so ill as she said. But (said he) here is the just hand of the Lord, that hath not, and will not spare sin in any, no not in his own, but will severely punish it in all first or last, as here you may see I am brought to an end unbeseeming a Minister. I blame not the Judge nor the Jury, nor the Prosecutors but myself; and therefore (good People) do not think the worse of God, or of his faithful Ministers for my sin, I pray you again and again; for if you should, you may condemn the generation of the Just, for my wretched life and errors do not say they are all such. Remember you have been told by them that are now dead, and by myself; You may as well say, that because there was one Judas a Thief, a Traitor among the Apostles, that therefore they were all Thiefs and Traitors, and so you may utterly undo your souls and bodies by affirming such an untruth, such a false conclusion; Blame me a sinful wicked man, and lay the fault of this scandal and offence upon me: Oh that I could do that good as I have done hurt, and that my life and blood would stop the mouths of the enemies of the truth, who will say (I know) when I am gone and dead, I knew and saw one hanged as precise as you; Oh how it cuts my heart that I have been such an offence to my own calling and Profession! You of the Ministry, I pray you forgive me, and pardon my offensive life: You that profess the glorious Gospel, forgive me, for I have made all your hearts sad, I have been a great cause of grief to all of you, and an occasion for you to have in your dish when I am dead. Alas! good Sirs, what shall I do? I am presently to appear before the great Judge of all the World; Oh how bitter are the thoughts of death to me! How shall I do to encounter with Death! Then he was told that JESUS CHRIST had pulled out the Sting of Death, which is sin, for all that live godly and righteously in this present World; Yea, but said he, I am ungodly and unrighteous; What shall I do? He was answered, That CHRIST came not to call the Rsghteous, but Sinners to repentance. Oh, (said he) that Repentance and godly sorrow is that which I want. He was then advised to have 〈◊〉 course to him that giveth liberally unto all, and respecteth none.  
Then said he, Mine end is reproachful; He was answered, It was not so bad, nor so bitter as Christ's upon the Cross, and yet he submitted to his Father's Will, and further, That it was better to go from the Callowes to heaven, then from a Downe-bed to hell.  God corrects every Son whom he receiveth. 
Then he said, How am I pressed with my sins? How doth the burden of them oppress me? He then was wished to accept of that Invitation,  Matth. 11.28. Now your poor wounded soul is laden and weary, come unto me, and I will ease you. 
Then said he, direct me, and I will be ruled by you, than he was told, That all those who are saved from hell, are justified freely by the grace of God, through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ. The Ministers told him, That now it was not how many, or how foul his offences were, if he had faith to come to Jesus Christ, and to lay hold on him, He that cometh to me, I will in no case cast off. I (said he) but may I believe you, may I ground upon your words? He was answered, He might take God's Word, who hath commanded you to believe the Prophets and you shall prosper, and hath said, that Christ loveth to the uttermost them that come to him. Then said he, upon this Foundation will I build, ●ere will I build, here will I rely, and repose my ●elf, though he kill me, yet will I trust in him. And yet ●e said, Oh that I might see your faces in Heaven, ●nd were as sure to be there as you are! He was told, They hoped he should, though he went before them. Oh (said he) what a merry and joyful meeting should we have! He was then told, that this was a good Argument that he was translated from death to life, because he loved the Brethren, and wished their salvation. Oh (said he) I do love you, and am loath to part with you that love and fear the Lord. Then was he told, That the Church triumphant and the Church militant are such as do belong one to another, the Saints there, and the godly here, are all of a company. Why then (said he) you say I must rest only on Christ for Salvation, and upon his free grace and mercy. Yea (said the Ministers) for God is faithful that hath promised, and to them that truly Believe and Repent, the sinfulness of the sinner doth not make the grace of God of none effect; You know (Mr. Barker) what your Wife said, That if she had a House full of Gold, she would give it with all her Heart to save your Life; Why then Mr. Barker (said they) argue thus for your eternal comfort, from the lesser to the greater, The love of the Creature is finite, but the love of the Creator is infinite, If your Wife whom you have wronged so much, doth so love you, The love of the LORD passeth the Love of Women. Then said he, I will throw away all my other Foundations, all my Latin, Greek and Hebrew, it will do me no good, all my Labours and Duties, I cast them all away, and close with JESUS CHRIST: I come LORD JESUS CHRIST, Oh plead thou for me, bequeath thy Righteousness unto we; And this must you do all that hear me this day, You must go out of yourselves, and out of your best Duties, as Reading, Hearing, Receiving the Sacraments, Works of Charity, Fasting, Prayer, Singing of Psalms, and the like, you must not think to be saved by them, nor for them, fly you to CHRIST alone, who hath left unto us the Words of Eternal Life, Be continually using holy Duties, and abound in them, but trust not to them, rest not in them; I, but this new Work is but lately wrought in me, it is but since yesterday, for before I had a hard stony heart that could not repent, I deferred to seek God in truth, flattering myself with vain hopes of life; Surely I had never this Work of Grace in truth, but since yesterday; Oh Mr. Rogers, the Son of a godly Father, you were an Instrument of breaking my hard heart, it is not two days since. To this answer was made, this was but the seedtime, this was but the earnest, the full Vintage and fruition of grace in glory. Oh Sirs, what think you of me? They answered, very well, seeing the LORD hath so broken your heart, and brought you out of yourself. Why I thank God (said he) I have some Peace, Conscience is a little quieter, it doth not smite nor check me now, whilst I hasten to that full fruition of glory which the LORD hath prepared for them that, love him, for my time is at an end, and my strength is spent, I now take my leave of every one of you (shaking many by the hands) I leave you to him that is able to preserve you blameless till his appearing. And you of the Ministry, and ●●●●ers that Pr●●●● the Gospel, I beseech you to walk honestly and circumspectly, you had need so to do amongst a froward People with whom you dwell; Love the Faithful Ministers, reverence them; for these are the Mosesses that stand in the gap, these are the Lots that defer Fire and Brimstone from Sodom, these hold up the hands, else Amaleck would prevail; Make much of these Bushes that stop the Gapps, for if these were taken away, the drops of Gods angry displeasure would with their fearful effects be more seen among us than they are, Have a care hereof;  
Once again I take my leave of you (said he) and so giving his Executioner a Piece of money; he commended his Soul and Body into the hand of the Lord, saying;  
LORD into thy hands I commend my spirit. AND Lord JESUS receive my Soul.  
And so was Executed.   

The 2 young women's Speeches that suffered with him, consisted of these Three Heads.  
1 ALl Persons whatsoever were exhorted by their examples to take heed of all Sin whatsoever, as Swearing, Cursing, Pilfering, Cozening, Sabbath-breaking, Covetousness, Pride, Formality, Slighting of God's Servants, hypocrisy; but Lying, both of them did bewail in special manner, the Maidservant said, It was her bane; the other said, She played the beast in Lying to the Judge, thinking to save her life hereby, and it did oppress her very sore, and (said she) I persuade myself it hath eclipsed the light of God's Countenance from me, for I lied against my knowledge.  
2. That all that have the charge in children's Education, would be admonished to place them in Religious Families: and let none say, So were you placed, and we see what is befallen you, for (said they) it is the want of true Religion in our hearts that hath undone us.  
3. They acknowledged themselves guilty of that for which they died, and they cleared Mr. Barker from having any hand in the Murder, and they did advise all People to take heed of trusting to any mortal Creature, and of relying too much upon any friends, or any thing here below, but to cast their care upon the Lord alone forever.  
FINIS.