A REMONSTRANCE OF The sincere and zealous PROTESTATION OF ABIEZER COPPE, Against the Blasphemous and Execrable OPINIONS recited in the ACT of Aug. 10. 1650. The breach whereof, the Author hath (through Mistake) been mis-suspected of, when he hath not been in the least guilty thereof, etc. Or, Innocence (clouded with the name of Transgression) wrapped up in silence; But now (a little) peeping forth from under the thick and black clouds of Obloquy, Arising out of the sea of Malice in some, and out of Weakness, Ignorance, and Mistake in others; who are by the Author much pitied, and dearly beloved. And for their sakes primely, as also for the satisfaction of many, and information of all, This ensuing Remonstrance, Vindication, and Attestation is published, Per me, ABIEZER COPPE,— de Newgate. Jan. 3d 1650 Which is as a Preamble to a farther future Declaration of what he hath been, and now is; who hath been so clothed with a cloud, that few have known him. London, Printed by JAMES COTTREL. 1651. Some said He is a good man; others said, Nay but he is mad, and hath a devil. He is a wine-bibber a glutton and a drunkard; a friend of publicans and harlots. But wisdom is justified of her children. I Having patiently, cheerfully, and silently sustained ( * All fleshly interests, carnal Gospelers, and pretenders to Religion, with some secret enemies (though seeming friends) to the State, combining together to incense them against me, because I have faithfully and boldly declaimed against their hypocrisy, pride, covetousness, selfseeking, and villainy, covered under the cloak of fleshly holiness and Religion, etc. through the malice, ignorance mistake, and blind zeal of Informers) a tedious twelvemonth's imprisonment in the common Goals of Warwick, Coventry, and that most infamous Goal of Newgate, Have been within these few days informed by my dearest friend, That The two † Which were put out ●●lf a y●er after mine imprisonment. Acts of May 10. and Aug. 9 1650 were put out because of me; thereby secretly intimating that I was guilty of the breach of them. Whereupon, (●fter my long, and by many admired patience and silence) I thought good, not so much for mine own sake, (for my pure innocence supports me, and lifts up my head above all these things) but for the sakes of others, To present This ensuing Remonstrance Vindication, and Attestation▪ Resolving, by the help of the Omnipotent, Omnipresent JEHOVAH (whom I purely worship in the spirit, having no confidence in the flesh) to enlarge myself (when I enjoy my liberty) upon these things; and to all unprejudiced spirits (and perhaps to the silencing of them also) to give an account of myself, in reference to those Various Dispensations past and present, that I have been and am led into and thorough: as also, the removing of all stumbling-blocks, the clearing up of those mistakes, and the wiping away those aspersions, which (through malice, weakness, ignorance, and mistake) have been cast upon me; who have been so covered with a cloud, that not one amongst a thousand know me. But for the present, I shall address myself to the Acts; and begin with that of Aug. 9 In the Preamble of this Act, the Parliament express their desires (by all GOOD MEANS) to propagate the Gospel, etc. Which is the desire of my soul. And it is always my fervent prayer to Him whose it is, That He the Prince of peace, (whose burden is easy, and whose yoke is light; who ruleth in righteousness; who judgeth not according to outward appearance, but judgeth righteous judgement) that he would, by his own outstretched Arm, set it up. And I resolve never to give mine eyes any rest, till I see it flourish: for it is my Life. They farther express Their desire to suppress [Profaneness and Wickedness, Superstition and Formality, etc.] The two former, my soul abhors, and I hate them with a perfect hatred; and have, by Life and Conversation, by Doctrine and Example (for many years) decried them; yea, even since I have been by all men (except those that knew me) cried up (as my forerunner before me was by all sorts even of the most religious and righteous men, except a handful that knew him) for the worst of sinners, the vilest of persons; for a Blasphemer, a Devil, etc. And as for Idolatry, Superstition, and Idolatrous Formality; Have any been Boanerges upon this account? (I speak as a fool.) I have thundered more against them than they all. And for my zeal herein, and against finer and subtler pieces of Formality, the coals were first kindled against me. And now the fire is at the highest: whereat I laugh; having sweet union and communion with the Father and the Son; living in that Kingdom wherein dwelleth righteouness' and peace; triumphing in joy unspeakable, and full of glory: sweet Peace and pure Content being my continual repast. Neither do I repent, That the Almighty (whose I am, and who will do with his own what he pleaseth) Hath set me (as formerly he hath most of his holy Prophets and Servants) as * Isa. 8.18, 14, 15. Zech. 3.3, 8. ☞ [Men wondered at.] Their words wondered at, their carriage wondered at, their actions wondered at, etc. * As was Hosea, Hos. 1.2. A SIGN and a WONDER.— And— as a stumbling stone, and ROCK of OFFENCE to both the houses of Israel, etc. But to proceed. The Act is bend against these ensuing Execrable Opinions etc. As (first) [The denial of the necessity of Civil and Moral righteousness amongst men.] If there are such a generation of men, they stand or fall to their own master. As for me, I say concerning them, O my soul! come not thou into their secrets: unto their assemblies, mine honour, be not thou united, Gen. 49.6. This Opinion (in the presence of the Allseeing God, in whose presence I am, and whom I serve) I utterly protest against. And in the same presence, I most joyfully (to his praise) affirm, That that Golden Law, which is the Basis of all Civil and Moral righteousness among men; (Viz. Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do you to them, etc.) is by the finger of God (in indelible letters) written as a Law of Life in my heart. And here I can boldly (as in reference to the grace of God) though in all humility (as in reference to myself) challenge the whole world, and say, Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or to whom have I done any wrong? Whom have I dealt unjustly with? where is ever a drop of blood that I have shed? whom have I defrauded of a shoo-latchet or a thread? etc. Herein do I make my boast of God all the day long, and in him do I triumph and rejoice, though I am (to my joy also) numbered amongst Transgressor's, and the chiefest of them preferred before me; many of them being released, and * At which I envy not, etc. but take notice of, as do some hundreds also besides me. set at liberty; and I (patiently and silently) lie by the walls, as having a visage more marred than any man's, etc. But I proceed, And avowedly protest, that I hate and detest, yea (in the presence of God) protest against all those blasphemous Opinions or Tenants recited in page 980, from the thirteenth line thereof, to the seven and twentieth line of pag. 981. And many, or most of them, I will particularly hint at; As primely this. I do not vainly, ignorantly, and blasphemously affirm my self, or any other mere creature, to be very God: neither was this Tenent (or any of the rest that follow) ever mine. But this I have and do affirm, and shall still upon the house tops affirm, and shall expire with this wholesome sound, and orthodoxal opinion That God Christ is in the creature. [— CHRIST IN YOU except you are reprobates, 1 Cor.] The contrary assertion, is the Blasphemy of Blasphemies, etc. Again, I disavow, disown, detest, and protest against that Opinion which holdeth, That [God dwelleth in the creature, and nowhere else, etc.] I live in that sound and orthodox opinion of Omnipresencie; of which I can speak feelingly knowingly powerfully: whereof I formerly (in the time of mine own righteousness, which was * Isai. as menstruous rags; and in the time of my fleshly wisdom, which was * 1 Cor. enmity to God) spoke of formally, ignorantly, notionally (only) like a Parot in a Cage. And as for the Righteousness, Holiness of GOD, etc. I had rather be cut to pieces then speak against it: for it is my Life. And whatever I have spoken against Righteousness and Holiness, it hath been against that righteousness of Man, which is * Isai. as menstruous rags etc. and against that carnal mock-holiness: pseud-holiness of man which is a cloak for all manner of Villainy; upon which the vengeance of God is and hath been poured forth etc. And as for Uncleanness, profane Swearing, Drunkenness, Filthiness, Brutishness, etc. I declaim against them, as unholy▪ etc. As also, for Lying, Stealing, Cozening, and defrauding others, my soul abhors. Further, I hold, declare, and maintain, that Murder, Adultery, Incest, Fornication, Uncleanness, Sodomy, etc. are things sinful, shameful, wicked, impious, and abominable, in any person, etc. Or that Heaven and Happiness consisteth in the acting of these or such things; and the rest, as they follow in pag. 981, are things that I disown, disavow, and protest against. I shall conclude with this Affirmation and Asseveration: That there is Heaven, and Hell; Salvation, and Damnation. Heaven for all those that repent of their sins, that cease to do evil, and learn to do well. Heaven, for all them that are washed, purged, and cleansed, by the Spirit of our God. Heaven, for all them that have Christ, the King of Glory, Eternal Majesty, in them. And Hell, and Damnation, to all that touch the apple of his eye, that oppose the Lords Anointed, and that do his Prophets any harm. It was in my thoughts to have said something concerning the Act of May 10; but, upon reading thereof, I see nothing in it but what is contained in that of August; and therefore my labour is saved. And I shall only add a word or two concerning Liberty and Community. As for Liberty, I own none but the glorious liberty of the sons of God which I and the whole creation groans after. And I do from my heart detest and protest against all Sinful liberty, or that is destructive to soul or body. And as for Community, I own none but that Apostolical, Saintlike Community spoken of in the Scriptures. So far I either do or should own Community, that if flesh of my flesh be ready to perish, I either will or should call nothing that I have mine own: if I have bread, it shall or should be his; else all my Religion is vain. I am for dealing bread to the hungry, for clothing the naked, for the breaking of every yoke, for the letting of the oppressed go free. I am or should be as my heavenly Father, who is kind to all, loving to all, even to the ungodly, etc. Mat. 6. I can (through grace) pity those that are objects of compassion, and out of my poverty and penury relieve those that are in want. And if this be to be vile,— etc. Yet, Know all men by these Presents, That I am utterly against that Community which is sinful, or destructive to soul or body. Ita testor, ABIEZER COPPE. POSTSCRIPT. I Have only one word more, and for the present I have done. There are several Pamphlets extant against a People called RANTERS; too whereof bear this Inscription in their brazen foreheads, [Published by Authority] else the malice and simplicity of the Pamphleter should have been still laughed at only, and yet (upon another account) pitied by me. For the present, I will only give— to understand, That the Pamphlets are scandalous, and bespattered with Lies and Forgeries, in setting me in the front of such actions which I never did, which my soul abhors; such things which mine eyes never beheld, such words which my tongue never spoke, and mine ears never heard. All like that false aspersion,— Viz. that I was accompanied to Coventry with two she-disciples, and that I lay with two women there at once. Which two she-disciples were Captain Beak, and other Soldiers, who have hurried me from Goal to Goal where I sing Hallelujahs to the righteous Judge, and lie in his bosom, who is everlasting loving kindness. Amen. HALLELUJAH. FINIS. printer's device (?)