AN apologetical Account, of some Brethren of the CHURCH, Whereof Mr. John Goodwin is Pastor.  
( On the behalf of the Church.)  
Why they cannot execute that Unchristian and passionate Charge, viz. Of delivering up their said Pastor unto satan, &c.  
Which is imposed upon them, in the sixth page. of a late Printed book, called, A Vindication of a Printed Paper, &c.  
Acts 25.7. And they laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.  
Luke 9.55: But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner spirit ye are of.  
2. Cor. 13.8. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  

Published according to Order.   
LONDON, Printed by I. D. and R. I. for Henry Overton, and are to be sold at his Shop at the entering into Popes-Head-Alley out of lombard street. 1647.   

IT was a general observation among the Heathen, that Envy was an inseparable companion unto virtue. And truly if Christians would but consult with the experience of all ages, they should find that Holinesse hath been constantly haunted with the like or a worse spirit; the former being but a slight provocation to flesh and blood in comparison of this latter. Our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who spake as never man spake and acted for the glory of his Father at a higher rate, then the Angels themselves can attain unto, was stigmatized by the Rulers of the Jewish Church, with those odious titles of blasphemer, devil, a friend of publicans and sinners. And such as have followed him closest in the regeneration, hath the world forced to drink deepest with him of this bitter cup. The Apostle Paul, who( above all the sons of men) drew the most perfect resemblance of this heavenly pattern, had much ado to uphold the honour and dignity of his Name, even in the Churches of Christ against the suggestions of false teachers? We conceive it a work of no great difficulty to produce out of every Century since the coming of our Lord, variety of examples of this nature: and to show how in all times such as have been most richly furnished from heaven, to do service to that God that dwells therein, have deeply suffered in this kind, and that from those, who were zealous pretenders to the same sacred employment and service with them.  
But is not the counsel of God, and the hand of Satan in all this? yea doubtless, though the one bee founded in wisdom and love; the other stretched forth in hatred and revenge. The devil, through that enmity which is in him to the glory of his Creator, and the everlasting peace and salvation of the creature, burns with extreme jealousy against all those, who are best appointed with courage and skill to practise upon his vassals, and to make the widest breaches upon his territories; and because he knows there is no way, more likely to render their atempts fruitless, and to lay their highest achievements for the throne of heaven in the dust, then to cast dead flies into the box of their ointment; he therefore provokes all the interest he hath in the tongues and hearts of men to wound their Names, that if it be possible the credit and reputation of them might bleed even unto death. But wherein this grand accuser of the brethren thinks he deals wisely, therein God is above him; and compels this stratagem of his against his servants to become contributory to his own ends and their good. For though knowledge and abundance of revelations are apt through the weakness of the flesh to puff up even the best of men, yet these buffetings by the messengers of Satan prove excellent correctives of such swellings; and are a proper means to keep their hearts in an humble and low posture: which posture as it makes them capable of the largest infusion of grace, so doth it principally qualify them to become instruments for Gods hand. Whereas if they wanted this qualification, though accommodated in all other respects for his service, he would soon lay them by the walls as useless tools( and so his occasions in the world might suffer loss) for certainly in the election of means for his own ends, he passes by proud and high persons with as much neglect and disdain, as proud and high things.  
The consideration hereof( amongst other things relating hereunto) as it had( we doubt not) a sovereign influence upon our dearly beloved Pastor, for the strengthening of him against the assaults of the powers of darkness and this world; so had it somewhat the like operation upon us also; who otherwise could not have born the cruel outrageous and malicious dealings of men towards him, with that equanimity and moderation of spirit we have done. To see a beautiful visage causelessly deformed by the talons of cruelty, is a fight which cannot but afflict nature: but to see innocency suffer for truths sake, oh how grievous, how oppressing is it to an ingenuous and gracious spirit? and this was our case in respect of him. Our experience and strict observation of him for some yeares together, filled us to the very brim with assurance of his integrity and faithfulness both to God and man: and this assurance made us so exceeding tender in our affections and respects to him, that the loud and furious outcries of some against him were as a sword which pierced our bowels through and through. nevertheless, it came not into all our thoughts to move for his vindication one step beyond the sphere of those places and companies whither our private occasions lead us: yet ignorant we were not, what advantage his accusers had of us in this respect: we knew full well, that the line of our occasions and opportunities was too short to traverse the circumference of the press; and consequently, that it was impossible for us to gather up by our apologies and defence, what they had scattered in the minds& opinions of men by the hand thereof: Our hope indeed was, that what through our private testimonies and engagements on the one hand, and his public vindications of himself on the other, and the blessing of God upon both; the wise and sober part of the world might have been antidoted against the poison of their informations. However we persuaded ourselves, that the day was not far off, when those ways and truths for which he suffered, would rise out of their graves, and ascend upon the Throne, and draw his name out of its dust and ashes after them to partake with themselves in their glory: And under this expectation wee possessed our souls in patience; only we could not in the mean time but weep in secret over the astonishing wickedness and folly of this age, which spits its venom in the faces of such, as most industriously promote the things of the peace and welfare of it.  
But the breaking forth of a late treatise called a Vindication of a printed Paper, &c. or rather the breakings out of an unchristian spirit in that Treatise, hath even forced the pen into our hands, and laid a necessity upon us to let the world know, why wee do not, wee dare not, wee cannot, obey the voice of this spirit speaking unto us in blackness and darkness, in smoke and fire out of the midst of it: For our parts, we cannot but thus judge concerning the Author or Authors of that vindication, that when they imposed upon us that direful charge therein specified, they were under the power and actings of the same inspirations with the Jews, when they cried out to Pilate against our Saviour, crucify him, crucify him: And doubtless Pilate had as much reason to gratify the bloody desires of this people, as wee have to deliver him up unto satan, whom we know to be a most faithful Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ, there being no reason either for the one or the other. That blasphemy for which wee are commanded to throw the thunderbolt of excommunication against him inquired into, wee are confident, will be found to be but of the same nature and consideration with that, for which this just and holy One was put to death, that is, no blasphemy at all. If to vindicate the truths of God from the false and lying imaginations of men: if to maintain the royalties of Christ and the privileges of his Subjects, against the encroachments and tyranny of the World; if to stand in the gap, and endeavour to keep out the horned beast of persecution from the societies and bodies of the Saints, if this be blasphemy, we confess him to be one of the greatest blasphemers under heaven; and upon these terms, willing wee are to quit our interest in him, and resign him up into the jurisdiction of him who is his, and our greatest enemy. But though such ways and practices as these, are arraigned and condemned too under the names of heresy. Blasphemy, and the like, in the consistories of men, where their carnal interests and accommodations sit as Judges; yet our comfort is, that the sentence shall be reversed in the Court of Heaven; and all engagements of this nature shall then bee rewarded as loyalty and faithfulness to the great King that rules there.  
We have fully known his Doctrine, life, and conversation, and as far as by the use of our reasons, understandings, and observations we are able to judge of them, they are according to truth, and as becomes the Gospel of the Lord Iesus. Those streams of light which have run through the current of his ministry, have been as pure and unmixed from any tincture of darkness, as the earthliness and weakness of the vessel from whence they issued, could well permit: The Doctrines of the Father and of the Son, the involving whereof in the clouds of uncertainty, the said vindication most falsely and maliciously charges upon him, hath he brought into so clear and open view, that wee have seen the peace and everlasting salvation of our souls in them. Every one of those fundamental Principles of Christian Religion, which this gangrened pen would persuade the world he denies or doubts of, hath he not only asserted in our hearing again and again, but proov'd them with such evidence and demonstration of the spirit, that our consciences were forced to fall flat before them, and to confess that of a truth God was in them. Sure wee are, he hath laid amongst us that true and everlasting foundation Jesus Christ, other then which no man can lay without extreme peril of himself and his Disciples. But because the knowledge of the most knowing attains not perfection in this life( errors and misprisions being mixed with their choicest and purest notions) wee confess tis possible that the structure he hath set upon this foundation is not all of gold silver, and precious stones: Perhaps somewhat of the nature of wood, hay, and stubble will be found in it: Yet of this we are strongly possessed, and that not upon light and loose grounds, that his works and Labours in this kind shall suffer as little loss by fire in the day of purgation, as the works of any his fellow-labourers whosoever. The truth is, wee cannot but bless the hand of that providence, which planted us by the waters of his ministry, the streams whereof make glad our hearts, and refresh the very roote of our souls with the refreshings of the Almighty. As for his life, we have seen holinesse to the Lord, engraven in faire and convincing characters upon the forehead of it: Verily, the the signs of a true Minister of Christ, and of an Elder indeed of his Church, hath he wrought amongst us in all knowledge, wisdom, temperance, gravity, humbleness, patience, faithfulness and love. And therefore wee appeal to all sober and reasonable men, whether to withdraw all converse from him upon the bare injunctions of the passions and distempers of any whomsoever, were not to despise this grace of God,& to consult leanness, barrenness,& trouble to our souls? Or whether to join him and excommunication together, were not to make one of the most accursed matches that the policy of the devil, and wickedness of men e're conspired?  
Whether the publishing of some humble and modest Queries, or in particular that Query upon which these men fall so foul, that they seem to be stark drunk with rage and fury, will amount to wickedness and blasphemy; or whether any thing of affinity unto these be contained in the bowels of it; we presume all intelligent men may receive satisfaction from a far more able, and( in some respect) more interested pen 
Vid. Hagiom●… styx, or th●… scourge 〈◇〉 the Sts. di●…played i●… his colou●… of Ignorance an●… blood.  then outs. We have looked upon this Query again and again, wee have preached into the bottom of it with all possible exactness and impartiality, and profess that we cannot find that black and cursed treasure in it, no nor the least vein thereof over which they so insultingly rejoice. If they indeed saw-in it such fearful and gashley apparitions as they cry out of, we have cause to think, that they looked through the false spectacles of malice, hatred, and revenge. Wee know the great chemist of Hell is labouring night and day to metamorphize Truth into error, innocency and holinesse into wickedness and faction, the Order of the Gospel into schism and confusion. If any in imitation of him( or rather through inspiration from him) shall extract by the fire of their passions desperate conclusions from harmless premises, we bewail their proficiency in this black art, and abhor it. As for these Persons, certainly they had never found such a riddle and complication of blasphemies in a Query so innocent and inoffensive, had they ploughed with the faire heifer of Love, which as the Apostle speaks, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, 
1 Cor. ●… 5.& 7.  believeth all things, hopeth all things. And yet wee are persuaded, that they triumph in face, more then in heart; and are conscious to themselves, that those great spoils, which they boast like Emperours to have taken from the Querists name, are but cockles, i. mere flourishes and bubbles. For had they judged themselves able to make good their sore charge of blasphemy against him, in all likelihood he had felt the scorching heat of their zeal, and been convented before Rulers and Magistrates long ere this: to think otherwise, were to conceive that they are less zealous for Truths then for Tyth's, for the cause and glory of God, then their own greatness and domination.  
But is it not a sad thing, and of portentous consequence, that such great pretenders not to the Office only, but the Qualifications of an Elder, should act so diametrally opposite thereunto? should become public brawlers and revilers, should smite their fellow-servant in a place more tender then his eye, viz. in his name and honour, should arraign him, judge him, and condemn him unto hell, and all for no other crime, upon no other witness, then the publishing a naked Query, the nature whereof( all men know) is neither to assert any thing, nor deny? Nay, which is more, should conjure others also, even a whole Church of Christ to be copartners with them in their sin, and to help them to poure out the dregs of their cruel and unrighteous wrath upon their own Pastor? What strain? what temper of spirit shall we call this? if they themselves will call it zeal, we will call it so too; but it is a zeal from beneath and symbolizeth in properties with that wisdom which comes from the same place, 
●… m. 3.15  which( as james tells us) is earthly, sensual, and devilish. If he had dropped any sentence in Print, the face whereof might have been forced to look towards the borders of wickedness and blasphemy; yet it became Elders to use it gently, and to take that to be the sense and meaning of it which it gave out freely and without torture. A Christian Method from which others likewise have lately deviated in perverting his sense and sayings, and thereupon reporting that he denies the Scriptures to be the Word of God; whereas he hath engaged more thoughts, spent more houres, preached more Sermons for the vindication of the divine original of the Scriptures out of the hands of jealousy and unbelief, then any of his profession that wee know. And were his labour in this kind transmitted to public view, if wee should judge of the fruits of it, by what we have found in ourselves, doubtless it would bless the world, and be the establishment of the hearts of thousands in this great fundamental Truth.  
again, suppose he had published something which struck point-blanke at a main principle of the gospel( a supposition which malice itself in conjunction with sophistry will never be able to make good) it had been their Office( if they would needs intermeddle) to have advised us to admonish him once and again, and to endeavour in love and patience to convince him, before wee proceeded any further; but to command us upon such peremptory terms as they do, at the very first dash to excommunicate him, without any trial, admonition, or means of conviction going before; What does this but argue, that they have more of Christ, his spirit, mind, and government in their lips and pens, then in their hearts and ways? Such overtures of their great insufficiency to rule and govern, as this is, wee think are sufficient cautions to the State to deny them that royal crown which they so earnestly desire and run for; it being an act of equal improvidence, to put a sharp knife into a childs hand, and to give power to passionate and unreasonable men. Were they accommodated in all things to their hearts content, they would soon make the best to feel, what the most do fear, that the little finger of their Discipline would be thicker in persecution then their Predecessors loins. The soundest and ablest Christians in the Land could not possibly scape free from their rods and scorpions, had they as good authority to punish Heresies and Blasphemies how they please, as they have a faculty to make Heresies and Blasphemies of what they please.  
One thing further we desire the Reader to take notice of, that they press us with the most prevailing motives under Heaven to do that, which they themselves judge sinful and altogether unlawful for us to do. The power of the keys by divine right is questionless one of the Regalia Imperii, a chief Royalty of that sacred Empire, for which they with others of their Order contend so strenuously, that they make the foundations of the Land shake and tremble under them. For any to intermeddle herein with unconsecrated hands, is the great abomination of their souls: And yet though they cannot but know, that not one drop of their consecrating oil hath touched our heads, they charge us as wee regard the honour of God, and our Lord Iesus Christ, and the authority of the Spirit, to execute the highest censure, not onely without, and against the consent, but upon the person of ou●… only Elder. What is this, but to make these great and sacred Names, which are the chief incentives unto holiness, to become the Ministers of sin, at lest of that which they call so? Whether they have not hereby insinuated thus much into the mindes of many, that they can speak any thing, do any thing, command any thing, permit any thing to serve a turn, wee leave to themselves to determine. In our apprehensions they seem to be somewhat of his mind, who thus cruelly resolved with himself, pereant amici, dummodò pereant inimici: They can find in their hearts to shake a main pillar of their babel, or suffer their jus divinum to fall to the ground, so the man of their hatred and indignation might fall together with it.  
But to conclude, we have turned their injunction upside down, wee have viewed it on all sides, as it faces themselves, the qucrist, and us, and find it in every respect so abhorrent to all principles of ingenuity, civility, reason and religion, that the very thought of it makes us quake. To perpetrate such a dead of darkness against him, whom God hath made more precious to us then our lives, is by far more grievous to our spirits, then to cut off our right hands and pull out out right eyes, would be unto our flesh. Wee could open our mouths yet seven times wider on his behalf then wee have done. But wee are unwilling to provoke the rage of his accusers and enemies any further, in reflecting shane upon the darkness of their weaknesses and folly( to say no more) by the light of his life and conversation. In the presence of Angels and men, we call God for a record upon our souls, that we know nothing by him, which deserves the lightest censure of a Church, all his deportments amongst us calling for love, reverence, honour, and imitation. And our prayer unto God is, that he would by the influence of his Doctrine and Example make us so abundantly fruitful in all well doing, that as He is our glory and rejoicing for the present, so Wee may be his glory and the crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord Iesus.  


Robert Smith.  
mark Hildesley.  
Robert Saunders.  
Thomas Davenish.  
William montague.  
William Allen.  
joseph Gallant.  
Thomas lamb.  
daniel tailor.  
james Paris.  
Thomas Norman.  
Bartholomew Lavender.  
Richard Preice.  
Thomas Morris.  
John Price.  
Richard Arnald.    
FINIS.