Sal Scylla: OR, A LETTER Written From SCILLY TO Mr JOHN GOODWIN, Minister of the Gospel IN LONDON.  
LONDON, Printed by J. M. for Henry Cripps, and Lodowick Lloyd, and are to be sold at their Shop in Popes-head Alley. 1653.   

The Printer to the Reader.  
Gentle Reader,  
THis Letter coming from a Stranger, residing in a place far remote; for the Christian ingenuity therein expressed, and the symphony it bears (in the truth) with the minds of those that have perused it; and for the service that it may yet farthrr do, in several respects; It was the desire of many that it might have the honour, and they themselves the ease, of its being made more facilely public, than the transcribing of many Copies would afford, and therefore a Copy of it coming to my hand (though without the knowledge of the Author or the Owner of the Original) it is put to the Press.  
VALE.   

Scilly, May25. 1653. Brother,  
I Dare be bold so to call and esteem you (considering what spirit you are of,) though I be but the least too of that body whereof (I believe) you are an eye at least: And (Providence having brought your Book of Redemption to my hand, and given me time and opportunity to read it over once and again, as also seriously to ponder the full-mouthed Authority of Scripture, Reason, and the most godly Learned, in vindication of that Foundation Truth, the face whereof hath been (and still is) by most, almost as much marred, as was the face of the Lord and Master of it) I should be injuriously unthankful to God and man, if I should not acknowledge you so to be. For the light of the body is the eye; and this light, which (by reflection of the true light) hath enlightened your eye, doth from thence again reflect upon many members, to guide their feet in the way of Grace, Mercy, Truth, and Peace.  
About four or five years passed I met with two or three small Tracts upon the Point, as L. S. Stocks, Horn contra Owen: The first mentioned (coming first to hand) undermined my Tabernacle (as it might easily do, having but a sandy foundation) and blew up the whole fabric about mine ears, spoiled all my goods which I had laid up for many years, and I escaped only with my life, wounded and naked, destitute of house or home, food, raiment, and medicine; yet withal showed me, a Stone choice and precious, wherewith I might lay a more sure foundation for a better house that could not be shaken: yet this Stone was rough and uneven, and I knew not as yet how to square and fit it to build upon, neither have I, or heard I, of any other that could, till I found out Horn, who squared this stone to my mind at that time; also he provided me with many materials to build upon it. Having therefore so good Benefactors to bear the cost, I thanked God and them, and fell to work. But having built two or three stones high, their materials failed me. Wherefore my house being not yet covered, and I weary of lying by the hedges, I made use of some of the ruins of my old house to finish my new building, and so patched it up as I could: but entering into it, I found it every shower (like a contentious woman) a continual dropping; until I met with your Model, which having throughly viewed within and without, I found every stone so close compact and cemented, as if it had been one entire Rock; wherefore I pulled down so much as was faulty, and built up again according to the last pattern. And now I thank my God through the grace given to you and me; I have an house wherein to shelter me from all winds and weathers whatsoever, and not only so, but which is well furnished with all things necessary for my being and well-being. And that in such abundance, that they can never fail me to eternity, unless I turn prodigal, which I have no more cause to fear, then of cutting mine own throat. I need not expound my parable, the Moral (I believe) is obvious to the meanest member of your Church.  
To relate the divers transactions between the Father, Son, Spirit, and my Soul, (from the 20. to the 45. year of my pilgrimage) would exceed the bounds of an Epistle, and the limit of many sheets of paper. Therefore be pleased with this brief and general account. From the 20. to the 39 year of mine age I lived upon the husks of the common faith of Election, (yet did not then so account it, though since I have found it to be no better.) In which time I was under many Eclipses and relapses, and once even at the gate of despair; In this Epilepsy, I made use of the common Antidote; Whom God loveth once, he loveth to the end; The Gifts and Calling of God are without repentance, etc. But this was but a paliative cure, the cause still remaining, depending upon the common notion of Election; during this time I was counted a Puritan, (except in my relapses wherein I was only a scandal to those so called,) than I turned to the Presbyterian, after that to the Independent, thence to the Anabaptist, then to the Seeker, where seeking for that which could not be found, I had almost lost myself. Then I faced the Ranter, but found him to be set on fire of Hell; and knowing by woeful experience, that the  child dreads the fire, I durst not come near. Here I was at a loss, and at as great a straight as the Lepers before that Gate of Samaria. If I stand here I must perish, If I went back to any of the former dispensations, the Famine was there, Therefore I resolved to yield myself to the mercy of the Gentiles, which I did accordingly, where I continued the space of two years, not without hope, nor wiihout God in the World, (though I had rejected the Scripture, and all men's interpretation upon it,) the vision of all being (to me) as a Book that was sealed, which neither learned nor unlearned could open or read, yet during this time, I had hope in God, and committed my soul and body to my faithful Creator, who did speak peace to me in this strange Land: And many times would lead me by his Spirit to the Scriptures, where I should yet read with as little understanding, as the Eunuch: At the end of this dispensation I was led by the Spirit once more to the Scriptures, than opened he my understanding, and pressed me farther to search and try all things, which I did accordingly; and so by the grace of God, I am what I am. And now, my Father, (the Chariot and Horsemen of the Israel of God) ride on because of the word of truth, charge through all opposition, and Jesus Christ who hath showed you so great things, as the despisers and wonderers of the world will not believe, (though it be so plainly declared to them,) shall show you yet greater things that they may marvel. I know but two or three in all these West-parts  in this point, the rest (which are many and zealous) though they might know that the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God stronger than men, yet are so bewitched with tradition, that seeing the visions of God will not answer the visions of their own hearts, they will make the Devil a Seer, according to that of the Poet. 
Flectere si nequeo, Superos Acherent a movebo.  
If the Powers above I cannot bend,  
He move the Fiend some aid to send.   
And therefore they rejoice in, and boast of Master Kendal's Answer, the word Answer, being (I believe) the strongest argument for the confirmation of their error, or the eviction of their truth; yet these (I bore them record) have all zeal for God, though not according to knowledge; for they being iggnorant of the righteousness of God, and also of his love, goodness, mercy, wisdom, equity, and truth, and going about to establish his will and power alone, have not submitted to either. If your promise upon Rom. 9 be fulfilled, I pray send it down amongst us, that the deceiving and deceived may (if possible,) be undeceived. I pray also send us word whether your second part to the same tune be finished, or when (probably) it may, when happily the grand Objection, (the want of means to them that never heard of Jesus Christ) may be convincingly answered, to the satisfaction of the most judicious of them, who chief stumble at that stumbling stone.  
I need make no Apology for my boldness in thus writing, believing that your Greatness is in being least, and servant unto all. Therefore follow on (Oh man of God) to serve your God, and your Generation, that you may finish the work that is given you to do with joy, to the joy of many; And that both you and they may attain to the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, For which the weakest and unworthiest of all the members of Christ, shall cast in his mite of prayer into the Treasury of the Almighty; My duty I commend to you, and all that love and wait for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; which is by love to serve you all,  
Christopher Salter, Chirurgeon of the Islands and Garrison of SCYLLY.   
FINIS.