Mr. TILLAM'S ACCOUNT EXAMINED, OR, A brief Reply to his unchristian Account of some passages of Providence. By a Friend to Truth, and to Mr. Tillam's own Soul, if GOD have not sealed him down under hardness of heart. Written for the sake of such poor honest souls in Colchester, and the parts adjacent, as are Misled through his Enchantments. Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? Joh 11.2, 3. London, Printed for the Author, 1657. An Epistle to the Reader. Christian Reader, PEradventure, a Reply to Mr. Tillam's pretended Christian Account was long since expected, but, upon sufficient reason, a delay was made. It was some time before the parties most concerned in it (living at a distance) could know of his Pamphlet: But chief, after it was drawn up, it was judged fit, by some interessed in the business, to lay it aside, hoping that his folly would be made manifest enough by his own proceed; which indeed is already done in great part, especially to pious and prudent Christians; And, I doubt not, but it will be discovered more and more daily. But in regard of his vain triumphs, and because there are many weak, harmless, and well meaning people in danger of being further deluded by him, it is now resolved to present the Man to the open view of the world, that his untruths, scandals, and dangerous designs may make all more cautious whom they confide in, and depend upon, in so great concernment as that of Religion. Upon this, and other accounts (Reader) thou shalt here find such a discovery of Mr. T. T. written, not out of envy to him, but pity to others misled by him, as (I hope) will make thee sensible of the bottom of his design in coming to Colchester, which he pretends to be guided to, by a hand of Providence; but upon perusal of this, I believe, thou wilt find, it was rather a Plot than a Providence, being the last adventure of a necessitated person, that must shift for himself somewhere, discarded by those in the North who first gave him credit, and having his 40 l. per ann. withdrawn by the Commissioners there. Yet no doubt a providence it was too, but such a one as that of Colchester Siege, which prevented the suffering of other places when the Enemy was garrisoned there. And I wish, that as that party had their last considerable motion terminated within the walls of Colchester (the adjacent parts being sufficiently alarmed by their being there) so also Mr. Tillam may make your miserable Town the ultimate stage of his progress. 'Tis pity other places should ever be troubled with such a guest as sets the house on fire where ever he comes, making it his business to divide and sow discord amongst Brethren; By which (if there were nothing else) it may be easily gathered of what fraternity he is. It is abundantly known what their Religion is, whose aim is division; knowing how to retire into union among themselves, and meet together in one centre, though the lines drawn from it stand at a distance in the circumference. Doubtless Mr. Tillam's slighting Mr. Prin's charge (of his being a Papist) is a Masterpiece: 'Tis more policity for Mr. T. to contemn than answer so fair a probability. His own acknowledgement that he has been a Papist, together with his Romish trinkets, Extreme Unction, Washing of feet, pretences to infallibility (the choicest Jewels in the Pope's Triple Crown) for all he speaks must be taken as the Oracles of God, without any consulting others, though never so pious and prudent; these things I say may strongly persuade a sober man to suspect a papist in the bottom. But I shall not judge him, Reader, let me only persuade thee to lay aside prejudice, and thou shalt here find Mr. Tillam passing judgement upon himself; for most of the particulars charged upon him in this book, are no other but such as dropped from his own Pen or Tongue; and therefore, if any wrong be done him, he may thank himself for it. But I shall hold thee no longer in the Porch; if thou wilt know more, read further; let thine own eyes be thy informers. That which follows is a Letter written by Mr Robert Eton to a friend of his, which he desired him to print. Worthy and endeared Friend; I Having at last met with Mr. Tillam's Pamphlet, falsely entitled, A Christian Account, I thought good in the first place to give you an account of him, and then of those passages in his Pamphlet which relate to me. This Tillam, who is not ashamed to call the Censures which the Church & People of God have passed upon him, The Trials of his grace, was for a short time an Aporthecary, but since having assumed to be an Anabaptistical Minister, by reason of his fasticusness, pride, and turbulence of Spirit, hath been like a ball of Wildfire tossed from one end of the Nation to another; scattering his peslilent errors with very great impudence and boldness in every place where he hath come. Now though I had heard in Lancashire, and other places (before my removal from Dedham) of the dangerous conditions of this man, and what disturbance he had made in several places, in venting and propagating his Errors, yet now I am more fully certified of the truth of those things which there I heard. For brevity sake I shall only give you an account of Mr. Samuel Eaton's, who is Pastor of the Church of Duckenfield in Cheshire, before whom one of Mr. Tillam's causes was examined, and by whom Mr. Tillam's Excommunication out of the Church at Wrexam was declared just and regular: Mr. Sam. Eaton's words are these, Mr. Tillam was excommunicated first by the Church at Wrexam, and afterwards his Excommunication was found and declared just by the Church at Duckenfield, The causes of his Excommunication were several; among others were these; The proof of several untruths told by him, intolerable pride, together with a visible design to divide the Church, etc. but that he withdrew himself, and that his withdrawing (as Mr. Tillam excuses the matter) was the cause of his Excommunication, is utterly false, and a mere evasion; fir they were fully resolved to cast him out before he did withdraw himself, and he withdrew himself purposely to evade the sentence: And many that were his Disciples, and Rebaptised by him, when they heard things laid open, were satisfied to the justness of the sentence pronounced against him. Thus far Mr. Sam. Eton gave me an account of him: Now whether a man so eminent as Mr. Sam. Eton (in a business where he can have no by-respects) is to be believed, or Mr. Tillam (one cause of whose Excommunication was lying) let all men judge. As for that Church of Anabaptists in Cheshire which he so much magnifies in his book, I shall not meddle with them, only this I shall say, that some of them, though under the Ordinance (as their expression is) for which Mr. Tillam hath, and doth show so much zeal, and therefore more likely to favour Mr. Tillam's cause; Yet (I say) some of them do disown him, as not fit to be communicated withal; and others have told me, that he is disowned by their whole Church; yea some of that sweet society (as Mr. Tillam calls them) do suspect him to be a Jesuit; and several grounds they have of their suspicion, as themselves have related to me. First, because he hath acknowledged that once he was a Papist; and again he hath confessed (as some of them have told me) that he hath been at Rome. Secondly, they have observed him to deliver doctrines in favour of Justification by Works: And truly though he so slightly pass over that which Mr. Prin charges him withal, yet, I think, he ought, there being so much ground of suspicion, to have laboured more for his vindication in that particular, than merely to say, It is a gross slander. Now as for those passages in his Pamphlet which relate to me; Though I have understood by several persons, that he hath not only a false tongue, but also a brazen face, yet I conceive he would never have been so impudent as to have uttered such a reproach without the least ground, but that he hoped it would never have come to my knowledge, I being now so far remote. But I have now at last providentially obtained a sight of his Pamphlet, and for my own vidication, I shall give an account of all that passed betwixt him and me, whence he hath taken an hint to forge all those reproaches he casleth upon me. I being occasionally with Mr. Malyn, Secretary to the Lord Protector, and with Mr. Wakering, and some other Gentlemen at Whitehall, there was mention made of this same Tillam, and the Instrument whereby he was authorized to preach in any vacant place, which Mr. Malyn hearing of, said, He was very confident he never had any such Instrument granted him by the Protector: And that there never was any granted him, he told me, and some Gentlemen there, after that he had been with his Highness the Lord Protector to inquire about it. Yea he added further, that an Order should issue out to apprehend him. What I then heard, I related to some particular persons, whom I occasionally had some discourse withal concerning Mr. Tillam. Some weeks after Mr. Tillam came to me, charging me that I should say hisInstrument was conterfeited: To whom I answered it was not so: But nevertheless what I had heard, and from whom I heard it, as I had told others, so now also I would acquaint him, and all that is touching the discourse with Mr. Malyn concerning him and his Instrument, I related to him; and added, that if any wrong were done him, he must seek to Mr. Malyn, Secretary to the Lord Protector, for reparations. Yet I further told him, if he would produce his Instrument, and if upon the sight of it I should be convinced that it was a reality, upon a Christian Account I would tell those persons who heard the former relation from me, that I had since seen his Instrument, and that it was a real thing. Now that this is the truth and the substance of all that which was said by me, those two eminent Ministers that Mr. Tillam speaks of in his Pamphlet (viz. Mr. Hudson of Capel, and Mr. Walker of Assington) will attest. And if this be the truth, and those forenamed Ministers will give testimony to it (as they say they will) then either both I and they are liars, and stirred up by Satan, the Father of lies (as Mr. Tillam expresses it) or else Mr. Tillam (who for lying, among other things, was Excommunicate, and so given up to the Father of lies) hath not yet repent of, nor is delivered from that sin, but seems now rather to have habituated himself unto it, as I shall make appear by a passage or two in his book, which savours much of that lying spirit. Not to stand to show how little ground Mr. Tillam had, upon my relating of what I heard, to bottom those expressions of his upon, (viz. That I calumniated him, that I falsely accused him, that I confidently affirmed, that his Instrument was conterfeited) little untruths are not worthy to be taken notice of, when they come from Mr. Tillam's either Tongue or Pen. But such a Forchead of brass, and such a Conscience of brawn has he, that he is not afraid, nor ashamed to say, after my falsehood was discovered. But when was this discovery made? in what place? and before what witnesses? He that helped him to make that (I mean his Father of lies) must either help him with another, or else this will appear to be, as it is, a loud one. But Mr. Tillam saith, That I (with two eminent Ministers) laboured for peace. To labour for peace I know is a Christian duty, yet not with an Excommunicate person. And how I and the abovesaid Ministers laboured for peace with Mr. Tillam, you shall judge by that which follows. First, I shall ask Mr. Tillam, whether I went from Dedham to him at Colchester, or he came from Colchester to me at Dedham? If he came to me, hitherto Mr. Tillam (and not I) laboured and took the pains. Secondly, when Mr. Tillam was at Dedham, whether I sought after, and went to him, or he to me? If he to me, than hitherto also Mr. Tillam, and not I, laboured and took the pains. Thirdly, after Mr. Tillam was at my house, whether I laboured any further, or took any more pains with him, than speaking the words rehearsed before? Indeed this I did, having heard that Mr. Tillam had been convicted of, and excommunicated for lying, among other things (though then I had not certain proof of it, as now I have) I desired those two forenamed Ministers, being then at my house, to hear what should pass in discourse betwixt us, lest Mr. Tillam should afterwards (according to his manner) bespatter me, as he had done some others with gross untruths, and his Pamphlet may evidence I had good reason so to do. But that I laboured for peace myself, further than is expressed before, or that I ever desired either of those eminent Ministers to labour for peace on my behalf, is false, and it comes from Mr. Tillam's Father of lies. In the third page of his book he mentions a project of mine, what it is I know not, unless it be this honest one, That an Impostor who grows worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived, may be discovered. But what ever project I had, this I discern to be one in Mr. Tillam, who that he may breed prejudices in his Disciples against the Testimony of those that bear witness against him, useth to say, they are his enemies; as if all those persons, that in several parts of this Nation, have testified against Mr. Tillam and his ways (whereof some are eminent for learning and religion) were acted from a principle of envy and malice against him, and not from zeal to God and his truth. But that that Great untruth (viz. an eminent discovery of my Falsehood) may not be thought a slip of his Pen, but a deliberate birth, form by the Father of lies, he repeats it, and puts an emphasis upon it, page 3. (not dictating any falsehood, so eminently discovered) all that I shall say to this, is only thus much; That I never had any discourse with Mr. Tillam in all my life, but that which was mentioned before in my own house at Dedham, when those two Ministers with some others were there; And if those two Reverend Ministers (Mr. Hudson, and Mr. Walker) will not testify that it is eminently false, that there was any falsehood discovered in me at that time, then let not only this, but all the rest that Mr. Tillam is charged withal, be said at my door. But I shall not any further trouble myself with him; God (I hope) will in short time lay him open, what he is, that he may proceed no further inseducing simple and unwary souls. Your affectionate Friend Robert Eton. The following sheets were done by another hand; in the Vindication of Mr. Hammond: when you shall find a satisfactory Answer to the Reminder of Mr. Tillam's abusive Pamphlet. Mr. Tillam's Account Examined. MR. Tillam's glozing Pamphlet within these very few days coming to my hands, and perceiving (with great grief of heart) his old spirit of pride, vainglory, boasting, lying, and slandering, tunning through the veins thereof; and understanding that Mr. Hammond (who with a breath could have blown away all his vapourings, if he had been willing to have stirred in his own cause) not willing to meddle with such an incurable creature; hereupon my spirit was drawn forth (not so much for his sake, as to undeceive such honest hearts as are abused by his hypocrisy) to pull off his Mask, and let them see the man in his proper shape. 1. That he is a man boared in the ear, branded and stigmatised in the forehead, by the most godly persons wheresoever he yet came, when they once knew him well (though at the first, through his fawning and glozing carriage they were for a while deluded by him) For, First, he is with one consent given up to Satan by the whole Church of Wrexam, which though he labour to shuffle off, yet the testimony of one twenty godly men (for so they will be proved to be in spite of all his aspersions) (when sober men hold the scales) shall over balance the single testimony of one man, in his own cause, who is a Liar upon record. Secondly, when his case was judiciously heard and scanned by such godly Elders, and the Church of Cheshire, to which himself appealed, they concluded the Censure just, and rolled the same stone upon him in these words (as Mr. Tillam himself writes, p. 6.) That he was to be looked upon as neither an Elder, nor a Member of the Church of Wrexmham, but to be left to the world as a man without. Thirdly, then after this, Conversing with the Anabaptist-Church in Newcastle, he so carries himself (though at the first, who but Mr, Tillam) that they presented to the Church at London, twelve several Artiles against him. Fourthly, he also falls so foul with the three Congregational Ministers in Newcastle (Mr. wield, Mr. Hammond, and Mr. Durant, whom God and his Servants are pleased graciously to own) that they are forced to vindicate themselves to the world in print (which they never did against any man before) to paint him out to the life. Fifthly, after this (as if he studied to imitate Ishmael, To have his hand against every man, and procure every man's hand against him) he breaks with the Church at London (in whose very bosom he lay for a while, till they perceived his frame) who cast him off with much indignation, as (still) it appears by his own confession in his book, p. 19 (for we have most of all these things from his own words.) Sixthly, at last his own Church at Hexam (such was his carriage towards them) falls into two pieces; and one part of the two, discards him. Now, if these be not Black marks, or Flesh-brands; if these things will not prove him to go out from all places [like a snuff] which words he so pitifully snuffs at, Let wise and sober men judge. 2. Observe all along his course of life, and his Book also, that whereas all Godly men in Scripture, and our own experience, so suffer usually from the Enemies of Grace, wicked and ungodly men which is an honourable thing, 1 Pet. 1.14. Mat. 5.10, 11. For the Spirit of God and Glory resteth upon such.) Now this man's case is quite otherwise: For, still, he is opposed, and contested withal, and rejected by the Godly, yea, and most usually the most eminent for godliness, in all places wheresoever he comes, at wrexam, Cheshire, Newcastle, London, and now at Colchester; i. e. by godly Christians, faithful Ministers, Pastor, Teachers, Elders, yea, whole Churches, and that in the guest degree of Censures that ever Jesus Christ ordained in his Churches, Excommunication itself. And again, whereas other godly men suffer as Christians, for well doing (which is a blessed thing) this man is still buffered, not for his good deeds, but for his faults, scandals, pride, slanders, etc. And. (Which is exceedingly to be noted) good men usually are opposed and fought against by men of differing judgements and practices from themselves; as Congregational men by Presbyterial, Paedobaptists by Antipaedobaptists, Orthodox by Arminians, Socinians, and Protestants by Papists; but this man (as if he were born to strife) is still opposed by men of his own judgement and practice in Doctrine and Discipline. Were not the Church of Wrexam, and that of Cheshire, and the three Ministers of Newcastle of his own judgement and practice in point of Discipline? Did not the Anabaptist Church nof Newcastle, and that of London, jump with him in point of Baptism? Yet he is a man not only disgusted by all these, but one not sufferable to abide among them, and out he must as an incorrigible person, without reconciliation; which how clear it speaks in point of his intolerable turbulence of spirit, and what an alarm it rings in all their ears who are misled through his subtle insinuations, I leave to all men to judge. 3. A common Liar is generally accounted a vile person, a son of Belial, one of the basest among men; but to gather up all his gross lies and slanders were too heavy a task; for certainly he hath driven an old Trade therein: For, First, he was cast out of Wrexam Church for lying, as one principal crime among others. Secondly, he is rejected by the Church at London for making and maintaining a lie; see his own words, page 19 It was concluded (saith Mr. Tillam himself) that I lied, and they presently declared a withdrawing from me (with these words added, which are) he hath grievously sinned against the Rule of Christ, Col. 3.9. Lie not one to another: Wherefore we have put him away from us, and shall have no communion with him, that he may be ashamed. This from his own words; and this was done deliberately, after much scanning, by a whole Church. Thirdly, there are many manifest lies in this his book, as, that Mr. Hammond was Vicar of Newcastle (which he writes to disgrace Mr. Hammond) whereas he is only Lecturer and Teacher to a Congregational Church, and absolutely refused to be Vicar, which Mr. Tillam cannot but know, being so oft conversant in Newcastle. Fourthly, another abominable lie against that Reverend Man, in these words, whither have those surseiting feasts of Newcastle (saith he) transported Mr. Hammond? how strangely have those luxurious banques increased choler in this corpulent Gentleman? For, besides the odious contempt in the manner of his writing which he casts upon this faithful servant of Christ (so much beloved and honoured by the Saints) he most impudently and palpably slanders him for intemperance; for all Newcastle knoweth, that though Mr. Hammond be often and earnestly invited to Feasts, yet he hath absolutely refused (to avoid all occasions) to come at any feast, great or small, to one or other, for these two years together, except at one time that was unavoidable. Fifthly, he boldly vaunts, that God made himself an instrument of detecting the false Jew, wherein (besides that vainglorious vapouring, in assuming to himself what is not due) he tells a most manifest falshhood; for it's notoriously known to Mr. Go. Dauson, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Durant, and others, that he did what he could when they were about convincing the false Jew, to defend him and harden his heart, till they were all grieved and ashamed at his practice. Sixthly, another falsehood, that Mr. Hammond was basfled in the dispute about Baptism; which impudence of his is stupendious; for above a hundred persons present will witness the exceeding freedom of Mr. Hammond, whose arguments were as a Rod held over him all the dispute, and that Mr. Tillam, to his utter confusion (if he could tell how to be ashamed) was so non-plussed, and baffled to purpose, that one of his own party was driven to confess it, & to chide him off, & take up the bucklers, whiles all the time after Mr. Tillam sat dumb; which calls to mind a seventh lie; He told Mr. George Hodshan, when he came first into the North, that he was for the Baptism of the Infants of Believers, when it manifestly appears, he was at the same time an Anabaptist. per me Geo. Hodshan. Lastly, for a full conviction of his lies, see the bundle of urtruths, written by the Newcastle Ministers against Mr. Tillam. Now this Lying is such a sin as it makes a man so unlike God, into whose image all his children are cast, and so like the devil, who is the Father of lies, and so unlike the Saints, who are a generation that will not lie, Isa. 63.9. that it deserves the heaviest censure of Excommunicaon, Rev. 22.15. Without (the new Jerusalem) shall be dogs, and whoremonges, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh lies. See (Mr. Tillam) what copesmates Liars are matched withal, and what is their censure; and yet you are angry with the Church at London for rejecting you for lying, and giving you no warning, whereas the Rule itself (you see) gives no such direction for any warning; but it being once proved (as it seems the London Church averred) you were to be presently sent without among the dogs. 4. observe his proud boasting, and vaunting high language, almost in every page of his book (and indeed all his writings and actings do fulsomly tang of that spirit) In the front of his book he gins, Thanks to my Lord and King, who hath enabled me, so that he counted me faithful, putting me into the Ministry. Which are the words of the greatest Apostle on earth, and that in the height of his zeal; yet this man dares apply them to himself, which I believe never any Minister, that knows himself, dares noce do. So that he is (if you will believe him) an able Minister, a faithful Minister, and, as he saith afterwards, a welling Minister, and a Minister that labours with his whole soul in the work; whereas humble spirits are ever fearful to think highly of themselves, much more to lift up themselves in print, by vapouring terms, and high titles. Furthermore, you have him ever and anon vaunting of the multitude of his hearers and followers, & great success in his Ministry in every place, that he could gather a Church of Saints in a years space in such or such place where he came; which (by the way) shows his doctrine and practice very suitable to carnal hearts, that can so easily take with him in all places where he comes, whereas the doctrine of the best Minister under heaven is so cross to corrupt nature, that it cannot be digested; but his doctrine and opinions go glib down, and can bring in souls tiick and threefold; 'tis but touch and take. And I cannot omit how often this poor man boasTs in high language of his sufferings, and calls them sufferings for Christ's sake, and for his name's sake, and all in obedience to him; whereas (presumptuous man) thou mayst know, it was (all along) for thy faults, scandals, lies, turbulence, faction and disembling from the first till now. Was it for Christ's sake thou wert given up to Satan by the Church of Wrexam? Was it for thy good deeds thou wert condemned by the Church in Cheshire? Was it for the honour of Christ that the Church in London risen up against thee (and the three Ministers in Newcastle writ against thee?) was it nor for a lie maintained against so many evidences? and hast thou the face to father all thy wretched deal on Christ? will he maintain thee in a course of sin, and crown thee for it? what tender heart can digest such impudence and hypocrisy? 5. Observe what contempt, scorns, and base calumnies he (all along his book) casts out again all that stand in his way, be they never so holy, never so many; be they godly Saints, Ministers, whole Churches, all is one, if they speak or a & against him, the sparkles of his anger (in a vile contemptuous manner) shall fly in their faces; this is the very spirit of his Book. So (like the Dragon) he spews out whole floods of contempt, to drown them and their reputations if he could; to instance but in two or three particulars. 1. How shamefully doth he reproach the whole Church of Wrexam, that cast him out, and the one and twenty Members, as if they were the vilest persons on earth (but who will believe him, they being known godly men?) and all this to justify himself, and avoid the dint of their censure, as page 9, 10. at large? 2. Then again, how he reproaches the Church at Newcastle, because they articled against him, page 19 3. Then when London Church Excommunicated him, see his shameful reproaching of them, as acting irregularly, and against light of conscience; and what not? No marvel therefore if he reproach Mr. Weld, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Eton, Hugh Prichard (these are but single persons) when he flies (like a wasp) in the face of whole Churches; and (that which is under this head remarkable) i. e. that all such as bear witness against him, he falls soul upon them, as envious persons, as if there were no evil at all in him to testify against; no, no, it's only the good they saw in him, his good success, the attendance on his Ministry, and God's blessing on his labours, these are the things, the good things in him (as he would fain persuade the world) they envy. when I preached (saith he) in Cheshire, I saw the power of God, and (than adds) there I incurred Mr. Eaton's displeasure. Why darest thou say, that holy Man (Mr. Eton) was displeased at the power of God in thee? And within two lines after he speaks as bad of the Church of Wrexam; The Church of Wrexam (saith he) was troubled at my success. Now to make men envious persons at the grace of God in others, is to make them the very devils eldest Sons, and himself must needs be God (or in God's place) to judge their very hearts, that it was God's grace in him that moved them to bear witness against him. Whither will the venom and malice of this man's spirit carry him? 6. As he casts down to Hell almost all that oppose him, so he lifts up to Heaven all that side with him, or favour him in his way; witness his extreme flattery of the Magistrates in Coldester that favour him; witness also his high elevating those three men at Hexam that certified for him (and there were but three in all) and how easy a matter it is for any man to bring three men in a whole County to attest any thing in a man's behalf, and subscribe what he himself shall draw, and bring to them to subscribe, all men know. Yet, alas! some of us know what pitiful men some of those three are, whom he sets our, as if the most eminent in the whole County. Alas, alas, the man dares say any thing, bad or good, of any man to serve his own turn. It this man be not a dauber, a scraper with his nails for men's favours, an insinuating flatterer for his own ends, I never knew any. He will verify what Mr. Hammond writ of him; He is (saith Mr. Hammond) the most fawning man till you discover him; and, then, the most loose-tongued man in reviling. Is it not just so? 7. Mark his railing: The poison of Alps is under his lips, his mouth and stile is full of cursing and bitterness; for these are his usual terms, Men stirred up by the Devil, Slanderers, Rigid ones, False liars, Men born from beneath, Sons of the earth, Absoloms, Joabs, Whited sepulchers, Full of horrid hypocrisy and iniquity; that woeful hypocrite, that proud disorderly Church, that proud scornful Haman, etc. These are his expressions, and that against any, even against the most godly and eminent in grace, that do but oppose him. And, though to write, or speak such things of a man, when matters are proved upon Record against him by a cloud of witnesses (as those things are which I hold forth against him, as lying, boasting, vaunting, etc. which I have proved, either directly from his own words, or the Testimony of whole Churches) although this (I say) be just against himself, and no wrong donetherein, yet for him to belch out such vile reproaches, when no just cause is given, such language in him is plain railing, whereas giving him his own terms, when matters are proved against him, is but righteous dealing. 8. It's an usual thing with him throughout his whole book, to set his own single testimony against all that contest with him; be his Adversaries never so holy, never so many, yet his own bare word must pass for current, against the subscription of the one and twenty Members, yea the whole Church of Wrexam, the Elders of the Church in Cheshire, the Baptised Church in Newcastle, the three Ministers of the Congregational Churches there, the whole Church at London, etc. whereas Moses, Paul, and Christ himself tell us, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth shall be established; here are three, ten, twenty, yea whole Churches, and yet all are false, and deluded, he only speaks the truth, himself being witness. If this be not the very spirit of his book, let any man that has not forfeited his reason, judge. And from whence (do we think) comes this, from Heaven, or from Hell? 9 His Instability is notorious. He was once, by his own confession a Papist, then a Protestant again (if he may be believed) (though some of his own friends do shrewdly suspect him to be still a Papist in his heart, and that his turning Church-divider at Wrexam, and Dipper afterwards, was but a turning every stone, and trying every side, to see where he might best advance a Popish design) at last, as if weary of every thing, he falls now to the Holy kiss, Washing the Saints feet, Anointing with Oil (some say to six Sacraments) to denial of the Trinity of Persons, Original sin of Infants, etc. When, and where will this man stop? Nay, so far is he deluded and intoxicated, that he calls this giddiness in running out to unsound fancies, and dangerous opinions, obedience to Christ, pag. 13. And as he is weary of truth, so of all persons, societies, and places too, where ever he yet came. In the Church of Wrexam (so much admired by him at the first) he stays but eighteen Months, and then it's such a corrupt society, that he is glad he is out of it. Then to Cheshire he hastens, there's the only Church, but he plays such pranks there, that he is soon discovered. Then away into the South; from the South into the North he goes, Hexam is the place, and there he has a glorious people (if ye will credit his report) (for still all his Geese are Swans) But Hexam grows stolen, the South is more desirable, and Colchester, of all places of England, is the only place; and there you shall have him as long as you of Colchester shall court him with applause, honour, & liberal gifts (for want of which he was pitifully pined at Hexam) but as soon as you discover him, as others have done, you shall find him indeed, to go out like a snuff; for do but run through the story of his life, or read but his own Pamphlet, and you shall see how after a little while he has set fire on every place where he came, and run away by the light of it. 10. But, above all, his notorious abuse of Scripture is intolerable, making the blessed Holy Ghost (the Author of it) to serve his lust, and execute his revenge upon all such as contest against his sin; as if he himself were that righteous one whom the Holy Ghost intended in those Scriptures he quotes, to vindicate and maintain, be his cause never so bad, and to condemn all his opposers, be they never so holy and good; and to strike at them as his most inveterate, incorrigible enemies, as Scribes, Pharisecs, persecutors of Christ, his Apostles, and Prophets: Do but peruse a little some of the scriptures he citys, and see if he would not design his godly adversaries to the bottomless pit, Psal. 55.20, 21. Jer. 9.4, 5. Jer. 20, 10, 11. Hos. 4.7. Acts 17.5. Acts 21.28. 1 Pet. 4.14. to 18. Mat. 6.4. Mat. 23.27, 28. What height of pride, arrogancy, impudence, malice, and revenge this man is grown unto, I leave to godly tender hearts to judge. Is it a small thing to grieve men, but wilt thou grieve my God also? Isa. 7.13. Thus having given you a little taste of the man (and truly but a little, for it were endless to print him out in all his lineaments) but by the Lions paw you may gather the proportion of all the other parts of the beast, I shall now proceed to wipe off such aspersions as he casts without fear upon some dear servants of God in his Book, and leave all other things as not worth the while. First, for Mr. Hammond (a man so eminently known, that he is above the reach of his slanderous pen) yet because he hath so plainly laid him open to the world, he must be the mark for Mr. Tillam to shoot his venomous arrows at: The cause was this (for Mr. Hammond upon this account hath been desired to declare the whole matter) who saith as followeth; That he with some others having discovered the Conversion of the Jew (whom Mr. Tillam baptised, and so boasted of) to be a cheat, published his Popish design to the world; but Mr. Tillam perceiving the Romish plot and himself unvailed, wrote a most false, slanderous Pamphlet against the discoverers, charging them with thirteen untruths, to which they replied again, revealing the notorious lying, boasting, slandering spirit of the man; to which Mr. Tillam wrote another Reply, full of froth, lying, and folly, and sent a Copy of it in a braving way to Mr. Hammond, who returned him a sharp Answer in a private Letter; and likewise told him, that Mr. Eton had given a large account of him, and withal sent him a copy of Mr. Eaton's Letter, wherein Mr. Eton declares the righteous dealing of the Church of Wrexam against him (the substance of which you have in Mr. Robert Eaton's Letter) and that he turned Anabaptist upon it, and proved a great disturber in those parts. Ita testor Sam. Hammond. And was not all this plain dealing by Mr. Hammond? Thus things lay buried a great while, but at last Mr. Tillam and Mr. Anderton having discovered the wickedness one of another, his Church at Hexam broke into two pieces: He then being discarded of all men, writes an insinuating Letter to Mr. Hammond (as one begging his favour) who (out of the goodness of his disposition, ready to forget all wrongs, upon the least relenting of his worst enemy) writes back again, that the thoughts of those former quarrels were buried in his heart, etc. Though at that very time, and when he came to this house, he still dealt plainly, in reproving of him. But afterwards; Mr. Tillam still proceeding in his old strain of scandal, Providence calling upon Mr. Hammond to declare his knowledge of him, he judged himself bound in conscience to reveal him to such as desired an account of him, the Cause of God calling for it; and he doth appeal to the Great God, and any gracious spirit, whether there were dissimulation, gross dissimulation and hypocrisy to amazement in all this? his Conscience bears him witness that there was not. As for his charge of Feasting, and calling Mr. Hammond Vicar of Newcastle (which are two evident falsehoods) it shows he hath not yet left his old trade of Lying. His calling him proud Haman, with allusion to his name, and Pope Boniface, in relation to that feature of face which God and Nature hath given him, speaks a childish wanton sinful spirit in Mr. Tillam, and let him know, that God will one day have an account of idle words. But he saith Mr. Hammond entertained him kindly, and added the courtesy of New wine: I say it was ill-bestowed on such an ungrateful man, as quarrels with love; worthy the next time he comes to be thrust out of doors among the beggars. All men that know Mr. Hammond, well know him to be a Gentleman, and full of courtesy to all that set foot over his threshold; and he endeavoured to conquer this unworthy man by kindness, especially looking at him, as seeming now to repent of his former miscarriages, and is not this a trim requital? Again, his proclaiming Mr. Hammond so rigid against Anabaptists, is another great slander; for he never preached against them; he carries it most lovingly in all civil converse towards them; his spirit and principle carry much moderation to men of different judgements. 'Tis true, he disputed about the point of Baptism with Mr. Tillam, when Providence called him to it, wherein Mr. Tillam was so silenced, that his denying of it since, hath demonstrated to many who heard that dispute, that he dares say any thing to save himself, and slander others. And for Mr. Hammond's moderation upon several accounts to Mr. Tillam, sure his own conscience will witness against him, if he deny it. yea, his own mouth hath often said it, and here he unworthily upbraids Mr. Hammond for it; yea he boldly tells the world, that Mr. Anderton's ejection was because he called Mr. Hammond Pope Boniface, which (as Mr. Hammond professeth) he never knew Mr. Anderton ever said so, till now he read it in Mr. Tillam's Pamphlet. But it's upon record he was ejected for Nonresidency, and notorious Sabbath-breaking; so that it appears Mr. Tillam will say any thing. Secondly, for Mr. Weld, he tells the world (pag. 7.20, 21.) he kindly invited him to his house in a Letter, with much seeming affection, and yet all but gross dissimulation. Since Mr. Tillam's book came out, Mr. Weld hath been consulted withal, and desired to write the truth of the business, whose very words again are these; I must sincerely profess (being called thereto) that although I am not of the Newcastle Churches judgement of the unlawfulness of being sent out to Preach by Commissioners and Ministers, yet I cannot clear Mr. Tillam, nor vindicate his innocency, in denying that he had such an order to Preach as the Newcastle Church charged him withal, pag. 20. For when I look into their three first Articles, pag. 16. wherein their charge of his receiving order from the Commissioners lieth, I plainly see the full substance of their charge to be true in each Article. For, whereas the Church say, 1. That he came to the Priest (they mean Ministers) (by the way I could wish no such word of contempt were used) this is truth, for he came to such of us as were appointed to examine Ministers to be sent out to Preach, and told us, he came to us for that end, and we conferred with him in order thereunto. 2. The Church saith, that he preached before them (that is, the Ministers) for the trial of his Gifts, this is as true; for he preached at Nicholas on a Thursday Lecture, where divers of the Ministers were present to hear his Gifts, and brought relation to the Commissioners, and the rest of the Ministers; and he was also tried by personal examination before the Commissioners, this also is true. 3. That he was by the Propagators and Ministers sent to preach at Hexam, and by an Order under the Commissioners hands, as other Ministers have, and that without the least taking notice of his being sent out by the Church at London. These things are so clear, that himself cannot, and no man will with any face deny it. Now how Mr. Tillam dares call this a false Charge, and so accuse the whole Church at Newcastle, for saying that which so many know to be true, I much wonder; for I must in this particular clear the Church, and deeply blame him. And for his saying he can show my Letter to vindicate him in this, my Answer is, I known not how he may alter the words, or invert the sense, but I here challenge him to produce such a Letter from my hand as contradicts what I have here written, and I'll bear the blame; but he hath abused the Church and me, the Lord give him repentance. The truth of these things I affirm on my personal knowledge, and subscribe my name, Tho. Weld. Thirdly, he not only abuseth particular persons, Mr. Weld, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Eton, Hugh Prichard, etc. but he let's fly against whole Churches, as the Church of Wrexam, which he accuses of excissive pride, gross error, envy at his person, profaneness, strange disorder about Baptism, and many other enormities among them, pag. 9, 10. And the Church at Newcastle, they are a company of rigid ones, false accusers, violent, pag. 19, 20. And the Church at London, they deal irregularly, and hastily withdraw without giving him warning; they will not hear the truth, though not abundantly testified. So that their censure is null and void. Thus he proceeds to rage, and fight, and tear, and (like the drunken man in the Proverbs) to cast firebrands at all that stand in his way. Answer all his folly I will not, but this. First: We have neither allowance from the Word or from Reason to believe one word of all these allegations against so many godly men; where is the mouth of two or three witnesses? And if against an Elder only without two or three witnesses we must not receive one accusation, how dare we receive these, so manifold, deep, and hideous accusations against whole Churches and Elders too? The Accuser also being found no competent witness, being in his hot blood, in a way of recrimination, and a known liar, as hath been proved; therefore if he should say ten times as much, it is all nothing without further proof. Secondly: What he doth say against those Churches, especially that of Wrexam, is but a proclaiming his malice and ignorance in Church-discipline: For, 1. He spends many words to declare, he was not excommunicate out of the Church of Wrexam, but that he went out of himself, and proclaimed himself none of theirs. But let me ask this knowing man, if he ever learned from Christ, that a Member, when the Church is dealing with him, in order to a Censure, and he seeing the blow a coming, to award it off, withdraws himself, saying, he rejects the Church, and disclaims them, and so they proceed against him for contempt, whether (I say) such a one is not justly Excommunicate, and whether such a censure be not a real and lawful Censure? else any man, just before the sentence is denounced may withdraw, and so no man living need be Excommunicated; and than it will follow, Christ ordained that Censure in vain; yet in this silly, sinful shift he pleases himself, and deludes Babes with this pretence. Object. Yea, but they are a very corrupt Church, and therefore their Censure is contemptible. Answ. 1. As before was said, we dare not believe one word of all he saith out of God's way. 2. If this that you say had been true, is this the way for you to reject them, and Excommunicate yourself? No, you should first have cleared yourself of those gross things laid to your own charge. Secondly, humbly, and with all meckness have presented their disorders to their consideration. 3. You should have endeavoured to convince them. 4. And have waited with patience, if peradventure God would at any time have given them repentance. And then, 5. Desired leave to refer the matter to other Elders and Churches, who might without prejudice, or partiality have weighed the strength of what you alleged against them; and after all to have desired leave in all humility to withdraw, in case no satisfaction could be had, and not to fling away disorderly, when in a way of censure for your faults, and say, you renounce the Church. This is, 1. Plain Schism. 2. Intolerable Pride. 3. Contempt of the Church. 4. Contempt of Christ's Ordinances, and consequently of Christ himself the Institutor of it, and (which makes all worse) he still justifies himself in all this. Besides for a member to cut off itself without consent of the body, is a thing unnatural and monstrous, never heard of in the Gospel. Secondly: He grossly abuseth, and shamefully bespattered the Church at London in sundry particulars, but we see he can do no other. We shall observe but two or three things more, and conclude. First: He tells you, in a vaunt, p. 14. he had not only 80 l. per annum, but 40 l. per augmentation; but he tells you not withal, that this was before the Commissioners well knew him, & that as soon as they saw his spirit and carriage with the same hands they gave him the Augmentation, they took it from him again, as judging him unworthy of it; and how that after it was gone, he crouched to the Commissioners, and insinuated fawningly to some of the Ministers to get it regained, but it never could, and whether it was not one great cause of his leaving the North, I leave to be considered. Truly, some of us well know they never saw the Commissioners more ashamed of settling any man than of his settlement at Hexam, and resolved for his sake as long as they should sit, to know men better before they settled them, and never be so cheated by any man's glozing and hypocritical pretences, as by his. But it was too late to repent after it was done. 2. He vaunts often in two or three of his Pamphlets, what a company of Saints, and precious people he had at Hexam, and how his Church flourished; but tells you not of his tarrying there so long, that so few would come to hear him, that it was time to lay the key under the door, and give up. 3. He professeth that he receives none to Baptism but such as he judgeth to be precious Saints; and yet it's proved against him, that he baptised some persons at Stokesbey, and in Cheshire, etc. that made no profession of their faith at all; and this himself grants, pag. 17. How can such be known to be precious Saints? and how does this accord with John Baptists practice, who Baptised none but such as made confession of their sins, Mat. 5. or Philip's practice, who requires the Eunuch to confess his faith, Acts 8.37? But this man (it seems) dares say any thing, or do any thing; 'tis no new thing to hear him contradicting the practice of others, or his own principles. But to what end do I waste Ink and Paper in answering him, whom I have so little hopes to reclaim? I will therefore turn the stream into another channel, and by way of Conclusion direct my speech to those , well-meaning Christians misled by him in the Town of Colchester, and elsewhere. You Colchester Christians and others, that have lent your ears to this Seedsman of Sedition, and happily think, that in entertaining this Stranger, you have entertained an Angel of God, do but a little view his face in this glass, and see if his countenance be like that of an Angel. Is he not here plainly convicted of boasting, lying, slandering, and many other sin? Has he not for these crimes been taxed by faithful Ministers, and censured by whole Churches, and is all this nothing? Can you expect a blessing from the God of Heaven while you harbour such a one in your bosoms as he hath sealed up under a spiritual judgement, with which (as a rod at his back) he ranges up and down the world, and is not humbled, but rather hardened by it? Take heed you bring not the guilt of his sin on your own heads; For (I call God to witness) 'tis not the man, but his sin I all along strike at; and a sin both foully practised, and fully proved against him, the horrid sin of Lying (among many other) a sin so hateful to God, Prov. 12.22. yea so loathsome in the very nostrils of Nature, that among the savage Indians, he that told a lie thrice, was condemned to perpetual silence, if Aelian may be credited; this is (it seems by his own confession in his book) the grand crime for which Mr. Tillam stands Excommunicate; for which I shall not need to judge him, two Churches having already passed sentence upon him, guided (I suppose) by that rule of Christ, Mat. 12.34. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh; as the Physician looking on the sick man's tongue, when he sees that foul, concludes it is worse within. (Christians) let me deal a little with your consciences; do you take the word of Christ for your rule? How then dare you hear him that will not hear the Church? Or by what Scripture-ground can you take him for your Pastor, whom you are to look upon as a Heathen or a Publican? And that by express warrant from Christ himself, Mat. 18.17. Yea let me ask you further, how unlikely is it, that he should be to you a Preacher of truth, who has been rejected by others as a venture of falsehood? Indeed what has he to do to take God's covenant into hismouth, hating to be reform? And how unfit is he to be a Preacher, whom the Churches of Christ have judged unfit to be a Member? What Truths he has Preached among you, I know not; but if he has spoken to you the words of Truth and Soberness, he is both much manded since he left the North, and misunderstood by some of eminent note in the South, who have affirmed, and will maintain it to his face, that he has dealt most unfaithfully in some of the main truths of the Gospel, as, denying Infants to be guilty of Original sin till they come to act sin, and affirming, that we are not justified by the same justifying Faith that Luther and the first Reformers were justified by (to say nothing of his new Ordinances, new Sacraments, new Sabbath, that he contends for) these are no small and petty Errors. The good Lord open your eyes that you may see the evil of those dangerous Principles he has scattered among you: And let me beseech you, in the bowels of Christ (as a wellwisher to your souls, though a stranger to your persons) that you would take heed of being carried about with these divers and strange doctrines, yea with any one of them: For if Satan can but draw you into one, he will quickly lead you into all. He that saith yea to the Devil in a little, shall not say him nay when he pleaseth. In the fear of God I beseech you consider how you will be able to look Christ in the face another day, when your own Consciences will tell you, you have parted with his Truths upon the bare word of a branded Lyar. My record is on high, that I have not written these few lines out of envy, spleen, or passion, but out of pity and compassion to your souls: Read all before you censure; compare Mr. Tillam's Pamphlet with these Papers, and I suppose he will be sufficiently answered, and all sober-minded Christians abundantly satisfied. A Catalogue of many pernicious Principles and false Doctrines, publicly in the Pulpit, and elsewhere asserted by Mr. Tho: Tillam in the Town of Colchester. FIrst: That we are not justified by the same justifying Faith that our Forefathers were justified by. Secondly: That Antichrist shall not be destroyed till Christ's personal appearing the second time in the flesh, & that whoever teacheth otherwise is a deluder. Thirdly: That children are not guilty of original sin till they act sin. Fourthly: That Love-feasts, washing the Disciples feet, the Holy kiss, and Anointing the Sick with oil, are Ordinances still to be observed in the Churches of Christ. Fifthly: That the Lord Christ was a Carpenter, but neither House, nor Ship-Carpenter, but a Yoke-maker; to prove which he cited, Mat. 11.29. Sixthly: That those whom he lays his hands upon and blesses, are as really blessed, as those whom Christ blessed when he was upon earth. Seventhly: That Baptising in the Name of the Either, Son, and Holy Ghost, as so far from being the substantial form of Baptism, that it is scarce a circumstance in Baptism. Eightly: That there is none truly called to the Ministry, but by Visions Dreams. Revelations, or immediately from Heaven. Ninthly: That not any Infant-Baptism is of God. Tenthly: That the First day of the week is not our Christian Sabbath. These things can be proved against him, by divers witnesses to each. FINIS.