A Help to the right understanding of a DISCOURSE CONCERNING INDEPENDENCY. Lately published by WILLIAM PRYN OF Lincoln's Inn, Esquire.  PROV. 12.13. The evil man is snared by the wickedness of his lips, but the just man shall come out of adversity. 
Printed Anno Dom. 1644.   

A help to the right understanding of a Discourse concerning INDEPENDENCY, etc.  
AS it is a very great benefit to the world when wise and considerate men, suffer for maintenance of a just cause: so also it proveth oftentimes very prejudicial to a Nation, when rash inconsiderate men, wise only in their own strong conceits, do suffer, though for a cause as just as common freedom itself: because suffering winneth reputation to the person that suffereth, whereby his say, opinions, and writings carry authority with them: and though never so much blended with slightness, arrogance, impurity, violence, error, and want of charity: yet make they deep impression in the minds of many well meaning people, and sway them to the like, or dislike of things: not as they are really good, or palpably evil in themselves, but according to the gloss, or dirt, that such men through ignorance, impatience, or malice cast upon them.  
For instance whereof, I am somewhat troubled that I must allege Mr. William Pryn, who to his great commendation in the late arbitrary times suffered for the maintenance of the just liberties of his Country: but in a great example of late it is too sadly proved that he that did the greatest service, may live to do the greatest mischief: and I am fully instructed. That only perseverance in well-doing, is praiseworthy: and therefore I conceive I may without breach of charity, be as bold with him as with any other man whatsoever: that others may learn by me to respect good men no longer than they continue so.  
Of late he is fallen upon so unhappy a subject (The difference of judgement in matters of Religion) and hath so totally engaged himself therein, that even men who have formerly had him in great repute for integrity, begin to doubt his ends; supposing that he strikes in with the rising party in hope to raise himself with them, and by them; and that he is carried away with that infirmity unto which men of his tribe have been much subject.  
Others there are that conceive he is defective only in his understanding, and easily out-witted, and wrought to do that, which he intended not to do, charitably hoping by his endeavours in the argument of Church government, that he really intended the reconciling of all parties, and that he hath unhappily wrought a contrary effect, and made the division greater, through his want of judgement, and naturally passionate weakness: inconsiderately engaging, and (being engaged) and prosecuting with violence: and they argue it to be so, from his publishing Rome's masterpiece; and the Archbishop's Diary; intending, no doubt, to blazon the vileness of that Arch Incendiary to the world; whereas to an advised Reader, it will be evident, that the first is framed of purpose to lay the design of all our troubles upon the Papists; and make the Archbishop such an enemy thereunto, as that they plotted to take away his life; as if Satan were divided against Satan; and his Diary is so subtly contrived, as that among those from whom he expecteth honour, it cannot fail to work most powerfully thereunto, so great are his good works therein expressed, so large are his pious intentions, so watchful over his ways, so seldom offending, so penitent after offences, so devout in prayer, so learned and pathetical in his expressions; that to any that are but tainted with the least Prelatical superstition, he will appear a Saint, if not equal to Noah, Lot and David, yet full parallel with the most holy Primitive Fathers; especially when they shall consider that these his works were published by his greatest enemy, which was the Archbishop's Masterpiece indeed, being both written of purpose to be published in their best season; and by a person that should most advantage the deceit: if it had not been so, they had easily been fiend or concealed, past his finding: no man can think the Bishop so impolitic, as after so long imprisonment, not to be warned concerning his notes.  
Others judge him to be much of the Archbishop's spirit, his late adversary, and fear that if he had equal power to that he once had, he would exceed him in cruelty of persecution; and their reason is, because he is so violently busy already, egging and inciting the Parliament, like their evil Genius, to acts of tyranny against a people he knows innocent: how much more would he rage's against them had he that command of censure, fine, pillory, imprisonment and banishment, which the Archbishop unjustly usurped; especially since his rage against them has so exceeded all bounds of modesty already, as to affirm that their writings are destructive to the very being of Parliaments, and as bad or worse than the Popish Gunpowder-plot, and to term their honest and submiss demeanours, Insolences, unparallelled public violations and impeachments of the rights and privileges of Parliament, and of the tranquillity and safety of our Church and State. I am at stand Methinks, and cannot but grieve within myself to consider how full swollen with bitter malice, yea and the very poison of Asps, that breast must needs be from whence proceeds such malevolent and scandalous speeches, yet so grossly untrue and unsuitable to the spirits of the Independents.  
Men likewise say that this must needs proceed from spleen: for if he were a really conscientious man he would first pull the beam out of his own eye, as he is a Lawyer, and examine his own ways in the course of his practice, or set out something to set out the unlawfulness of tithes, as learned Mr. Selden hath done. Mr. Pryn professeth the true Christian Religion, and that most zealously, yet continueth to take fees for pleading men's causes, a thing that the virtuous men amongst the very heathens accounted base, and would do it gratis: and what fees taketh he? no less than triple the value of what is taken by pleaders in Popish Countries; but he taketh as little as any man of his calling, and no more but what is lawful for him to take: therein, say they, consists the misery of the Commonwealth, with all other the extreme abuses of our Laws, the very way of the ending of controversies, being so totally pernicious and full of vexation: that were he truly conscientious for the good of the whole Nation, as he pretendeth, he would have laid open to the Parliament, how improper it is that our Laws should be written in an unknown language, that a plain man cannot understand so much as a Writ without the help of Council; how prejudicial it is that for ending a controversy, men must travel Term after Term from all quarters of the Land to London, tiring their persons and spirits, wasting their estates, and beggering their families; tending to nothing but the vexation of the people, and enriching of Lawyers; with a little labour had he been so virtuously disposed, he could have discovered the corrupt original thereof, and have laid open all the absurdities therein, and shown the disagreement thereof to the rules of Christianity: he could also have showed to the Parliament what of our Laws themselves are unnecessary, what are prejudicial to good men, and have moved for reducing all to an agreement with Christianity: were he (say they) truly pious, and could deny himself, this he would have done, though he had thereby made himself equal to men of low degree, both in estate, food, and raiment: yea though for his livelihood he had been constrained to have laboured with his hands, etc. This indeed had been a proper work for him a Christian Lawyer in a time of Reformation: What needed he to have meddled against the Independent and Separation, there being so many learned Divines (as he himself esteems them) sitting in Council so near the Parliament, which shows him to be too officious?  
And as concerning Church-Government: If he had really intended the good of the Nation, and the weal● of all peaceable minded men, he would have had in mind such considerations as these.  
The Parliament are now upon settling the affairs of the Church, a thing of a very nice and dainty nature, especially being undertaken in a time of a homebred War: If it be not very advisedly and cautiously done, it may soon divide the well-affected party within itself, than which nothing can be more pernicious and destructive: already I have seen some that have laid down Arms, and many withdraw their persons and estates into foreign parts, for no other cause but for being disturbed or discouraged in exercising of their consciences in matters of Religion: And it was but thus in the Prelatical time. I find by myself, that Christians cannot live, though they should enjoy all natural freedom and content, where they are not free to worship God in a way of Religion: And I find also by myself that Christians cannot worship God in any way but what agreeth with their understandings and consciences; and although I may be at liberty to worship God according to that way which the Parliament shall set up for a general rule to the whole Nation; yet if I were not persuaded that I might lawfully submit thereunto, all the torments in the World should not enforce me: and this I find to be the case of many conscientious people, very well affected to the Parliament and to common freedom: Men that have spent their estates, and hazarded their lives as freely in defence of just Government, as any men whatsoever; and whether they are under the names of Anabaptists, Brownists, Separation, Independents, or Antinomies; we have had all their most affectionate help in throwing down Episcopacy and arbitrary government: men they are that still remain in most opposition to the Popish and malignant parties; somewhat we must do for the ease of these our brethren, it must not be in the settlement of our Reformation that they remain under the same restraint or molestation for their consciences as they were in the Prelatical time; we must do as we would be done unto: if any sort of them were greater in number than we, and had authority to countenance them, we should esteem it hard measure, to be restrained from exercising our Religion according to our consciences, or to be compelled by fines, imprisonments, or other punishments, to worship contrary to our consciences, we must bear with one another's infirmities; no condition of men in our days have an infallibility of judgement: every one ought to be fully persuaded in his own mind of the lawfulness of the way wherein he serveth God; if one man observe a day to the Lord, and others not; and both out of conscience to God, both are allowed by the Apostle; and the one is not to molest, no not to despise or condemn. Rom. 14. v. 3. much less compel the other to his judgement, because whatsoever is not of faith or full assurance of mind is sin: had Mr. Pryn debated thus with himself, he had showed himself a true Disciple of Christ and his Apostle: differing opinions would not then have appeared such abominable, damnable things in his sight: The dealing of our Saviour with those most erroneous Sadduces, would have come into his mind, they believed that there was neither Angel nor Spirit, and that there was no resurrection: Opinions as contrary to the current of the then Interpreters, as any in our time, and yet they professed it openly, as appeareth by their attempting our Saviour, and were as unreproved of him as of authority; he resolves their question by an answer which removed that absurdity which they thought impossible: briefly telling them, That they neither marry nor are married, but as the Angels of God in heaven; using them gently, without threats or reproaches.  
If Mr. Pryn had thought of this Subject, with such like considerations, he would soon have seen, That the people of a Nation in choosing of a Parliament cannot confer more than that power which was justly in themselves: the plain rule being this: That which a man may not voluntarily bind himself to do, or to forbear to do, without sin: That he cannot entrust or refer unto the ordering of any other: Whatsoever (be it Parliament, General Counsels, or Nationall Assemblies:) But all things concerning the worship and service of God, and of that nature; that a man cannot without wilful sin, either bind himself to do any thing therein contrary to his understanding and conscience: nor to forbear to do that which his understanding and conscience binds him to perform: therefore no man can refer matters of Religion to any others regulation. And what cannot be given, cannot be received: and then as a particular man cannot be rob of that which he never had; so neither can a Parliament, or any other just Authority be violated in, or deprived of a power which cannot be entrusted unto them.  
That Emperors, and Kings, and Popes, have assumed an absolute power over Nations in matters of Religion, need not to have been so laboriously proved; nor that Counsels and Parliaments have done the like: the matter is what they have done of right: who knows not that all these have erred as often as they did so: our present Parliament have greater light than any former, and propose to themselves to abandon what ever former Parliaments have either assumed, or done upon misinformation; and have not yet declared themselves to descent from the fore recited rule: and then Mr. Pryn may consider, whether he hath not extremely misspent his time, and with much uncharitableness injured that faithful servant of God, and sincere lover of his Country, Mr. John Goodwin, a man that to my knowledge, and to the knowledge of many, values neither life nor livelihood, could he therewith, or with loss thereof, purchase a peaceable liberty to his Country, or a just Parliamentary government; so far is he, or that other worthy man Mr. Burton; or any Independent, Anabaptist, Brownist, or any of the Separation now extant, from deserving either those slight, but arrogant expressions of his in his said Epistle, telling the honourable Parliament, That he knows not what evil Genius, and Pithagorian Metempsychosis, the Antiparliamentary souls formerly dwelling in our defunct Prelates earthly Tabernacles, are transmigrated into, and revived into a new generation of men (started up of late amongst us) commonly known by the name of Independents: such bombast inkhorn terms, savouring so much of a mere pedantic, as ill beseemeth his relation to that supreme power of Parliament: And though those Independents, for the most part are such by his own acknowledgement, whose affections and actions have demonstrated them to be real and cordial to the Parliament and Church of England, for which (saith he) and for their piety they are to be highly honoured, yet hath not he so much charity as to show any inclination that they should be relieved in their just desire of Christian liberty; but prosecutes all those their several judgements, as derogatory and destructive unto Parliament and Church in their anarchical and Antiparliamentary positions; for which, and for their late gathering of Independent Churches, contrary to Parliamentary injunctions (which were never seen) they are he says, to be justly blamed as great Disturbers of our public peace and unity: these his great words make a great noise, I confess: a man that did not converse amongst these people, may easily be induced to believe them to be very dangerous. Mr. Pryn is of great credit with many in authority, and how far he hath therein done them wrong, his own conscience will one day tell him to his cost.  
If Mr. Pryn were a stranger to the Separation, and unacquainted with the innocency of their ways and intentions, I might charitably judge him to plead for the persecution of God's people ignorantly, as St. Paul did: but since he cannot but know that they are both in affection and action re all and cordial to the Parliament, as himself confesses, and hath found them for his own particular compassionate in his sufferings, and liberally assistant to him in his miseries: I profess, I can make no other construction of his so violent pleading for persecution, and incensing the Parliament against a People he knows harmless, and modest and reasonable in their desires whose utmost end is only not to be molested in their serving of God: I can make no other construction of it, I say, that engagement to the Divines, and some interest of his own hath begot a hardness over his heart, and clouded that noble courage, and common spirit which did possess him. If he wanted information, I would labour with him, but since I cannot doubt but that he hath sufficient of that, I will leave him till the truth and excellency of that freedom against which he fights, till the sincerity and uprightness of the Separation which he delivers up to the sword, in these words, Immedicabile vulnus ense recidendum est, make him one day appear even to his present admirers, the man he is indeed.  
In the mean time, I turn to the people, and desire them to inquire after the Separation, and have full knowledge of them: they will then find they are extremely misunderstood by authority, and all others that apprehend them to be any other than a quiet harmless people, no way dangerous or troublesome to humane society: I have found them to be an ingenious enquiring people, and charitable both in their censures of others, and due regard to the poor. I am become their advocate, out of no engagement or relation to them, I profess, more than what my knowledge of their sincerity and true affection to their Country hath begotten in me.  
Mr. Goodwin, I need not speak much of, he is a man so well known, that Mr. pryn's so rigid urging of his expressions upon him, as he hath too largely and spleenishly done in his Epistle, making so unsavoury and utterly disproportioned comparisons betwixt him, and the malignant Prelates, and Anti-parliamentary Cavaliers, that a man that knows the antipathy between them cannot but stand amazed thereat; and necessarily conclude that something hath blinded not only the light of Mr. pryn's conscience, but of his understanding also, and then after a most unchristian application, his sentence is in these dismal old Antichristian and Prelatical terms; if they will not be reclaimed, fiat justitia, better some should suffer then all perish: but happy it is, that the power of Parliament is not in Mr. Pryn: if it were (in the mind he is now in) 'tis much to be doubted, his part would differ little from Bonners or Gardiner's in Queen Mary's days: but blessed be God, it is otherwise; nor will that just Authority I presume be moved either with his fierce exclamations, or incomparable flatteries to do any thing contrary to right reason and true Christianity: nor is there indeed (the fore mentioned rule holding) any cause why that supreme Authority should be offended: for all sorts of Independents, whether Anabaptists or Brownists, or Antinomians, or any other do all agree, that in all Civil and Military causes and affairs, they have an absolute supreme power: And if they shall conceive it just and necessary for the State to propose one way of worship for a general rule throughout the Land, and shall ingratiate the same by an exemption from all offence and scandal of weak consciences as far as is possible; The Independents, etc. have nothing to oppose against their wisdoms: and if the public way should be such as should agree with any of their judgements and consciences, they would most readily join in fellowship therein: but if their judgements and consciences should not be fully satisfied concerning the same, than whatsoever is not of faith is sin; and they cannot but disjoin: and in such a case, all good men that know them will show themselves true Christians indeed, in becoming humble suitors to the Parliament, that as for convenience to the State they propose one general public way: so for the ease of tender consciences, and for avoiding of sin either in compelling of worship contrary to conscience, or in restraint of conscientious worship; they would be pleased to allow unto all men (that through difference of judgement could not join with the public congregations) the free and undisturbed exercise of their consciences in private congregations.  
And if they should be pleased so to do; it is but what is agreeable to common equity and true Christian liberty: It hath been the wisdom of all judicious Patriots to frame such laws and government as all peaceable well minded people might delight to live under; binding from all things palpably vicious by the greatest punishments, and proposing of rewards and encouragements to all public virtue: but in things wherein every man ought to be fully persuaded in his particular mind of the lawfulness or unlawfulness thereof; there to leave every man to the guidance of his own judgement; and where this rule is observed, there all things flourish, for thither will resort all sorts of ingenious free borne minds: such Commonwealths abound with all things either necessary or delightful, and which is the chief support of all: such a government aboundeth with wise men, and with the general affections of the people: for where the government equally respecteth the good and peace of all sorts of virtuous men, without respect of their different judgements in matters of Religion: there all sorts of judgements cannot but love the government, and esteem nothing too precious to spend in defence thereof.  
Who can live where he hath not the freedom of his mind, and exercise of his conscience? look upon those Governments that deny this liberty, and observe the envyings and repine that are amongst them, and how can it be otherwise, when as if a man advance in knowledge above what the State alloweth, he can no longer live freely, or without disturbance exercise his conscience? what follows then? why he takes his estate, and trade, and family, and removes where he may freely enjoy his mind, and exercise his conscience: and as this hath been the sad condition of this Nation to its extreme loss divers ways: so Mr. Pryn would have it continued for aught by his writings can be discovered; nor is he any whit troubled in spirit to see at this day of Jubilee, and of Reformation unto all just liberty: thousands of well-affected persons at their wit's end, not knowing where to set their foot, for want of encouragement in the cause of conscience.  
I but, says Mr. Pryn, our Covenant binds us to maintain an absolute Ecclesiastic power in the Parliament: it binds us to maintain their undoubted rights, power, privileges: but Mr. Pryn must ever bear in mind, that what the people cannot entrust that they cannot have; which will answer all objections of that nature.  
As for our Brethren of Scotland: there is no doubt, but they are sad observers of all the distempers and misunderstandings that are amongst us, and would be most glad that the wisdom of Parliament would minister a speedy remedy; although therein they should somewhat vary from their way of Church Government; as well knowing there can be no greater advantage given to our common Enemy, than the continuance of these our divisions and disaffections.  
And where Mr. Pryn may suppose all liberty of this kind, would tend to the increasing of erroneous opinions, and disturbance to the State; I believe he is mistaken; for let any man's experience witness whether freedom of discourse be not the readiest way both to give and receive satisfaction in all things.  
And as for disturbance to the State: admit any man's judgement be so misinformed, as to believe there is no sin; if this man now upon this government should take away another man's goods, or commit murder or adultery; the Law is open, and he is to be punished as a malefactor, and so for all crimes that any man's judgement may misled him unto.  
And truly you are to consider in reading his great Book (improperly entitled, Truth triumphing over falsehood) that he acknowledges them to be but nocturnal lucubrations, distracted subitane collections; and if you truly weigh them you will find them very light, and little better compacted then mere dreams, or such fumes as men use to have betwixt sleeping and waking: and when you have viewed all those many sheets, consider them as in one, and it will resemble Saint Peter's vision, a mixed multitude of unclean testimonies raked out of the serpentine dens of mere tyrannous Princes, Antichristian and Machiavellian Counsels, erroneous Parliaments, and bloody persecuting Counsels and Convocations, which he hath produced, to be persuaders and controllers in these times of pure Reformation. Certainly if a man were not in a deep Lethargy, such a mass of so gross excrements could not pass from him without offence to his own nostril; if it be his case, he that scracheth him most, and handles him most roughly, is his best friend, there being no other remedy; when he is recovered and broad awake he will thank his Physician: in the mean time thus much is presented to his admirers, to preserve them from that malevolent infection, unto which his writings and reputation of former sufferings might subject them unto; and this by one who is no more obliged to any Independent, Anabaptist, Brownist, Separation, or Antinomian, than Mr. Pryn himself; but hath taken pains to know them somewhat better, and cannot but love them for their sincere love to our dear Country, to the just liberties thereof, and to our just Parliamentary Government: most hearty wishing them their just desires, and a peaceful life amongst us: That they might be encouraged to join heart and hand with us, in prosecution of the common Enemies, of our common liberties, knowing no reason why I should not love and assist every person that loves his Country unfeignedly, and endeavours to promote the good and freedom thereof, though of different judgement with me in matters of Religion; in which case I am not to judge or control him, nor he me: and I hearty wish all true lovers of their Country were in this mind; and when they are so, than the miseries of this Nation will soon be ended, and until then, they will continue, as is too much to be feared: I could hearty wish that what is here written, might work a good alteration in Mr. Pryn: but when I remember the story, That a certain Lawyer came to our Saviour, tempting him; I fear it is in respect of himself, but washing of a Blackamoor: self denial, is too hard a lesson for him; and if so, you shall have him in some bitter reply instantly; for though he cannot out-reason men, yet if he can but out-write his opposers, he claps his wings and crows victoria, that he hath silenced them all. Truly for writing much, I verily believe that he outdoes any man in England, which is no commodity at all to a State or the Truth, and then considering what free liberty he hath to Print whatsoever he writeth, discreet men will consider what a great advantage he hath therein, and will not deem it want of ability in his opposers, though they do not see him presently answered to their full satisfaction; and yet I am confident his great Book will be suddenly answered throughly: but if Mr. Pryn would deal upon equal terms, and use means that the Press may be open for all Subjects, but for six month's next coming free from the bonds of Licencers; if Mr. Pryn be not so silenced, as that all his former and late books do not under sell brown paper; let me be henceforward esteemed as vain a boaster, as now I esteem him: for his opposers, as in the justness of this cause they cannot regard his spleen; so nothing would be more welcome to them then his love, and change of mind, whereof some do not despair: however, I end with his own words, more justly applied fiat justitia; better it is that he undergo this my plain dealing, then that either the Readers of his books should be seduced, or so many innocent well-affected persons be so grossly abused by him.  
FINIS.