HM g I Hi e* 81 is ««n <-* °* * 8ht0, ° 9iti " *w 9i ''% PRINCETON, N. J. fc Collection of Puritan Literature. Division Section ~52bf Number Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/disyofOOpryn \ t 1 / ISCOVE ! Of fomc Prodigious Wjw JVandringSBlaJing-Stars, 3c Firebrands, S tiling them (elves NEW-LIGHTS, Firing our Church and State into New Combuftions. | * J Divided into Ten Se&ions , comprifing feverall mod j |* <£ J Libellous , Scandalous , Seditious , Jnfolent , Uncharitable > ( and fomc Blafphemous) Paffages . publi(hed in late Unlicensed Printed Pamphlets, againft the Eccktiafticall furifdiclJon and Pofter of Parliaments, founcels 9 Synods y Cbriftian Kings and Magijl [ rates ,in CjeneraH ; The Ordixan- . , w #W Proceedings ofthisprefent Parliament, in fpeciall : The Natienall Cove- «£• »^»r, AJfem&fjfyD irettory, our Brethren or Scotland J* resbyterian Government; The (fhurch of England, with her Minifiers,Worfhip ; The Oppofers of Inde- pendent Novelties; and fome Seditious £lMeresJncitations,Praclices y \o ftir up the Commonalty & rude Vulgar againft the Parliament, Aftem- bly,M.mfte LONDON J Printed by John Macock^, for Michael Spar!^ (enior, at the fign of the blue *> B'ibte in Green esfrbour. I 645. Jf * \ 5A* TO The High and Honourable Court of Parliament. Oft Religious and Judicious Senators, I here prefent to your faddetf thoughts and ferious deliberati- ons, an abftraft of fundry molt fcurrilous, fca.ndalous, feditious railing Libels, lately published to the world in Print, by (ome Anal apt itfi call independent Secta- ries 3 and New- lighted tiRE-BRANDS^ where- in the undoubted Priviledges, Ordinances, juft Proceedings of Parlia- ment • the Reverend Affembly of Divines h our Brethren of Scotland-^ the Church of England, with her Governments Minifters, Worfhip; the National! Covenant, Dire8ory,Prestytery^ profefTed Defenders of the Parliaments Priviledges* Ordinances againft their Licentious Schifma- ricall Pra&ifes, (according to their Solemn Vow and Covenant)are Co .audacioufly affronted, oppugned, flandered> railed againft} and the CQramon people fo earneftly excited to mutiny againft the Parliament A family, Presbytery, Government and Miniftcrs of our Church of England, that I am confident no former Age did ever produce fuch Monftrous Infolcncics, fuch detcftable virulent Libels, which neither 'the Honour, Justice, nor rvifdome of that Sovevaigne Court of JuHice wherein you are AflcfTors, nor the Peace and Safety of our Religion, Church, State,nor your own perfonall. fecurity, nor .the National! Vow and Covenant,(er\gaoir,v both your Honours an iall others who have ta- ken it againft thtfepemitiovs Mutiniersjcan any longer fuffcr you pati- ently to tolleratc (as hitherto you have done J without exemplary pro- ceedings againft, and punifhments upon the Authors, Printers, Pub- lifhers , Difperfers of thefe mod fcurrilous and mutinous Pamph- lets. Wherein they moft injuriously and falflv revile, traduce all fuch for P erfecut or s, Fighters againft Chrift and his Kingdom e, Enemies to the wajes of Chriit , pulling his royall Crqvtn from- off his head, his kingly Scepter out of his hand, Oppugncrs of rhe moft religious, con- fcientious THE EP I STL E fcientious, Godly, beft-affe&ed Parry (as they Pharifaically andfalfly termethemfelvesj dividers betweene the Parliament and their beft y their faithfulleft Freinds ; Prophane Apofiates, Popifh Jefuiticall Jncen- diaries, haters of Gods people, and the like 5 who out of conference, folid Judgment and cordiall affe&ion to the fafety, tranquility of Religion, Parliament Church, Kingdome, dare openly by word or writing* maintain the undoubted Jurifdi&ion of Parliaments, Synod 5 , Ma- giftrates in Ecclefiafticall affaires, or oppofe their fa&ious, fchifma- ticall Independent waves and [nnovationsjdeftru&iveboth toMagi- ftracy* Miniftery, Vnity, Parliaments* and that bleffed Reformation fo much defired. For my owne particular, I have with much Patience and Contempt endured, without any Reply at all , their falfe unchriftian InveBives a- gainft my felf, only for Writing in Vindication of che undoubted Ec- clefiafticall jurifdi&ion, dire&ive and coercive power of Chriftian Emperours, Kings, Magiftrates, Parliaments, in matters of Religion and Church-government, in my, Truth triumphing over Falfehood, An- tiquity over Novelty , publifhed with Your fpcciall approbation ; and my Independency Examined, (which have much incenfed this wafpifh Generation, unable to give any fati«fa<5tory anfwcrs to them) and I fhould have continued filenceftilL had my own private intereft only toPfal 72 9 ^ cn concerne d' But w hen I difcerned them to be fo audacioufly licctf tious, prefumptuous, as To * ftt their mouth again ft the Heavens , (b) E x ©d, 22.. to b revile the very Gods themfelves, and curfe the Rulers of the people • Col^t*'*' c t0 dtfpif* Government and fpeak evill of Dignities, to- bring railing 10. accusations again ft s and d refift the Higher Powers, publifhing Li- (rf) * ThcCa* bell after JLibeil^ againft the Proceedings, Ordinances, and Jurifdi- 6i:ionoftheprefent Parliament and Aflembly, yea with Antichriftian CO * Pec 2. pride, to e oppofe and exalt themfelves above all that U called God, or RoUit. *&** # wrfbipped (as they have lately done, in the Pamphlets hereaf- ter mentioned, and in the Nativity of Sir Iohn Presbyter, &c. frefhly publifhed fince the reft • every of thefe latter Libels being more fe- Kp Mar. 1 s . di t { ons an( j pcrnitious then the former) and fBarrabxs like* to ftirre up [edition and infurreBion among the people , againft the Ordinances, Votes of Parliament, and that Ecclefiafticall reformation and Presbyteriall government You have refolved to eftablifh j ? My bowels, U} Jcr.4. 19. my bowels were pained within me at my very hearty fo that I could not hold my peace, nor keepe [ilence any longer, becaufethouhafl heard, O my foul, the found of the feftditious Trumpets, and the alarme of this Sckifmaticall Anti- dft»»djtf r i t i^ wn i 'i ■ ' ' " r ■. > a ; _*_. -^ DE DI€ ATO R r. Anti-Parliamentary ***i Yea fhould I nowrefraine from writing, the very ftones therafclves would immediately cry out againft their cnoft infamous Libels and mutinous presumptuous Pra&ifcs,oppofite te all publike Order, Gncrmmnt, Authority. And the rather am I neceffitated to this ungratefull worke, becaufc their very Libels, a&ions, fpecches proclaime a plotted avowed Con- federacy among feme furious Ringleaders of thefe Independent Secta- ries (though 1 prefumc the more moderate are not guilty of it,) againft the Parliament* Aflembly> and all their Refolvcs in matters of Reli- gion or Church- Government, yea, againft our very Church, Minifters, wad Tithes themeanes of their fupport;as their Libellous Paflages againft the Ecdefhfticall Power, proceedings of the Parliament and Affcmbly * rheir publike oppositions againft the Nationall Covenant, DireSwyjhc Ordinances prohibiting dilbrderly Sc unliceafed Printing e£ Libellous Scif uaticajl Pamphlets; againft Lay-mcns preaching in the Army or cife-w here; for due Payment of Tjthes, &c. recited in the enfuing Sections, will at large declare. And that which further confirmes me in this opinion , is : Fir ft, the New Seditious Covenants which the Members of fome Independent Congregations enter into \ To adhere, defend, maintain to the utmoft of their powers,andcontendf or, even unto bleod,the eftablifbment ofthatjnde- pendent form of Church Government which themfclves have fet up and fub- mined to, and oppofe the Presbyterian J in contempt of the Parliaments Authority: in truth mecre Anti-covenants to the Nationall League and Covenant, which chey utterly refufe to take, and rayle againft. *. Their menacing predi&ions to the Affembly and Presbytery in their two laft 4 Libelsjwherin they prkt,That the time haftens the peo- c * Mm ' ms Fc4 pie will c ill them to an Accounr, and rcpell and confound them by the ^ NaVwky fword y That the life of Sir lehn Presbyter is like to be neither long nor c cf Sir M» good ; That he wilbe brought to a fudden untimely end , Perhaps c *«dWi ^ HANGING. Ttar Presbvcry (hall live but a fhnrt time todo mif- c p ' v ** ' cheife,and tben ;> th E CO UMON PEOPLE w ill begin to fing, He* c Tejfe, The Devil's dead $ Presbytery will quickly dye,the Synod be dif- r folved, thedivell chained up: and therefore? folio v the advife of old < Csto . Spt tn retire. Rcj^^e G heavens^ fing alcud O ear L h, cbp thy hands forjoj,0 EngUh&jtQJjl tuiula files* thoufazlthwea Jt>^of(^etneJJe,of c pucijofcentvit, fo- Presbytery will have never a Child tovexethec, to c Imprilbn thy free Denizen?, to fucks up thy fatte, devoure thy good c A things c \ THE EnSTLE i things and eat up thy bread out of thy Ghildrens mouthes, and himfelfc c is not long livcd,as 1 fhewed before^ and then farewell perfccution for c confcience, farewell Ordinance for Tithes , farewell Ecclefiafticall 8 Supremacy, farewell Pontifical Revenue, farcwel A JJembly of Divines c diflembled at ^rejiminffer, you fhall confult together no more, farewell ? S r . Simon Synod, and his (on Presfyter lacke. Gens ant iquaruit, multos dominate per anms 3 &e. Which paflages,prefage and intimate nought elfe> but a plain can- fpiracy, confederacy , againft the AfTembly, Presbytery and presbytc- rian party. 3 • Some late feditious fpeeches of two preaching Captaines of this Schifmaticall Confederacy ; who being apprehended and queftioned by Sr. Ssmuell Lukes Officers for preaching in N ewport- Panne 11 3 mdo- ther places nearc adjoyning , in contempt of an Ordinance of Parlia- ment made the 2 6. of April 1 £4 5 . which ordaines , That no per f on bo permitted to preach &ho is not ordained a Minifter-, threatnirg condignc puaifhment to the offenders againft it for their contempts fenjoyning Sr. Thowas Fairfax, the Lord Ma]or,the Committee of Militia for Lon- don- y the G overnours,C9>nmandcrs,zr\i Magistrates of all Garr/fons faciei ', places of flrength 3 Citties, Tonnes, Forts, Ports, 2nd the refveRive Com- mittees of each County, To fee the fame duly olferved in the Ar-vy **d places afore far d, and make fpeedjrepre fentatt onto both Houfes,of fu b at (had cjfend therein. Thefc Captainc preachers-, Tarwifer then that devout Centurian Cornelius, who feared God with all hisheufe, and pray- ed to God alwaies 5 yet never turned Preacher to his owne Banc/, for ©ught we read, tut by Gods mu direRim from heaven, fe at fer the Apoftle c T eter to inflruB him zn&his family, &fc to.) among other fpeeches £ € verred;Thar they were illegally ufed by S r Samuel in being apprehended c (for their contempt againft this Ordinance;) moft fafly and feditionfly c affirmingjThattheGenerall &all the Colonels in the Army were deep- 'ly engaged IN THEIR DESIGNE : That they would acquaint their c FRIENDS IN THE HOVSEOF C O M M O N 5 of their bad »- c fage, that they had done nothing but taught the Word of Goi + 1 (among other things, that wee had ro true Church nor Mtniftrv, and * that thechifdren of Beleevers had no more right to B^t^fme then thofe c of Infidels, &c) which they would juftifie, and thofe friends likewife: 4 That they had Commiflfion from the Parliament for what they di i.&r* ? Whereupon one C^«Oxfir^anfwering them; That he was confident there BED iC A TOR Y t there were few or none in the Houfe would uphold them (againftan exprcfle Ordinance of both houfes ) and that the Generall and Collo c nels would not fide with them in this cafe: The faid Pedicant Captains e replycd; That fhouid 6e tryed fpeedily : For they were refolved c to make this bufincffc THE LEADING CASE OF THE KiNG-* Note , DOME FOR ALL THE GODLT p ARTY .-adding; That if the c godly and wcl-affe&ed party were thus perfecuted, they fliould be for- c CedTO MAKE AWORSE BREACH THEN WHAT WAS YET, c WHEN THET HAD DONE YlTH THE KINGS PARTY: c and telling Enfign Rat ford and his Souldiers, that they were vvorfc c then Cavaliers j and that when they had made an end of the war with c th* Cavaliers, THET SHOVLD BE FORCT TO RAISE A NEf?\ ARMY TO EIGHT WITH THEM. Certainly thefe (editions privy Covenants, Libels, Speeches, com- pared with the enfuing Se&ions, Letters, difcover and portend no leflc then a ftrong confpiracy among fome Anaiaptifficall Sectaries to op- pofe the Power, Ordinances and Proceedings of Parliament, to extir- pate all other Governments but their own,and to let it up by the fword, or popular commotions in defpight of your Authority. And is it not then high time for your Honours, with all other well-affe&ed Per- fons to look about you ? to Vindicate your own T>over> Honour, Ju- (tice, againft thefe moft fedi tious, audatious, contemptuous Libellers againfl your Soreraign Authority, your moft Religious Ordinances, proceedings in the defired waics of 'Reformation-, and to make fome of them Exemplary Monuments of your Impartial/ feverity, to deter o- thers from the like unparalleld Jr.folencies, not read nor heard of in any preceding Age, nor pra&ifed by any Generation of men, but thefe Nemfurieus SeBaries : who to engage all forts of people in their £>*ar- rcll, proclaim a free Toleration and Liberty of Confcience^ to all Setts, all Religions vvhatfbever, be it J udaifme, P aganifme* Turcifme, Arianifme y Popery . fas all their Pamphlets manifeft J And to intereft the fe- male Sex, and draw them to their party, they (contrary to the * Apoftles n i Cor.i 4 . precept) allow them not only decifve Votes, but Liberty of preaching 'li*** Prophefying y fptaking\x\ their Congregations 5 yea, power to meet in \i. their * NoBarnall Conventicles, without their Has 'ands, parents, Mini- * Which they tfers?rivitie> the better to propagate Chrifts Kin^dome, and mu!ti- f^^lu^ ply the Godly party : Which, whit confuiion and Ataxy it will loon contrary to produce in Church and State, if not prevented by your Honours ex- theGo l X ei " A 2 traordma- mand, N THE EP I STL E traordinary fpccdy Diligence jri pome^ Pomer, I humbly fiibmittoyour deepeft Judgements. I am certain your Honours have read the • Hiftoriesof theTra- (<) s ui Jan, g{ ca H Wars and Commotions of the Ariabaptifts in Germany j whofc Atffejy ic° Opinions where-cver they predominate, are fatall to the Government, Anabaptift : Magiftracy, Miniftery of all States, Churches, and bring in popular Buiiiigcrad- *¥***}* and licentioufneflt, the worft of evils. O then let not your ▼erf. Anabap- Honours Patience or Indulgence to fiich Anabaptifticall Libellers in- Ifes^c 11 4c wive both you, us our Realm, in like german pepular Seditions^ De- L's An.bap- vacations,, and ileody Maffacres, which they threaten: but if thefc tides, p. Fiat- New feditious Lights and Fire-brands, will needs let upNcwGhur- ^i ?t ^p. P j r 9 l c h^> Herefies, Church- governments, and vent their new errors or o- 300,'fti pinions againft your Power and Authority, jet them doe it onely in Thc^Hiftory NEtV-ENGLAND > or other NE*r-FOVND LANDS^ fince OLD ^ptifts, M " ENGL AND needes them not,unlelTc it be to fet her all on fire. As for thofe furious Champions and Emiffaries of theirs who have moft prefumptuoufly oppofed your religious Ordinances* by word , deed, and presuming on the ftrength of their Freinds within your JVals r (the opinion wherof 3 with your former Lenity towards them hath much increafed their fpreading^™/)] intend now at iaft to try this iflu^irh your Honours^ whether your ju ft Ordinances, or their will full Con* tempts againft them fhaJl take place^It is prefumed you w ill fo proceed gainft them, and the Authors, Printers, Publifoers of the execrable Li- bells here prefented to your veiw, that they and all the world flial know, Touare a Soveraigme Court of Parliament • whofe priviledgcs, Honour, you have all joyntly Covenanted to raantarn with your Lives Power, Fortunes \ and to proceed againft all fuch fecret llndcrminers or open Impugners of them>as Capital Delinquents^^ thefe Mutineers experi- mentally know,that no one Member of your Honorable Aflemb ? y,will fo far difhonour himfelf, or violatehis publike truft & Covenant, as to countenance fuch audacious willfull offenders in the leaft decree ; nor yet for Fear or Favour of any Fa&ion,any Perfon how great foever 3 de- cline one hairs-bredth from that flraite path of Troth and publike Ju- ftice, Cthegreateft Security and fupport of Parliaments, Kingdoms] t fpecially in thefe Leading-cafes^berein you are moft concenied,and as much obleiged to maintain your own Privi ledges. Power* Rcputa- tioriSjOrdinances, againft Seditious SeHaries^ as againft Rebellious Cava- liersi or clfc diffolve, give over your intended almoft-accomplifoed &9fw« DEDIC ATORT. Reformation-, and fo render your fclves,with your Proceedings con- temptible to all the world : which God forbid* If any {hould Objed; that the Punifhment of thefegrofle LiMkrs Oh}tQ> SiRing-luders of fedition would difcontcnt and diftngage the Indepen- dents, with all other Sectaries of their opinioa,who are a confiderable party now; which might prove dangerous to theftatein this/unSurc of our publike Affaires. I anfwer : i . That I doubt not all moderate and juditious perfons of tAnfb, that party wil willingly dilclaime, if not eXcomunicate,banifhthem their Congregations, and yceld them up to publike Juftice, as perfons worthy the fevereft Cenfures ; elfe all the world will cry fhame upOfl them. Secondly, Admit your executing Juftice oo them fhould dif- contcnt their party; yet thankes be to God (for all their vapouring] they are not fo porent,fo coofiderable as to over-aw a Parliament from doing Juftice on fuch of their party, who Libel againft, or affront their power & proceedings^ which cafe,our whole three Kingdomesare fo* lemnly engaged by publike Covenant to affift you to the utmoft, with their very Jives and fortunes. Thirdly,The greatnes of the Kings Pover^ /wy,!wth not retarded you from executing Juftice upon StraffordyCaM- ttrhury, Tompkins >& fundry other delinquents: Shall then the lefle con- fiderable FaAion of Anataptifls and other SeBdries hinder you from proceeding ^gainft a few feditious Libellers and Delinquents of their party ? Fourth Iy,E it her you rauft permit them to go on to libel and af- front your Authority,Order,proceedings ftiI!,without exemplary pu- nifhments, to your great drfhonour, infamy : or elfe proceed againft them now, whiles your Ordinances, and their contempts againft them are frefh> their party fmaiJ : elfe they will plead prefcri prion, and you will be leffe engaged, lefTe able to punifh them hereafter, in cafe they fhould grow ftronger and more numerous. Vrincipiisok^Andum^ is ever the bed policy. Fiftly, Let their party be as confidera- ble^ as potent as is falfely furmifedby themfelves, yet I humbly con- ceive, it ftands neither with the Majefty, Honour, Power, nor Wif- dome of a Parliaments be afraid of doing JufticeCefpecially in main- tenance of their own Ordinances, Priviledges whoever theydifcon* tent : In fuch a cafe, Fiat Juftitia^ run Cxlum ; is the fafeft Refolution. Maieftrates and ioferiour Judges ('much more then fiipreameft Courts of Judicature) muft not * fetr the faces nor Frowns of any * pfal. u. 4. Mori Alls in discharging their duties, bur execute Juftice and Judge- w^w A ' g. ment ? THE EPISTLE 6. C ment, \f hat ever comes ©fir, and trnft God with the Event. Sixtly, The not doing Exemplary Justice i n fuch leading cafes of publike Concernment, will render your Parliamentary Autboritjfirdi- nancesjroceedings more contemptible toyour own party >thcn ever they were unto the Kings: yea, animate the Country Club-men and every in- confiderable Secfary y not only toJear,contemn,difobey your Ordinancet andCommands^ut at laft toprefcr'de Laws unto you,[as * lask Cade and ^Scc^x.H. jjis Confederates did to the Parliament inthea^.of # diffifers of thofe that are good ; Tray tor s, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures ( of their own bellies, lufts, wayes, opinions, fancies J more then lovers of God; having a form of Godlineffe , but denying the poWer thereof ': F R O M SVC H TVRNE *AW AT. But fome might de- mand of him, by what diftinguiQiing marke may we know who thefe perfons are ? The Apoftle therefore lubjoynes fuch a fymptome, as fuits molt exactly with our new Separating Lights & (fonventickrs } who forfake the publike aflfem- blies,and creep into priva't houfes, working principally (as the *Devilldid at firftj upon the weakeft Sex: F or of this fort are they wH IC H CREEP INTO HOVS ES (thus interpreted by the Apoftle: Heb.\o.i<$. Not for faking the ajfembling of our felves together, or the publike A§emblics y as the MANNER OF SOME IS y and of our Sectaries now J and lead Captive SILLY WO MSN, laden With fin nes, led aft ay With divtrfe lufts : EVER LEAR- NING *ANT> NEVSR *ABLE 7 COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF TUB TR VT H (as thofe Independent Seekers Judc . are, who like * rvandring Stars, gad every day after New-Lights, New-fafhions of Church Government, Wavering like empty Clwdt Without Water, or Waves of t * thefea, driven With the Wind and tojfed j not knowing yet what Government they B would Gcn.j. i j4j 12. 1 Tiu$. 1. 14. \ A frefh D if covery of Prodigious would have, or where to fix ; 'Believwg andpraElifing all things. With a referve 3 to alter their opinions an£praUife every da) upon difc'pv'ery of further light , fat he Independent Apologifts profeffe for themfelves y and advife all others to do* Now bccaufe fiich Houfe-creepers and New-lights , haveufually lofty conceits of their own opinions, judgements, wayes j as if the truth of God were monopolized unto them , and therefore all the World fhould fpeedily fubmit to their foolifh dictates, and erronious by- having m the Spirit. To which the Apoftle Pmraddes thefe further descriptions of "them. 3 Pff.2.10, 11,12,14,18,10. That they desfife government, are prefumptuow,felfe- willed, jfieak will of Dignities , bring railing accufations again ft them, Jpeal^evill of the things they underftandnoty beguile unftable fiules having hearts exercifedwith covetons praftifes, being clouds carried frith a tempefi, JVels without water , Who When they ftp eakj^r eat fuelling words of vanity, allure throuqh the lufts ofthefefh^ through much wantonnes (of fpirit as well asBtzth^thofe who are clean efcapedfrom them who live in error : While they promife them liberty fthe liberty of Confidence to profeffe what Religion they lift, to life what Church government they pleafe, without controll of Parliament, Synod, or MagiftratesJ they themfelvey are the fervams of corruption*] and as Iude, v.i 3. prove Raging Waves ofthefea „ fram- ing out their oWn fljame, Wandringftarres, to Whom the blachncffe ofdarknejfe Is refervedfor ever. All which descriptions, how properly they fuit with our New- Independent-lights and Incendiaries, I fhall clearly demonft rate out of ieve^ll claufes in their late tedicious Anti-Parliamentary I rnprefllons, betraying the rpt- tenneiTe of their hearts, the pride, fedition, and rebellion of their ipirits, which I flull reduce to thefe ten Sections. 1, Seditious, fcandalous, libellous, and uncharitable pafTages againfl: the au- thority and jurisdiction of Parliaments, Synods, and tern porall Magi- Urates ingencrall, in Ecclefialiicail affaires. 3i Againft fundry Ordinances and proceedings of this prefcnt Parlia- ment in particular. 9, Againft Nevp'WAndrin* Hazing- Stars and Firebrands. 3. Againft the Nationali Covenant prdcribed by Parliament. 4. Agiinft the prefent Aflembly of Divines, fitting and acting by order of Parliament. 5. Againft the Directory ratified by Ordinance of Parliament. 6* Againft our Brethren of Scotland, whom of late they much applauded. 7. Againft Presbyterians and Presbyterian government in gentralL 8. Againft the Church oiSngland, herWorfhip, Miniftets, and Govern- ment in generall. 9. Againft fuch who have out of conference written or preached againft their {editions wayes, and Libels. 10. Seditious Qneres, Parages, and Praftifes, to excite mutinies and popular commotions againft the Parliament, and dilobedience to its commands. Section I. Containing divers feditio us y fcandalous, libellous paf ages againft the authority And jurifdiclion of 'Parliaments, Synods, and temporal/ Magiflrates in generally in £ cc le,^ aft ic a 11 affaires, in the late Writings of fever all Independent NeW- light s § and Firebrands, T Shall begin with a Copy of a Letter Written by John Lilburne, Lieu. Colonell % (the Rii gleader of this Regiment of New-Firebrands) to William Fry nneYLty upon the comming out of his hft book, intituled, Truth triumphing over Falfe- hoody Antiquity over Novelty : Of which Letter there have bin three Impreflions made by him, wi houtlicenfe; contrary to the. Ordinance of both Houfes, re- straining the printing or difperfing of unliccnfed,libcllous,& feditious Pamphlets : whre he p.4. writes thus. Sir, in your lift book that you put out, you fpend a great deale of paines in ci- « ting old rufty Authors, to prove that Kings, Counsels, Synods, and States, have c forfo many hundred yearesmedled with matters of Religion. I grant you they < have ; but I demand of you, by what right, or by what authority out of the Word c of God they have fodone ? Hath God the Father, or Jefus Chnft his Sonne gi- « ven them any allowance in this? Or have they not hereoy rather fulfilled the pro- < pheficsofthe Scripture, which faith, £<^-. 17. 17. That the Kings of the Earth fhall < give their power unto the Beaft tili the VVord of Goi be fulfilled , which < they have done in aflifttDg the Popes to j\>yne the Eccleiufticall and Civil! « State together , making the Golden Lawesof Chrift to dep; nd upon the Leaden c Lawes of Man; yea upon i'uch Liwes, as w^s juft fuifable to their ty- < rannicall lufts, and which might the moft advance their wicked ends and < defignes : and in the doing of this , they have fet up a perfect A tl tichrift fi againft God's Christ, yea, England is not free from this. * B 2 And \ A frefh Difcovtrytf Trodigiout And to hold, that Kings, Parliaments, Synods, States, have any thing to do in mat- ters of Religion and Church-Government, he concludes w. 5, to be a fetting of the-Potentatesofthe earth together by the eareswith Chrilt ( who is to rule all Nations, Rev. 1 2. 5.) to pluck his Crown from his head, his Scepter out of his hand, and hisperfonout of his throne and State, that his Father hath given him to raign glorioufly in. Which is thus backed by Henry Robinfon the (fuppofedj Author of the Arrfwer to Mr. William Prynnes 12. Jgveslions concerning Church- Government, pag. 6. Particular Churches, members of a Kingdome and Nation , are not obliged in point of Confcience and Christianity, to fubmit unto whatfoever publike Church Government, Rites, and Difcipline, a Nttionall Councell, Synod, and Parliament fliall conceive moft confonantto Gods Word, unle-ffe it prove foin the whole Kingdomes, Nations, and thofe very particular Churches Judgement, pag. 8. The grounds of Independent Government, attribute nothing to the Magiftrate in Church affaires further then the Magiftrate is a member of their Churches and Affemblies,/^. 12. You can no more Juftiflea Nationall Church of Chriftians (hall likewife go up to the Tempte of fernfitlem from whence by the fame Pro- phefie, they arealfo to receive the Word of God, and not from Parliament, Pope, Synod or Presbytery v Mr. Henry Burton in his Vindication of Churches commonly called Independent , cjre. p.49,?o,?i,&c: The Church is a fpirituill kingdome, whofe only King is Chrift, and not Man : It is a fpirituall Re-publick , whofe only Law-giver is Chrift and not Man. No man nor power on earth, hath a Kingly power over this kingdome. No earthly Lawgiver may give lawes for the government of this Re- publick. No man can or ought to undertake the government of th is communion of Saints. No humane power or law may intermeddle to prefcribe rules for the government or form of this fpirituall houfe. NOT COUNCELS, NOT SE- NATES. This is Chrifrs Royall Prerogative, which is uncommunicable to ANY, TO ALL THE POWERS ON.EARTH, &c. headds,p.tfo,6i. We challenge you to fhew us, any Parliament, Counceli, Synod, ever fince the Apoftles, that could or can fay thus, Itfeemedgood to the Holy Ghollandus, to determine controverfies of Religion, to make and impofe Canons to binde all men,&c. Shew this to us at this time , and we will obey. But if you cannot, as you never can; never let any manpreflfe upon us that Scripture, that Synod, which hath no parallell in the whole world, and fo is no precedent or patterne, for any Councell, Synod, Parliaments. lAfhert Anfiver to Adam Stewarts fecondpart of his over-grown Duply to the T^o Brethren ; with certaine difficult questions eafily anfwered: printed (^with- out licenfe) 16*44. fuppofed to be written by Mr, John Goodwin, p. 13 17. But perhaps youT fay, theie is an Act of Parliament, a Givill law declaring htrcfie, or any different from the State opinions , fuch as for the prefent are in tafhion to be cenfurable by the civill power ; I anfwer, not without fll due refpecr. untr; the lawes, and fuch as made them, that if there be any diftinftion between a Church- ftate and a civill-ftate, which all Chriftians hitherto ack owkiigc, the enafting civill hwes to punifh fpirituall offences, is not only ufoleciime or impropriety in New- Wandring blafwg- Stars, and Fire-brands. in ft ate , but an incroaching on the Churches power , a profaning of the Keyes, and injurious to the offender j who by this meanes is punifhed both beyond the degree and nature of his offence. If the blcfied Spirit fhould at any time bear wit- neffe unto your fpirit , or unto the fpirit of a whole Parliament and Synod, what were this to the fpirits of other men ? muft not they wait with patience untill the bleffed Spirit be pleafed to vifit their fpirits like wife , before they can joyne with yoursortheAfTemblies fpirit? But if the Synods determination of this or that controverfie fhould feem good unto the holy Ghoft,as the Churches decrees of Je- rufalemdid, muft they therefore be impofed upon frhe Countrey, the whole world? Is not this to equallize your Synodail Canons with thofe decrees of the Apoftolicall Church of Jerufalem, and to make Scripture of yours, as well as theirs? is not this to adde to Scripture? nay, to alter it, p. 2 8. But if King and Parliament may not force a new Religion or Seel, fuppofe Presbyterian a upon the kingdome, much leffe can the Synod, which neither has nor yet pretends as is alieaged, to ufe the materiall fword ? And if for matters of religion all power ori- ginally is in Chrift, as you fometimes acknowledge, How can King, Par- liament, or Synod , wrefl it from him ? Nay what think you ? is it not fecondari- ly in the people, as well as civill power, which you affirmc in the fame page ? and fodoubdefle is fpirituall power, unlefle you will make God to have provided mankinde better of a fafegard, or liberty to defend rfceir bodies, than their foules : If then the fpirituall power be fo inherently in the people next under Chrift, as that they cannot fo well renounce and part from it in many refpefts, by what they may of civill ; how can it be thought by any one, that the King, Parliament, Sy- nod, though never fo much importun'd by a the uf and fuch A firs , fhould goe a- bout to fettle a new Presbyterian Scotch government, with an intention to force a conformity of the whole Kingdome , three quarters whereof cannot as yet be thought to fubmit unto it willingly or for confeience fake, Pag. 32,33, 34,35,36% Q#. 5. Is if not an ungodly thing to fuffer men to be of any Religion ? Anf. No , ] : or both our Saviour his Apcftles, end the Primitive Chriftians did the fame: neither is it in the power of flefh ar: d blood to hinder it. Qx.6. Is it not the mod unfeemely fight to fee the people ofone Citty run fcambling from their Parifhes to twenty Conventicles where fo many ieverall doctrines are taught? ;ie ro be prefent at Religious orthodox affemblies, where if thev will, they in^y be infor- med of the truth. tAn. Yes, firft btcauL- there can come no good thereof through Want of willingncffe, which God cnely rcguards ii 1 him which is thus compelled; and fecondly, becaufe this ( forceing J is a doing evil! that goo:! may come there- of, which is prohibited, Rom. 3. 8. The Fal(boodof }A % fV.?ry n nes Truth triumphing, (Reprinted in London 1 647. wi.hout licenfef written by H,Rebinfon,\v\\Q hath let up a private unlictnfed prin- ting PrelTeJdetermines thus: p. 19. 20. iS But did,the only wife God chink we 1 e- folve to create man after his own Image, to eft ate him in Juch a fad and exea able condition, worfc then that of beads, woives,Bears&Tigres,as that he muft n, c^ ?ffa- riiy tyrannize or be Tyrannized over both in foul and body and yet it cannot poffi- Uy be otherwite; if you will grant a power to Kings.Parliaments or Synods, to re- quire conformity from others in any thing which is net agreeable to their conf- idences ; for if fitch a Latitude and height of Iurifdiftion be granted but :oihc more orthodox Kings Parliament sand Synods; both Papists, Lutherans, Cahfinitts and Independants pretending and really takeing themklves to be the moft ortho- dox, are bound inconfeance tolayClaymeto, and put in Execution this power of Compelling all the world unto their uniformity , and fo infallibly produce the moft cur fed enmity and hatred betwixt all the people but differing in opinion ex- ceeding that of Cannibals, or the profoundeft of Antipathies betweene any ratio- nail creatures whatfoever. You fay the ©pontes to Parliaments Eccleiullicall Ja- rifdieTions have formerly and more efpecially in this Prefent Parliament addrtifed feverall Petitions to this High and honorable Court for Reformation of rhe Church.&c. wherein under favour, I conceive you have mil- apprehended their proceedings & Intentions, which doubtleffe was for the moft p;.rt,or beft affected, that the Parliament, in whom they acknowledge the Soveraigne power to reflde, would permit, Coiu t nance and encourage all godly men of gifts in preaching down Herefics, Errors, Idolatry, Popery, &c. Many whereof had either bcene formerly eft abliilied by Law, or not permitted to be preached dovvne, through the Prelates corruption contrary to the Law. This is the beft, even all the Refor- mation, which the Civill Magiftrate, as Civill, has a Capafiity of comparing a- gainft all H .relies and Euors, which muft necellarily be vanquished by the lwoid of Nevp-Wandring* blafing-Star^ and Fire-brands ©f the Spirit and cannot poflibly be fuppretfed by carnall weapons or the civill fword ; they may deftroy the flefh, but cannot properly be (aid ro touch and worke upon the Spirit. Tis no fmall dif-fervice winch you do both Parliament and Aflembly, in thus expofing their proceedings, to be queftioned by no little, » p ray God and that the * mod confcionable and beft affected party of the kingdome, fuch y»u pro\3.But be* wcrct h c fc£ N A frejb difcovery of Prodigious « deare Fathers the B t (hops ; who cowardly fit at home, in ray apprehefifion, for c You would < no other end but to breed faftion and divifion araongft the (c) weLaffetledto cdiaywL^Li- ' td *^ c Parlt * ment ' promoting thereby their owne intereft, which is Lazinefle, beh'agairift 1 'P r ^e, CovetoufneiYe and Domination, endeavouring to lay lower then the their po-.ver, ' duft, a generation of men whom rhey falQy call Sectaries, chat have in the up- Ordinanccs, < rightueffe of their hearts, without Synodianlike ends, ventured all they have dH sevidence ' * n L * ie worl( * [or the ^ 00( ^ °^ ^ ParliamctK > an( * ^ Common- wealth of e I England, and who may bid defiance to all their adverfaries, that brand them * with unfaithtulnelTe ; fo that by mcanes of which, I have not been able that 'way, yet to accomplifh my earncft defire ; and truly it argues no manhood 1 nor valour in you nor the BUck^coats, by force to throw us downc and tye 'our hands, and then to fall upon us, to beat and buffet us ; forifyouhadnot * been men that had beeo afraid of your Caufe, you would have been willing to d So it is m nave f 0U ght and contended with us upon even ground and equali tcrmes name- rcgula", Y ty' tnac tnc &) Prefe might be as open far us a* for jou y and as it was at the be- though not in gi°ning of this Parliament ; which I conceive, the Parliament did of purpofe, a Libellous & that fo the free borne Englafa Subjects might enjoy their (e) Liberty and Pri- c e Lib° U t Wa> * vile ^ e ' which thc Bifaop* hac * learned of the Spanifh Inquihtion to rob them PrimTibeTs °^ ^y locking it up under the key of an Imprimatur, in whofe tyrannicall fteps flanders 3 inve- the Synod treads ; fe that you and they think you may ray le at us cum privile- dives againft gio> and ranke us arnongft the worft and bafeft of men, as (f) rooters up of Par. Parhamenta- l tA me»ts, and diftutbers of States and Common-wealths. dL P e°7sViot Tlie f eur " lou$ > blafpemous, unlicenfed Libell, ftiled, The Arraignment of the s ubjeds V* r fa*tion- t ticm eontemptuouily affronts & jeers this Ordinance, with the Par- Liberty or liament, Synod and Directory, in the very Title Page ; This is Ucenfed and priviledge but printed according to holy OrAer> hut not entred into the Stationers Monopoly • If ami 1 " 1 *** flnd in thc °PP° flte P a § C : /Your Libels, Die Saturni, April. 6- 1^45. cL7nifhenr Ic is D «r"***i OnUtoedbj&tKtvemd 4femblyof D/triw, no* Af- fuch. ' fembled in holy convocation, that Doctor Burgeffe and Maftcr Edwands doe 'returne thanks unto the worthy Author of this Treatife, intituled, The Ar- g Impious, & * raignment of per fe cut ton, for his (g) pious endeavours and vigilant care he hath feditious, if < therein, at the entreaty of this Synod, And it is further Ordained, that they you will not < c[oe j crire hinrl} t0 print an( j puoijfh tnc f a y Treatife forthwith, and that it be /^Rather a ' recommended to the people, as (h) a divme Hand-maid to thc right under- Diab >licali * ftanding of the Directory. And it is yet further Decreed and Ordained, that Libell againft none (htll prefame to print or re- print the faid Treatife, but whom he fcall 1C - authorize under his owne hand writing, till this mo ft holy S/>W fhail further Order. Uenr, loh.rcngh > ib Adontran oyfield 5 I appoint my divine Cczin MARTIN CLA W-C LERGY, Printer to the Affembly of Divines , and none clfe to print this Treatife. Young MARTIN MAR-PRIEST. What ng- St drS y a nd Fir a- h/sf, ds . ~ > could be afforded to die Commons or Af- fcrnbly ci ;n ed lib* lioas Order ? In the Hook i felfe, page -. P erfeeuthn had atheu fond trickj^ove all the reft, far ;o blocf^up a ! lpaffagej,ftop all months, aid fort/ fie htmfelfe round ; he turned reverend Imprimatur .- and here the purfuer was ^: a ftaodjfor ail was as foft as the J3u:hs of all good men, then he comes forth in print againftthem, like an c armed man, and furioufly aflaulrs them, exults and exalts himfelfc over them, * rainech Arguments for them, and then Like a valiant Champion, give? them 'aconquering Anfwer, and thus puts chem to flight, and parfues them witb 'rcvilings, (cmdals, forgeries, and opprobrious nlck-rjamci, as AnahapttBt % * Bremuifts, Independents i Sctfiuattquej, Heretiquest Thus he dealoth with the 4 godly forty (Howpdly you are, well appearcth to all the wcrld by thefe your ■ libellous feditiou*. ungodly pamphlets.) The libellous Book in pnrluance ofthis, ftiled. Afacred Decretatl&c. proceeds in the fame language page 14. Left they fhould fall upon our reare, under pre. tenet of fu^prejfwg the Kmgs papers } ive bounded the Preffe with our (k.) Pre shy ten- £ vvas a ar ~ an comzAJf? r that they could nor withouc hazird of plundering, tranfgreffe our re* Ordinance of verend Imprimatur- Then iifued out witefTe fehoUsltck^ Tractates, againft both Houfes, tixzAnriamfts ptc. Having thus neatly ftopt their mouthes we fophifttcarecf their noc mldc b Y Arguments, &c. and then with our politick Anfwers ; we prcfent them to the peo- Prc$b 7 ,:cians « pie mth in Imprimatur, JAMES CRANFORD, or the like. We imploy Doctor Featl/s Devil ' look upon u the prtfcfed e«m,« n* weir noimedClnft ; heihtf JwVU, ' wfi W tyihe is j(*«*/*a to the whili b» of if het; in which Um* wa* a L«»*# t Cor. 9. 7' « to be brooght for a lira* Offering, which is at-ohfii-J ; aiio, be thar was » 'ake roitf. cTVtfe»Wa»«netb*twa»to*{ftr .:#*»?/&* Hatlffafmc . which it ar.ycsoelo L K I0 - 7 - < ™ « it » tw&bv Chriitcotne is the flerti, and .O 0. tne »i 0i ,, i?:ri!:C1 tor Iidm ^^rhiV^athanifoov«,hro^a!iourcor,,tott, ) oyandhop f " A ; mo-i Sbtor, fcunilowand feditionrpaflage to faurc »p thereto rebel] isr. Ci! «. tf K^'SS^^SSSSM in the feditious pmphkt, mailed ,*»*««* ciu^iVat" _. r Reverend, learned Prolocutor, AffefFors, the tI ™. lo tne ^W ^ » f cv , hof sf both Houfcsof the ?6\of April: That no perfon orpeifons be pr- Uttted to preach that is not or dune d a Minister. The factious, libellous pamphlet intituled. A [acred [ynodt call Decretal % or line &. . m SirSiraon Synod./or the aptrzhcndixg of Marty nMar-prieft: ■ (the New-W&ndring-kLxyfig-Sti\r$^ and Fitt-b? (the Qjuntcflence of fcurriiity, biafphemy ind feditfon) writes thui; pag. 5. Yea hec'i hoc ftiek to tell the people, that the inhatfing W ingroffmg hf Inters pret*;tons\ Preachings aid Difiip/me into oht otvne handf, t a?xi proved before the 'ommttetoj */, ia the cafe of Captaine (newly) ' J&o&fon, a Taylor, an4 his confederate Lsy-prcachers, who lately cxcrcifci- C 3 th:ir 15 * jifrejb difcovsry of Prodigious their new mimfterial function nttiNeuport Prf/W,railirig agaisjft oar Chureh,MI- niitery and children* baprifmc, chat ic needs rather Reformation by, then I»for m matton to the higher powers. I (hall clofe this Seflion with Come general! paffages, affronting and jeerin^ all Ordinances ol Parliament in direct termes. The new moft ledtcious Ltbctl, called Martyns Eccho, pablifhed the laft week ftiles Ordinances of Parliament TO YES : pagcu. Yoa moft be care foil thac your V-jareftmy and ail other yout Ecclefiaftical uiSls y be with great fanility and reverence ador'd amongft the people, or elfc your eftcem will goe downe ; and this cannot be done without fome (cMzzzLawes^rdinances and the like to that end, which yon mutt put the Parliament upon 5 you know yout power and influence up^ on them, tbey'legratifie yon with SVCH TOYES ; &c* The lace fedkioas pamphlet, ftilcd A fared Decretal '1% yet more vile ; pa*.^ 1 4. O ye eladicail Clerks and Sextons of the three Kingdom**, demoiifh and puli do?rne all the Marty m ncfts from your Church- wals and decplcs, and have rfpi- rituall care (as you will anfwer the contempt of the new ordinance) that hereafter no birds build, chatter, doe their budneiTe, or fing there, but Church- owlcs, Jack- dawes, otherwife called Sir Johns, blind Bats, Presbyterian woodcockj 7 and the like : O ye two Houlcs or Parliament, make another Ordinance to make all the MARTINS flye the three Kingdomes the next midfoaimer with Cuckowes and S??ai!owes, that we may have a blew-cap Reformation aoocng Bats, Owles, Jack* dawes and Woodcocks (and then blew-cap for us.) I could fumifh you with more fuch Independent ftu#e, but I am loth to defile more paper with this tnfimal language of railing Rabfhaketis ; and (hall here ap- peale to every ingenuous mans conicience, whether he can with any ftiadow of reafon or charity beleeve, that this froward. libellous generation of Independent $p)*tzJohn Sectaries, who thes publikely libcll, inveigh and oppofe themfelves againftthc nst ^ jarifdicVion, Ordinances and proceedings of Parliament, are the mod (p) holy, re- - l ™ e ligiow^ettfcientioiti 'Jbeft affetted party $ the moft prectom Saints and generation of ; ' l \ Gods dear eft ones; the Parliaments be ft and faithfnlleft friends whs have to their Htm r? moft power .and divers of them beyond their abt lity, fufported & ventured their lives in the Par [laments cat ft and fer vice • doing them more reatt and fait bf nil fcrvice teFa-lf- then any other generation of men in England, and the onely Vindicators of . , .. the Parliaments Pnvil edges and Subjects Liberties again jt presl iter tan andfyno* ';'i l die al u ftr pat ions ^ (as they boift in every one ofthefe their Libels agiisft the Parli- ament and Its proceedings;) Or whether they are not in truth thofe ( $) dejptftrs of • P^' ^ovemment^hoic evtllfheakcrs again ft dignities, thofe refislers of the higher pow~ p z Vrs, prophecied of the lad times; who have forgotten Saint Paul's Canon, Rom. 1 5. I . Let every foule be febjeft to the higher powers. &c. and Tit. 3, Put them 13.^3. in mind to be fubjeti to privcip.ijities and powers, to o K ey Magiftrates, &©. Y«?,*hc mod defperatcunparaileifdj publike contenders, affronters denders of the Parlia- ment power. Ordinances, proceedings that ever breathed in oar Engliffe Climate: \. Under the pretext. mme'aadaoloUBQf the wcLajfefled, faith full, godly party, and floured Champions for the Parliament , endeavour by degrees to advance thcmicivcs (by policy and the Sword) above it, and trample its authority (as they dee io. Ntv-v/andring-lUifir^-Star^ and Fire-brands. i ^ doc the Ordinance for Tythes, and others) in the very Front of their facred De- cretal, muter their cloven feet. Doubclefle they can never fight cordially for the Parliament md it* proceedings (bat onely for their owne delTgriej and intcreils) who lb** fcdiciouHy* concemptnonfly fpeak> write, print agiinft them; and if their infolencietagainMic parliament, Synod, Magiftrates,be already gfcbwne fo intolerablcwhilcs their faction is yet bat in thtbirthjhow tratifcendently arog*nc aad contumelious will they prove wfrcn they have aeerca;hed greater power, both in our Armies and Conncels ? God give our fapreame conncell^ hearts, totf- dowoe, zeale and fervency ferioufly to fupprefle and pnnim thef* Epidemicall growing mfolenctes in due time, for kite they become matter lefe>remedi/efe iu the end ; elfe thefe Analaffsiltcal fe£taries, chefc Germane opinions and pra- dlifts will(Ifeare) ibdainly involve us in rhc Germane, AnabaftifiUall dt~ JlraZltons, infolencies y warres and deflations , recorded by Sleidan and ethers, for En* lands admonition. Section III. Vtntamingfcandalout^ [editions^ fcurrilous paffages againfl the Nation naU Vow and Covenant, prefer ibed by Parliament. THis National Vow And covenant was deemed at firft the onely probable means under God to unite our three Kicgdomes and the protcftant party of all forts together in a rautoall, brotherly, inviolable League a°ain(t the common ene- mies of our Religion, parliament, Lawes and Liberties ? It was therefore waiver- fally prefenbed to the Members of both Houfes, the Aflembly of Divines, Law- yer! of all forts, the Officers aad Souldiers in the Army, a«d to the Ministers and people ofali conditions under the parliaments power in all our three Dominion?, being refafed, oppagncd at firft apparently by none but papifts, Royaliits or Ma- lignants : ^nd the Honfes were fo impartial! in the prefcription of it, that fuch Members of the Lords or Commons Houfe, who did but fcruple the taking of ir, were fufpended the Honfes till they did conforme. But now of larc, a genera, tion of Independent Sectaries, conceiving this Covenant to thwart their licca- tiow>fciifmaticall whiaafey»,noc onely generally refufe to take ir, and plead a fpe- clall priviiedgc and exemption from ic (as if they were more pr»viledgcd pcrfons then any Peeres, Commons or Subjects whatfoever, and mutt be left at large to doc watt they lift, when all others are obliged, (and wh*"eh is ftrange to me and others, fome Independent, Mimfters,) if not Members of Parliament who have taken ic themfelves, and enjoyned it to others, have yet adventured to plead for an exemption of this rmer refractory party from ir,which much encoursgeth them in •heir obrtinace refufali of ir, and hath fo animated this icdiuous,la ffJcffe generati- on, tha: they have lardy in print, no: onely oppugned, but derided, libelled a^ainlt 'his faerrd Covenant (which we hive ail mo't folemnly in Gods pretence fworne, and under oar hands fubferibed to ma'tntasne to the utmifl of our power, Tvna rfnh thi hazard of oar lives and fortunes), whic.i, I befcech you, let u* ali n^v I 6 Ajrefy d/fcovery of Prodigious now mott chcarfolly, really obferve, by proceeding againft the contemner* in* fringcri of it, or elfe for ever as readily, as iblcmnly renounce it, to our eternal! infamy, at we at firit cheai. fully fubferibed to it. I (hall begin with %obn L :Uohy ■;-,:$ Letter : pag. 6. 7. It m4j be w ft cad of fa* tufymgmy deprc> ysn will run and compile to t,>e Parliavie. it, wA pre ffe them with their Covenant, to take vengeance upon me. If yon dor, I weigh it mt ; for I bleffe God I am fitted to doe or fajfir whatfoeve* the Parliament fhaH iwpofi Hpon me ; hut if pu doc % take theft two along w:th yon : if yea put them m mind of the'r Covenant, :eH them, 1 thmkjthey baveJWorne to root out all Pozery, but yet have eliahlifhed Tythes, the very rest andfuzport of Popery, which / humbly conceive a a contradiction to their Covenant Sec. A bold cenfure and icandall. The Arraignment of perpcuttonfhm trr.daectb and jeers the reverend A 'ffembly ofDiz'tnesznd Covenant together : page 3? -34. Perfection, Is thy name perfect Reformation? Pcrfr.Yzs ray hoti: Judge. Who gave you t hi* name?/. £**/**, His God-fathers &God-mothcis inhisBiptifmcwherin he w*s made aMemberof the Aficmbly, and an inheritor of the Kingdome of Amiehrift. Jftdgt, Who are your God- fathers and God.rnotheri? P*r/!MyLtfrd,Miftc* Eccltfiafttcak p*premacy,vb(L Mafter See. ch- government are my God fathers ; Mifhris %****. ambition, and Mi- ftfis Church, revenue arc my God-mot hes, 2 nd I was ifcrinkled into the Affembly of Divines at the taking of the hte SOLEMNE LEAGVE AND COVE- NANT. 3**dg. Tis Grange that at the making of rhelate plemne League and C^^^^blood-thirftyperfccarion (houldbc anabaprized prefent Reformation : then HERES A DESIGNE OF BLOOD IN THE COVENANT, if un- der the name of Reformation the Clerpy havcinfufed the tray*erous, blood-thir- fty fpiritof pcriecudon inro it. J. Unmam My Lord, there" wSTnever any Nati- onal! or prcvinciall Synod but ftrengthncd the hand of perfection, and that endec the vizor of Religion, J. Reafon t As foon as thefe underling Divines are from tin* dcr their Eptfcopall Tdikmafierty and beginning to encroach upon your Lordfhips power, they prcfentiy rake this notorious, bloody traytor perfeftttnA , ftript by yourLordnYip of fait Htgb.comimjfion habit* and est of their zeale dreflc him in a. divine Pynodicx'i.'Garbe y snd change name from perfection, and ehriftcn him Preformation, Co to engage your Lord fhip and the Kingdome of £«f/,W and 'Scotland in blood, to fettle and eftiblifli bloody ferfeemtf* BY COVENANT, over the Consciences of honcft and faith f»ll men to the State, under the fpecious atdl godly pretence of Rcformtticn : page 39. By the late SOLEMNE LEAGVE and CO VENI AS* I\ good Lord deliver us. Ti.e far-'fcl Decretal runnes in the fame ftraine : pagen. rp. When we had inJ trodne'd the i irf the holy League,nc (o joyned thefr hands in the Syrodian bands of Presbytery .that their Leaguecould nnt be invioJitfctheif COVENANT (the bed of their contra &) undefiled if onr presbiiry were ret concluded. Martjn , wili ceil the; people, that we contrive Oaths and COVENANTS meerly to en- fnarc and catch the people in our wiles j make rhem earry a free of Reformation according 10 the Word of God, and thereby betray their innocent fubfeription to qit presbvterianconftru^ion. n L ./bourne in the unUcenfcd printed Reafons »f ' fending* bit Letter ; 015:4. compl.v. Na*.&*xA - % *** W-<****. cotmltiactagainft <* ^°, VEN ^ N \ W T ft T rufl} Jefmnh tender t » *efe were n*»(Ht do*b: } ,>U : * m NemraU m d *<* - ' " - : */7 #IW **F*ti»*'i t m f>' om °fc *$'*ftr»jt,*d!*tik$)ments : > _ Y t moftbf our lccurici and Tr. jcpcn knti (tn nwmcatidn of Ac r^WtarjJ bavecntred imbi4*i-"w & thii-SOLEMNE COVENANT* in tbek private Congregation!, r* ir^wJ and maintain* their amnt Indefi [evern- mem even ublwd to. whatever forme of" gofcnKncnt ; b!i&; ?hc rerj extremity and height of ndftriitioft, i* «* ©f profeftd . atbnttoviliifie trainee ^ c is SOLEMN GOVEN AN ad mtbtrhave mtheArnryw a»ct)mll prefoH^ lh«r •CffChircfe- COVv foyie, a* r,o^ they do* . tew and th* Sacrajnents, iridic are will 66- mic usto chcru. Seaion IV. t feditii§uS^1iMleuS^raili^g ajidtUtfhe* tnous inVtSivu agaiafl the Ajfemtly tf Divines ^ the fttfryterian Members §fit 9 And their proceedings, though fummened, nominal e.' y continued and directed in all things by Ordinances of both Houfes of Parliament, B Store this Afiembly met fey Order of bothHoafes, or ha-j gnren Smlnnucn vhat kind of Ecclefialikall Government they intended to fix upon, our Inde- pendent fc&ariei not only petitioned Tor inch an ArTcmbly to be called, bet made mc*nes that as many of their party as poifible might be cle&e-i Membcrapf it. Bar t?Hcn at lafttheydifcerncd the Aflembly and Parliament ro dif-afceft their a JOtrolons, afeihrd Independent waj t i% having no foondation in Dtvtntty nor Poli- cy., and tending to niter eonfoiion in Church, State ; and thereupon to incline to a PretVireriall government , embraced by ail rearmed Chorches in tht Chril I world ; inon this they prefentiy begin to declaims a&ainft [he A(Tt«nbly and their proceedings In private, an \ toon after to KbeH againft them in pdblike mtb I BDciviUiapprobricus, Billingsgate* ermci, as (I ameonfi dent) no Ox m ford a* ' :tyric*:i ' 3 paraleH>their very tqognesand p<*fs, beint denh/efe (r)fet tn fire officii : KM no: contented her? < cy lately r COmpirt x ro exhibit i petition ro the Parliament, for frefent a. the A f;*ih and fending th m benee to country cures (to prevent the fating of znj Chnrdj wvernment , ) co nrhifch end. they met at die Windmil Faveroe, whtre Lie i J fate in e and M - feggfftcd the advice, ivhiefa rem accords inferred into the Petition ; bat the Qomoen cexnfeli-mui (unc . the 3e- D i *ej j 3 Afr&> dtfc&r#ry afProdigiems ?} sfhcn the Petition cainc te their hands,moi* difercedy left ca: that reqseft, t* tcditioas andiaijn'l; which yet the libellous Anchor of Martini Ecch^ page i y. bath (iace in wKb renewed is thefe fcandalo&s ter rcu-s. < y oa [, r v i jj 3 nC ere a* you can made a third party, in labouring by your Jefei- r tic*Nituch bbtttty* to divide the Parliament, contrary to the traft repo* ! ie godly party, who have afilfted them with their e&jtes and ■ • . e their firichrell friends of their juft defervings, their par- * chafed " - ^!d they doe, they would be branded it infamous to ithfalLuBgtatefulL&c. at mtLerafhero, I hope better of the rri iavi lion Ajfemkij/ mr* b&t taken frcm tle» andfent to the* j fort they have libelled agsinft them, hath partly appeared in other So C yan a more parricnlar recount thereof in this. h that Kioft inf&anoni. (editions, railing Libell, iwitnlcd > Tht ptrfeCHtien, the whole feope whereof ag jl is thus bOi ie ?cry Title page. The £r lent of 1; ;ati* leHonfeofG . : .' the profecutioh wl t%oi his Defendanti, ' l)B^A -ted -\bvrcv onngSpai thi <>J • > - tedby i$! ' ^n- 'fcly ofD^viseMbr !Barrod^tc^)15at s ^**p: tefi and freTto be fold at his fhopiii 1 Tokr&ioa- focct, at the (igae of the fab ..c^s liberty, right o; pofice to Perfeeatt- < on court \6*<%. Tht i indj^lffleDedicatorytOthe Affembly before it. are altaL ■^qfjudiftfa f »hole book, againitihcA sndics Members \ I ■!if£ ef crocking, f t f.A reverend •vuh a iophfitieai] b:eec-;c*. faving your pre fence i* i frisking Presblteri, Synodi'an Cormorant - - S/W, called tht Afcmblj cfDi- cchesbiood tbirfty Cartle-, this great r^evbellicd idoll \ *i,Arcb-Jduiucall traytorsjthe Jefniticall end trai- ;i legibly Podocij Confiftory of devils, t&i . eft, Independent Epithitc* which this libei- Seeneithu ianibk(pneait«ifpefehesaga\Bft d end bis charity wiflveth to them , did b) tht hr.y Ghtfhfent iah)tbtk9ljGh*fhfemin*ctfa-bAggrfrpm$eQ£- OMMctlUfTtaxti Beaafe the Affembly haw 3 uisnriiaw^forthePjrcAiperatogoeonfoot: j»j >;0tt)i*tb*U f - • iat£hi«&lSoqr> whofe name Sir S^»6»mh .: bad (facftReJc » rash iter as £«<*** -Mwtf'j Clergy, their itfornauoa, mw!c , c ia fin snifac n ot» JnJ^Oh infaff*raSie Atembly! I ftt/fcu tegaom foe a (fate jo pia cbcii fefeb ipc^AtfltartoftheC^ijr^ _ . . J.Redfif/. FttiUiCr mjL*rd % whereas orben are i»pOTCn<> ieftatet,et^eafidtooicilKK!^^ rati* ^cedbyu,^^^'^^^^ 81 ^^ 110 - 1 .'«WlrtfiMtIi«§fccdygut* roofothy i «»3bcarrkdtoi^4r tailed the Af'***lf *f divin$s n i»notaQurned in this < t!«wofHrc.ncceiiity, to gallop and devoortrorc at ens meale, then wcali »kc j fcaft fot £W ^ w Dr^ff w : for bs£dcs ill their /V ft fbffooth tm? «beft trade to England; z\\ i tree; pooreiaeotfiatbiYet* « bread to ftill the cry of tl ;; ; * cither pay and goc in per fen to the ' nc . • gwehewfeives^bat^r^^r^^rv^^:^/, keiiatafe •ofconxicree to give ill, bat wife rn^n they're ^iy-o : -one :I •andms : that have loft their limbs and begge m fttct ij • let nomen that have loft heir Hmbands, let parent? that haK loft reu, « let children that have loft their parent*, and Jet all that have or. ha c &nri band for thepoblikeCaufeconlider this, and be n «aad Jaded by Clergy tmftero ; totaeWcthedeviilhis :o their • commendation* 1 have obferved, that they are fo z.ea)onfyflj&^ed ?mh the • ■ ftosr of their Cloth, tblt ' ry to difrobe tbcrh c c bc!edtaatfrirgnom^?#«/«/' r to Algats '^Br •"-■«• ' *#<£?/ tbey ire at D 3 their 2 o etors, it may chance' to ebaftife them into their wit-i againe* and i hen opon thrir lecsad ihtwghti, it may o- be, chey'lc bethink thcnflfelTO to pot a bU* bonnet wpfaft, asd then zc will paiTc ti rrs what go. from England tC Scotlend> l£&$coiU>id to England tgilBC without qocftioB Ot \ , console. Pagv 93. Gooi my Lord have mrrcy npon inr ; I befeech yoar horoar even for - the Qlefgy f*k$ hive mercy Bpoa not; confidcr my Lord, that ia my death is their p.culd tok. relae, it wi 1 »c the grcitcft inroad npon the Divtacs of ChrirtcBdomc a that ever was made : Oh ! / befteeb y*H my Lori, by the Myft*~y of ;. heir h&'y Qonvo'auon, hj thzir agony and bi.tdyfae.-t, by their crojf* and pijfiv/i, at my jh^votefoili affriachtng it alb and \ burial Good Lord deliver mc By tbetrglot # w refnrre&ton and ajfintion frem the fnlpH ia%v* the State • by the csmmirg of the holy Gboft to them t» a cloak? bag from Scotiandj G-:njd L ri deliver mc. By the late fbJeniwc Eeagttt and Covenant ; by the 40% snd >o= 1. fer the Copy of their Dire^oiy, bectfiJc they coald get no more, by ail the fat Benefices *nd goodly revenue* or the Glirgy . Good Lord deliver me. Page 43, 44. It i§ che f< ncc ice 0*1 his Ooarr concerning Sir $*«?#* and Sir Ubn pr//^;ffr, who have thnsJef»kieailyc«leavoitrcd to pervert the Tttftci o: tint Co«rt,TliK Sir Simsnbccotnmvaidelafe yrtfotm ia KutgHcmf ws etgfas ebafr Saimxaftht mtjt hgbjxhtttvritbtattobtarrmgaod with the reft or his holy *T'ribc whether tniperfaf, nail ■ • icUlar.ctufiftortalco^ftltarSyaoibi lihariiieverbcfcrchM Highntftti* Ki I ^%,*ftti%*M \ mdroy j o: i u toketphliH.l ift&taa&ioo, J befcech pom Ho now 2 fallrefolnrioairjothelcenfmngQiieriea, u Whether ic j tct to I he fbfp&J /'*<"7 ftUl to b 1 Epifi* fti t gitcn Wtt CO Vufbytatym crsefy} W betiaer Saint P«rrrj r^4j'r/ d ccome a ?reshyter> at well at a Mi[hoi > Sec. DOme.thtrt t/i befaft bound Ifitb • Jjt '„; ,:, • if .-.:'«i,tmi.lthcanpeari«^o^thar great and terribiejn 1 cakctbc€tiif«,wiASir&tmotia Sir Sietwd i ife ?:opr*t arc, tnce to be tfrmc:. N fih>fV0fodrt?!f-l4*fipg-8tAf$) 4MQ Fi>t-br*hck Here is the fadependemj iissoropanbiccnaricy to tha Af}embly } I r j -•;:;/•; ^W *£*;>- Adherents, to adjudge thcna thus to etcmall tornocssts in ijtk* fiery L*ike£ fai theirA/Vw- £jg£fj originally fprnngap tlTnccnidxntmorcc-ari^jobntry . aadaubte -;:ly be extingmfhid m this^r; region which they allot to dthmrtnt of chc Invcdivrs againftthe Afputb/y and Presbytery in this , < / . , w/wf,I dud! paffe b> in iileoec and proceed co feme xreQiel fcarrilitei ofcha kind. I find mother cnoft fettrrlow Lifel! igiinftthe Aflembly and their proceeding* thai intiwled ; A facrcd Dccrctall, op Hue aniC,ryjr»u$bi$ (upcrlativx Hofintffe Sir Simon Synod, |* r the dpprebenfien *f reverend pung qpartin 9a:<$;tefj ; ' irfaertintredilblfyed *uny witty fynodsaucencetts, both pleafiffi and commo- dtoni ; printed by Martin folate- Clergy, printer to r tnd Affemb/v ofDi* *vines % ibr Barthelme* Bang Prieft, ind arc ro be fold t: his fhnp in Teleraiien. ftrett) it tbeiigncof the JkbjeUi [Liberty right OppO&C to Perfe cut ion. Court: and ic conclodes thttij Given at crarCtisr/ ofi.qwf.ioK in KingRcnrj thefiventbi CJja?pil]mc6> \6tf* v?u l; am i wt fe, p relocate r , Cornelius Surges Mlcflbr. VJHyfield) "**r UhnfVbitiy Mftflbr. /*>«. *»*»r**g£ J bnDC? * This Libel! bi uig» in the ^/**#?,blafpheman(ly ibnfing the facred Scriprure Ntmes of Gad (as £/, £&rtw, /*/?, r&W, Ado***-, &C>} it? SynodtcaU Convocation, eUjfi .a&and PresbiteriaA Exorafmes: & pag.^.Gives the Aifttubly and Presbyters thefe nrsoft icarn'ore, railing BpithjtCJ ; chfficatl Sorc-ptgges. divide, whire.faced Bvtt- calves ; fresbytertan Tnrkej.c*ckj, bidding them advance their learned Covroisfo, &c. Cbwrcb-weUsy Jack: Javes, blwdBats, Presbyterian tVcod-csckjs, Vralrpsr'ui* Hangmen, iruei executioners \ terrible tormenttrsifynodtanCaxibahy tbe rave tout tribe punched mm?r cm head*d Hydra of Divines : The holy ravenous Order of Sjon Jefut. , * I ■' lute Jefvttes, tmely a Utile werfe : It begins thfcs, J?age I. We the Parliament tf Div>ntf oc»^ ArRmbly in holy Cenvocatron at WeTtmm- fe* 9 ukpg imo our grtve kartscdand ptooteonlideractooj all cht goodly fat Be tsefijr* of the King dome, the fltvereod eftitaadoOj honooc and ftprenucy dec cc- to the Clergy, znd out of a godly otrc and pious proviicocc as besomtneth Dl- VflKt, for oar owae gotti having nfed all fubtiky asd policy we in oar divine wif- doraacs cottld devi &t ro f4ke a goodly eoffeflion ot the dearly beloved glorioas in. htrtttnee ofoor Fathcri the late Lord BiJhopJ... their divine fop?-wac*»thcir i^ecx, tbexr frholfo-^se aod *>«ui/Ving revenaei.. their dearc, delicite, tooch&tte tytheii v*r} Cn^sxniXmM «»J pjeaitt roa divine piJUfe : After ttbieh tc ealsthcm Tbe pniffart A fern blj pf r >ivmes( Lords Varjimeunz ever CJmrch and State) tn ^arlttu went Afemklciat Wt&mm9ttyd*+tu* Mcrcbants&x. Avers p. sg. Tnat the Or- der. JeCutts tm be o >vn cDl ^cxpt?t to thcOrder of presbyters tor equtvecatfm,mend tM&rtfervmioni d m 9fpatke*>C9ve***tts£cc*CbargCth theAlfaftbly,p.c». For dealm* trafpi ly witb the parliament a?d cheating tbe State, Adding this tuoft fca&da. cmt, Bed ■ * e < trea • gas or y ro the Parliaitienu Irir.our . As the way -. : upon a rock^ie unknowable ft have o»r circawventums,*** ' contrtvavws beeue ever tnvikbU t mfen/i&Ie te rhcuMi ana ft * aiua!ly>- have inttfd them with tbs batt of Religion* aid caught them wit : a fyuoAaa hooke ; ^' Md 9 m tic League aad Qoverumt* *b* D 3 Caujk jffrtfb difefv&y tfPndfjritus Ca*fc *f G*d, dtid the lik$y t$the Untgdem** And & length yh--- . > ■ rafftd the and Pariu-' bat the Aifcmbly of Divines in the Mjjferf, as QpZXtin mfcly hinted in his t\. ■* nc « ccaic before thebook* of the Arraignment « for we arc become the nbole di« re&iveand cnereive poorer both in Chnrth and Sute, a fxpremacj dae cmo ej, as well as io the Paps ; and thocgh ??c gin them (as men doe babies to children) cbccirle©i*m3kiiigMK5pad|iflgcf Lams*, to p'ctfe them, yet svirh fechd ftioBJ and limitations (to {peak this under the Rofc) tbic we iarct^ i& onr fc 1 y e^ tbat which we give nt&o them, e?es si oar Brethren of the fcciety of /#/* dee concerning hii HeUneffe the Pa/t, in the infallibility anji temporal! power: dtis honour and privilcdge was of diving right given, and anciently enjoyed by car reverend Fathers the Bifbops • feed why Inoald not we bs heires onto i r . b^ r legitimate lineall defcem ? AH Lawes, Statutes aadOt con- cerning Church a&d Sure, were Decreed* Ordi hytbel ** and for As alt other wicked men* lb tbefefeditioits Libellers grow woffeand worfej their aext moft fedittdni Libel! ag&inrt rheAflcmbly and Parliament! proceedires being intltnltd* Mart in r Etche, or <* Rtrngnftr* *Jfe reverend y*ng ©hit iil fym^lidU rtiffinfory te the fat fared fyntditeil D* retat* tx A ll humility prsfented t§ the reverend, fttus andgrxve tin/*. f the rifht rext* rend Ftthtr im G§d t the HmverftllRtfof efePff fifths fit* fufirlttive Hehaeffe Str (OH. WhwtlthiiHoIifieffiercve oong t^srtin.^Mr^iiett - Isto his agaiwt tnc poor bairns or me tnoit nign tncir mormnate.intetisDle cave ton&efle after the3 fat things of the Land) their nnjarailcrd bypocri(te> their pla»- ttblejsrctencei.tliekiUeomprehenrible policy, craft and tobtiicy ^ their erasing infenfible encroachments npon the! priviiedge* erf Parliament, tnc jnft liberties of tad tVeedome of ihc people ; their inchanting delnfions where with they bewitch both Parliament and multitude, the ctnell thraldomc, iahomtne (livery , infnffe- rabie bondage they wonld reforms ns and out Children unto from generation to >rs; their powetfell endeavours to make the Parliament betray their truft, ktheirOithes,p«!ldowneol4Conrrsof tyranny and oppreffion, to fct mp 5 free ai from EpifeoptU p?rfecmion,to devoor m with p^sbyteriftn ctit^y ; convey t :: pontifical Bfiarpajiaa o? theCie rgy, ^ KX iftz t - - {wtv'iibftt*lt*& th$ expense ofenr eftjtet rmne &t &&-??&& itw-U *''??- $:+'!* *nd FfTi~irt o » o #f a*r ftMihes, efifnA c " <-*r ,v/ • f* th*m) may live la th mthoBtrfithiufdofimpti " .^'* : - except *chs presbiteriao : : > - hex thii gi ot high coocermncnc, re- _iy as« ioiainiy . .oacoV fiaccrity to Godi u&Barari L ioi si^ohiidiftrcffcd Country, » ifillUigly became Gcxvaac to yonr I c ftolmcfic ■ 10 etft ye a tbis yoa: toyi&nt cimeof C meal fbpremacy & as mash es io bun lyettvo ricdicate the prinlec: m^sc, oar birt! • ighes tad native frszoowc 'ion your c. may have the more cime cc • p* 5 exceed y oar pafieha crtm yofcr belli* s, kqnuKitiiagainftfci fog* in hitTrcaiifc; I hope yen jriildcalebe* - * ■ lelifuhm ih : Btfrj might have cooiide- fct^ . ojt. jrhom formerly yon received the holy G Wii ind itcrt fjtft p«c into a a- or' Lordfn£ U, uyoqaotfd tbc people; wbom, iikcpcgracioav ftaading their gr?ce a . : x bbmtaoca aipongft yoa. [O &?/»* &£. . t.'Yv:. ;e yoqrs) might appears immaculate and aod demonftmci teallper- f*ns E-r;.':'?a~ vr difttngUifbed, whether A r ? anU'jj *" infetiexr f nfle-feU ?rt sifters ; ThithisKoli- 7 o&rcrsch plenary psrdos&ad • to that traucroaj, blood thirfty M«a- cater Sir 5«w» Syn$ifQt h:$ foifle ia^r jom^urtherew dtbmes, tenfnltAtioni and **«- icbloodi reverend yex;<£ tit* aaJ delnrec bina 25 a fr/? to »* h#retrs» f*j*g* aod vcsocao-Hs tearifk ~s of bit (bsac JjuIl'-j asd hit bloody era--! f£r - . ir f##£ 0*4 10 tJ&^rr m*Mt?>- t l Lfffttel 'the fiud (avagci>arbaf6o Pfol, 0* Cani: *f hnmduitien after die pabUm's^heresF, rrrrrp** ' . . } cook ioii&to reft* rraf ; elfecohiiH ichii/4*#*4ryia7*-i /*r* "•■ ve-oprefan *ai fj tyr&n*j . tnd (here b*t»b ci )o:eflciriiefil!,ackao* bafiicne j lit* fociaWy aadqsiietlyamongilhu] •.Siurei: E nfeitmee, &ffcrbi$v< be ;'-,3:'xr. 03' a/id pa«"cj b/ as -' xcr be ®xy 2 4 Jiffifh difcoverj ofPredigious itt up all the goodly fat Benefices in (he Kin^dome to fiapply t he rec^ jfi< fcs of the State, pay their «4(rrr ,tr fc^rden not yotsr heart iai in the dayes of the Bi- fcops. left the fierce math of the Lord* even foda«ne derho&ion fall crpon yoa as it ;T>n them; for be ailared, ifVcift and ttarrbll dettrnftion and rninc docs act end yoa : *ad ihcLerd will avenge hisqoarrcll styonr hands and at it is done enro yonr , . trs the Tftflhepf, fo mail it fa dene tint 9 you : snd if your rihng ambition be not ' cly reptl'd JOW ftfejretgn and fall vyill be terrible to thcKingdomiyou may d«- l.vdc the ptOflC a ff hi!e,bot the time l^eneth that the(x)*to?!e red cal yon to mas- tjlts t*$rd grant it be aor,.« /fear(/)$5p t%Z&tyO%bHt adcies f . 5.6. Wdl Sir Simon, if you will doc mend your ranncn> Martin will cbferve si 1 5 oor r3oflnr«, . at bee'I not only faji npoi> your bones himfelk*, hut heel fee bis.ee her, (~ knJloihcr Sta£x&#>hbeatechxftie; eti RotlmdRav- of$ ; r/« kjfr, y?4 hecl'e jeereyo«oBK :;ke yoaa&imedofKirg fiT^rythefetcBtb'tChtp- -vork «Fich yoot hmdit ot ro b^ content with the gcodvtdl of id then ic will be too late to compooud with reverend M AR- Lt; Til itbrioj tftcrdbre: c^iiii-u.i with yesr ftl before Nevp'W&ndring- Hazing- Stars and Fire-brands. 2 < before the mighty nAQs of the houfe of Martin be come forth againft you ; we do not intend to dally with you, wec'l handle you with Mittins, thwack yourCaf- focks, rattle your Jackets, (lamp upon the panch ofyour villany,and fqueze out the filth and garbidge of your iniquity, till you ftink in the noftrils of the com- mon people; yea, wee'l beat you and your fonne Jack, guts and all, into a Moufc-hole. There's noone of MARTINS Tribe, buc jsa man of Mettali, and hates a Tithe-devouring perfecuting Prieft, as he hates the Devill , fcornes their bribes, and bids defiance to their Malice. Thefe are to advife you, Sir Simon turne ye to MARTIN in Tolleration-ftreet, yeftifFe necked generation of Priefts, left the fierce wrath and foredifpleafure of xnighty MARTIN fall upon you, confound you and your whole , Sir Johns ge- neration, Root and Branch; hearken ye rebellious Affembly unto MARTIN, perfrcute no more,take no more Tithes,be content With the goodwill of the Vulgar. Whether thefe molt feditious menacing paflages and railing Libels againft the Affembly, Presbyter}', and all Ecckfiafticall Parliamentary proceedings, be not publifhed in print by feditious Seeftarics to ftirre up the people to mutinic againft the Parliament, Affembly, Ministry, to fire us into new Civillwarres and commotions among our fdvis, and that by the underhand plots of fomejefuiticallfpirirs, and Malignant Royallifts, I Hull humbly fubmittothe faddett thoughts of our fupreame Councell, which is beft able to judge of them, and moft able to prevent the eminent dangers which they doe portend. I -fhall clofe this Section with a new printed Libell, intituled , The Nativity efSir Iohn Prefbyter ; Dedicated , To the Right WorfbipfuU the : tASS : of Di- viner, ajfembled at fVeflminfier ; with a moft rayling libellous Epiftle j to whicb thele Verfes in d.f ifion ti it are fubjoyned. Reverend Affembly up, arife y and jogge, For you have fairly fifyt and caught a Frog. NoW have yon fet tWo years , fray can yon tell *s4 man the Way that (fhrijf wevt downe to Hell f In theft tWo years what can a Wife man thinly That ye have done, ought el/e but eat and drinkj Presbyterie (climb* d up to the top of fame) Directory and all from Scotland came ; O monftrous idlenejfe ! alach^ and Welly, Our learned Rabbies minde nought but their belly. Se&ion V. Containing libellous , fcurrilous , prophane, and unchristian parages againfi the Directory, eftablifhcdby Ordinance of Parliament. YOU hav, 1 met with lome of thefe Inveftivcs already in th^ preceding Sections, which I (hall not repeat; but only ad det wo or three paffiges more ot this na- ture, full of Atheih'call and blafphemous fcurriuVy. The Arai'nwent of lerfecutUn, p. 44 difir«T, TMr his Holineffe Sir Simon Sjnod my Sjnodecate afullrefolution to thefe enfuing g^crcs. E Wetter 2 i J* fr*{h D ifcvvtry of P rtdigitm Whether it would not have been more profitable for thekingdome of EntlivU to have forthwith hired a Coach and twelve Horfes , to have fet a li'sre&ory from Scotland \ then to have fpent the learned confutations, piom debates , zndfacred conclufions of faeh an holy, {uch a reverend, fuch a heavenly, &ch a godly , fuch a learned, fuch a piom t fuch a grave, fuch a wife, fuch a/#/*V, Juchak/Wr, fuch a Spirit /tall § fuch an Evangelic all, fuch an infallible, fuch a venerable fuch A fuper-celeHioll Queer of Angels, (uchlfuparlative A ffembly of D nines ; for ai- moft thefe two yeares fpace, after the ppofufeand vail expence of above forty ihoufond pounds , befides their goodly fat Benefices, upon their devouring G***s for an Snglifb DIRECT O II Y of worfiup, equivalent to the Scotch DI- RECTORY? ^ Whether this DireShry (landing in fo many thoalands to fumble it together , and the Copy fold at 40© and 5* L be not of more value then the writings of the Prophets and Apoftlas ? Theficred Synodicall Decretall or Hue and Cry, afeththelikeDialcft,/).^ BchfecuUfecukrum, is authenticjustheD/r^r^&c. We had better have fet two years longer in our mofi holy Confutations, and made our forty thoufaad four hundred pound D ircBory, a V/reftorj of fourfcore thoifand eight hundred |>oundv*lue« Pag. $. Martin v r * ,J tc& the Country, That we fanclific onrncwDIREC* TORT Qosjell, but to the temper of the City 1 Tell the City, That the fo*»try people k#ow not what to do with it , except to ft of their Mottles , ■nlcfle we iptnd the State the other odde trifle of 4000* pounds, to divideit into Chapters and W ttics {the Lordput it into their hearts 1) and that csthc truth is, itsfm&ftyis fcnly grounded upon the Divine Ordinance for Tithes, (fo«e wifcr then foui«i for no longer Penny, no longer Pater»nofter* I will defile no more Paper with fkch horrid blafphemie* ; only addo , That Martins Ecco, p. 1 a. makes the Parliaments endeavouring to eftabiifh the Dire* iiory the caufe ol theloffe of Leicefter, in thefe words ? And now the "Parliament being bttfted to fortifie yowr Directory, &c in the mean time Leicefter ie taken* thonfands are put to thefword, &c t Which is fttfficiently anfwered, by Sir Tho* cats Fairfax routing the Kings whole *Army and re-taking Leicefter, ercn whiloc the Parliament was mot bul* in fortifying the Directory. Bat I procted to aa^ ther Section. Se&ion V.'L Containing their Ubeltot* , fcandalom, fedhion* parages, again ft our brethren of Scotland, to rtifc divifione between ns and them , contrary to the AOt ofPtcifi* i/.pi**, and the late folemne League and Covenant, IWTAny are their intolerable libellous In¥c&ives of this kinde. I (hall tranfcritfc - LV1 b« few. I Hen. Robinfon m his Anfwer to M. Tynnes 1 2 C^ueftions, made the fi ft artank apou our Brethren, in this Language. And w^at, tluuk wc ma4c war Brethren the Scots Nt&wandring-Mafing-StarS) And Firebrands. %j Scots fo fiicceffeleffe here in England , whileft the warres art now beginning to kindle in their own Countrey, if it were not that they joyne with this Nation, or nther provoke them to eftablifh their fo much iftolized Presbyteriall difciplinc of perfecutions ? when they themfelves thought they had >uft caufe to be highly offended with the fame (their own) pcrfecuting fpirit in Epifcopacy. When the Lord recjuired the Israelites to appear before him at J erufalcm thrice a yeare, he promi&d,that no man fhould invade their habitations in their abfence^ £*W,$4.2g $ 24, which gracious providefice of his, no doubt continues ft ill protecting all fuch as ire imployed cy his command : bnt unlerTc our Brethren of Scotland bethink thcmfrlves in time , and confider, that even as the perfecting Bifliops of England attempting to irapofe their government in 5^//^Wgaveoccaiion to begin the warres in England : fo if the pcrfecuting Presbyters of Scotland continue to ad- vance and get fet «p the Scotch government in E»gland y it may likely bring all the three Kingdomcs to make the lest of warrc La Scotland : I would be loath to prophefic upon this occtii«n; but do much fear , that in how bad condition fo- ever both England and Ireland are at the prefent , if tliQ warres laft but little lon- ger Scotland' will yet be farre worfe. (Sod of his infinite mercy open the eyes of aU three Kiflgdomes in this their hetvie vi(itation,reconciling himfelfe unto thern all, and them to one another, for his deir Sonne Chrift lefus fake. Tfce tArmgnment of Perfection by way of jeaxand fcorne, p.3,8,9. 19,39,42. fatyricaUy inveighes agaiaft and derides Scoth government^ ranking it with Sa» tan, Antichrifi, the Sfanifi lnquifition % C ounce 11 of Trent, High Qommiffion, See. bringi in Liberty of confeiene, thus complaining. My Lord, Sir Simon Synod a like to pull cut my throaty with the ravinous clawes of an AJfembly ; and Majler Scotch Government yraefit to Hab mo with his Scoth Dagger : Iemmyput up thy D agger \ AvetTCS, The Synod 'it guided by the Holy Cjhoftfent in a Clekt-bagfiom Scotland, m of old from Rome to the CounceH of Trent, Oft mentions by way of fcorn aad jccvcThe advancing of the mickle Army into the South 5 addes,^** may eafily perceive hoVe they Would finch your Lordjhifs nofe with a pair e of SCOT C& SPECTACLES, that your Lordlhip might fee nothing but BLEfVfAPS', he hathplaiftredup the Crinkles of hu face with SCOT CHMORTER> &C. The Sacred Synodic all Decretal! ', p Jf, tels US, &c. of a Ble^'Capreformation y %ivi then Bletvcaffor uc,p.J t Ofthe ay-bhjfed Divines of Scotlandyp.l6.Of laying Rods in pi(fefor (Srumwtl; let him take heed of a Scotch" : another courfe mufl be taken with Hereticks , elfe oar Brethren cannot further engage ; God fpecd them Well ' home again?, and let all the people in the kingdome fay, *sfmcn, p. 1 8. Of their run- ning away at Mafion-More. p< 20. Of an Angel in the Mount, upon whom our reverend Aflfembly of crave and learned Divines do daily wait, which Mount is Duzee-Hill ('which by tranfhtioa out of the Original!,) by the Divines of Scot- iand fwhofe coamrey^man this Angel isj is engliihed Mount Slon : with other fuch like ftufre. And Martins Eccho,p.2. Our Scottifh Brethren advanced lately as far into ths South, as from declaimes thus againft Presbyterian govern^ Churches , ment,/>. 21. Both Papall and Epifcopall government is better then c Pre[byterian % where the Mi- f or they are^ and have been more uniforme y and have continued many hundred years n-ftcr i'i truth i on g €r t £, er j p r efbyterian y andWere long before Prcjbytcry Was thought on : For alas, rules^lUhe ** %VXi ^ nt a $ ft at a f inc ^ f ^ e Devill made , when neither of the other Would Jerve reft at his hie tnrne , andfo came up Prejbyterie ; but What good the Devill Will have of it I plcaiurc ? knoWnot : for Who l*noWes the luck of a loWfie Cur, he may prove a good Dog. will admit ^ fhe Sacred Synodic all Decrctall inveighes thus againft Presbyterian govern- ofhis^ h0 C ff? en ^P«H- Martin will put the Parliament and people in minde of their Prote- fattiou Vn ^ l< ion, and tell them , that by the fame rule they pp. lldoWnt the Bifbe-pt, they are hundtoputdownethe Prcjbyters,&c. For id Atart ins AftrologicaU judgement, all the Plague t of Eiypt Were but a Flea-biting to What one Presbyterian Church Wiif be f vinci (i poivint regales Cf-ftibus enies; we having mortified Spifcopall lh r ies y and poffft his Club. p. 1Q. Indeed the Pope \S as truly £hrij}ian $ and bis fnnBion \s equally Jure Viv triors our Prr[byterie t con\tj\d from his Holinejf'^ b\ pm I - hers the lace Lord Bifhops upon us. TV: u ilicenfed Nativi$y of Presbyter f, hid to be Itcenfed by RoWUn&fyattlt* QVl^a ten ibic Imp imarur : v- 1 itcs p. > . 7 hat the Devill made the Vrchin Sir Jofc - a b]cfl y a Fugitive, neWly come out of Scotland, a Witch, a Rogue i y d lighting in blackju hU rather the Devill* fitter to bi 4 ' ..'-.' ine: only the Evill Spirit of Mercury , p) ejented hi™ to bt h d. S^diOif. n e» tvandring blading Start and Ftrt-lrandt. t p Se&ion VIII. Comeimng fundrj Libellous > Sehifmaticall, uncharitable^ and uuchriflia* faff Ages ag&intt the Church of England, her Wtrjhip and Mini flers in general!. IOhn LUburne in his Anfwer to nine Arguments, Printed without Licenfe, Lon- don, io*4). with his pidure cut before it ; Writes thus of the Church of Eng- land, pag 4. The Church of England is a true whorifh mother, and you are one of heibafe-be^otten^nd'B.ifts.rdly children, for you know a tvhore\s a woman as truly as a true wife, and fhe nuy have children as proportionable, as the chil- dren of a true wife ; yet this do:h not prove her children which are baje-begot- ten mc true- begotten children bccuife they have all the parts, and limbes of chil- dren, that are begotten in a true married tftate and condition ; even fo fay I, the Church of England neither is, nor never was, truly married, joyne^, or united to Jefus Chrifi, m that efpoufail band, which his true Churches are, and ought to be, but is one of Antichresis Nationall whorifh Churches, or Cities fpoken of s\v.\6.\g. Vnited, joyned, knit to the ?.? of Lambeth; as Head and Husband thereof; being fubftuuee to the Tope of Rons*, from whom he hath received his Arch-£pi, r ccp *U power, and Authority. Ta T . 1 8. Your Church is falfe, and %Antk hrifiian : Therefore if every Parijhin England had potter in them [elves (tthich in the leafl they have not) to shoofe and m*k? thir o\\'-tt Officers, yet for all this they ttould be falfe, fir a falfe and zAnti- chriftian Clurchas yours it, can never make true Officers *WMinifters of lefus Chrift, and though that the Churches of the Separation, Want tsfpoftlcs in per- fonall pre fence to lay hands upon their Officers tt hie h lawfully they choofe out from amorgthemp Ives, yet have they their Latts, Rules, andDireftions in ttriting,tthick is their Office, and Is of as great Authority as their per fonall prefencc. Pag.io. And thus have I fufficiently by the Authority of the Sacred Word of God proved all your Olticers, and Miniilers falfe and Antichriftian, and none of Chrilts, which if you can groundtdly contradict, fhew your bed skill chalengc I you, and put you to prop, to hold up your tottering and fandy Church and Mi- tiiftry, or tlfe your great brags will prove no better then winde and Fables, and yon your felf found to be a Liar. Pag. 22. And as for thefe two thing*, Of Converfion, and confirmation ,or buil- ding up in the ttayes of God, which you fpeak of, if you mean by converfion, and §pening of the eyes, to turn them from darkneffe to light, and from the potter of Sa- tan unto Qod ; or if you mean by converfion, a deliverance from the potter of darks neffe, and a tranflttion into the Kingdom of the Son of God, both of which the Apo files Miniftry did accomplifb in the hearts and lives of Gods people, Act". 20*. I £. Coll. 1.1 3. I abfolutely deny ir, that your Minifiery in England doth this : And therefore I defire you to declare, what you mean by (fonverfon, and prove your definition by the holy Scripture, and alfo prove that you in England are fo conver- r^which when you have done I (hall further anfwer you by Gods ailiftance,and iifotxhtii building $hm up in the ttayes of God, as all true Shepherds ought to F build Not! 3 o A frejh D ifc Secondly, when they gather any Independent Congregation, their pradife is* for their Minifters folemnly to renounce and abjure their former Ordination it} and the people their Prifiine Communion with the Church of England, and a!! Congregations elfe, whereof they have been Members, and then to new-mould themfelves into an Independent Church; which pradife they have lately begun in the Plant? r edthem a Papifts or a Iefuits, thm Majfcr Pryr.nesj undVrth- ,ut doubt, the Pope When be fees them, Will CANONIZE YOU F O 11 A SAINT, in throwing doWn bit enemy Cbrifi. Certainly no Book ot mine, cither in the Front or Bulke, carries the fcaft badge of a Prieft or Jtfuic in it; and fo far am 1 from dementing any thing trom the Pope, or to be Canonized by himforaSaint; that 1 can without vanity or often'tation affirme before ail the world, that 1 have done mere diiTervice to PrieiV, Iefuits and the Pope: made more difcoverics of their Plots, and written more againft them and Popety, then all the whole generation of Sectaries and Independents put together; and I challenge all their Seels to equalize, or come near, what 1 ruve really perfor- med in this patticularjlb that if any man this day breathing in England dtkrye an jtnathtmaMaranatrafromihcVope&his pmy ,\ have more cauk to expect itthen any other: The whole Kingdom therefore will Proclaim him a notorious (Un- derer in this particular: He proceeds yet further,*?*^// (he writes, but his words are no Oracles) you have given aWay your ears, and have fufftred 04 a bufte-bodj in oppofmg the King and the Prelats : without doubt all is not Gold that glifter* : for Were you not a man that had more then truth to lool^after, namely your oWn ends and particular interefts, Which I am afraid you ftrive to fet up more then the pub- tike good , you Jhould have importuned the Parliament to hu$ dinances and commands, lefle wilrfuli and more confcientious; I (hall do them ail the offices of Chriftian lovejbut whiles contumnacyjobftinacyjlicentioufneffe, un* charitableneffc and SchiGnc are mod: predominant m them, the greateft favour I can move the Parliament to indulge them, is to bridle thefe their extravagances with th- dency examined ,pr^j(f& execnting Vtrath and vengeance on them upon pain of contraUinq the guilt of higheft Perjury : A moil malicious fcandall : For firft I never mentioned him or his in particular ; neither knew I how heftood inclined. Secondly, la my Independency examined 5 I only in neTb Tbandring blaqng-Stars and Fire-brands. y? in a generall difcourfe a fie re, that Kings and Civitt Magifirates, have by the LaVo of God a Laftfutl coercive potter, though not to reft rain the fine ere Trenching oj the Gofbti and truth of God, yet tofupprejfe, reftrain, imprifon, confine, banifl the broa- der s of Here f eg y Schemes, Srronious, [eduious Dotlrims } Enthufiafmes, or fetters vpof n*Vt Formes of Ecclefiafticall (government Without Laftfull Authority ,to the endanger ing of mens fouls , or difturbance of the Churches And Kingdoms Peace: Thefe are my formall words which I there make good by Scripture,&Prefidencs in all Ages(& will juft ftc by Gods afliftancc upon any occallon againft all Sefta* ries tc Independents whatfoeyer) After which I dofe up this difcourfe in thefe very words ; And if anf Heretic ^s/alfe-Teac hers, Schifmaticlrs (chufe which of thefe three ranks you and yours will fall under) obftinatly refufe conformity after due admonition, and all good means ufed to reclaim them, the Poets Divinity and Folic y muftthen tuks place, as Wei in Ecclefiafticall js civiU and naturall maladies, j CunUa prim tcntanba, fed immedtcabile Vulnitts, * Enft reddendum eft, nepars fyncera trahatur. # £» ffc Is this any urging of chc Parliament, To cut you a J yours of by theptoerd} and to execute Wraih and vengeance on you Mf you be fuch obftinate Herttickl, Schif* matickfyor falfe-Teachers,who fall within the compaife of my words,God forbid, but the iwoid of luft ce lhould be drawn out agair.ft you, as well as others , at J leaft to ch ftife ard reduce you to obedience, rhough not finally to cut you tflF, unUtTein cafe of abfoluie neceflicy ; But if you are none of this obitinate Here* cicall, Sth fmt'cal! Brigade (as I nrkeyon not, unieffe you make yourfdves) my geneuli ind finite words will relate, neither to your felf in perfon (whom I never once minded in my writings,) nor to any of your Tribe : And the*fore in this particular, I charge you for a malicious llanderour and falfe Informer , de- manding juftice and reparation from you for this andall the forenjentioned paf- fages, wherein you have wilfully done me wrong. Sixtly, fag. 6. He injuri- cully chargeth wc, as guilt} of being an Incendiary, betftixt the Parliament and their fait bfull friends and fervants ; and that my atlionsand praftifes tend to no better ertd,but to make mm and hispartie ( VS ) to be fleighted and contemned, and that they a fait hfull, confeientiow, AND CONSIDER ABLE PARTY IN THE ARMY and KINGDOM MIGHT BE DISIN- jy*ff GAGED and CAVS ED TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMES, &c. After which, he concludes thus P*£«7« N ** I appeal to everie true hearted Engtifhm*'n> t> at dejlrts a fpeeoi* end of thefe fVars, of ^hat evil confiquenee it "timid be to thenar liament and Kingdoms, to have fuch a faithfull and con fider able forth as Mr, Prynne culnmniateth, andreproachethas bad, if not ftorfe then ever the Birtiop of Canterbury did, fhouldbe ea flcflle cut off&ith the ptoord, or be dif- ingaoed by hti means (efpeciallie feeing the Kingdoms nee iff) ties is fuch, that they ft and in need of the help of For r aineri) \r\ which PalTage he intimates ; Firft, that thofe Anti- Parliamentary feditious Sectaries, who confederate with this Libeller know theirown particular (pretended) ftrength in the Army and Kingdom. Se- cond 1\\ that they fight only for their own private intercft?,an1d toertd their own Church Government,not for Religion norrhepublick Caufe; fincemy very wri- ting againft their Schifmaticall feditieus wayes but in meer generail tcrms(as this iib y That my \ Truths Triumphing, &r. Makes more in favour of Rome, and point* of calling Comtek , the Authority of Pre* 1 mlo lomdrmg blazing-iytars and tire- brands. } 9 I Prelates, Clergymen and Synods in making binding Canons,&c.and other points therein debated then any Book or Pamphlet whatfoever of this Sub; eel written fay any Prelate, Clergy man,Laicke, or by all the whole Mungrell Regiment of AnabaptiftsjScctariesor Independents pur together .-Therefore this Title of his,ts a moft falfe malicious impudent fhnderjOfaLibellerpaftflaamejVoid both of truth and confeience. • ■ Hispafiigeagain{tme,/>*£.o.io. Is much of kin to his Title Page 5 where thus he writes : 'The truth is, 1 cannot deny but Matter Prynne was once by more • then many,and they godly too,held to be a man of Piery ( and was highly honou- red, in whofe Books and Pamphlets nctwkhffandmg which have been pub- c li(hedoflate)may be obferved more corrupted Principles, and a far worfefpi- c rit of perfecution, then ever was difcovered in rhe late Delinquent Decapitated 1 Arcbbi flop, from his firft afcending unto his higheft growth ot Authouty and c greatneffe; and in the Diary of hts life, which 1 fuppofe Mafter Prynne Printed, £ not to do him honour (though after Ages will not be tyed to be no u ifer then ' Mafter Prynne) I findc fuch eminent fignes of a Morall Noble piou<= rmnde, ac- c cording to fuch weak principles as he had been bred up in (his own perlecuiing c difpoficion,difabling him from being inftru&ed berter^ and p Ticularly fo inge- 4 nious a paftage in his Funeral Sermon, whereby he j\ ftifi s ihe Parliament in put- ' ting bim to death ; as I may fafely profefle to all the world, I never y tr could dif- ' cerne any thing near of like piety, or ingenuity co be in Matter rpryune, by all ' that ever I yet heard of him from firft to laft, or by all the books of his which 'ever came to my hands, wherein yet I have hitherto done him the honour in 4 being at charges to buy as many , I mean one of every fort, as I could ever • meet withall. Surely, I am much beholding to this Gentleman, for proclaiming me a man ©f more corrupt principles, and a perfon poffeffed ftith a Worfe fyirit of perfecution then the late Decapitated Archbijhop, but the Archbifhop far more obliged to him,in Canonizing him for fuch a Saint: As for his D iary>[ publifhed it as 1 found it,not fo much to do him honour as right, which is due to the very Devill himfelf ; But had this LibeHcr remembred , that I referved the criminall part of his life, for two other Volumes, one of them already published ; and the firft pare ©f the other now at Pre lie, which will render him, the Arckeft Traitor and un~ derminer of Religion, LaVvjy Lib er tie ffTarlmments that ever breathed in Eng- lijh Aire-, or had he fenoufiy confidcrc&jm obj&nate impenitency, md'juftificntio* of his innocency (though'moft criminall of*altenat ft>r wBicjh he*was condemned ) even on the very Scaffold; he would have blufhed at his large Encomiumt of fuch a Tray tor in affront of publike juftice, to caft the greater blecrtilh on my felf, who was publikely called by Authority to bring him to his trial!. * Having thus reviled my perfon only for writing againft Independent new wayes and fancies ; having naught elfe to object againft me, he fals foul upon my very Profeflion of the Law in thefe reprcachfull terme?,p^.2i,2 2, Certainly tis none 'of Mafter Prynnes leaft overfights thus to bring Tiimfelf a Lawyer , fwhofc c wrangling faculty fets and keeps all people at worfewar amongft themfelvesj r - then all Forraign enemies can do) into i Conteft with Mr.(7W\V/>,/&c. 1 If Mafter Trynne were a man truly godly and conscientious, he* might J !*fif G z ere 40 a jnjn vtjconjery of rroaigtouf •ere this time have confidcred the unlawfulnelTe of his very calling acto ding to 'chegreateft part of Lawyers pra&ife, in entertaining more caufes then they can * pofli Ay take care of as they ought, in taking of excelTive Fees, prolongirg mitt, * and fo involving the whole Kingdom in their Svphiflicall eyuirhj, tricks and € quillets, as that a man can neither buy nor felt, fpeak nor do any thing, but he * mull be liable to fall into their tallom, withou. ever being able to redeem him- t kif, the Liwycrs having moil of iheir myfteries written in little IclTe then Hea- lth en Language, and detaining us in fuch Ignorant captivity, as that we may not * plead nor underftmd ; by which and fuch like devifes oftbei r y they are become SRftW . * the greate ft grievance, crying loudeft to heaven for fajticc to be djnt upon them by 6 this Parliament^ next to the corrupted, depraved Cltrgy m'n. Surely rhefe Independent Seftuies , rcl ive to~ex irpate all Lawyers and Clercy men, as the greiuft grievances under Heaven; that fo both LaVe and Goffdmiy bed:fpe fed only bv their La \-hffe % Go { pellffe li^s, hands : and ihis makes them raile at thtfe two Honourable Proj t fli,ns, without which no Kingdom or Church can long fubfift : For my own part, 1 bU ile Cod, T am not afru^td of my Profeflion ; its no d .{honour unto me, ( :nceGod riimteif hath honoured Zf»0aProfeiTourofit,7'*;. 3.13. ) and I *ruft I (hA\ never difhonourit : and though fome perchance abufe it (as rrany do all o^her Callings) tbis makes it no: unlawfull or a grievance, no more then oth^r Callings it being the fa ttk of the perfon, nor of the Profeffion : Take heed therefore how yr u pr< fll* this Argu- ment furthered it reflect with difadv~nt?ge on yourfelf, who have much abufed tne Profeffion of a Gentleman, by turning Ltblhr^ of a Merchant \ in turning *n Independent Preacher ; ofzMinifter y \n becoming an u^licenkd Mr. Printer of ail thefe new Seditious Libels, in an Alley in Bijbtffgate ftreet, the very name whereof, made you fuch a Panegyrift , to trumpet out ttic A?chbifko$s Piety ar>d Graces to the world, after his Ex' cation as a Tray ton. I (hall rake no more ia this Pamph!c:ers nafty Kennel, which abounds wi h fuch filthy (line king ftuffe, and Biilingfgare Language as this* The Author oi The Araijnment ofVerfecvtion, thus makes hiznftlf merry wuh ffle, pag. 1 5. That Learned Gentleman, Juft-as conformity of Line oh s Inne, E\ty\ can throughly refolveyou, both by Scripture Texts, Vrefedetts of *ll forts , and theconftant uninterupted praftifes, examples cfthe Smminenteft Smperours, Vrin- ces, Councels, Parliaments, efrc % it is well rhefe illiterate Affes arc able thus to de- ride, what they can no wayes Anfwer or Refute by Scripture, Reafon, or Au- thorities of any kinde,but their own brainfick fancies. He proceeds thus, pag. 39. *Bythe Apochrypha Writings, and Non-fenfe Argu- ments of Mr. Edwards ; By the diftratled thoughts , and fubitane apprehenfons of Mr. Prynne ; By the define of the Clergy • By their fo, ted tears ; By their Hy- focrifie ; By their falfe Gloffes , Interpretations , and Xophyftications, Good Lord deliver us. Here I am joyned with very good company, thouga in a Blafphe- xnous railing Ly turgy fit only for fuch Conventicles as this Libeller indoctrinates. The Compiler oi the Sacred Synodicatl Decretall t thus fyorcs himfelf with Dr. J^Wifi^andme.pag. 22. "Dr. t Baft)k>icl^ind fockey frull be God-fathers, and the Whore of Babylon God mother, and it (hill be Chnftened, COMMON- COUNCELL OF PRESBYTERS; (hearts like to ha City toll governed) ne i» mandring blazing-Stan and Firebrands. 4 1 f governed) bu: his t\otyczR::o be known by thatNime, while the Childeisin c the Cradle, when it can go alone, it will be a pre ty thy fellow for myfoa € /acl^if the *Doclor can bur cure him of the Marti* : * lis true, he hath given him * a good Cordiall againft: fome Independent Qjalmes, wherewith my fon/r^ 1 hath been much oj.prcffed,fuice Mr. ?/■/»** hacn been Ou'law'd by the Gof rl, 'his Voluminous errourshad the bene h\ (Sir Reverence) oi the peoples peft ri- c ours to correct them, {Let the DoEtor have a care of 'his Bills) Nam in posteriori * pagindy omnia jua fie C *or rignntur Errata : that's a fi^ne of fome Grace ; who * layes bU.rrjnnes not an honed man, that hath conlemted fo much to fuch a € Reverend ufe? But he ilia! I have a better place when ic falls, hce's in the way * of preferment, he doth fupply the place of an Informer already, for he muft uo * a lirrle i rudgeiy before he be a Judg^. In what an untivill, unchr.ftun minner they have rayled againft my ever honoured B o*her Dr+Baflwkbj as an ^^r^afi^hteragiinltGod.aneremy ot lefiw Chr;fts,-c^r. only for writing a gainft their Independent Novelties, him- felf hath at large related in his Poflfcript. How ihcy have abufed Dr. TtW/fV, Mr. Hinder foam, Mr. Ctlamy, Mr, Mar* &JI, l)r Purges, Dr. Featl) y M'. Paget,nnd cfpecially Mr. Edwards, (whom they revile beyond all meafure ) only for oppefing their new Anarchicall Govern- rooitjha h in part been formerly touched, and would be over-tedious particular- ly Co relate : I Chall therefore conclude with twopjffiges more ; the one con- cerning Docter Purges, rhe other Doctor Ttoiffc and the Aflembly, in their laft Libel), called Martins Eccho, p.7 8. 5uch hath been their good fervice to the Church and State, that for my part, iidiouldno: much trouble me,to fee therrtas wcWknockjdoVrn : I mean to fee Doctor Surges, and a competent number of his brethren, fct down upon their Presbjterian Thrones, judging the Tribes of this omr Ifrael- y Be ye mounted upon your great Coach-Horfes, which trundle you too and fro, pn London to fVejiminfter ; mount all your new Canons, and ad- vance like mighty men of valour, The horfe men and Chariots of Ifrael , even whole blacky Regiments of y cu inco the field*, under the Conduct of you Gcne- ralifTimo, William ITiW/f^Prolocu'or; and fire all your new caft Ordinances at once in the face of your enemies and fofinifliyour^itor^ your fclvcs, and truft your Sacred caufe no longer in the hards of the profam. By this fhort tafte,you may difcern the meft uncharitable, flanderottsji ing,L*- bellow difpofition of thc r c*rfc Independant lights, whofe works are fo fall of p* f email deeds of dark"^, and of the blac\ Language of HUL Section X. Containing f edition Qu'r/es, Pajftges and Prattles to txcitt the people t* mutiny, S edit ten, Dtfibe&ience, and contumacy again H the Parliament s freceedings, Ordinances, a»dto rtfume their fowerfrom them* I Ha?e in the preceding Sections already tranferibed fundry daufes of this na- ture ; 1 ftiall rememberyou only of fome few more, in two or three late unli- ecofed Libels. 4* A frefh Dijcarvery of ^rodigiohs The Auchorof,^« AnfWer to A - u$$£*eftibns concerning CKkrth- * You mean government (fuppofcd to be Matter Henry Robinson) pag,2. makes this Otere : and I con fphai if tfce Parliament fhcirld be for P^rj again, ludai'me or Tnrctln\i> jTiftS Tis no cffcnce to make a J^r*, NOR IMPOSSIBLE TO C(JME obey them in TO PASSE: Thegreateft part of inch as choofe our Parliament men are pulling down thought to be Popifhly or Malignantly affected .• by the fame Law and Doftrine Popery.-ind the whole Kingdom rfmft in corf quence, and fuch obedience as you didate^on- p""} 811 ? 2 ,, forme themfelvcs to Toperie, Judaifme, otTurcijwe^c. Government Ami P 3 g- 2 4- 2 5- He propounds thefe Juries, of purpofe to blaft the power, igainftusribw. and Eccleftalticali Proceedings of our prefent Parliament, and render them de- * Not fo, but tcfhble, or contemprible to ihe people. jjnly m things whether have not Parliaments and Synods of England in times pafl eflablifhed anTdnretl P°p cr J - ? And whether may they not poffibly do * fo again hereafter? Whether in cafe •gainft Gods * 'Parliament and Synod fcould fct up Popery y may they therein be difobeyed by the word : We people ? ]f they may be difobeyed in one particular, Whrther may not they uvon the mult not obey U\e grounds be difobeyed in another ? Whether the people be not judge of the orounds l Q €m j n * ?e s for denying obedience to Varliament and $) n id in fuch a cafe ? Whether the pretence of word but muft & v '"£ a Varliament and Synod poWer to efiablifh Religion, and yet referve in onr o cy them in °^ n hands ; a "Prerogative of ye elding or denying obedience thereunto , as \\e bur all things not felves thinks good, be not an abfoluf: * contradiction ? And laftly, whether they that repugnant to Attribute fuch a poWer to Varliament r and Synods, at ihey them felves Will queflion l :, j S i 10C ° n avddifobey, When * they think void - donotia tfFcll eakjnand quhe enervate the tradiction. ,. ,* -L ' > - t . tr i t r 1 • V . / . i * * No but poteen of Parliaments, or elje condemn t hem] elves in renj^rsng the Indtpendents for when God withholding ef obedience from Parliament and Synod in fuch things, Wherein * they commands us NEVER GAVE, OR MEANT EVER lO GIVE POWER? nottoo'bey. \f theWliol" Kingdom ma) denie obedience unto Popifh Alls and (^anons, or upon ote, the an y Qt i rjer t .j oe foj^ j u fl Q r Ca fi n^ and they them/elves be judge Whether the occafon be muft have no \ u ft or n& * Whether may not In dependents a part of the Rih^dom onlie^io the (j&e in more power atlreffetli } Or whether ought they becaufe a l and put it in execution when they pleafe ? And ^ whether were this othervvife then to attribute unto a mixt multitude, to the £J^ft* world, if net abfolutcly tiott, A facredVecretall , and Martins Eccho ; compiled, published, printed, S'y 7 ^ jj vended , difperfed by ^dependent Sectaries, who highly app-laud them; in- V2i i^^y° U ftead of excommunicating, detecting, fupprelTing, punifhing the Authors and f m . 10US difperfers of them, I frull (Tor brevity fake) rranfenbe only this mod feditious Stearics and Oration in the clofe of Martins £ccko, directed to the common people, to excite Anabaptiftical them to mutiny and Rebellion againft the Affembly , Parliament, their Mili- l^^Sf" tary, Civil and Ecclefiaiticall prefent proceedings, delving no kffe then capitall pei J e u n r t q*~_ punishment, being done in feditionem l^gni, no leffe * then high Treafon by the ve nticles,ad- Common Law. mitofnoap- c Pag.16. Rejoyce, Re Joyce good people, for this bleflfed Reform.ition,\\h\ch p?al,ind foare 'is ready, like an evening Wolf to feizs upon you and yours: Loving Friends n,eert ?^ 1 *j 'and Neighbours, ftand ftili gaping with your mouthy and quietly bow down J^^tf y " 1 your back?, whiieft you are bridled and failed, and let the holy, humble, and *Thcymayin; * * gentle Presbyterians get up andride y they will doubtleiTe deal very meekly with falhbfy fipeck c you, and not put you out of your place, though the proverb be, Set a Beggar on »t from your c borft-back,, and bed ride to the Devil-, though they have fpurf, yet they will not ^ufpi? dc "l 1 ufe them. You remember how the Bifhops pofted you formally to and fro like c j aim c £i c 7*/wthelbn of 2V/w/&/,untill withfoundring and furbats they have even wea- their own pri- c ried you of your lives ; the geptle Presbyters will in no wife ride you fo hard, vate ufurped 'though fome Malignants would make you believe, that Sir John will ne- p?wer,autho-.- *ver be off of your backs, becaufe it is intended he fliall have his holy Spi- l ^° r cx y % rituall Courts in every Parifli of the Kingdome; but this benefit you are Sacraments & Mike to have, That if by his continuall riding hee fo gail your backs and their Children c ^boulders, that you can no longer endure, but cry out by reafon of your rromB.ipti£w.> 'fevere oppreffion, you fliall have Liberty granted you, To leap out of the and impriicr* ' Fryingpan,into thefire^by making your * appeal to the Common- CounceH of ji liiucnwno ' Presbyters ; forfooth,where when you fhall come with this complaint,:?W Fa- ^ op p f e fat 1 thers the 'Bifhops made your yoke qrieveom, and our Tarochiall Presbyters, (thofe Government 'Lyons Whelps ) do adde hereto : 7hole burthen laid upon your backs e 'Burthen after burthen* Even till your * backs breakj How many thoufands of you, who were of great Eftate, are even reduced you** felver, yourdeir Wives and Children, to mifery and poverty ? How many thoufands and millions have you exhaufted . ? Yea, hath not your hands been liberal! be- yond your Abilities f How freely have you brought in your Gc H, your Silver, your le web, Ring? &C. which in London, Mildlcfex and EJfrx, amounted to a* bove eleven Millions, btfides threefcore Millions extract d our of the Counties, with the innumerable fums otherwife raifed , and fpent in his fcrvice? Hath not ycur blood, the blood of your dear Children ard Friend-, been only enga- ged and fpilt } And is it not dayly fhed in this Quarrel!, while :hc * Presbyters- clap you on rhe backs, animate, encourage, and Preach our your very lives 3rd - elates, and involve you in al thefe mifenes, and themfelves touch it not with, the tin of their little finger; You have your Husbands, your Sons and ServantfJ Impreftcd from you, and fotfoorh, aPrieft muft not be r.tddled wi hall, urder Sacriledge,Blufphemy>or rrophanerelTeatleait : They are* freed from ell char*i grs and Tax xiions, <*nd rAlis laid upon yon ; and notwhriUnd ir> ^ your infnfft, r- ablc mifery, your unfupportable charge and opprtflion, urder which you groan, and are fit to 1 xyir y hofe greedie \*>r?tch(S «re not tftamedto exalt their * tyttes, though they plucky it cut of your Child -ens mopthes, Tttre had been more need of an Ordinance f> have Stffedtke Vri fts, andimprefi'd them to the Wars, for that would be moreconducent for the Kingdoms good: For fhou'd t he h ing fer up his * A moft filfe,feditkus flander, the contrary being true, that Prcsl' terian Mimfters pay ccordingto ih.ir pr©P*rtioP, then any other nun, though many Independents fcape fcotfree. Presbv reruns ?s juftly exact Tythcs for their pains and maintenance, being due by Law^af Epifco- i JiKkp> .rdci.t Mmifters both Tytfiv$ anu Cornel uuon» too 3 Independent Officers Souldicrs,pay N tw-WAndringMapng-StarS) and firt- brands. 45 * Epifcopall Qergy, and tie Parliament their PresbyterUn Clergie, tn the fore- # when all * front of their battclls,/*r/#r** hopes, ind put f hem inftead of other honeft inno- M,l|lfte " ' * cent harmeletfcfoules, upon all their "defperate attempts, without doubt they "fJ^J^' ' woaid as zealoufly preich {ox peace, as they doc now for war: they would quick- £ dCi) in4c . ■ ly agree and turne as they were, rather then looie all. I am confident this would pciunau *pr§Vi the mojl effectua/l me ones for * our reconciliation , then any that hath i.a/-f*oaei»- 'beene yet attempted, Confider this I beJetch >ou, call to minde all your ffOf '• ct% ^"^J^T * mercKpences, ventures and ceffementsror this preicnt wane, and the miferable ^ oacc ^ 'condixionyouandthe whole Kingdome Itfugleth in, as it wer* for life , and are not bctorc. * ' now all ready to be devoured ; your eftatcs are wafted , your men flaine, your hands b bomc tnmk * weakned.and the Kingdome is fit to be over-run, your Itrength decayuh,and your Bloft money 1 enemy increafcth, and all your afiiftance hath beeoe conveyed through the hands c /f n * ' n " emi * the(b) Presbyterian party, they h*\e(c:)born al offices, & have had all in tneirown g n g C Vs pfe, 1 difpofing, but what is become of it ? VVifemen lay, that the treasures and wealth, have bcene « thit: hah been fpenc for the managing of this warn 1 , would have maintained a *>oft active in ■ greater wirrc (even yeares longer, ioinc body have feathered their ncfts, though ^ c ? n ^ a * d ■ yours are bare : Now how thinke you, is it otherwise poilible but the Kingdome n ' c ^ n % t m *~ ' muft be ruined if this courfe be continued, and to addc more certainty of d*ftrucT:i- which forac of ' on to it,the(e men n#w in this ourgreatcit extremity, libour to divide rhe (d)Par- thc«i give v/ of the pec, *yp<*>reac- ple Were heard, their Petitions *nfWered,miferies redrejfed, Monopolies remooved , co " ncs * , . .< opprejfions eafed,tender confeiences refpetied,the fervants ofCjod delivered out of pri- Independents Jons, courts of tyranny and oppreffton lupprcfted^C. But fincc their Sellion, the Cafe have bom tw« is quite altered, nothing but Iefuiticall and Machivillian pollicy hath bin on footc> to on « for tht thoufandsof Petitions of poor e WtddoWes % Orphanes and all manner of diltrefled op- PKlt >ytcmw prciTed perfous, who cry daiely and cannot be heard; and thefe fat 7>reifls can have JJJJ number Ordinance upon Ordinance for their ends ; they can have the free at of other mens d\t% iuch li-* broWes confirmed upon them by an Ordinance , whiles others(e ) cannot have their juft bilious hre- recjueds , tor their oWne rights Anfweredi though their Wives and (Children peri(b ; brands as you our f)T>refbyierians wives muft^o lik.e Ladyes, wkhthc'u (Uke vSc Tafetyfome with * h " a * e f ir * their \anns and filver Watches forfooth hanging by their girdles, to plealcthc pretty ( cln ^\\ ^^ IWect faced, lovely Mopphct with;di: prctiy' things, tispitty there's not an Grdi- Parliament nance all this while, for tliem to weare Rattles y Confix er this with your felvcs, & tending to I for what your e&atc S nnd blood have beene engaged , The liberties of the fubjetl , ™" c ! n < v \ and the "Proteftant Religion, noW hoW much after this vift txpence, thSfca of blood, ( s tT ™tf ^ ul thefubjrtts Liberties, have you attain d ? even thus much , He that (hall open his Independents m uth freely for the Vindication of your Native Liberties , cannot doe it Without; the wives who k I for teflant Religion hath it not beene lock'd up i.) the brealb, of the Affembly } hath not your faith been? pin'd upon their fleeve? your eftaresfpmr, and your blood llied for the refult of their mindes, right or Wrong, and fo have fought for you know not What f But it may bcyou'l dy, you hare engaged for the fiippreflion of Prelacy, High- Commijfion &c. you have indeed beat the bulh, but the Presbyters fuve caught the H Hare ■Afrefb Difcovery of Prodigious Hare, in&eidof one High-commiJJion, in the whole kingdome, you fhaii have one * This is true in * every Parifh under the name of a Paxochiall *SV#/w, befides the generall Hirk- •f your 1 ™* C ^ cemmiffion calTd the Common C^unc ell of Pre/by ters ; How have you not, tojbxn rencide*. 0I1 " the fmoke, skifftintothe fire? isthematter any thing amended ? fure you have got a worthy Reformation : But it may be you have a better eftcem of thefe new Courts then of the old High-commtflion : Let me aske you ? do you thinke that theyl be bet- \ ter then their patterne? &c. Thus you may fee what you arc, to rely upon, if in confeience you canuot fubmit to any thing they command, you know your wages,; ou mufi he banijbed : and doe not our Presbyters not onely labour for the banimment., but for the lives of the Con- trary minded to them ? And is not this thinke yorr, as evill meafure as ever was mea- fured out of the High-commiJJion ? Wherfore I befeech y©u Triends y confider what you do, confider the frait of your bodies ; into what flavery you are fit to inthrall 3 ' them. I know you would be loath your Children after you (hould be deprived of trading or living in the Kingdome, though they fliould differ a litle in opinion from others. I btfeechyou therfore,fave your feives from thi/ kicked Gneration,V}hb bwtfpext * A moft fedi- l our e fi at€S >J 0Hr blood and all, and you are now ftorfe then ever you were hither to, all . ti*u$ flaadcr, hath beene in their difpo(ing,andyou are betrayd, and date ly delivered as a Prey to the Enemy : The Lord Deliver us y Amen. Whether this be not another Sheba y a Trumpeter to blow up popular fedition and Rebellion againft the Parliament, Synod, and their proceedings, deferving Sheba's Eunifoment-and whether it be hot more then time for the Honorable Court of Par- ament to proceed feverely againft fuch Scifmaticali Libellous and Seditious Muti- nies as thefe forementiened,let all wife men judge. If our fooliih pitty and indul- gence towards them (accord ing to the proverbe) defiroy our & n h our Church, our Religion, our Parliament, cur Realmts, let thofe fuperior Powers anfwer it, who have authority to prevent it ; I can with a good confcienceprofefTe and fay, Liber avi animam meam, what ever cenfures, reproaches Scandals, Libels 1 fuffcr for my *2Trief. 3.1, good intentions, from this Libellous Generation of* unreafonable men, who have title faith and lcfle Charity. Certain Quercs propounded to Independent Miniftersand their Members, convincing them in many things to be meer Papifta, andfvververs from the Word of God. i,TX7Hether Independent Minifters prefcribiwg* and Members iubtmtting to a . New-forme of Church-Government, not yet fully knowne to, or agreed on among themfelves ; nor reduced unto certainty by any of their Seft, but fluctu- ating and fwimming in their Minifters giddy braines, with a referve of altering, adding or diminifhing at their pleafure; benotameere Popiili blind obedience . ? a receivingof a Church-Government with an implicit Popifh faith, to believe &s their Minifteror Church believes, without knowing certainly and determinate^ what they do dogmatically believe I and a plaine worfluppiflg of they know not what, their Independent way and Government* being yet not folly delineated aor jput in W£&n? by any of their party,. though fi^quendypreffoj to &. 2felves, above all that is called God, orwor- (hipped, above all other Minifters or Chrift ians whatfoever, as the ONLY Lights of the world, and tying the Scriptures to their owne new-fangled cxpofitions ; be not an erefting of ameete arbitrary, tyrannical!, Papall, Anrichriftian Jurifdifli- on in every Independent congregation, both over the foules, conferences, bodies of Chriftians, and a (etting up of as many Petty Popes, as there are Independent Mini- fters or congregation? f 3. Whether Independents ldmitting Women, ret onely ro vote as members, but fbmetimes to p:e3ch,expound,and fpeake publikely as Predicants, in their Conven- ticles, be not dircftly contrary to the Apoftles Doctrine and pra&ife, 1 Cor. 14. 34,35. 1 Tim. 2. 1 1 ,i 2. and ameer politick invention to engage that St x to thtir par:y ? Whether their pretended Liberty of confeience for every man to btleeve, profeffe, and pra&ife, what Religion he pleafeth, (be it Paganifme, Judaifme, Turcifme, Popery) without coertion or punifhment by the migiftratf , be not a like wicked Policy, contradictory to Scripture and Religion : which proclaimes a licen- lioufheiTe to pradtife any (inne with impunity ? and warrants Popes, Papifts, Iefuits to murther Prcteftant Princes ; blow up Parliament^ Maflacre Heretiques ; ak- folve fubjefts from their allegiance; Equivocate; worfhip Images, Saints, Re- liques, and their Breadcn-god ; and commit any wickednefle for the advancement of the Cttholique caufe^ becaufe their Religion and Confciences hold them lawful, And how then can we juftly punifh any Traytor,Rebell, Murder, Adulterer, Swe«- rer , Drunkard, Polygamift,Thetf, in cafe he be really pcrfwad«d in his confidence, what he doth is Law full ? 4. Whether the Independent Minifters in theAfTembly will undertake robind either themfelves or all others of their party for the future, without any referveof altering or changing their opinions and praftife,to that Independent way of Church Government, which Mr. Thorns Goodwin, or they fhall at laft, after long expefta- tioAjfct dowa in Waiting ? Ifyea # that contradicts their owne Profeffion, and Pro- teftation ^g A Frsfh DffcoveryofProdigiwts ■ teftation in theix e^o//<>£/ : takes away t ha c liberty of confidence they contend for ; and Attributes a greater Authority to them alone to oblige their party, then to the whole Parliament or Synod. If no,thcn certainly it is vaine to exfpeft a fet form of Church-government from thofe fluctuating Divines, who will neither under-take to oblige themfelves or others fiw the future, by any thing they refolve on or pradtiie for the prefent : and a meare fottiforielTe for any people to depend upon iuch un- liable weather- cocks, and roling ftones, who know not where to rcll or fettle : And that way certainly can be none of Chrift s, on which the very prime ftickias for it dare not abfolutely and immutably to faften for the future,what ever they pre- tend for the prefent. 5. Whether publike preaching, prophefying, and expounding the Scriptures by Independent Souldiers, Taylors, Weavers, and other illiterate Mcchanicki, neither publikely called to f nor ficted for the Miniftry /Specially when and where there arc able painfull preaching Minifrersto inftrnft the people, be not a mod exorbitance arrogant, fcandalous, and diforderly practice, no where warranted by Gods word, but direftly condemned by Numb. 18. 11. 21,13. c.\6.$Ao 41.2 Sam. 6.6. j, ' 2 £hron. i6.l6.t02$.Ier. 1 4. I4.f. 27. ip. Hofea 4. 4. p.vifw/. 1.7.2 Cbron. ij, 8.9. Neh. 9. 4, 5.^.1 2. throughout. Mat. 2~8'. 18. 40. 10. Mar 16. 14. 15.10* Ails \ 20. 2$.GaL6.6.Hebr. 13. Ij.c. 5. 4. 1 Tim.^. I.e. 4. 14.16.1 Tim. 4. l. ^dd-m* \ 10.14. 1 5. 1 CV.12. 28. 2p. <:. 14. 29 totbecnd.T^. 1.7. p. Contrary to tl*L ve- ry light of Nature/, he Priefts among all heathen Na:ions whatsoever being diftin- guifhed from the people, and not all promiicuoufly Prielts,C7«t. 42. 22. 26.2 King. 17. 32.1 Kings 12. 31. $i.Zepb. 1. 4. Afts 14.1 3. And quite oppoike to the pra- ctice of all chriftian Churches in all ages ? r 6. Whether MuHanferd Knots (the illiterate Anabaptiftjhis Moderate AnfWcr to Dr. BaftWicks booke, p. ip. 20. where he averns : That the condition upon whkh people are to be admitted into the Church y are Faith 9 Repentance r 4fid B APTISMEj and NONE OTHER.And \\>hofoever(poore at well as rich, bond an Uv// at freezer- •Aft vants as Well as mafiers ) * did wake a profeffsn of their faith in Chrift lefus % \and 1 it I ^°* Vtouldbe baptised (he meanes re-baptized ) into (he fli mid fay in) the name of the Acti l.'x z. \$ Father t Son t and holy Spii'it % were admitted Members of the Church ; but fuch as did 37- 38. 39. not beleeve 9 and would not be baptized { though formerly baptized by others ) they Ad* x 8. 8. yfcould not admit into church communion* And that this hath bin the fratlife offome h h° r churches in this city^vithout tsrgtwg or making auy particular covenant with mem* warrant your ^ crs u P on Admittance : Doth not herein diametrally contradict his other Independent practice of brethren ,who exift particular covenant j,from their new admitted Memfck rs and do \\t4aftixMti. not re-baptize them? Whether he hath not plaid the Anabapttfiicall jugler with onot Chriiti-M r , Cranford/m printing ondy , Imprimatur I A: QRANFORD % \u the title of ba $ rizof b 7 his Booke,and leaving out the preceding formall words of his Licenfe , to tfce great other* * tDu ^ e both of the Reader and Licenfer, viz* J have per ufed this Treatife ( called A Moderate Anfwer to DcVafiWick^hich THOUGH I lUDGEEHRONlOUS, yet to fatisfie the defire of a Frieud 2 and prevent the cavils offome Adverfaries } I <*/>- pofe y Imprimatur la: iZranford. • The Dip- Anc * whether thefeaBd fuch like practices proclaim not the Anabaptifts fuch as }>ers dipt. * I^r« Featly proves them : A Falfe and lying feet , if not blafphemotss too, as the pte- p. 104, &c, niiied SeSipns declare fome of them to be ? u A Tranfcript of a Letter lately written from the Sommer Iflands , to William Prynne of Uncolnes Inne Efquire 5 relating the Schifmaticall,Tyrannica!l,and SeditiousProceedings of the Independents there ; and how they Lord it over the foules and bodies of thofe who dare oppofe them; how contemptuoufly they fpeak againft the power of Parliaments, the Church of England, and fcandalize all others whatfoever, who are not of their Fattitn.Whkh Gods Providence newly brought to my hands from thence, when I was clofingupthe prcmifed Difcovcrj. Worfhipfull Sir y WAlFy§- H health, happinctTe, and profperity wiflicd unto you ( as to mine owne foule.) The occafions moveing rne at prcfent ro trouble you with thefe unprofitable papers, are gi eat ar\d ma- 9 t^ n y ; an ^ happily I being a (Iranger unto your Wor/hip, ycu J^'jyy? may account it more then boldneffe. yea even peremptory iau- cinefTe, in me to prefume to write and crave favour to and from one who never had theleaft knowledge ofmc. But the manifold reports I have heard of you by divers good Chriftians,emboIdeneth me; but efpecially feeing your good works which I have perufed with care and diligence, which from Mr Sparks his brother T procured, enforccthme fo much the more in this my boldneffe, not doubting butthat you are a trueheartcd Chriftian,truly fearing God, embracing piety and hateing iniquity, a faithfull well. wilier to the Church of God • and to all the Jfrad of God, and to all true Ifraeiites Avho with faithfull hearts love the Sion of God truly and fincercly, without hypocrite or halting between opinions, deflentingfrom it in any by or falfe refpc£ts,the which arc the only caufes moving me hereunto: And for which I have fuffered i andam i and have beene thefe thirteen monthes * prifoner in bonds ) for ftanding in defence , and an oppofite unto 9 cr againft a cert nine Inde- pendent Church , hatched and forged in the brain es of our Divines ; and by them conftituted, erelled, and fully accomplifhed ,* and with us held in gieat repute and adoration, yea and the Actors of it not as men, but even as demy hands. A gods, * This is the Independents liberty of con- science where they have pow- er in their z A Copy of a Letter from the Sommer Jflands^ relating the gods, attributing that unto them, which is only proper unto God ; efpecially Note unto their Paitor Mr White , the chiefc A&or of their Faction, a mofl [editions turbulent, and hate full malicious perfon, and at politick, ** *s4chitopheU 9 and ai crafty andfnbtle a* the Devill, having as he holds the world in hand , that by his wifedome none can excel! him in the lawes , both Ecclefiafticall and Civill; and therefore amongft us, fa company of poore fimple ignorant and undifecrning people,) he is fo accounted of, as all his words are oracles, and himfclfe no IciTe fen: from God ; and therefore whatfocver he faith, is and muft * Is this the li- ^ c a ^ aw y whether it concerncs Body, Soule, or Confcicnce ; for he cannot bcrty of con- & re, fo perfect is he in their conceits ; A nd if * Chriflians ingriefe and diftra- feience Inde- Rions of foule and confeience ^ at their courfes^fhall fueunto our Rulers for re* pendents plead dreffe of their factious aud (editions courfes byway of * humble petition, for a io much for ? ceffation ofthofe things, till we fhall heare from England, what Difciplire the high Court of 'parliament andSynodhath concluded upon, and that to embrace and follow ; then /ball we prefentty be fummone t Beare at aftake,not one to (peak one word m my defence, nor in the defence let their own of Gods caufe; but with an unwimous confent andveyce my writings exclaim Law there bee me d againft , pronounced Libels , and ignominious and flanderous writings , their ludge though none of them approved fo to be , nor dtsfrsved for the Truth I [land for ; yet [hall I be cenfured by them, for them, bound to my good behaviour^ put infureties ; and if at any time afterwards I /hall divulge any thing either by pen or tongue againft this Independent (fhurch, their Governours,or Govern* ment y Doilrine, or the! ik* J muft then prefently be declared infamous , and lie inprifon till to the contrary we heare outofEnghnd; yea her: ever, for want of Sureties in this cafe 9 to lie inprifon notwithftanding till I can or doe put in Sure- ties; the which I did for the fp ace of five weeks, to my great damage and charge, tind alfo detriment, being an aged poore man ofj^yeares of age; and five nights inlhecotdwintertimt aimoft drowned in theprifon with r am e, and fore Independents tew j f ft m us weather, having no ftjelter tofave my felfe dry : Thefe, with other ChaTiT w **>*"&' > have J tsndergon, too large for to relate, andthat chifelyfrom this ikefrVfi&rov White of this Independent Church,? aft or; Imeanehy hismeanes,for if hee fay it, it muft and ftj all be by our Rulers, who indeed ought to be chiefe injlru- ments in removing and cafting out fuch venomous v ermine out of both Church and Common-wcalc* But how can it be expeftcd , when they themfclycs are -n fa£tiot*s uachffiidn Proceedings cf fame Independents there. in confederacy with him, and joy ne hand in hand to work wickcdnefTc • there- fore whoever ipcaks or writes againft one, doth ic againft all ; therefore with a cunning (Vght they put it off, as not being done in the behalf e of their (fhurch\ bnt tu that by it I labour thefubverfion of the peace of our Qountrey as much as , in me lay , as though our C nun treys peace refted wholly upon the planting of this their Independent Church, whereby they have made more and greater breaches, i as can be mamfefily proved, then ever they will be ablet$ make g°°d, both in Church and Common wealth : yea tn private families alfo^ the husband againfl 7yv* the wife^the wtje againft the husband, the children againfi the parents, the pa^ rents again ft the children ; and the like, according as your felfe have worthily noted in your twelve Interrogatories. Is not this a great miicry in Co little a (por, even a h mdfull of people; Oh miferablc limes! Oh unhappy condi- tio s / Now if yon demand a title or name of this their Church 3 or from whence derived, I cannot anfwer you 5 for 1 fuppoie themfelves know not, only framed of their fancie and braines, onfy to gecthemfelvcs a name, fame, and popular applaufe and eftimation of the world: But thus much I am furc of, it is derived partly from the Anabaptifts, partly from the Brownijls , but moft efpecially from the Donatifts, having in it a fmatch of each,* however they feign it to the Church of 2^jw England, which, as they ($y % is the pureft Church this day in the world; yet come they farrc wide of it, fo that it is but 'heir faying not their doing. But grant that they were in their way aright, yet hold it we not requisite that their examples fhould be rules to us to walk by , feeing that both the one and the other have beene constituted and erected' by an mdireft way, without the adviccand approbation oflawfull Authority yr ot of King, ? irliament,and Synod, the which our men fay they are not to attend or w ait e upon Princes nor ^Parliaments leifures, the caufe being Chrifts owne $ and depending only and alone upon him, and not upon any humane power : and they hts fervants, andChrifi their Lord, it refteth on them in hisbehalfe to doe it, it being a fpirituall and no carnall wor^. And againe fomc of them have faid it, that Parliament and Synod can eftabhfh no other Church 'Difciplineer y t ' r ~- Government thentheirs 3 unlep they will goe contrary to the word of God; this !enc tomb*' hathbeene publikely delivered : yea by the fame party fuch ftuffe hath becne the power of delivered , nat hath made all modeft and fliamefuJl faces to blufh, cares to Tarliments* glow, and hearts to grieve that hath heard it; yea and that upon day es of hu- miliation, making divers people both obje&s and fu6jcc5ts openly to work upon ; thundering out punilliments and judgements, both fpirituall and tem- porally againtt divers perfons, as though they had both fwords in their owne power, or as though they had abfolutely knowneGods fecret decree ; and this hath beene held for found and good Orthodox Dodrine,when divers' have repented of their hearing 5 and thefc not once nor twice, but often. Infinite might I relate, even from their ovine mouthes , which would make wife men admire, bnt I muft paffe over them to avoyd tediouineflc to my felfe, and trouble to you. And chat in your wifedome you may the better conceive of this their Church , The fi.ft beginning was acertaineFeaft, held every week atfcverall houfes, which Fcaft they called & loblolly Feafi ; which for the common fire of our Countrcy is as our watergtueH in England, (0 they would & .% have 4 A Copy of 4 L etter from the Sommr Ifl&nds relating the have it but of a common food ; at which Feaft each did ftrive to excell ano- ther in the difference of making it rafter they had once gotten a certaine num- ber unto them, and fo of an ordinary food they made it extraordinary; yea fo extraordinary, that feme in few meetings were forced to fell the feathers 2{ote out of cnc 'r bedding, for milk, butter, and crcame to feed them withall, and to make their Loblolly the more dainty and toothfome ; others againe to maintainethis Feaft, for one dayes entertainment, themfelvcs and wholefa- mily muft pinch for it two or three months after ; by which Feaft^by the fhew ofneighbourhoodorFeaftof Love,though never none was found, in ftiort time theyencreafed in every parifh to a pretty number. At which Feaft alfo their bellies and ftomacks being well gormondized,the Minirter prcpoundcth certaine queftions unto them by way ofcatechifing of his owne framing, for halfe an howre ; which each had in writing one from another, and like Schoi- lers thefe their leffons to learneagainfteach Wednefday, and great care was taken • feme for feare of reproofe, and fome popular applaufe: and thefe ca- techifings being ended, they then for an hourc or two difcourfe of neighbours that would not joytie with them, traducing both names and perfons ; this man is a drunkard, a whooremafter , andthe like $ fuch a woman was light and wanton, and loved fuch and fuch a man ; fueh a man loved fuch a woman ; this was the manner and order of their Feafts, till at length them/ "elves were ^ytfe tuofl of them drunkards and whooremongers. The next thing was, a day in a week at noon for two houres fpace to cate- chife youth and children, upon "a fimple fmall Catechifm fct out by one Mr Oxenbridge , fonne to Doclor Oxenbridge of London , who with his wife efpecially were the firft. ground-works of this Faction : Who in time before it came to any perfection, departed from us, but left thecurfed feed or fruit of their FacTion behindc them : they being gone, this Mr White aschiefc, takes in hand to accomplifh this bufmerTe , which with another as forward, but better fecnein it then themfelveSjOne Mr golding, a young head but well learned inSchifmaticallScience,ifnot worfe, joynes together, iabourswith and overcomes an ancient man, Mr Copelandby name ; and then on all hands with an unanimous confent, they joynetheir forces for the erecting and efta- biifning this their Church ; and then in fteadof catechifin^ youtrr, they would catechifeancicnx people young and old of both Sexes : This they could not well accomplifh, being by divers withftood ; but feeing they could not S>ring that to paffe, then- would they notfuffer any to communicate without examination before, and that as well Beieevers as others , yea them efpecially, though never fo learned and fufficient, which bred a fore broile amongft us ; yet of many could they not have their wills, though put from the Sacra- ment. Then denied they to baptise children, unlejfe the Parents rehearfedthe Creed, and fuch as did had their children baptised, and fuch as would not , /heirs were not. Then having made themfelvcs ftrong by encreafing their CGmpanyjihcy then began a weekly Lcclure upon every Wednefday, one one week, anotheranother week ; thefe excrcifes were wholly and only for the building up,of this their Church % Exclaiming againft our Church, both in- tMatier, faBious unthriftan Proceedings offome Independents there. ijfttatter y Manner, Order, Government, Difcipline y and Gov >ern ours \applau- dingthii t their owne y the kotiefo and pure ft Church upon the earth, next unto New England : here they deny all fupr earn power of M^giftracy, yea, of the King him [elf e, only to guide them in the channel^ and to defend them andm-im* tainethemin this their Church, Orders, and Bifiiplme, to pnnifo all fuch at /hall oppofe them : thernfelves being chief e thereof under drift, but especially their P aft or White , fo pronounced by their ProUcutor, one of cur prefent Go- vernors in the houfe and ' pre fence of God, and the whole congregation, that he was * Supreame head of this Church next under Chrift, and none above him : this was oncMr Painter a Cooper. Then the other two Minifrers werechofen Elders, whereof Mr Go/ding the younger man in yeares was the chiefe, Mr G?/?d7Wtheinferiour, next a Deacon one Mrii' own e'fpecch untoiny felfe upon a Lecture day 9 1 having two of my children to bap: ize at the fame time. Vpon this I confeiTe^and feeing the great inconveuiency that did arife thereon, and many children in the Countrey to be baptized, and many more like to be, I put pen to paper and write unto our chiefe Governour Capt. William* Sayle, foure or five meets of paper, and preiented as a new yeares gift, hee being the only man, as I fuppofed ,, to redreiTe and reforme by vertue o( his place and power, all fuch erroneous and factions crrours both in Church and Common wcale; but hard fuccefle I found inmy.Epiitlcuntohim : In the front of the work , I (hewed him how I was perplexed both inmindeand confcienceforyeclding unto them through his instigations and pcffwafions, at an A/ilzes before, for another writing delivered by me unto Mr white himfelfe, upon his and the reft their file nemg themfelves, leaving our Churches upon the Lords da-yes, attd gathering fwarmes of people inta their owne houfes as Conventicles ', and there have reading, finging % prayings expounding, and preachin^^yea if truth were knowne, the Sacrament alfo admimflred in their private houfes i and all thefe Ordinances denied in the houfes of God, yea they were flighted y contemned, fcorned, andrejelltd, even as lakes ; thefe at the beginmngof conftitution of their Church ; nay in one fmall tribe or par if) three. or foure fuch fever all places of meetings, and the houfes of God deftitute* Se- condly I writ againft Independent Churches according to my poorc under- franding, I being a man of no learning, but efpeeially againft their Church r fay ing, had /.power and approbation y I would (hake the whole fabrick^t hereof ^ this was taken very hey 'noufly. But to let pane other things containedthcrein, come we to the work, where firft I maintained our Church of England agaixfi. all Independent Churches , to be a true and aperfetl Church ; yet fo, as not- being free or clearc from all defecls, as no Church under heaven was, is, nor never will be, comparing our Church with all other reformed Churches, and ihcic 'ANewInde: pendent King and Pope. * Indepen- dents rrue A» nabaptifts. Note ■ tfu's fchifmaticaii pra&ife. £ A Copy of a Letter from the Somrner lflands, relating the their defe&s and deformities. Secondly byfeven wayesl maintained the law m ffdnelfe and the necejfitj of baptizing Infants ^ where I anfwered divers objecti- ons of the Anabaptifts, and theirs alfo unto me in number fourteen, and laid downe their objections fevcrally. Thirdly and laftly, I fhewed who of neceffity were bound, and therefore ought to baptize infants, namely thofeto whom God had given thedifpenfati- on of the Word and Sacraments, that is, fuch as God hath called to the Mini- l\ eriall function , and endued them with gifts and graces anfwerable for their Callings, fuch and none but fuch ought to meddle in the word or Sacramcnr • I here I fhewed the duty of all who had children to baptize only to fuch, and to none but fuch : then next, the duty of M mifters, they being fo fought to; they ought, they mull baptize them : next I confuted and condemned certain here, ticks and fchifmatkks that denied and refufed to baptize infants, and namely themfelv.es ; and laflly concluded with a friendly exhortation to all Miniflers to be careful] to perform their duty in this, and in all other points. This in brief was the fumme and effeft of my new yeares gift, of which I heard not a word for three weeks fpace, in which time, yea fofoon as he hadir,hc£hewcs it to the Ministers, who ail this time perufed, fcanned, and lifted it ,* upon the which bUfVhiteccmes to my Schoole, klutcsmcklndcly 9 -»itb ontvith kim to catch and beare witnejfe "what proceeded from me , at length uttered his mind % amongft many other parTagcs, that I perverted the Scripture to my own ends, laying I had abufed the words of our Saviour, Luk^io, where he com- mdndeth little children to come unto him, and forbid them not : you maintaine faith he, he meanes fuch children as fuck the breaft, here is your errour faith Sou* he, and for this you Jhallfmarf, but faith he, his meaning was, fuch as were * This is the newly converted to the faith, thefe, faith he, art thofc that Chrift calls little hordly Anabap- children or babes, as in I Iohn 2.1. Therefore for thus jonr * abufing and liflicall liberty wrefting the Word, you Jhall anfwer it % and I doubt not but to crave fo much ofconpe nee that favour of the (Jovemour 9 as to tall aCouncelltable, where you piall anfwer independents y 0Hr a y u f €S ^ and peremptory fcandalous and libellous writings, and fo at length %nLdlxBrV departed. The next week following I writ a Letter to the Govcrnour,gi- thre», vin & mm t0 unefcrftaud, I had taken him for an honcft Chriftian friend, telling him withaJl, 1 fent it not to them but unto him, fuppofing himfelfeonly would have made ufe of it for fome better ends, and withal! laying open Schifmaticks more plainer then before, advifing him upon them five marks or tokens to know them by, to fearch and fee rf he knew none or could flnde none. Then I jhewedy thatFatlioH and Sedition did Jpring from thefe finnes, Pride, Hypo- crifie, and Ambition ; and from thefe three did arife prefumption, and rebel* lion j both again ft god and man, [hewing how and wherein ; praying thefe fwnes were not found among ft us } but neither named nor pointed at any that hold could * Why fhould be taken The next Sahbath a warrant wai ferved on me for my appearance at mt lndepcn- aQounaU table the thirteenth of February 1644, where being at before^ I was dents have the f baited and banded to and agatne y *s wonder it was, andfiortly * after clapt l c %ciwT y ai° f tM ? ri f on: however nothing travecft that day, fave only the Letter, nor my the/ grant nCvv years gift never queftioned; when and where 1 made mine appeale their oppofnes ? f° r hngUni 7 where God blefling mc, would I have bcenc at prefent, had it not faBious unebriftian Proceedings of fome Independents there. not fallen out, chat in Oclober laft in the dead of the night, ffl v houfc with all I had therein was burned , to my great lofle and prejudice • fo that being altogether unable, I am forced with forrow to fhv behinde, as not being able to put clothes on my back; having alfo burnt all my writings, which bath bcene more griefe to me then the lofTe of all my moanc s and goods, which was more then of mine ownc I fnall ever fee againe. But having digrciTed from the proceeding of this Sc£t, I returr.e againe where I left : and having given over the baptizing of infants for agoedfeafon, At Unfit h they gave over preachings at being no Mmifters, as being madefo in an Antichriflian manner ; and no true Miniftcrs till fitch time as they -were new Note the man- called and, ordained by their holy (fhureh ; which at length was accomplished: in ner of g ai he- which time they ftill continued their weekly Lellures y whereat there w.u added y f i n g lndef en. and they received members unto and into their Church daily . but after a mojl dent Churches n J . . • /- / ■ i//^) and ordi: anon firange manner ; their exercife bang enaed, thefe that were to enter tn , came of their ^^ up to the (fhancellwith great fobriety and psew of humility , andforrow>with con- ft crs# tr it ion j and wounding ofconfcienceforflnne ; and there ft and, but with muchhy- pocrife and diffimulation ; and there before the Pulpit ,wtth all the holy brethren and fiftcrs about them', they make a confeffion of their finnes, are m outward Jhew firry for them, with great contrition : upon which enquiry is made among them % what they thinkj>f their confeffion and contrition y and whether they are not wor- thy as members of thsir holy Church to bee received in ? anfwer is made, yea : then th?y tell them, they do accept of them, and with great applaufe they all re« ceive them t all Jhaking a to the great grief e and hearts for row of many honefi Qhriftian heart s y who defire the peace of Gods true Church, but for all fdfewayes we utterly abhorre. And now Worfhipfull Sir, with favour give me leave to ufe by way of fimilitude the words of Mordecay unto Efterc.4. £4. who k$ow eth whether thou art cometothe Kmgdomefor fuch a time as this} Even fo fay I to you Sir, what know you whether the Cod of mercy and confolation hath railed you upasaninrtrumentormeanesforthefe di- ftra£ted times? yea, what know you, whether by your help and afliftancc you may not be a meanes and help for the releafe and delivery of many poore jXote Aifireffedand diftratted Chriflians from the cruelty and tyranny ofthefe Schif* matica/lSchifmaticksy whofe mercies are meere cruelties^ which we know by woefull experience we Jhallfinde* And however we are farre remote froai you, yet we befeech you ( I fpeak in the bchalfe of many) let your goodneile by your ayde and aitiitance even (trctch it felfe to theutmoft ends of the world, it occasion be offered, fur the good of Gods Church and people; and as your works comming by Gods bleffings amongft us, to our great joy and comfort, raid to the vexation of our malignant adverfaries ; who notwithstanding flights them, fay ing } you have writ ace or din gto your undemanding^ and to the cor- ruption ffyour owne hearty and that yen have beene anfwered and foiled in your owne arguments; perfwading poore (imple ignorant people unto any thing ; for divers having fecne your twelve Interrogatories , ftruck them into fuch -a damp and diftemperature , that they knew not what to fay or doe, untill -their Paftor efpecially with their Elders, through deluding fpeeches, gave *hem as they fuppofe fome comfort ; otherwife I perfwademy (elfc many of their adherents had revolted from them, and turned Cat in the pan. But no marvell though they Height yon; for they doe flight all the moft reverend Independent? Dtvines and men of learning, wifedomc, and gravity y whofe lives have beene fpiricuall pride catit i°us, pious, and religious that have beene before them : let a man name any forr eigne and domefltck^, fome they will fet at naught ^others haf ply with a more reverend retycU ,yet freight them (as my felfe at times have produced at leaf a hundred upon occasions ) they will anfwer , they were good Reverend men in their dayes , and taught well according to thetr times ; though you ■name the Interpreters of the Scriptures \ or bring in Beza or Iunius, upon their Annotations , yet fay they y thcfewere but men, fubjeel to failings and errourS, and their dayes were the times of ignorance, and offuperfiition, and the cleare hgft 0] the Gofycl was r>ot thenfo manifestly and fo clearly made knowne unte 1 hew as now it //, the Lord revealing his will with a greater fflendor in thefe latter faBious unchiiftian Proceedings of fome Independents there. latter day es unto his Servants the CM'tnifiers then informer times, for the calling and gathering together of his Elett from the foure corners of the world, and by them in the f clatter times hath [hewed a more nearer and easier way to Heaven thenformerly (O impiotu impiety! ) wherewith they delude poore firnple peo- ple, deceivh g them , being voyd of underftanding and difecrning even to their destructions : for lee a man difcourfe with them, and fhew them their folly anHtheir blindnefle, and fhew them the erroneous wayes they are in ; this pre fently is their anfwer, * we doe know that our Teachers 3 who are our « Indcpen- Leaders, thty are Wifcjearned, r el tgiou*, pious, and holy men, and they cannot ^cn?s blir.de err e, fay they ; and they have paund their foules upon this way , and would they P*^ cnce ** vrilful'y damne their fonlcs were it not the right way, no tis tmpoffible ; therefore c h C npOTUh. yve will never for fake this way, but whatever they fay or teach we will build our Salvation upon it, and feale it with our blood : Thus have they taken poor e foules" captives and deceiv:d chem; and through their delufions we have daily a falling aw y , for fakiyg the old way which is the true way, and turning to Sinne and Schffme , and erroneous Fattions, which are new invented wayes never heard on till not much my time before. Wherefore we beiecch you, we befcech you in the bowels of love and companion , let the fcrious confederation hereof move you to enter lift with this {tout Champion , who(e pride we know to befuch, true hee will overcome ten thoufand better then himfclfe; and not \jjply to enter lift, buc alio a* God hath called you to, and fcatcd you in a place in that high ('our of Parliament ; that fo you would oppofe his enter prsfes and hinder him of his defiredpurpofes, that fo he may not comewitl^Tower and Authority f$m that High Court , to lord it and to beare rule over the Lords inheritance amongst us> but rather freed to recant , and lay downfall his and their Schifmaticall courfes , or confine them all together te feme other place. Things comming into my minde one after another, caufeih me not to fet them downc fo exac~Uy in order as they hapned, but lomewhat con&fedly : I fhould have told yoirat firft, this man, Mr White ^ was by the Company of ^Adventurers fent over feme ycares fincc, Minifterforonr two Tribes, Pern* brook^ and T>evon, and by the^arle ofDorfet then Gcvernour,with the whole Company , they bound him ima bond of txeo hundred pound fir ling to live + with su peaceably and quietly , and to follow the Orders and T)ifcipline of our (fhurch forthe ffacc of three yeares after his arrival; which argued he was a man of a turbulent fpiritin the place where he was, at Knightsbridge ntzrc «r n j eDe j e ^ Weflminfler* ; during this time of his bonds he was as hot a zealot as pojfible formcily as might or could be^ both for the Bookjof Common- Prayer, as alfofir all other (fc- EpifcopaJI nnd hmc nies of the (fhurch, as kneeling at the Sacrament, Crotfe in Baptifme, Ring Ceremonious in the iJ^Urriage, and all other things whatfoever, fo long as his bonds lafted: as Pfcst> y tcr$ » Butfuddenly after he turned upfide downc, and after foure yeares hee began thefe things; and feeing he could not accomplish his defire with us, he made ftiewcs of Jcavirg us and goe to another Charge that was vacant, unleffe we would fue unto him by | humble petition, as unto a Prince, which werefufed ,<- • * n to doe; the other they did , and gave him a Call, and with their &$>* k°gg e pride if not •f forty fhilltngs price, which Lali he received and embraced, fprfook us, pjpal], B * and i > ■ , . m ■ ■ I o A Copy of a Letter from the Sommer Jflands^ relating the and went unto them : He had not long becne there, but by fome ©f our Tribe he was fued unto to come to us to baptize three children j the which he did, he and his wife, Mr C°f^ An d anc * hi* wife being witnelTes to one ; where his Text being ( He that dejpifrth you, dejpifcth me ; and he that dejpifeth me > de- Jpifeth him that fern me ;) Ac which time he did fo cxclaime againft us, fay- ing, we deffifed htm and his < Dotlrine > and hadcafkboth him and it from us, and fo confequently God the Sonne, and God the Father , becaufc we would not fue unto him by way of petition: When he alfo for our facft, pronounced a doomc againft us in his Pulpit, faying, Standupye efTcmbrook Tribe and heare your dfcwatt, which was, yon {hall live here thefe twenty yeares without a preaching CMinifter; comparing alio our Reader to the Idoll ( Dagon\ the Reading- pew U the place of 'Deflation, faying, Here Jits the I doll of Abomination in the place ef Deflation ; faying our Book of Common-Trayer was an I doll alfo. And ftill in their weekly £x*rcifes 9 defame they our Qhurch, and Church Difcipline, with the Order; and Manner thereof, crying ,fhe is uncle ane,\he is uncle ane, pol- luted y defiledwith Antichriflianifme , both in Church- government, Manners .Or- ders , and Difcipline,yea throughout ; therefore fay they, C owe out of her my people , and take not ofher pollutions, with divers fuch like ; yet for the man, I muft confeffe he hath beene and is a worthy and reverend Teacher , which caufeth many , yea moft people theeaficr and foonerto be deceived , as alfo by humble carriages, and pious walking, which is fuch, that as our Saviour faith, is able to deceive the very Elett , by their walking infheeps clothing ; but fare I am, they are ravening wolves, andeajily may be difcerned by their fruits j that is, by their Do6trincs,the which however it found good to fimple people, and is as honey in their mouthes, but fnre 1 am, they tend only and wholly to their owne Schifmaticall Fattion. And thus have I beene large in my Difcourfe, and troublefome unto you, though in briefe. Now Sir, you know that he who cutteth wood over his head, is in danger of the chips flying in his face % fofareth it with me, I having beene an oppofne againft them, both"by fp?a- 3ring and writings ; they are therefore become mine inveterat enemies, and have from time to time traduced me : and as the cafe once was yours, fo is ic aad hath beene mine , having furTered much by our Rulers, tidfeugh their meanes, they being all in a confederacy; and likely, if he cam^ffibly, fuf- fer more ; but I hope will defend me from their cruelcy by the help and aneanesof ycu; who are able to fympathize another mansxafe by his owne, and be the eafier ftirred up to companionate my cafe, and r to doeyoptr beft en- deavour for me, and many more hone ft hearted people, who by me defire from joh the like favours ; fofhall I and them alfo be bound to pray for your pro* fperity hee, and cveriafting happinefTc bereafter ; defiring you to keep this writing to your felfe? and make ufe of them, and not {hew them to any, ex- cept to fern* lure friends, not but that any thing herein contained is alfo ab- solutely true ,but that they are mine inveterate and malicious enemies, and :f by the Parliament they fhould get their defircs, then am I fureto furTermoft exceedingly ; therefore I am forced to fend to you'uncierhand by way of Mr Jpark,, znd another so write the fubferipcion oftm Letter, that my hand bee ncj faBious unchifiian Proceedings of fome Independents then. % \ not feen; fuch hying wait there is for any my writings. This Gentleman the Bearer, hath in fome meafure beene a co-partner with me in fufFcring, and hath had much trouble, and is now come for Sngland to cleare himfelfc from many falfe accufations Jaid to his charge, as alfo to maintafne the Councreys agrievances and hisowne alfo : And if your Worfhip fliali bee pleafcd to doe him any friendly office, either by word or Counfell , he will be thankfull, and fo (hall more; and with my fclfc in efpeciall be bound to pray for you, and ever reft your truly devoted and fafthfull well- wilier in heart till death to becommanded, Richard Beake. Sir, I defire your favour I may hearc from your WoriTiip, which will be a joy tome and many others, who rejoyceof you, and hope well in you. This Letter is feconded by fundry others from thence to the fame ef?c<5r, and to move the Honourable Houfes of Parliament to take fome fpecdy courfe for the quenching of thofc flames of Schifme and Sedition, which thefe New In- dependent Lights and Firebrands have kindled in this Plantation, and taking orTtheunfupportacJc yoakof Tyrannicall and Arbitrary Government over thePerfons, E It ate?, and Conferences of the F,ce- borne SngUfo Subjetts there, which thefe Lordly Tyrants have impofed on them , threatning nunc to this Plantation ; which 1 hope their Honours, and all others concerned in it, will fcrioufly lay to heart, I fhall addetothis&wo other Papcrs,(towir,a/V/>/>>7, and Advertifement) fent lately from the Sommer Iflandstomc by Mr Richard Norwood* which fujjy difcover the Schifmaticall and arrogant Proceedings of the Independents there: and refute their prcfent Innovations in a fubftantiall fatiifa^ory manna* To the Right Worftiipfull our Worthy Governour Captaine Iofias Forfter , and hi* touncell. Right Worftiipfull and worthy Governour ,&c. * \ Know you are not ignorant of the rent or diihfion here begun, wbicft * though 1 beleeve (as you have often tepfted^&you favour not , yet through your gentlenejjc %nd forbearance towards the Autlo'irsand Abetters • It grow es very prong, and is like toprevaile^ which I (up- pofeyou know not , but may fun^r underftand if you bepUafedto make enquiry, and to heare other men%^or mine ownepart \fame not this as a complaint or accufation againft them, being but ont man, and the mater concerns all • befJis I havefeene thefuccejje that others have fi a had j 2 A Copy of a Letter from the Sommer Iflands, relating the had that wayes^ and I know they are too firong a party for me or any one man to encounter with. But being very fenfible of the danger ap- proaching^ lefi by myftlence 1 might Jeem to confent unto it, I thought it necefjary to give notice, and to endeavour what in me lies to prevent it, whatfoever may befall me for [o doing . Therfore 1 have written this Jdvertifement following, which i could wifh might come to the hands of all. The intent andfcope wherofis,to in* vite and per [wade all to a cefjation from fetting up any new difcipl'me and government amongft m untill we heare what is decreed by the Honorable slfjembly of Parliament: Or if that cannot be obtained (as ihavefrnaU hope m confidering how eagerly they pwfue their end?, and how great a number they have gained to their party , yet that the authours would ex - pefepunBually in writings what manner of Difcipline and Govern* ment it is which they would fet up. Andbecaufe (it may be) they will fay, that they have already exprefl it in their Sermcns, especially in their LeBures ordaynedfor that pur- pose • therefore I have fet down thirty or more doubts of fpeci all moment which they have not yet ikared m Neither is it fit that our Religion or this part of it (which they would feem to make a principal/ pari) fyould remain in their breads only, for fo they may adde, detra&> or alter, as they pleafe 5 but ought to bee fully exprefl in writing. And I beleevt they are fear ce agreed themjelves touching all points of their intended &ifciplir&; which you may perceive if you pleafe to examine them fe- ver ally, according to thefe or fach other queflions, as youfhall think Therefore in the fir fi place (according to my duty) I humbly prefent this Advertifement to the c on fi deration of your Worfhip and your Coun- €eU> to whom God hath committed the Government of this place, and of allperfons here, and of whom he will certainly require it, iffuchaneviS as is threatned fhould befall through your negleB. For although the great Antichrist and his Clergy did prevaile to perfwade Chriftian Princes anb Afagiftrates^ that the Government of the Church and care of Religion pertained not to them, but to the Clergy, and the like^ is mow here preached amongfl u< : yet I verily trufi, you entertain no fuch faVe principle. For^ to eflablijb true Religion, to maintain it, and to fee that the duties of Religion be duly performed to God and man, is al- meft aH that the Lawrequireth, and fotfalmcjl (if not all) the duty of the Qhrifiian Magistrates And this being taken from him^ and put npm the QUrgy^hemay ferve as an officer to execute what the Clergy " ^" fbali; faBious uncknftian Proceedings offome Independents there. \ 3 fball decree, hut ceafeth in a manner wholly to be a Afagiftrate. Thus commending y ou to the tuition and direction of Almighty God. 1 reft March 6. 1 £4 2 . Your Worfhips in all due obfervance,. Rich* Norwood. -An Advertisement to fuch here as have care of the Confervation of true Religion, IT is and ought to be the principal! care ofevery good Chriftian, to con^ fervethc knowledge and cxercife of true Religion in himfelfc and others, being the one thing necejfarj. But from this thefe times have much declined everywhere; and even in our dearc native Countrey, fo farre as called for a fpeedy Reformation, or threatned ruine. And feeing little hope of the one^ the latter was ]\imy feared by many, and by my felfc( Xconfefle) amongft others, being the principall caufe of my comming hither. But the Lord hath mercifully frayed thofe feares P and given tisfrcfh hopes by the Reformation in (6 great a mcafure begun by the prefent Parliament, which alfothey en- deavour through many difficulties to accomplifh more fully. And con/i- dcring how worthily they have begun, and what great things they have ef- fected above all expectation, we have no caufe to mif-doubt them, nor to anticipate their Honourable proceedings, but rather to attend what fhall be determined by them; efpecialJy confidcring that wee of this place, as wee have not beene much burthened, except by fomeMinifters; fo now we are altogether unbuvthened of the Ceremonies, and whatfoever elfe hath ufually beene offen five to good Chriftians in England. For if we fhould fee up a new Government or Difcipline and forme of Religion here , wee rnuft alter it againe when wee unde (land out of England what forme the Parliament have or fliall eftablifh : Some fay no , our MinKiers are as fuprearne heads under Chrift of their feverall Churches here , ind not fubordmatc in theft things Ecclefiafticall, to Parliament or any other power upon earth whatso- ever : but this opinion favors too much of AntichrirTian pride and preemp- tion, Others fay, the Parliament will eftablifh the fame forme that our Mi- nisters will fet up here ; but thefe conjectures doe much wrong that Honou- rable Aflembly ; for if the matter were fo eafie and evident, that our Mini- fters here can prefently determine it ; then what need the Parliament fo Jong to debate and confider of it? What need fuch confutation with the abklt Divines in England, and many other from all parts? And why hath there beene fuch difference of opinions touching this matter eves amongft the moi\ godlv and learned in Chriftendonac for thefe 1 00 year* together, x a A Copy of a Letter from the Somrner Ijlands, relating the i Tiro. Fph-4 lam # i J. IT. .*4« .8. Hcb. [3. 9. Icr.i 3& PioY. 24.21. It remaines therefore, that wee muft change againe when we heare from thence, and confidering what changes have becne made by fome already, if we fhould now make another change in fetting up a new Difcipline, and {hortly after another when we hearc out of England; fuch mutability would $ neither be fafe for this place, nor futeablcro the ftedfaftnefTe of the Church and people of God, which is the Ptllar and ground of truth, and muft not be wavering, and carried abeut with every winde of Doftrine &c. The Apoltle makes ic a figne of a doublt minded man to be unftable in all his wayei : and in the Epiftle to the Hebrcwes ; Be not carried about with divers andftrange Do* Etrines &c. And the Prophet faith, Why runneft thou about fo much to change thy wayes ? It will be anfwercd, we intend not to change, but to the better ; but wichall remember , that fuch is al wayes the pretence , and oft-times the intent in all Innovations whatfoever. Therefore Solomon faith, CMyfonne feare God and the King , and meddle not with them that are given to change. Not but that even the Deft Chnuians may alter fometimes in fome circum- ftanccs of Religion (fome good and weighty caufes requiring it ) but it muft not be through levity, nor of an high minde, nor for felfe ends. AreftlciTe .levity, and that with contempt of Authority, under pretence of greater and new lights, is a dangerous figne of an Anabaptifticall fpirit. Therefore I fay, what we change, ought to be done with the feare of God and the Kivg. In the feare of God, nameiy according to his Word- and. with the feare of the iC/*g,that is, confenting with the Lawes and Soveraignc Authority fet over us; or at leaft not with an high hand in contempt thereof- For every 'Rom. 13*1. finle muH befubjett to the higher powers; yea faith Chryfoslomcy though he be an A poftle, though an Evangeliil, though a Prophet. Therefore I could wifh ( as I have often perfwaded ) that wee might (lay for the determination of the Parliament in thefc things, and likewifcthe ap- probation of the Company in thofc that concern? them. But becaufe fome here are very impetuous, and a further change is daily preached and preiTed amongft us, I have little hope to Mop the violcnceof this ftreame. Therefore to the intent we may underitand and confider what to doe, and (as the fay- ing is ) look before we leap, I fliculd in the next place defire, as many others doe, and as it concerns us all to defire of them, and of our Minii ers eipecially, .-, that they would be pleafed to fet down in writing , whatfoever new thing in Doctrine or Difcipline they would have us entertaine , different from the practice or tenentsof the Church of Sr.vland ; that foeach thing being well confidcred , examined , and adjudged by the Word of God^ we may enter- taine orrej;& it accordingly. I know there are fundry Obje&xns alleadged and pretended, more then I need to repeat or anfwer here ; For howibevcr it is true that we are to fub- mit our felvcsto the Word of God, J meane the holy Scriptures in alhhings; Objections y Ct n ?*fotomen, efprcially when they lick themfclvesin ftcad ofChrift : No though they tell u , they are the mouth of God, and fitin«^/^»f^r.i 3.3. Andfothc Apoftleforctelleth, there fhould c bcSchifmes, and Herefies in the Church , as, For there mufi be herefics even among you, that thej which are approved amongslyou might be knowne. And fo, 2 Per. 2, 1 , But there were falje Prophets alfo among the people •, even as there fia/l be falft Teachers among you* Therefore we muft not take up our Religion upon the credit of men, how great focver they may feeme to be, but examine things by the word of God, and fee that it be firmly grounded there. To the Law and to the tejfimony, if they fpeakjnot according to this word t it is becaufc there is ns light m them* Therefore they muft prove by the word of God ( not by out- ward figncs and yvonders) the things they tcach ? and would have praftifedo - And Aft. i/. 1 6 A Copy of a Letter from the Sommer lfl&nd$ y relating the And firft Ice us know them fully, and with thofe noble Bereantyfczxchthc St:riptures,*aod examine them throughly before weentertainethem. They tell us daily of a greater light, whereby they difcerne thefc things and other great and glorious things that are working and already begun in the world within thefe three ycares, and will fhortly bcaccomplifbcd, even ib great and lb excellent a change in the world as may fcene to be a heaven upon earth ; the Lord grant it, and haften it ; but withall let us defire and expect thefe things with fobriety and watchfulnefle , left whillt our eyes be taken up and dazzled with a prefent expectation of thefe high and glorious things, we fee not the danger that is at our feet , but be caught in the fnarc before we be aware, rcmembring the words of our Saviour in this cafe, when his Bifciplcs asked him faying , Lord wilt thou at this time reftore the Kingdome Act.1,7, f0 jj rae i t pj e an f wcrc d , It is not for yon to know the times or the fcafons, which the Father hath put in his own power. I have read in fome Hiftory of the Weft-Indies, that about loo yeares irnce or more, the Hand Vianis (which fome of our men are now gone to dis- cover) and all thofe Hands thereabout were Inhabited by certain Indtans, which for ingenuity and feature fiirpaflcd many others; thefe held the im- mortality of the foule, and thought that when it departed the body, it went to a kinde of Purgatory,which they fuppoftd to be the cold Northern Moun- taines congealed with froft and fnow ; where afcer it was fuflficiently purged, it went from thence into countreys more Southerly , and there abode for ever, enjoyning a thoufand delights and plcafures. The Spaniardshnving knowledge of this opinion of theirs, and wanting men to work in their gold mines, came thither with Ships from Hifpaniola or Cuba ( which arc to the Southward) and making fome goodly (hew, told thefe ftily Indians thit they were come from the Southern parts , places of great felicity, where the fbules of all their Anceftors and friends departed were in all joy and happineffc ; and they were now come to tranfport them immediately thither, that they might never come at all into that Purgatory in the Northrcn parts? Thefe fimplc people being dazelled with the conceit and imagination of thefe things, could not forcthink their danger at hand, but came flocking to the Spaniards in great numbers ; who when they faw their opportunity fc: faile, and carryed them thence to their gold mines, where they were foonc con* fumed with grievous fervice and flavery. , In like fort it conccrnes us not to be lb much cranfported with any glorious pretences of fome great tem- poral! freedome and felicity ac hand, astobedrawne in any fort from the Church of England, efpecially as it is now reformed and in reforming, but to know fully of thofe that would draw us whither they would have us goe, and upon what grounds, that fo we may fcarch the Scriptures, and throughly examine thofe grounds thereby. Gcd hath delivered our Nation (as many others in Chriftendom) from under the bond ?ge of the great Antichrift , we have not prized this delive- rance, nor made that ufeof this libcrty,nor thole many mercies and bleflings accompanying it that we ought. And considering our great abufe of Gods favours, fuBhut uncbtiftUn froceedings offome Independents there. ij favours, and in particular the finnes of this place in all fort?, Magiftraref, Minifters and people, and efpeci ally the evident unfoundncfTe of thofc that are Profit (Tors here : It were juft with God whilft we look for light to fend us darkneffe, and whilft we propofc to our fclves the fpecdy ruiuc of An- tichrift, great freedo me and glorious times fall which the Lord can effect in his due time') wee fall our fclves into another fervitude and bondage per- haps as grievous as the former, under petty Antichrifts. For if chat grand Antichrift comedown (as we have good hope J and a company of Clergy- men fhould arifc (whether Minifters, or whocKc) that fhould as ic were di- vide his kingdome among them, by affuming every one to himfclfe fuch a like power over his Church, or the people committed to his charge as the grand Antichrift ufurped over the Cathohquc Church , ai.d that as he did lure Divino (which they pretend) furcly they would become fo many petty Antichrifts, and the Church fhould be brought into fervitude andthraidomc as before. And indeed, as theerrour to which the Iewes were moft inclined in ge- neral), was to fet up other gods,thatis falfe gods, attributing fomething to them which was proper to the true God: So theerrour to which Chriftians in generall are moft inclined, is to fet up falfe Chrifts; that is Antichriflsof the Clergy, attributing fomething to them that is peculiar to Ghrift him- felfe, or to his Church, which is Chrift myfticall ; As was foretold by the ApolUcs, and is evident by the experience of all Ages fince Chrift : And of which our Saviour himfelf feems to give warning,when he faith ;For there fbal Mnth.14. u^ arife falfe Chrifts and falfe Prophets, and (hall jbew great fignes and wonder s , fo that if it were pojfible, t he j fhould deceive the very E/etl. And by fuch mcancs,evcn the Pope himfeiie and all his Clergy had their firft rifiog, having the Suffrages and helpc offome that fecmed otherwise to be good Chriftians. It behoves us therefore to be earneft with God in prayer , to walk more worthy of his grace, and the 1 i gh t of theGofpel vouch fa fed unto us, leaft he iThef.i.ir* fendusftrongdelufons; to be fober minded and watchfull, remembring there viill bee alwayes fome Antichrifts, and that thcGhurch and people of God is never like to be free from perfecution, affliction, and temptation in this world; And that we (Hall never have fuch Minifters, whom we may ab- fblutely truft to for our Religion (as fome here profeffe to doe. ) c Calvin c in his Preface to Pfychopannychia, hath thofe words, Is this to learn Chrift, * when a man fiall apply his ear* to any dottrines ; yea> though they bee true c without the word oftfod? If thou receive it as from man , wilt thou not as % eafly enter taine lies*, for what hmh a man that is hi* own but vanity ? There* fore we muft alwayes have the toy net of our minds girded and our lamps luk.ntjy, burning, and ftand upon our guard our fclves: And fo follow men (even the Cor.u.i. Apoftles themfelves) as they follow Chrifi. The Apoftle ipeaking of Mini- ftcrs tilth, Let no man at his pleasure he arc rule over you by humbleneffe of Col.j.iK minds— advancing himfelfe in thofe things which he never faw (but are of hiiown deviling,) rafbly pnft up with hisflejbly mindu And in another place , C Belicvs 1 8 A Copy of a Letter from the Sormner Jjland^ relating the - , Believe net every fptrit, but try the fpiritt whether they are of God : And for trying the fpirits, we muft follow the rule of our Saviour, who faith, Beware ef falfe Prophets which come toy oh in fheeps c'oAthivg, but inwardly they are ra- Mat,7,if, vetting Woolves^ ycefhall know them by tfieir fruits, &c. And their fruits are their convention and doctrine : But the converfation of themfclves arjd their adherents , being a thing more perfonall , and fo apt to liirre up offence (which I would avoid (o much as J may J I forebea r e to profectite. Their Do&nne then we mud examine by the rule of Gods wordjwhichjthat we may the bcttcrdoc bc4ng a matter that fo much concerns us , wc (hould defire as I have before laid, we might have the particulars wherein they differ from the publike doctrine and praStife of the Church of England (et down in writing. This if they be not able,or fhalldifdaine to doe, as not accounting us worthy for whom they fhould doc it, they muftnot be orTended,norcom- plaine of us that wc are oppofers in this matter ofthe Kingdome of Chril!t,and will not be ruled by them in the courfe of their Miniftry jfor what difcretion were it, to follow grangers wc know not whither ? Its like they will fay , they are no Grangers, they have lived long here. But as we know one of them came by an accident very laic'y; the other two though they ha?c 6 b:en long among us, yet they are in a manner Grangers to us, for they are not the fame men that formerly they were, having changed their opinions and pra&ifes in many things that we know, and it is like in many other things that we know nor,and how farre they will proceed, and whire they will make a ftand wee know not, nor it may be they them- selves. If they (hall fay (as fome pretend ) that the Government and Difcipline which they would have us entcrtainc , is of it feife evident by the word of God, to every one whofe eyes arc not blinded by the god of this worJd,& that they have declared it already in their Sermons, efpecially in their weekly Lectures, which it feemes they have inftitutcd for that purpofc : As hee that preached thethird Lecture feemed to intimate, when fpeakingof this intended Church and DTciplinc,he faid,Hisfirft reverend Brother had laid the foun- dation, his fecond reverend Brother had fhewed what muft be the materials of this building, namely, fuch snd onely fuch as could bring good teftimony of their convcrflon and holy converfation: And he was now to fhew the forme and order to bee obferved in every particular Church/and how each one was to be Superiour or Subordinate to others ( though he did not this at that time fo farre as I undcrflood. ) The fame things or co the fame purpofc were againe repeated in the fourth Lecture. But I fay, all this notwith- ftanding, the things are of themfelvesobfcureanddoubtfull; which doubts they have not taken away, but rather encreafed. Some of which doubts a- Hiongft many, I will here fet down, not railed from (peculations of things afarrc off, ind not like to trouble us, but fuch as arife from that which is frequently preached and preffed orpra&iiedamongft us. In which though lendeavourto undeltand things in the beft fence, yet becaufethey expeflc act themfclves plaincly, I may mjfta c their meaning in fome things, and therefore faBious uncbfifiian Proceedings of Jome Independents there. therefore alfo doc the rather defire they would fully and plainly cxptefTe their intent in writing : as one that am ready ro joynjin whatfoevcrl underftand, eo tend truly and indeed to the advancement of the Kingdom:,and Govern- ment JcfusofChrilt , but would not be milled byjthc devices of men, under this or any other pretence whatfoever, I. \ \ 7 Hcther they meane to fct ut Vcftriesagainc, for every Tribe as Y V formerly they havedone, and (b to govern the fevcrall parts of their charge by feverall VeHries of a douzen men in each Veilry, whereof the Mimftcr to be the chicfe; and fo to enquire,heare, and prefent Offenders as heretofore ? ^.Whether they meane to continue thofe weekly meetings which they call Loblolly Feafts, whereof alfo the Minifter is the chiefe; And what perfons ihall bee admitted to them, and upon what termer? 3. Whether they meane to continue that Lordly or MafterJy pra&ifc of univerfail Catecdifing all men and women weekly , begun here aJmoit two yearespart,andprcrTed upon all with great vehemency ; And that all (hall ilill be tied to anfwer according tot hat Catcchife of Mr Oxenbridges, called Babes Mtlke, or fbme other ? Thefc threcpraclifcsasthey have been ufed here, being as I conceived their own inventions, and not grounded on the word of God. nor the examples of the Primitive or other Reformed Churches, nor on the LawesofourLand, but prefled upon us meerc'y by their own Authority, I did infomc lbrtop- pofe at their firft comming up 5 namely, by tettify ing bo h privately and pub- likely my did ike of them, and thereafonswhy : Butcfpecially.thc laft more at large, when unto I was moved by Mr hhnOxenbndge, who took upon -Jrim to write a defence of this pra&ifc of univerfall Catcchi/ing all men and women, and of true Bclecvers in (pcciall ; and to anfwer the Objections which I had made againh: it. But what he hath performed, and how well bdeeminghis worth and reputation, I leave to the j dgcmnt offuch as have ©rfha 1 perufemy Confutation ofrhat his Defence and Anfvver, where I have put them together : Touching thefe three p a&ifes, I fhould move iundry ^ nftions , but that it feemrs they are«all laid down of late^and as it is thought will not be taken up againe, therefore we {hail paifc them over, that we may come to thofe new things which chey urgenow. 4 Whether this Diicipline and forme of Religion,which they would fee up, Tbe the fame in ail points of moment with any other Reformed Church whatfeever , except perhaps in < Trovidetice i where it had no fuch fucceffc as &. njld induce us to embrace it. If they fay, yes, in New-EvgUr:d t vicait ve- ry doubtful] of that, ^mot knowing certainely what is practifed th^rej the rather foe that fome have endeavoured to eftablifh univerfall Cacecbtfiflg here u^nn that ground faying, it was generally ufed thcrc,which appears nor to be true. Befidesjif fuch a Difcipliuc be there,itisno leading example to us, part* ly becaufe they have had no long experience of it 5 and partly became there h.ay |te£rmch difference between the people there and here ; for if for none would injure another (and to this condition the Churches in theApoftlcs times fecme neareft to approach,) But here where itisfarre otherwile,and in other places in general!, men muft be wary what Difcipline and Govern- ment they fet up, prcfuppofing it muft come into evill mens hand's as well as good, yea, and that more often. 5. Whether this Difcipline be fully fct down by any found Divine, and not rather framed by themfelvcs , borrowing from fevcrall Churches,and feverall Divines , what will beft ferve their turne ? And whether our three Minifters agree in a all points touching the Difcipline they would have us embrace ? 6. What feverall Offices,and how many Officers (hall be in every Church, and how fubordinateone to another ? And whether the Miniftcr (hall not be thechiefc of thofe Officers, or as it were the fupreme Moderator or/ Govcrnour of them all , without whom nothing (hall bee eftablifticd, and alio to have the principall hand in putting in and putting out thefe Officers ? for fo they feerae to intimate* 7. Whether this Minifter and his Officers will govern and ceniure the jeft according to fome lawes or in an Arbitrary way? and if in an Arbi- trary way, to whom (hall chey appcale if they have wrong ? And who (hall queliion and judge the Minifter if he decline from the truth, or be a wicked liver ? And whether this bee not like to prove a very tyrannicall government if it come into evill hand?, which muft be prefiippofcd ? 8. If they will govern and judge according to forae lawes j what be thofe lawes ? whether fome already extant, or fbrhe others which they will frame, and who they be that fhall frame thefe lawes? and what (hall be the feverall penalties or cenfurcs for Delinquents ? o.Whattryail(in things of importance^ the party accufed fhall be al- lowed ? The Common Law of England {10 avoyd tyranny and injuflicr, to which the corrupted nature of man is much inclined , and even of Clergy men as well as others) allowes a tryall by 12 indifferent men,which are ho- ned and free men, of good ranke, having nodependance, nor are in feare of the Iudge, nor bearc no ill will to the party accufed, butfuchas are like to dcale impartially, and that upon Oath. Whether he (hail have that or fome othcrlbfairea tryall? 10. Whac things they be which they will undertake to judge of? and wha« have been rightly entreJ into the Church, or Shall need to be baptized againe? fuch a rumour there is ipread, upon what occa- sion I know not, 3. What manner of teftimony this muft be? 4. Who muft give it, and whether a mans own teftimony may notferve in this cafe, and V?hvn?&c. thefeand many other like Should be cleared, which wc paffc over. 20- Whethertbey meane, thatany man may of himfclfe excommunicate another, when they fay frequently, a man may, or I would paffe a private excommunication againlt fuch or fuch a man ? 21. What they meane to alter in the administration of the Sacraments? Ihearethere is much variety of late. The laft child which I faw bapt zed, the Minifter required the Father to Say his Creed, which done, the Minifter made an expofition of it, making fome doubt alio of fome part efit,\and then asked the Father if he would have his child baptized into that faith , who anfwering, yea, it was baptized; and thus I heare he ufeth of Jate to baptize others. Now it would be knowne, why it may not ferve the turne for the Father to teftifie his aifent to the Articles of the Creed &c as heretofore hath been ufed ? 2* Whether the child and parent alio may not be very un- certain of the Faith inro which the child was baptized, feeing theMinifters exposition is not recorded ? 3. Whether they have the fame opinion of the Creed that they fceme to have of the Scriptures, that it may not bee publikely read or repeated unlctTe it be alfo expounded by a Minifter, and why ? 4. Wh«« ther thistying of rhe Baptifmtothc Ministers exposition, may not ferve as a fit opportunity for Hereticks (not yet discovered,) to baptize children into their Here fie? 22. Whether the Scriptures be not the word of God, able to make a man *Tiin.3,if» wife unto falvmon^ except on iy then, when they arc pronounced andexpoiin- ded by a Minifter ? And whether the places of Scripture that we (which arc no Minivers) all d^e in any ca!c,bcnor*alSbthe wordofGod, as true and of as much force as if they were pronounced by a Minifter? 23.Whc« fdUious unckriftia* Proceedings of fome Independents there. 2 3 23. Wither the writings of Eminent and approved Divines may not be read in the Church, whenthere is no Sermon? Nay whether they may not prove more profitable then the Sermons of lb me fchifinaticallor other unwor- thy MiniHers? 24 Whether our Er.gltfh Common Prayer (having never yet been called in) may notberead in the Church, fuch things being altered or left out as have bindoubtfullorofFcnfive togoodChriftian> ? Or whether it is fo faulty that it may not bee uf.d ar all ? Becaufe they will not fuffer it to bee read at all where they preach ; and as I hcare, intend to abolifh the reading of it quite. 25 Whether they will permit any other book of Common Tra/er ufed in any other Reformed Church, or fome other that may be framed, or that no fet form at all may be ufed but fuch prayers only as the Miniftcr doth then con- ceive, nor any thing read, no not out of the Scriptures, but what the Miniftcr doth then expound ? 26 How long it is they mean when thty fay a few dayes y that they would have men that would be converted or receive a further degree of grace to cxer- cife'themfelvesi 1 humiliation, before they fhall partake of thofe cnlightnings and comforts they fpeak of ? and after what manner this is to be done, and from what ground of Scripture ? 27 What Covenant it is which they perfwade fo much all the members of this Church to enter into at their admittance (and which as is thought is alrea- dy begunne) whereby they muft bee bound one to another ? and how farrc forth they muft affilt and defend one another ? what are the particular parts and circu mtf ances of this Covenant,* nd how it fliall be confirmed,whethcr by fubfeription or by fomefolemn vow ? 28 Whether he which hath cntrcd this £W#4itf, fhall ftill remayn as hee was, a true member of the Church and Common wealth of 8 K gUnd y 01 be of fome other Reformed Church, or of fome Separate & Independent Church'? 29 We grant there is often mention in Scriptures of aGovenant betwixt God and thepeople^&c. but whether there may be any warrant in Scripture for fuch a Covenant between all the members of this Church, as they would have ? They alleadge for it thefe words, sAnd when Taulwascometo Jewfa- a&s 9, 26* /em, h ? fiffttyedtojoyn himfelf with the Difctples : where fay 'fome, the word joynthit is in the original! *j.fodfyu y fignifies a joyning by covenant ; but \ findc no fuch thing in my Lexicon. I flnde the like word ufed where it is fi;d, Then Ac*ts8.*j« the Spirit faid unto Phillip , %o near and joyn thy felf to yonder Chariot ; where, by jojningh meant no Covenant. Other places they alleadge, but we would fee fome tothcpurpofeifihey have any. 30 Whether it bee not injurious ro the Honourable isfjfembly ofTarlia. went, to pretend fuch Innovations or changes to be according to their minde, which they have never authorized, nor declared thcmfclvcs to have any pur- pofe to authorize or allow ? Many other doubts I have omitted, but by thefe which I have noted, i( may fufficicm ly appears, chac chough they have long preached of theft mac* ters, 24 -A Copy of a Letter from the Sonrmer l/JmdSy relating the rers, yet many things remaine very unccrtaine. And if they would take the paines to Set downe in writing, as aforefaid, all parts of their intended Difci- pJine and Government , it would be very profitable to themiclves ; for ie would give them occaSion more throughly to confider if, and more wifely to order it. Is there caufe then that they fhould bee Co incenfed againft thoSc that make queftion of theie things in a moderate and Chriftian way? or whom they feare will oppofe any of thcm,as to threaten them with the judg- ments of this life, and of the life to come ; yea , to afligne them the Jowcft places in hell, as if thcmfelves were well acquainted, and had Such power in diSpofing places there, as the Pope pretends to have in purgatory ? Surely we learne in our firft entrance into learning, Qui dttbitat } quifepe rogat, me* ditta tenebit ; Is -qui nil dnbttat, nil captt inde boni. Is it juit orreafonablc they fhould accufe, cenfure, and defame fuch an one publikely in the Pulpit,' where the party accuSed cannot, without offending the Congregation, and the Lawes, anfwer for himSelfe, thoegh he be innocent ? Surely in all equity the accufation^cfpecially of one that is innocent,ought not to be more publike then hit defence or anfwer is permitted to be. Is it futeable to Chri(Uan cha- rity to ufe heavy imprecations or curSings againft fuch, and when the hand of God is upon fuch a man in any affliction, as fickne&e JoflTes, death, or the like; tofcthim out in the Congregation by evident and well known circumftanccs, asan adverfary to God , and as one whom God was now imiting to destru- ction for his opposition and obftinacy againft the Kingdom and Government of Chrift ( as they call this their intended Difcipline.) DoubtlefTe it behoves Minifters to have fome feare of God , and refped of man, and to lay afide thefe carnal! weapons, whereby they would affright and ternfie us, that wee ftiould not dare to quitch nor make the leaft refinance, whilft in the meane time they Set up thcmfelves as Lords over us in their intended Discipline, cal- ling it the Kingdom and Govenmcnt of Chrift; But if they would indeed fee Eph.rf. 17 uptheKingdome of Chri(r,lct them take the fwerd of the Spirit ^which is the word of God> and make good what they deliver, by that. And for us fas many I meane as have care of the prcfervation of true Religion ) let us hold faft to the word of God, and not bedifcouraged ; nor let that goe, though they up- braid us in a Scoffing manner, faying , Come y on Scripturiaw 9 you Scripture' men that mufi have Scripture for what you wii doe ; cowe i I will give) cu Scrip* ture enough to overthrow your Religion^ turne to Ezekicl &c. Thcic and ma- ny other fuch fpecches, what clfe doe they relliSh but of a fpirit of the old An- tichrift, which being now more difcovcred and expelled from his former ha- bitation, walks about through dry pldccs, fecking himftifc an habitation ia fbmc other perfons and places, where in a new dilguife he may pra&ile his wonted malice undifcovered. Let wiftand faft in the liberty wherewith Oil u t. Chrift ha h made w fte<,znd not bedrawne from the Church of England, which we know, to joyne our felves with any new Separate and Independent Church which we know not ; although we hearc many contumelious and reproachful! fpecches uttered againft the Church of England. They ought to be better affetftcd , and to give that honour which is due , as the* which ■ . . I — I III ) fdfthas unchtiftan Froceedings offome Independents there, 2 5 which have fucked her breafts, and received as their naturall,fo their fpiricuall birch there, if ever they were new born. We ought to acknowledge, with thankfghring the aboundant grace and mercy or God towards the Church of England • who hath made it no JeiTc honourable tbrn any other Reformed Church whatsoever, whether we con- sider the firft Reformers, being men of lingular Piety, and blefled Martyrs of Cbrift ; Or the purity of Dodrinc there publikely profefled even to this pre* fcnt.Or the number of holy Martyrs,who have advifedly fcaled that Do&rine their blood: Or the eminent lights in the Miniftry fucceifi vely (Tuning there in great number : Or the many and fincere ProfelTors and Praltifcrsof Rcligort there, ever fince the Reformation; Or laftly, if weconfiderthemany great Deliverances which the Lord hath vouchfafed us, from the wicked plots and holtile attempts of the common adverfary crowning all with much proiperity, and caufing the fame and glery of it to be ipread throughout the world. Thefe and the like have not been ieene in their (eparate and Independent Churches* In the meane time, we deny not, but that befides our many other grievous finnes, there have beene alio many groflc faults and intoilerable ift the Ecclehaftical I Policy and Diicipline, as it was abu fed by thofc that were intruded with it, and many foule effe^s have thence proceeded, which have ( elpccially of lare ycarcs) corrupted Religion , cclip&d our glory, and laid it in the duft, caufed the Lord to hide his gracious and loving countenance from us : And was like to have proved the remedileffe ruine of Church and Com* mon- Wealth : Of which finnes though wee all ftand guilty before God, as having been Authors or Procurers of them ; yet it becomes not any,chat is p or lately was a member of that (Church , to upbraid her with thefe things in a defpightfull manner : Such men accord ng to that faying of the Apoftle, Are jealom over us amijfe, yea, they would (alienate our affe«?tions,and ) ex* Gal.4,iy c elude us (from the Church of England ) that we fhould altogether love them* But thefe corruptions as they have beene for the moft part forced upon the Church, by the ufurped power of thole which were intruded, and pretended the greateit care of the Church; fo they have been, and wee truft will bee cart out and Rrformed by the prcient Parliament. Now 1 would not be miftaken, as if Idefircd to derogate any thing from the dignity of that moft eminent calling of the Miniftry • I have no fuch meaning, neither doe I think a worthy Miniftcr to be unworthy or unfit for other the moft eminent Offices or callings in Church or Common- wealth , were it not that he hath a m©ft eminent calling already fufficicnc to take up the whole man , and unmeet to be yoaked with other callings; as the Apoftlc fo\th>who is fufiicient for thefe things; And the Apoftlcs doe re- i Cor.i.if, je fuch employments with a kinde of contempt faying , It is not meet that we (hom d leave the word of God to (erve Tables, and a little afcer,»v will give A&f .21 §ur felves continually to prayer, and to the Mmiftry oftheWord, intimating that thefe things would hinder them from prayer and the miniflry of the Word; wherebv it appcares, they would not be Deacons, nor take upon them any other Office in or over the Church, but ipend thcmfelves wholly D in I - - -™— ^ i $ A Copy of 4 Letter from the Sommer Iflandf) relating the in the word and prayer ; the like might be manifefted by fundry other Scrip- tures. And the evill of it hath becne fo generally oblerved in England \ that fas I heard) ££*eene Elizabeth , when Che had conferred upon a Miniftcr authority and power to rule, was wont to fay, / have fpoyled a good Tr ei- ther to dayl And furely ( if we obferve it) the dcfirc of Superiority and Do- minion in or over the Church , in Minifters and Clergy men , and the readi- ncflc of Princes and people to conferre it upon them ; hath been a principall, if not the principall caufe in corrupting Religion from time to time, and of letting up the great Antichrift, and many others, as might calily be (hewed if it were not an argument too long for this place. Thus farre (through the gracious affiftancc of God) I have expreffed my snindc in this matter, to the intent I might flop, fo much as in me lies, the letting up of a new Difcipline and Government of our owne framing , feeing we are already freed of all thole things that have ufually becne burthenfome and offenliveto goodChriftiansin England; and that we expect daily the further determination and decree of the Honourable slffembly of Parliament in thefc things. Or if I cannot prevaile fo farre as to ftop it, yet that wee might look before we leap, and underftand well what we doe before we doe it. Or if neither that may be obtained, yet hence it will ippea re, that my lilfe and Come others deferveno blame, much lefTe fuch cviil fpeechesas arc ufu- ally vented againft us by fome, becaufc we will not raflily runne with them we know not whether. And laftly, I defire that this may be a publikc teftL- mony of my judgement in thefe things. For to be prefent, and hcare them daily preffed, and to bee alwayes £Jent a is taken for a fignc of confent and approbation. March 2, 1^42 s Rich. Norwood* • s Voftfcript, Incethis AdVcrtifernent of mine came abroad ( though but a months) 'what horrible forelpeakings, threatnings, imprecations, and cenfures have beencpublikcly denounced againft me in feverall parts of the Countrey,I jfhali not need to repeat, being too well knowne. Neither will I anfwerthem ac- cordingly left I alio be like them ; I will only in the feareofGod,and by the comfortable a fli ft a nee of his holy Spirit apply that faying, How Jk odd Nfeiab, 13.5. t fo e y Cfir ji, w h ere God hath not cur fed ? Or how fhould they detefi where the sSam.26. 12, Lord hath xot detefled? And thole words of 'David It may be that the Lord tvill look on mine af^iBion^ and doe me good for his curjlng this day. A delpcraw thing it is for men to blafpheme againft fome good light ; and what is it, to acknowledge the good gifts and graces of God in thole which they lb bitterly preach againft ; and to overwhelm them all with moft foulcand feigned faf- ipicions and afpeifions without caule? As when they fay, Satan will not ufe profane and wicked men, but he makes choife of thole that are of good and abJe partSp men of a religious life, of a bJameleflc conversation - theft clofe hy pocrite* faBious unchriflUn Proceedings of [owe Independents were. potritcs he makes his instruments to oppofe the Kingdom of Chrift (that is their intended Difcipline ) &c. with other like fpeeches. I fay it is very dan- gerous for men thus to give way to wrath and malice. The Scribes and Pha- rifces did fee, and would no doubt have acknowledged the eminent gifts and graces that fhined in our Saviour, if he would have applied them to the cfta- blifriing of their Faction. But becaufe he would not doe fo, they maliciously traduced him, and faid he had an uncleanc fpirit; but he reproves their de- fperate wickednefTe, Shewing how nearly they did approach, or became guil* ty of the finnc againft the Holy Ghoft. And let every man take heed how they doe cunningly fatten (landers, orotherwifefbewdefpight unto the fpiric of Grace, becaufe. it will not be fubordinate unto their ends. I could wifh ilfo they would confider the words of CMarJilitu Tatavinus , in his Book zntitxxkd, Defender ef the 'Peace. Where fpeaking ofthofe that prefume to frame or preffe Orders, Decrees % and other parts of Difcipline , without licenfe afthe true Law-giver or Prince, and endeavour to draw people to the obler- /ation of them by furreptitious words, as it were compelling them by threat- ling eternall damnation to fuch as tranfgrefTc them , or denouncing cxecra- ions, reproachfull fpeeches, excommunications, flanders, rcvilings, or other naledi&ionsagainft them, or any of them, in word or writing; fuch (faith iej are tofufFcrcorporallpunifrimentin a moft high degree,asconfpirators, mdftirrersupofcivillfchifme, ordivifionin a Common- wealth. For it is kith he, a moft grievous kinde of trcafon, becaufe it is committed directly a- >ainft the Royall Majefly uf the Prince and his Soveraigne Authority ; and endeth to let up a plurality offupreame authorities or powers, and fo of ne* cfTity to the diffolutioft or overthrow of every civill Government. They object alfb, thatl am but a Lay-man, and therefore Chou Id riot med- lle with matters of Divinity, applying that Proverb Nefutor ultra crepidam, tnd faying, that even the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, wherein he hath skill, "hould teach him that lefTon, which al way es move in their ownefpheares, ex- ept they be wandring ftarrcs, for whom the blackncffe of darkneffe is refer- red for ever, with many other bitter exprcffioris. But this is an old plea of jhc Popifh Clergy , to hold the people in ignorance and thraldome,and fhould not be taken up by thofe that would feeme to be more oppofitc to Popery theft Protectants are. That eminent and bleffed J) ivine Doctor ^^i" wasofano- ther mindc, who fpeaking in commendation of Mr Sherland ( that was no Preacher) difdaines not to fay he had good skill in controverted points of Divinity, and that he was a good Divine. And furely thccalling of a Chri- fiian is of that importance, that he mufl, if need fb require, omit whatfocver calling he have befidcs,to make good that one moft ncccflary, neither can he juftly be charged to move out of his fphearewhenfbever he meddles with mat- ters of Chriftianity and Religion, efpecially fuch points as he is preffed to em- brace and fubmit unto. The Apoftle exhorts us all, that weefhonld tarnefily contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints. And I may fitly anfwerthem in the word- of that renouned Souldier of Chrift Do#or Bafl- wick* who being checked by phcBilhop of Canterbury in like fort as I am by thefcj si cop) of & Litter f? cm the Semmer /foods, reUxing the thefe,that he being a J*hy Titian, a Lay-man, fhould prcfume to write of fome points in Divinity, anfwers in Latine, to this purpofe in Enghfh. I writ a Book ( faith he ) not to finde my 'elfc employment or to ftirre a ftrifc,butofa Chriftian mindc and affc&ion, according to my duty to Go and my Prince. The reproach of a Lay-man touchcth not me, for he wh»c hath vowed himfclfeto Chrift is one of Gods Clergy. The ancient Church doth not acknowledge that furnameof a Lay- man, but reckons it among the Sola riftves of the Bcaft. Wchavegivne, promifed, and vowed ynto Chrtftj in Bapcifme our name and faith ; and have folemnly denounced battel! againft the flefh, the world, the devill, herefie &c. againft which wee mufti fight unletfe wee put oft the reverence and refped of our Vow. How unfea- fonable is it then to ask by what authority we fight againft thefe ? ( And a little after) (hall that be a fault in me, which is a prahe to Divines ? Thej cxercife phy rick Gracing mcrchantdizc, they husband their grounds, plant, gather in their fruits, they all may doe all things, I envy not ; yet I wondei we fliould be fo ftrcighened, whilft they have fuch liberty. But if fbme blun fellow fliould ask a Divine, Hcar'ft thou good man, what haft thou to do with the Court, with privy Councell, with Seats of Judgement ? what haf thou to doe with renting lands, with planting vineyards , with breeding cat cell, with money the provocation of all evills ? would he not check fuch bold queftion with fome fliarp anfwer t yes doubtlcflehe would. Wha tken fliould we doe when we are asked>.VVhac wee have to doe with Goc with Chrift, with Religion, with the Truth f We will laugh to (corncfuc envious queftions , and performe with diligence what God calls us to. We will endeavour with all chearfulneffe the defence of the truth, the conferva tionofRcligion,thcobfcrvationofour fidelity and allegiance to that Sove raigne Authority which is over us; rendring an account of our endeavour to him, to whom wee have vowed our (elves &c. He that defires to fee hi defence more at large, may perufc his apology to the Snglijh Trelatcs. Ttyw 1 iefeethjou brethren, mar\ them dtltgemly which caufe dtvtjton an Rom. 1 6. 1 74 o fences contrary to the Doftrine which yee have learned, and avoid them* 1 8. For they that are fuchferve not the Lord leftu Chrifi % but their c w# Mies i and wit hf aire Jpeech and fatter ing % deceive the heart! of the Jimp ft, March 30. 1643* * * F/NIS. f Mm ts i wen /M JK 1 M ma m msm mm I < ••• ■ - ■ i '•••■.-. ..,,•■"•.."■.■■■...■'•■ mwnm i mtmea mm m Wmm m n % HHH wffll ■If nam df as* am nffir' ^ I ■ ' 1