UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
CECLMSPICC
SCIENTI
ARTES
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
낀
​Mmmm
VINDICIÆ ANTI-BAXTERIANA:
Vall
Or, Some title
ANIMADVERSIONS
On a BOOK, Intituled
Reliquie Baxteriane;
OR, THE
L I F E
0 F
Mr.Richard Baxter.
Lord, who ball abide in tby Tabernacle? Who shall
dwell in thy holy hill? He that doth no evil to
his Neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach againi
bis Neighbour, Pfal. 15.1, 2.
Let Another man praiſe thee, and not thine own
*mouth, Prov. 27. 2.
Do not found. Trompet before thee as the Hypoeritu
do, Matth. 6. 2.
Parturiunt montes, naſcetur ridiculus muus.
London, Printed for the Author, and are
to be Sold by Richard Standfaſt over againt
the Old-Divel-Tarnn in Fleet-ſtreet. 1696.
To Mr. Silveſter
S
SIR,
Eeing the words that your admired
(and almoſt adored) Golden Ora-
cle
gave you, did you so much
good, I think I know you, but I am
not ſure: Epiſt. Dedi. I would give
them a freſh repetition, hoping they
may do you more good.
You greatly ſtumble at the threſhold
in your entrance on your Work, and
eem to forget as much as any man,
Ovid de Triſt. that you so often, and
Vavely, and learnedly cite.
Cauſa patrocinio non bona ma-
jor erit.
A2
row
As your
You make wofil unſatisfactory excu.
fes to Mr. Baxter's Votaries, why th!
Book came out no ſooner. I grant with
yout it was long expected, and by fom!
as long deſired as you mention, but ii
is as true, by others as long fear'd. On
would think your hand was not ſo wea
in writing an O&avo page in an hour'
head was in making that, an
ſome other jejune inſipid Excufes, an.
among the reſt your Miniſterial work
But you tell them more Exelles go!
could bring. We have too many alrea
dy, more than are good; but if you hav
more by you, perhaps you have bettei
which you keep to your ſelf, and leave
theſe poor, thin, hungry ones for us; a
Some you knew, tho they drunk but little
would what was ſpecial, and then talis
of our freer drinking of ſmaller Li-
quors. But do you not deal with 14
as the Cadets of France, who when the
have written all their Blandiſhments of
Honour, clap an, &c. to make tl
World believe that more were behind
Ever
Every one you tell us is not fit to
write the Hiſtory of his own life, and
times. And indeed
And indeed you have given
the beſt proof of this profound Affertion,
for in my conſcience Mr. Baxter was
in the number.
* You (ay, and that truly, That they
that fyrite Hiſtory, fbould not rrite
Things Mean, impertinent, Provoking :
and that needlefs Refie£tions Jould not
be brought to Publick View. Hor
same you then to Midwife into the
World a Book full of all theſe at first
ties? Thus the Eye that ſees thoxſands
of other things, ſees not it ſelf.
Your Eagle eyed Man you ſay, was
of a very tender Spirit, whether he has
the Eagles-eye adhuc ſub judice lis
eft; but we are ſure he had the Eagles
clair tearing the names of his Opponents
.
Tender he was indeed, but it was of his
own Reputation, not of another
. Makt.
That he was a Man above all popular
Applauſe, will no more be believed by
Men, not bigotted, that know his Wri
A 3
tings
0
tings well, than that he was Gabriel
the Arch- Angel incarnate among
Men.
1, and Thouſands of others, do ad
ver, That he was a notorious Trumpe
ter of his onn good Works, and not ret
al only, but conceited and imaginar
attainments. Shew me one Precedent au
mong our Divines. And not withſtand.
ing this one bad example, it is to be ho.
ped Polierity rrill not know an Imitator
He was alſo as notorious a Defamer oj
Learned, Pious, Worthy Divines, ani
Publiſher of their failures and de!
fects ; Some, not real, but imaginary too
Madam Owen is highly to be commend
ed for that very thing, for which you
cenſure her : That she diſdained to give
you any Reply to Baxter's Charge again
her Husband, laid in the Bed of Ho
nour, after all his profound Studies ani
Works. Silence icas the beſt Anſwer
and Contempt the beſt Reply about thi
buſineſs of Wallingford Houſe. Shi
knew it beneath her to take notice of th
commor
Sen. Med.
common Defamer of Divines, and the
greateſt admirer (of all his Admirers)
of himſelf. Dr. Owen was the Bright
and Burning Taper of England, as
Calvin of Geneva; and we ſee he yet
lives and breaths in his wife excellent
Confort. He is here nambred among
Firebrands, Men guilty of Perjury,
and Rebellion, as if theſe Vices were
made one of the Commandemnts
Vix adhuc credo malum.
Hæc facere Jaſon potuit?
Had it been an Enemy, I could have
, born it, a Parker, a Vernon; but it
2
was a Baxter his equal, and Compa-
i nion. You ſay well, that diſputable mat-
wters ſhould not be managed with ſcurri-
lous Reflections, and inflamed Pallions.
Tou Mould have ſaid, except by Mr. B.
But perhaps his Fury muſt paſs for Zeal,
though meer Fallhood too.
How coldly do you excuſe the intole-
irable Impertinencies with which the Gen.
tleman began his Life? You ſay, Why
1 may not Hiſtories take their start from
maller
2
A 4
,
ſmaller matters, and to proceed to
greater, as well as the material Origin
nation of the Univerſe from its Chaos di
O lofty Comp.:rifon! I sad ülmojt faire
O blafphemous cse!
You tell 145/62 of his Papers can
not le Wind'. Good News. Pray Sind
ſome more and we till y'on we wiſho
theſe Papers you have trinted hact
been in the number. If they be founal
they ball be Printed, you ſay. Baal
Nevs, which marrs the former Ovation
and Triumpl. No more, good Sir, thet
World is troubled: with too much ali
ready.
You ſay, it is more than you can vin.)
dicate, Oliver Cromwel's taking awaye
the life of one King, and keeping outf
vindicate, or cenſure? If you cannot:
vindicate a thing, I hope you will not
sonclude the thing cannot be vindicated."
Take heed yout 1Found not one Princed
through the ſides of another : You brgin
to talk very big and very Magiſierially.
What
let one.
What does the Spirit of Mr. Baxter
rest upon Mr. Silveſter his Scholar?
If it do, it is a proud, and an ungui-
It is true, as you ſay, We
know not all Men can ſay for them.
felves, and cenfur'd A&tions, till calm.
ly beard for themſelves; and this
loverthrows a great part of your Book :
Where are Letters of ſeveral great Men
Printed without their knowledg or com- .
fent, and who cannot in this fenfe tc
sing dead yet ſpeak. I verily believe
they had not the thouſandth part of a
#hought, when they wrote their Epiſtles
that ever the World ſhould ſee them in
Print. But Mr. B. as like the Lete
vfer £ in the Greek Alpbabet Eſt ſuæ
poteftatis.
You ask the Church-men, What party:
did Mr. Baxter ever ſide with ?
None at all, for that would have
mar’d the deſign : For as Arius mas aiz
Arian, and Pelagius was a Pelagian;
md Socinus was a Socinian, and Ar-
ninius was 4:2 Arminian, fo Baxter
has a Baxterian.
A5
IV hat Friends, ſay you, did he ſpare
when he found them reprehenſible ?
None. But they must ſpare him, elſe
this mortified Heavenly Max would let
them know, and that to purpoſe, that
he was a Man of like (or worſe) paſſions
with others. But the miſchief is,
, he
Spared them not for things
not reprehen-
fible, but commendable : But he muſt be
Judge of what was the one or the other.
He muſt write as John, or rather Jeſus
by John, to the Churches, and tell ſome
wherein they are to be commended.
They cax conform as far as he, and
wherein Some are blamed for their Se-
paration, &c. But though his eyes were
Eagles eyes in diſputation, as ſome of
you falſly tell the World, I hope his
eyes were not as a flame of Fire, as the
Eyes of Chriſt.
He was very intent upon Orthodox
Do&rin, Jay you: Heterodox, Say O.
thers : Catholick Vnion, Say you : Sin.
ful compliance Say others : Peace ana
Concord, Jay you : Contention and De
famation ſay others.
Tor
Tou ſay he ſets things in clear open
light. You by this tell us not what he
did, but what he ſhould have done. Who
but Mr. Baxter would have taken Car-
rion, and clapt it under our Noſes,
which all other Men would bury ?
You ſay, it is a ſinful thing to betray
Secrets. I will you had had no hand
in the fin of another this way.
There are Slanderous Truths, as well
as Slanderous Falſhoods, ſay I. I am in-
formed of many, and I know it of
ſome, Baxterians, that wiſh this Book
had never come out, and think you have
done your ſelf an irreparable prejudice by
troubling the world with ſuch unſound,
unfeaſonable Notions. The Book stands
charged,
1. With long, tedious, pitiful, in-
tolerable Impertinencies, as the telling
when he fell ill, what Phyſician cured
him, by what Medicines. When he
had the Meaſles, when the Small Pox,
when a Looſneſs, and how Cured. When
he went into the Country to divert him.
ſelf,
ſelf; whoſe Houſe be ſtay'd af, and
bow long, and how he was entertain'd.
&c.
2. With defaming a Father, a
Grand-father, School-maſters, and #
marzy acquaintance. Some perhaps havey
Sons or Grand-ſons now alive, that will
not endure to ſee their Albes rak'd in,
and tle World to be told, They were
Tiplers, and I know not what : For i
all are not of that Gallant Spirit that a
Madam Owen is of, to deſpiſe all.
3. With Jhuffling Principles and
Practices, according to Circumſtances, 2
and providences very often. Once
he was a Chaplain in the Army againſt i
the King, and a notable Clarigator he
was. Kings did flink in the Noſtrils af
God, &c. And when he writ bis Saints
Reſt; the wonderful appearance of God
in that Cauſe,was an Argument to prove |
the Truth of the Scriptures by. Oh what i
a Confirmation it was to his Faith!)
And after all this, in the Reign of 1
Charles the Il. He turns Non-Refifter,
galls
tills in his Political Aphoriſms; and
then he wrote this Book, now printed,
when a Tory.
4. With Seditions Notions againſt
the Crown and Life of the preſent
good King, he hath put Weapons in
ihe hands of the Jacobites for another
Aſſaſſination : for uspon his Principles
(of he had any, for he often changed)
King James had a great deal of wrong
done him, and all the Abettors were per-
jured Rebels : For he ſaith, page 40.
That the Perſon and Authority of the
King is inviolable, that he cannot be
Accuſed, Judged, Executed by any, hav-
ing no Superior, &c. Some that are
not willing to believe this, deny it,
which is not fair, but to me have con-
feſſed they have not read the Book.
5. With rude treating of an Adver.
fary, Those againſt the return of the
King were Firebrands, perjured Per-
fons, Traytors, and that which is most
pretty, Fanaticks. Sober Cavaliers
writing the Hiſtory of thoſe times treat-
ed
11
ed them more civilly. Thus a Rene,
gade is more cruel to the Chriſtian
than one that alivays was a Turk, nevere
a Chriſtian.
6. Self-Applauſes, and Contempt oë
others. See what a lovely pidurny
he draws of himſelf for being above
Pride, Love of the World, and Pall
fron. He could not eaſily think Pride
Jbould be a poſſible Sin. O hom much
did he hate it above other Sins 44
4 Devil like Sin!
He could witling
great eaſe leave any thing. Ter
many
doxbt not, but he was as proud and
Man as any in the three Kingdoms y
a good Man, and this Sin is as obvil
ous as the Sun in this, and other Books
The World he loved
Biſhoprick had nigh proved he lover
it too well.
For Paffion, he ſays, wher
Writing against others, he felt it not,
Why, was he pait feeling? He wouli
make others feel it to purpoſe, whether
he himſelf felt it or no. Nay obſerve
if he comes to confeſs his Sin, he wil.
commonly
very well :
4
eommonly inſist on the #ſual failing of
ibe beſt, and do all ſo carefully as if
he would almoſt beg you not to believe
rim; but think it is his too great
Senderneſs of Conſcience that puts him
in ſuch thoughts. He hardly commends
my but with exception as to Opinion.
The Dioceſan Prelates muſt all hold
up their hands. Them he likes in ſuch
'ind ſuch things, but diſlikes in other
things; fo Presbyterians, Independents,
one after another. B. Uſher's Epiſ-
copacy is named without end, and I
wondred a long time that was not cen-
fur'd as well as the Aſſemblies Confef-
foon of Faith and Catechiſms. At last
be tells us plainly he did not approve
of Biſhop Uſher's Model in all things.
"I really doubt whether ever was ſuch
Conceited, Confident Miniſter in this
laſt Age. He tells you at one time,
(he met with few that knew more than
be. That others ſaw not what he did,
which made him diſpleaſed. That be
tould ſcarce find a Man that underſtood
the
the Controverſie hetween Calviniſts ana
Arminians, or the distinčtions uſed.g
Though you Sir have made a very dril
Apology, why you were four year and al
half in making a Preface, and puttingt
in order Mr. Baxter's Papers, &c. jeig
I will give good ſatisfactory Reaſonsa
why it was almost a Month before my
Vindiciæ went to the Preſs. I wasti
there before againſt William Pen and
the Quakers, to prove them either Im-
poſtors, or Apoftates on their avowed
Principles, and contrary Practices. ]
alſo loſt my firſt Papers, all
all my Animado
verſions on the firſt part of Mr. Bax-
ter's Life, which I could never find,
elſe I had been cloſer on your heels one
Week ſooner.
I am a Stranger in London, and
ſo far from my Study and Friends
I have not here one Book, nor one
Friend to help me. Excuſe therefore
fome little miſtakes, if there be any
fuch.
9
My
Vy Wal for my good King, and a.
gainſi Jacobires; for the Proteſtant
i lurches, and against Popery ; for
Diffenters, and against Superstition;
for Worthy Men of all parties, and a-
quinſt their Defamers; for found Do-
&trin, and againſt Novelties, hath put
upon this, otherwiſe ungrateful, unpleaf-
ing Task
His MAJESTIES Loyal,
Humble Subject, and Servant,
:
Anonymus.
VINDICIÆ
(1)
VINDICLE ANTI BAXTERIANÆ :
OR,
ANIMADVERSIONS
On a BOOK, Intituled
Reliqui& Baxteriane.
O
Bſerve Reader, how exact he
is in giving an account of lit-
tle Circumſtances relating to
biin, and his Affairs; as if he
would imitate the example of Atryma
the Phyſician, who giving an Account
of the Sickneſs and Death of a great
Prince, tells us when he did Excernere
fatida, when he made Fæces laudabiles,
in his laſt Sickneſs. Mer againſt Par.
See how he begins;
My Father's Name was Richard, che
Son of Richard Baxter, his Habitation
and
(2)
and Eſtate was in a Village cail'd Eaton
Conſtantine, a Mile from the Wreckin-
Hill, and above half a Mile from Severn.
River, and five Miles from Shrewsbury in
Shropſhire cic My Mothers Name was
Beatrice, cc. Good Reader excuſe my
not Writing all. Noiv fuppoſe there
1hould be a mistake about half a Mile
more or leſs, from ſuch a place; will not
pofterity fall togecher by the Ears about
ic, as ſome did ofold about the Birth of
Homer
I was Born (laich he) 1615. on the
12th of November, being Lords Day,
in the Morning at the time of Divine-
Worſhip. Why had he not told us what
this Divine Worſhip was, whether
Common Prayer or Sermon? If Ser-
mon, no doubt, we had heard what the
Text was, had it hit ſo great an occaſion :
And it had been as much obſerv'd as chat
the Temple of Diana was Burnt that
Nighe when Alexander Was Born ; for ſhe
attending his Birch, forgot her owo
Temple. If Reading the Service, what
were ihe Leſſons ? Nothing I ſuppoſe to
the occaſion. I was ( faith he) Baptiz'd
ile 19 Day following, at High-Ercal.
He tells us not whether belore or after
Common-Prayer.
On
(3)
On he goes without Fear or Wit.
My Father was given to Gaming,
and his father before him, (a bad
Bird that bewrays bis own Neft) the
School-Maſters were Ignorant Men, Iin-
moral. Men.' I believe ſo, for they
Taught not all their Scholars (one how.
ever) neicher good Latin, nor good Man-
NCIS.
Some of them were Readers Lords-
days, Tipplers Week days, and would
Whip the Boys when ibey were Drunk,
en Was ever ſuch auf told the
World! Yet this is worth the know .
ing in compariſon of other things; that
he was with his Grandkacher when Ten
Years Old. But after inany tedious Tales,
he cells us who were bis School fellows,
Dr. deftry was one, Dr. of the Chair in
Oxford, Canon of Chriſt Church, Pro-
voit of Eaton College, when my Maſter
Klaith he) let him up, I took it very iH. I
faw my Maſter was diſpleas'd with me, he
gave me this Theam Ne Sutor ultra Grepi.
dam: By this it appears his Maſter was
a Wife Man, and law what Dick was in
clin'd too, and what others muſt ex:
pect from him bereafter. Would bis
Theam had been always his Motto, For
he
( 4 )
he was a lofry aſpiring Man, who could
not fay as David, He did not exerciſe him-
ſelf in things too high, and that his Soul was
as a weaned Child.
He went with a Throbbing Conſci-
ence (they are his words) and here he
ſpeaks of Venial Sins.
At 7 Years Old (faith he) I had the
Meaſels, at 14 Years Old the Small-pox,
and afterwards the Looſneſs. But he is
not ſo kind to tell us whether he uſed a
Cloſe-lool, or went to the Neceſſary-
houſe.
He Eat Garlick, which put an Acri-
mony (faith he) in my Blood, which
was Nacurally Acrimonious. Would
the Garlick had been in the Fire, to ſpoil
that Blood, which he confeſlech was ne-
ver good.
Then he 'goes on to tell us his Pains,
what Medicines he uſed, what Phyſici-
ans preſcrib'd them, at laſt he faith,
Pag. 9. To recite a Catalogue of my
Symptoms and of my Pains from Head
to Feer, would be a tedious interruption
to the Reader. Why ſo? One idle ſto-
ry, fay I, as well as another.
Riding in the Army did me much
good, faith he. Yes, but it did the King
none,
(5)
none, when he Animated the Soldiers
to Fight Briskly againſt him. Neither
did it do in the long run, any good to the
Parliament, whoſe Cauſe he betray'd
and defamed.
A Bit or Spoonful too much doth foon dif-
order my Head, ſaith he.
Now we have found out the Myſtery,
why he was ſo Abſtemious. He would
have made the World believe it was
the more than ordinary tenderneſs of his
Conſcience; but it was the weakneſs
of his Head; ſo that he would have his
defect in Nature, to be accounced an ex-
cellency in Grace. On goes he
A conſtant extrinſick Heat by a good
Fire, did me much good. They ſay,
one Fire will fetch our another. Would
the extrinſick Fire had fetch'd out the
intrinſick, the Fire of Pride, Malice,
Contention, which burnt there, what-
ever attempts were to cover it. I have
heard of a ſerious Scholar in Oxford un-
der great trouble of mind for want of
Mr. Baxter's Mortification; he took
Horſe, and went to viſit him, expecting
to ſee a Man as much above the things
of the World as any Man in it : And
when he came to him, he found him by
his
(6)
his good extrinſick Fire with all things
not only for neceſſity,bue delight; and all
Ornainental things about the Room, &c.
The Scholar lift up his Hands and depart-
ed. This was be that tells Miniſters
in his Gildas Salvinus, How much they
ſhould deny themſelves to give to the
Poor, and that he were not worthy the
Name of a Miniſter thac could not be
content to do good, to go with a parch'd
Coat. (Would not ſuch a Coat well be-
come a Minister? Let them go with
a patch'd Coat for bim; Take my word
for it, he loved to keep his own Coat
whole, eſpecially in a Stormy Day.
And now we have a long imperfect
Story of the Civil Wars, done by other
and better Hands many, too many times.
His Pains made him,p.12. contemn the
World, value time, c. Did they not
make him percih and angry? How dark-
ly (not to ſay doubtfullyi Ceakech he
of Chriſtianity, and the Life to come,
P. 24. He hath done this ſo often in ſome
Books, that makes ſome of bis Friends
fear he was too Sceprical. But Reader,
a word to che Wiſe is enough.
Now we come to force of his Mar-
tyrdoms and Sufferings. That a Drunk-
en
ra
en Beggar reported that he lay with a
Beggar-woman, an infamous one too,
under a Tree, where a Storm drové
then both there, but they hardly faw
one another.
Who would tell ſuch beggerly ſtories
to the World, which they knew nothing
of? And ſome no doubt will make an
ill uſe of. For my part, I doubt not
but Mr. B. was as Chaſte a piece as e-
ver the World knew, if it be proper to
call Impotency and Frigidity Chaſtity.
For the Civil Wars p. 27. Some of
the Members of the Houſe of Coin-
mons concur'd with the Addreſſes of im-
prudent Reformers, who were for no
leſs than the ucier extirpation of Biſhops
and Liturgies; to which purpoſe the
Lord Brook writ a Book againſt Epiſco-
pacy. All that keep not his pace exact-
ly, go either too faſt or too flow. I re-
member I Read many Years ſince that
Book of my Lord Brooks, and I think it
was approv'd of by all Diflenters, and
I never knew it cenſur'd by any ſuch
till now.
The King confeſſed his error p. 28.
in violacing the Privileges of Parlia-
ment. But I am ſure in the E'xay Bea
B
σιλική
:
(8)
BIMx it is juſtified or extenuated. He
had ne il Deſign, he ſays, bis Friends
blam'd him; but Read the Chapter, ſee
whether he blam'd himſelf. Though
the fact were horrid to come to de-
mand Members, as Pim, Hamden,ec. out
of the Houſe, he came attended, put
the Parliament in a Panick fear, kept a
Guard on the Houſe. Some have won-
dered they faſtned him not to the Wall.
Who knows what had been the iſſue of
that Days work, had not thoſe Members
withdrawn, as is thought on notice of
that foul Deſign? That ching loſt him
Millions of Hearts, and ſhewed what he
would be at, Arbitrary unlimited Ty.
ranny.
That the Parliament had an opportu.
nity for a full and ſafe agreement when
the King ſent them an offer of Treaty
from Nottingham, faith B."Had Mr.Baxo
ter our Peace-maker been a Parliament
Man, no doubt he had prevented all the
Blood afterwards ſhed, and ended the
Civil War. But did not he blow the
Coals, as he here often chargeth many
with in this courſe School-boys Phraſe,re:
peated over, agaio and again ? Bi
Trops proceeded fo far to wear men to
their
)
(
رو their whole Government by the Et cæte-
ra Oath, and approved of Ship-money,
and other Incroachments on the Civil In.
tereft, and many, faith he, came in to
ſerve the Parliament, becauſe others did
Swear for the Common-Prayer-Book, and
Biſhops, and others prayed, that were a-
gainſt them. All heard the Kings Souldiers
with horrid Oaths
, prophaning the Name
of God, and ſaw them live in debauchery,
when the Parliament Souldiers flock'd to
Sermons, and talk'd of Religion, and
prayed, and Sang together. He tells you
the known ſtory of Goring's Army in
the Weſt, That let out ſome of their own
Blood, and with it drank a health to the
Devil.
He ſays, p. 35. That the Parliament
Men pleaded, That the Law was above
the King, becauſe a King and, Parlia-
ment are more than the King alone : That
Paul in the 13 to the Romans determins
not whether the Emperor or Senate were
the higher Powers.
Shrode Confiderations !
I will divert the Reader with a ſtory
on this occaſion. In my time in Oxford,
about 27 Years ſince, a Doctor of Divi-
nity Preaching at St. Mary's, before the
B2
then
:
( 10 )
then Vice Chancellor, who had been
on the King's ſide, and in his Army,
ſpeaking of the power of Prayer and its
ſucceſs, ſaid thus, In our Civil. Wars,
the Parliament Soldiers were given much
to Prayers, and they ſped accordingly:
When the other Party ſeldom uſed the
Name of God but in Oaths and Blaſ-
phemies. (Enemies ſhall ſometimes con-
feſs the truth.) this cauſed a fearful up-
roar; he muſt recal his words, inſtead
of which he qualified them, I doubt
too much againſt his own Conſcience,
The Two hundred thouſand pain in Ire-
land afrighted the Parliament, and the
whole Land, ſaith he,
And was there not cauſe enough? All
the Providences, When no Ropes could
hang fome Parliament Men, when that
wonder was at Bolton, when all were
put to the Sword by Prince Rupert. Theſe
were ſomething once.
Sir John Temple in his Incomparable
Hiſtory of the Iriſh Maſlacry, can hard-
ly forbear ſpeaking plain Engliſh: Who
kept the Parliament from a ſpeedy re-
lief, and pardon'd the Murcherers ? &c.
Mr. B. lays, Tyrany is a miſchief as
well as Diſobedience and Rebellion,
Both
(11)
Both were to blame, he will juſtifie nei-
ther.
Now he comes to the Prophaneſs of
fome Parliament Men; They would
ftay at the Church Door till, as they
faid, Pottage, that is, the Common-
Prayer, was over. Why, were they fo
naught: Others would talk worſe of
the Scripture, and much more of Diffen-
ters Prayers.
That the dividers of King and Parlia-
ment were the Traytors; whoever they
were, I am ſatisfied, ( faith he.) And
Read page 40. where you ſhall have
do:vnright plain Toriſin, when Thou:
ſands of Non-reſiſters turn Refilters,
this Old Refifter turns Non-relifter
hear what he ſays, Pleno ore.
That the Authority and perſon of the
King is Inviolable, and out of the reach
of all juſt Accuſation, Judgment, Exe-
cution by Law, having no Superior, and
ſo no Judge. That therefore he will not
juſtifie what he and others did in that
Day. He condemns the Writers with
an I doubt not. (What change ſo often
and yet confidenc ftill!) They have al
erred in Politicks, and they write nos
right, that ſay, That the King was fin-
gulis
O
B 3
( 12 )
gulis Major, Minor Univerſis : I ſay,
Heylen doth not more mock at this Do-
Etrin as Galvins, than our Hiſtorian.
Well, ſee what he ſays.
I doubt not 10 prove, That the King
hath his Power. ſo immediately from God,
that there is no Recipient between God
and him to convey it to him, so that
the King is Univerſis Major, as well as
Singulis. And all Politicks err, that tell
us of a Majeſtas realis in the People, as di.
Atinet from the Majeſtas perſonalis in the
Govermour.
Now let King William look to him-
ſelf; What hath he done? What have
tve done? He hath made us, and we
our felves, all Rebells, againſt an Invio.
lable King
Reader, here I muſt ſtop thee for a
while, and conſider this Hector, who
always loved to be a Man by himſelf,
and to ſet up for ſomething new, differ-
ent from the reſt of his Brethren, and
ſometimes from himſelf. It was to be
hoped that when he was Dead, and qui-
er under-ground, he would have ſuffer-
ed them to be quiet who were above-
ground: But we ſee the contrary.
What ſhould induce him who ſaw the
glori.
1
(13)
glorious Deliverance God wrought for
this Nation by making the preſent King
our Deliverer, to leave ſuch ſcanda-
lous Papers behind him, or indace Mr.
Silveſter to the no leſs ſcandalous act to
Print them who can divine? And be-
cauſe I find ſo many Baxterians ſhakies
their Heads, and complaining of this
imprudent and unſeaſonable act, yea and
fome of them are convinc'd of the ne-
ceflity of a Cenſure; I will calmly de-
bate the matter, for their and other
Mens ſatisfaction, I am glad they are
not ſo tender of Baxter's Fame and Rei
putations but they are more fo of the
King's Crown and Life: And if they
think it poſſible, that he Thould be mi-
ſtaken, they ſuppoſe here it is. I
am glad this Book came not our before
the laſt Horrid, Barbarous, Jofamous
Plot, that Lewis and James the Contri-
vers, Abettors, Commanders of it are
aſhamed to own it ; and have publiſh'd
their pretended Innocency to all Nacions,
Proteſting againſt it by all that is Sacred
But I ſuppoſe none, or next to none, be-
lieve them. Had they ſeen this Book,
they had increaſed their Party by plead-
ing, Here is a Learned Pious Noncon-
formiſt,
B В 4
(14)
formit, an Advocare for our good Caule
of Non-reſiſtance, which they fallly
call the oid Primitive Chriſtian Doctrin
of the Croſs; but is indeed the new
Turkiſh Doctrin of the Bowſtring. Come,
might they have ſaid, here is a glorious
nirent for what he did againſt King
Charles the ). His ipſe dixit, is enough
for a number of Men who are a great
Body. I know about a Year fince, a
great Non reſiſter going to the Preſs
with a large Book for his Doctrin, and
the Cagle of K.Gh. I. in which there were
many quotations out of Baxter's Books,
e{pecially the Chriſtian Directory. That
che Perſons of Kings be Sacred, Invio.
lable, er. But what hindred its being
Printed he belt knows. Perhaps he had
ſeen a Reply, called Guelph and Gibeline.
Mr. B. is often quoced by theferurbulent
reſtleſs Spirits. Yea ſuch as waited for
an Eaſterly Wind to bring our Delive-
rer over, after all wilh'd for a Weſt-
erly Wind to drive him back again.
But they brought him here, and others
will keep him here with the bleſſing of
God. They never were in a good Hu-
moor but once, and the King found them
in it. When they ſaw that K. James
broke
(15)
broke all his Vows and Proteſtations to
them, they began to ſee that the Man
who was ſaid never to tell a Lye, was
one that never did otherwiſe than Lye.
Thar he ſenc che Bilbops to the Tower for
nothing, or for a juſtifiable Action, Pe-
titioning him againſt the Reading in
Churches his Curſed Toleration, wher
ic was faid, It could be wiſhed that all
our Subjects were Roman - Catholickr.
Now it is Treaſon by the Law for any
to turn others Roman Catholicks. When
they ſaw a ſuppoſititious Child brought
in to be Heir of the Crown, and to pre-
clude the right Heir: When they ſaw
he had choſen a Popiſh Judge, and a Po
piſh Major in Gloceſter, and turned Pro-
teſtants out of their places in the Uni-
verſities, and put in Papiſts in their room,
and that he told our Senators the laſt
time he ſpoke to them, four times, I will,
in things contrary to Law; I will ima
ploy them that cannot take the Teft, &c.
when chey ſaw popiſh Prieſts not only
appear openly, contrary to all Law, buc
Preach lo: And when they ſaw his
Tyranny was going on like an irreſiſtible
Flood ; that Forty Acts of Parliament
were made void by one Indulgence (20
ROY.
B5.
..
(16)
poy ſonous Pill, though gilded over with
deceitful Promiſes, made only to be
broken) and many other intolerable Op.
preſſions. They began to cry out in that
Day becauſe of the King that they had
choſen. But God did not deal with them
as with the People when they ſet up
unul, That he would not hear them. They
told us we were like good ſcented Dogs
that could ſmell things ar a diſtance; but
they were dull ſcented Curs, that could
ſmell nothing till clapt under their Noſes.
Now that Text was Preached on by ſome,
and talked of much more by others,
This one thing I know, whereas I was blind,
now I ſee, John 9.25. I remember á
great Non-reſiſter in Briſtol, when I
came to ſee him in theſe woful Circum-
ſtances, he told me we ſhould do well
enough for all chis. Why, ſaid I? The
Doctrin of Paſſive Obedience is as good
as ever, is it not ? All Men do not think
fo, faid he; and I will tell you a ſtory. In
the laſt Dutch War, there was a Captain
of a Man of War chac deſired a ſtout luſty
Quaker to go with him. Why, ſaid he,
I cannot Fight? Who talks of fighing,
faid the Caprain? Go with me. He
did fo. When he came to Ingage, he
re,
( 17 )
requires this Quaker to Fire ſuch a Gun.I
cannot Fight, ſaid he, as I told thee; Then
ſaid the Captain I will tie thee faſt to the
Capſtone, which he did. The Quaker
delires him to let him go. Will you fight
then ? I cannot whilſt here cyed, ſaid he.
I will try thee once more, laid the Cap-
tain, buc if I tye thee there again, there
thou ſhalt continue. He let him go, and
the Quaker was one of the beſt Fighters
in the Ship. He left me to apply the
Story. So I ſmelt a Plot, and adviſed
him not to truſt one another too far 3
concealing my reaſon, which was this,
That they were thought to be ſuch a
pack of Knaves, that they would be-
tray one another, and Hang one another
for Forty Shillings; but I was glad to
ſee my ſelf deceived.
You Worthies of the Church of Eng-
land, You Lords Spiritual and Tempo-
ral, You Noble Men, Clergy Men,
Gentlemen, our Deliverers under God,
you made your ſelves famous by this no-
ble Act, which will perfume your Names
for ever. I hope you will never repenc
of this one Good At that you have done:
You are the beſt Plotters upon Earth.
We Diflencers are Bunglers at i', in com-
pariſon
(18)
pariſon of You, who made ſure work,
and quick work. I hope you will never,
as our Weather.cock, run counter to all
you have done.
I know ſome wonder K. James ran a.
way: I do nor, though with you I know
him to be a great Coward. It was time
for him to run, when ſo many Non-re-
fifters were at his Heels; he muſt needs
run whom Juch drive.
Now we return to the Wars.
I freely acknowledge King Charles the
I. was a good Scholar, had a great com-
mand of his Pen, though not of his
Tongue, great Elocution, which is the
internal part of a Speech, and the mat-
ter of its but not good Pronunciation,
which is the external part, and reſpects
the manner of ſpeaking. I thus expreſs
my ſelf, becauſe I have known fome
wiſe Men, Divines and others, that
miſtake the word Elocution, having for-
gotten (or perhaps never well learnt)
the Rules of Oratory.
He was alſo a Prince free from the
common Vices of Kings; not given to
Women or Wine. They which charge
him, or give innuendo's of the former, I
thiok, do amiſs, as Miltor againſt Sál-
malius,
( 19 )
maſius, ſays, He delighted much in the con-
verſation of Women. So is Oliver charg'd
with the like, with Lambert's Wife,
but both Chaſte and Innocent I doubt
nor. Cannot Princes ſit down, and
talk with Ingenious Witty Women, buc
preſently their familiarity muſt be too
great ?
But though he was more free from
the Vices of Kings than many others, as
Julian the Apoftate, a learned Man, and
Writer of good Politicks, as I have read
in his Greek Epiſtles to his great Friends.
So was Trajan, yet both Perſecuring
Kings. This King was one of the worx
Kings (chough not Men) that ever fate
upon the Throne ſince the Conqueft.
His Coronation Oath he broke as Samp.
ſon's Cords,they were as burne Flax. Law
was laught_at, his Will was his Law,
How bis Father dyed, I will ſay no-
thing of; the Court and Character of
King James tells us ſtrange ſtories
. Nei-
ther will I ſay, how Prince Henry died,
nor of the Letters ſent to Captain Pen-
nington about the Men of Rochel, nor
what the Iriſh Proteſtants think of him ;
but to come nearer home, he cauſed his
Agends (Mandaring and others) to
Preach
(20)
· Preach up, That all was the King's which
we had, and no longer ours, than till it plea-
ſed him to call for it. Montroſs, faid, He
hoped to ſee his Proclamations, as good as
any A&t of Parliament whatever. Ham-
mond L’ſtrange, he came into Parlia-
ment, and began a Speech thus,
Though I am to give an Account of my
A&tions to none but to God, &c. And as an
Ingenious Author lately faid, To God was
be ſent to give an account of them. Are
we Slaves or Subjects of England? He
ſends out a Book of Sports contrary to
all Law, turns out the Non-readers of it
out of their places. Fidlers would come
at ſome Church-doors, and the People
leave the.Prayers, and run after them.
Some read the Book of Sports on San-
days with their Hats on; others would
read the 4th Commandment after, and
fay, here is God's Law, and the King's
* Law, which you ſhould Obey judge you.
But they were miſtaken. There was
not the King's Law, tho' the King's
Will. Ons old gray Headed Prieſt came
in and ſaid, Neighbours and Friends, we
live under a Graciou King, who hath
made good Laws againſt Prophaneſs; but
be ſees the People of England inclinable to
break
( 21 )
break thoſe Laws; he therefore takes them
in their own way; and 'tis to be hoped, you
that always break Laws, will not keep this;
and ſo be good Ghriſtians. Then he read
the Book Now Dr. Heylen Writes his
Hiſtory of the Sabbach, Prideaux and
Ironſides write againſt the Morality of
the Sabbath. All ſenſe of Religion was
gone, and a deluge of Impieries broke in.
It is ſtoried of Dr. Ironſides, that Rid-
ing on the Lord's Day with a Gencle-
man, he ſaw ſome People on the High-
way before him, with their Bibles un-
der their Arms. Said the Dr. to his
Companion, Here are wiſe Preciſians,
I do not believe they can tell me how
many Commandments there are as Zea-
lous as they ſeem to be. Up gets he to
them, You are going, I ſuppoſe, ſaid the
Dr. to hear ſome Sermon this afternoon.
Yes, we are ſaid they. You cannot ſtay at
home with your Neighbours to divert your
ſelves? No, we cannot, and wil not. Pray
ſaidhe, How manyCommandments are there?
One that knew him,ſtept up and fitid, Eight.
I told you, ſaid the Dr. to the Galleman,
how wiſe theſe Zealous Preciſians are. Nay,
ſaid the plain honeſt Man, I knop there
were Ten Gommandments, but the Papifts
blor-
( 22 )
blotted out the Second, Thou ſhalt not make
to thy ſelf any graven Image, &c. And one
Dr. Ironſides blotted out the Fourth, Re-
member the Sabbath day to keep it Holy,and
between the Papiſts and him, they left but
Eight. You may eaſily imagine , how
the Dr. looked; and how merry the
Gentleman was, that he was ſo caught
in trying ignorant zealous Preciſians.
Ship money and Loan were demand-
ed contrary to Law. No Parliament
was called in Twelve Years. All things
were out of Courſe. Arminianiſm was
a thriving Weed, Arminian Biſhops re-
quire Clergy.men to ſubſcribe to Galvi-
niftical Articles; What will not Cuſtom
make Men do? The Author of the
State Tracts names King Charles the Il's
Epiſtle in favour of the Earl of Antrim
in Ireland, and ſaid, We have ſearched and
found, what he did he did by Order from
our Father of bleſſed Memory. I believe him.
Ruſhworth in bis Collections, tells you
how he falyced Pope Gregory Sanctiſſime
Pater, and fubſcrib'd himſelf Filius tuus
obſequentiffimus. That the Popes Conli-
deration was racional, that, It was not
likely be ſhould hate that Religion, that fo
greatly loved .. Lady that Profeſſed it. The
Pope
( 23 )
Pope wepe for joy, that England afford-
ed a Prince ſo favourable to the Catho-
lick Religion. I think, it cannot be eaſi-
ly imagin'd, chat a King Zealous for the
Proteſtant Religion, will take a Popiſh
Wife to endanger himſelf, much more
his Children Train'd up by the Mother,
who will ac leaſt ſpeak half in the Lan-
guage of Aſhdod, if the ocher half in the
Language of Ganaan The Realons the
Parliament gave why they would make
no more Adreſſes to him, are great.
Now is a King under Law, or not? If
not, if he ſhould come into Parliament
Houſe, and ſay, I am come to Diſſolve you :
I will never call a Parliament more: What
Lams I like, I will Gonfirm; what I like
not, I wil Eraſe: Tintend to bring in the
Gatholick Religion, raiſe Money as I ſee fit :
If you oppoſe me: I will Fire your Houfes,
as ſure as London was burnt, and Malla-
cre you, as ſure as were the Iriſh Hereticks;
and now remember, you are on your Oath.
And this unrefifted Arm can run on a ſud-
dain throughout the whole Three King-
doms Was there no remedy ? Muft we
dye? Dyed Abner as a Fool dyed? No, no.
A Captain Swears his Men to Obey
him. He comes on the Deck, Damns
bim,
( 24 )
wichſtanding the Oach; which though it
him, he will Gink the Ship, or deliver
the Men and Ship into the Hands of the
French, co whom both were ſold. I ſay,
It were not only Lawful, but a Ducy to
take that Capcain, tye him Neck and
Heels, and throw him Over-board, not-
run in abſolute Terms, was Condicional.
ly to be underſtood.
In Matrimony, the Man Covenants,
Forſaking all others, ſhall cleave to thee as
long as we both shall live. But what if
the Woman not only play the Whore,
but ſeek to Poyſon her Husband, or cue
his Throat by Night when alleep; Is he
indeed bound to cleave to her, as long as
they both ſhall live?
An Apprentice is bound to ſerve his
Mafter faithfully by Covenant, not to
rua from him. What if this Maſter
· will not allow him neceſſary Food by
Day, nor Lodging by Night, beats him
even to death for nothing? Is he bound
to ſerve him, and not leave his Houſe?
I having bought ſuch Commodities, I
Swear to ſuch a Man, Gome to my Houſe
ſuch a Day, I will pay you ſo much Money.
He never ſends the Goods, yet demands
the Money, which ſuppoſeth the Goods
be-
( 25 )
being ſent, though that was not expreſs'd
in plain words.
Now it is too groſs in our Oath of Al-
legiance to put in ſuch words, Unleſs our
King play the Tyrant, trample upon all
Law: as it is in the Coronatian Oath,
unleſs we prove Rebels, &c. For then in-
deed, he may go out of the Courſe of
Law, and deſtroy us, and we may thank
our felves. It is too groſs to ſay, unleſs
my Wife play the Whore, unleſs the Captain
link us, &c. yet this is the ſenſe of all.
How often did our Fathers change the
Succeſſion, and put down Tyrants, and
ſet up others? And yet ſome well mean-
ing People are decryed, as if ſuch a pra-
ctice were never known till this laſt Age.
After the Death of William the Con-
queror, his ſecond Son William Rufus fuc-
ceeded, whilſt his Brocher Robert was
alive. After his Deach, the Younger
Brocher Henry che l. ſucceeds, the Elder
Brocher being yet alive, he demands the
Crown as promiſed by his Brother, if
he ſurvived him, who got it by Robert's
being in the Holy Land Fighting againſt --
the Turks, when William the Conque.
ror dyed. No, Henry had gotten into
the Saddle, and there would he fit. Ro-
bert
( 26 )
bert Proclaims War upon him, a great
Battle there was, but he was taken Pri-
ſoner, and King Henry put out his Eyes,
he ſhould never fee to Fight more. Af
ter bis Death, Stephen that Marry'd Alice
the Daughter of the Conqueror ſucceed-
ed, not Maud the Daughter of Henry I.
He was a good King, which gave occa.
fion for ſome to ſay, The worſe the Titl,
the better the Prince. After the Deach
of him, Henry II. the Son of Maud fuc-
ceeds. The time would fail me to tell
of King John, King Edward II. Richard
the IIL, who when Depoſed, thanked
them who made his Son (not another,
King before his Eyes. All Nations have
Dępoſed Tyrants. The Romans when
Tarquinius Superbus diſcovered his Pride.
Raviſhed Lucretia, was Depored. Flo.
rus in his Ingenious Anacaphaleoſis
, ſays
that, Deniq; Superbi illius importuna Do.
minatio nonnihil, imo plurimum profuit, fic
enim effe tum est, ut agitetur injuriis popua
lus Romanus cupiditate libertatis incendere.
tur. And they choſe Brutus and Collati-
nits, Conſuls, which the lame Author
expreſſeth neatly, Quippe ex annuo perpe-
tuum ex ſingulari duplex placuit. And one
of chem Scourged his Son in the Forum,
and
(27)
one.
and afterwards Beheaded him, for ſeek:
ing to bring back the Ejected King. Let
ſome thank God and a Clement Prince,
that though guilty of the fame Fault,
have not had the ſame Puniſhment.
Now if we look to Scripture, here
we may be deceived more ways than
The Bible is not our Law Book
any more than Phyfick Book. I remem-
ber I have heard that Mr. Bampfield,
from Cant. 7. 2. thought Lilies to be
good for pains about the Navel, till con-
vinc'd by a skilful Phyſician, (who told
me the ſtory) of the quite contrary.
For the Kings of Iſrael, if they were
abſolute Monarchs, ours are not ſo, but
regulated ones. He muſt no more med-
dle with my Property, chan I invade
his Prerogative.
But Volenti non fit injuria. They
1 Sam. 8.5. deſired a King like the relt
of the Nations. If they were abſolute,
fo let it be; yet the places commonly
brought to prove it will not do. Re-
bellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft, 1 Sam.
15.23. Pray was that the Rebellion of
a Subject againít a King ? Nothing leſs,
buc of a King againſtGod, who Sacrificed
Contrary to his Law?
Would Ty-
rants
sam
( 28 )
rants would take this Text to them-
felves, Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft,
David is made the great Inſtance of
Non-Reliſtance. What! That was in the
Head of an Army againſt King Saul.
Saul ſure never thought him a Non-Re-
filter. Was there not a defenſive War?
What if it had come to a pitch'd Battle?
Would not David and his Men have
fought? It is true, He was a Propher,
and ſo knew it was the Will of God,
Saul ſhould not be ſlain by his hand, but
die in Barcle by the Philiſtines.
Touch not mine Anointed, is another
abuſed, miltaken place, but read before.
He reproved Kings for their fake, fay-
ing, Touch not mine Anointed, Pfal. 150.
15. God took care of the Jews.
O King live for ever, is another place
we are often told of, Dan, 21. 6.
Is any thing more meant than God
fave you, God bleſs you for ever (we
with it to King Lewis, and King James)
but if it be for a long life on Earth che
reaſon is this? God had datermined the
Jews Caprivity Seventy Years in Baby-
lon, commanded them to pray for the
Peace thereof, for in their Peace they
ſhould have Peace. Hath God told us
any
.:
( 29)
any ſuch thing? If any thing can be
hence proved, it muſt be this. If the
French King ſhould over-run this Nati-
on, we muſt not endeavour to ſhake off
the Yoke, but be in ſubjection,and Non-
Reſiſtance to him would be our duty,
which I know none that abuſe this Text
that plead for. They that reſiſt ſhall re-
ceive to themſelves damnation, is another
place miſtaken, Rom. 13. 2. I cake it
to be ( xgion ) Judgment from men
then deſigned, not from God for ever.
Relift what 'Asians Authorities, Legal,
not Illegal Governments. They chac
Govern according to Law, and from
thence derive Authority for what they
do. Tyrannus eft, & non Rex ubi domi.
natur voluntas, et non lex, is a true ſaying,
The Scots think that Abſolute unlimited
Monarchy is ſo unlawful and contrary to
the Light and Law of Nature, that, if
we were ſworn to it, we were not under
any Obligation by our Oath. Lex Rex.
The Fepos are not blamed for conſpi-
ring againſt Amaziah, 2 Chron 25. 27
Naboth would not give his Vineyard
to Ahab, though he offered a better for
ſo ſmall a ching. Shall I take the Inhe-
ritance of my Father, and give unto thee?
1 Kings 21.3
Some
.
( 30 )
Some of Charles the I. Courtiers
would have bid him take it.
If it be ſaid, But are not we Sworn
to Non-refiitance, ſince the return of
King Charles II ?
The Nonconformiſts generally refuſed
the Oath, though it coſt chem dear; they
preſerved the liberty of the Engliſh (free
born Subjects, not Slavesj thoſe that
took it, ſaid, They Swore not to any
King, but one acting according to Law.
That an illegal Commiſſion is no Com-
miffion : However, rather than I will
grant, That that Parliament could make
us Slaves, I will queſtion whether they
were a true Parliament. One Philips,
very Zealous for the King Writ a Book
to prove it was not ſo, and that Poſteri-
ty would queſtion the Validity of their
Acts. I would give him Reaſons were
it convenient. This was the Parliament
that made the Aet againſt Conventicles,
Twenty Pounds the Preacher, Five Shil-
lings every Hearer,in which Law you tell
us two Scatures in Magna Charta were
broken.
1. That no Free-man ſhall ſuffer Con-
fiſcation of Goods, without a fair Tryal
by his Peers: Now, here Goods ſhould
be
( 31 )
be taken away, none knowing the Accu-
ſer. Some bave ſo ſuffer'd only for Fa.
mily Prayer: Never was luch a Law in
England, no, nor in Barbarous Nari-
Ons.
2. That no Man ſhould bear the Pe-
nalty of anothers Treſpaſs. Now if per-
ſons were poor, or not known,one ſhould
bear the Fine of Fifty.
Now let us return to our Hiſtorian,
and
not forget him, as he too often doth
himſelf. The woful Character he gives
of Harriſon, who ſpake and acted like a
Man thac had taken a Cup too much: Sir
Henry Vane it hath been commonly talk'd
of, Baxter ſaid, was a Papiſt; in what
Book I have forgotten. I know Church-
men talk of it in their Pulpits. Dr. Stubbs
Wrote an Ingenious Book againſt Mr. B.
becauſe of this, yet here he will not own
it. He cares not who he defames
We now go on to the ſtory of Keder-
minſter, and it is pitty but that they were
ſuch Saints as he bere deſcribes them
:
but when I conſider his Right to Sacra
ments, where he afferis, That the profes
fion of no Dogmatical Faith, but of that
which is juftifying, can give a right to San
craments, in foro Ecclefia.
С
This
( 32 )
This he pleads that no Congregational
Man could more. But when he comes
to cell us who may be reputed Saints. He
fays, If they Swear, ſo do the Scots. If
they obſerve noc Sabbachs, neither do
many Proteſtants beyond Sea. If they
Pray not in their Family. Pour out thy
wrath on the Families that call not on thy
Name. The Tribes that Worſhip not
the true God. Who can tell (faith he)
how often a Saint may be Drunk? That
now one would think ſome Conformiſt
were pleading the Cauſe. Now if his
Saints many of them were ſuch as theſe,
no wonder, if they were drawn by the
kindneſs be fhewed them.
On he goes, Mr. Marſhal, Mr. Vines
and others, whom I honoured, went to
the King to the Ife of Wight: But I
confeſs againſt them, That they anſwered
160t (ufficiently to the Arguments fetched
from the Apoſtolick Government, for I am
inclined to ſome Epiſcopacy. The Apoſtles
muſt have Succeffors, as Church Governors,
As well as Preachers; and they ſhould have
changed the Dioceſan Prelacy into ſuch as
Epiſcopacy as the King's Conſcience could
admit of. And ſuch Conſiderations mult
cloſe the Churches wounds if ever they are
bealed. p. 62.
You
F.:
( 33 )
You ſee how he condemns all methods,
ſets up for himſelf; his Notions molt do
the work; others are but ludicrous. Con-
ſcience no doubt was the thing with the
King : Oh
For this new Epiſcopacy, which muſt
be, faith he, becauſe the Apoſtles bad Suc-
ceſſors, as Governors ---- Why then are
they not call’d Apoſtles? Why Biſhops ?
Muſt there be 12 Men in this new Epil-
copacy? Muſt then Biſhops go up
and down all Nations, as did the Apo-
ftles - But Reader, expect not from
me a Confutation of his wild particula-
rities : Naming many of them is fuffici-
ent, without any further cenſure of
them.
He ſpeaks p. 65. of the Engagement,
I wonder he mencions noc Dr.Sanderſon,
who Wrote, and that with his wonted
ſmartneſs, for the taking it. Whatever
fair ſenſe that great Man put on the Form
of words (which I remember, but ſhall
nor repeat) whereby he made many E-
piſcopal Men take it, when many Pref-
byteriars refuſed it, and ſo loſt their
places, yet it caonoc be denied That they
Were Sworn againſt bringing in the King,
and whoever bad a Hand in that thiog.
broke his Oath.
C2
( 34 )
I will be true and faithful to the Common-
wealth of England, as it is now eſtabliſhed,
without King and Houſe of Lords.
I will tell you a pleaſant ſtory.
An ignorant Soldier came to his Cap-
tain, and told him, he could not take
the Engagement, he heard, it was a
wicked thing. The Caprain believing
he knew not what the Engagement was.
Held out a Glaſs of Liquor containing
working ſtuff. Come, take the Engage-
ment. The poor Soldier approachech,
with a trembling Hand, and ſcrupulous
Conſcience, and ſo took and Drank
off the Engagement. He goes his way
and began to ſpue, and ſays, the Devil
take the Engagement
The Scots ought not, faith Mr. Baxter,
to have added any thing to the King's Go-
ronation Oath, and therefore not the Gove.
nant. They had no Auihority to do it, or
to make him diſhonour the Memory of his
Father, by ſuch confeſſions
when the
Soldiers, (faith he) were going againſt the
King, and Scots, I wrote them a Letter
againſt it, and they thought (Oh blindneſs)
that I was an uncharitable Genfurer. p.66.
Oh Blindneſs, no doubt, to queſtion
him.
-
I
( 35 )
I kept all well at Kederminſter, p. 67.
yet ſome ſaid, I was like to Mr. Love, and
it mas pity but that I were taken ſhorter by
the Head. I did ſeaſonably and moderately
by Preaching and Printing, declare Oliver
and bis Adherents to be guilty of Treaſon
and Rebellion, aggravated with Perfidious-
neſs to be abhor'd of all good Men.
Can not you ſee, Reader, the Man's.
great Moderation in this humble Speech?
O blindneſs! If not, It was a Queſtion
with me, faith our admirable Hiſtorian,
whether I lould be pleaſed with the good 4
Ufurper did, or conſider the miſcbieff the
followers of a lawful Governor might do:
Why his followers, nor himſelf? For his
Sacred Majeſty came in likea Fox,Reign-
ed like a Lion; eſpecially at laſt
.
I like not the Government the Aſſembly
of Divines would ſet up, p. 73. or ſome
words in their Confeſſion of Faith, which:
feem'd not clear, faith Mr. B. He likes
nothing what others do, unleſs his Opi-
nion be conſulted, though he adds, the
vitriolate cutting Acidity of my Stomach is
more dulcified, than I could ever believe it
would be, p. 82
Sower enough fill, for ought Men
can perceive.
Now
C3
( 36 )
.
Now he tells us what made him
do ſo much good in Kederminſter (a-
bove all Men) I hare, raich he, A move-
ing Voice, and was a dying Man --
My
enemies (ungodly Men) were ſlain in the
War. The change made by the War, fur-
thered Mens Salvation, p. 82. Inder the
Uſurper was ſuch liberty to Preach the Guf-
pel, as no Age ever knew, p. 87. Mr.
Sargeant would do what I bid him, no
Child more humble ! ſeni fome Chil-
dren to School, p. 89. And helped to main-
tain ſome in the Univerſi'y; I gave them
Bibles, Books, Money, and was their phy-
lician, But Chriſt never took all that fol.
low'd bim for the Loaves,to be Converis.
Some that knew the People, Laugh ac
bis Account. He can Unfaint great
Saints, and Saint whom he will. I wiſh,
faith le, p. 97. it were as in the times of
Tertullian. Perfons were left to their opon
liberty whether they would bring their
Ghildren to Baptiſm, or no. How lo cold,
io indifferent, after the cauſe lo warin-
Jy managed with Mr. Tombs, Mr. Danvers
and others? And becauſe Tertullian is
often named by the Anabaptiſts and their
Advocates, I will conlider this. My
Lord Laurence (that worthy man) pleaſes
fin
( 37 )
himſelf with the ſtory of Tertullian.
Baxter, (as I remember) cites him in
lis Book Infant Church Memberſhip and
Baptiſm, notwithſtanding his new Mo-
deration. Non eſt tenuior tranſgreſſio in
Opinione quam in Converſatione.
1. Tertullian's words prove that Pedo-
baptiſm was then in uſe, elle he need noc
ſay it was better to delay it.
2. He was a Moncaniſt, a Perfectioniſt,
ſomewhat like our Quakers, and many
think him a notorious Heretick, that all
hisApology could not ſave him. Spoke he
thoſe words in his Apoſtacy or before?
were l an Anabaptift, I ſo much know
of this, I ſhould not glory in Tertulian.
I blame any pleas to a particular Faich,
and ſo condemn that Independent Prayer,
abour Oliver when Sick, Lord we beg
not his life, we are ſure of that. But whe
ther ſuch ſtories muſt be told the World
at this time of Day; deſerves conſide-
ration.
We thought, faith he, when Richard
was made Prote&or, that the King could
never return; but we fee 12 or 18 Tears
was not too long to wait on God.
A large Account gives he of Oliver's
Lying and Perfidiouſneſs
.
The
C4
(38)
pith him
death
The Author, Reader, (for now I will
divert thee) of the Flagellum, or the
Life and Death of Oliver, Writing a-
gainſt him, Wro:e chus for him. That
after a Youthful extravagant Life, he was
reformed, minds ſecret and family Prayer,
was noted by all for Religion; that meeting
with one of whom he had gotten 30 Pounds
at Cards one Night, he had him to his
Houle, and returned him all again though
A long time after, and Money not plenty
he gives ſuch Account as
proves Oliver had no worldly deſign in
this Converſion, though he is pleaſed to
call it a pretended Converſion. I know
the ſtory more fully in ſome particulars,
I will not ſay then that Author did, but
will be bold to ſay then he told us,
(which is this) Oliver one Day hearing
Mr. Pointer, once Canon of Chriſt.
Church on Rom.6.23. What fruit have
104 of thoſe things whereof you are now
afhamed? for the end of thoſe things is
the young Cromwell, no more a young
Prodigal, but a reformed Man. Oliver
ever loved this plain honeſt Preacher
all his Days. I knew this Canon Pointer
very well, and was ſeveral times in his
Com-
(39)
Company, he was a Man of parts above
contempt, and below admiration. I will
nor give my opinion of Oliver, I know
great Men have great temptations, but
I will give the opinion of the Reverend
Mr. Richard Fairclough, my worthy
Friend, once of Briſtol, That he believed
Oliver was good in the main, though too
much corrupted with Antinomianiſm and
Diſimulation.
He was a Man famous beyond Sea for-
matchleſs Valour and Conduct, in the
management of his Affairs. And there-
fore the digging him out of his Grave,
whoſe Face they dared not to look on
when alive, was an action unbecoming a
Valiant Prince, or any ſuch, but him thac.
did it. Icis a known ſtory of a great Man,,
that would before King Charles put a Jeſt
upon Oliver's Daughter. Madam, I am
your Father yeſterday. What then Sir ?
"
He stank moſt abominably. I ſuppoſe he
was Dead then, was he not? Tes. I thought-
fo, or elſe I believe, he would bave made
you flink worſe. At which the King:
Laughed heartily.
It is alſo known, when the Book was:
written about 26 Years fince, called
4. Dialogue between the Gobler of Glocefter:
aydi
C5
( 40 )
and his Wife: The Auchor was to be
Tryed for his Lile. When he came be-
fore the Judge, he asked him, Whether
his fault was greater than Oliver Crom-
well's? No, ſaid the Judge, nor ſo great.
Pray, my Lord, ſaid he, let not my puniſh.
ment be greater; if I muſt be Hanged, let
me be dead and buried, and lie fo long in my
Grave firſt, then take me up and Hang
me after. Which made che Judge invite
him to Dinner, and gave him a Guinea
inſtead of the Halter; a thing much
better of the two.
I remember in Briſtol, at a Houſe
where I have ſometimes been, was the
Picture of Oliver, a Phyſician ſeeing it,
went down ſtairs, and ſaid, I believe the
Devil bath him whilft chus talking,
a noiſe was heard up ſtairs, the Maid goes
up to ſee what the matter was,and found
Oliver's Picture faln to the ground;
faid ſhe to the Doctor, Sir, take heed
what you ſay, for the Protector is coming
down fairs. The Doctor replied, I had
beft take heed indeed, I deſire not his Shadow
to follow me when dead, who was a terror
to all Men when living.
Well, but Mr. Baxter had waited
and prayed 12 or 18 Years for the return
of
( 41 )
of the King. Cold Prayers, I doubt,
feeing he kept no better Account of the
continuance of his Prayers ; from 12 to
18 Years is a conſiderable jump. The
wild Poer in his Iter Boreale (no righe
Title) ſays,
The Church doth cry,
Give me what's Sovereign, or elſe I dye,
I think they had enough of what was
Sovereign, much good may ic do the
hearts of them.
Now comes the famous ſtory never
to be forgiven, never to be forgotten, of
the Firebrands, that Preached Men iaco
fury againſt Richard Gromwel, Dr. Owen.
and his Affiftants, ſays he, did the main
work at Wallingford Houſe, he gathered
a Church conliſting of the moſt active
Officers in the Army. It was determined
by this Aſſembly, That Richard's Para
liament ſhould be diflolved, and then-
he foon fell himſelf, po 101,
Well I ſee Baxter had ſome reſpect
for his old Maſter Richard, to whom he
Dedicated his Key for Catholicks, and
there ſubſcribes himſelf, your faithful,
Subject Richard Baxter.
Though all this while he now tells
us,
he prayed for his overthrow, byc yet is
apgyi
( 42 )
angry with Dr. Owen for affecting it.
I acknowledg; faith he, it was their duty
to ſet up the King, and they did what they
intended not. Good came of ic to bring
back the King
Well, you Jacobites I ſee, may Write
to King William, magnifie him greatly,
and ſubſcribe your felves his Obedient
Faithful Subjects, or the like ; and yes
all chis while, wait and pray and endea-
vour for his Overthrow, and the Return
of your old Maſter; and yet keep your
Conſciences whole, as did this conſci-
encions, ſelf denying, heavenly Man.
Now, as if he could not blacken Dr.
Owen, and the reſt of the Firebrands
enough, he ſays, To do this againſt Ri-
chard, was the moſt barbarow, perfidious
thing that any Hiſtory did ever declare.
They pulld down whom they ſet up, and
Swore to, and could never give any reaſon
why they did this Villany. They did this
whilt the Parliament late, as if Perjury
and Rebellion were newly put into the Gom-
mandments. I doubt not, faith he, many
Preſbytirians were in fault in treating with
them. Though, faith he, p. 102. they
trould not communicate with prophane Men
at the Lord's Table, yet would with them
that
( 43 )
that broke their Vows to God and Man.
Reader, canſt thou believe thy own
Eyes, that Mr. Baxter ſhould thus ſtig.
matize Dr. Owen, and put him in ſuch
a Hue or Dreſs, as if an Incarnate De-
vil. Was it not enough to charge him
with Villany, Perjury, Rebellion; but
as if theſe were made ſome of the Ten
Commandments. The Lord rebuke thee,
faid Michael the Archangel, to the De-
vil, when contending about the Body of
Moſes, Jude g.
The ſtory I never credit upon Baxter's
word, and many of Dr. Owen's Friends
in the City, charge Mr. Baxter with fal-
fities, as to relating macters of Fact.
What may be ſaid, I know not, about
fome Circumſtances. George Keith (the
Reformed Learned Quaker) came to vi-
fit me a few Days ſince; Reliquid Bax-
terianæ lying on the Board, he took it up,
and read the ſtory of Mrs. Dyer of Nero-
England, the Monſtrous Birth ſhe had.
He lighed, and with much gravity and
reſpect.co Mr. Baxter, whom he va.
lued, ſaid to me, I was then in New-
England, and I profeſs the thing is 4 Fable
.
There was only a falſe Conception, a
lump, though Mr. Baxter talks of a
Mon
( 44 )
Monſter part of Filh and the other
thing adjoined to it, is not true; fo he.
I know Mr. B. hach often told the
World theſe ſtories, but if not true, for
I doubt it. Will you ſpeak falfly for God,
taich Job? God-needech no Mans fin to
carry on his own Work.
I no more believe him in many things,
than chat Sir Henry Vane was a Papift.
which Dr. Oats and Bedlow never ſaid
tho they faid that Milton and Lambers
were. I doubt Mr, Baxter hach told us no-
rorious Untruchs, as once he did in Com-
pany, That he took a Degree in Oxfords
which lye he confeſſes was the product
of Pride, and he repented of ic in his
Merry.mosk, prophane Book of Repen-
tance, for ſuch am I ready to prove is
to be, wherein he plays and jokes ſcan-
dalously with God, with the Biſhops,
and with others.
After J. Borough's Death, faich our
Hater of falle Hiſtory, as he called him-
felf, Dr. F. Owen, by Philip Nye's
Politicks ſet all in a fome, and kept our
wounds open. And what will not Pride do :
A ſecond Baxter I think. Thus his own
Picture is drawn to the Life. The Presby-
terians by the impatience and unpeaceable-
neſs
( 45 )
neſs of their minds, made their Enemies the
more furious, faith he.
Independent Confeſſions of Faith are like
Some Oaths, Speak one thing, and mean an-
other, p. 104. faith Mr. B.
I know this great Baxterian loved not
Prelatical Men, Presbyterians, or Indepen;
dents. But what ſhould induce him thus
beyond all meaſure co defame Dr. Owen
I have ſpent time to conſider. I do not
think he ever told the Doctor thus when
alive, and often in his Company. Is not
the reaſon this ? About Forty Years ago
Dr. Open Wrote a Book called Vindicia
Evangelica againſt the Socinians. Smal-
cius, Bedle; finding Mr. Baxter unſound
about Juſtification, and Satisfaction, he
parleys a little with him, and like a Gen-
tleman puts him in mind of his undiſcre.
tions, That whoever cenſured him for his
errors, (hould be one, faith Mr. Baxter.
1. That hath more Grace than l. 2. That
bath more Learning than l. 3. That bath
Studyed the Controverſie more than I. Novo,
faich the Dr. he hath given ſuch a lovely
character of himſelf, that
. I know not where
to find his Match, and I cannot ſee how a-
ny Man of modeſty Mould meddle with him,
be bath ſó blocked up his may. Let, faith
the
( 46 )
the Doctor in thar Book, any Man make
& Collection of all the paſſages that have a
moſt lovely aſpeet on himſelf in his Books,
for Mortification, Self-denial, Faithful-
neſs, and Diligence, for getting about
Pride, Paſſion, Self-love, Intereſt, I know
not his ſecond. Eet him alſo Collect palages
that have an ill aſpect on others for want of
them. What ſhall we ſay? Now Mr.
Baxter may remember this a long time
after, and deſcribe the Doctor like an
Incarnate Divel, who would not deſcribe
him, as he himſelf, as a Terreſtrial An-
gel.
Now hetells us p. 106. Fifty Men had
ärit againſt him. So he tells the ſame
ſtory in his Book of Converſion. Did
he not pride himſelf with it, the World
trouble themſelves ſo much about him?
It may be so more have writ againſt
him ſince. His Hand was againſt every
Man, and every Mans Hand againſt him
But (Ob Blindneſs !) do theſe Men
queſtion what Mr. Baxter ſays, O Blind-
neſs!) as he with great Confidence faid
before. Why may not l; faid Dr. Tully
long ſince, come out againſt you; as well
as you in your little Gock boat againſt the
whole Fket and Naty of Proteftant Di.
.
.
vines?
( 47 )
vines ? In his Epiſtle to him. It is be.
lieved, Baxter broke the Heart of chis
Modeſt Learned Doctor, by his rude
Trearments of him in his Engliſh Anſwer.
to a Latin Tract ( ſome of the beſt
Latin in the World) Juſtificatio Paulina,
He tells the Doctor, he would treat with
him no more; for if Children had nothing
elſe to do than to moyl themſelves, the Nurſes
have ſomething elſe to do than to make them
clean. O Brutiſh ſtuff !
But why had not this plain Man that
thus deſcribed Oliver, Dr. Owen and o-
thers, why had he not mentioned the
Perjury, Adulceries and wickedneſſes of
King Charles the II ? No, he knew Poy
licicks better than ſo.
I neither juſtifie nor cenfure che King's
Death ; but yet cannot but wonder,
how fome Clergy Men on 30th of fan.
ſhall bewail the Death of the Father,
and preſently give thanks for the De-
chroning the Son ; and Prayed for a Blef-
ſing on our Forces againſt him in Ireland,
(for chat was the plain Engliſh of the
matter, though they ſaid, againſt the
French) This Martyrdom-day is a Law.
leſs Day for our feditious Priests, who
take that time to hear the People againſt
the
( 48 )
the prelent Government, by Preaching
the old, ſtale and now ſtinking Doctrin
of Non-reſiſtance I knew one that ſaid,
He was not made King by a Gorvention
Another Prieſt nigh the place where -
I once lived, expreſ himſelf thus, so
Horrid was the Fa&t, that it is obſerved the
Sun ilever (bewed its face on this Day
ince. Whilft he was thus praring, the
Sun ſhone ſo bright in his Eyes, that he
could not read his Notes before him. It
could be with'd, that our Senators would
forbid this Mock-faſt hereafter, That
God's Name be noc Prophaned in Pray-
er, that the King's juſt Cauſe be not
wounded Shaftsbury, Colledge and
others;(One of which told me this Atory)
they made a Feaſt on Martyrdom-day,
and after Dinner every one was to take
a turn to Rhyme on the Occaſion. The
Firſt begins,
This Day dyed our Royal Martyr,
Who broke bis Oath and Englands Charm
W.bo was a Cuckold, Knight of the Gar
Whoſe Memory I care not a F- for,
He that doth deferve a Halter,
Wishout any benefit of bis Pfalter,
The
( 49 )
The laſt cloſed all,
So shall we all, if our minds alter.
When this Bleſſed Martyr came to
Dye, he had not laid one word of his
Religion, had not Dr. Juxton ſqueezed
it out of him; and then he cold an un-
truch, that he died a Proteſtant according
to the 39 Articles. Now if he were a
Proteſtant, (God knows) he was an Am
minian, which the 39 Articles condemn.
For my part, I cannot excuſe our Armi.
rian Conformiſt from Folly, or worſe.
If they know not what they ſubſcribe
10, they are guilty of the former, if
they do, of che faccer. I affirm, every
Anabaptif owning the good ſound Do-
Etrin of that Church, is a better Son of
ir, than an Arminian, who conforms to
che Ceremonies, but diſowns the Do-
(tria. Ceremonies are changeable at
pleaſure , but not Doctrin. The fame
power that makes Surplice, Croſs, Li-
turgies, to be their Ducy, as they think, at
one time, could make them a Sin at an.
other time, by forbidding them; but it
is granted it is not ſo with Doctrin.
Mr. John Lawſon, P. 108. is much
commended by Mr. B. but ac laſt with
a Cenſure. He seemed to favour the Kings
Death,
1
(50)
Death, and made too bold with the political
Controverſies of the Times. Why not Mr.
Lawſon as well as his Accuſer?
An idle ſtory is told us, p. 112. to un-
derſtand what he once writ to Mr. l'ines,
At once one Pulpit held us both.
A Tale to be Laughed at.
He tells us, Many Men were perplex'd
about his Right to Sacraments
. No doubt
this pleaſed him to the heart, who de-
lighted in nothing more than to lead a
Man out into a Wood, and there leave
him. I loſt a Privileged Place by that
in and out Book in my younger days.
I am ſure ic perplex'd me for one. B.
Uſher put bim, he faith, p. 14. on wri-
ting much Divinity. No doubt not on
the tench part of what he writ.
His own Gildas Salvianus is highly
applauded by him, as doing much good
P. IIS. Pui iſ going from Houle to
Houſe, and Perſon to Perfon, was a du.
ty then, Why nor fince? What, did no
Man find out the Arcanum, this great
Ducy, cill he did? I fear it was pre-
tended to be a Ducy on another deſigo.
What work doth be there cut out for
Miniſters to make them die before their
time:
Mr.
(51)
Mr. Gilbert of Shropſhire, faith he,
P. 116, wrote againſt me, and D. Owen
though his intimate Friend (and was he
not Mr. Baxter's intimate Friend too?)
All know this Mr. Gilbert to be a
great Man, he was relaced co Mr Bax.
ter, and I am ſure had mean thoughts
of him. He cold me, that in one of
Baxter's Books, he wrote thus, In two
coordinate Righteouſneſes, when one is fu.
bordinate to another That he ſhewed it to
him, who faid, I believe there was a
Quid tertium in my head when I wrote it,
I doubt a Quid tertium bach diſturbed
him more than once. He alſo told me, ,
that his Coſen Baxter was the greateſt
Word Warriour in the World, though a
Declaimer againſt ſuch.
This Mr. Gilbert was a Learned, Ju-
venile, Sweet Temper'd, Old Gentle.
man. He being asked before me,
what he thought Baxters Opinion about
Juſtification was, faid, He believeth a
first and ſecond Juſtification I have
ſeen him, with others, merry with
reading Baxter's Impertinences.
Mr. Baxter goes on, Mr. John Bury a
great Man deſired him to draw up ſomewhat
to unite Lutherans and Calviniſts together,
he
(52)
he did it largely in Latin, briefly in Eng-
lich Mr. Bury Printed the Engliſh-
No doubt he was aſhamed of the Larin,
and was not willing to expoſe him
cill
' he did it himſelf. Though that La.
tin cannot be ſeen, Method. Theol. may.
See how he here begins. Quamvis li-
brorum multitudo d me fcripta eft - Multa
tamen vana & inutilia ſcripſi. Sic faepe
peccamus in orando concionando-Et hoc
me juſtificabit. What Barbariſms, Ang.
liciſms, Breaking of Priſcian's Pole are in
the Book ? Had Mr. Dury Printed his
Larin, he had undone himſelf as to his
Name and Reputation, for he had there-
by let the World know, that he under-
ftood not what good Latin was.
He tells us of Mr. Hanmers Book of
Confirmacion, He muſt mend it for more
proof from Scripture. But I declare I
came to it big of Expectation upon his
commendation, but found not what I
look'd for, and I believe not a few are
of the fame miod.
Mr. Tho. Barlovo writ againſt me, faith
he, lace Biſhop of Lincoln, to confute a ſup-
poſed Opinion of mine, that common Grace
and laving, differed not in Specie, but
Gradu; I valued him before, but his Dil-
putation
(53)
putation againſt me came quite below him,
and I made it manifeft, and he reſolved
never to anfier
This Man, Reader, whom he thus
reproachech for his great condeſcenſion
in taking notice of him, was juſtly re-
pured by the Learned World, Papiſts
and Proteſtants, to be one of the great-
eft Men on the Earth: and how Baxter
dared to call it a ſuppoſed Opinion, I
know not. What did not Barlow the
Great underſtand him neisher! We all
know it was his real Affertion, if not
Opinion, which he ſo unlearnedly de-
tended that many Philoſophers were
ready to hiſs at him. All you that are
cenſured by this Man, remember you
have good company. He would not
Anſwer, No; Aquila non capit muſcas.
My Book, faith he, about Liturgies
and Ceremonies before the Kings return
made many moderate, and others conform;
and he tells us how he ſav'd his Credit by
doing it at that time. No doubt that was
a great matter. He was much concern'd
always in all things to ſave his Credit,
but no ones elſe.
My Key for Catholicks p. 118. Teachetb
Men to anſwer allfeſurts Arguments and for-
tifies
(54)
tifies 'em againſt any Popiſh Book whatever..
What,chat aſſerts the ſalvation of Papiſts,
and deſires us not to make the Controver-
fy greater than it is Under the Title of
that Book, he ſays too, it leaves them for
ever without excuſe, who after the reading
it ſhall be Papiſts. Would no Books be-
fore leave them withour excuſe ?
Lauderdale much valued his Book,
p. 121. Obſerve, Lauderdale being his
Friend, though a great Debauche, a
bloody Perfecutor, whoſe name is a
Curſe on the Earth, our plain, impar-
tial Hiſtorian hath nor" one word
againſt him, tho he names him often.
He was deſired to put a Preface be-
fore the Aſſemblies Works to recom-
mend them 5 buc indeed our Eagle.
eyed Man could not approve of every
Word, but our modeſt Man thinks they
may be uſeful in Families.
Now he comes to court Profelytes.
Hear what Mafter ſays, p. 105. The Man
that ſhall follow my Judgment then, was
more like to be miſled by me, than he who
(hould follow it now - Here was but one
Man, yet two Guides, Mr. Richard
would lead us one way, and Mr. Baxter
another.
He
( 55 )
He fays, He did not then converſe with
any that knew more than himſelf, P. 136.
Who dares ſay, he pretends to know
half ſo much
I am now, faith he, going into the
other extream, to keep my judgment to
my felf, or not to ſay, what I ibink, I know
more than others.
The wifest that think themſelves fo, know
little more than I. p. 129.
Reader, Sweeteſt thou not to read
ſuch Pride, Vain-glory, Folly?
I am now in love with the company of
Reconcilers , whom I once thought Ignorant
Men, but now know more Light and Judg.
ment was with them, than with others,
faith he.
See 13. I cannot paſs a Sentence of Dam-
nation on Heathens Who put him
on it? If they love God, they ſhall be
Saved The 39 Article Curferli
him that aflerts the Salvation of Hea-
thens.
The difference between us and Papifts, is
next to none, about Merit, Juſtification, or.
faith he. Then ſay I, our firſt Reformers,
and their Oppoſers were all Fools, they
did not underſtand ſenſe, nor one ano-
ther.
D
Now
( 56 )
Now he comes to give a lovely cha-
racter of himſelf, p. 133.
How he fighted Applauſe or Contempt;
but knopos not whether this comes from great-
er Humility and Self-denial, or whether
becauſe glutted with Applauſe before. Yec
it is evident, none ever hunted more for
Applauſe than he, and that in this Book,
He was never much tempted to Goveteoul-
neſs. p. 134. To deſpiſe, faich he, the World
is nothing to me, I could eaſily leave any
thing I have in the World. No fin appears
more odious to me than Pride, a Man as
proud is kin to the Devil. It is a wonder
it ſhould be a poſſible fin. I am more ſenſible
than before of the length, breadth and depth
of the fin of Selfiſhneſs, the radical, uni-
verſal, odious Sir; and the neceſſity and ex-
cellency of ſelf-denial; and therefore have
Writ ſo much againſt it. Every croſs pro,
voking word I give to them about me,
makes me almolt irreconcilable to my
ſelf.
Reader, here he begs thee to take his
word for it, that he was a None-ſuch for
Piety. But believe not a word he fays,
for 1 and Thouſands beſides, know he
peaks fally. Would he had been ſuch
when about to accept of a Biſhoprick ;
of which more hereafter.
Не
.
( 57 )
He goes on.
I have too much Sharpneſs in my Writings,
but it may be it is becauſe ſome underſtand
Rot what I do, or becauſe I can bear ſuch
Language my ſelf ; (a notorious untruth,
as ever was told.) I am apt to call a Spade
... Spade, ( and that which was none
too) and my Zeal in dealing with the Vul-
gar in Preaching, makes me forget my ſelf
in Writing againſt Learned Men. Ma.
ny think me angry, though I feel no ſuch
thing as Pafion in my ſelf, yet I confeſs
, it
is ſcandalous; but I am afraid of the con-
trary extream of ſpeaking too mildly, as
Eli to his Sons. Oh Quis talia fando
Obſerve Reader, how gingerly he
touchech his Sins, and comes to Confef-
fion, like one that was afraid he ſhould
not get ſome honour and praiſe by this:
To me he ſeems to beg us not to believe
him, bue hope it is too much Modeſty
and tenderneſs of Conſcience, than any
real failure, that makes him think and
write fo meanly of himſelf.
Before I proceed to Animadvert on
the ſecond Book, let us look back, and
let me ſpeak a word in the Ears of all
thoſe who are called Baxterians, eſpeci-
ally young Candidaces for the Miniftry.
D2
Men,
( 58 )
Men, Brethren and Fathers,
I .
the deſign of this Rhapſodie, is to
increaſe your Party, which is too ſtrong
already; and to weaken the other Par-
ey of ſound Orthodox Proteſtants, too
weak already. I ſaw a Letter from a
Baxterian in London, to another (who
I think gloryed as much in that Name,
as in that of Proteſtant) Thus you may ea.
fily imagine what Veneration I have for that
name, which will be famous to the end of
the World: Yet I muſt confeſs, Mr. Bax-
ter was guilty of one great fault, To put
Mens words upon the rack, and make them
Speak what he pleas'd.
You that magnifie him, do tell us,
how humbly he carryed it to ſome of
you; the reaſon was becauſe you were
his Creatures, and approached his pre-
fence with awe and reſpect; he could do
no leſs. I knew one that deſired che fa
vour to kiſs his Hand. The lowly Man
granted it, and was graciouſly pleaſed to
condeſcend ſo far: He came with that
Veneration as a Papit would the Infal-
lible Man at Rome to kiſs his Toe; and
Talk'd of it with ſo much delight, as if
his Lips had been Sanctified by this
great
( 59 )
great Priviledge. But if any of ours:
Queſtion'd him, great Men, he hath
faid, you underſtand not common ſenſe,
c.
This is the Man that pretended to be
our great Peace-maker, made on pur-
poſe; yer hach ſet us together by the
Ears, and made ſuch breaches, that no
time, I doubt, will Cement. The Uni-
on at London was thus broken. Some
young Men have Conformed, others
gon beyond Sea, and ſome turned Ar-
minians by theſe Heats. I pray look
back and conſider, ſome of you I know
are troubled to ſee a Book laden wich-
Impertinencies, &c. It is a great dif-
grace to the Cauſe of Non conformiſts,
That if Non conformiſts write Hiſtory,
they do it Unskilfully Ic is a true
Charge
How big was the World with expe
Etation of the Synodicon in Gallia Refor:
mata ? The ſecond Volume of which is
hardly worth thanks, I have been
offered both by an Ingenious Diſſenter,
for little more. To tell little inſignifi.
cant trilling Accidents, and Circum-
ſtances, is to be Tellers of dry Tales, ra-
ther than Writers of folid Hiſtory. Such
give
D 3
( 60 )
give as and our Cauſe an incurable
Wound.
Baxter was our Engliſh Camero, or
Tilenus, and Camero the French Bax-
ter. What Confuſions brought he in
thoſe Churches, as chis Man here?
If one Man be famous for a Church
Hiſtory, as Dr. Fuller, Dr. Burnet and
others, we muſt have Mr. Baxter's Hi-
ſtory of Biſhops and Councils. But is
there any thing of the Macedonian He-
refie there mentioned under the Title ?
I cannot find it. If one be famous for
Divine Poems, as Herbert, Quarls and
others, we muſt have Mr. Baxter's Di-
vine Poems, excellent Poetry! fome e-
fpecully.
If one Man be famous for a good Pa-
raphraſe, as Biſhop Hall and others, we
muſt have Mr. Baxter's Paraphraſe on
the New Teſtament, who in this
Work deals rudely with Biſhops, Read
Matthew 7. Here we muſt be told Rom.
8.19. Of the Creatures after the Re-
furrection reſtored to that Glorious
State before the Curſe . What muſt
Dogs and Cais riſe again? Will not
this make not a few to ridicule the Re-
furrection? Here Papiſts are called Bre-
thren,
..
( 61 )
thren, and He that loveth not his brother
is not of God, br. But there is no end
of the filthy Nocions in that Book. If
ſome Write a Syſtem of Divinicy, we
muſt have Mr. Baxter's Method. Theol.
and that in Latine too, full of Herero-
dox Nocions, as the Salvation of Hea-
thens, and when ſpeaking of the Forma-
tion of Man, as a Divine, gives us an
Anatomy of him as a Phyſician, beſides,
all the Cobweb diſtinctions there. Dr.
Owen laid of him Vind. Evan. I do not
think the World ſo much concerned in me,
That I muſt tell them when I am ſick, and:
when I am well, how old I am; what my
Faith and Opinion is in every Controver-
fie on Foot, and what Corruption I laſt mor-
tified.
This is he that hath weakned your
Meetings, by telling the World, He-
did not care to Preach in Church-time. He
Bapized not a Child in about Twenty Years.
You talk of his Converts, but not Per-
verts. How many Thouſands have left
your Meetings where they ſeem'd Seri-
ous, and gon into Aſſemblies where
they prov'd Debauched, through him;
who may Curſe the Day in a woful Eter-
nity that ever they heard of his Name.
He
D:43
(62)
He could go to Common-Prayer, to Sacra-
ment, wear a Surplice. Who cares? Yes,
and could offer a Ghild, in caſe of neceſſity,
to a Popiſh Prieſt to Baptize it his way. For
which Saying many fober Conformiſts
are diſpleaſed with bin The Queſti-
on is not what he did, but ſhould do.
Is not The Saints Everlaſting Reſt, made
The Saints everlaſting Contencion, by
abundance of Controverſies. Name the
Hundreds there if you can.
Mr. How well obſerves in his Bleffed.
neſs of the Righteous, No Subject in Di-
vinity is farther from Gontroverſie than
Heaven: Yet I have ſometimes turned
accidentally here and there, three or
four times, to try whether I could read
a Page without one Controverſie or ano-
cher. He ſays well in one Chapter, There
are no Gontroverſies in Heaven. If there
were, I think, the Angels and Saints
there, had never been quier ſince he
came among them. For you ſay, with.
eut all doubt he is gone there. I am wil-
ling to take your word for it. You do
well
to blame ſome that ſay, He had not
one Dram of Grace in him; others, That
they belive he is in Hell. You tell me,
They ſay fo. I never heard ſuch words,
much
(63)
much leſs ſpoke them. Only it is no
leſs a comfort than a wonder to us, That
ſeeing no Phariſee Mall enter into the King-
dom of Heaven, That one ſo much like, got
So certainly, ſafely, and eaſily there, as you
tell us he did. You young Men, it is no
good manners in you co meddle with
things too great for you, who muſt in
all Company talk of Mr. B's Notions,
that you value his Writings next to
the Scriptures : We thank you, thac
you make them not preferable. Had
Land or Sherlock, or ſuch Men afferred?
his Doctrin of Juſtification (about which
more at the end of this Book) you had:
loach'd it; but this Man's name poyfon-
ed che gilded Pill. Seeing he cells your
ſo much in favour of Liturgies and Ce-
remonies.
Let us a little reaſon together.
All Miniſters are ſuppos'd to have Mi.
niſterial Gifts for cheir Work, Praying.
to God, as well as Preaching to the
People: If he hath none, what doch he
there to Officiate? If he hath, why
doch he not uſe them? They are not
alhamed) to ſay other Mens Prayers to
God, that are alhained co Preach other
Mens Sermons to the People. Read?
Pray-
.
DS
(642
Prayers to God! Oh where is the ſha:-
dow of it from Geneſis to the Revelations.
Nay, under the Law, God himſelf made
no Prayer: book for Mofes and Aaron
and the People. The deſign was to juſſel
out Miniſterial Gifts; they ſaid it plain-
ly at the Savoy Meeting appointed by
King Charles II after his Return, No
Prayer (hould be ſaid in the Pulpit but the
Lord's Prayer. You ſee how unable they
are to Pray as occaſion is. I remember
I ſaw in a Church at Oxon a Note
come in for one the next Day to be Exe-
cuced. Mr. Parſon goes to work, Save
from enemies, and the Hangman was to
take, the next Day, this perſon was
praved for among the Sick, who was
fick of the Halter, and died of the Dil-
eaſe. Stir up the Gift of God, faith
Paul. No Gift is uſed in the two great
Ordinances, Baptiſm and the Lord's
Supper. When it pleaſed God to Teach
the Church in its Infancy by Ceremo-
nies, he made them himſelf, now he
laid aſide theſe, who made ours : Let
them chat make them give the Bleſſing
of them. Why not an Ephod as well
as a Surplice? Why not a Croſs on che
Breaſt with a Papiſt, as well as one in
che
(68)
the Forehead? Nay, this is worſe than
theirs in Prayer, for it is made a Dedi-
cating Sign to God. Are they Fathers
in God that have Perſecuted the Saints,
fillid Goals with them, Swore Church:
Wardens to Articles never made by
Law, and which they knew the miſera-
ble Souls that took them, could not keep
them, and perſecute them if they refus'da..
A Clergy Man very kind to me, once
told me, Could you allure the Biſhop you
bowed at the Name of Jeſus, it would do
bim more good than if you converted
half the People you Preach to.. One Bi-
ſhop came once Ten Miles to give me
trouble, where one was queſtion'd for
Drinking on a Lord's Day at an Ale...
houſe, and paid his Money : When
they were going away, ſaid the Bilhop
to him, Could you not have Drank on a
Sunday, and paid for it on Monday? And
then nothing could be done to you.
May thoſe that have loſt their firſt
Love, by Mr. Baxter's repeated endleſs
Calls to Lay Conformity, remember
the words of the Propher, Return to thy
firſt Husband, for then was it better with
thee than now, Hof. 2. 7. The Church
of England hath made ſuch advances ro
Romo,
( 66 )
Rome, that the Papiſts never expected,
nor had that help for their Work from
the Proteſtant Preſbyterians in France,
Geneva, or Holland, that they had here
in England, from fome who may be
better called Deteſtants, as K. James I.
called the Arch-bilhop of Spolato, than
Proteſtants. Will not the late Plot
convince you? It bath ſome. But you
cry,
Mr Baxter was a good Man.
I will not ſay there are two ſorts of
good Men. Some are good for ſome
thing, others are good for nothing. No,
you ſhall have it. What then? Were
you Baptized in his name (he ſcrupled
Pedo-baptiſm Seven Years.) Was Mr-
Baxter Crucified for you? (No truly,
he did not intend it.) Young Men re-
member your Maſter's Theme, Ne Sutor
ultra Crepidam, though he forgot it.
I remember when Dr. Ramſey Wric
bis rambling Book of Worms, a Queſti.
on was propos’d in Company, What
mould foon make a Man Mad Two or
three Leaves of your Book, Do&tor, ſaid
one.
I will not apply the ſtory. Make the
beft uſe of it you will.
I
( 67 )
I never ſaw nor heard him but once,
and that was Alderman Aſhurft's Fune-
ral Sermon, John 12. 26. If any man ſerve
me, him will my Father honour. There
he ſays, a Believer and a Servant of the
Lord is all one. True, but not in the
ſenſe intended. His Faich and Obedi-
ence is not all one. Though then in my
younger Years, I thoughe true, as Ani.
mal rationale and Animal riſibile is all
one, yet Racionality and riſibility are
not all one, The one Conſtitutes the Ef
ſence, the other follows ic fo Conſti-
tuted.
The too great Applauſes Mr. Baxter
had from great Men, made him giddy,
and ſtagger and miſtake his way. Mr.
Jof. Allein of bleſſed memory indeed,
when be repeated any thing out of his
Books, would ſay, Moſt devoutly faith
that holy Man of God Mr. Baxter, Mr.
Tragojle of Cornwall, would ſay, That
there was hardly ſuch a Man ſince the
Days of the Apoſtles. Dr. Du Moulin in
his Moral Reflections, That Mr. Baxter
had turn'd more Men from Nature to Graces.
than any one ſince the Days of the Apoftless
except Calvin.
( 68 )
'
It is often ſaid by them thar complain
of his Controverſal Writings, That his
Practical are ſpecial. Why? He hach
laſhed the Conſciences of the moft Cir-
cumſpect Chriſtians, by making more
Sins and Duries than God made. Mr.
Fermin, that Man of depth, hach confi-
dered ſome of them. How doth Baxter
anſwer him?
That which tends to a Man's good is his
Duty: To Meditate a quarter or half an
Hour a Day on Heaven, tends to a Man's
good, therefore to Meditate a quarter or
half an Hour a Day on Heaven, is a Mans
Duty.
Buc might not our Caſuift or Diſpu-
tant ſay an Hour a Day? May not I
make the like Syllogilm about Medica-
ting ſo long on the Evil of Sin, the Va-:
oity of the World, the Excellencies of
Chriſt, that the whole Day ſhould
noç be time enough for Medication. This
is to be Righteous overmuch.
How unworthily Mr. Baxter ſpoke of
Worthy Learned Divines, you cannot
be ignorant of Dr. Tully, joining him
with the London Barber (who, I hear
was a Chyrurgeon) mocking him with
the ſtory of che Spaniard and his Pipe of
Tobac
( 69 )
Tobacco, in ſuch a rude way, as if a
Mafter was ſpeaking to his Boys : But
Dr. Tully replys gravely to him, only
would reach him to ſtudy Divinity, who
thought he could reach all the World.
Mr. B. could diſtinguiſh ſomewhat like
a Doctor who had a mind to Conform,
and ſaid, The Abjuration of the Cove-
nant was not As of a Govenant unlapoful in
it ſelf; but only in iç ſelf unlawful. I
hate Baxter's way of naming perſons,
for the ſake of their Children yet alivez
I know the ſtory is true. He repreſen-
ted Mr. Troughton to the World as a
proud Man. I knew him, and have of
ten Lodged at his Houſe, and received
the Sacrament from him. He was the
beſt Man I ever knew, humble and love-
ly all over; That a Divine of the Church
of England ſaid this in his Funeral Ser
mon (I was then preſent) He that de
nies this Man to have been a Scholar, that
knew him, doth not know what Learning
#: He was very Pious, and Prudent,
and modelt, yet Baxter ſaid of him, That
though a Mentiris might ſerve the turn they
did not care for it that moſt deſerved it
O rudeneſs! I confeſs Mr. Troughton, of
any Man I knew, had the meaneſt opi.
nion
( 70 )
opinion of Mr. Baxter. I have heard
him ſay, He was not a Man of depth as
many other Divines were. That had be
been a Scholar, he would have had ſome
good manners
This Mr. Troughton
was a Blind Man, could never ſee after
Three Years Old, was Fellow of John's
College in Oxon, reputed there a good
Linguiſt, Orator, Philoſopher, Geogra.
pher, Historian and Divine. I have been
an Eye-witneſs of the great Devoir paid
him by great Men. His ſervant Maid
who tended the Children, waſhed the
Cloachs, fr. could never ſee; yet was
a very jocoſe Maid, as well as pious and
devout. His Wife was half Blind, and
fo was he thar Read to him. By the way,
that Man (Mr C) cold me, that when
Baxter had Money put into his Hands to
diſpoſe among poor Miniſters, (in which
number he was) he would give him
none, but told him You were a Reader to
Mr. Troughcon
Yet this was the
Man that felt not Paffion. No, not he,
a Lamb like Saint, but he made others
feel it, and this Man for one.
Mr. Troughton was a meek Mofesi
and Moſes had a Zipporab
..
:
IT
(71)
If you ſay to me as Eliab to David,
when he prepared to come out againſt
Goliah who bid defiance to the Armies
of the Living God, I know thou didf
this in the pride of thine heart: I ſay as
David to him, Is there not a cauſe? Here
is he that hach Corrupted the Doctrin
of Juſtification, and caught Proteſtants
to ſpeak like Papiſts. Buc more of that
hereafter. To chat Objection, But is
not this Socinianiſm ? He tells us a.
mong other things, That Fauſtus was not
fo infauftus as to hit on nothing true. Aphor.
The Book is Subtil, and the Papiſts are
very fond of it, and ſome of them have
gon to viſit him, and invite him to
come nigher to them, as he tells us in his
Grotian Religion. Dr. Tully ſays of him
in his Juftif. Paulina, Extra Scholas Saci-
ni Acerrimus eft oppugnator Doctrine
Juſtificationis ex Fide fola. Mr. B. Tri-
umphs as Ajax in the Poet,
Qui cum vidus erit, mecum certaſſe fe.
retur,
Ajacem ſic nemo poteft fuperare niſ Ajax.
That we Live in an Age wherein Men
mind not what is ſaid, but who ſays it,
is
( 72 )
#
is evident from Mr. Lock's Notion in his
Incomparable Piece, Humane Under-
ſtanding. That there are no firſt Princi-
ples, No Innate Ideas. All comes by Dif-
courſe and Experience, Now Thouſands
of Scholars are plealed; but when Mr.
Hobbs ſaid it, they ſligheed it. Beware
of it now I could wilhj to them that
believe the ad. Chapter to the Romans to
be Canonical. So that is good Doctrin
in Baxter, that would be Herelie from
others.
No Prayers, Mr. Baxter faith, could
pleaſe him, that he heard; all wanted
the method of the Lord's Prayer. No
Party pleaſed him. No Men I think,
plealed him. Could he pleaſe himſelf
For bis felf Commendation, I know
it is often ſaid, Did not Saints in the Old
Teſtament do ſo, David and others,
Paul in the News
1. They were obtreusor Inspired,
God's Amanuenſes, no more. God there-
fore would have thoſe things on Record
for the Edification of the Church to the
end of the World..
2. They threw not Dirt on others,
not David' on Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob
and Moſes
The:
( 73 )
3. The thing is condemned in others.
Did ever good Biſhop Uſher, Biſhop
Hall, Mr. Dod, Dr. Preſton, the two Al-
leins, and others ? Tell what Pſalms they
fung when they awoke, How their Purſes
were open for all pious Uſes, what time they
Daily ſpent in the thoughts of Heaven?
Did they cell, that they knew more than
others, were above Pride, the World, Paf-
fion? Did they run a Muck againſt other
Men, as Raw, Illiterate, Unſtudied, Pur-
blind Divines ? Take one Inſtance, Is
this the way to Cure Church Diviſions,
to tell weak Men, In Diſputable Mat-
ters they muſt take up with the Opinion of
the greateſt of Miniſters, moſt famous for
Learning and Piety? And then come in
with this exception, to make himſelf a
Guide to all Men in all things; except
In a Point wherein one Clear-lighted Di-
vine may ſee more than many Purblind
Divines; as in the matter of Juſtificari-
on, What is the Direction then worth?
If he could, as you ſay, give ſuch a
lovely Character of himſelf to the
World without Pride, I dare think he
was the moſt mortified Piece, holy,
Heaven born Saint thac ever came into
the World; and it was high time for
him
( 74 )
.
to go out of it, for here was no Comº
pany fit for him. He overthrows in his
Saints Reft, all the ſigns commonly given
by Divines of Sincerity, as loving the
Godiy as Godly, &-c. and in the Pride
of his Heart, gives us a new, but woful
Scheme of Divinity in many Books.
Gentlemen, to be plain with you, if all
this will not anſwer your objection.
Take this.
They ſpoke true, but he falſe
.
Do not I pray you, provoke me to the
proof of this more than now. Love you
not the King ? your Loyalcy is not as the
Church Mens, dubious, fufpitious; but
indiſputable, and beyond Controverſie
. Re-
member then I have now done him Ser-
vice, and you too, in Detecting Mr. B's
Principles tending to ſubvert the Go-
vernment
Love you your own juſt righteous
Cauſe I have pleaded it againſt one,
thar hath ftabb'd it to the Heart.
Tell what Stories he and others will,
(I am not unacquainted with Ignatius's
Epiltles, Eufebius, Socrates Scholaſticus,and
other Writers of Churca Hiſtory )
I know no Church Hiſtory, but the Aits
of the Apoſtles. There are we ſent to know
the
(75)
the Diſcipline of Churches. I expect no.
thing but Contempt from ſome of you
but I ſhall not care, for I have the beſt
Company in the World both in Church
and State.
Who buc he, would begin with ſuch
ſtories of his father, and Maſter,how lg-
noranc he was? I remember I have
heard of a Reader, who having Whip'd
his Boys ſeverely, they contriv'd this way
to be avenged. He kept School in the
Church. They found out the firſt Lef-
ſon appoined for the next Sundays Moro-
ing-Prayer, they under the Concenis tore
out a piece of the Leaf, paſted in a piece
of a Ballad of the ſame Print. The firft
Lellon appointed for this Morning.Prayer,
faith the Reader, is ſuch a Chapter, the
Contents of the Chapter, the Chapter
follows.
As I went over Salisbury Plain.
He took off his Spectacles, rubbed
them. As I went over Salis - OH he
takes his Spectacles again, takes a full
view of them, thought he, all is right, I
will Read on.
As I went over Salisbury Plair.
In Fam. (I have forgotten I confeſs the
Hext line) ſaid the Reader, I defore the
Church,
(76)
Church Wardens to get me a new Bible a
gainſt next Sunday, for mine is one of the
Old Tranſlation.
Was nor this Mr. Baxter's Maſter
an ignorant immoral Reader, that did
Read Lords-days, Tipple Week days,
and Whip the Boys when he was
Drunk? What think you Sirs ?
O no, it cannot be. A ſudden and
unaſwerable reaſon offers it ſelf to us.
He would have told us ; for he ſpares
none, Father nor Grandfather.
Seeing he hath blackned ſo many, and
fpared King Charles the II. we will con-
fider his Reign. His deſigns to cover
the Popiſh Plot, and imploying Perſons
to decoy others is well known, that Pa-
per found in Fitz-Haris's Pocket, Sir
William Waller who Apprehended him,
ſhewed me and many others the Copy
of.
Remember the Meal-tub Plot, the At-
tempts made on Perfons to Swear hafif
buy out of his Life, bis being a
Papift
, as he confeſſed when he Dyed,
and his leaving his weak R-aluns in his
Strong-box.He Sold us, as cid Ahafu-
or's the femies, to Haman. He was the
noſt Vicious of Princes, whom our Au-
thor flatters.
But
(77)
But you ſay, Mr. Baxter was a great
Man, and much admired by all
. Great
in che Eyes of none ſo much as his own,
admired by none ſo much as by himſelf.
If you will follow Examples, follow
that of Chriſt, who ſaich of himlelt Mat.
1!. 29. Learn of me, for I am meek and
lowly in Heart, and you ſhall find reſt for
your Souls
. Gall no man Father upon Earth,
ne is your Father, even Chriſt. Though
Mr B. wouid fec up for a Facher ; yet
own him not as ſuch. He that follows
my judgment now, will not be ſo much
milled as he that follows it once in ſuch a
Thameful way of begging Diſciples, as
was unbecoming any but him that did
ic
THE
( 79 )
THE
Second Part.
A
S our Author in the Firſt Part
of his (what ſhall I call it)
Reliquia, hach given a love.
ly Character of himſelf for
Mortification, Heavenly mindedneſs;
and a ſevere one of others for Rebelli
on, Perjury, Selfiſhneſs; and botli falſe :
So He now gives as lovely a Character
of himſelf for Wiſdom, Learning, and
ſeeing things in their Light, when others
knew not what they ſaid; and both
falſe as was the former.
How loathſom is it to ſee à Man
thus to do over and over, notwithſtand-
ing the frequent Addreſles made to him
by many of his real Friends : See how
he expreſſeth himſelf, p. 141. It was
bard to find a Man that underfood the
E
true
( 80 )
true ſtate of the Controverſy between the
Arminians and Calviniſts-Again, Rare
was it to find any that underſtood the di-
ftinctions
and ſo to bring things out of
th: dark.
You muſt know, this is to invite you
among the number of his Proſelytes and
Converts.
I verily believe he meant no Man un-
derſtood them but himſelf.
See how hard he fails on all parties,
and like our Father or Judge Eli (as be-
före) how he treats with all as his Sons
who needed his keen Cenſures, and le-
vere Diſcipline.
Now he comes, and Cites all at his
Bar, and tells what he likes, and what
he diſlikes in them all, in that proud
magifterial way that I remember not
any Preſident for. Nay as if he would
do all with chat Authority Chriſt did
to the Churches; begins with a Com-
mendation, and then comes on: Never-
theleſs I have (not a fero) but many things
againſt you. But the miſchief is, He is
our, thọ Chriſt were in the righr.
The Presbyterians are out. The Magi-
ſtrate muſt be ſure to keep the Sword in his
owh hande not put it in the hand of Mini.
Pers
( 81 )
fters; and now the Scotish Presbytery is
condemned.
Thus he wrote when the Doctrin
was plealing to King Charles the II. bis
Sovereign, for whoſe Blefied Return
the Good man had waited on God
Obſerve though this mortiſed Piece
would not ſpare Oliver, yet did King
Gharles; not a word of dereſting his
Whoredoms,Perjuries and other Wick-
edneſſes, too great for any but him that
did them.
Now he tells us. His work was to
gather up the good together in all Parties,
&c. Now you muſt know he was a
litele Piece of Infallibility. Whatever
he gather'd muſt be all good, and what
he threw away muſt be all bad. We
cannot be miſtaken about our unhappy
Controverſies in Church and State, if we
can be ſo happy to know what his opi-
nion and practice was. For I do be-
lieve many of his Votaries do think,
that the Holy Jelas could do no leſs
than make known all bis mind in theſe
things to the Holy Baxter, as being
moſt like to him ; ſhining in all Graces
and Good Works. But did he learn of
his Mafter more than others, Mat. 29.
E 2
TO
( 82 )
To be meek and lowly? Will you dare
ſay it, unleſs you can prove that the
Books bearing his name are none of his,
eſpecially His Anſwer to Mr. Bagſhaw,
with his Charge of Fourſcore untruths in
matters of Falt,and after all the Billingſgate
Rhetorick, he cenſures Propofitions,
and Opinions Had he no fear of God
nor Man before his Eyes, when he thus
facrificed his own Name to Thame and
contempt, and fixe an indelible odium
on it, when he thought to deal ſo with
him? How deale he with Dr. Tully in
his Reply in Engliſh, to his Juftificatio
Paulina ? (excellent Latin) by one ſays
he, That hath look'd farther into the Do-
&trine of Juſtification, &c.
Tell me, Reader, Didſt thou ever read
ſuch a piece of rudeneſs, and incivili-
ty, and that to one whom he could not
Anſwer in Latin? It is ſaid by many
that he was the Cauſe of the Doctors
death, who being a very modeft, as
well as Learned Man, ſo much laid to
heart his ill Treatment of him
But I ſhould in Infinitum excurrere
if I ſhould name all he hath handled in
a Proud, Vain Glorious, Falſe, Brutiſh
way and manner.
I
( 83 )
I was, faith he, Suſpected to be an
Eraſtian. Who matters ? Such [meic
not then the deſign for a new Parcy.
Come, O Yes,-- Mr. Baxter's Great
Allize is come. Hold up your hands to
the Bar, you Eraſtians, Dioceſan Pre-
la iſts Presbyterians, Independents, Baxter's
Doom day is come, &c.
The Scorch Presbytery was condemn-
ed when Charles the II. had it under
his feet, but was approved of again
when King William reſtored it. Then
the Man Repends he had been ſo againſt
is, and heated others. For Roger
L'Strange was not the only Man in..
England that had an eye to the Court
when he wrote any thing.
For my part in my Younger days
I thoughie Mr. Baxter had indeed been
what he cold che World, and I verily
believed, He was the moſt Holy Man
out of Heaven. But when I ſaw ſuch
innumerable and intolerable Applauſes
of himſelf, and Cenſures of others, I
could not offer ſuch violence to my
Reaſon, but to complain of him, as
ſome of the moſt Learned and Pious in
che Nation of all Perſwalions do.
I
E 3
( 84 )
1
I believe one Year (when Twenty
year Old, and a Member of the Uni-
verſicy) there was hardly an hour in
the day, in which I was awake for a
whule Year, that I thought not of bim
more or leſs. When I heard him
Preach a Funeral Sermou (the only
time I ſaw him) he larded it with Con-
troverſies. Then Avat the Bithops, and
then the People were told out of the
Church Hiſtory how large a Bilhops
Dioces was. Then Aave the Anti-Bav.
terians (that is, Aſſerters of old Pro-
teltant Doctrin) His Notions of Faith
were aſſerted very Magiſterially, and
yet none condemns Preaching of Con-
troverſies as he did, and yet in the Meet-
ings, The name of Sectaries, Separatiſt,
were ſo common, as if he had ſworn ne-
ver to be quier, or Spare none, buc
thoſe exactly of his Stature, not an
Inch taller or ſhorter.
He would often in the Meecings
Preach againſt Sectaries and Separatiſts,
óc. Let him mean what he would,
I doubt aor but he Preach'd away ma-
ny of his Hearers, fome to Conformity,
others to greater Separation.
A
(185)
A Friend of mine, who would ne.
ver hear him more, told me, That he
once Preach'd on Job 1: 4. of Fob's Sons
Feaſting in their Houſes.
There he tells them. If he were in
a Popiſh Country, and had Children
he would get a Prieſt co Baprize them
in the Popith way, if he could not get
a Proteſtant Minilter to do it, and more
Traſh I have now forgotten. I know
he ſays the ſame in his Chriſtian Dire&to.
ry; and alſo of the Lawfulneſs of car:
rying aboue us a Crucifix, were it not
for the Papiſt abuſing it. Now I re-
member my Friend told me he ſaid
That in the Sermon too,
He was ſo much for being differens
from other Men, that he once ſaid in
Company, He would begin the cuſtom
of wearing long Beards, if they would
follow,
I remember by the way I have heard
of a Scotiſh Miniſter, who dining at a
Lords Houſe with Mr. How, and ſome
other Miniſters; The warm Scot was
condemning our Practice of not wears
ing Long Beards. It was'a Sin. What
Say you Mr. How, ſaid the Lord to him
He anſwered like himſelf. I believe Porno
Hairs
E 4
( 86 )
:
him)
Hairs may be cut off. But how many, ſaid
he? Nay, ſaid this Wile, Grave, Mo.
derate Divine, What hairs may not be
cut off, but muſt ſtand Jure Divino, I
know not. I hope the Reader will not
expect, that I ſhould here follow him
in all his diſtinctions, ſome of which I
no more under ftand than he himſelf.
I remember I have heard long ſince,
what one of the greateſt Divines in
England ſaid of him, That he would die
a Thomas Aquinas, diſtinguiſh and diſtin.
quih till be had diffinguiſh'd all into no-
thing. Aquinas mard many Divines, as
bome believe, bucmade few B. Ujer,
and Biſhop Wilkins, (I ſuppoſe from
ioz call'd it The Cobreb Divinity. The
Fainous Robert Bolton call'd the School-
men a Rotten Generation of Divines.
Bar our Diſtincton-maker I little value,
ſince I read in his Non-conformiſt Plea
for Peace, The Firſt Part, in Anſwer to
che Church-mens Reply rolliat pallage
in the Prayer-Book. Infants dying be-
fure tibey commit Adual. Sin are undoub.
sedly ſaved. Some ſay, faich he, this is
an indefinite Prupoſition, and therefore it
is for.c Infants, not all
. I remember
many
( 87 )
I'W
many Conformiſts in their Polemical
Writings chus pleaded; and, to do them
right, a lhrode Plea it is, and not eaſily.
Anſwer'd. Now comes our profound
Philoſopher and Advocate, and tells
them, that others ſay, this cannot be,
for it muſt be an Univerſal Propofiti
on. All Infants; becauſe, faith he, It is
in re neceſaria, which is Salvation. Why
had he noc cold us who were thoſe Dun-
ftical Diffencers, that ſo ſaid: I know
not one. Is Salvation ares neceſſaria Logi.
cally? Then they could not be Infants
without it. For whatever is ſo, doch
either conſtitute the Eflence, as a Spe-
cifick difference, or immediately follow
it ſo conſtituced as an inſeparable pro-
perty, which cannot be ſaid of Salvati-
on, which is a contingent thing. The
Rule in Logick is this, Propofitio inde-
finita in materia contingenti eſt particula-
Now fav the Advocates fori
Subſcription to the Liturgy, Salvation
is a contingent ching, and therefore the
Propoſition is parcicular.. Some In-
fants I think they are not eaſily
Auſwer'd, and I wiſh I had no greater
Obj:ction againſt ſubſcribing than chis.
Now co urge this. Propofitio indefinita
ES
in
::
(88)
in materia neceſſaria eft Univerſalis, and
to ſay All Infants, becauſe Salvation
is neceſſary, would make a young So-
phiſter to be biſt out of the Schools. A
Man is rational, is a univerſal Propoſition;
it is in a neceſſary thing, therefore all
Men be fo. A Man is Learned, is a
contingent thing, therefore ſome be fo.
If he was not ſleepy when he wrote, I
believe ſome are when they read.
Though in my younger days I read ma-
ny of his Books Practical and Contro-
verſal, yet I remember not this, a Mi-
niſter of great worth affur'd me he did.
That Writing of Faith and Senſe, he ſaid,
The Conclufion muſt follow the weaker,
and very learnedly laid down this Rule,
Concluſio ſequitur debiliorem (or as lome,
deteriorem) partem, when every Novice
in Philoſophy knows, That is a particu-
lar, not univerſal, a Negative noc an Af.
farmacive. And therefore I think with
others, Some few Years in the Univer.
firy had done him no harm. Aged wor.
thy Divines have in Diſcourſe blamed
him, for confounding Men with
unuſual diſtinctions, as hey have told
me
Buc
( 89 )
But to conſider our Author as to his
Politicks. I affirm, That by his affert,
ing as before, That the Perſon and Au.
thority of the King is inviolable, &c.
King James had much wrong done him,
and we were all guilty of Perjury and
Rebellion, and muſt be ſent to keep
Company with Dr. Omen and Thou-
Sands of honeſt Men for ſuch Villany, as
he calls it. As if Perjury and Rebellion,
had been made one of the Command-
ments, Thus the Arrows flee at random.
Thus as Solomon's Mad Man, he throws
Fre-brand, Arrows and Darts and ſaysam.
not I in Sport? Thus is Dirt thrownupon
the brighteſt beſt Cauſe in the World,
That of King William's. If a ſuppoſiti-
tious Child be brought in as Heir of the
Crown, if Biſhops be Impriſon'd for
humble Addreſles, if Men be curned out
of their Free hold for nothing, if Popiſh
Judges contrary to all Law fit on the
Bench(who ſhould rather be at the Bar)it
thouſands unqualified Papiſts be inArms
if the King comes daring, and cell the
Parliament, I will, I will to be plain, do
this and that, though contrary to all
Law: Our Statel-man and Caluilt rells
you his Perſon and Authority is loviola-
bi:
(90)
ble, he can be Queſtion'd, Judgʻd by
none, having no Superior, or judge.
Why when he blackens Oliver, does
he lo daub with Charles II. who broke
his Covenanc made at Scoan, and Oath
made on bended knees, with his right
Hand lift up to Heaven:Who had a Neft
of Whores and an IllegitimaceBrood and
made Whoredom a Genteel Sin in the
Nation, that Gentlemen at the Bath
were not aſhamed to bring their Doxes
(as they cali'd their Whores) with them
in the face of the Sun. Of his Popiſh
deſign with France, of his contriving to
ſuborn falſe Wicoefles againſt Prote.
ftant Non-plotters, to cover the Deſigns
of Popiſh ones. The ſtory of Fitz-Har.
Tis (hinted before) I and many others
had from Sir William Waller,who ſhew'd
us the Copy of the Letter found in Fitz.
Harris's Pocket, which I am well aſſurd
That King knew the contrivance and de-
ſign of, for when it was read before him,
he ſaid, This Rogue told me a Fortnight
fince, That he would for Money Diſcover
a Plot. Monmouth ſtanding by, bic his
Lip. Then he knew the Man, and that
there was a made Plot. I doubt not,
buc the Money he had; and ſo went a-
bout his work, for which, not for Ser-
yice
(91)
vice done the Crown by the Family, was
he paid it. King Charles was found to
be ſo deep in the Deſign to ruin the Na-
tion, That the Old Sir John King, a
great Servant of the King, and Enemy
to the Diſſenters, faid, That without a
Miracle, we were all undone. That Mi-
racle God wrought. Nor to name his
Seizing the Money of Widow's and
Orphans, &c.
Among conſidering Men there then
was a ſecret Cry, as once in Egypt, We
are all Dead Men. An open one could
noc be, for they char knew him to be a
Papiſt, dar'd not ſay it. He confeft it,
when he Died, and received the Sacra-
ment of Father Huddleſton, yet after all,
This was the King that Mr. Baxter cells
us (after he knew all this, and more)
he prayed and waited on God Twelve or
eighteen Year for his Return. This is
he chat once cold all the World in bis
Saints Everlaſting Reſt, That the won-
derful appearings of God in the Parlia
mencs Cauſe, confirmed bis Faith about
the Truth of the Scripcures. Well, he
loſt his Argument or threw it away.
But did he loſe his Faich tdo ? Was not
this a Noble Direction there Writing of
Practi-
( 92 )
Practical Matters in his Saints Reft.
Follow after Juſtifying Graces, and Julti-
fying Duties,-- Was ever ſuch Language
known from any chat bore the Name of
Proteſtants ; from the Arminians chem-
ſelves, (thoſe Enemies of the Grace of
God, as King James I. called chem)
not excepred?
One Man in Exceter Hanged himſelf,
and ſo I believe have many others, on
his ſpeaking in that Book, ſo favourably
of ſuch as do lo-Muſt every thing out
thac comes in his Pole, though never ſo
inconvenient to mention, as all Divines
thought and Practiſed accordingly?
Now on he goes to prove himſelf a-
bove all Divines almoſt in Parts, as be-
fore in Piecy. He tells us, p. 157. That
it was his reſolution to be againſt being the
author of any Diviſion, and would uſe all
lawful means to prevent it or avoid it.
The Reſolutions were fluid, not fix’d,
like Jonah's Goard that ſprung up in a
Night and withered in a Night. Au-
thor or Fomenter are much alike, but he
was both.
One means, To hold his
Tongue and to be quiet, perhaps he
thought not Lawful. He was a Peace-
maker by the ſame figure(Agripbraſis) as
Lucus
( 93 )
Lucus d non Lucendo,or Montes d non Mo-
vendo. For he was one of the greateſt
Incendiaries in Church and State that e-
ver appeared of late Years.
Now he comes about ficting at the
Lord's Table; but ſee in what a wild
way he expreſſeth himſelf, p. 158. I am
not certain that Sitting is not by Command
neceſſary, or that Kneeling, when of choice,
is not a flat fin. Let them juftifie Kneeling
that can, I cannot ; yet would I kneel, if I
muſt not being certain it is a Sin.Is a doubt-
ful Conícience nothing? Muſt they that
thus think urge others to a Complyance?
I remember B. Morley Bp. of Worceſter
in bis Letter againſt him, took the ad-
vantage of ſuch words as theſe.
1. Said he, You can Kneel.
2
Goer-
cion is the way to bring you to it, a good
Conceſion. By ſuch words doth this
Gentleman firſt puc Scruples into Mens
minds, then incourage the Magiſtrace to
draw forth the Sword againſt them for
their Non-complyance, having a doubt-
ful Conſcience. Moſt Men comply
with what they are not certain to be e-
vil? It may be ſuch would yield to the
Croſs in the Breaſt in Prayer too, ſprink-
ling with Holy.water a ſymbol of Sancti-
fication, All Mens Conſciences be not
of
270
( 94
of equal fize or length. What ſhould
induce him, ſpeaking of this,p.159. to re-
peat the Greek of Take, Eat, Drink,where
is trothing of a Cri'iciſm or Difficulty
I cannot imagine, it is ſo pedanrick, 16:16
odjeti niti, &c. which is as bad as the
common (but perhaps miſtaken) ſtory
of Antin cited for an Eamus, faith St. Au.
guftine. I remember the paſſage in that
Father's Expoſirion on the 122
Pfalm, 1
was glad when they ſaid to me, let us go in.
to the houſe of the Lord. That bleſſed Fa.
ther ſpeaking of the Excellency of the
Houſe of God, ſaith, Et bic eamus eamus,
which might well be cited with the fore.
going Paraphraſe. But that by the way.
Unity, ſaith he, is not only an inſeparable
Accident of true Religion, but an Eſſential
part, I will not Quarrel wich
the odd
Philoſophy here. Only, but with he had
better conſidered the Divinity of it, if
it be fo.
Now we have a long Story of a Com-
bat between him and the Learned Biſhop
Bromnrig of Exon. He highly Comple-
ments him, nay lo high, that I doubt it
was but a Complement, which ſome-
times is but a more fine and ingenious
way of Lying. That he excelled him in
Wiſdom
jor 50 DO
( 95 )
Wiſdom and Humility. Strange! him that
excell'd all the World. To which the
Biſhop replies, Your great Eſtimation of me
and my abilities, is the error of your Love
quod non humiliter tantum, fed veraciter
dico. But the Biſhop might pardon him,
for it was a rare Error: Love hung upon
his Lips when War was in his Heart;
ſo that for this fault he might plead as
Balaan's Aſs to his Maſter, was I wont
to do ſo heretofore? P. 177. See how
he is higher than the Biſhop about his
Epiſcopacy. All go too faſt or too flow,
that keep not his pace : Yec ſays plainly
after all, That a Biſhop's Dioceſs of Old,
mas like an Independent or Anabaptiſt
Church, and cites Ignatius p.178. One Al-
tar, one Gongregation, was a note of a
Church, p. 178. He ſays very warily
to Mr. Johnſon, that In caſe of neceſſity it
was Lawful to take Ordination from Prej-
byters, and Mr. Johnſon yielded to the
truth. Well, he Converted Mr. John.
fon: There is the main of the ſtory ;
bur he could not Bp. Brownrig, who as
far as I perceive grew weary of him,
and made him no Anſwer, when he
ſmelt che deſign of Complementing him,
which probably was to get him
into a
Diſpu-
( 96 )
Diſputation, and ſo proving himſelf w
fer than he. To thac queſtion, Wheth
we ſhould keep Peace with the Anabaptiſt
What a noile there is what is meant b
an Anabaptift? And then what is mean
by Peace? And after many diſtinction
fays, ſo there is a Peace to be kepe wit
Heathens and Infidels. What was cha
I pray, to the Qeullion, p. 179. Mr. Gri
fith kept his Papers for Peace and Concor
a whole Year, and flewed them to no one
nor afed them, 193. The wiſer he, to d
what he could to keep the World quiet
would others had done fo too, eſpeciall
Mr. Silveſter that can never make th
World amends for the injury he hatt
done the King and his Cauſe; all the
Proteſtant Churches and their Cauſe
and Thouſands of Worthy Men, ſlan-
dered and abuſed. Beſides Mr. Griffith
he faith, ſeveral others regarded not. Bet
ter ſome to keep in their Wics than none
So,
P. 195. He adviſed about the matter
of Synods, Men ſhould keep their Opi.
nions to themſelves. So they might for
him, for he could never keep his Opi-
nion cohimſelf in much ſmaller matcers
of leſs Importance. But why is not this
good
(97)
good Counſel taken, as well as given?
He could no more do it, than keep a
Coal of fire in his Pocker, though you
might as well make a Coac for the Moon
as fix on his Opinion. He was among
other Men, what the Engliſh Man among
others of other Nations before the Pain-
ter, when he put a piece of Cloth under
his Arm, and a pair of Sheers in his
Hand to make his own Dreſs, which
chang'd ſo ofren, when others did not :
But I pray Reader, give me that word
back again, why he did not take the
Counſel, he was Judge Eli, Father Eli,
we are all his Sons (as before) and he
was afraid too be ſhould deal too tenderly
with us. Bp. Uſher p. 178. he ſays was
unwilling to wrangle in the propoſals
trade to agree what
were the Fundamen-
tals of Religion. I have obſerv'd he ne-
ver but once reflects on Bp. Uſher, whe-
ther becauſe Bp. Ulher urged him to
Wrice much (though nothing to what
he did) or any other reaſon I know not ;
but I believe in my Conſcience, he
thoughc Biſhop Ujher a Child to him
in Dilputation. Biſhop Ulber would
not meddle, and now the work is puc
into the Hands of a skilful Man, an Ar-
cift
( 98 )
tiſt in every thing, and I pray ſee what
he doth with the Queſtion.
1. He quarrels with the word Funda-
mentals in Religion. It ſhould be Ellen-
tials, 192. Juſt as he did with Faith's be-
ing an Inſtrument, when Dr. Kendal,
Dr. Tully and others wrote and ſaid, o
the fate of Divinity, to be ſent to Crakin.
thorp, Burguſdiciw, or Kekerman for Ex-
plication. Well
, now we have gotten a
new word, and unexceptionable too, for
it was of Mr. B's making. What are the
Eſſentials of Religion ? Nothing, ſaith
he, but what is contained in the Baptiſmal
Govenant. To believe in Father,Son and Holy
Ghoſt, and give up ourſelves to bim renoun-
cing , the World Fleſh and Devil. What
Childiſh anſwer is this, to this great diffi-
cult Queſtion? I would as willingly
hear a little Child ſay bis Catechiſm.
Who made your God. Whoredeemed you ?
Jeſus Chriſt -On he goes with a Learn'd
Obſervacion. I ſuppoſe, faith he, That
quoad verbi, i no particular words in the
World are Eſſentials of our Religion. He
that underſtands not Credo in Deum, may
be Saved, if he underſtand, I believe in God.
What piry it is that they who keep
Common place-Books, ſhould go with-
Out
( 99 )
out this choice Nouion or rare Diſcove-
ry? After all, he would offer to the
Parliament for the Ellentials of Reli-
gion, The Greed, the Lurds Prayer, and
the Ten Commandments, as cooraining
all. And whereas ſome faid, A Papift
and Socinian would Subſcribe. So much
the better, ſaich he, and the fitter to be
the matter of our Concord. Now he had
fonnd out the Eſentials, ſee how he
ſwaggers and vapours, That others wanted
the Judgment and Accurateneſs that the
work required, though they would think it
ſupercilious in him to ſay ſo, but the tinèt-
ure of Faction bad blinded their Judg.
ments; and he muſt needs tell you the
Men by Name, D. Owen, Philip Nye,
D. Cbeynil
.
Now Reader, When did you read
ſuch fooliſh Confidence, or confidenc
Folly, which you pleaſe?
I am ſorry, by the way, I muſt cen-
ſure an Error here (no light one) others
be guilty of as well as our Hiſtorian.
How came the Creed of Humane com-
poſure, to keep Company with the
Lord's Prayer and Ten Commandments;
which are of Civine
Diſcent? And char
which adds great weight to the fault, is
its
( 200 )
its fawcinels, rudeneſs, or unmanner-
lineſs to ſic in the upper place. The
Creed tells us ſay ſome, What we mult
Believe. The Lord's Prayer, What we
muft Pray for. The Ten Command-
ments, What we muſt do. Buc fay I and o-
thers Quo jure ? Bp. Vlher is here named
as aſſercing, That in the Weſtern Churches,
two Glauſes were not in the Creed, that nom
are. I will not ſay all my Mind about
this, made almoſt an idol of ; and you ?
know whatHezekiah did with the brazen
Serpent when ſo abuſed, made it Ne-
huſhtan. I was, faith our Caſuiſt, under
great weakneſs and ſoporous and ſcotomatical
Illneſs in my Head when I was willing to
give my Judgment. He need not tell us
how his Head is ſometimes when he
Dictates to all the World, Talks as one
between fleeping and waking, No
wonder they did, what he complains of.
Reſolv'd to have their way, and that his
Oppoſitions highten their Reſolutions. The
beſt way in the World, I chink, to deal
with Impertinents, and Buſie-bodies.
P. 199. He tells us, Two hundred and two
Divines, with whom he was not worthy
to be named I verily believe he
was far from thinking fo.
1
( 201 )
In my ap-
I dare not undertake in the day of Judg-
ment to Juſtifie thoſe Men
prehenſion is an expreſſion to be abhorr'd
by all modelt Men. No it is enough he
hath been a Judge on Earıh (and thac
an Uprighteous one) He will not be a
Judge in the great Day. Well,
when
the Divines mended (at Mr. Baxter's
bumour) the Ellentials, and thoughci
now they had pleaſed him. No he
quarrels again, about Coordinace--it
fignifies this and chat, and then diflem-
bles moft ſhamefully, That it grieved him
to be offenſive to his Brethren. Quiet
good Man be! Who can bear che read-
ing of choſe Pages abour Eſlencials with-
out ſighing or laughing ?
Now comes the Story of his Preach.
ing before the Protector, and that but
once, (and that was once coo often, ul-
leſs he had learn’d more Manners before
he aſcended that Pulpit and preachech:
againſt Diviſions, wben at the ſame time
guilty of them and making them, 1 Cor.
1. 10. That there be no diviſions among
you-
Hom Politicians maintained Diviſions
for their Intereſt (Why not I pray as
well as ſome Divines for their honour,
- OH
Dahab and
( 102 )
and Credit) that they might Fill in trou.
bled Waters, (a Learned Phraſe by the
way to uſe before Courtiers) ſomewhat
like the Puns or Gingles uſed in the
beginning of the Sermon of Faith, Heb.
II, before King Charles. II.
He ſaith, his plaineſs and nearneſs pleas'd
not Oliver, nor the Gourt, but they put
it up. I ſuppoſe they were reſolved if
Baxter would not be quiet, they would.
Ac another time Oliver ſene for him,
and Mr. B. told him, That the Nation
never forfeited Monarchy and Oli.
ver fell into a Paſſion. I remember in a
Reply to Mr. Long of Exon, telling
this ſtory, he tells us, King Charles II.
faid, He ſhould ever Love bim for his
Plainneſs. You ſee he will not loſe a bit
of Honour--Oliver ſends for him again
about Liberty of Conſcience to have his
Opinion ; and now we are cold of Oli-
ver’s Dulneſs, Paſion-- not caring to hear,
but Speak - I have had a quite contrary
Character of him. Did Baxter Infect
him, or breed his Diſeaſe in him?
He tells us, thac Bp. Uſher told King
Charles, That of Old Preſbyters Ordained
their Biſhops, and cited Jerom to Evagri-
us. "A thing that deſerves Epiſcoparians
Conſideration.
(103)
hands ſuddenly
He ſays p. 207. Dr. Hammond would
yield to no Terms of Sccomodation without
their Prelacy All Churches without it are
nothing. Yer he bewailed the Death of
that Man, Who had he Liv'd, by his Pie-
ty and Wiſdom might have prevented the
after Violence, faith he. Dr. Hammond is
Dead, and it B. Wept, others might
Dance at his Funeral. I know worthy
Church-men that have ſaid, It had been
well for the Church if all his Books had been
buried with him. What woful work
makes he on the New Teſtament, fol-
lowing Grotius that lover of Novelties?
Plain Texts
muſt have new ſeoſes, Lay
,
Was not Ordination, but Abſolution.
If we ſay, we have no fin, we deceive
our ſelves, 1 John 1.8. Was not of the
Righteous, but the Ungodly. I have ſome-
times wondered our Quakers never uſed
his Authority, or Triumphed not in it.
there is no end of theſe things with him,
as I have obſerv'd in all the Epiſtles,
running all to the Gnofticks. A notori-
ous Arminian he was, yer of the Church
of England ; a Contradiction, if Ho-
neſty might take place. Some believe,
that knew him well, he had been a Per-
F
fecuter
.
(104)
ſecuter great enough, had he lived. But
Baxter and he were Brethren, as notori-
ous Corrupters of the Doctrin of Juſti-
fication, both Talk'd like Papiſts.
Now Reader, before I go any farther,
give me leave a little to look back,
When the Temple of Solomon was Built,
There was no noiſe of Axes or Hammers.
But had Mr. Baxter been there, his
Tongue might have ſerved for both.
You ſee he loved not to be of other
Mens mind. What need of all theſe
long and many infignificant Letters about
Church Government, about which he
had a great Itch to be at on all Occafi-
ons, and yet the greateſt Cenfurer of
ſuch a Practice that ever was. Was it
bis Province? Did no one underſtand it
but he? It is known what one of the
greateſt Divines in England, ſaid of him
long ſince, That his Parents might repent
that ever they fent him to School.
We are told of his Converts, not a
word of bis Perverts, whom he drew
from Aſſemblies where they were viſi-
bly ſerious, and invited them into thoſe
where they were openly Prophane. May
not Thouſands Curſe the Day in a woful
Eternity that ever they heard his name,
or ſaw fome of his Books?
I
(105)
I deſire ſome yet to conſider. Remem-
ber the words of God by che Propher,
2 Hof:7. Hoſea, Return to thy firf Husband,
for it was better with then than you now. You
once could hardly hear a Sermon with-
out ſome ſenſible affections, ſtrong reſo-
lucionscan, it may be, find no ſuch thing
now all the Year long. I ſay to you as
Paul to the Galatiam, when their Faith
and Affections had taken a very great
Cold, almoſt to Death, Where is then the
bleſſedneſs you ſpake of ? Gal. 4. 15. This,
this was the Man that decoyed you.
This
was he that
would Paint out Biſhops like
Devils, and then plead for them, and ſo
countenance them in perfecuting thoſe
that did not as he. He hach reproached
Diflencing Miniſters in all their Suffer-
ings as much as any Lord Biſhop--and all
under the covering of Peace and Con-
cord. What Biſhop Stilingfleet ſaid of
him long fince, is notorious. Wben the
Books are full of War, Peate andConcord are
in the Titles. If he was the Infallible
Man of England (though not of Rome)
why told he not the World fo in plain-
ner terms than he did?
I wiſh he had not had ſuch a Sceptical
Head, as appears in ſome of his Wri-
tings
F2
(106)
rings. For I have Read many, many
of them.
He had been (1 humbly conceive) a
wiſer Man if he had known leſs, or read
leſs.
His Notions came too faſt into his
Head, and no time allowed for the place-
ing them in order, or making them fit
down quietly, they joſfelld and grum-
bled, and at laſt fought luſtily, and turn'd
out one another. As if a Man ſhould
put the Dishes of Meat and Candles, &c.
on the Ground, and take the Chairs,
c. and put them on the Table
Many of his Stories are Fables. It
is not enough to fay we had ſuch a Sto.
ту from ſuch a good Man that would not
Lye; but it may be you had it from
a bad Man that would Lye. I am of
their Opinion, who ſay Mr. Baxter was
as Proud a Man as any in England of a
good Man. God left Hezekiah to him-
felf, who ſhewed the pride of his Heart
2 Chron. 32. 16. The Prophet handlech
him ſeverely, and we read of his Refor-
mation. He humbled himſelf for the
pride of bis Heart. Some I know ſayo-
therwiſe, who fell before all
he faid, or
took him for a golden Oracle; but others
ſhould
( 107)
ſhould feel his Sting. Never tell me of
private Stories, contrary to open
Teſti-
monies in all his Books, and this Book
now under Cenfure.
Yeſterday a Paper was put into my
Hand, one Sheet in Prinr, where were
nothing but Commendations of Mr.
Baxter by Conformiſts and Diflenters.
Some are Trifling Stories. One Con-
verted by his Book. What is that to
the Man? Another laid, He was a pious
Man Who ſays he was not? At laſt
comes Sir William Morrice, with his florid
Encomiums, like his ſtyle in Writing and
Talking, for I knew him. He was more
for Sauce than Meat. Mr. Baxter, you
muſt know in his Right to Sacrament,
had highly commended Sir William, and
Claw me, and i'le Claw thee, goes al-
moſt all the World over Let Men fay
what they will. Sir William Morrice ne
ver in good earneſt deſired to fit at Mrs
Baxter's Feet, who thought hardly any
Man in the County good enough to ſit
ac bis. Biſhop Patrick is named. He
loved him for his Doctrin of Juſtificati-
on by Obedience to the Goſpel, and for
going to the Prayers and Sacrament, and
Reviling bis Suffering Brethren, and ſo
I
F3
( 108 )
I remember he blames fome (meaning
I ſuppoſe principaily Dr. Pierce) for giv-
ing lo hard a Character of him to the
World. Baxter was fo charm'd with
his Commendations that he would ra-
cher let the Caale ſuffer by Rafcally De-
bates, than appear againſt them. Good
Judge Hale loathed the Books.
Dr. Sherlock is named coo: Bleſſed
Company I one whom many Church-
men Wrire againſt, and charge with Bla-
fphemy. He is a Fortunate Man, that
was made Dean for making the King
an Uſurper
Biſhop Wilkins's Commendation is
high (and ſo Mr. Glanvils) What will
follow ? Quot homines, tot ſententia. Now
let me Impannel a Jary on the other
hand.
Dr. Tully thought not ſo of him. He
tells him of coming out in his little Gock-
boat, againſt all the Fleet and Navy of
Proteſtant Divines - would Teach him
how to ftudy Divinity. A pleaſant Hu-
mour! Teach him, that thought he
could Teach all the World. And he
Laughed at him, for his Secondary Ori-
ginal Sin, 4 Second firfly Sin,
Mr.
( 109 )
Mr. Troughton, I have heard him ſay,
If Mr. Baxter had been a Scholar, he
would have learned Some Manners. That
he believed Mr. Shepard and ſuch Di.
vines more Skilful than be.
And ſeeing theſe Men name Dean
Sherlock, We will have Mr. Long on
our fide. What doch he charge him
with, as to Latin, Greek, Philoſophy ?
I think he was not cor cannot be) well
Anſwered.
Some more there are, but theſe are
the Choiſe in char Paper. I have it not
by me, nor any one Book to help me,
being a Stranger in London, and in conti-
nued Pains.
I hope I have not miſtaken in any one
paſſage in any Auchors I have named, if
I have it is an Error cominon to them
who are in full Studies. Therefore puc
not chat for a cauſe which is no cauſe.
But what a noiſe is here ? Mr. Baxter
was a great Man. It is granted. Buc
was he ſo great as he made himſelf, or
his Profilytes make bim? Was he great-
er than all other Men, Biſhop Stilling-
fleet, Dr. Owen, and many others? Had
he not many Flaws in all parts of Litera-
ture they were beyond danger of? But
the common Cry is,
Mr.
F4
(110)
Mr. Baxter was a good Man. What
then? I Challenge all the World to
tell me where, when, to whom I denied
ir: But was he above all other Men in
Sancticy? B.. Ulher, Mr. Dod, Mr. 7o.
ſeph Allein, Mr. Tragolle of Cornwal? No,
no, fome tell you, That he that hath not
Learned Humility from Chriſt (which
theſe Men did) bath learned nothing fav-
ingly of him.
Come now and let us reaſon together,
(without the breach of Union again) a-
bout him.
The great Men before named, Did
they then fee Methodus Thelogia? No,
it was not chen Born, and I belive they
ſaw not many other Unlearned Diſ-
courſes of his.
Could he Speak or Write good Latin?
If you ſay Yes, ſome will tell you that
you know not what good Latin is. Was
he a Grecian? A Poor one. Was he
Skilled in the Oriental Tongues, as our
great Lights are? Saw you ever one
Hebrew word in all bis Books? How poor
is his Delence about this in his Right
to Sacraments. Was he a Profound Logi-
cian? I have proved the contrary be-
fore.
Were
(1)
Were not his Self-applauſes loathſome,
and falſe too, as I have prov'da
Was not his Contempt of Learned
and Pious Men intolerable? The now
Cenſured Reliquiæ prove it. Raw, un-
Audied, ſhort-lighted Divines, was Lan-
guage common with him.
Was he not a reſtleſs unquiet Man,
and Rude beyond all meaſure in Diſputa-
tions, and yet moſt Magiſterial, Dog-
matical and Concluſive ?
Were not his Notions the ill ſhapeſt,
Incoherent things imaginable?
I have often laid, Calviniſm and Ar.
minianiſm have a Conſiſtency, but Bax-
terianiſm hath none, but is a meer Galli-
mophery, Hodg.podg Divinity.
In Calviniſm,
Election, particular Redemption,
Irreſiſtibility of the Grace of God in
Converſion, Juſtification by Faith only,
Perſeverance. Theſe all Cohere.
In Arminianiſm
Non election, Univerſal Redempti-
on, Free-will, Juſtification by Obedi-
ence to the Goſpel (which not all, buc
fome of them affert,) Falling from
Grace. Here is a Conſiſtency, cho ng
Truch.
FS
Buc
(112)
But in Baxteraniſm,
Redemption, with the Calvinift.
Univerſal Redemption, with the Ara
minians,
Irreſiſtible Grace in Converſion, with
the Calviniſts.
Juſtification by Goſpel Obedience,
with the Arminians.
Perſeverance is made indeeda Dubium.
That the Non-ele&t are all Redeemed
perhaps may be Sanctified, but all certain.
ly fall away, intangles our Buſineſs the
more. The Arminians ſpeak Senſe.
Theſe none. But,
New things muſt make a new Party.
Was he not a bold daring Man, far
from the common modeſty of Divines,
to Talk and Print about uſing a Cruci-
fix as a medium excitans in Medication ?
Harken, you Young Men, Talk
with modeſty. Theſe chings are too
high for you, though you ſeem to que-
ſtion little that he faith.
Are the Spirits of Brutes Immortal? Muſt
the World in the Moon be Talked of,
in Practical Tracts ?
Harh he not lown the ſeeds of Dic
cord among Brethren about Church Dif-
cipline, much more about Do&rin?
IS
(13)
Is not the coming of Baxterians omi-
nous? I will not ſay what I know.
Theſe things I fear, are but the be-
ginning of ſorrow. They will as ſurely
Tare our Allemblies in pieces, as e-
ver did their Elder Brethren (the Ar-
minians) the Dutch Churches. And all
this was done by our Peace-maker, The
Catholick Man, The unfeigned lover
of Peace and of Concord.
He that faith in his Chriſtian Directory,
If you be famous for any Grace or good Work,
expect to be Defamed for the quite contra-
ry. (A good Direclion) I have known
ſome, faich he, that have given away al-
moſt all that they had to the Poor, and hard-
ly kept neceſſaries for themſelves; yet theſe
Perſons have been accuſed of Covetouſneſs,
Unkindneſs
, Hard dealing. Now ob-
ferve, Fainous Perſons cannot be named
but he muſt come in for a ſhare. I faith
he, never made any thing more my work,
than to promote Love and Concord, and be
get in the different Parties a good Opinion
one of another; yet there has izot been want.
ing thoſe that have ſaid
of me, That I de-
figned a New Party. Whether he De
figned or no, he Effected it, and rugg
for it to purpoſe. A Worthy Aged Di
Via
(114)
on.
vine that Loved him in this City, told
me, when he delired him once to Preach
for him, he ſaid, I do not care to go into
the Pulpits of any, but thoſe of my Opini-
See how Lord like he ſpeaks, p. 211.
And though our own Judgment be for a
Biſhop and Presbyter in every City
Our own Judgment, Prince-like, or Pre-
lace-like ! And the Fanaticks, who
were againſt the coming in of the King,
Cenſured. And I pray what was their
Fanaticiſm ? Many ſaid, The King's
Judgment was judged uncertain as to
Religion. That the Duke of York was a
Papift ; but D. Lauderdale facisfied them.
Reader, lialt thou patience to Read
without ſweating (would I had ) to
Write this ? All prov'd true, and Lau-
derdale a Vile Man, given to all Wick-
ednels, yet this was he that quieted the
Minds of many againſt the Fanaticks.
P. 115. A Clergy Man was ſent with
high Complements to my felf, and a pompous
Character of the King
Ego et Rex
meus. P. 216. He tells us, of Hundreds
put out better than himſelf. I believe he
thought nor any cne of them half ſo good.
Were they all Silenced, and ſent to Goal,
be
(115)
he ſhould there have the comfort of a quiet
Gonſcience, in diſcharging bis Duty in
bringing in the King : And yet, faith he,
this Change is like to be the Damnation of
Thouſands of Souls
Good God! Never did I read ſuch a
mad Hiſtorian. Who I verily believe
hath and will make more Acheifts than
many Miniſters can make Converts. I
preached, faith he, of Differences, and the
way to cure them, and that it was imposſi-
ble for a Man to be true to the Proteſtant
Principles, and not be Loyal, p. 217. Rea-
der, I take it for granted, that thou art
a Man of ſome Wiſdom in thy Head,
and Honeſty in thy Heart. Didſt chou
ever read ſuch a piece of Pride, Vain-
glory, ſuch a Cenſurer of ſome, Slande-
rer of others
And now comes a long and tedious
Story of the Lady Anne Lindelys turn-
ing a Papiſt, p. 219. D. Gunning told
ber the Reformed Churches beyond Sea
were no true Churches for want of the
Hierarchy, but the Church of Rome was a
true Ghurch. Such Doctrin is able to
make any Zealous Proteſtant loath the
Church of England, as ſo much ſymbo-
lizing and uniting with the Church of
Rome.
(116)
Rome. She was bad away to a Nunnery,
and a long Letter is ſent from Mr. B.
which he believes he never ſaw. Why
then muſt we ſee it? Why ſo many
Letters on all occaſions ? when the fub.
Atance of them (if there be any there)
may be expreſt in a few Lines. But
to have the ſame Stories, Arguments,
over and over is intolerable. Like the
Welch-man, tell a Tale, and begin it
again.
Bat ſome Men are great admirers of
the Brats of their own Brain, and there-
fore fooliſhly think others are ſo too.
He tells her, How the Prieſts had the
advantage of him in Abilities: He never
had the advantage of a Tutor in Theologie
not a Month in his life, and mean were
his Abilities. And what was all this for,
but perhaps to cole in fome unwary
Prieſt to combate with him, that he
might have the Glory of a Triumph
and Victory? Or that the World
might the more admire and adore him
whoſe advantages in Education were lo
much below
theirs, and yer his attain-
ments ſo much higher? Now he hath
an opportunity to tell the World, what
a hard Student he was, that he could
barda
(117)
hardly find time to Eat or Sleep in
Whims-He could find cime to quar-
rel and contend more than enough. No
doubt it was mighty edifying to this
Lady to hear Syllogiſms from him, and
how he will prove or deny the Minor,
ÓC. Which puts me in mind of his
Poor mans Family Book (yet of a great
price) full of intricacies. At laſt they
have a Catechiſm explained: Anda-
bout God, the Poor Man is told of a
Spirit negatively and poſitively conſider-
ed, of a Genus and Species, and univocal
and equivocal predications
Thus
doth he make Fools of others, or of him-
ſelf. Now he tells her his Key for
Gatholicks and other Books were not
anſwered. When they are, they may
call for more. Under the title of
Key for Gatbolicks , is this, To leave
him for ever without excuſe , that
after the reading of that Book ſhall re-
main a Roman Catholick. O the Pride
of Mans Heart! Were they not as
much left without excuſe before by
reading other and better Books againſt
Popery than this? No, the ſenſe of all
is this, I have written better than 0-
thers —He often Triumphs that the
Papiſts
(18)
Papiſts Anſwer not his Books. I know
they Anſwer Dr. Stillingfleet, and others,
but contemn him as a Whifler, and
I obſerve in their Polemicks, mention
him with (corn. I would, faith he to
her, p. 222. rather be chop'd as ſmall as
Herbs for the pot than be a Papist We
know not that it is convenient to uſe
ſuch common trifling Phraſes uſed a-
mong the Vulgar.
At laſt he ſays, That the Papiſts have
more and greater differences among
them than the Proteſtants; which he
would prove before impartial Witnef-
ſes, p. 224.ee
Now this is not true, and other
learned Advocates for the Proteſtant
Religion dare not affert it. They are
all one at their Maſs, and at the Sacra-
ment, owning Tranſubſtanciation. Are
we all one at Common-Prayer. No-
Their Heats and Diviſions are great,
yet not like ours, yet their Religion ne-
ver the better, nor ours never the worſe
for all thar. 14
The Jems and Pagans when they
came into the Chriſtian Church of old,
found many more Diviſions there, than
in the Communions they bad forſaken,
Gnofticks,
(119)
Gnofticks, Valentinians, Arians, &c.
The Enemy will low Tares in Chrifts
Field whilſt men ſleep. He that tells her
Me is made believe the Grow is white
( learnedly expreſt) would make us be-
lieve fo.
Now comes the Story of his being
made the King's Chaplain in Ordinary,
and that he never Preached but once
before the King, and never had one
Penny for this Place: That the King
would have the Sermop Printed ; that
Dr. Pierce denyed this, and now the
Certificate is publiſh'd.
What a Task have I to read ſuch
tedious,
unprofitable, impertinent Tat-
tie? King Charles, and the Court were
ready to call for a Hoop to hold their
ſides with laughing, to ſee at that time
how Godly they were forced to look:
And how Mafter muſt bow down his
head whilft ſuch a Puppy prayed. This
was ſaid of the King. Now he
complains to the King of Turbulent Fa-
naticks. Reader, Doſt thou remember
that any of the King's Party writing
againſt the Army calls them Fanaticks,
ſo often as this intolerable Scribler
doch ?
Tenet
(120)
Tenet infanabile vulnus
Scribendi cacoethes.
Juus
A Name which afterwards was given
to him, and to many better Men. The
King made a fair Speech of uniting
them, (which no doubt he never in-
tended) That good Mr. Afh wept for joy,
faich he, fo did Mr. Gaſe, before him.
When he law the King at his private
Devotions O what a King bad they!
a Godly King. Though ſome ſay, That
when the Lords Anointed returned to
England, the firf Night was Gaftlemain
prepared for his Bed: and what a filchy
bundle of Iniquity His Sacred Majeſty
was, the World is not ſo happy to be
ignorant of.
Is it not able to make any Man fick
to hear a thing fo often mentioned, as
B. U ber's Model or Epiſcopacy? Thou-
ſands of times perhaps in other Books,
and this? I have ſometimes wondred
that one Man in the World could pleaſe
him, but he choſe one fo famous for
Learning and Piecy, that it might be
no diſgrace to him to make ſo great a
Man his Guide, who would be ſuch to
all the World beſides. But at laſt the
wonder is over. He tells us that Biſhop
Usher's
(121)
Usher's Model, was not in all things as
we could with. I ſhould have thought
he would as ſoon bave ſaid ſo of Paul's
Epiſtles. Is this it, to tell us even to
loathing B. Uher's Epiſcopacy, B. U's
Epiſcopacy, B. U's Epiſcopacy? But at
laſt it muſt be cenſured with Dioceſan
Prelacy, Presbytery, and the Confeſſion of
Faith, and Aſemblies Catechiſm. He
tells the Biſhops, That Charity and Mo-
defy might make them not to overvalue
their own Fudgments, or without ground
vilifie the Judgment of their Brethren-
But let the Biſhops ger what modeſty
they will of that kind, he hath none.
See how rudely he treats thoſe Learned
Men, the Biſhops.
If you be ignorant of what is done by
prophaning Sabbaths. You be fad Paffors--
Such things as we complain of are eaſily
underſtood by them that are willing. We
are ſorry that you ſhould be able to be igno-
rant of them; or if you know them, Juch
Camels (hould go down,
It is a known Story what B Stilling-
fleet ſaid long ſince. Dr. Owen dealc
with him like a Gentleman ; Mr. Bax-
ter like a Threſher. He had no good
Manners. Where ſhould he learn them?
We
(122)
We have a plain Proverb, "The Horſe
that never eats Oats, &c. He was not
born nor bred a Gentleman, and there
fore could never talk nor act like a
Gentleman, P. 254. If you ſpeak this of
your Prelacy, it is as great an untruth a
ever ſaw the Light, ſaid he, If our way
we not the Ancient way of Praying,, you
may hang us—He tells us that Mr.Calamy,
and Dr. Reynolds thought him too plain
in the Addreſs to be made to the King
and chat ſome words looks on them as
threat. That the Earl of Mancheſter,
the Lord Hollis (their good Friends
told him he muſt carry it to the King
himlelf, none elſe would, unleſs he
mended it. He ſays, He was never
uſed to Court Language, and Conſcience
put him on it How came he then
to be ſo Officious? He muſt do all
Why had he not left it wich Men that
underſtood Manners and Civility?
He ſays, p. 266. co the King. If they
who took the Covenant should renounce it
How fhall they be taken as Witneſſes in
any caſe, or be fit for common converſe, of
be regarded in their preaching by the Peo
ple? — Though I believe renouncing the
Covenant to be a great Sin in them chat
took
(123)
took it, yet muſt we run up a Contro-
verſie to this heighth? What if their
minds were changed, by converſing with
fome Learned Anti-Covenanters, or
reading their Writing, ſuch as Dr. Featly,
Biſhop Gauden, and others ?
Now we come to another fine Sto-
ry of Dr. Pierce and him, p. 277. Whe-
ther he was indeed one of the Kings Chap-
Lains, and his Sermon commanded to be
printed by the King Bar, Gui bono, to
tell the World fo ofren of theſe, and
thouſands ſuch things as cheſe?
Now a Biſhoprick is offer'd him.
He was at a great ſtand what to do.
Very inclinable to accept it, but much
concerned what all Men would ſay.
He confeſſeth he adviſed Dr. Reynolds
to accept it? And he did. Mr. Calamy
was adviſed by him to the like, and
petition made, That many of bis Party
might be made Biſhops too, and be
would fow the Seed of Satisfaction in the
Country----Profound Oratory! All was
when the King pretended Moderation
by his Declaration. Here is enough to
let the World ſee, that our Mortified
Piece needed more Mortification. Were
not theſe ſome reaſons among others,
the
(124)
the Biſhoprick might be offer'd in:
t
Complement? might be only a little
while till thoſe Tools had done the
work deſigned by it? Let others think
what they will had he been made a
Biſhop, I doubt whether he had not
been a greater Perfecutor than fome he
complained of; chan Biſhop Reynolds.
Alderman Aburſt, p. 290. is highly
commended for Piety, &c. No doubt
Reader but that he was a Star of the
greater Magnitude, and the beſt of Mr.
Baxter's Friends. Yet I will cell chee
I heard Mr. Baxter Preach his Funeral
Sermon (fince printed) the only time I
heard him. He made him ſuch a very
Sir John, as he injuriouſly did others; as
if but-He told us, that Alderman
Aburſt could not renounce the Cove-
nant, ſaying, It obliged no Man, ſeeing
men by it were bound to ſerve God.
Now if he were guilty of ſuch weak-
neſs, Was it done wiſely of Mr. Bax-
ter thus to expoſe his weakneſs when
commending his Vertues?
Now we are come to Mr. Elliot's
Letters to him from New England. Men
of modeſty uſe not to Print without any
neceflity che Letters of their Friends to
them,
(125)
them, full of Commendation for Wif-
dom and Piery. Now for the Reve-
rend Mr. Baxter, Chaplain in Ordinary
to his Majeſty. His holy Prayers, ho-
ly Retirements, 6 What need ſuch
long and tedious Letters, when we
might be cold che ſepſe and pith of all in
a few words? But the World muſt
know his Praiſes. He tells Mr. Elliot
That he never ſaw a right Scheme of Theo-
logy, p. 297. What Man laid it beſide
himſelf? O Luciferian Pride to ſtrike
down all Divines, at home and abroad
ar a blow ! Till Methodus Theologiæ
that Excellent Book for geox Latin, curi-
ous Diſtinctions and Othodox Dodrin,
He ſays, p:306. When the King fent
out a Proclamation for ſome Learned Di.
vines on both fides, Prelutical and Prej-
byterian, to meet together to conſider what
Alterations ſhould be made in the Liturgies,
he made an entire Liturgy in a Fortnights
time. He brings in the Book among bis
opon Party, but, faith he, they went on
with Additions to the Old.
Reader, I have ſeen Mr. Baxter's Un-
digeſted Licurgy many Years ſince that
he here ſpeaks of. What Pride was
this
(126)
this to imagine? The Old Prayer-book
ſhould be laid aſide for his New one?
Why he make a Liturgy more than ano
ther, and he alone? I remember he had
ſuch a good Opinion of it, That he ad-
viſed the Diflenters in their Meetings on
the coming out of King Charles II's In-
dulgence, to Read his new Liturgy.
What muſt he Teach us all to Pray too,
and Read his Prayers? Muſt he needs
be Biſhop among us, ſeeing he cannot
be ſo in the Church of England ? Iever
took this to prove him to be an In.
famous piece of Pride. He ſays that
Dr. Lightfoot came among them only
once or twice, and ſo ſome others; that
Dr. Horton came not, but pleaded un-
readineſs to ſpeak. I believe the true
reaſon was this, They were Learned
and Modeſt Men, and could not endure
to hear one, that lov'd to hear himſelf,
and that over and over the ſame things.
Dr. Wallis (as he tells us) deſired his
Silence in one caſe but could not
be heard. On runs he, againſt the will
of all his Friends -
I verily believe that this Conceited
Contentious Talker at the Savoy Diſpu-
tation did the Diſſenters.no ſmall diſler-
vice
(127)
vice. To ſee an illbred, clowniſh,
dogmatical Opinioniſt, as the Head of
their Party, and the grand Advocate for
their Cauſe. There was hardly room
for Dr. Conot or others to Speak; he
graſpeth all to himſelf. I rememberthe
Bp. of Worceſter in his Lecter againſt Mr.
Baxter, ſays, His Brethren were more
Modeſt than be. That he had a great
Itch to be at Diſputation work, though
the Meeting was never fo deſigned:
Presbytery and Non conformity hath
been wounded in the Houſe, and by the
Hand of this its pretended Friend.
Now we come to the Defects of the
Common-Prayer Book.
But why muſt we Buy and Read theſe
things over and over ?. Here is a long
tedious Story of things unſuitable now
to be Talko of. No wonder the Cauſe
miſcarry’d, when in ſuch bad Hands.
See how he begins.
1. Order requires that we begin with
Prayer to God — which is not obſerved.
2. That the Creed and Decalogue,
ſhould go before Confeſſion and Abſolution,
or at leaſt before Praiſe in the Church.
Now where he mentions the old com-
plaints of the Non-conformiſts he doth
G
well,
(128)
well, but he muſt come with new vain
ones of his own; and obſerve how dog.
matical and poſitive he is, contrary to,
not only the Practice of the Church of
England, buc Presbyterians in the late
times, and to this day- As they begin,
Dearly beloved Brethren, The Scripture
moveth us in fundry places - So I and
many more begin with a few conſide
rations to quicken to Prayer, and other
duties. Yet fome do begin with Pray.
er, Enter not, &c. in the Liturgie.
By the way, I will divert the Reader
with a Story. On a Saints day came a
Parſon to read Prayers. None being
in che Church buc him and his Clark
The Parſon takes up his Book and read,
Dearly beloved Thomas, The Scripture
moveth us -
Order requires. Whoſe Order I pray,
God's, or Man's, or Mr Baxter's
And that about the Creed, is not
worth our obſerving.
That the Litany wanted the Method
of the Lord's Prayer. Though he con-
demas all Prayers without this method,
yet can give no reaſon of this. This is not
to obſerve juſt order ; but deformity is with-
out it, faich he, The Prayer for the Church
Militant
( 129 )
Militant is the beſt in the Book, but yet
very defective. P. 312. faith Mr. Find-
Fault, He cenſures the ExpreſſionWith my
body I thee worſhip, which is not civil rer-
pect, as the People worſhipp'd the Lord,
and David their King -- but I think it
is Goitus or the Conjugal Act which
was mentioned odly in the Old Prayer-
Book. He is harping again on the old
ftring to make diſcord. Did any before
our Eagle ey'd Man ever chus aſſert ?
No. And that pleaſeth him.
Muſick is reflected on, p. 317. yet
once Organs were like Spectacles to
help the Natural Sight, and as a Cup of
Wine before Prayer, to carry away fad-
neſs. Ghrit. Dire&t. He deſires the
words, Deliver us from ſudden Death,
may be from dying ſuddenly No
wonder they loathed this affecter of
Changes. P. 322. The Biſhops Patience
was never, he faith, So put to it to hear fo
long, a Petition - Which no doubt,
might tire any but him that made it :
And be believes they read not what was of-
fer'd in the Reformed Liturgy. It may be
ſo. But Reader I did many Years ſince,
and was ſurpriz'd to ſee a Man ſo Con-
ceited of Prayers of his own Compo-
G 2
fure,
( 130 )
Ture, as to imagine they ſhould be made
a Liturgy: When I profeſs, I hear
more excellent Prayers in our Aflem
blies, by many Miniſters. Away Bax.
ter, Thou conceited ſhameleſs Man, who
in the Pride of thy Heart, thoughft thy
Liturgy better than the Old one, and
more eligible for Matter and Phraſe.
Dr. Pierſon, he ſays, Diſputed on their
fide, p. 337. That Bp. Lany faid, Fufti
fied Perſons have no Sin. But, faich he
I opened the nature of Juſtification to him.
(very Othodoxly no doubt. ) He was
confounded, and unſaid all again, and
knew not what he ſaid.
I profeſs Reader, I know not what to
make of this Story: It is not eaſie to
imagine any Biſhop in the Church of
England, ſhould be ſo Ignorant ; though
many ſuch have been, and are in the
Church of Rome, And I cannot Cen
fure any Man upon Baxter's Evidence
Makes he not a Man of a Wad of Straw,
and ſo Fights with him? Well, but
Baxter Confounds him, (that he doth)
and all the World beſides. He ſays
They Laughed at me, about my ſenſe of you
ftification
Now
(131)
Now Bp. Morley is Cenſur'd for
Mouching at him, becauſe he ſaid, For a
certain ſpace, a Man might be without any
Act of Sin. The Biſhop interrupted him,
and asked, him, Gan a Man be at any
time without Sin? Dr. Bates, What ſay
you? He interrupted me and ſaid I
bad ſpoken enough, if that were good, and
that I had ſpoken more than any one in the
Company. A good reaſon why, I doubt
not in the leaſt, but be chought himſelf
much the Wiſer Man than any chere ;
and that they were ſome of them Raw,
unſtudy'd Divines, in compariſon of
him: And had they taken the work
out of his Hands, he had carped at them
more than the Biſhops would; and that
fear of this, made them let him take
his own Courſe. Perſons, faith he,
may be free from Asts of Sin in Infancy,
Madneſs, Sleep, All think not ſo:
And I will not enter into a Diſpute.
Bp. Morley Talked louder than l; and
would not hear me Strange! not when
Eli was ſpeaking to his Sons (as before.)
That Bp. Lany ſhould ſay, p. 338. When
Jeroboam
made Iſrael to Sin, they finned
not before, and ſinned but in that one Sin.
I cannot eaſily believe all, that The
words
G 3
(132)
named. But it is
words were ſpoken in this ſenſe. A Lec-
ter I fair from one Baxterian to another,
who confefſeth Mr. B. Would put Mens
words on the Rack, and make them ſpeak
what be pleas'd. This was the only faule
a
tells us, how the Company fella Laugh-
ing at him. Well they might, if not
for ſome poor Logick, yet for poor O-
ratory, Quoth I, and Quoth he; and
Quoth he, and Quoch I and ſuch
obſolete words. But they Laughed not
at Dr. Bates and others, but paid them
Reſpect. When he was blamed for
speaking more than the reſt, p. 339. he
tells us roundly, It was his Duty, and his
Brethren would ſtop him, if they thought he
Spoke too much, That Bp. Morley ſhould
ask him, Whether he knew any Conforma.
ble Man was for the Parliament? Who
was it? Bp. Williams Arch-biſhop of
York I cannot believe the Biſhop
to be ſo forgetful of fo famous a Story.
For Bp. Williams was poſitive in the
Cauſe of the Parliament, and doubted
not, but he ſhould Convince the King,
could he Talk with him one Hour. A
little miſrepreſentation of a word or
two, makes a Story quite another thing.
Bp.
(133)
Bp. William's Heart was not only in
that Cauſe, but his Hands coo, being a
Commander for the Forces of the Parlia-
ment in Wales.
Now Mr. Baxter ſtops a little to tell
us Stories of himſelf. He tells one well
worth the hearing, of Dr. Bates, How,
he asked Dr. Gunning, p. 340 They
might bring in Holy-water, Lights, as well
as Croſs and Surplice. They ſaid, Yes,
we ought to have more, not fewer. Dr.
Bates ſpoke to purpoſe, This was not
bawling. Anſwer it who can, I dare
not pretend to it; would the Doctor
had ſpoken oftner, and Mr. Baxter nor
at all.
Though they frowned at my Freedom,
they never accuſed me of unmannerly Lan.
guage, 343
A Frown is Reproof enough, or leſs
among wiſe Men, They were beccer
Bred chan to ſpeak roundly.
Naſo ſuſpendis adunco, Juv.
When the Zeal of the Nation was moff
againſt Ceremonies, I wrote in favour of
them --Always was he troubled with
the Spirit of Oppolition. Our Quier
Man, was never quiet ; our Man of
Concord, was always in Diſcords.
The
G.4
(134)
Conform, and delir'd me, as he did o-
The matter in p. 346. 347. deſerves
Conſideration on the 14th of the Romans.
Give me leave, Reader, to cell one
Story of a Friend of mine. An Aged
Learned Divine came to me about
Seven Years ſince, being inclinable to
chers, to be free with him. After we
went the beaten Rode of Liturgies and
Ceremonies, I told him if I could Read
every Word of the Service, and obferre
Every Ceremony injoin'd; yet I muſt
unavoidably be a Non conformiſt. Why
ſe, ſaid he ? Becauſe it is not enough for
trie to Conform my ſelf, but I muſt be
on Oath to impoſe on others. No Croſs,
no Baptiſm, no Kneeling, no Sacra
ment, &c. Now if theſe things be ſuf-
uopſly evil to you ſo long a time and you
could not be ſooner ſatisfied, will
you
be fo cruel to your Brethren that are not
lo, to have a Hand in all their Troubles,
to read Writs of Excommunication a-
gainſt them ? Balaam could ſay, as bad
as he was, How ſhall I curſe, whom God
bath bleſſed? Paul faith, Romans 14.
Him that is weak in the Faith, receive ye,
but not to doubtful Diſputations. Yes
,
faith the Church of England, fill his
Head
(135)
Head with them. Let us Judge one ano-
ther no more ; which Dr. Hammond
Interprets of Excommunication. If
you
lay the Magiſtrate interpoſeth his Au-
thority, I ſay, the Magiſtrate is under
the fame Law of Chriſt, and Command
of the Apoſtle. I am ſure, All the
Power on Earth cannot take me off chis
Rule He told me freely, I never
thought of this, and went away much
troubled And therefore, I humbly
conceive, the truly Eagle-eyed Sander.
fon fail'din his much admired Sermon on
that Text, Rom. 14. 3. To tell us of
the Magiſtrates Determination – Paul
would not Determine nor Impore. Bp.
Sanderſon, ſaith he, is now put in the
Chair, a Learned Grave Man. Well,
Mr. Baxter, now you have one of the
greateſt Men in the World, at that time
to deal with, have you nothing againſt
him? Never a Mote to ſpy in his Eye,
wlio could never behold the Beam in
your own ? Yes, He was a peeviſh Man,
p. 357. And this Peeviſhneſs had many
Cauſes, and ſome bad, very bad ones; Inji.
ries, Partiality, Temperature and Age.
And now comes the cauſe of all this odi-
ous Character angry words be pro-
noun.
G5
( 136 )
bill now.
nounced, That Dr. Gunning had the better.
Never did I hear or read ſuch a Charge
drawn up againſt this Stupendious Piece
of Learning, Wiſdom and Modeſty.
Bat who can eſcape this Defamer? Bp.
Sanderſon was one of the great Men in
the World, deſervedly honour'd by all
Diffenrers. anyag
To my remembrance, I never heard
any one Non-conformiſt Reflect on him
I wiſh fome Charch-men
could fay ſo of ſome great Men among
the Dilenters. I deſire thoſe of the Com-
munion of the Church of England, not
to charge che Diflenters, with
this Man's
Extravagancies: His Tongue could do
Man Tame, it was full of deadly Poylon,
Set on fire of Hell, and would fire the whole
Gourle of Nature, Jam. 3. 8.
But of all things one would think Pee-
vih Mr. Baxter, a ſecond Jonas, (a pee-
viſh Prophet) ſhould of any Man, ne-
ver have accuſed any Perſon much with
this, much leſs Sanderſon the great.
Laripedem redus derideat Æthiopers
albus,
Jav.
Dr. Gunning ſent him word, He
would receive no more Letters from him.
P. 363. The wiſer Man he.
(137)
I would, ſaith he, give a Character, of
each of them that managed this, might it
not be thought Impartial in an Hiſtorian.
I will omit it.
What Character? No good one,
no doubt, unleſs of himſelf. And of
the Biſhops and others, hach he not giv-
en a Character bad enough before?
What ſtill like Flies come to the ſore
places? Worſe ſtill! What hach the Eagle
(I will not ſay envious) Eye eipy’d?
I will omit it, faith he, and yet falls
foully on many of them. Biſhop Colins
Talked with little Logick, Natural or Ar-
tificial. And, faith he, I ſaw not one much
moved by what he ſaid; but two Vertues be
hemed (though none took him for a Magi.
cian) one was, that he was acquainted with
the Fathers and Councils,
and the other was
& ruſtick Garriage; and therefore more fa-
miliar was be, than others.
You Clergy-men, Gentlemen and o-
thers, I pray you, keep your Paſſions
within bounds, regard not what he ſaid
of any of yours or ours. I knew long
fince, his Character of no Man was
to be regarded; and he (or Mr. Sil-
veffer by this Book) have prov'd it to
purpoſe. We know though Bp. Golins-
was
( 138 )
was a Man more fuperftitious than moſt
of the Laudenſian Faction (Read Quench
Goal) yet he was a good Profound Scho
lar. His Hiſtory Tranſubſtantialis Papa-
les proves him ſo. Which I have read
with great delight. He was no Gonjurer,
faith Mr. Baxter. A more modeſt way,
is this among Men, to call a Man Fool.
His Latin, is Elegant, clean; not ſuch
ſtuffthac might make a Man fick to read.
Are knowing the Facliers and ruſtick
Carriage two Vertues?
RiJum teneatis amici.
Now Avat Dr. Sanderſon again, faich
he, His Learning was well known.
(would yours were Mr. Richard, by the
way) and his peeviſhneſs not unknown.
Not yoursI am ſure Mr. Baxter.
For you made all your Antagoniſts to
know it, proreſt Tea thouſand times o.
ver, chat in your Scurrilous Writing a-
gainſt Men of Worth, you felt no Palion,
no one Man will believe you.
Bp. Reynolds is a Learned Man too,
p. 364. You Mr. Baxter perlwaded him
to accept of a Biſhoprick. I hope he
may eſcape your Cenſure. No, His
timorous Reverence for great Men, made
bim unfit to Converſe with them. Great
Men
(139)
Men reſpect great Men. But Mr. Bax-
ter Talked ſo much, no room was left
for thoſe Modeſt Men to ſay any thing.
His Clapper was always going.
Now we are come to a high Com
mendation of Dr. Pierſon, for Learning,
Gravity, freedom from Paſſion
that
he was the beſt of them all on that fide, was
the Glory of their Gauſe.
Well, Mr. Baxter, this Man appears
lovely almoſt all over. If you cannot
charge him with any open vile Irregu-
larities, you Eagle-eyed Man, cannot
you go to the Heart, and eſpy Mens
Thoughts, Principles and Ends? Yes, I
warrant you. But we doubted whether he
beartily maintained this, faith he. We
you muſt know, Mr. Baxter ſomerimes
purs for 1, for this is the way of Kings,
and of the Apoſtles Reader, I will
rell you, I heard this Dr. Pierſon once
at a Commencement in Gambridge Dil-
pute,
but whether ſo much above others
as Baxter ſays, let others judge, not 1.
His Expoſition on the Creed is a good
ching, But is it a great thing? I thought
by a Speech I heard him make, in which
there was a magnifying the Uſe of Ce.
remonies, that his Head and Heart were
in
(140)
in for a Ceremonious Cauſe, which he
then compar'd to Garments, and thought
Churches naked without them. Now
he was a very modeſt Man indeed, and
I believe he might more mildly bear
Baxter's Talkative hunour than the reſt,
or ſpeak leſs againſt him, which made
him thus commend him. On he goes
with Dr. Gunning, whom Mr. Baxter
(juſtly I confeſs) Cenſures as a high Ar-
minian, and therefore fay I, no true
Son of the Church of England, but a
Baſtardly one All are fo, notwith-
ſtanding their Declarations before God
and Man, They believe che 39 Articles.
He was alſo a very Ceremonious Man.
But faith Baxter, Paſſion over run him
in Diſcourſe. If it were ſo, Baxter was
no fic Reprover. Mat. 7. 3, 4.
I heard him alſo diſpute in Gambridg
at the ſame Commencement, and with
that ſmartneſs, and pungency, that I
bave ſeldom heard the like. But no
doubt the buſineſs is this: Theſe great
Men could not endure to ſee this Up-
ſtart Hector them all, a Man of mean
Deſcent, mean Education, a mean Lin-
guiſt thus to ſtrur and look chein
in the Face with ſuch confidence, as if
they
(141)
they could not anſwer him a word.
Aſperius nihil eft bumili,
Dr. Bates, faith he, Spake judiciouſly
when he ſpake. Well if Mr. B. had too,
well for his Brethren, and for their
Cauſe. Is this without a Reflecti-
on? When he ſpake. It was not oft-
en, noe ſo much as might be expected.
Would nor Mr. Baxter here intimate as
if theſe Stars gave no Light in the pre-
ſence of the Sun: That is, bimfelf?
Were they afraid to ſpeak in his pre-
fence, leſt he ſhould deal with them as
with Dr. Open and others about Eſſen-
tials? See what he preſently almoſt
adds.
I Spake ſo much, becauſe it was the de:
Pre of my Brethren. No doubt it was
more his own deſire than theirs, and
I was loath to expoſe them to the hatred
of the Biſhops. Piriful poor ſtuff! Who
will believe theſe Reaſons ? Was it not
his Parts, and others want of them chen,
and ſo to tell the World a Hundred
times over of both ? Whether true or
falſe, is not material to the Point. And,
faith he, They had more wit, and ſo were
more cautelous than 1. I believe this is
fuch a ſtrain for a Complement, that
he
(142)
he believed it not, hoped others would
not. How? more Wit than Mr. Baxter
Who, and where is he chat durſt in his
heart think ſo? I doubt Mr. B. ſprain'd
his Conſcience here.
I was charged, faith he, with ſpeaking
too boldly and too long. A juſt Charge,
and I verily believe his ill management
of the Works, made many great Men
in Church and State hare the Diflenters
more than elſe they had done. To ſee
ſuch a Face of Braſs, and hear ſuch a
Mouth of
When I came, faich he, to my Lord
Chancellor, to acquaint him what we had
done, I found him (according to my ex-
pectation) much offended with me
A Guilty Conſcience That the Earl
of Mancheſter ſaid, If Dr. Reynolds,
Dr. Bates, Dr. Mancon, brought the Par
per to the King, it would be more accep-
table- Iwas out of favour at the Court,
faith he. Certainly he was no Courtier.
He wanted Wiſdom, Prudence, good
Carriage, and good Language. He ſays,
p. 369. That a deſire ſome had to unite
with the Papiſt, made them not unite
bere. The wiſeft word that hath been
dropt a long time, Popery, Slavery lay
in the bottom of all.
The
(143)
The Dioſecan Prelacy, Reader, muſt
now down : Presbyterians according to
their Covenant muſt appear againſt it.
They unhappily get this Man which
ſpoild all. On a ſudden comes a Fable
to my mind; The Birds were reſolved
to drown the Wren; for this end every
Bird ſhould come and ſhed a tear in a
Diſh. There came the Owl, and turn-
ed over the Diſh, for which they all
afterwards hated him, that he became
a Night Bird, not daring to appear
by Day. I need no Interpreter.
Now he gives us the Copy of fome
Worthy Divines about Innovations in
the Doctrin and Diſcipline of the
Church of England: Well worth the
reading.
That good works are Con-cauſes with
Faith in the A&t of Juſtification, ſo Mr
Dove and others, (and by the way not
Mr. Baxter too, may not he keep him
company )
That auricular Confesſion is neceſſary,
Neceſſitate medii.
That there is a proper Sacrifice in the
Lords Sapper in a poft-fa&t, as once in an
ante fa&t—(fo Sparrow's Rationale, which
I remember Secretary Morrice ſaid to
me
( 144 )
"
me above Twenty Years ſince Rationale
Irrationale. This Man ſays, Some think
it no harm if the Apocrypha were made
fome part of the Canon of Scripture -
That Book is full of fooleries, chat might
make any loach Conformiry. I have
been too long here..)
Wide
That Subječts were bound to pay Mo.
Dr. Manwaring Biſhop of St. Davids,
and others.
That Arminianiſm is to be taught
That a Juftified Man may fall from
Grace.se
• Some have gone uſque ad falutem
Ethnicorum, which the Church of Eng.
land Anathamarizeth. Hath not Mr.
Baxter in many Books declared, he was
inclined to the former, and is poſitive
in the laſt ; and that in Method Theo
log. to be ſent into Churches beyond
Sea ? But the Doctrin and the Latin is
boch alike. This is now ofren Preach-
ed up by Church-men.
Then about Altars, bowing to them
Lights on them by day; Crucifixes over
Latin Prayers in Cambridg, which
young Students and Servants underſtood
not.
Prohi
( 145 )
Prohibiting a direct Prayer before Ser.
mon.
Now our Author, Hiſtorian, Scrib-
ler, or what you pleaſe, tells us, p. 373.
Many Books ( if they may be calld ſo)
were written againſt me. Many Books,
if they may be ſo call'd ſo, wrote he a-
gainſt others.
The Story of Mr. Atkins the Prieſt,
how the Kings death was contrived in
France, approved of at Rome. Read
the Story who will.
Now he is ſo fond of his New To.
riſm and Non-reſiſtance, that he ſevere-
ly cenſures Hooker, and Bilion, the two
great Pillars of the Church of England ,
Learned Men, for owning Government to
be fundamentally in the People, and Re-
distance in ſome caſes lawful. That he
wonders their Books were permitted to ſee
the light. They be
They be condemned for
owning the King to be Major fingulis,
minor Vniverfis and ſuch Anti-Mo-
narchical Principles. See by what names
he calls thoſe Worthies, whoſe Cauſe
he once pleaded, then betrayed to flat-
ter King Charles the II. when he wrote
his Chriſtian Directory full of flaviſh no-
tions too.
He
(146)
He tells us, Biſop Morley Preached
in his Pulpit at Kederminſter, and calld
bis People Presbyterians an untruth
ſaid he, p. 375. for there was but one
Gif one) Presbyterian in the Town. I have
more Manners than to ſay the Biſhop
ſpoke an untruth, but I grant it was a
foul miſtake in him. They were Baxte-
rians, not Presbyterians.
Biſhop Morley, faith he, took up ſome
ſcraps of mine which he underſtood not
and put them in a Letter, which is as full
of untruths in matters of fact as any thing
ever I fam. What can no Man under-
ſtand this Man of Myſteries? It is his
great Complaint, Men do not underſtand
bim. Doth he underſtand them, or him.
ſelf? What are his ſayings Amphibi.
ous like himſelf, or like the Old
Ibis redibis nunquam per bella peribis
.
Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum
eft.
Now comes a Famous Story: Mr. S.
Preached in Kederminſter a Sermon ve
ry florid (which he Preached afterwards
before che King) but when in chis Pul-
pit, he could not go on, but came
down, and ſaid, Lord have mercy upon
Wand it was found he then cen-
ſur'd
( 147 )
A neat
fur'd my Political Aphoriſms : Some-
thing's there.
What, was this Political Aphoriſms
thus by a Miracle confirmed from Hea-
ven, and after all this Mr. Baxter re-
cal it, and reject the good old found
Doctrin in it? When he acted over
Mr. S, his Sin, it is to be wondred he
feared not his Puniſhment.
Now he comes to the Ingenious Du
ral the French Miniſter, That he had a
ſenſeleſs Snatch againſt me.
Phraſe. You Baxterians when you
read your Maſters Books, have a Note-
Book by you, to write down the cu-
rious Phraſes. Here are Rhetorial Flow.
ers for you.
He gives you the Cauſes of Defa.
mations of him, p. 381. among many,
eſpecially Biſhops
1. Their overvaluing of my parts, which
might be imployed againſt them.
2. The Reputation of my blameleſs life
would make all regarded.
Becauſe I refuſed a Biſhoprick, and
Golonel Birch told him, They were re-
ſolved to ruine bin if he accepted not of
it.
And
( 148 )
And being for Primitive Epiſcopacy,
not Presbytery, They thought he could the
fooner undermine them.
Reader, When readeſt thou more
Pride, Vain-glory, Falihood? Do any
modeſt Men tell the World ſuchStories?
I am hated for my Parts, Blameleſs
life, &c. No, for his Pride, Vain-glory,
Contempt of others, Defaming the Beſt
of Men in Print --- Was he not loved
by them for his Compliance to chem;
So, faith be, I went and lived peaceably in
the Country.
Now we have a long idle Story of
his refuſing a Tipper when he Preach-
ed before the King. That Earl, Dean
of Weſtminſter ſaid, He had call d a
Toy. Now we muſt be troubled with
a Letter to him, and his Reply. In his
Lecter He declares he could wear it, but
thought being no Graduate in the Uni.
verſity he might not do it before the King.
Well
The Searcher of hearts knows I bad na
Such deſign. For my part I may ask
whether it is not a prophaning the
Name of God, or worſe, to appeal to
the Searcher of hearts about Toys and
Tippets.
Now
( 149 )
Now the anſwer to Mr. Baxter -
eſteem you for your perſonal worth
and abilities O how he loved to
Print ſuch Letters, that Men of com-
mon Modeſty would bluſh at the
thoughts of !
He tells us he was going beyond
Sea from a Peace-haring Generati-
on.
It was reported at Coure, p. 384. I
mas married, and a hainous thing it was
made in me, though not in others. That
Biſhop Morley moſtly defamed him: This
is the Man of Charity (Chaſtity I ſup-
poſe it ſhould have been) though this
was a Tear before it was done, that he
told Biſhop Morley, Miniſters marriage
was Lawful, and but Lawful. That the
Kings Marriage was hardly more talk'd
of than bisa
Now Reader know, Reaſon enough
had all to flour bim, who fo often in
Diſcourſe and Printing blamed Mini-
ſters for marrying. O what a pitiful
thing it was —How mortified Men
muſt be, and yet after all Marries
Yea, go with patch'd Coats, drink
ſmaller Liquors, Love Celibacy, for
bim See the Pride: His Marriage
and
(150)
and the Kings—No doubt ic pleaſed
him to the heart that he was ſo much
talk'd of. Mortified Baxter is Mar-
ried. I could tell, it was accounted
pitiful News not worth the talking
of by any great Men at the Court.
He forbore Preaching three Months be-
fore Bartholomew day. See what poor
reaſons are brought, p. 384.
To ſhew his readineſs to obey his
Superiours in all their lawful Commands.
Oh, Oh-other reaſons he had.
I may Conjecture. Well; Let them
paſs. Now the fins of the times be
mentioned, p. 385. Some called Biſhops,
and Rulers Perſecutors.--Who call's
them ſo firſt, I pray? And why may not
they as well as Mr. Baxter, according to
his Scholaſtick Mode of ſpeaking, call a
Spade a Spade, as before?
He tells us, The Lord Chancellour,
p. 386, countenanced Gontributions for poor
Miniſters: if done with care, that it
might not look like countenancing Schiſm
or a Faction: For ſo I remember he told
it in the Pulpit,when I heard him,which
was only once. th
And indeed I do not repeat every
word, but the ſenſe in obſcure places
in
(151)
in this Book to prevent being redi-
ous.
No Man, faith he, dared to put forth
full ſatisfactory Anſwer about abjuring
the Covenant: Mr. Crofton had done
ſomething.
Mr. Crofton was a Learned Man, and
his works profound, and that Book in
particular wrote like a Caſuiſt. But o-
thers ſay little without him.
There were, faith he, p. 387. divers
forts of Non-conformiſts. Some feid (of
my acquaintance) who were for the old
Gonformity, for Biſhops, Common-Prayer-
book , Geremonies, and the Old Subſcrip-
tion, and againſt the Impoſition and tak-
ing the Covenant (which they never took
and againſt the Parliaments Wars. Theſe
he calls, Reconcilers ; of no Se&t or Party,
but abhorring the very name of Parties,
who liked Ignatius bis Epiſcopacy, and
liked what is good in Epiſcopal Men,
Presbyterians, Independents; but rejected
what is evil in them, all being of the
judgment I have deſcribed my ſelf to be in
the beginning of the book
Roundly ſaid. The good be few, and
they beſt that took him for their Guide ;
but that theſe care not for old Names of
H
Par-
(152)
Parties is true; but they love very well
(too well) the new name of Baxterians :
and theſe can tell on a ſudden wherein
all Parties be Orthodox, and wherein
not ſo; when other great Men cannot
lo ſoon conclude, or determine.
I verily believe the Old Gentleman
at Rome doch not believe himſelf to be
ſo infallible, as did our Author.
Obſerve. He never ſays in the num-
berleſs number of Opinions he menti-
ons. I humbly conceive, or with ſubmiſ-
fion to better Judgments, as the moſt
profound Divines do. No, but fo it
is, ſo it is not. I remember Dr. Tay.
lor in the Preface to his Caſe of Conſci-
ence, Du&or Dubitantium, mentions this
Verſe.
Per verbum Forte' refpondent fæpe periti,
Baxter was our Engliſh Pope, but a
Fallible one, as appears by his being
ſuch a Proteus ; and he curned his Cap,
much as the Wind blew. And a Bax.
terian, I think, is a Conceited Diflenter
Galled out of his Senſes.
Now he comes to the Ceremonies,
Crols in Baptiſm, &c. which he hath
written of, over and over, and over,
and over, and over. Ignatius, p. 399 .
is
(153)
is named again, and the ſame ſtory is
told us in the next Page again. One
Church, One Altar, One Biſhop.
For my part, when I read over Igna-
tius's Epiſtles, I expected great things
for my own fatisfaction, but found no-
thing. Doth any one believe they kept
Lent ? yet he mentions it, and what he
ſays of the Lord's Day fignifies nothing
with me, though ſo many pleaſe them-
ſelves with it.
Bp. Reynolds, p. 403. did not his Dr.
Thank Mr. Baxter the complainer, who
,
adviſed him to be made Biſhop, ſpeak-
ing of that Text, It ſhall not be ſo among
you. That Miniſters muſt not meddle
with the Sword. He tells us of the Rhy-
mer,
Chriſtus dixit quodam loco,
(Vos non fic) nec dixit joco.
Dixit ſuis : Ergo ifti
Gujus funt ? non certo Chriſti.
What are ſuch old dry Cadences
worth ? not fit to be brought in a ſolid
Hiſtory, yet I confeſs, fit enough for
this.
H 2
Now
(154)
Now came Old, long, tedious, un-
ſeaſonable Stories of the Covenant , and
againſt renouncing it. What have we,
to do with it this time a day?
This expired in 82. Yet he goes on
as if ſtill a part of Conformity, and the
World had never ſeen the buſineſs ſta-
ted before, and at laſt an Objection he
never beard, and the beſt he could invent.
Anſwer the Old ones bercer, before New
ones be ſtarted.
I remember Comewhere in bis Metho-
dus Thert. Naming an Objection, he
begins, Hanc obječtionem, ut memini,
nunquam legi, nunquam audivi. Was
it not Pride to tell us fo. Now, faith
he, p. 410. to put down all under our
band as ſome Conjurers do that have co-
venanted with the Divel, and given
their hands to it-So he compares the
Abjurers of the Covenant to Conjurers.
What madneſs! What Rudeneſs! What
wicked Compariſons!
I remember B. Stillingfleet, ſaid of
him long ſince, That he found Mr. Bag.
Mhar's complaint of him true, that he
would run a Controverſie to Heaven
and Hell.
Crofton lightly did the work in writ-
ing
(185)
ing againſt the Renouncing the Gove-
nant, and Gauden very meanly for it.
And this Story we were often told. I
long ſince read both.
Now the Covenant is repeated, and
our Lord and Maſter tells us, thac Epiſ-
copacy was not diſowned by the Cove-
nant, but Prelacy, p. 411.
The Independents, he ſaith, were the
firſt that broke it, and ſaid, It was but a
League, and an old Almanack out of date :
and cells us the fame Story two leaves
after Verbatim, as if he had never told it
before.
After he compared the Re
nouncers of the Covenant to Conjurers
that dealt with the Devil, p. 422. He
adviſech to be favourable to them. Thus
according to his common practice he
breaks their head, and then gives them
a Plaiſter.
Now Reader, you have a curious fan-
cy. Pray paſs it not by without obſer-
vation, worth a School-boys remem-
brance for the wit of it. Such he call'd
fidious,
Per jured,
ſecutors.
What Worms may there be in Old
Mens Heads, to make them like School-
boys.
Por
H 3
( 156 )
boys. We are once more come to the
New Doctrin of Non-Refiltance.
Now the Story told again, and again,
and without end of Mr. Thomas Hooker.
That, faith he, King Charles the I.com.
mended to his Children to read: That be
made the King Major Singulis, minor
Univerfis : For my part, faith he, I do
not believe him (Mr. Hooker ſpoke right
however if he believe him nor) That the
body of the People, as ſuch, have the Le-
giſlative Power, and I have written a
full Confutation of them in the 4th Tome
of my Chriſtian Direflory.
Bill:op Bilſon, faith he, in his Trea-
tiſe for Chriſtian Subjection, hath this
terrible paflage, for reſiſting Kings, be-
fore recited. What never done? Ad
rixas' pugnas nate? You that will not
believe, read, muſt I in any company
among Baxters Proſelytes be told to my
face, not a word of all this is true?
No ſuch things are in the Book? And
at laſt ſay, Well He was but a Man.
Was he that? No verily he was no
Angel.
Now long Stories of the Corporati-
on Oath, and Reaſons for, and againſt.
Mr.
(157)
Mr. Simeon Aſh Dyed on Bartholo-
mew's Day, when the Miniſters were Si-
lenced, p. 430., He is bighly commended
for Piety, &c. I doubt not but he was a
great commender of Baxter once. But,
faith he, he was not made for Controver-
fies, nor inclined to Diſpute. So Mr. James
Nallon was very averſe from Diſputations.
This is but a Cofrer word for a --Mr.
Baxter, I hope was made for a Diſpu-
tant; but not by God I verily think.
Now comes ſome Queſtions before
hiin. Which were more deſirable, a
Comprehenſion, or Indulgence ?
Both, faith he, not one without the o..
ther. What abatements for a Compre-
henſion? Among other things, he ve.
ry learnedly, piouſly, and Proteſtant
like cites, and ſays, According to Pope
Leo's determination in ſuch a Caſe
Dr. Bates went to the Common-Prayer
at the beginning, ſays he. But did he
ever tell the World ſo in Print? No,
having Faith he had it to himſelf. Did
he give Mr. Baxter leave to tell all the
World his liberty in this Cafe? Allare
ſenſible (Dr. Bates excepted) That Dr.
Bates is a Man of deep Thoughts, great
Charity, a Profound Preacher, lovely
in
H4
(158)
in his Converſe; as I and others know.
I think, it was his great unhappineſs,
that ever he was Mr. Baxter's inti-
mare
Now our humble Man, tells us what
Honour he met with by going to the
Service. One Party believed his Intenti-
ons good; the other, that he obeyed his con-
fcience. And now "Evernd ſee how he
Triumphs, how he hugs himſelf. So
that I ſee by Experience, that he that is im-
partial, and ſincerely for Truth and Peace
and Piety, againſt all Faktion, hall have
bis Honeſty acknowledged by the ſeveral
Factions. See what they get by it.
Why were not theſe ſincere for Peace?
Were they all in Factions ?
Now he comes to Mr. Brown of Wora
ceſterſhire, p. 436. and ſays, He was a fer-
vent, injudicious, honeſt Fifth-Monarchy
Man -- Why Iojudicious ? Dr. Stil-
lingfleet ſaid, His ferubbaal (a Title, I con-
feſs I am very much diſpleaſed with)
contain'd the ſubſtance of all the old Brow-
piſts ſaid, Robinſon (I affirm) was no
Contemptible Man. I knew Mr. Brown
well, and all knew him to be a Scholar.
What ſhall we ſay? I doubt not, but
he took Baxter to be as Injudicious, as
Baxter
( 159 )
Baxter him. He dyed in Plymouth by
exceſſive Preaching. Muſt Mr. Baxter
leave a blot upon every Man's Name?
Now he tells us a Story, that he tells
alſo with a great deal of Confidence in
his Hiſtory of Biſhops and Councils. Ma-
ny Biſhops in Africa having by Genſericus
their Tongues cut off, Spoke as well as when
their Tongues were not ſo. I know, his
Author -Gredat Judeus Ápella
Non ego
Some ſaid the Covenant bound them
not to go to Church. les, faith our
Caſuiſt, you were bound by it, to go
there, for you ingaged againſt Schiſm and
Prophaneſs. Whereas I ſuppoſe, moſt
Men will grant, The Covenant never
obliged one way or another.
Harken, good Reader, after ſo ma:
ny idle Tales of himſelf, as if the Man
were in a Dream: He tell us an excel
lent one, and well worth che hearing,
as a Man awake.
As I was in a private Houſe, where we
received the Lord's Supper, a Bullet came
in at the Window among us, paſſed by me,
and narrowly miſſed the Head of my Siſter-
in-law, and hurt none of us. None could
ever diſcover from whence it came
This
(160)
This was ſomething worth, I confeſs,
the writing and reading.
But to be told many Years fince, that
when he was Dead, the World ſhould
know ſome things relating to himſelf,
unuſual things, that ſhould ſilence Infi-
dels; and puc us off with ſuch dull ſto-
ries as be hath done, is to clap a notori-
ous ungodly Cheat upon us.
The next Story clape to it is mean.
Of the Gentlewoman coming to his Houſe,
having a deſign againſt him If Mens
Lives were written at this rate, the
World would not contain the Books that
ſhould be written.
Now we are preſented with a Letter
of Amyrald, who purgeth himſelf from
a Charge of Defaming Baxter and the
Diſlenters. And I declare in the read
ing of it after Dinner, I had almoſt
thrown up all.
Nothing is more nauſeous, vile and
abominable, than to ſee Men pride
themſelves with others Opinions of
them, and Princ them. Now Amyratd
ſays, He heard Mr. Baxter Gommended
him. Yes, he did for his private Opi-
nions.
Lite
( 161 )
Literæ D. Amyraldi.
Virtutum tuarum Fama ad aures mea
as pervenit
Non ego te novi,
nifi de Fama, quæ de tua pietate atque
eruditione , eli eloquentia egregið loqui-
tur-But lay 1,
Fama malum
Mobilitate viget, vireſque acquirit eundo.
Virg. Æn.
Why had not our Great Scholar
Anſwered him in Latin, Can no one
tell ? His Excuſe is poor, he dared
not
Another Writes to him beyond Sea.
I
To the moſt Learned and Zealous Mi-
niſter of the Goſpel, Mr. R. B.
do not write Moſt Godly Sir, in
what Fame you are among us, for I
doubt not you deſpiſe Flattery. Great and
Heavenly Gifts are beſtowed upon yols.
Well, Mr. Baxter was no Hypocrite,
(for he hath given it over andover under
his own Hand, That he was one of the
moſt holy, heavenly, mortified, among
Men) it is great picy he ſhould be fo
anach like one.
I
( 162 )
I do believe now and then, ſome of
our Women may be Chaſte, that go in
a whoriſh Dreſs.
We have now a Letter, Whether a
young Gentlewoman might Marry a
Popiſh Husband?
It is better Marry a ſober, godly Papift
(for ſuch I doubt not but there are) than an
impious hypocritical Proteſtant. He faith,
p. 448. The true Dividing Fanaticks, are
not yet humbled, but caſt all on Prelates and
Impoſers. Speaking of the Plague in
London puts this in Capital Lecters.
THAT LONDON, AND ALL
THE CORPORATIONS IN ENG-
LAND, WOULD REVIEW THE
CORPORATION ACTS, AND
THEIR OWN ACTS, AND
SPEEDILY REPENT. What is it
for! The Wit, the Corporation A&
and their own Aets. It ſhould be more
folid on this great occaſion,
And now we come to the End of the
Second Book. Gaudete omnes, arenam
video, ſaid a Scholar in Oxford, looking
over the Shoulders of one Declaiming,
and he ſaw an end of a dull, and tedious
Declamation.
TO
(163)
To all ſound Proteſtants, or Calviniſts,
(callid by ſome Anti-Baxterians) whea
ther Conformiſts or Dilſenters.
BLC
Men, Brethren, and Fathers,
Leſs God, I pray you, that you are
kept from Infection, when the Air
grows Infectious.
I ſuppoſe, you know, that have
fearch'd Baxterianiſm to the bottom,
that it is one of the moſt Unlearned No-
velties in the World. We are often
told Mr. Baxter is Dead. What then?
He ſpared not the Dead, when alive,
and left Libels not only againſt Thou-
ſands of Learned Pious Men; but whole
Communities. If he be Dead, his Errors
yer Live, and for the Trite Saying, De
mortuis nil niſi bonum; It is no more to
be apply'd in this caſe, than one did it
to another when he found fault with his
Beer, becauſe dead Drink.
He Cenſures Worthy Men. I have
read of a Book, but never ſaw it, to
prove Cicero no Orator. He ſpeaks favou-
rably of grand Debauchees. I have read
of another Book, but never ſaw it, cal-
led Encomium Neronis.
You
( 164 )
You ſee what noiſe he makes about
Separation, after a moſt woful Deſcrip-
tion of the Biſhops and Clergy. It is
faid of Cyprian, he believed no ungod-
Jy Miniſter a Lawful one. I am ſure,
Gildas Sapiens, ſays it plainly.
He deſcribes ſome Men,as ſome do the
Gubbins, who have ſold Horſes Teeth,
and ſaid, they were theirs. They are ſaid
by Dr. Fuller to be terrible, and that Sol-
diers in the time of the Civil Wars were
fraid of them I went to ſee them and Bren.
tor. They make ſome believe, Their Fa-
thers made a Junket in a great Pit, and
ſat down round the Pit, one Drank
up
the Runnet, and they threw him in ; Ouc
came the Runner out of bis Mouth, and
made the Junket. Some believe them.
Such a Deſcription bach our Hiſtorian
given of ſome Men in the Wars.
Beware, I beſeech you of Novelties.
Many love new Grammars, though they
ſpoil by them not a few ; ſo new Divini-
ty.
I ingaged ſometimes ſince, in a Coffee-
Houſe, with the Maker of a new Gram-
mar, and proved him to be fuch in this,
deſign, as our Friends the Aphoriſts in an-
other Withſtand theſe Men to the
Face,
(165)
Face, as Paul did Peter, when he was to
be blamed, Galat. 2. 11, 13. And when
he complains many Jews were Corrup-
ted, and Barnabas alſo was led away by
their Diſſimulation. Pardon me, that
when I name other Writings of Mr. Bax-
ter's, I mention not Chapter and Pages,
nor ſometimes the Book. They who
are well Read in his Practical and Pole-
mical Writings, know the things true,
I charge him with ; and were I not far
from my Study, this Task were intolera-
ble, but much more now. I can prove
my Charge.
You ſee what a tedious way he had of
Writing. In his Appeal to the Light,
he ſpeaks of Fifty Priviledges of Believ.
ers he Preached about. In his Chriſtian
Directory, he hath (as I remember) a-
bour Fifty Aggravations of Sin. Like
Hugh Peters (as I have been informed)
at St. Paul's, Four and forciechly my Be-
loved.
Had he read leſs, and conſider'd more,
he had been a greater Man.
I remember when I was a Lad, my
Father for ſome time ſent me to a French
School and Latin School together: In
the French I was ac Six in the Morning,
and
( 166 )
and at Seven at the Latin SchoolBut
when I was both, I was neither, a
French or Latin Scholar
His Hiſtory ſtands among other Hi-
ſtories, as Alexander Roſs his ſecond part
of the Hiſtory of the World, by the firſt part,
that of Sir Walter Rawleighs, not worth
the Reading
Let us all beware of Spiritual Pride,
(the worſt fort of Pride) which made
Mr. Bampfeild at laſt think himſelf In-
ſpired. I faſt twice in the Week, &c.
Mondays and Thurſdays, becauſe they
ſaid, Moſes went up to Mount Sinai to
receive the Law on a Thurſday, and came
down the Monday.
Oh how loathſome is it for Men to
be telling again, and again their Works
of Piety, and Charity! He that ſaid,
God be merciful to me a finner, went down
rather juſtified than the Phariſee, by all
his good Works.
Beware of too many Plumns and Pairs,
eſpecially of much Garlick. They breed
Worms, not in the body only-They
ſpoild Mr. B's bad blood as he tells us.
Take heed of common and ſevere De-
famings of your Brethren, left by long
cuſtom you grow inſenſible. Feel not
your
(167)
pour paſſions. Felix quem faciunt
Beware my worthy Friends of an
over-valuing of your ſelves. The moſt
empty Ears of Corn, and Boughs of
Trees hold up the heads when the
heavy well laden ones hang down the
head. We raden onesh
If you have Children, lay their Foun-
dation well as to Learning
Men may ſpeak humbly as that Pope,
Servus fervorum Dei, They be Dung-
hill Worms--Some talk as if they had
Cloven Tongues, but have they not
Cloven Feet ?
Two things (among other things )
were commendable in Mr. Baxter.
1. Grave Preaching. Whereas ſome
(as is compared) chooſe a Miniſter as
Huntſmen Dogs. They take them by
the Ear. Thoſe that make the greateſt
noiſe, are the beſt Dogs - You know
how to apply it.
2. His diſcovering the Ignorance of
bis Hearers.
He hath told us this Story three times,
I well remember in three Books (and
how many times I have forgotten, or
how often in Books I never read,
who can tell :) That a Man who kept
his
(168)
my Life.
his Church conſtantly, being asked
what God the Son was ? ſaid, The Sun
in the Firmament; and the Holy Ghoſt
was the Moon.
Mr. Gabriel
Eldredge in Marsfield in
Gloſterſhire told me, That he was
with
a Man of a good Eſtate on his death Bed,
and that asking him about Jeſus Chriſt,
Jeſus Chriſt, ſaid the Man, Who is that?
do not remember ever I heard of bim in
.
When I went once from Houſe to
Houſe, fome could not tell me whe-
ther Chriſt were a Man or Woman,
knew not what to be Crucified was-
But one Story I have heard, that I be-
lieve the truth of. A Woman having
buried her Husband was told he was
gone to Heaven, by all that came about
her : After ſhe was married to a ſecond
Husband. A Man in his abſence coming
to the Houſe was talking how he came
from ſuch a Haven, or Port. She tak-
ing it to be the place where her firſt
Husband was gone to, asked him whe-
ther he knew ſuch a Man, F. D. and
how he liv'd there ? And whether he
did not want a ſuit of Cloathis? And
fetch'd a Suit of her Second Husbands,
and
( 169 )
and deſired the Man when he returned
to that good place again, to carry thoſe
Cloaths for her to him Probably
enough with the remembrance of her
kind Love to him..
Seeing our great Hiſtorian ſets up for
a None- ſuch forGrace and good Works,
and Parts, and Judgment, and was a-
fraid (where no danger was) of deal-
ing too tenderly with us, as Eli with
his Sons, I may in the Animadverſions
of the other parts of bis Life and Hiſto-
ry ſometimes cal] him Eli, and our
ſelves Eli's Sons. And becauſe he ſeems
to ſet up for a Father upon Earth, I
may ſometimes call him Facher Baxter;
and becauſe his mouth ſeem'd to water
after a Biſhoprick, and when he and
others callid Bilhop Morley and others,
My Lords, he pleaſantly cells us, they
anſwered, We know not how foon we may
call you ſo, and being for ſome Epiſco-
pacy different from others, (and be ſure
he muſt be one in this Utopia) I may
call him, My Lord, or My Lord Bi-
fhop. For I declare I have need to re-
freſh my ſelf under this intolerable
Task, to read ſuch a vaſt bundle of
Impertinences, Scurrilities, Vain Repe-
titions.
If
(170)
If any be offended of our Adverfa-
ries, and revile me, Who can help it?
I call him not Perjured, &c. as he Dr.
Owen, and others. If they ſay to me
about Mr. Baxter, as the Officer did to
Chriſt about their High Prieſt. Anſ.
werelt Thou the High Prieſt, (Mr. B.)
fo? I return Chriſt's Anſwer to them ;
If I have ſpoken evil, bear witneſs of the
evil : but if well, why (miteſt thou me ?
John 18. 22, 23. Search, ſearch, and
ſearch ſay I to them, ſee, whether I
have charged him fáily: But ſhould
I ſay, I feel no ſuch thing as paſſion in
me, I ſhould tell a notorious untruth
too.
Doth it not make you ſmile to fee
many many, Malepert, Conceited
Young Men, Talk with ſuch ſtrength,
not of Argument, but Confidence ? If
they ſpeak fallly for him (which fob
faith, ſhould not be done for God) and
falſly accuſe the Innocent, and that to
their faces; I fear they think it fancti.
fies all the Villany, That all was done
for Holy Mr. Baxter. Some ſhall be
pleading for his Notions of Juſtification,
who are fitter to learn the Aſſemblies
Catechiſm, which the profound Eagle-
eyed,
(171)
eyed Mr. Baxter, that eſpied fuch flaws
in, confefleth may be of uſe in Families--
It is ſaid, Biſhop Ujher, a Learned Man
(though not to Learned as Mr. Baxter)
believ'd, It was the moſt exact thing
that ever was done by Men not inſpi.
red.
Of Suftification, I ſhall ſpeak towards
the cloſe of the Book, going
on a new
bottom, the want of which in ſome
late Orthodox Writers on this ſubject
hath occaſion'd the miſtakes of ſome
Men, and the right underſtanding of
which may cure thoſe miſtakes.
Theſe Men talk of nothing more
than Unity, Love, Peace, Concord, as if
they not only were above all Men in
the High-way to Heaven, but as if they
came thence : Yet they have made
ſuch Breaches, Animoſities, Diviſions,
among Brethren, as if which brings
a Spanilh Proverb to my mind, You are
an honeſt Man, and ſo are you, and ſo are
you ; but among you honeſt Men I have lost
Cloak. So theſe are all peaceable
Men, and Peace makers too, but among
them we have loſt our Unicy. Union
is broken by theſe Men, who talk'd of
making it. But is it not enough to be
Erraticks
my
( 172 )
Erraticks (not Hereticks I confeſs) in
the Church, but muſt they be ſo (or
worſe) in the State ? Let them cake
heed, left by any Seditious Notions they
bring themſelves into a kind of Pre-
munire by their overtalking. The ſame
People now named have another excel
lent ſaying, He that would keep his body
out of Priſon, let him keep his tongue in
Priſon. For though King William be a
patient King, he will be no ſtupid one.
I know ſome of them are yet modeſt,
and all of them yet true to the preſent
Government, but how long, or little
while, who knows? I wilh the Reliquiæ
may not more corrupt them, for who
of them dares to queſtion what Mr.
Baxter ſays, Who of them can ſay,
Nullius addictus jurare in verba Ma.
giftri ?
Hor.
Adviſe them, my Brethren, I beſeech
you to be ſober, and not to talk like
Facobites in the State, and Papiſts in the
Church. They have parted with what
Kelliſon, and other Jeſuits calld the
Soul of Proteſtantiſm, and what the Pro-
teſtants long ſince calld the Articulus
ftantis á cadentis Ecclefiæ , and what
Bleſſed Luther in his Comment on the
Gala-
(173)
Galatians Propheſied would be loſt in
time in the Reformed Churches, Fulti-
fication by Faith only. Alas Luther (poor
man) we are told in that Comment
miftook the Papiſts, Hit them not.
Thus was he a Parblind Divine, yea,
and which is worſe, his Learned Anta.
goniſts too che Papiſts (now call'd
Brethren in a Learned Paraphraſe )
thought not ſo. Neither did ſince their
time Papiſt or Proteſtants think they
contended on miſtakes, till this clear
ligbred Divine aroſe, who made them
all Fools, and Contenders about Logo-
machies. Yet this Great Man was
not able to Write colerable true Latin,
&c.
Though I will
not appeal to the
Searcher of Hearts about a Toy, as
Mr. Baxter prophanely did about a
Tippet, yet in this weighty Concern, I
do ſolemnly proteſt I have written my
Heart, and what I believe (if not more
than believe concerning him.) In my
younger days, I did greatly admire him,
none could admire him more, no noc
he himſelf: And offended I was with
them that reflected on him; and I mighc
ſay of him as Mr. Glandil did in a Let-
ter
( 174)
ter to him, which Mr. Baxter many
years fince in his great Humility, and
Self-denial (which he talk'd much of)
was pleaſed to print, That no Man next
to the bleſſed Saviour of the World lay ſo near
my Heart for his great Piety, profound
Judgment and uſefulneſs.
A new Train of Thoughts and Argu-
ments, by Reading his Self-applauſes,
andDefaming the beſt of Men,came with
an irreſiſtible Force and Authority :
Which convinced me, and put it be-
yond all doubt, I was deceived in the
Man. And I ſee it is high time all Men
be undeceived alſo. I hope he will miſs
his proud evil Deſign in leaving this
Book ( under Cenſure ) behind him.
For if this will not convince them, I
know not what will. Pity me, pity
me, O ye my Friends, that I muſt
do this Penance to read over (and more)
Reliquiæ, eſpecially Baxteriana. I want
a Cordial ſometimes to refreſh me in
reading ſuch Impertinent, Sediticus
Heterodox, Vainglorious , Slanderous
Stuff, I find not only an uneaſineſs in
my Body, but Mind too: but I muſt
endure all for the Publick good, and
yours in particular, who are defamed,
as
(175)
thus,
as Raw, Illiterate, Unſtudied Divines,
by ſuch that have reaſon to conſider,
whether they are not ſuch, though like
Men in a Fever (or worſe) they fancy
they ſee wonders, that Men in their
Senſes cannot ſee,
I lately had a Letter from a ſober ja-
dicious Baxterian, as all call him, on a
miſtake, but I more truly,who muchCon-
verſe with him, call him a Semi- Baxte-
rian, who among other things, wrote
I would not for all the Wealth in the
World Reflect on the Glorified Soul of Mr.
Baxter, as the ſtated bent of your Spirit
ſeems determined to do. I profels, I va-
lue this worthy Man as for his depth of
Judgment and Reaſoning, fo for bis
Plaineſs. But I would deſire him to
conſider, Whether lower and worſe
Conſiderations, did nor induce their
Maſter to do more than Reflect on the
Glorified Souls of others. What is Dr.
Owen in Hell, and all the Fire-brands,
Fanaticks, Perjured, Traiterous Per-
ſons, that acted as if Perjury and Rebel-
lion were made one of the Command-
ments? If they go to Hell, they will not
find him there.
I
What
(176)
Whatever provocacion 'I, or others
have, Did we ever call him fo?? No,
we are angry with Dr Pierce, who hath
written Ex Profeffo about this, which
he calls, 4 Character of Mr. Baxter,
Bound up with his Reply to Mr. Hick-
man, about the Poſitivity of Sin, ( that
fooliſh Opinion 'which Mr. Norrice af-
ter he had afferred in princ, modeſtly
and ingeniouſly in princ recanted) Dr.
Pierce chargerh him higher, and with
greater plauſibilities than he Doctor
Owen, and Thouſands of other Wor-
chy Men. Do not many of them now
defame many, many now fanctified,
though not yet glorified Saints, as Anti-
komians, and I know not what? I hope
they will not juſtifie fome Men among
us that pretend fo far to honour Glori-
fied Saints; that they will keep days
for them, and yet hare, and perſecure,
and ſend to Goal Saints now alive. Is
it nothing for ſome Men to Allerr, We
Preach that which God knows, (and I
am bold to ſay of ſome, They know too)
not to be true. Were it not that I
am no Baxterian, and conſequently an
Enemy to publiſh in print the fins of
particular Men by name ; I could fuffi-
ciently
(177)
ciently expoſe ſome. The afore-nam'd
Famous Divine Diſputant and Preacher
bath to me bewailed the Doctrin of
fome Baxterians. That we are conſtitu-
tively juſtified by a Righteoujneſs within
us, which we (not Chriſő) are the ſubject of,
arhich I have heard in plain words, ana
that Heaven is not the purchaſe of the
Blood of Chriſt, which others have al-
ſerted. One thus Preached in plain
words, which ſo animated ſome againſt
bim, that it is thought this Doctrin
broke his heart, for be ſoon died.
I leave you Sirs with the words of
the Apoſtle, when he had blamed them
that taughc unfound fooliſh Nocions,
Tit. 2. 1. But ſpeak thou the things, which
become found Doctrin.
I 2
THE
( 179 )
THE
15
Third Part.
N
OW we are come again to
Stories about the Covenant
and the Corporation Oach-
Is che Abjuration of the Co.
venant a part of Conformity now, thar
we hear ſo much about the unlawful.
neſs of ſuch an Adion? No, not for
fourteen Years paſt. What mean then
long, tedious Diſputes about this un:
ſeaſonable matter? As if we ſhould
now revive the Old Queſtion, Whether
James Duke of Monmouth, or James
Duke of York were Heir to the Crown?
when one is Beheaded, the other De-
throned, and both overturned till he
came whoſe Right it is, and God gave
it him. Whether James Scot was the
Legitimate Son of Charles Stuart, was
I 3
once
(180)
once a noble, learned, .wile Queſtion.
Here he tells us what was wrote to bim,
what was ſaid to him, nor impartially
no doubt. A woful Confeffior had he
been, had he been a Roman Catho-
lick, as he was an Engliſh one (lo he
often writes himſelf)
I knew a worthy Miniſter that com.
mitted a great Secret to him: he pub-
liſhed the Story ſome time after, and that
wich ſuch a Circumlocurion that he had
as good have named him The vileft thing
1 of that nature that ever I knew. But Judg
Eli would do whac he pleaſed with us
his Sons. Now to do all the miſchief
i imaginable under the pretence of Love
and Concord made the Crime the more
odious. I dare ſay of birn, and
many
of his Followers, though peace were often
in their mouths, it was far from their
hearts, and the way of peace have they
not known. Their mords were ſmoothir
than Osl, yet were they drawn ſwords, as
David ſays.
Oject. There are many good things in
this Book fay fome.
Anſw. So there are in the Alcoran,
Maſs book:
Much more good was in ma-
zdy Books he wrote againſt, where was
10
(181)
no Sedition, Popery, idle Tales. He
deals with us Dillenters, as Joab witin
Amaſa, Sam. 20.9, 10. How is ic my
Brother? and ſtabs us at the ſame time.
He hach fired all our Temples, and
the Biſhops too, what, did he think with
Eraftratus to perpetuate bis name for
ever by ſuch a fact, as he by burning the
Temple of Diana? Papiſts with him to
Chriflians, Brethren, faith the Ingenious
Mr. Johnson in his Propherick Book
Judian ibe Apoftate. Ob that Biſhop Ride
ley were now alive, if it were proper to
mih ſo good a man out of Heaven, he
would tell us what manner of Chriftians
they be.
I find the French Proteſtants not be
lieving the Salvation of the Marianites,
for fo lome would rather call them thali
Chriſtians, as the Adorers of the Vit.
gip Mary ſo often and devoudly.
My Lords endleſs Pleas for Torilme
or Turciſm (for they are of kin) are lo
be abhorr'd by every good Subject, and
true Engliſh Man. The Senace, as að
Hiſtory tell us, intended the whipping of
Nito about
the Streets of Rome when
he would beg any to deſtroy bim, he
bid, Nec amicum habeo, nec inimicum
I 4
If
(182)
If ever King James return, let our Non-
Reſiſtents remember, that of Suetonius,
Regnabit ſanguine multó
Ad regnum veniet quiſquis ab exilio.
He hath never done with defaming
the two great Pillars of the Church of
England, Hooker and Bilſon, for owning
Reliſtance in ſome caſes. Ler our Non-
Reſiſters conſider, whether theſe two
great Lights knew the Doctrin of their
Church, who were the Learnedft Ad-
vocaces of it. Let them remember in
this they are ours, not theirs. They all
generally tell me, if the King raiſed Mo-
ney contrary to Law, they would
not pay it. Wby ſay they to us then,
Where the word of į King is, there
Power, and who ſhall ſay unto him
what doeſ thou? They would ſay to
him, what doeſt thou? David in a
private quarrel between him and Saul,
bis King and his Facher in Law too,
whoſe Daughter he had Married, was
up in Arms againſt him. How much
more in a National concern is this Law.
ful? When I look'd into Biſhop Bax-
ter's Hiſtory. I expected ſome Learn-
ed Queſtions, Caſes of Conſcience, not
all about Church Government: His
new
( 183)
Oath-twice
new Epiſcopacy, which he ſays is like
an Anabaptiſt Church, not Stories
long and endleſs about Things now our
of door, The Covenant, and Oxford
pineſs they had a Fuller, a Burnet to
be Writers of Church Hiſtory, nor
an Alexander Roffer is the Diflenters
Unhappineſs that they have a Baxter
a Quick to write Church Hiſtory, noc
a Bates or a Hom. My Lord calls him-
ſelf in his Hiſtory of Biſhops, and Coun-
cils, a Harer of falſe Hiſtory, yet
here entertains us with Hiſtory too falle
many can prove.
There were a fort of Anabaptiffi cal-
led Apoftolici who pleaded better a-
bout the Apoſtle Succeffors than Biſhop
Baxter, who calls them Biſhops for
footh, not Apoſtles, as ſome Anabar
tiſts do, and ſuch are now in England:
I knew one waited to be choſen to be
an Apoſtle.
I now go on with Father Baxter
Hiſtory.
Againſt Renouncing the Covenanr.
he pleads, Vows againſt Schiſm, Pro
phaneſs, for defending the King Repen-
Is
( 184 )
tance cannot be renounced. And this
was a part of the Covenant.
Oh! Is this a Caſuiſt? No Mabo.
metan can this way Renounce the Alco-
ran as a Wicked Book, becauſe many
good things in it - Bur why Conſute I
luch foolilb Arguments? Wind
Now we have idle Tales, when Mr.
Croſs dyed--and others. Weare cold,
Nonconformiſt Miniſters met with few,
many Years; not through Timerouſneſs to
much, as not to offend the King. This
hacer of falſe Hiſtory ſpeaks falſly here,
as in many, many other things.com
We are told who were for the Im.
poſing the Coronation Oath, p. 3. and
who againſtic Whoever loves Traſh
for Dainties may read this Book. He
ſays here, I think in my Conſcience, this
was the ſenſe of the Oath: Which many
believe not. Bilſon and Hooker p. 1 1. are
here again Condemned for making the
King ſingulis major, univerſis minor. He
hath never done with this, and other
wicked Cenſures. We are told, p. 12.
Jong ſtories who took this Oath. Do
Writers of Hiſtory trouble the World
with ſuch ſtuff or idle Stories? Here
he Prints an Ingenious Letter of Dr.
Bates's
(185)
Bates's p. 14. about the Oxford Oath.
Would we bad ſeen more of the Dry
Letrers, as Trees laden with Fruit, and
lewer of his, as Trees lader with little
but Leaves. He Talk'd more ſenſe in a
few words at the Savoy Diſputation (as
before) iban Biſhop Baxter in his long
Tales repeated over and over, which
all that heard were weary of, himſelf
excepted. Who knows what good had
then been done if he had ſpoken more,
and Baxter leſs? Mr. Mompeffon's Houſe
was Haunted, p. 15. Mr. Glanvil baru.
ing written of it, I ſhall paſs it over. What!
paſs over a thing ſo wonderful, certain,
uſeful, and for ſo poor a reaſon? Ma-
ny others, and Mr. Baxter too, bad du
gain and again written of little things,
that he here repeats over and over, and
now we come to a Story worth the hear-
ing he leaves us.
He ſays, p. 18. Some in the Fire of
London, were taken Burning of Houſes,
and were Gommitted to the Duke of York's
Guard, but never heard of more. Vrelts
my Lord chargesh the Duke with hay.
ing a hand in the work. What the Coun-
try laid of the Court and the King, I will
2299 Write, p. 21.
No,
( 186 )
No, here is a Self-denying Politician.
Now we are once more upon Terms
of Union to Worſhip God, p. 24. That
Men may do it according to the Liturgy,
Directory, or Reformed Liturgy. That
is, Reader, Mr. Baxter's new Common-
Prayer Book -O Pride and Impadence
to expect ſuch a thing!
My Lord was an Epiſcopal Non-
conformiſt, p. 36.
Denmark, and thoſe parts of Germany,
that have had ſome kind of Biſhops, bad
their firft Ordination of them from Pome-
ranus, and thoſe that were no Biſhops. Yec
Biſhop Baxter was Ordain'd by a Biſhop.
See Reader, the Picture of Pride in
what follows.
IR. B. profeſs, that Eight Years ago I
wrote to prove the Validity of Ordination by
Presbyters. And though I called for an
Anſwer, had it not to this Day. May not
many Papiſt Quakers ſo ſay ?
This is to make Baxterians to Tri-
umph. None can ſtand before him.
Here Alterations in the Catechiſm are
deſired, and my Lord makes a new Ca-
techiſm. We muſt have Prayers and
Catechiſms of his making, for none o-
ther could pleaſe him, as he with un-
uſual
(187)
uſual Confidence hath often told the
World.
Is not here great Equivocating? p. 34.
Some made an agreement to Read moll of
the Liturgy, yet might read none, becauſe
Pſalms and Chapters are the greateſt part -
He charges the Parliament, p. 35. as
not having Wit enough
to make a Teſt
againſt the Papiſts, As Praying to Saints,
Juſtification by Works
be named.
I hope Mr. Baxter did never ſecretly
Pray to Saints, though he hath openly
(and too fubeilly) pleaded Juftification
by Works
Was our Jack-Daw a-
fraid to be caught among the Rooks?
Biſhop Creighton of Wells, would
Preach Calvin to Hell, and the Calvinifts
to the Gallows. He was, all knows, One
of the moſt moderate of Biſhops, and fa-
vourable to the Diſſenters, and the
plaineſt Reprover of the King, which
Diſſembling Bp. Baxter dared not to do.
We are told at laſt, after all his Propa-
fals for Union? The Comprehenſion taiki
of came to notbing. Why then were we
told all the impertinent ſtories before
Bar fome Men make themſelves their
own Hiſtory. Now we are told, what
Miniſters were ſent to Goal for refuſing
the Corporation Oath,
As
.
( 188 )
3
Asafterward a long Story, who were
Silenced on Bartholomew day.
Some Men be mencions only as Ho.
nelMen, a lofter word for a Fools
bur fome think ſome of his Learned ones
bad fo not much Learning; nor ſome of bis
Honeſt Good Men, ſo little as be fancyed.
He mencions now Patrick's Friendly
Debate, p. 39. He ſingled me out for his
Commendation, faith he, I thank that
Gentleman for my Non-conformity,
for thoſe Books kept me from it. For
the Pilgrims Progreſs, I have read it o-
ver, buc cannot admire as the Author of
it ſeemed to do. Here was the fairelt
occaſion for My Lord to come forth and
Vindicate his abſued Brethren. No,
che mortified Man would not do it, He
bid commended him.
Parker's Ecclefiaftical Polity, pleaſed,
p. 4. the Devil, the Prelates, the Pro-
phane. Pardon you Conformiſts: We
care not to treat you this way. It is an E-
piſcopal Nonconformiſt (as he calls him-
felf) that thus doth.
Dr. Owen 42. deſired Baxter to An-
(wer. No, He was unfit being Commend-
Ed Oh - and he tells us how unfit Dr.
Omer was to do it, (though he did it
for
(189)
aften on their Sufferings,
for he muſt fly to the Ait of Oblivion.
Now my Lord tells us, Here like Chrif
be will give us a Parable, p. 43. But it
is as long as Ten of our Saviours. P. 46.
By Horles he means nor Non-confor-
milts, but Chriſtians, here it is explain.
Who can remember Bp. Baxter's
prodigious Parable? I went to Commal
Prayer, not to Sacrament, at Kedermitt-
fter, p. 46 I was not willing to offend font.
therefore I went not to the Sacrament.
was ſaid, the Parſon was given to Curl
ing, Swearing, Railing.
His Liberty, he ſays, would offend the
that could not do as I, faith he.
It was ſo without all doubt, he was
the occaſion of their Scruples, and alſo
of their Suffering by them.
Now we have a long, long, long fo-
ry, of his being Fined for Preaching,
p. 48, 49. We have an Account of his
Mittirnus, the Aaws in it; who ſtood by
bim, who againſt him, what both did.
P. st. he had more Viſiters in one Day in
Priſon than at home in half a Tears be bak
a good fail, a kind failer, good Rooms,
(He is not ſo kind to tell us how many
Windows there were in them. : 52
he
(190)
he lays, The A& concerned not him, be
cauſe he Gonformed as a private Man
Is this true? What ſay you that know
Law? Say I, We have 2, 3, 4, or 5,
Leaves of this ituff, according to his
common way
At laſt, p. 58. It argues great weakneſs,
faith he, to magnifie our Sufferings
Sir John Bernard ſent me 20 pieces. The
Geuntefs of Oxon Ten Pounds, and Alder.
man Bard Five Pound. Some would have
given me more, but I refuſed it
But
who tells ſuch little Tales to the World
I and others lay in a naſty Goal, where
were 7 open Windows, in the depth of
Winter, with Thieves, Murderers,
Tinkers, with their filthy Tub at the
end of the Room. Thoſe for whom I
faffered took no notice of me I am
ſorry I have
occaſion to ſpeak of this:
but that the Church-men may not think
we were ſuch Sufferers as my Lord, or
bad ſuch Viſiters. For my part Mr.
Bixter hath found out fuch a way to
Heaven, that I cannot. To tell of his
Graces, good Works, Sufferings, over
and over. Should I and others do ſo, we
ſhould think we were Curſed with Hy
pocrites.
Now
(191)
Now he tells us of an Union
with Dr.
Owen and his Grace, between Presbyte
rians and
Independents. He tells the
Doctor He muſt be plain with him, he
could not expe&t ſo great a breaker of Union
as Dr. Owen, should be made an inftru-
ment of Healing, Here we have Dr
Owen's Letter to him. Are not, faith the
Doctor, the propoſals too many at firſt? –
Will the Socinians be excluded? Herells
the Dodor, He was afraid the Doctor
would too much ſeek to pleaſe others , And
P. 67. your way (meaning Independency
tends to extirpate
Goalines out of the Land.
He came, faith Bp. Baxter to my Long-
ing in London, and ſaid, he received
my Chiding Letter, as ſuſpecting, whe-
ther he was real in the Buſineſs. Towball
fee, ſaid the Dr. my pra&tice, ſhall reproach
your diffidence.
He did nothing, faich Baxter, but fill
ſaid he was hearty for the Work
Reader, if you would now fee, here
you may Biſhop Stillingfleet's Gencle-
man, and Threſher. Or the Pictore of
Modeſt Dr. Owen, and Rude Richara
Baxter. Never did Men more act the
parts of ſuch more than theſe. Dr.
Owen would not oppoſe his Propoſals,
( 192 )
not?
but reaſon about them. Are there
Wbat barbarous Replies
makes this Man of Rudeneſs? What
ſoft Anſwers gave the Doctor to hard
words 2
My Lord was no frue Scholar many
do aſſert; and the next thing mention'd
proves it.
0.
I never ſaw, p 69. 4 Syſtem or Method
of Phyfick, or Theology, wbich fatisfyed
my Reaſon. Therefore he made his Me-
thodus Theologie, which he highly values,
but no one elſe, char I know. He tells
us, He did much of it in a poor, fmoaky,
ſuffocating Houſe, and in the midſt of dayly
Pains, as the Sciatica - He need not tell
us all this. The Book is like the Houſe,
poor Latin, I mosky Notions, ſuffocating
Diſtinctions.alid the whole Book labours
with a multitude of Diſeaſes, as many
as its Aurbor. Julification by Obedience,
Salvation of Heathens
He tells us 2.70. Of the Cure of
Church Diviſions. And now a long,
long Tale , how the two Bookſellers
fell out about his Books, an idle Tale,
like many others. Biſhop Stern and o-
ther greac Men ſaid, Mr. Baxter did
Gonform, and this Sin is greatly aggra-
vated.
( 193 )
vated. Was there not need Reader of
a day of Humiliation all England over
for this great National Sin co ſcanda-
lize Mr. Baxter, to ſay, He Conformed ?
Here he hints, as if Mr. Richard
Fairclough were much his way, and was
content with the Cure of Church Di-
viſions, changing ſome things as he plea-
ſed.
Reader, I was well acquainted with
this Famous Divine, to whom I was
very dear. I declare, he prayed God,
and deſired me to do it, To keep ſome
Pious Men from the temptation of going to
Sacrament at Church when put into the
Court. I aſſure thee alſo that he thought
Mr. Baxter was (and ſaid it) an inflexi-
ble Man ; ſaid he, ſome were ready to fall
on their knees to him, to beg him noc
to print that Book, but would not
hear, p. 72. He now cells, chat which
will ever make him infamous, his di-
ſpute with Mr. Bagſhaw, and he ſays,
Dr. Owen now often ſpoke againſt him
( ſomething I have ſaid of this before )
he ſpared him not in Prilon.
He tells us his People in Kedermin-
fter were offended with this Book
P. 73. They had ſuffered loſs of Goods,
Impri-
( 194 )
Impriſonment, and now, faith, They judg-
ed by feeling Intereſt and paſſions. Hav-
ing a new Miniſter, he adviſech them
to go to the Sacrament as well as Gom-
mon.Prayer.
Thus did he much unravel his work
among that People, who were juſtly
diſpleaſed with him: And how many
Atheiſts he there made who knows?
He tells us of Conformiſts that wrote
againſt him. Never, faith he, did my
eyes ſee ſuch impudent untruths in matters
of Fall, as they wrote againſt me. No,
Why did he cloſe his eyes when he
wrote ſome of his Books, and this un-
der Cenſure? My Lord's falfhoods are
impudent enough ſeeing he uſeth ſuch
words, let him take them.
He writes a Letrer to the Earl of
Lauderdale about Union between Con-
formiſts and Diſfenters. p. 93. Doth
he ever call this notorious Spade 2
Spade? (as before) He tells us, He forgot
the buſineſs of the Earl of Antrim, p. 83.
His proving bis* Order from King
Charles the I to be in the Army in the
Rebellion. How the Parliament was ftunn'd
when they ſaw it. If this will not
convince the World of the Righteoul-
neſs
( 195 )
neſs of our Civil War, I know not
what will. I pray all Advocates for
that worſt of Kings, conſider it. I am
ready to prove him a Popiſh, Perjur'd
Arbitrary, Tyrannical, bloody Pſeudo-
Martyr.de
He tells us, p. 84. of my Lord Lucas
his Speech about the wickedneſs of the
King, and Court, for Oppreſſion, &c.
I have the Speech, it is worth Gold,
He ſoon was in another World after,
which way he went there, God knows.
His Speech was burnt by the hand of
the Common Hang-man.
Now he tells us of his Book called,
God's Goodneſs Vindicated, to ſatisfie a
Melancholy Man. But ſay I, it is ſuch
a Book as may make a Man mad. To
tell of Worlds in the Sun, Moon, and
Stars. To talk of the Miſeries of the
Damned— as if ſuch as here in the
World, being without God-
Serjeant Fountain gave him Ten Pound
a Year, and we have a high commenda-
tion of this Benefactor, p. 86. Next he
tells us the fad Story of King Charles
the I1. his ſhutting up the Exchequer,
p. 89. It is to be wondered the Parlia-
ment never queſtioned him for it. Muſt
Widows
( 196 )
Widows and Orphans, be beggar'd to
maintain Whores and Baſtards ?
Mr. Herbert, he ſays, wrote him a
Book againſt the Chriſtian Religion, p. 90.
That Gentleman, Reader, applyed
himſelf to Mr. Baxter, conceals his name,
deſires a Letrer privately,directing where
it ſhould be left. This Impudent Man
(not to ſay worſe) Prints his Letters,
diſcovers plain enough its Author, and
treats hiin rudely. The Action was fo
baſe, that had ſome of us done it, we
ſhould have been afraid to be ſeen in the
Streets.
He mentions Henry Fowlis's Book a-
gainſt the Papiſts, full of excellenc Sto.
ries to Ridicule cheir. Religion. Did not
Mr. Hughs in his Man of Sin, borrow
much out of him? I do not ſay he did,
only I ask the Queſtion. This Henry
Fomlis's Chamber was over mine in Lin.
coln College. He was a notorious Sot,
and thought, not without cauſe to be a
kind of Atheiſt, which makes Diflenters
Laugh at his Deſcription of cher. Pe-
ter Moulin's Philinax Anglicus, that Mr.
Baxter mentions, is highly to be valued,
againſt the Papiſts Charge.
We
(197)
We have p. 92. the Names and Cha-
racters (Childiſhly done) of Men caſt
out for Non-conformity.
P.103, he would make us believe,
he Confounded Dr. Fulwood, who wrote
him, ſays he, a kind Letter, with many
promiſes.
With what face he could give ſuch an
Account to the World, who knows?
Every one knows, Dr. Fulwood threw
him upon bis Back, that he wrote the
Doctor a Letter to give him thanks
He moſt ſhamefully betrayed the Dil
fenrers Cauſe; pity ic is ic had not been
put into other Hands.
Giles Fermin's Reply to him, he thought
very weak. So, fay his Followers, were
all Anſwers to him. No Man could ſtand
before him. Mr. Fermin, I and others,
doubr not, was too hard for him. Now
he tells us, After the coming out of King
Charles's Indulgence, he would take no
Licence a long time, he would not be
named Presbyterian or Independent. Pi-
ty he ſhould, who hath been an Enemy
to both. He was the firſt that had a Li-
cence, and called only a Non-conformiſt.
Had I been to write the Licence, I
would not have ſo provoked him as to
write
(198)
write him Richard Baxter a Presbyteri-
.
an, &c. but Richard Baxter a Catho,
lick (as he often calls himſelf, and no
Man but he.) Or Richard Baxter an E-
piſcopal Non-conformiſt, for this would
have been another Novelty that might
have made the World ſtare, for that he
loved. Or, Richard Baxter a Baxterian,
there would have been a dainty word,
pleaſing to the Heart. Well, all things
in good time, Juftification by Obedience
to the Goſpel will do in time, For
Rome was not built in a Day,
If he Preached Concord, p. 103. then the
Independents and others would be offended.
Concord with whom? Papiſts too?
This Man of Love, Peace and Concord,
rakes all occaſions to Laſh the Indepen-
dents, But who knows for what?
The Duke is again Charged with
Burning London, p. 106. Many that
were found with Fire-balls -- were brought
to the Duke's Guard, and heard of no more.
He ſays, Lauderdale was by the Parlia-
ment judged unfit for truſt about the King.
No Man can wonder at this chat
knows the Poſture of Affairs at that time.
All knew Lauderdale to be a Monſter
among Men. Yet Mr. Baxter hath not
a
( 199 )
a word againſt him; but can Comple-
ment him, becauſe his Friend. This is
our Imparcial Hiſtorian, plain Man
Now Terms of Union are thought
of again, p. 109. Bp. Morley deſires it,
but Bp. Baxter ſends Reflections to him.
Now Terms of Union again, and all come
to nothing. All bis Scribles on ſuch oc-
caſions the World muſt be troubled
with
He tells us, p. 116. of Goodman the
Popiſh Biſhop of Gloceſter. Who were
ready in the late King's Reign to turn
their inſide outſide, and declare for Po-
pery? More Prelates than one ſay I.
P. 114 He ſays again, We are confident
the Authority of the King is Inviolable.
Bilfon and Hooker are again Cenſured.
He ſays, p. 122. The matter of the
Groſs in Baptiſm, is an. Image, though
Tranſient It is like the Sacramentum
militare; becauſe by it the Infant * Dedi-
cated to the Service of him that dyed on the
Groſs. On the Receivers part it wants
nothing of a Sacrament. He Cenſures
that paſſage. That Mens dull Minds
may be ſtir'd up by ſome notable Special Sign
by which he may be Edyfied—As the Goſ:
pel works by the Ear, ſo the Groſs by the
Eje.
( 200 )
Eye. There is then, I think, a Third in.
tire Sacrament of the Govenant of Grace,
though not of God's making Would
not the King think bis Prerogative in-
vaded, if any one ſhould invent a Badg
or Symbol for all bis Subjects? p123. So
this Whiffler.
Could Parker in his learn'd Rational
Folio againſt the fign of the Croſs in Bap.
tiſm, fay more? Yet when the Diſſen-
ters think they have him, they have
caught an Eel, which quickly glides
out of their Hands. He ſhall tell them,
Send your Children to be ſo Baptiz'd; I
am not ſure the Sign of the Croſs is Unlaw.
ful. My Lot, p. 131 was never to be in
the ſide uppermoſt. I think I kept many
and many Thouſands from taking the Con
venant. Was he not Dignified enough
under che Uſurper? What would he
have? What Sufferer was he I pray
you then?
Is no Man, faith he, p. 131. by the Go-
venant
bound to Repent -
Away with
ſuch Trifles. Learned Writers againſt
Abjuring the Covenant, did not uſe to
object at this filly rate. But any Objecti-
ons with my Lord Baxter, to make up
the number, many.
If
( 201 )
If Miniſters, faith he, P. 133. were re-
quired to Preach with Horns on their
Heads, to ſignifie the Conquering Power
of Religion - Yet I ſee not but Mr.
Baxter might uſe them as well as other
Ceremonies, he could Conform too.
I am confident, p. 134. I ſtudy as hard
as you, (Conformiſts) and am as Impar-
tial and willing to know the Truth as you.
They ſaid, p. 137. Mr. Baxter was one of
the moſt Eminent Divines of their own
Party. Bp. Uſher's, p. 138. Primitive
Epiſcopacy is deſired in vain. After all
this long ſtory, his Propoſals came to no-
thing. I grow weary, Reader, of repeat-
ing my Cenſures though not he the occa-
fion of cherr, who had never done with
things, over and over. Therefore ex-
cuſe me, and make thy own Obſervaci.
on, if thou hateſt Loquacity, Pride,
Vain-glory.
For my part, were I a Papift, and
went to my Confeſſor, I would rather
he ſhould inflict on me the puniſhment of
going Bare-foot for ſome time, than puc
me to the woful Penance I now endure,
to read Baxter's Book, to rake in a Ken-
nel, a filthy ſtinking Kennel. What
more loachſom, than for a Man without
K 2
end
( 202 )
way Do
end to magnifie himſelf, and depreciate
others. It is able to give a Man a Stool
to read ſuch Hypocritical like Men,
who do quite contrary to the Command
and Practice of Chriſt, Mat. 6. 1,2,3,4
Is this the Hiſtory that muſt be bugg
in the City by ſome Men, and ſaid to
be the Book next to the Bible, a Hiſto-
ry, That it is pity (ſay ochers) she World
ſhould be ſ long without, and they are glad
,
not Sirs ſo unman your felves, or dir
cover (uch notorious unheard of Igno.
Fance, or worſe.
For my part, I would as ſoon com-
mend the Childrens ſtories of Tom-
Thumb-and of Jack and Jill
Where I make one mark of Abfurdities,
I could make ten. I am even out of
Breach, but I muſt go on to the end of
my Journey, though chrough thick and
thin ; dirt
and dung,
Dr. Ahion, ſays he, invented Stories
falſe, impudent, as if the Devil bimſelf was
the ſpeaker - I ſhould think the Devil
himjelf a Fool for playing his Game fo un
Thus faith our (or rather your)
msek Man. Remember you Confort
miſt.
( 203 )
miſts, he was boch, he was neither; as it
pleaſed him. Yet this Man felt no Pal-
fion, If you will believe him.
We have now a large Paper of Mr.
Humphrey's offer'd to the Parliament for
Union. Yer the cloſe of all is, Al came
to nothing. Mr. Humphrey writes In-
geniouſly and Modeftly. If it pleaſe
you Not like my Lord Baxter.
He Princed The Poor Man's Family
Book, p. 147. A mock Title as before
proved
The excellent admirable Story of holy
Mr.Gouge,p.146. he did well to Print,tho
ſo done by others, whoſe Pains and
Charity, was wonderful ; and he Loved
by all good Men, though imitaced by
none. Now like Ælap's Cock we have
found a Jewel on a Dunghil. Had he
told us ſome more, though ſuch as we
knew before, to refreſh our Memories,
and warm our cool Affections, we might
thank him. But to tella Thouſand tri-
fling ſtories, What ſuch a Man did or
Spoke, for him or againſt him
intolerable Indienity clapt upon the
World, good for nocbing but to read
to a ſick Man that cannot otherwile
ſleep This Book therefore for ſuch a
uſe
is an
K 3
( 204 )
ale might berecommended to thoſe that
watch with Men that cannot ſleep.
Now we have a Letter to Dr. Good,
Maſter of Baliol College in Oxon, in
which he ſays, We take Conformity to be
uch a great in, as if we should ſay all
bout it, People would be more diſaffected to
the Miniſtry -
I doubt not, but he hath told all his
Tales over and over. And it is an odi-
ous thing after he hath made them like
Devils or Conjurers (as before) to pre-
rend he knows more. Sober Non-con-
fortnils never Talk at this Idle Malici-
ons Rate.
On Bilſon's and Hooker's Principles
the War began, p. 150. Hooker is Cenſur'd
again for the ſame thing.
You Non-reſiſters of che Church of
England, remember theſe great Men
Hoker and Bilfon were ours in this
thing, whom Baxter fo reviles.
His Meeting was not (faith he) cor-
trary to Law. A poor Reaſon, like a
Qyakar rather than a Divine (fome
think.) And now we are again troubled
with an endleſs ſtory of his Sufferings.
He names, p. 154. his Appeal to the
Ligh. His Couſin Gilbert, before nam’d,
( 205 )
I ſaw Laughed at it. Doch he not even
there in his Defence deny Imputation
properly ſo called, and juſtifie it, That
he ſaid, The Gontroverſie between the Pa-
piſts and us about Merit, fuftification
Were more in words than things. Yes,
and aſſerts it in his Reliquia, as well as
in that Paper, with the ſilly Quakeriſh
Title, An Appeal to the Light, That allthat
came to him, confeſſed their miſtake, faith he.
Pardon me, Reader, if I believe not.
I will be ſo civil to him to conceal my
Reaſons, though he was uncivil to all
men, the moſt famous in the Church of
England, or among Diſfenters. As falle
is it to ſay, p. 155. That the generality
of ſober Miniſters and People, eſpecially in
the Country, were of his mind.
Now we have another Deſign for U-
pion, and this came to nothing too, yet
muſt we patiently hear the ſame Song.
He makes an Healing A&; bac fome told
him, They believe it would not paſs,
P. 157. And here not my Lord Biſhop's,
but
his Majeſty's Act is Printed. Dr.
Bates was then ſick. Perhaps he was ſo
to hear of Mr. Baxter's Act, being him-
ſelf a Wiſe, Conſidering, great Man.
Be it Enacted by his Majeſty, faith he,
12
K4
(206)
It is unlawful under any pretence whatever
to take up Arms againſt the King
What muſt none but Non-refifters come
into the Union ? He ſays, Wiſe Meir
thought better not to offer it, p. 160. Non-
reſiſtance again, p. 162. How unſeaſon.
ably came out ſuch a ſcandalous Book?
Mr. Silveſter, I doubt not, will loſe a
Thouſand Hearts, notwithſtanding Fa-
ther Baxter's Charge. Are we not all
Refifters now? Who invited over this
King? Now we are all Rebels, or none.
Have not the Conformiſts come to Con-
feſſions of the Folly of this Do&rin ?
What hach King William done to the
Diffencers, that ſhould make this Man
to do this vile thing againſt his Govern.
ment and Life? All you Diſlenters,
thew your Loyalty to your Good King,
by Dereſting, and declaring again it Bax-
ter's Doctrin, without end inculcated.
You cannot be good Subjects withour it,
ſay what you will. Therefore if you
revile me, as ſome do already, others
threaten; and whilft I am now Writing,
I have a Letter come to my Hand of
this nature, You muſt do what is pra-
judicial to the king, and acceptable to the
Jaccobites. Do your worſt. I could call
Hea:
( 207 )
Or was he made
Heaven and Earth to Record, That I
write what I believe, and judg beſt in
theſe woful Circumſtances, this Un-
peaceable, Vain-glorious, Turbulent
Man hath brought us into I ſerve my
King without any expectation (or which
is more, any deſire) of any thing of che
World, and without any fear of our
Bigorted, Peace-breaking Baxterians.
He bere, as elſewhere often talks of
Poverty, Wanr, Beggary for Non-con-
formiſt. Long Stories how little he had
as Gifts, either for Preaching, or Print
ing. Woful ſtuff to relate in ſuch pi-
uifol Circumſtances.
Modeft Men uſe not to talk at this
wild rate. Did he ever beg bis bread >
a
lay what is not convenienc; I know
many Miniſters, not worth on Farthing,
their Sufferings were great. And
Church-men Stories of their great Gifts
are as very Fables, as the Papilt in
Erance, do talk of the multitude of
Guinea's given to all the French Pro-
teftants here, when many well bred
among them wanced neceſſaries Bus
this Man knew
no bounds in Scribling..
and ſuch expreffions make not matter
of
KS
(208)
of pitty among fome fober Church-
men, but laughter, who doubt not our
ſtraits are grear.
I was ſent to Goal on a falle Oath,
in woful Circumſtances (as all know
in and nigh Briſtol.) One Miniſter, a
Prodigy for Learning, lay there about
three Years, and there died; only found
riding on a Lords day, and the Jury
brought him in nor Guilty for a Meet-
ting. Another Miniſter now alive lay
there three Years allo, Committed
there only for teaching School. They
found after, he was an Excommunicated
Man, who yet was then fined Twenty
Pound for a Months abſence from
Church: he paid his Money on pro-
miſe of Liberty, yet ſtill decained. Yet
we care not to magnifie our Sufferings,
though greater than our Maſters. Dry,
dry, exceeding dry Tales, that I can
hardly think of without indignation.
When I lay in the main Goal, they
told me at the Sellions, they believed
I lived comfortably there, when I be-
lieve not a Man of them would have
taken one Nights Lodging with me for
Twenty Shillings. God forgive them
all, and make me forgive them. He
chat
( 209 )
that ſivore me there on a falle Oatlı
about a Meeting by Briſtol, when I was
certainly (as all know) then, and long
after in Plymouth, cryed out of his Per-
jury in this and other reſpects when he
came to die. Pardon me, good Rea-
der, That I trouble thee with ſuch Sto-
ries, you know the extraordinary Occa-
Gion. . After all this, I and many others
refuſed any Addreſs to King Fames for
his Illegal, Deceitful Toleration : And
to be plain, I never was fatisfied in
Plorting against him tell then, or till
for thac Act, and ſo gor in with
Church-men againſt him. Addreſſing
that King with idle Complaints, or
worfe, was the only falſe ſtep fome,
inany Non-conformift Minifters
made, I think in the laſt two Reigns
of which I hope they ſee the folly,
and repeat. 0,313
I fee I have offended again, I there-
fore beg pardon once more with a firm
promiſe of Reformation
My Lord now makes a long Petici.
on to the King for his Brethren, p. 163.
which I believe the King never read
He tells long Tales in it for himlelf,
and Troubles, and who did blow the
( 210 )
Goals, and that he told Sir Thomas Da-
vll, That if he might not be heard, be
would record to Poſterity the injuſtice of
bis proceeding. He Writes not like a
Courtier, or a Geodeman, or a Scho-
lar.
The Parliament would, p. 167. re.
move Lauderdale from any publick em.
ployment or Truſt : And all ſay juſtiy too.
But Mr. Baxter is as mute as a Fiſh
about his Friend, whom all diſown for
a Man of unheard of Wickedneſs.
They that would not hear the Non-
conformiſt, p. 167 plead their Cauſe
againſt the Oxford Oath, now do it
themſelves, and juſtifie the Refuſers.
This is a great Truth and well worthy
Obſervation, and well if we could find
more good Grain in a heap of Chaff.
Let unrighteous Perſecutors conſider
this, Who ſent us to Goals for refuſing
an Oath of Slavery, they themſelves
would not take? Non-conformiſts as
they are the beſt Proteſtants, ſo the beſt
Engliſh:men.
The Authority, p. 168 of the King is
inviolable. And now a Story of the
Pars Imperans, and Pars Subdita, in a
Commonwealth. Why ſuch things in
Latin ?
( 211 )
Latin ? Why ſo often this named in all
Diſputes with, then Dr. Stilling fleet
(now B. Stilling fleet) about a Church,
When the Queſtion was about another
thing? He calls the Lawfulneſs of tak-
ing up Arms againſt the King on any pre-
tenſe whatever. A falſe and Trayte.
rous thing. Are all Traytors but Non-
Refifters? Thank Biſhop Baxter for
theſe Mild, Meek Words, full of Love
and Concord, Then all Church-men
be Traytors now.
Now Dr. Tully's Tuſtificatio Paulina is
mention'd, and his following death (of
which before)
He gives us, p. 173. an account of
his Pains, in Back, Thighs, Brains, Lungs,
how many Phyſicians he had, what he look:
Il diet, Old cheeſe, Raw drinks, Salt
meats, when Young did bim burt. He
drank Afles Milk
The Prelates and Separatiffs talk con
monly againſt me, p. 175.
It was ſaid, p. 179. How Mr. Baxter
killd a Tinker in cold blood, Mr. Sil-
veter told this before, and Dr. Ale trees
Letter to Mr. Baxter about it.sk
Lauderdale, p. 180 Was too rough in
Adverſary to be a Flatterrer. He there.
( 212 )
fore reprinting his Key for Catholicks,re.
prints the Epiſtle to him. He was kind
to me ; gave me Twenty pieces ; ſaid, he
would ſtand by me whilft he lived: and
juſtifie him not in his faults. Some
faid, I kept up the Reputation of one all
thought ill of
If this, Reader, will not convince of
this impartial Man's Partiality, of this
plain Man's Deceit, of this Self-deny-
ing Man's Politick Tricks, I know not
what to ſay to thee Lauderdale that
could drink a Sea of the Blood of Saints,
That caught his King Whoredoms, and
to be Arbitrary, loathed by a Parlia-
ment (too bad) ſhould be gencly hand-
led by him, chat boaſted he muſt call
a Spade a Spade: and Dr. Owen, and
Thouſands of other Holy good Men, to
be made Perjured Men,that made nothing
of breaking Vows to God, and Man, and
therefore more unfit for Communion at the
Lords Table, than the profane, ſcandalous
Men that came there in our Publick
Churches.
This one thing caſts him had it ſtood
alone, but much more when with con-
comicant proofs. Father Baxter was 10
plain, impartial Man,
My
(213)
My Catholick Theology came out, p. 181.
None fpake againſt it
I will. His Dialogues chere between
the Calviniſt and Arminian, eſpecially
abour perſeverance, tend to nothing but
Atheiſm, and playing with Scripture,
and matters of Religion. He goes to
bewilder all, to make himſelf Head of a
New Party: neither Calviniſts nor Ar-
minians, bat Baxterians. But Calvin
and Arminius were both true Scholars,
and both in Heaven ---I hope.
Prelatical Uſurpations in all Ages have
occaſioned ſuch cruelty, that what Anabap-
tiff, Ranters did,was a Flea-bire to. What
Fohn of Leyden, St. Mathias, David
George, and all that new.
He commends Judge Hale, and his
Writings as folid, but were too Gopious,
which was his fault, p. 182.
Two honeſt, Self-conceited , Non-con.
formiſt Mr. Dancy, and 'Mr. Gale
wrote againſt Mr. How, about Preſci-
ence. Mr. Gale in another Book about
Predetermination wrote Superficially, Im-
perficially (a fine Learned Jingle) he
touched many things, but throughly hand-
ling nothing? (Where learned Mr. Gale
this Art, of my Lord Baxter ?) falfy re-
porting
( 214 )
porting the ſenſe of Auguſtine, eſpecially
Prosper, Fulgentius, and notoriouſly of
Janſenius, & notorious-But here is
no proof, and therefore here Mall be
no Confutation attempted. He wrote
againſt my Method. Theol, and Le Blank,
with no Arength, or regardable Arguments
becauſe he wrote in Engliſh. He now
pretends a Latin Tract of his ſhould
not come out. He forbore bis Anſwer
when Mr. Gale was ill, left it ſhould
grieve him. Who but B. Baxter, that
would pull down all the World to ſet
up himſelf, would write ſo contempti-
bly of my worthy good Friend Mr. Gale,
whom all Men know to be a Scholar,
and might deſerve better treatment
from any? How baſely doth he inti-
mate his readineſs for a Lacin Tract
and Mr. Gale's backwardneſs? What will
not Men that ſtink with Pride, ſay to
magnifie themſelves? Perhaps deny they
have any Pride too.
His Book againſt Epiſcopacy contra-
ry to great Men, he thinks is Elaborate.
Thus doth he notoriouſly, contrary
to all Men, play the Fool to commend
his own Shallow , Raw, Indigeſted
Writings, and contemn the ſolid ratio-
pal
(215)
nal Writings of others. But the Ape
thinks her own the faireft.
I have made a Publick Recantation of
all my accuſed Words, or Writings, and
am not ſuſpected for Rebellious Doétrin.
Yer ſome will ſay he did never retract.
Will you here take his word for it?
I communicate with the Pariſh Churches,
and have perſwaded others to do ſo, p. 193.
How many of them never returned
to Meetings more? How many of them
prov?d Perſecutors ? How many of
them proved Drunkards?
Now we have a tedious long Story,
Whether he might preach by Law. The
Teſtimony of ſuch, and ſuch a Judge. But
a good Hiſtorian would have put the
ſubſtance of all this in as few Lines as
he doth Pages.
I call?d, and Printed to Diſenters not
to ſuffer as Separatiſts, or Recuſants, left
they ſuffer as evil Doers. I ſaw many
were like to be impriſoned, for refuſing
their Duty, as if their sin: and diſ-
grace Religion by fathering Errors on it
Dr. Owen's Twelve Arguments I Anſ-
wered, p. 198.
What Diflenters Ears would not
burn to hear their Brechren thus ce-
famed a
( 216 )
T
f
1
famed?, Asif all ſuffer'd as Fools, and
Sinners too that were not of his Latitude.
This baſe Trick of thus abuſing Dr.
Owen and his people hath made him
odious. The Story is too long now to
relate. Is this agreeable to what he ſaid
before of Kneeling? How ſhould ſome
take the Sacrament from Men, to whom
they could not in conſcience give it, no
not according to the order of the Church
of England? How ſhould they be owned
as Paſtors of a Church in that higher
Relation, who might not be owned as
Members of a Church in that lower
Relation ?
I wiſh he, and others, did not com-
ply as evil doers, when their Brethren
ſuffer'd not as ſuch, as he wickedly in
timates. This is the Man in a mad
humour would empty all your Churches.
You Non-conformiſt Baxterians think
of it, and ſhake hands with your old
Mafter, and bid him good night: It
is high time.
Mr. Faldo accuſed me as a Lyer, p. 199.
and the Papiſts ſay, His own Brethren,
Proteſtants and Dillenters have proved
bim a Lyar-
Let the Reader judge, whether that
worthy
( 217 )
worthy Man, Mr. Faldo charged bim
fallly. The Story is not worth the
relating
One Richard Baxter, p. 200. an Ana-
baptiſt Sabbatarian was ſent to Goal for
refuſing the Oath of Allegiance, it went
for current it was I. We are glad there
was one Richard Baxter in the World
that though of different Principles
from moſt, yet never fired it. That ne-
ver diſturb'd the Camps of all Men, the
beſt of Men.
NOX
TOw we have an Appendix, and an
Anſwer to Papers from a nameleſs
Author. Then p. 18.Letters between Inge-
nious Mr. Johnſon and wordy Mr. Bax-
ter. Then p. 51. Letters between Mr.
Lamband him. When he highly magnifi-
eth him Mr. Baxter repents, of his ſharp-
neſs againſt the Anabaptiſts. Then Mr.
William Allen and lie, p. 57. Old ſtories
are repeated again of Church Govern-
ment, Peace and Concord, p. 75. How
he Confounded Dr. Owen, Dr. Good-
win, Dr. Cheynill and others, about
Fundamentals in Religion, (of which he
made woful work, as you were told be-
fore) though he ſhamefully Triumphs
now,
( 218 )
now, as then,) How Oliver's Army
defamed Godly Miniſters, calling them
Prieſtbiters, Drivines, the Westminſter-
Sinners, Diſembly-men. How he ſuf-
pected one a Jeſuit, that was none,p. 90.
And of his calling Sir Henry Vane a Pa-
piſt. And lie Anſwered Dr. Stubbe; but
tells us not how. This abuſe no doubt
was great ; but no wonder in him!
How bis School-Mafter never Preach'd
but once, and was then ſtark Drunk ;
for a Drunkard he was. How a Day La
bourer at one time, and a Taylor at another,
read Prayers for bim when he could not ſee.
That there was a great Scandal laid on
Mr. Tombs, but he knew not whether he
was guilty. Why had he not told us
what the Scandal was? He ſhould have
ſaid more, or not ſo much. It is well
known Mr. Tombs was a very Learned
good Man, though an Anabaptift, in that
point, who would give fuch wicked
hints of ſuch things. But Mr. Baxter's
word was no Slander.
That ſome Miniſters are ſo Valetudinary
(it is his word) that there cold Houles da
them burt. That Children hould bave
their Chriſtendom. This alſo is his word,
uſed here, and often in other Books ;
che
( 219 )
to, cough Ru-
ſtick and Clowniſh, p. 103. How
2
106. a Letter wrote to his fick Morber was
intercepted, when Venner was up, but no-
thing Rebellions found in it. How be ne.
ver Baptized, nor adminiſtred the Sacra.
ment in 15. Tears after Bartholomew Day.
How a Bullet came in---when he find
miniftred the Sacrament privately. How
Dr. Lampley thruft Mr. Sanger when he
found him Viſiting á fick Perſon of his Pe-
rih. How many lears be received the Sa.
crament in a publick
Church, How be, p.
108, made a nero Liturgy at the Savoy
Diſputation, appointed by King Charles
II." Hero Dr. Reynolds was offended at
him for doing it, Jeeing Additions to the ola
one were only to be made. How p. 111.
Conformable Men began the War: and
Bijkop Williams ferved the Parliament
Horp he was charged with killing & Tink
er. Hon Mr. Symmons the « Book.
feller broke, who ſold his Books, Hom
little he had for Preaching, or Printing
Books, p. 118. How Dr. Bares told binn.
That he got a 100 pounds by his Harino-
ny of the Divide Attributes. A woful
Counſel
keeper was Mr. Baxter. Did
Dr Bates think he would have told it?
( 220)
much leſs in Print. The Doctor deſerv'd
more for that Book, than Mr. Tom.
Tell-troth, for Scores. Biſhop Ulher's
Epiſcopacy, Hooker and Bilſon, Talked of
again. That the Stream of Philoſophers,
Politicians, Canoniſts, Gaſuiſts, Papiſts,
Proteftants, and the greateſt Lawyers, bé
had met with, were all agreed, That the
People were the Fountain of Givil Power,
and give to Sovereigns what they have.
But be Confuted all. You Non refifters,
you Jacobites, Remember this one thing,
Your Doctrin is a Novelty by the Con-
feſſion of its new Advocate, and it may
be therefore taken up by him.
Bat I could hardly believe my own
Eyes, when I ſaw Mr. Baxter in a Caſe
of Conſcience brought before him, a-
bout going to Church or to Meetings.
P 115. I bumbly conceive-Owonder-
ful! Are there the words of Mr Ri-
chard Baxter, our Eagle eyed Man? But
how comes ſuch modeſt words in, but
to wound our Meetings? The young
Man might break the King's Laws fome-
times, to go to Meetings at the Command
of his Father and Mother. I bumbly con-
ceive. Nom an A& for Concord, p. 127.
The Inconveniences of a Toleration-What
Jars
( 221 )
Jars it would occaſion --- And therefore a
Comprehenſion was more deſirable. And
my Lord lays down the Terms, p. 130.
The ſame as before,
And theſe things are mention d in
their little ridiculous Circumſtances ;
though they had been told over, and
over before. I thought to have taken
nocice of groſs Abſurdicies here, as be-
fore. But I grew weary, as I ſuppoſe
to doth the Reader too.
Mr. Silveſter for a Cloſe of all, Prints
his own Sermon at Mr. Baxter's Funeral
on this Text,
2 Kings 2. 14.
Where is the Lord God of Elijah?
But why Sir did you print the Text
in Hebrem Was it to let us know
that you had indeed a double portion
of your Maſters Spirit; That you un-
derſtood a Language that Great, Great
Man was alcogether Ignorant of, and
therefore not one word of Hebrew is
found in all his Voluminous Writings.
Well for him and us, if leſs Latin or
Greek had been found in them. When
ſpoke he as a Critick in either?
I
( 222 )
among
I have a word or two to you Sir
who have abuſed, affronted the World
by this Scandalous Book, or Libel a.
gainſt the Government, worthy Learn-
ed Men in the Church of England, and
ter was Elijah's lively Image --- ou wib
for your Prophets Mantle --- Much good
inay it do you. Some would not take
it up for fear of infection. The Devil
appeared once in Samuels
.
He ſeemed, ſay you, to be a Tran
fcript of whac is left on record of Saint
Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy, i Theſ 2
1. 12, That he was a Man of clear,
sleep, fixed thoughts-- That he gave cu-
mulatim not denariatim. But what
need had you to sell the World of his
Works of Piety and Charity, when he
himſelf had done it, and that in many
ittany Books, left the World ſhould
forger, who complain of bad memories.
He knew all better than you, and from
his word was no Appeal.
When you tell us p. 15. When you
came to him in the Country, he roſe up and
Jard, (and here I expected ſome hea-
vehly Expreſſion How he was above
the World) but was ſurprizd to find
到​驚
​( 223)
a Man in his caſe ſo much concerned a-
bout what Men ſaid of him. Whatever
the World thinks of me, I can truly ſay,
have Seru'd God with uprightnels of Heart :
and that I never ſpoke any thing that I took
not to be truth, and at that time to be
my
Duty. That he wondred at ſome Mens
Tranſports in the time of Death; yet be
thought, he knewo as much as they, and had
as much Rational Satisfa&tion. Are theſe
the words of a mortified, humble, hea-
venly Man Dying? I think it not con-
venient to make Remarks here, I leave
it to the Reader to conſider- He wilbid
to Dye on the Lord's Day, but he dyed on
the Tueſday Now had he dyed on the
Lord's Day, What an Obſervation here
muſt have been? No, he Prided him-
ſelf too much in being Born on the
Lord's
Day. But if we ſhould be ſo Su-
perſtitious to obſerve, when he would
chooſe his own Day to Dye in, and re.
joic'd in it, God ordered he ſhould Dye
die Martis,
When you asked him, Whether he
had the fame Sentiments about Juftificati.
He ſaid, I have told the World
ſufficiently, by Word and Writing my Opi-
nion already, and there I refer them. And
L
char
072
(224)
that then he lift up his Eyes, and ſaid,
Lord, pity, pity, pity, the Ignorance of
this poor City. You tell us alſo, that
a Learned Man ſaid of him, That Mr.
Baxter could ſay, what he would, and
prove what he ſaid. Who would tell ſuch
Stories of a Man he Loved? It was in my
Opinion, unwarrantable Revenge to do
at had he been your Enemy. You askºd
him a good Queſtion. Why, was the
Anſwer about what the World ſhould
know of his Faith? Why had he not (aid
according to his Laconical way, in other
caſes? Had he any Grumbling in his
Conſcience, and was he afraid to ſpeak
out all ? Muſt this City be pityed
for (it may be) receiving his Doctrin
no
more? (I profefs fo I underſtand him,
this coming in on the words before.)
We may fay, Lord, pity, pity, pity,
this Ignorant City, not for ſo much Re-
jecting, as for ſo much Receiving his
Dodrin. For chat Learn'd Man, who.
ever he was, he ſpake of Mr. Baxter,
what ſome ſay of Scepticks and ſubtil
Wranglers. And therefore, this Story
doth your Maſter no kindneſs. I re
member, the Learned Mr. Gilbert, be.
fore named, told me, That many Years
ſince,
(225)
lince, he came to ſee Dr. Owenand Mr.
Baxter, when both were Sick and like
to Dye; when he came to Dr. Owen,
the Dr. ſaid to him, Sir, I am made
Willing to Dye. When he came to Mr.
Baxter, Coſin, ſaid Mr. Baxter, I am not
Bet made willing to Dye. To whom he
reply'd, I came now from Dr. Owen,
who ſaid he was willing to dye. No won.
der you are not, that expect not to appear
before God with imputed Righteouſneſs.
You ſay, Eliſha in ſeveral things out-
went bis Maſter, but not I. And we
hope, for true Peace and Concord fake
you never will.
I remember about
Twenty Years ago, I had a priviledg’d
Place, and an Ignorant, but Conceited
Taylor for a time, would not come to
hear me. I asked him, Why? He
told me, the Presbyterians were Here
ticks, for, ſaid he, It is a great Contro.
verſie between us and you, which was the
greateſt Prophet, Elijah or Eliſha. You ſay
that Elijah was; but we ſay, that Eli ha
was; and this is a Funmental Point.
Sir, If you ſhould thus be the greateſt
Prophet, the cauſe of Non-conformity.
ind private Meetings ( eſpecially at
Church time, which your Maſter made
faint
( 226 )
faint and Gck, will gaſp and Dye. Do
not lay, like Jebu, Mr. Baxter ſerved
the Church much, but I Mr. Silveſter
Nd now Reader, What thinkert
thou, on ſedate and deliberate
impartial Thoughts? What a Book is
this! Never was the like ſeen, fay
fome Baxterians. And in truth to ſay I
If by the ſame words, we mean the
Same thing, agreed. It puts me in
mind of Horace, De arte Poetica,
Humano capiti cervicem pi&tor equiname
Fungere ſi velit-
Spectatum admiffi rifum teneatis amici?
I have read of one having the
Caninu:
Appetitus, that would fain have a Veniſon
Paſty. A Dog was killed, cut up, pep
per'd and bak'd, which he commended
for good Veniſon. But a Man of a good
Palare, had not ſo done. Mr. Sylveſter
hath provided for them ſuch a large
Difh, ſeaſoned with Love, Concord
fine Diſtinctions, c. which Under
ſtanding Men will not reliſh. Peace with
ibe Papits, aA lace Writer tells
us of an Addle headed Monk, who fer
up for fach a Zealot for Peace and Con
cord
( 227 )
cord, That he Prayed to God, that he
would Graciouſly be pleaſed to end the Con-
trouerſie between him and the Devil, that
o there might be Peace between him and all
Men, Hereticks and Prophane.
If Mr. Bagſhaw had fourſcore Un-
truths in his Book againſt Baxter, Bax-
ter hath Four thouſand in this Book a.
gainſt the King's Government, againſt
che Church of England, and againſt the
Diſſenters, of divers Perſwalions; 2-
gainſt Men Famous, and Learned, and
Wife in the Eyes of all Men (except
their own, and his; ) and the more Fa-
mous in all theſe reſpects, for theſe Ex.
ceptions.
If any fay, We ſee what the greateſt Pro-
feffors of Chriſtianity are, or what the Chief
of Dilſenters are. I Anſwer to the firſt,
If Mr. Baxter had Writ ten times worſe,
had he been a Vile Hypocrite ( wbich
We allert not; ) the Hypocriſie of 34-
das could not Eclipſe the ſhining Integri-
ty, Humility and Piecy of the Eleven.
I know, Chriſt ſays, Let not thy right
band know what thy left hand do:bAnd
many obſerve this Rule. Jebu chac
drove furiouſly, ſaid, Come ſee my Zeal
for the Lord of Hofs, 2 Kings 1o. lc is
L3
( 228 )
nothing worth unleſs others come and ſee
ir; he is Confident of himſelf, dubious
of another; faith he, 2 Kings 20. 15. Is
thy heart right, as my heart is--Yet
this Man was upright, and himſelf not
fo. For others. He was no Presbyteri-
an, They are not to anſwer for him.
It is better Logick to ſay, Dr. Bates,
Dr. Annefly and others are, Dr. Man.
ton, Mr. Allein and others were, Men of
great Integrity and Humility, and chere-
Tore Non conformiſt Miniſters are good
Men. I am diſpleaſed, as with them
that ſay, Mr. Baxter was the Holiet Man
the World. So with them that lay,
He had not one Dram of Grace in him.
I read with great pleaſure long lince,
out of John de Serres, the French Hiſto
rian of their Kings, the famous Story of
Foan of Art, who drove back and de
ſtroyed the Engliſh, when like to have
Over-run France, Fighting in the Head
of an Army, The French call her Joan
the Saint. The Engliſh Foan the Wirch.
One made this Ingenious Epicaph on
her
Here beth Joan of Arc, the which
Some count Saint, and ſome count Witch.
(229)
Some count Man, and ſome count more?
Some count Maid, and ſome count Whore,
But Reader be adviſed, and ſtay
Thy Genſure till the Judgment Day;
Then thalt thou know, and not before,
Whether Saint, Witch, Man, Maid or
Whore.
Great fears do not caſt away all hope.
Are you of the Church of Englands
Lay not to our Door, the defaming your
great Worthies, the Famous Hooker,
whoby the way, denyed Epiſcopacy to
be of Divine Right, and Commends
Calvin for Eſtabliſhing Presbytery,
Eccleſ, Pol. The famous Bilſon, Biſhop
Sanderſon, Biſhop Barlow and others,
who will be Famous to the end of the
World. We can govern our own
Tongues, though nor another Man's.
He Condemns Hooker and Bilfan with-
out end, for Owning Reſiſtence. Make
Kings once Inviolable, and they will
foon make themſelves Tyrannical: As
the 3 laſt Reigns prove. Reinember
Mr. Baxter hath proved, as well as om
thers, Thar Gharles the I. gave a Com.
million to the Earl of Antrim, for whar
he did in the Iriſh Rebellion. You tbat
L 4
would
( 230 )
would not believe us, will you believe
King Charles II. who owned it, or thoſe
who ſaw the Commiſſion> You can-
pot doubt, but he thao gave him one,
gave others too, though they came not lo
to light. Was there not reaſon for the
Parliament to prevent a Maffacry here?
Whac tedious, as well as imperti-
neut work doth our Author make?
Teach your Children you Parents, or
yourLads you School Maſters, cimely to
be Conciſe. I remember, I have
heard
that in Gambridge great Reward was
promiſed to bim that ſhould in feweft
Verſes expreſs this Story,
Two Children ſeeing their Father
Kill
Gli a Weather, they would play ar
Weather Killing, and ſo cut one ano-
thers Throats. The Mother hearing ic,
let her Infant drop in the burning Coals,
when ſhe went out at the Cry, Re
turning and ſeeing all theſe rad fights
Hanged herſelf, the abſent Father com-
ing home ſeeing all, dyed with grief
One expreſſed all in theſe two Verſes,
S.
Virveces pueri, puer alter, Iponfa, maritus
Cultello, flamma, fune, dolore cadunt.
SoOne, What Creatures excel Man in
the Five Sences.
( 231 )
Nos fus audita, lynx viſu, fimia gujtu,
Valtar odoratu procedit, aranea tactu.
A long prolix way of Talking makes
Men troubleſome among Scholars.
There was no end with Mr. Baxter. He
was an Everlaſting Argument -- Which
made Learned Divines in Oxford in 01.
ver's days to call him Scribling Dick.
Whether Mr. Faldo Charged him true,
whether he told Lyes orno, I will not
fay, bue I am ſure Notorious Ulntruths
of Men I know, but I will not ſeem to
be partial You ſee what ſome of
your Bithops ſaid at the Savoy Diſpura-
tion, They wanted more Ceremonies.
Go then to Rome from whence you
brought theſe, there are enough. Wang
you the Crofs in the Breſt, Holy-wa-
ter ---- I would deſire no better place of
Scriptare for Diffenrers Worſhip,
and
againſt yours,, than that you often bring
for yours and againſt theirs. Let all
ibings be done decently, and in order
I Cor. 14, 40. Are you in good earnef:
with os my Maſters ? Doch it become
a qualified grave Mioiſter of the Goſpel
to come in a Fantaſtical Dreſs, Take up
a Book to read Prayers --- You that make
LS you:
(132)
your ſelves merry with Diflenters Pray-
ers how broken they be ; Pray if you will
be merry with broken incoherent Pray-
ers, you know what Book to call for,
and there take your choice. Guggle
gaggle all together, take words out of
one anothers Mouths. -
Are you Baxterians ? What ſay you
to all this? Will you juſtifie imperti
nences and idle Tales, Seditious Do.
Etriņ of Non reſiſtance, Defaming Dr.
Open and others, Self-applauſes. Con-
ſider my Maſters, conſider and be Wiſe
ac laſt. Did he indeed chooſe the good
out of all Parties, as he and ſome of you
boaſt, or did he not often chooſe the
bad, and throw the good away?
You ſay, Some Controverſies are only
about Words, as in Juftification - No,
they are nor. If they were, how inexcu-
fable was our Difturber and Peace-
breaker to make ſuch Uproars then ?
Baxterianiſm tends to Arminianiſm,
Arminianifm to Socinianiſm, Socinianiſm
to Turciſm, as Alciot and others found.
And becauſe ſome of you I find turn
Arminians, and others be inclinable to
it, I pray let us reaſon together.
Can
( 233 )
pares, Why doth he get complain, who
Can you believe, the Grear, Wiſe,
Glorious God, ſhould ſtand as a Specta-
tor to view all that Men will do, and
order all his Affairs in Time and Eterni-
ty accordingly? That he in his Actings
Thall follow Man's Will, not Man his
Will, ſecret Will. No Pre determina-
tion going before? Doch not this de-
ſtroy the Divine Government ? That
we may fay, not the Lord Reigns, but
Man. 1 grant here are Difficulties,
What then? So there is in the Trinity,
the Hypoſtatick Union, and in Thou-
ſands of things in Religion and Nature.
Talk out your Hearts, you can ſay no
more than the Objection Paul antici-
hath reſiſted his will? Rom. 9. 19, 22.
He reſolves all into the Will of God
0 Man who art thou? What if he
will? Cannot God be juſtified in all
the leſſer fins of Men, as well as in the
greateſt, the murther of the Lord of
Glory, Afts 2. 23. Yet this was done 46.
cording to the determinate counſel of God.
And nothing did Herod, Pontius Pilate,
or the reſt do, but what the hand of God
before determind to be done. Had not
God determined Chriſt's Deach, then
the
( 234 )
the Work of our Redemption was not
ſecured. I lately ſaw in a good Mini-
ſters Houſe, a ſerious Servant Man
whom he dillwaded from Marrying ſuch
a Maid, becauſe a Baſtard. The Man
confeſt he was one too. I thought preſent-
ly of the vanity of Arminians. Now
if the unlawful concourſe of their Pa-
rents fell not under any determination,
then not the Being of this Young Man
and Maid. Then not all
the good they
do. Then not their Children, nor
Childrens Children, nor the good any
of them ſhould do, nor their Salvation
for ever. It is fottiſlineſs to ceny chis.
Then may they thank their Parents,
they weie Men and Women: and thaok
themſelves too, according to the other
bleſſed Doctrin of Free Will, That
they were Saints, not God for either.
What madneſs is this ? Hach God not
determined the numbers of bis Crea-
tures? No ſay ſome, Doth God thew
any ſpecial Love to them that are ſa-
ved, more than to the damned? No.
Talk out their Hearts according to them,
it is not. Let them magnifie the Love
of God as much as they will, It is but
cominon Love. Who can bear chis?
This
(235)
This puts an Accent on their praiſing
God for ever, that he choſe them above
others to Grace and Life. This ſpecial
Love to the Saints runs throughout all
Paul's Epiſtles. Muſe on one place, I
thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and
Earth, thou haſt bid theſe things from the
wife and prudent, and haft revealed them
unto Babes. So Father it ſeemed good in
thy fight Muſe I ſay, again, and again,
and conſider it.
Therefore, I wonder to hear ſome
Orthodox Men fay, Arminianiſm is a
plauſible thing. Search it to the bottom,
it is an unlearned, Antiſcriptural Novel-
ty, the Reſult only of Man's Pride.
Was it not the ſecret Will of God
Chrift ſhould be Crucified? As before.
Was it not his revealed Will he ſhould
not be Crucified ? Surely both are
clear, and beyond doubt. For the
murtherers of him are charged with
Sin, and doing all with wicked bands.
They broke the Law, Thou ſhalt not kill.
Then it follows, Gods Secret and Re-
vealed Will are not the fame. I know
Mr. Baxter was found as to the matter
of Election and Irreſiſtible Grace in Con-
verſion, but ſome of his followers are
not ſo.
The
( 236 )
The Rock on which many Split is
this; What they take to be unjuſt, and
unholy and unmerciful in Men, chey
think to be ſo in God: but this is a grand
Error, if we conſider,
If we would nor do our beſt to pre-
vent Mens fin and miſery we were un-
juſt, and unholy; but though God doch
not do his beſt to prevenc Meps ſin and
miſery, he is not ſo ; by a word ſpeak-
ing he could curn the hearts of all Men
co love him.
If we ſhould ſuffer the vileft Men to
oppreſs, and che beſt of Men to indure
moſt exquiſire torments in the Inquiſi-
tion or out of it, we were unjuſt; and
unholy ; yer though God permit this,
he is not onjuſt, or unholy.
According as fome Men talk of God's
Goodneſs, I cannot ſee how they can
reconcile it to his Providences. What
good Man would thus permit if he
could help it? Doch not Atheiſm lie
in the bottom of Arminianiſm at
And becauſe God commands Men to
repent, and believe, and obey the Go-
ſpel, they therefore conclude it is in the
Power of a Man ſo to do :' which only
Shews
( 237)
#
Thews it is our duty, though Gods Work:
We by the Fira Tranſgreſſion loſt our
Power to obey, but God never loſt his
Power to command: And therefore to
that Objection; Doth God command
impoſſibilities? I Anſwer, Yes ſurely.
But how? God commands us nor any
thing aptecedently, but conſequently
impoffible; not impoſſible to us as Men,
but as Sinners. I may require that of
a Man that is impoſſible in his circum-
ſtances, and yet not be unjuſt. A Bank-
rupc hach conſumed Ten thouſand Pound
of my Money. I ſend him to Goal,
though not worth a Farthing. He de-
fires his Liberty. I ſay, Pay my debt.
I am not unrighteous in this command.
Beſides there are other ends in Gods
commands. To convince Men of their
loft Power, and need of a Saviour, &c.
Obedience was not Gods end in com-
manding Pharaoh, Let my people go;
yet
he ſhall not let them go. Some object.
Muſt I ſpeak to a dead Man to live?
Yes ſure, if God will give him life that
way. Did not Chriſt ſay, Lazarus
come forth, Joho 11. 43. He ſpake not
the words in vain, whilſt with the
word of command went forth a word
of
( 238 )
of Power. God by commanding gives
power of obeying: It is his way. Chriſt
often laid to the dead, Arife. They did
ſo. If from Gods commanding we con-
clude a power of obeying, and ſay God
commands not impoſſibilities, it will
unavoidably follow, We may from
Childhood to old age never ſin, in
Thought, in Word, or in Deed, and
come to that Perfection, which the
Old Phariſees, or their Brethren, the
modern Phariſees, the Papiſts, the Soci-
nians, or Quakers will not care to own.
Gods Law forbids every ſin, the leaſt
ſing and requires every duty, the high-
eſt duties. Thac chere be no imperfecti-
on in our Love to God, or what bears
his Image.
What ſay you now Sirs? Is this
fuch a plauſible Objection as ſome pre-
tend? How can that Man expect con-
verſion, who expects it without a Su.
pernatural Power, but by a Power of
his own ? God keeps the bleſſing of
Food, Phyſick, going Journeys, &c. in
his own hand, and therefore ſure of the
means of Grace. Therefore to that
other Objection, Then Miniſters Preach
in vain. Conſider Miniſters come to Men
about
(239)
about their Souls, as Phyſicians abouc
their Bodies. Here is your Diſeaſe.
Take ſuch Medicines, ſays the Phyfici-
an. Can you promiſe me, if I do, I
hall recover, ſays the Pacient? No.
Then I will take none. Stay, God in
this way hath recovered others, and
may you, is enough. So Hear, Pray,
Read, Medicate of Sin, Chriſt, the Life
to come, and God may meet you (as he
hath Thouſands) in this way, and con-
cur with your endeavours, and do that
for you you cannot do for your ſelves.
God hath no where in Scripture from
Geneſis to the Revelations - promi-
ſed ſaving grace to the endeavours of
Nature. Shew it. What are the Con-
ditions of the firſt Grace? Where is
it? If you ſo and fo do; you ſhall Re-
pent and Believe. God makes promi-
ſes indeed to Grace. If Men repent
and believe they ſhall be ſaved.
Ob. Mat. 7. IT. Ask, and ye ſhall re-
ceive-Itis an asking in Faith, The Cry,
not of Nature, but Grace in God's
Children, to whom God is a Father.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your Children: how much
more ſhould your heavenly Father give good
gifts
( 240)
things to them that ask him? I am gla
to hear ſome Baxterians (or Semi Bax
terians ) ſay, the promiſe of the Fir
Grace is not conditional. So the Re
verend Mr. Williams, and others, and
(o Mr. Baxter himſelf, yet I have heard
ſome of them deny it. Yet cannot tell
whac che conditions are How few
Converts hear we by our Arminian
Preachers ?
Though they falfly charge us with
making God the Author of Sin (which
our Souls abhor the thoughts of) yet
we juſtly charge them with making
Man the Author of Grace. Jo Sin the
Ad Phyſically conſidered is of God, or
materially, but not morally or formal-
ly, ſo it is of Man. And therefore Dr.
Pierce his charging our Famous Di-
vines beyond Sea from Collections (as
is charged on him) out of a Roguiſh,
though Subtil, Traa calld Fur Pre
deftinatus ( in which I have obſerved
a bundle of iniquicy) was an unjuſtifia-
ble practice to ſay no worſe.
You chink God hath not promiſed
Repentance and Faith, to any ; this
diſcourageth us. Why bach God pro-
miſed you if you ride a journey to
come
( 241 )
come ſafe to the end of
it; if you work
hard to thrive in the World? Did
God promiſe you in the uſe of Food and
Rayment you ſhould live ſo long as
you have done? yer ſo it is. Do not your
Beggars Cry, wait at your Doors in
hopes of an Alms without a promiſe
from you, or certainty to them? Will
not a Traytor ſeek for a Pardon with-
out a promiſe from his King to have
it? Do not Men do all in hope ?
Away then with unreaſonable fooliſh
ſtuff, or chat ſepſleſs thing called Ar-
minianiſm. Flee from it, and ſee the
vanity and folly of its ſpecious preten-
ces. VIDEO
Brethren, I dread you Men of Con-
cord more than many other Men, that
never talk half ſo much of the ching,
but practiſe it ten times better.
Be not angry that I have pleaded
the Cauſe of your good King, whom I
know you love and of your Congre-
gations dear to you.
I know ſome inquire, Who put me
on all this? No one. Mr. Chauncy che
great Anti-Baxterian, (now in London)
I never ſaw, neither know I whether
ever he heard of me. No one puts
me on this, nor helps me in ic. II
( 242 )
If any of you Anſwer me; I will
not ſay as your Maſter, It ſhould be
one that hath more Grace chan I, more
Learning chan I, that hath ſtudied the
Concroverſy better than I. (unheard of
Stuff) I freely acknowledg he will
elle have but little of all theſe Excel-
lencies. But he muſt be one that owns
Nonreſiſtance. That owns Common-
Prayer. That calls us all
all Sepa-
raciſts, &c. I ſhall conſider any fair ra-
tional Argumentarive Papers ; buc as
for Scurrilous empty Pamphlets, I ſhall
not regard chem.
Are you Nonconformiſts indeed. Be
not deceived with vain Words, or
empty Notions. Read limes's Freſh
Juis againſt Geremonies (that profound
unanſwered Book ) Gelafpees Engliſh
Popiſh Geremonies. If theſe you cannot
ger, Read a little thing called, The Va-
nity of Human Inventions.
Though Mr. Baxter hath defamed
Dr. Owen and others; yet the World
doch, and will know a difference be-
tween Solid and Flaſhy Menea,
This Mr. Baxter was a Baxterian.
If Churches have their Confeſſions
of Faith he muſt have bis, and find
fault
( 243 )
moet
fault with the Aſſemblies Confeffi-
ons
SN
The Churchmen begin to defame the
Churches beyond Sea as no Churches:
and ſay, The Church of Rome is a true
Church. They reordain Proteſtant Mi-
niſters coming from France, and not Po.
piſh Prieſts if they come over to them.
He thao hath half an Eye may ſee
where the Union is deſigned. Will not
ſo many Plots made by Papiſts and
Church-men yet convince ? No, not
yet after the laſt Horrid Affaflination ?
To ſay, That in Holland and France
they can have no Biſhops, is fooliſh. Je
remy Taylor in his Divine Right of E-
piſcopacy confeſleth it, and therefore
ſays plainly he knows not what to ſay of
their Churches
Did thoſe Churches believe Epiſco-
pacy to be Jure Divino
Can no Biſhop be made unleſs he be
a Lord too, and ſo many Thouſands
by the Year?
Hath Chriſt appointed ſuch an Offi-
cer that his Churches cannot have? Gu-
lielmus Apollonius about Synods, con-
demned the English Hierarchy. The
Durch Agnotations affirm Presbytery
to
( 244 )
to be of Divine Right. Some of our
Men ſent over by King James che I.
at the Synod of Dort, when they heard
their Confeſſion of Faith, raid, They
agreed with them in Doctrin, but not in
Diſciplin, as againſt Biſhops. Yet ſome
talk confidently, They are covers of
Prelacy, though under Presbytery. True,
a Man here, and there, not the majori-
ty, as with us in England, Some Con-
formiſts are lovers of Presbytery,
though under Prelacy (and was not
Dr. Stillingfleer a long time in the num-
ber) yer it would not be fair to ſay,
The Church of England is for Presbytery.
Remember that Presbytery came in with
the Reformarion, almoſt every where
but in England. And therefore to charge
this as Schiſm is a meer Vanicy.
How intolerable is ir to ſee, as I have
feen, Soldiers, Tradeſmen to be made
Deacons, Ignorant Men, not to ſay Iin-
moral, run up and down with their
Prayer-Books to Baptize Children ?
Muſt ſo great an Ordinance (Ad-
miniſtred by none but by one able to
Preach che Word,
according to Mat. 28.)
Be prophaned by ſuch a Creature not
of God's making, but Man's? For a
Dea-
( 245 )
Deacon's Work is to take care of the
Poor. I know, Quod fieri non debet,
faétum valet ends many difficulties of
late among Difpuring Men, elle it might
be a Query whether ſuch a Baptiſm be
nor a Nullity?
Bleſs God for that Order and Decen-
cy, that is among you. Thar your Mi-
nifters ftir up the Gift of God in them, and
are ſuch who lo Pray and Preach : Noc
Readers-Who reads Prayers to Day, is
a common Queſtion. Is it not a loath-
Come one for a Miniſter of the Goſpel ?
Let not ſome Men be ſo concerned to
ſee ſome Conformiſts Triumph, as if
they had monopolized all Learning, and
left others none. It is not poor Coats,
that make poor Scholars; nor great
Preferments, that make grear ones. In
Come private Meetings are wiſer Men,
berter Scholars, than ſome dignified
Prelates. This makes me call to mind
that famous Story of a poor Scholar Tra-
velling here in England, påfling by the
Palace of a Bishop, once his School-
fellow, and then intimate ; he waits
upon my Lord, and makes himſelf
known to him. His Lordſhip took lit-
tle notice of him, but fent him fome
Fiſh
( 246)
Fiſh for his Dinner, forgetting any Beer
This Ingenious Man lent him theſe
Verſes, and ſo departed.
Mittitur in Diſco mihi Piſcis ab Archie.
piſco,
po non ponetur, quia potus non mihi de
tur.
As they were ingeniouſly made, ſo as
ingeniouſly Engliſhed.
I had a Fiſh, fent in a Diſh, by the Arch-
bill
hop 1 caſheer, becauſe that here was ſent
no Beer.
Some would rather have had this
mans Learning with his Poverty, than
ſome mens Preferments with their Ig-
norance. Wiſdom, and Honeſty, and
Goodneſs will reward themſelves.
Care not for Baxters names of Sepa-
ratift - Which cannot obſcure your
Luftre. What ſignifies the Barking of
a Dog againſt the Moon? It leſſens not
its Brightneſs
nor Motion. Get you the
true thing of Love, Peace, Concord,
when ſome run away with the name.
IC
(247)
It is hard, when a Man's Foes be
thoſe of his own Houſe, harder if they
revile and wound and defame, under a
pretence of Love Friendſhip and Good
willen met
When I took up this Reliquiæ, I ex-
pected ſome excellent Cales of Conſci-
ence : Abouc Men Melancholy, or cait
down; for he much Converſed wich
ſuch, he wrote to them, they to him.
What were the brightest Evidences of
Integrity? The beft Arguments to
ſtrengthen Faith about Scripture, and
the Life to come
But here a com-
pany of Bones are ſet before us, to feed
on, Dogs- meat.
I wonder to find none of his Letters
Wrote by him, or ſent to him about
Juſtification : For which Doctrin he
was called, as he himſelf tells us here,
and I have heard, Bellarminus Junior.
Sad is it to think, when ſome that lived
Papiſts, dyed Proteſtants in this point ;
One that pretended to live a Proteſtant,
ſpoke ſo unlike one when he dyed. Was
it without any cauſe lo many great
Men ſhould call him the Young Bel-
larmin? For my part, I have often ſaid,
That an Error in this point of Juſtifica-
M
tion
( 248 )
tion, is more dangerous than in all the
other Four Articles aſſerted by the Or-
thodox, and denyed by the Remon-
ſtrants : I ſhall therefore offer fome
Conſiderations to our Young Divines
eſpecially, to keep them from
Baxter's dangerous Doctrin in this
Point. Wounds in the Head are more
dangerous than wounds in the Arms or
Legs.
-
FINI S. odina
То
Juſtification by an outward
imputed Righteouſneſs, that
Chriſt, nor Man, is the Sub-
ject of, aſſerted and vindica-
ted againſt the Doctrin of
Cardinal Bellarmine, and Ri-
chard Baxter Catholick, an
Epiſcopal Non-Conformiſt;
as he often ſtiles himſelf.
MY
Y Thoughts on this
Subject in my Con-
templative kind of Life, and under
continued pains, are thefe, That Chriſta
Righteouſneſs is ſo imputed for our Juſtification,
as Adams Sin for our Condemnation.
Adam ws the Legal Head, or Repreſenta-
tive of all his natural Seed : So that he falling,
we all fell, and are charged with the firſt
Tranſgreffion; though he, nor we, was the
Subject of it. Had be ſtood, we had all
Itood : and no Man had been put on a per-
Ional tryal to the end of the World. We
could not have fallen by his diſobedience, if
M 2
( 2 )
we had not ſtood by his Conformity. To de-
ny - this is to deny the Protoplaſt to be our
Legal Head. His firſt Sin is only imputed to
us, and no other. Had all Men been put on
a perſonal tryal, beſides many groſs abfurdities
,
theſe are plain, and unavoidable,
r. They that had ſtood muft with great
fear have viewed them that had fallen; which
had been inconſiſtent with a perfect State. 1
ſpeak not of a fear of caution, for that would
have done Adam good ; but a fear of Tor.
sou
ment.
2. That this World would have been a kind
of Heaven and Hell at one and the ſame
time: Filld with ſome Men ſo holy in Nature
,
and Life, as if they were Terreſtrial Angels;
with others fo vile in both, as if they were in
carnate Devils.
3. Puniſhment and Affliction had come on
many, where had been no antecedent Guilt
.
Which though I grant, God might inflict by
bis Abſolute Authority as Sovereign, and Lord
of all, yet not as Legiſlator, for ſo he is here
conſidered. For fuppoſe the Man had ſtood
and the Wife fallen, what an Affliction had
the been to him, and as a Succubus. No end
of naming the dolefulneſs of this Caſe. If
the Woman had ſtood, and the Man fallen, he
had been as an Incubus to her, and more. Now
as Adam was the Federal Head of his Natu
ral Seed, ſo Chriſt of his Spiritual Seed : And
therefore his Righteouſneſs is imputed to us for
our Juſtification, as Adam's Sin for our Com
dem
(3)
demnation: And as that was the manier of our
Condemnation, fo this of our Juſtification: A
Righteouſneſs without us that Chriſt is the ſub-
ject of, not we.
Therefore this matrer I humbly conceive
may be berter underſtood by my next Aſſer-
tion, which is this,
That we are juſtified before God by the
Obedience and Righteouſnefs of Chriſt in that
ſenſe, in which we bad been Juftihed before
him, or had a Right to Life by the Obedience
and Righteouſnels of Adam, if he had food:
Adam our firſt Repreſentative fell, we all are
condemned. Our Second Adam and Repre.
ſentative ſtood, we all are juſtified.
Now if Adam had, food his Righteouſneſs
only had been imputed to us, though we ſhould
have had perfect, perſonal, conſtant Righte-
ouſneſs of our own ſecured to us by the Co-
venant of Works. We could have pleaded
for our Juftification (or if that word pleaſe
not) Right to Liſe (which is all one) only a
Righteouſneſs without as, thar Adam was the
Subject of, not we. Not our own Holineſs,
though never ſo God like ; nor our Obedience,
though never ſo Angelical : becauſe we were
not put upon any perſonal tryal for Life, but
Adam was. Now though Adam's Righteouſ-
neſs had been imputed to us, as our Act; yer
none of us had been the Firſt Man, or the
Repreſentative of all Men in the World, nor
the ſecurer of them from Sin and Wrath :
which might as well be ſaid, as what fome
object
M 3
( 4 )
object againſt impured Righteouſneſs, Then
are we juſtified by a legal Righteouſneſs, are
Saviours, and I know not what Some tell us
with great confidence God looks on things as
they are, and we are ; and God never look'd
on us to do what we never did When it
is eaſie to imagin, Theſe things are under-
ftood in a Law ſenſe, not as our perſonal
Acts. Had Adam ftood, his Righteouſneſs had
been made nor the Meritorious Cauſe of our
Right to Life, but the material Cauſe, if I
may ſo expreſs it. Yer our Perſonal Righte
ouſneſs had been a neceſſary confequent of our
Juſtification, and a neceſſary Antecedent to our
Glorification : Not Cauſe nor Condition pro
perly and ſtrictly of either. So is it with us
how juſtified by Chriſts Righteouſneſs.
Juſtification only by impured Righteouſneſs
is the Soul of Proteftaniſm, as Kellifon and all
Jeſuits call it. And the aſſerting of Juſtifica-
tion by an inward Righteouſneſs is Popery.
Obje&. Yet may it be true. The Papilis be
lieve a God.-
Anſ. That was not in controverſy between us.
Object. The Old Proteſtants made Allurance
to be of the Effence of Faith, you leave them
in that, why not we in this
Anſ. They took Aſſurance not in that frict
rigid fenſe we now do, but confeft it might
be accompanyed with great doubts, and fears,
Confeſs then we wrong you not in charging
you to be Popiſh in this Point.
Ve
We are injuriouſly charged with Antino-
mianiſm. The God of Heaven in this thing
judg between us and our Accuſers. We do
affert,
us and out
That Man is juſtified in the fight of God
only upon the account of Cbrifts Righteouf-
neſs without him which Chrift is the Subject
of, not he, without any regard to any ante-
cedent Righteouſneſs in him or good Work per-
formed by him.
I know the Cry. O the dregs of Antinomia-
mim, Libertiniſm, and tobat nos! When the
Arminians in the Synod of Dort, pleaded thar
ſome of our Dodrin tended to Licentiouſneſs,
and Prophaneſs. Some faid, Gratias agimus
oprimo maximo - Let all the Churches be
viewed, wherein our Dactrin is owned, and
ſee whether there be leſs Sanctity than in the
Churches of the Remonftrants where it is de.
nied. So ſay I bere, for we preſently add as
One Man, and with one conſent
That there is no Man juftified by a Righte-
ouſneſs without him, but that Man is at the
fame time Sanctified by a Righteouſneſs with-
in him: and be that is not Sanctified by a
Righteouſneſs within him, was never juſtified
by a Righteouſneſs without him.
Where is the Cry now? Do us right you
Grand Defamers, and falle Acculers, that call
us Antinomians. Have we not ſecured the
neceſſity
of Holineſs, as much as any of you
can do for your hearts, by all your unſound
Opinions
Things
MA
( 6 )
Things diſtinguifh'd are not ſeparared, nor
confounded, Juſtifying Righteouſneſs fancti-
fies nor: Sanctifying Righteouſneſs juſtifies not.
My Eyes hear nor, my Ears ſee not, iny Feet
work nut, my Hands walk not. Yer my Eyes,
Ears, Feet, and Hands never the worſe. I
confeſs I am one of Mr. Baxters purblind Di-
vines, but have excellent good company, and
our Eagle-ey'd Men ſuch as they may be alha-
med of.
O purblind Luther, and Eagle-ey'd Bellar.
mine ! O pur blind Calvin, and Eagle.ey'd Sta
pleron! O purblind Proteſtant Commentators,and
Eagle-ey'd Rhemist! Lutber, Calvin, Stapleton,
and the Rbemist, am I no ſtrangers to. Who
of theſe aflerted
Jultilication by Faith only, or
deny it, you know. G.
Some fay, We all own Free Grace, and the
neceſſity of Good Works, and ibere is no diffe
rence but about the order of things. But is that
nothing ? If I ſhould ſee at a Table the Chil.
dren ſetting in the upper place, and their
Gråve Aged Parents put at the lower end, is
it fufficient
to lay they were all there at the
(ame Table, before the fame Dithes and Drinks,
and nothing was wanting bør Order.
Now as the Perſon and Righteouſneſs of
Jeſus excels the Perſon and Righteouſneſs of
Adam, ſo the benefits of the Covenant of Grace
exceed thoſe of the Covenant of Works, if per-
formed.
Hence Man, as Mr. Baxter oliuagajully
confeſs) expreſſeth it in his Method. Theel, and
elic
(7)
elſewhere, over and over, according to his 13-
fual manner, in Statu instituto et informato, was
not fo Happy as after, when in Staru deftituto
et deformato. Chriſt look'd upon him, and
brought him in Statu reftituto de reformato.
I know, it is much queſtion'd by ſome, if
Men had not finned, Whether they had been
taken up to Heaven, or continued here for
ever ?
The great Bleſſing in the State of Innocency,
was Increaſe and Multiply. If this muſt have
been ſo for ever; this world and a Thouſand
Worlds more could not contain all that ſhould
be Born; no not to ſee the fole of their Foor
on. This is ſo evident, he would forfeit the
name of a Man, that ſhall call for proof of
it. If you ſay, In time Generation and La-
bour would be at an end and more of
God be here injoy'd. This ſome Divines think,
will be the Caſe after the Reſurrection: When
Man's State will be ſo changd, that this
World will be his Heaven. Tho' I am not of
their Opinion, yet I declare, I now plead for a
new State, not new place.
Were the old diſtinctions remembred, Fides
Jola Justificat, non ſolitaria. Conftitutive and
Declarative Juſtification, moſt of the late Ob-
jections would vanith into the empty Air.
Mr. Baxter long ſince aſſerted , That the Tò
Credere, was the thing that juſtify'd inſtead of
perfect Obedience, if Man had itood. Take
this Objectively, it excludes inherent Righte-
cuſneſs ; take ir Inſtrumentally, we grant
it.
Ms
Bus
(8)
Bur he afferts Faith to be put Synecdochical-
ly, for all other Graces and Duries : And this
Faith is the marrer of our Juſtification. I know
ſome of them will ſometimes call it Chriſt Righ-
rcouſneſs nor the materia, bur quafi materia, and
then condemn Phyſical Terms in this Contro-
verſie; which though I am willing to yield to,
as much as is convenient; yet Mr. Baxter
would uſe Terms not only Phyſical, or Meta.
phyſical ; but Hyperphyſical or Hypophyſical
,
which you pleaſe.**
We are Juſtifyed by Faith, as Efau is ſaid,
to Live by his Sword, Gen. 27. 40. By thy
Sword ſhalt thou Live. He did nor Eat his
Sword, nor Cloath himſelf with it ; but by
what he ſhould get by his Sword. We are ju-
ſtifyed by what Faith procures, and lays hold
on the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt.
For that Queſtion, Whether Faith or Jufti-
fication, hath the Priority of Nature? It is
fruitleſs, ſeeing a priority of Time is deny'd on
both Hands; and they are laid, to be inſtan-
taneous and things coeval.
Obſerve, It was the uſual way of Baxter
and his Followers in their Books and Diſcourſe,
to Ask us, What mean you by Juſtification?
What by Faith? What by a Repreſentative?
If you mean this, if you mean that, and ſome
things that no one can mean: This is not to
Diſpute, but wrangle. The Old Diſputants,
the Papifts and Proteftants, knew whar one,
the other meant by Faith, by Juſtificati-
id what ſuch words meant, every one
the common and familiar acceptation of
the
(9
the words. And then, if they thus Confound
an unwary Perſon, in this new, mad way of
Diſcourſe, they Triumph how they have ad.
jufted the Terms, But to be ſober.
Suppoſe the Queſtion were, Doth Sanctifica-
tion accompany Juſtification ?
Yes, they
go band in hand. What therefore God hath join'd
together, let no Man put aſunder. This were a
grave ſober Reply. But if a Man ſhould ſay,
What mean you by Sanctificacation, a real San-
dification? And then run on, and tell what
thar is. Or a Relative Sunctification ? And
then explain that. Or a defignation to an Of
fice (as she Perſians are called God's Sanctified
ones? ) Or mean you Fædera! Sanctification?
And then tell what that is. Would not ſuch an
one be a glorious, or rather Vain-glorious
Difpurant? And this is the Baxterian way,
Or if the Queſtion were about the Being of God,
One Ahould ask, What mean you by a God, the
Creator of all things ? Or the Devil, called the
God of the World Or a Governor (I have ſaid
ye are Gods) Or a Moniter, (as I have made the a
God to Pharaoh), and then ſay, the Terms mult
be adjuſted ; and tell us at large how God in
theſe laſt Senſes is Equivocally taken.
Or if the Queſtion were, Whether I loved a
Dog? One ſhould ask, What mean you by a
Dog ? The Terreſtrial Animal ſo call'd ? Or
a Fifb ſo calld? Or a Star ſo calld? Or that:
Iron thing in the Chimney ſo call?d?
It could be willid, this new way of Diſputing
had dyed, and been buryed with him that in-
venred
( 10 )
vented it. This was the unprofitable way of
the School-men now Exploded, till Baxter Re-
vived it. Analogum per ſe poſitum is e.
nough.
Now to ask at this time a Day, What is Ju-
ftification? And then Quarrel with a Defini.
tion if any occaſion be, is not fair. All do
not remember The Aſſemblies Catechiſm.
Juſtification is an Act of God's Free Grace,
wherein he pardoneth all our Sins, and accept-
eth us as Righteous, Only for the Righteoul-
of Chriſt, Imputed to us, and received by Faith
alone.
I hope this is a better Definition, Deſcripti-
on, Anſwer, or what you pleaſe, than to ſay,
Juſtification is God's pardoning us for our fin-
eree Obedience to the Goſpel, or New Law:
Which for the ſake of Chriſt is accepted in.
ſtead of perfect Obedience: And this Juftifi-
cation is begun in this Life, and will not be
compleated till the Day of Judgment.
Some of them bave ſaid it plainly, Men are
as much juſtified by their Prayers, as by their
Faith. That there is juſtifying Repentance, and
juſtifying Prayers, and other juſtifying Duties, as
well as juſtifying Faith. When I told them, their
Maſter in his Diſputations denyed it, though
he had oft laid what was Equivalent. I have
been anſwered again, But he basb Alerted it
ſince. Some of them ſpeak plainly, and round-
ly; juſtifie the Papifts gloſs on the words of
James, So that a Man is iuſtifyed by Works, and
205 by Faith only, or alone, Which were better
read
( 11 )
read and underſtood. And here the Old Ane
ſwers are exceeding good, never the worſe
with
me, bur much the better for their Age
and Gray-hairs.
The Eye alone ſees, but not the Eye that is alone.
The Tongue alone Speaks, but not the Tongue
that is alone.
The Bars alone bear, but not the Ears that are
alone.
The Hands alone ipork, but not the Hands that
are alone.
The Feet alone walk, but not the Feet that are
alone.
Clap bur alone (udyoy) where only is mention'd,
and Mr. Baxter's ſporting himſelf with Pro-
teſtant gloſſes (wirtily enough I confeſs)come to
thing. It is an injurious Charge to ſay, We
plead for a Faith that worketha not, a dead
Faith, or without Love. Juſtificarion, by all
our Old Divines, was ſaid to be Simul et ſemel;
now it is denyd. If the marter be Undecided
till the great Day, then no Saint on Earth is
now compleatly
Juſtifyed; no nor none in Hea.
ven; which is Doctrin moſt Prodigious and to
be Laughed ar. The Sentential Juſtification ſo
much Talk'd of, is not properly aJuftification;
but a Declaration of it.
Suppoſe King William, That Gracious, Cle-
ment, Merciful King, fhould now Pardon an
Affaffinator, and tell him, Here is your Pardon
under Hand and Seal, and a few Years hence
I ſhall come into the County where you Dwell,
and to thew how freely I have forgiven you,
and
( 12 )
he had it
and how much I delight in you, I will declare
openly your Pardon. I ask, Was not the Man
complearly Pardon'd before, which he had ſtill
by him, and could ſhew it?
That we obeyed in Chriſt, and that we ſatisfied
in Chriſt, is their way of expreſſing our Do-
Etrin, not ours. If I were in Turkey, and Ran-
fomed by my good King, that I paid my Mo-
ney by him, or Ranſomed my ſelf by him,
(though his Act before the Turk is as mine)
or that I paid my Debt by him, that brought
me out of Goal, if I had layn there as a Bank-
rupt
for Debt, This is bad Manners among
Men; and worſe in Divinity. A Cauſe is nor
to ſuffer for the unwary expreſſion of every un-
skilful Pretender to it. But tho I find ſome
Baxterians offended that they are Charg‘d with
owning (with the Papifts) That Christ Merited
that we might Merit ; I aſſert Mr. Baxter hath
ſaid it plainly, That Men do merit before God,
Ratione patti, and to purge himſelf from Popiſh
Droſs, he ſays, The Papiſts ſay, me merit, Rati-
one operis, and cites Bellarmine. Now I Very
well remember, Bellarmine Senior doth fo al.
fert, as Belarmine Junior cites him whoſe
Writings he too well knew yet I am ſure Bel-
larmine in that very Chapter Cenſures Cajetan,
and other Papiſts, who allerted thar Merit was
Rasione paeti. Now if in this thing theſe two
B. and B. were not agreed, yer Mr. Baxter and
Cajetan and other Papills were.
But is not
this intolerable Rudeneſs among Men;If a Man
ſay to me; Come to my Houſe ſuch a Day, I will
give
( 13 )
own Condition roo, I capnot reach
give you a Thouſand Pounds to pay off all your
Debes, to deliver you out of your Poverty, To make
you Rich and ſet you up again? If I ſhould lay
to himn or others, I Merired all this Thouſand
Pounds every penny of ir Ratione palli, how
Rude were it Away with ſuch Traſh. He
thar under the brave Picture of himſelf would
Write, B, Richard Baxter Catbolick, was marc
fo, than ſome are aware of.
For that Queſtion, Whether our Obedi..
ence be the Coodition of the Covenant? I think
sinong fome Men ir is a meer Logomachy:
Mt. Flavil and I agreed upon it in Diſcourie s
Not Condition properly, but Analogically:
Unleſs with the Arminians we affert falling
from Grace. Some give that Definition of Corr
dition, that will not bear, and then run away
with the word. How can that properly be
called a Condition of the Covenant of Graca
that is a part of that Covenant? Or how m.
thing can be ſaid to be the marter of a Promile,
and its
it. They fal never depart from me - On
wbar Condition) pray? That they thall nc
ver depart
from God? Some lince laid, The
Conditions of the Covenant, are not there men-
tioned, but only helps to perform the Conáisioun
I confelsThey ſhall never depart, is a very
Rrear good help to perform their great Guiper
Condition, which they ſo much Talk of, Per-
Severance. Some that deny the Condicionality
of Works, doown ic of Faith to Juftite. Call
& Condition, Inftrument, or what they wills
when
( 14 )
when a found Senſe is intended, I am content.
Grace and good Works evidence to Men
their paſt Juftification, and future Glorificati-
on ; but give no right properly to either. If a
Phyſician ſay to a Man, If it be ſo and ſo with
you, you will Recover ; If not, Dye, Theſe
be Suppoſitions, more than Conditions. If you
<hrough the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Fleſh,
you ſhall live, Rom, 8. 13. If is not always
Conditional. If I ſhould ſay, I knew him not, I
ſhould be a Lyar (faith Chrift) like one of you
This is a true Hypothetick. - But take this
Propoſition into irs two parts, and conſider
them apart, and both are Falſe and Blaſphe
mous: Either that Chriſt fould ſay, He knew
bim not, or ſhould be 4 Lyar like one of them. If
Peter had nor Repented, he had not been Saved:
If Fudas had believed, he had not been Dam-
ned. Yet Peter muft Repent, and Fudas could
nor Believe.
What if David, ſay Some had dyed without Re
pentance? If the Sky fall - It could not be:
The Covenant is ordered in all things fure, for
Grace as well as Glory. To ſay, If he had dy
ed then, he had been Damned Such words
muſt be qualifyed. Can an Elect Perſon, a
Juſtifyed, a Sanctifyed Perſon be Damned ?
I ſay, David could not Dye withour Repen.
tance. If he had dy'd, God would have touch'd
his Heart, and, Whether he did it nor till
Natban came to him is generally ſaid, but not
eaſily proved.
I could ſay ſomething, but I affect not fin-
gularity
(15)
qularity. Doth he not tell us of his Roaring.
when he kept Silent - Conſider it.
We are lometimes asked, Whether wc bclicde
Mr. Baxter, meant fo and ſo, whatever his poradi
were? I have asked ſuch, whether they believe
Dr. Criſp meant fo and ſo, whatever bis Phraſes
were ? As when he ſays, Our Sims were trans-
fus’d on Christ. And many wild Exprellions of
that nature. Whether the Doctor did not believe
that Chriſt was Pure and Holy in bis Nature, and
Soul, and ſeparate from finners? Do you think
he believ'd Chriſt was ſenſual, unchafte, ma-
licious, a hater of God, in that ſenſe Wicked
and Ungodly Men are ? I find he ſays in the
New Printed Works of his, Fuflification and
Sanctification be inſeparable, Faith will produce
gozd Works.
Mr. How hath made a Collection of ſeveral
Expreſſions Sound and Othordox. He was a
Man of a very holy Life, as I have been in-
formed (by the belt Man ever I knew) once
his Pariſhioner. Yet is the Doctor to be blam d
I doubt not, for a multitude of extravagant
Expreſſions and wild Opinions. Thas & Be-
liever was not bound to be troubled for bis Sins,
hath he ſaid in Diſcourſe, and that David was
fo, mits for want if bester knowing the Covenint of
Grace, Abominable! Men had need to be
told of not Mourning for Sin in a Dead-hearted
Age.
That we We are a righteous as Chrift, Thår
Chriſt was 4 Blaſphemer, Murtberer, &c. Ex-
preſtions we are cold of, I never once htand
Dur abhor them,
( 16 )
Paul, when juſt occaſion was, fays, Chri
was made ſin for us ( Audprla, a Sacrifice is a
vain Reading not worth Confuting) Men art
ſaid to be the righteouſneſs of God in him.
doubt ſome that have condemned and ſtigma.
tized impudently and fallly, Mr. Crandon, Dr.
Tully, Mr. Traughton and others for Antinomini
ans, wuold Paul much more. To excuſe him
they are forced to ſeek for a new ſenſe of his
words.
We are often told by ſome that cannot be
content with the Old Proteſtant Doctrin (that
good works are fruirs,
cerrain ones of Juſtifica
tion) but they mult tell us of Sapiential Me
thods, Authoritative Rule, Rectoral Law. And
then we are told, The World did not underſtand
Mr. Baxrer. No, nor he them, nor himſelf.
I think Men be not the wiſer, or grearer, for
not being underſtood.
Juſtification, we ſay, is a change of a Man's
State, and ſo makes not on us a real, but on-
ly a relative change. The real change is
wrought by Sanctification only.
I have not been a little difturbed to ſee by
ſome lare Writers the main Queſtien loft, and
gone out of Sight. And, which is firſt as to prie
ority of Nature, Fuſtification, or Faith? And
fome think of the whole by this; fo ar laft, Whe-
ther Chriſts Incarnation were a part of his Hua
miliation. I believe with Mr. Williams it was,
and thar he hath well proved it: Yet I think
Mr. Mathers Objection is not well Anſwered.
Then is Chriſt in a ſtate of Humiliation for
e
ever.
( 17
)
A body glorious or inglorious is a body
It is a Queſtion too hard for me, and I think
for them, to anſwer difficulties on both fides, I
have heard of a plain Man, who was over-
heard to pray, that he might do with ſome hard
Queſtions in Divinity, as the Woman did do
with her Oyſter, when the could not open it,
laid it aſide. As by a Stone caſt in the Water,
one circle is made, and that makes another,
and ſo on. So it is with ſome late Diſputants in
in theſe Points. They run out in ſuperfluous
Queſtions till the main is forgotten.
I recommend Dr. Featly's Speech to the Al.
ſembly of Divines, bound up with his Dippers
Dipt, about Juftification by the active as well
pailive Obedience of Chriſt, which turned the
heads of almoſt all the Aſſembly that were o
therwiſe minded before.
Theſe things, Reader, before mentioned, are
The Reſult of Free Thoughts, nor Reading, or
Diſcourling. I think this is the bottom of the
bufneſs.
Having Imparted theſe thoughts of mine to
fome worthy Friends, I have met with fome
Objections from both Baxterians and Calui
miff: by litterary correſpondences
.
Ob. Was Adam the Repreſentative of Eve
No. Therefore Adam who find firit and made
him fin, and was the means of his fall, was
nor ſuch a repreſentative as is believed by
fome. Thus one pleaded,
( 81 )
I profeſs it is a noble Objection, and I never
met with it before: As the worthy Objecter
confeſſeth he never met with my way of tria-
naging the Controverfie. I Anſwer,
Adam was not a Repreſentative of Eve, bat
both of their Pofterity.
The Law about forbidden Fruit concerned
her, is plain ; the grants ir to the Serpent,
Gen. 3. 2. Eve was not one of Adams Poſteriry
therefore he might be their Federal head, not
hers. They were one, both callid Adam, Gen.5.2.
The Woman is ſaid to be firſt in the Tranſgref-
fion, and yet it is as true, By one Man, fin en.
tred into tbe World, and how theſe two ſhould
cohere, or be true without my Affertion, I ſee
not. corbe
Objed. But Eve is made a Type of the
Church, as Adam was of Chrift, Ephef. 5.21.
Neither could be in their make deſigned to
be Types of either : For Chriſt had been no
Jeſus to them, though God, nor had he had
as now ſuch a Church, had not Man fab
len.
There are Infitured Types as the Sacrifice
of Old, lively Types of Chriſts death: There
are Types only by way of Alluſion or Annlogy
ſo is this. Taylor, that hath written ſo much
of Types, would be hardly pur to it to prove
all his Types to be ſuch by Divine Inftitu-
tion.
de Inter
Perſons may be conſidered under a different
Relation, not contrary, though divers. Samp
fon was a liyely Type of the Fems ſtrength
(though
( 19 )
(though then weak) the Lion, and the Honey
he eat of the Philiſtins, and their Riches that
the Fews ſhould deſtroy, and have, yer was he a
Type of Chriſt's
, ſaving the Church from the
Devil that roaring Lion.
It is further Objected. That Heaven is
made the Purchaſe of Chriſt for Man, there.
fore not of Adam, Cor. 15.47. We as Sin-
ners have a right to Heaven by Chriſt, there-
fore we as Gnleſs Creatures could not have
had it by Adam is a Non fequitur. But
let it be granted, we had gotten a Heaven
by Adams fulfilling the Covenant of works,
and I am content if it be not granted it had
been This Heaven Chrift hath Purchaſed by
his Blood. A change muſt have been (as be-
fore) as a time of Confirmation, fo of Glorifi-
cation, and an end to Generation, &c. and
that is ſufficientif that Glorified State had been
here, as fome now believe will be after the
great Day.
Had Eve been our Repreſentative (it is ob-
jected) we can then hardly ſecure Chriſt from
Original Sin.
Some tell us God here ftopt the flux of Ori-
ginal Sin. The Virgin Mary fure was unclean;
yer it is ſaid, Can a clean thing come out of an
unclean. I ſuppoſe none of us think with the
Franciſcans, that the Bleſſed Virgin had no Ori-
ginal Sin.
When I ſaid, we are ſo Juſtified by Chriſts
Obedience and Righreouſneſs, as by Adams had
he ſtood. Imean by lo Thar the imputa.
rion
( 20 )
tion of Chriſts Righteouſneſs is properly fo
called (though Baxter ſaid, it was impropera
ly ſaid to be imputed) and an immediate im-
putation, not mcdiately by our Righteouſneſs
.
Or an imputation in the effects, as fome
plead.
The Queſtion is, Whether Adams act of
eating forbidden fruit be not imputed to us as
our act, and that immediately on this, Con-
demnation was due to all his Deſcendents ?
How elſe are we ſaid to lin in him, and full
with him in the firſt Tranfgreffion, and not in
his after Tranſgreſſions, as the Allembly of Di-
Vines, and all granted till theſe Men called it in
Queſtion to ſecure their Doctrines. As by one
Mans difabedience we were made Sinners; So by
she obedience of one, Righteous.
Grant this, then it will follow. We had ſtood
by his Obedience, and that his Righteouſneſs had
been our only pleadable Righteouſneſs and no other
for a title, or right to life. There
had been a Stare
of Confirmation, and no Sate of Perſonal Pro-
bation for Adams Decendents mediate or imme-
diate. Dr. Bates, I am informed, and Mr. How I
am ſure own a Stateof Confirmation, in chis Caſe.
The Queſtion is not about our being Sin-
ners, as feminally in Adam, and fo derived cor-
rupt Nature from him, but as Federaces with
him. I remember, No Divine, reputed a.
mong the Learned, that ever aſſerted a Stare
of perſonal Probation but Dr. Goodwin, who
names it, but attempts not to prove it in his
Pofthumous Folio, (as I think it was) If Adam
had
( 21 )
Probation for every Man in the World. If
ad not finned, none of his Poſterity could.
They had been kept by Gods Covenant from
as the Angels and Saints in Heaven are, and
hall be for ever. By this conſideration all our
Divines juſtified the proceeding of God with
Men, and ſtop'd the Mouths of Objecters,
Why pould I be made miſerable by another
Mans finſeeing he fell? Why ſhould you be
made bappy by another Mans Obedience if be bad
tood?
When God made Man, it was convenient to
put him upon rryal of Obedience: It was incon-
Fenient thus to put every Man for Reaſons be-
ore given; there muſt be a Repreſentative then
et Legal Head (call it as you pleaſe) and none
o fit as the firſt Man. Then all Men coming
rom bim muſt be Quitted or Condemned by
eis Conformity, to or
diſobedience of this Law
God. Had there been a State of Probation
eſpecially if no Saviour in that caſe granted to
the World, which we have reaſon to believe)
angels and Devils might as ſoon dwell toge
her as perfect Saints and Sinners in the ſame
World, in the ſame Houſe at the ſame Table,
In the ſame Bed. What Children had the per-
& Husband and faln Wife had, and fo e com
Theſe things I never heard nor read, and I
think ſome bad never Talk'd of, a State of a
Kedarn had not Ginned, had not their raſh Pow
Filh deuial of the Righreouſneſs of Jeſus in a
proper
( 22 )
proper ſenſe imputed to Men, forced them
it ; which ſtate of Probation, I doubt, ſome o
them do not, (cannot) heartily believe.
Was the Covenant made with Adam for bim
felf, and for his poſterity, Or no ? The A
ſembly of Worthy, Orthodox Divines at West
minſter, ſaid in that Excellent Catechiſm
(which as much excels the Childiſh one, as the
Sun a Star) and Taught Children to ſay it
and now for the ſake of Baxter's rotten, rotren
rotten Doctrin, we muſt be told, The Covenan
was made with Adam only for bimſelf, not far
bis Poſterity.
Had be tood, all had Obey'd without Ra
viſhing their Wills, as ſome Taik, nor Coada
but Neceſſario.
There is one Objection more, I have had
from one I greatly value. If Adam were
Fedral Head, all muſt be puniſhed alike, and bin
for bis fin only.
Igrant, all are punished alike for that Sin,
not one more, another leſs. I ſpeak now ol
the Non-elect, Non-redeemed, becauſe all
were guilty of it in the ſame ſenſe, nor one
more, another lefs.
But we have finned not only in Adam; but
Perſonally,
There is not only imputed fin, Original fin,
or the unavoidable Corruption of Nature.
There are Spontaneous, Deliberare Sins. Some
Men tempt the Devil to Tempo them, and
Dare the great God to his Face; which cati.
nor be laid on Adam's Tranſgreſſion,
or on
Crilti-
( 23 )
Original
Sin. They know they can forbear,
and will not,
I ſhall not Reader, run upon orher Arga-
ments, which are well managed by other, and
berrer Hands; but I have caft in my Mite inro
their Rich Treaſury. As I have done whar
as far as I can remember fo many Years with.
put Books) I never met with. So what others
have well done, I leave to thy Conliderati.
on.
2755
FINIS
N
Seeing
S
Eeing Mr.Baxter's Books pleads muc
for
Liturgies (eſpecially Reliquia
and I ſaw at the Bookſeller's Shop on
came in, Have you Mr. Baxter's Life
and then, Have you a Common-Praye
Book ? I will give you an Account o
what paſſed between me and ſome Par
fons (who ſmelt not very ſweet of Lor
alty) on the fight of a New Common
Prayer-book for the laſt Faſt, before the
Plot broke out (fainc Prayers) On the
out-ſide of which, was written a ſcan
dalous Letter, Injurious to the King and
Government, to excuſe the Jacobire
Prieſts for Non-uſing them. Abouc 20
Hour after the Lent of the Book, was
it ſent back, wrapt up in a Sheet of Pa
per containing theſe following Verſes
.
Some
( 1 )
Some Pious Lads of Eighteen Years
Would Prayers more apt have made,
Than theſe dull ones, on this High Day
In Churches to be ſaid.
Here is too much, if Mortals be
With the Moſt High in jeſt :
But if they be in earneſt, Then
Too little here's expreft
.
l'hus Arms unactive dully work
In
great Extremities;
Thus Legs una&tive weakly run
For Help from Enemies.
The Parſon two Days after in an Even came
to me, and unprovoked began firſt to cenſure
the Parliament for oppreſling the People, and
the King for urging them to it; then asked me
whether I was the Author of the Verſes ſent :
I thought it an error in my prudentials at that
time to tell him. He went away with threats.
About Two Hours after were ſent the follow.
ing Verſes, who had from Sabbath to Sabbath,
on that Text Pray without ceaſing, condemned
Diſfenters Prayers, and juſtified their own
mode of praying, and refuſed a fair private de-
bare of thoſe Matters.
You Cenſurer of the Kings Acts,
Some Faft Prayers are ſuch Stuff,
Where little Proteſtaniſm is,
Not Loyalty enough.
Of ſo rude a Compoſure are
Some Cants ſo in and out,
N 2
As
( 2
As if made by ſome jolly Prieſts
When at a merry Bout.
The Idle Shepherals Inftrument
Now laid alide let be,
Remember him that ſaid, Srir up
The gift of God in ther [Panl to Tim
Other Mens Sermons if you Preach
A ſhame it is all ſay,
A Parity of Reaſon 'tis
Other Mens Prayers to pray.
In your Preachments Loyal Non-Con.
ſo often cenfare not,
Who can ſay more than ſome Church-men,
Their land is in no Plot.
Three Days after, the Parſon ſcatter'd up
and down the following Anſwer.
WHen beardleſs Boys in Judgment fir
To Cenſure things Divine,
They'll Damn all ibings that pleaſe them not :
With Senſe as great as tbine.
Condemn in groſs without a fault,
Or any Reajon given.
Fudge Hearts unſeen, and ſo preſume,
To climb obe Throne of Heaven.
Thus active Spleen finds fault, yet has
No certain ground to fix it.
Thus towring Pride preſcribeth Laws,
With a meer Jple Dixit.
A Reply, Decem. 26.
Hat Chriſtmas Liquor hath Inſpired,
(Not Sack, but muddy Ale)
A Dull Pate, which inftead of Senſe,
Sends a falſe Chriftmas Tale?
10
( 3 )
3
In ſpite of Nature, or the Stars
Cheap Wits would Verſiſie,
And an impertinent Harangue
Give out for a Reply.
What! three Days ſpent, Anſwer to make
To ſudden Poetry?
The Mountains will bring forth; but our
Comes but a Mouſe we lee.
Both Latin and Greek Letters are Sucb were
To hard to underitand,
ſent bi m 6
And Engliſh Verſes too, by what,
unan/wer'de
All ſee comes from your Hand.
To ſay no Anſwer can be given
In Pulpits, and decline
Diſpure by Letters, or by Words,
Is this like a Divine ?
No beardleſs Boys Judges to be
Or make Laws are intent
But you, You Levite young and raw
Judge King and Parliament.
You Readers ſome Old Primmers read
Where good ſenſe may be found,
And incoherent Prayer-Books take,
And throw them to the ground.
Five times you Gaggle the Lords Prayer,
Read four Prayers for the King.
Read Prayers to God ! Till Popery
Who knew the Phraſe, or thing?
You ſay to Chriſt now Glorified,
Help Son of David (Oh!)
In bis abaſed State on Earth,
Though fir then, now not ſo.
Si ha
N3
Poſtſcripr.
( 4 )
Poleferipr.
Help Chriſt (not Dorid's Son) the Blind,
Nor like him that could Cry,
For theſe be dumb too if they cant
Look on a Literugs
After long filence, One, a Facobite Prieſt,
notorious for Contention, Covetouſneſs, and
baa Morals, come out with a Paper, Called,
The Country Reply to a Diſenting Miniſter.
WHen daring. Lads of Eighteen Icars
Pour out ſuch Prayers as theſe,
Then mayſt thou ſay, Trsat Rivulets
Much deeper are than Seas,
None jeſt more with Almighty Powers,
Or make Religion vile,
Than thoſe who by their mbining Cants
Make Fools figh, Wiſe Men mile.
Thus Prayers diſgorg'd to pleaſe the Mob
By a miſguided Zeal,
Hath beretofore and ſtill pulls down
Plagues on the Commonweel.
Doth be that on Toleration des
A rigid ſentence paſi ;
Who doth correâ illiterate Fools,
That call cur Prayers the Maſı?
This was the Nick name heretofore
In
Minority,
Who now laying aſide all ſhame
Cry up their Loyalt:
.
and well they do, whilft they do term
The Form allow'd by the King
T'e Effufion of ſome Potting Prieſts
A rude dull ſenſeleſs ibing.
And
( 5 )
Pro
And with like Reverence do they treat
The Almighty Lord of Hoft,
Terming their flat, loud, unpois d Geer
The Gift of th’Holy Ghoſt.
But if in Prayer a Form we uſe,
Why not in Sermons too?
They urga. We anſwer, when we Pray
We beg, we thank , we Vord,
But one that is Omniſcient
Needeth no Rhetorick,
Nor various words as Mortals do,
Ignorant, Sullen, Thick,
Who plotted gainſt the Government
Rumbol that Saint knew well,
And who concurr'd with Jeſuits
Both Pen and L-can tell,
And who nope with bis fiery Zeal
Would blow up Church and Štale,
Were Power but equal to his Will
Our
can tell you that
But were his Sermons and bis Prayers
Derived from above,
Spite, Avarice, Pride pould leave the Man,
And nought remains but Love.
This Man when Monmoisth was beheaded,
cut off the head of a Cat, and he, and Wife,
and Maid ( as is ſaid ) rang out the Bells. A
Letter was ſent him to tell him, It was high
time to cut off the head of the Old Car, he
was no good Mouſer, but now we had a good
notable Hunter, and therefore adviſed him
and his Brethren to look well to themſelves.
N4
(6)
A Reply
OUr Fools figh, your Wiſe Men ſmile
At qur Prayers, and indeed
At Scripture too. Our Fools believe,
Your Wiſe Men ſay their Creed.
The Worſhip of the Turks abroad,
And Quakers here ſo bad,
Yet is more graye than yours, who pray
Like Priefts, and People mad.
Our Father
which in Heaven
art.
Then, Save the King. Then ſay,
Behold the King. Our Father oft.
In prayer you ſay, Let's Pray,
Not Fans good Prayers, bur Prieſts bad lives
Do Plagues upon us bring,
Your Prayers muſt be alow'd, if no
Approved by the King.
You ſay, we beg, we thank, we vow
But where Man is Confeſſioni
The neceſſary part of Prayer
By all Divines Conceſſion ?
Did nor on God with Rhetorick
Moſes and Prophers call
Him to excire? As you rálk, there's
No need of Prayer at all.
I wrote of Plors 'gainſt our good King
You talk of cburles the vile,
What ſome contriv'd you didYou James
Of his Crown did beguile.
What Love had you, who for found Truth
Drove us from Corporation [Refiftance.]
And fild the Goals with us, Then you
Practis'd it o're the Nation ?
Of Goods, of Liberty, we had
(Almnoſt of Lives) the loſs
You
(7)
You once your ſelves, but as oft Ggn'da
With the Sign of the Croſs.
They ſhould nor Men covetous be,
Not to be ſuch who teach us,
Left they the Proverb verifie
Clodius accufat Mechos.
Inſatiable who's for Gain
For which and Patrons fake volt 25
To Faſts, and to Thankſgivings comes
As a Bare to a Stake.
And who would now Cut the K's T.
And Blow up Whiggs and State,
Were Power equal to his Will,
can tell that.
For Pſeudo-Martyr till you dine
You'l Faſt, That Man of Blood
Which England much, but Ireland ( Oh!)
More fully underſtood.
Who made a Book of Sports for Plays
Upon the Sabbath day.
When Fidlers came at your Church doors,
And had nigh all away.
Had it not been for fear of our
Afſemblies you had ſeen
Such work again, So in your Church,
No Preaching there had been.
Poſtſcript.
A Rhimer, You a Poet
Some Verſes brisk and round,
Give me (ſay I) fome Wit, where no
Honeſty can be found.
No Apſwer was made. Mr. - runs on
on his Text, Pray without ceaſing; refus’d though
often
NS
(8)
delrid a meeting to conſider matters amicably
and calmly, in what place, at whar time, and
before what Company he pleaſed. He charg.
ed the Non-Cons as pretenders to Inſpiration,
he might as well have ſaid to working of Mi-
racles. Whether he did this, through Ignorance
or Malice, I know not.
The following Verſes were ſent to him.
bao give
I.
1F without ceaſing Men muſt pray,
The ſure without a Book.
In which on all Emergencies
You Readers cannot look.
Your Text is againſt Reading Prayers
(
As may be prov'd at large) |
What Non-cons ſaid, they were Inſpir'd,
As you prate in your Charger
When Frames the First, Hookers words us'd
Ar the Hampton Diſputation,
Fanatical Biſhops cryed out
God gave bim Inſpiration.
Your Sanderſon the Great ſaid, They
That bave the Gift of Prayer,
(Ad Cler.
And uſe it not, ro God and Man
Very unfaithful are.
Your Biſhop Wilkins wrote a Book,
Called The Gift of Prayer.
For conceiv'd Prayer, againſt fer Forms,
For Senfe ro ir repair.
Thy ſtudied Prayer, before thy Twatsa
So rambling is and odd,
No ſuch Extemporary Prayer,
Diffenters make to God,
(9)
II.
V
Charter Betrayers, you us brought
Nigh to the Gates of Rome,
For which a good Parliament once
Had almoft read your Doom.
About Reliftance your Church Tore,
Diffenters like a Bear,
And yet Fought on our Principles.
And ſo deliver'd are.
You Perſecutors taught Turkije
Doctrin of the Bow-ftring.
A Tyrant firſt, then Banich'd Man,
You made of your good King.
You Non-reſiſters, thus Dethron’d,
King James the juſt, All grant
For Fighting againſt Vows you are
The great Church Milirant.
Had Fames prevail’d, not our good King: -
Your Fait-days would have been
Thankſgiving-days, and Thankſgiving
Days, Fait-days we had leen.
We praiſe thee for ſaving King James
Our Gracious Sovereign You had pray:
And for Cordfounding the proud ged to this Ef-
Prince,
(fect.
With his Rebellious Train.
You once more would have drank the Blood
Of the beſt in the Nation.
And roard again, They that Rehit,
Shall alb receive Damnation.
A Parliament what can't it make ?
To ſay, fome have the Face.
I'll tell you, An Oath you wo’nt take,
Rather than loſe your Place,
You
( 10 )
You Ambidexters Weather.cocks,
You Turn-coats, Atheid-makers.
Be Men, be of fixt Principles,
Not nothing, like our Quakers.
Some ſay, They have one Card to Play,
Yet in Plots (after rubs)
They play'd away their King and Queen;
Now try the Knave of Clubs.
HII.
The Nine and thirty Articles,
You Swore, ſubſcribd unro.
Yet many of them in your Preaching
And Talk, diſown you do.
Whom you take to the
Sacrament,
You ſhould ask before-band.
Not what Tyth piggs they have, but what
Of Chriſt they underſtand:
Men Ignorant, and Scandalous,
Contentious and unfit,
To Sacrament your Canons charge
You never to admit.
You worſt of Nonconformiſts are,
Not Englands Church, but Stye,
Where Swipith-men, and Rebels too,
Do daily multiply.
Of Hot bifts and of Facobites,
Here's a Vaft Retinue.
Of Drunkards, and Adulterers,
Of Swearers here's the Crew.
Church-Wardens you have ofren Sworn,
(O Wickedneſs moft deep)
To Articles yours, not the King's,
You canleſs none can can keep
IV.
(11)
IV.
All things muſt be done Decenth;
Yet you do nothing lefs,
Who do approach your Fopperies
In a Stage-players Dreſs.
You ſay, Your Surplice makes you look
Like Saints above. If ſo,
Your black Gowns under make you look
Like Devils Curft below.
Thus are you black in the inſide,
And without appear white,
Thus you the lively Picture are,
Of a meer Hypocrite.
A Popiſh Dedicating Sign,
You make to Chriſt moft High;
How dare you ſo? And Babes to him,
You Conſecrate hereby.
In either of the Sacraments,
You uſe no Gift ar alt,
But that of Reading, yet your felves,
Chriſt's Miniſters you call.
Were we agreed in the main thing,
Even of a Judgment-day.
To get Non-cons help, Souls to ſave.
You'd throw your Traſh away.
You ſay your Church is tumbling down.
What Tottering Fabrick's this,
The words of Three Kings can't keep up
King William, famos, Lemuru
Poltcript.
You ſay, That you are Levi's Tribe,
Your Due's then Baniſhment.
Pack and be gone, Jews ſhould do ſo
By Act of Parliament.
many
MAny Clergy
Any Clergy-men, as I am inform-
ed, Conſulted together, Who
ſhould give a Reply ? But none did, but
only in a Banter about the holy Siſters, and
Summoning me to appear before God's-Bar
for abuſing the Church of England – To
whom I wrote thus, Muſt I ſtay till
Dooms day for an Anſwer? Or, whe
ther they deſired God to plead their
Cauſe for them, ſeeing (Poor-men) they
could not do ic themſelves? That wbilit
they ſeem'd to offer Realon, I kept them
Company ; but ſeeing they began to
rave, I would deal with them, as we do
with Men in that Caſe, Let them alone
Now broke out the Plot, I had long foreſeen
and foretold. Tydings came on a Saturday
iu the Afternoon. The next Day
Preach'd a Sermon on the Occaſion, che
Subſtance of which follows, Cas alſo of
a Sermon Preach'd on the Death of our
good Queen of bleſſed Memory. ) The
Book ſwells more under my Hand, than
I thought it would: I therefore am ſhort,
like Court Sermons of Old, being about
Principally Court Concerns.
ce
Epher
(1)
Eſther 2, 21, 22, 23.
In thoſe days (while Mordecai ſat inthe
kings gate) two of the kings chamber-
lains, Bigthan and Tereſh, of thoſe
which kept the door, were wroth, and
ſought to lay hands on the king Aha-
fuerus :
And the thing was known to Mordecai,
who told it unto Eſther the Queen:and
Eſther the Queen certified the king
thereof, in Mordecai's name.
And when inquiſition was made of the
matter, it was found out; therefore
they were both hanged on a tree; and
it was written in the book of the chro-
nicles before the king.
T
THE old and common
Objection againſt this
Book, That the name of
God is not mention d in it, may ea-
fily
( 2 )
fily be anſwered, Faſting is men-
tion'd. I alſo will faſt and my
maids, faith Eſther. And the Jews
faſted three days: night and day,
Eſther 3. 3. To whom. But to
God: The LXX. therefore
put
in the word God.
The words read to you are a
compleat Hiſtory of themſelves,
in which you have
1. Treaſon committed a-
gainſt a great Monarch,
2. The Traytor's Names and
Office.
3. The Loyalty of a good
Subject.
4. Great Induſtry to find
out the Plot. :
5. The Puniſhnient of the
Rebels.
6. The
(3)
6. The Commemoration of
all.
I Thall not darken ſo plain a
Text with needleſs Criticiſms. A
(inful, though common practice
by ſome Pedantick Wits, who
think to be admired, becauſe
pot underſtood. From theſe
parts, I ſhall lay down ſeveral
Obſervations, and then give
ſeveral Directions from the
whole.
From the Treaſon againſt a
great Monarch, Abaſuerus Lord
ota 127 Provinces, that Reign-
ed from India to Ethiopia, Eſther
1. 1. Obſerve,
1. Do&t. That the moſt Mag-
nificent Kings and Men who
greatly glitter in Riches, Ho-
( 4 )
nour and Authority, are not fe-
cur'd from common Dangers
and Calamities.
Providence ſeems to ſport it
ſelf with Ringing a Peal of
Changes. The Greek Poet be-
gins with this
Ρεία μεν γαρ βρgίει ρία δε βραβονία καλίπη
Zsósu toponátns- 1 Judges 7. Ado-
nibezek ſaid, Threeſcore and ten
Kings having their Thumbs and
their great Toes cut off, gathered
their Meat under my Table. What
became of this great King, the
next words tell you; As I have
done, ſo God bath requited me.
Joſhua took out of a Cave, and
New Seven Kings at one time.
Nebuchadnezzar that talked of
Building Babel, For the bonour
faith
(5)
faith he, of my Majeſty. Well,
his Majeſty had a very ſad An-
fwer preſently
ſent to him from
Heaven. He muſt Graze among
Beafts till ſeven times, that is, ſe-
ven Years, paſs over his Head,
Dan. 4 31, 32. See the Caſe
of the Church. A City full of
People became deſolate, Lam.
Job the greateſt Man in all
the Bast fits on a Dunghil, Job
1. 3. and 2. 3. Do not depend
on Eſtates. What you ſay you
have for Life, God hath many
ways to take them from you,
long before you Dye. A fair
Morning makes not a fair Day,
the dark Night follows the
brighteſt day. The ſharpeſ
Win-
ter,
( 6 )
ter, the pleafants Summer.
2. From the Traycors Office
who kept the Door, that none
might hurt the King; yet they
coneriv'd his Death, when Mor-
decai fate at the Gate.
2. Do&t. That Kings great-
eſt Enemies may be highly ad-
vanced, and his beſt Subjects
not ſo. Theſe were Chamber-
lains, Loyal-men; when Mor-
decai was not ſo much regarded.
Some Men the King muſt cruſt
Confide in by Sea and Land,that be-
tray all : Not thoſe whoſe Loy.
alcy is indiſputable and unexcep-
tionable. The Loyalty of five
Dignifyed Men may not make
up the Loyalty of one Ejected
one. As Tertullian cryed of old
in
(2)
in their Plors, Ubi Chriftiani ?
ſo ſay I here in this, Ubi Diſſen-
lientes? Joſephus tells us of Anti-
pater the Son of that Herod that
we read of in the ad. of Matthew,
That he would ſearch under his
Father's Bed by Night, left a-
ny ſhould lye there to do him a
miſchief; and yet he at the ſame
time contriy'd his Father's death:
For which HerodUpbraided him
before Cefar. Who would truſt
a Son, when the King of Ally-
ria's own Son that came out of
his own Bowels Murther'd him,
when Worſhipping his God;
and Abſolon ſeek David's Life 3
Who would truſt a Brother,
when Cain Murthered Abel ?
Who would truſt a wiſe Coun-
fellour
( 8 )
fellour, when Achitophel leaves
David and runs to Abſolon ? Who
would truſta Friend, when Ju-
das betray'd our Lord for Thir-
ty pieces of Silver, and that with
a Kiſs ?
3. Do£t. Sinners ſeldom ſin
alone; but at leaſt by Couples.
Bigthan. Tereſh. The Drunkard
ſeldom, the Adulterer never.
Proverbs 1. 10, 11, 14. My ſon,
if finners intice thee, conſent not.
Come let us have one Purſe. Such
are acceſſory to one anothers Sing
and ſo Puniſhment. Lord forgive
me my other Mens fins, Auſtin
would often Pray. And when
he makes many, many Aggra-
vations of his ſin in Robbing an
Orchard, Nulla compulfus egeſtate
,
Faftis
faftidio Juſtitie, No&te, Porcis pro-
jeci. Ac laſt, That be did it with
evil Company, Auguſt.
Confeſ.
From the Induſtry to find out
the Plot.
4. Do&t. Good Subjects
fhould be very active to Detect
and Defeat cheevil Contrivances
of Bad ones. Leaving all to Pro-
vidence, is not to Truſt God,
bur Tempt him, unleſs we ule
all Lawful means. Stoical Apa-
thy is no Chriſtian Patience.
From their Puniſhment, They
were banged, learn we,
5. Dot. Bare Intentions to
Murder Princes, tho’ by the Pro-
vidence of God they prove A-
bortive; are Capital Offen-
be
Provi-
CES.
( 10 )
Providence clap d a Superſe-
deas upon the thing. Thanks to
God, not Men. The will ſhall
not taken for the deed, hath this
Limitation in our Law, (ex-
cept in murthering of Princes.)
From the recording of all, it
was written down before the
King, We learns
6. Doct. Extraordinary Deli-
verances ſhould have a more
than ordinary Commemoration.
The King was to read it, and
did it to good purpoſe one night,
Eſther-6. 1. The Feaſt of Pu-
rim was obſerved for deliverance
from Hamon's Plot. The day
was appointed, the King could
not recall the Decree to deſtroy
the Jews. He had no remedy,
but
(11)
but to give the Jews leave to de-
fend cheinſelves and many Cour-
tiers and others to help. In this
Feaſt, the Jews read this Book,
and when they hear the name of
Haman, they knock wich their
Feet, or Fift, as if they would
knock Haman's Head.
I ſhall lay down ſome Dire-
ctions from che whole.
1.Seeing the World (Things
and Men) are ſo uncertain, Let
your Hearts hang looſe from
them. Truſt not to Riches.
Truſt not to Friends. A looſe
Tooth is drawn with eaſe; we
can eaſily part with what we
moderately Love.
2. In your higheſt and beſt
Condition fear Danger, and
O
hope
I
( 12 )
hope for Delivery. This is to
live comfortably on Providence.
God can foon daſh ill Contri-
vances in pieces. Keep Hope a-
live. We are as a Clock, when
che Weight is down all ſtands
Still, when wound up it goes
well
. Truſt in God, I shall get
praiſe him, faith David often.
Birds ſing not their little Tunes
and Ditties on the Ground; but
in the Air.. As their is a dif-
ference between their ſweet me-
lody and the grunting of Swine:
So berween the deſires of the
Righteous and Wicked, Goto
a good God in the Day of chy
Diſtreſs, as the Poet adviſeth
his Wife to Ceſarzoor u.
bir ögaua 16 noi ibro?
soon
0
Quid
113
111 raort aM sni? 10 etab
Qid dubitas ? quid tuta times.)
tulacdede, rogaqueyo es
* Ceſare nib ingers mitius orbis
has whabet? gvistloq es lórid
madwaisti ad otto.I wow Jon
307 Remember Dangere may
then benigheſt to us, when we
think it fartheſt, frómous
gayet
when we find ourſelves av å
oſs, God is not foası Yea choſe
whoſe good we contrive, may
contrive our Ruin. Theſe Men
were advanc'd by thafuerun 104
114. Often call to mind Perſon-
Mercies o eſpecially ſuch as
ere Sacred'; and ſtudy hearty
and practical Thankfulneſs.
Hath not God deliver'd from
Sickneſs si when you lwere Chil-
071
dren
2
14
dren; or ſince Men, from Pri
fon, Perils by Land, perils by Sea
perils among falfe Brethren
What are negative Mercies as
well as poſitive ? Why was i
not your Lot to be Eaten when
of a Span long? Or to cry,
my Soul, thou haſt heard the
Alarm of War. Deliverance
from the levil Contrivances o
more. Tyrannical Princes that
one. Forn Deliverance fron
Popery, Ignorance, Devil, Hell
For the Scriptures in a Tongue
you underſtand ; if you enu
merate Mercies, you may ſay
Behold, a Troop cometh. TORG :
Bleſs God for Deliverand
from the Soul-murtherer. (The
Devil is calld a Murtherer..
ob
D
Now
( 15 )
* Now the power of Devils is
great, and therefore the danger
the greater, Eph. 6. 12. they are
call'd not only Princes, but
Principalities. Not only wick-
ed Spirits, but Spiritual Wicked-
neſſes. Not only mighty, but
Powers. Satan is an Enemy, that
hach gotten the Hill, but Chriſt
Defeats him. How often hath
He, O Chriſtian, fought to
lay Hands on thy Soul, ás Big
than and Tereſh on the Body of
Abaſuerus? But the thing was
known tol Jeſus, b who has pur-
chafed Redemption from the
Father.io You are as Brands
pluck'd out of the Firez chat at
laſt you may fing as Deborah and
Barak, Judges 5. 2. O my Soul,
O 3
thou
( 16
)
thom bafel inaddero domku Strength.
19 Here was ta hortid Alfaflina-
tion deſign’d by Papifts and
Church-men; who Symboliz-
ing too much in Worhip, have
in Practice. s. If we are told of
one Diſſenter (Mr. FA he hath
been long difown’dzs cand hath
not Preached among chem ma
dy Years. We grant.che Church
men are not to be Chargu with
Non-juring Biſhops
and Cler-
gy-men they have Silenc'do So
neither are we for ſuch as are
Difowodul and havel left us on:
9da1 pray you ConfidersWasit
intemperate Zeal in ſome of us
to Charge our Seditious Prieſts
and others with Plotting ? You
are noệmore fure of a Plot now,
than
0
0
( 17 )
than ſome of us for a Year paft.
When we faw che King openly
Difown'd, thrown out of the
Prayers: Mayors and Magiſtrates
to hear this and not regard ! Buc
I will not ſay all. I grant the Loy-
aley of many of char Communi-
on, and wiſh of all. God hach
Bleſt us with a King, their and
our Deliverer: A Man of Pro-
found Thoughts Deep Streams
runs filently , is when shallow
Brooks or make buat great noiſe
.
Wich marchlefs Conduct in the
management of all his Affairs,
with unpreſidencd Clemency;
Great, if not too great, with
Stupendious Humility; yet all
theſe are no fecurity from Rage
and Madneſs. zoo nsni zravent
To
04
( 18 )
To bring in the French !
Who would believe it? What
have they done at Home, chus
to dig Graves for all Proteſtants
here and beyond Sea! Give me
that word again, what I ſaid of
the Church of England. This is
no more ſo, than Theſeus's Ship
the ſame, when almoſt all the
-Planks were gone. Diſſenters
are better Church-men, than the
Laudenhan Faction, who have
rejected its ſound Doctrin; they
have ſubſcribd, and inſtead of it
brought in new Popiſh Cere-
monies, rejected by our Refor-
mers. Could theſe Men be re-
concil'd to parting with their
Bibles for a Maſs-Book, with
Prayers in an unknown Tongue,
with
( 19 )
with Adoration of Saints and
Images, with Tranſubſtantiati-
on, with Slavery, with Butcher-
ing of their Brethren?
Say of my Text, Spiritua-
lize this, O my Soul. The De-
vil, and thy Lufts, like Big-
than and Tereſh, have fought
the death of thy better part;
but the Plot is diſcover'd,' and
brought to nothing. Let this
be written now in the Book of
thy Heart ; read now, and for
ever. When they that fought
thy Death, ſhall Dye for ever.
When it ſhall be ſaid, for ever,
for ever, for eper, what was ſaid
of Herod and others, that foughe
che
05
20
the Life of our Saviour in the
days of his fleſh, Matth. 9. 20.
They are dead that fought thy
life. ga zbora zo 201
- tiqa T yn to vie
50edt over O geisla osil
bris
TO
bos mbroglib zi polud: tud
zida I zaidrones trigoonid
so boost an optimisativad
70% bom wor 1991 $109H
orgio F INS! 7049
99 101 970 lei piano di
ON THE
QUEEN'S
Death.
START oboritou
QOTQ3 0
Ruth iii. part of the xi. Verſe. Ši
For all the City of my People
doth know,: That Thou art a
pertuous Woman.
1
O uſe no other Preface
or than this, Thae there
is no need of any; I
ſhall conſider the Words as they
diſſolve themſelves into theſe
Two Parts
I, A
26
your Faith Vertue. 93
1. A deſerved commendation given;
Thou art a Vertuous Woman.
II. The open Notoriety of this, all
The City of my People doth know
it.
For the Firſt of theſe, There
are Vertues Moral in common
to us with Heathens; and Vir-
tues Divine, known only by
we read,
1 Pet. 1. 3,5. Who hath called
us to Glory and Vertue. Add to
Theſe Vertues though not dif-
fering in Name, yet are in Kind.
They have a different Seed,
Rost, Spring, or Principle:
Ope-
(3)
Operate in a different way and
manner; are directed to a dif-
ferent End. The Heathen Mo-
ralift, Bpiętetus, one of the beſt
of them, as I and others have
obſerved, never taught in all
their Morals, Men to act from
a Principle of Love to God,
nor to direct all to his Glory.
Sacred Writings, and none o-
ther, teach us this, Therefore
the faireſt Grab is no Apple,
though in the outſide ſo much
like, yet not in Taſte, &c. I can-
not, I confeſs here bring in thoſe
Words of Solomon, Prov.31:29.
Many daughters have done vertu-
ouſly, but thou excelleft them all.
For I am ſure in the Original is
not a word of doing vertuouſlya
but
(( 4 )
but of getting Riches : So you
read in the Margin of ſome of
your Bibles, and it is one of the
moſt corrupt readings in all the
Old Teſtament; and what
Thould occafion ſuch an over-
fight in our Tranſlators, I know
not. He ſpeaks before of the
induſtrious Wife. Her Candle
goeth not out by Night. She feller
to the Merchants. 10, 118, Ver-
ſes. And then come in theſe
words, Many Daughters have got-
ten wealth, and thou excelleft them
all. Ia di guind sanco 1,104
2. The open Notoriety of
this. All the City of my People
know it, which is metonymically
expreſs Price for Perſons, They
ſo judged ex judicio charitatishad
it
it not been lo ex judicio veritatis.
The Diſciples were bound to
believe Judas upright till he
diſcover
d the contrary;and they
did ſo, for they ſay every one,
Lord is it 1 ? Not one of them,
Lord is it Judas ? It is a duty
thus fo to judge of many Profeſ-
fors, if it prove an Error in our
judgment. The Obſervation,
I ſhall lay down is this,
thall lay down is this
Doct. That it is an excellent
thing for Women as well as Men,
to keep their Vertues ſparkling, and
Shining. Cho valsdo? Il
Habits differ not (among Men)
but Acts one Man from another.
It is excellent when Mens
Prai-
fes
( 6 )
ſes are in the Churches, When
others ſee their good Works,
and their Lights thus ſhine be-
fore Men. The method I ſhall
uſe in the profecution of chis
Obſervation is this. I ſhall
thew, 2m
I.What were Ruth's Vertues: That
all knew.
HT
II. Wherein the Excellency of keep-
ing theſe Sparkling and ſhining
appears. av kW
ng isa sada posta
III. I ſhall lay down Directions
,
from all.
(Vignoms)
nomis) on TDAR
1. What were Ruth's Ver-
củes, or wherein ſhe was known
by
by all to be a Vertuous Wo-
man.
And here I ſhall run parallel
between Ruth and our good
Queen, which way I like with
Texts adapted to the occaſion,
as much as may be in Funeral
Diſcourſes, and which few
mind. This way makes the
moſt laſting impreſſions on the
Minds of Hearers. Therefore
have I choſen this Text and may
ſay, as David of Goliab's Sword,
There is none like it. qiphoW
1. Ruth and our Good Queen
were known to be Vertuous, in
that boch left the Idolatry of
their Fathers Houſes, and were
married to Men of the true Re-
ligion. Ruth was of the Daugh-
lin
ters
( 8 )
ters of Moab, who Worſhip-
ped falſe Gods. She is married
to the Son of Naomi,who Wor-
ſhipped the God of Iſrael
Ruth 1. 4. Our good Queen lek
the Idolatry of her Fathers
Houſe, who was all along a
Papiſt in heart, as he confef-
ſed, though for a time dared not
to be one in open Practice. Now
Popery is ſuch Idolatry, as that
of Jeroboam's Houſe, though
not of the Houle of Abab. They
Worſhip a Wafer for a God,
Invoke Saines, and ſo afcribe á
kind of Omniſciency to them.
2. Ruth and our Good Queen
were truly Toyal to their Huf-
bands, and had conjugal Love
to them, though they had no
Chil-
193
(9)
Children by chem, Ruth 1. 8.
The kindneſs is mention'd She
ſhewed to the dead, yet had no
Child. May all your Subjects,
faid our Vertuous Queen unto
his truly Sacred Majelty, lobe
you as faithfully as I have done,
before ſhe died. Boaz gave
this Teſtimony of Ruth, ſhe fol-
lowed not young Men, Rich,
or Poor, Ruth 3. 10. The Temp-
tation fome cimes, and to ſome
Women is the ſtronger when
chey have no Children. shte
- 3. Ruth and our Queen were
known to be vertuous in that
they took care of God's Poor,
and banish'd ones. Ruth cleays
to Naomi when driven away
and poor. opazonnal nodw 138
bria
Our
( 10 )
Our Queen, of French Pro-
teſtants, who have now loft a
good Friend. os boost
4. Rutb and our good Queen
were of ſweet Diſpoſitions, and
obliging Behaviour co all. See
how Ruth ſpeaks, and acts. If
now I have found grace in thy
fight. Whence is it thou ſhouldej
!
take knowledg of me, feeing Lam
Stranger ? Ruth 2.10. 100
I believe ſhe was an excellent
piece of Nature, as well as of
Grace. Our good Queen was
famous for Humility, and Affa-
bility,her Enemies being Judges.
The Diſenters are but Men, and
I hope you take not your ſelves to
be more, is ſaid to be ſpoken by
her, when ſome rejoyced at our
Breach
(11)
Breach of Union:Who ſhould
be glad to ſee theirs continued,
except with Papiſts in Worſhip
or Conſpiracies Bus nou !
-Ing. Ruthand our good Queen
were obſequious to them
that
were their Guides, Politick in
their Affairs (and ſo fucceful in
their Attempts.) Ruth was go-
verned by Naomi : Our Queen
by her Wiſe Husband. How
they were like in other things,
my Text meddles nothing with,
neither will l. borba
Both were beloved.s. Both
great Perſons, at laft; for Dand,
and fo Solomon's came from
Rutbon vor some rwiens
102. We come to
to conſider
wherein it appears to be fo ex-
Sub
cellent
( 12 )
cellent a thing to keep our Ver:
tues ſparkling and thiningla od
1. Becauſe this contributes
very much to the Honour of
God, and the Bleſſed Redeem-
er, Jobn 15. 8. doiapaldo stav
Gay Apparel is for the Ho-
nour of a Maſter, Lord or
King in his Attendance. Wil:
dom of Children is the Honour
of Parents, and Maſters. 1981 yd
2. Becauſe this makes Per-
fons famous and lovely in the
Eyes of others. Now though
we muſt aiilat Gods Glory
principally (which Heathens, as
before, never did, but only were
told, this will make you honou-
red, and the like) yet in a ſubor-
dinate way may feek for a good
Name,
ellaa
(13)
Name, faid to be better than
precious Oyntment. Paul com-
mends the Church Seaſonable
Commendations to do well are
no ſmall helps to do better
WA 3: Becauſe this leaves an ho.
nourable Conviction on the
Minds and Conſciences of the
ungodly, and is a great encou-
ragement to the Saints, and
makes Perſons uſeful to both.
Noab by his Faith and Obedi-
ence in building the Ark, con-
demned the World, Your zeal
bath provoked many, faith St.
Paul to the Corinthians. Though
nothing is to be done before
Men for Oftentation, yet may,
and muſt for Imitation. Some
Duties by ſome good Men are
19
mas
( 14 )
managed with too great ſecrely,
they may be openly done when
not openly publiſhed. How
ſhall others have the benefit of
Examples, they never ſee nor
hear of ? One Candle may light
many.. Ruffinus, that Ancient
Hiſtorian, tells us how a Cap-
tive Maid by going aſide for
ſecret Prayer, was asked by her
Miſtreſs the Queen, Si quid emo-
lumenti ea devotione caperetur :
What ſhe got by it ? The Maid
diſdourſing piouſly, converted
the Queen, the Queen the King,
the King the Kingdom to the
imbracing of the Chriſtian Re-
ligion.in:20
I come nowi to lay down
ſome Directions.nol yd 29000
I. Let
(19)
hist. Let not this Sex that may
be ſo not'd for Vertue be de-
pis'd by Men, Woman was
made of more refin'd Matter
than Man, in Paradiſe, as the
Complement of the Creations
therefore not to be defpis’d.
What , regard what a Woman
ſays? 'ſay fome. Wiſe Men do,
if Fools will not, Solomon did,
Pruv, 31. 1.
David did Ahigal, Bleſſed
God for her adviſe, that she kept
bim from fin. There be Wile
Women, beſides her of Tekoab.
2. Let Women keep before
them the beſt Examples of Wo-
men moft Vertuous. Remem-
ber Sarab, She call d Abraham
Lord, whoſe Daughters gou are if
P
Jun
( 16 )
you do well, ſaith Peter: The Aged
Women were to teach the Younger,
to be Obedient to their Husbands.
Diodati in his Annotacions ſays
thus, Therefore doth the Apoſtle fo
often preſs Women to be Obedient to
their Husbands, in fubje£tion to
them; becauſe many Vertuous Wo-
men, who are willing to hear their
Duty in other refpečtsare not go
willing to hear it in this. Of what
uſe was Miriam in the Congre-
gation of the Lord? Remem-
ber Hannah. The Women that
followed Chriſt, Depout Women
not a few. Paul ſpeaks of, he de-
fpis'd them not, Phebe a Siſter,
and ſervant of the Church, Preſcilla;
Paul mentions Women that did
much good, Rom. 16. 1, 2, 3.
(
3. Let
3. Let Women remember
their beſt Portion is their Ver-
tue, and let Men look on it as
ſuch. Boaz Marries Ruth, and
for her lying at his Feet
. She
knew him, no doubt, to be a
Vertuous Man, and therefore
in extraordinary Circumſtances
did an extraordinary thing. The
difficulty appears not great to
me, Cloath the thing in its true,
proper and hard Circumſtances.
Let Young Men confider
Wealth and Beauty are nothing
to Vertue. Godlineſs hath the
promiſe of the things of this life.
The things of this life have not
the promiſe of Godlinefs. Fa-
bour is deceitful; but a Woman that
fears the Lord ſhall be praiſed,
P 2 Prov.
t
( 18 )
Prov. *30. God confounds
many men in their ſinful Policy,
who ſee their Folly coo lace,
when cyed by unholy unquiet
Wives as by a Clog. They will
make ſure of Riches, and hope
for Grace. Make ſure of Grace,
and hope for Riches : Get both
if you can or will; but if nor,
remember Young-men, reinem
ber, Virtue in a Wife without
Wealth, is better than Wealth with-
out Virtue.Better for the comfort
of this life as well as another.
28 4. Seek to Jeſus Chriſt, who
bach all the Treaſures of all
Graces and Vertues in him.
Seek Union with him. As the
Branch cannot bear Fruit of is felf
except
it abide in the Vine, no more
can ge, except ze abide in me : For
will-
( 19 )
without me ye can do nothing, Joh.
15. 4, 5. Paſs through the Wil-
derneſs of this World leaning
on your Beloved. I can do all
things through Chriſt that ſtrength-
ens me, ſaid Paul.
The Vertues we ſpeak of,
grow not it the Garden of Na-
ture. If all the Saints were
ask'd, where they had their Ver-
tues? All muſt ſay from Chriſt.
Moſes his Meekneſs, David his
Integrity, Paul his Zeal.
5. Often conſider what will
fhottly,very ſhortly
be the iflue
of a Verruous Life, and of one
not fo. Heaven is virtually in
Grace, as an Oak in an Acron,
Glory is Grace perfect'd. Hethac
chooſeth fin chooſeth death in
its cauſes, tho not intentionally.
Hear
( 20 )
Hear you that be Vertubus,
if you be not Rich : Let all ſee
you are Verruous.
You that be Vicious, How
fad is it, when it muſt be faid,
sill the City of my People doth know,
that thou art a Brawling Wo-
man, that a Man had as good,
for better live on the Houſe-top,
daan with thee, like Job's Wife
whom God left as a ſcourge co
him.Or fad, when it may be ſaid,
All the City of my People knows,
that thou art a Drunken Woman,
a Whoriſh Woman; yet may it
be ſaid of you, if you return to
God you are Vertuous Women.
Remember Rabab the Harlor
(not Inn-keeper, for I think it
cannot be fo rendred, Heb. 11.)
Mary Magdalen, out of whom
( 21 )
Chriſt cant ſeven Devils.
Let it noc be ſaid, all the Ci-
ty of my People know, that thou art
a Proud Woman, an Imperi-
ous Woman, a Diſobedient
Woman to Parents and Huf-
band. Fallacious and deceicful
are ſome Tracts, to deny any In-
feriority of Women, Hac Homo.
The Woman
as good as the Man.
Much more, Female Prebemi.
nence (though managed nor
without ſubtilty and plauſible
Notions) Such Tracts are to be
Condemn'd. Let all be content
with that place God and Nature
hath put them in
Now a few words on this fad
Occaſion, *1990 HOD 19 10
We this Day bewail not the
MP4 loſs
.
( 22
loſs of One only , but ma
ny in one. His Sacred Majeſty,
hach loſt an Excellent Wife,
a Prudent Confort. Thai Gad ibat
hath raken' laway the define of his
Eyes from Him, every wayfan&isfie
the Providence to bem. Three King-
doms have loſt aVertuous, Pious,
Good Queen. All the Proteſtant
Churches have loſt a good
Friend, eſpecially ſuch as areindi-
Hreſs and all the World haveloft
a Praying Chriſtian. What one
Cicy laid of Ruth, may the Three
Kingdoms,yea many Kingdonis,
even of Enemies. England, Scot-
land, Ireland, Holland and many
other, NATIONS day,
of our Good Queen, They all
kuemzr THAT SHE WAS A
FERTVOUS WOMAN.
F IN I S.
(1
To all Baxterians, Men of Unity,
Love, Peace, and Concord, Haters
of falſe Hiſtory, of Wranglings and
Diviſions, and to all the Calviniſt
Purblind Divines, Ram, Illiterate,
Unſtudied (a Peace hating Genera
tion) Word warriosys, That are
the Plague of the Church, and the
ruin of Common-weals, a ſelf-afflict-
ing and a ſelf.dividing People.
SIRS,
Have written to you both apart and
now to both together. I would nov. end
yeur Diviſions, and deſire a Union; and
to effect this, ſeeing all ways and methods
hitherto propoſed by Epiſcoparian, Presbyteri.
an, Independent Divines are ineffectual.
Take theſe Ten Commandments from one,
who hath much tried them.
I. Be ſure you acknowledge that Mahome-
tans, and other infideis may love God, and be film
ved. This is to be Catholick to purpoſe.
II. That you always Think, Speak, and
Write favourably of thoſe Good Chriſtians and
Brethren in the Clurch-of Rome. For the Pope
is not Antichrift, but thinks himſelf to be
Cbrift's Vicar, and Peter's Succeffor. Ob rbis Opf-
nion of Orthodoxneſs, what mifchief bath is done
the World! Have I often faid.
UM.
PS
III. Talk very much againſt Diſputer, Con-
frente ans, and Reviling one another; but in your
Diſcourles, Sermons, and Writing. even on
Practical ſubjects, be ſure on alloccaſions your
Practiſe contradid you. Spare none. The inoit
Learned, or Pious, Dead or Alive. Try your
Faculrirs, for Faith and againſt it, for Popery
and again't it, for Conformity and againſt it,
for Superſtition and againſt it. And rather
then want marter enough Talk you, witb
Ben. Fobnfon, What News from the World in the
Moon
IV. Talk much of your own Accuracy, Wif
dom, and all good Works, and be ſure more than
is true, rather than too little: And of other
Mens Dulneſs, Ignorance, and want of Selt.
derial. Never bluſh at this though modeit Men
do.
V. Seeing it is better to harken to One sell
ſtudied, Clear-ſighted Divine, than to Thouſands
of Self-conceired, Ignorant ones, Follow the
Judgment of one Man, Ibe Man of his time, by
whoſe judgment you are not like to be miſled,
though once many were lo as he doth confels.
1 Never yield, whilſt words will do, it
jou le grhers in the right, you in an error, but
tell the World, How judiciouſly you handle
very pain, and how unskilfully other Men do it.
VIL If a Man be never fo grear a Debauchee,
if he be your Friend, though an Enemy to all
the World beſides (eſpecially Pious Men) ſpeak
toe one word againſt him: and if a Man be ne
ver fo renowned for Learning, or Piety, if he
pleaſe you not, be ſure to paint him our in
woſul Colours,
dah at this though
VIII. Keep an account by you of all the idle
Stories, of your ſelves and other grear Men in
Church, and State. Talk of chem a Thouſand
times over whilft you live, and leave a large
Folio, at leaſt of Twenty Shillings Price when
you die. If the Story be not true, it is enough
you heard them and wrote them down.
IX. Be ſure to have always an eye upon the
Court, and diffemble with the worlt of Prin-
ces whilft they be alive. And revile, to pleale
them, the belt Princes that are dead.
X. Tell of all your ſecret Meditations in Clo-
ſet or Bed : And if you give away Money, good
Books: Be ſure to tell the World of it by the
firſt opportunity, eſpecially of your Sufferings
for Conſcience ſake. Which of theſe Ten Com.
mandments did Dr. Omen and the Fanaticks
obey) Let theſe Directions be well obſerved
and fear not the want of Unity, Peace, and cane
cord. To talk of Union without them you had
as good talk of a two-legged Crow.
But now a few words to other Men.
You that be Travellers know there is not al.
ways the beſt entertainment at an Inn, where
the beft Sign is hung our. Some hang out a
Sign of Uniformity; Come in, and there is now
iking bur Confuſion; as if they were mad. A
lovely Sign alſo is here hung our by Mr. Sit
vefter, and what talk was
there pray Sir? Cok
you tell when Mr. Baxrer's Life comes out. Bur
as in ſuch Inns ſometimes you have lower Ale,
pitiful Food naftily dreſt, and a hard Bed. So
here, as before proved.
Mr, Baxter's Latin among Latiniás, his Rosa
· lorophy
( 4 )
Jolaplay ambong Philoſophers, his Divinity an
mong Divines, is like the Depinbire Man
Poetry among Poers, which he made wpix the
Return of King Charles the II. When he ſaw
thie Trimph in Plymouth.
Cbei nz! thee Fourin Meazel Dick,
Chatear at Plima ib* other Week
Pronter there mad. A taring due .d .X
There was among the Folly Crem,ib bu
as would have made thee olunt, and taimi 1
To see the Gownmen and the Mare.
Their Clothing was as red as veer, 1.1
Cheel want it coſt men vengance dear. ***
Pont uns ani douliſh ones (doſt biru)
Cham ſure did dunder
and ſoit vire,
And the wee zee in Tbiccy Place,
Tipe kept the Town against his Gracta
There was the zu, å taring due i 19A (do
With oul tbe voke ) a jolly Crew. va
Vex now the Randheads muſt vall down,
And Charles they zay muſt ha the Crown, &c.
But if any ſhould
magnite this Man's
Poetry
as Polite and Fine he would thereby thew
bat he was.
What a Cheat is clapt upon the Narioneto
I wenty Shillings (or more) foran yan
82 when for tels mighr we buy Bitap
Ufer's Life, and Mr. Allen's Life, and Mr.
tatius Gurdan's Life, and many others,
Books
Izuen with excellent Paſſages of all ſorts. Here
we have as in fome Apothecaries Shops lise
Pochit, Or, And no good Confection within
kothing bur einotiefs and air. Here may 1
lay,
Qui
Qui Bavititn non odit amet tua feripi4 Richards.
We value more one little Star, than a blaza
ing Comers which invites the eyes of many,
though no ſubítance in it, and ſoon comes to
nothing
Here was a Man that would ſet forth his
Writings under the Title with Unconfutable
Authority, or Uncontroulable Evidence. Who
did it but her
1203
In all Religious Wars he did ſay, and kill,
and he unwounded always. Here is your Soldi-
er for you! All Divines, Biſhops, Presbyters,
and others fee. He would awaken Sleepy
Controverfies, rake dead men out of their Graues,
and hang them up for open view. Though all
a Brurum fulmen, the ſound of a Pop-gun,
have heard of a Gentlewoman fet on by a
ſubtil Jeſuit, the ſends to the Univerſity for
one to manage the cauſe for her. They know-
ing, not Argument, but Sound, muſt do the
work with her, ſent her no good Scholar, but a
balf one, he comes, and makes a noiſe, o ala-
minable Idolatry—and ſhe was ſatisfied. This
Man, Mr. Baxter, read too much, and thought
too little. !!
I remember Seneca in one of his Epiſtles
cautions againſt reading many Books. Duis
ubique et mullibi eft. Planta, que lepe trans-
Vertur, perit, and many other torr Senten-
ces (which way of his I greatly love). If
you do read many Books, faith he, uſe ſome,
quos voces tuos, ad priores redi. By the way
Epifcopiul, that Grand Arminian Plagiary.
borrowed chele Flowers as if his own, in
his
(6)
huis admired Expoſition on the Ninth to the
Rainans, as he did the Expofirion ir falfout of
Socinian Authors: which Obſervation of mine
vă readiog him, made me the more diſpile him.
Mr. Baxters Life hath often put me in mind of
a Satyr of Horace, wherein he doth ro che life
repreſent a Self-admirer, and Contemner of
og
abam forte via facra, ficut meus eft mas,
One comes and boaſts, Velut Hermogenes ego
Canto.
Vocates in his Excellent Morals directs to
that which the Writers of Mr. Boulton's Life
jays made liim profound. A man fhould be
faith be, xhxo, pitoreand then will be
Pixsee. Mr. Baxter had nor Patience or
Humility to be the firſt, though he was indeed
the lecónd: What ſhall we then call himni
Semi-Philofopher? Inſtead of the firſt, Mr.
Baxter was a Defamer of Wiſe Men. When
A con, as the Poërs Fable look'd on the Nakeda
nels of Diwa, he was turned into a Stag, and
bis Hounds ſet upon him. This Man hath dont
That with Dr. Owen and inany Worthies that I
Tappofe fome of bis Creatures or Followers will
fer upon him, that he may cry in vain;
Afleon ego fum Dominum cornofcite oslirum.
Yon Borxter inns, you Eagle Eyd Men, fofpie
Out Ths. There are none. You Eagle Clawd
Men tapare their names for nothing. Retriehiber
bow sou my as your Maſter atlait expofe your
Helves. He was a Man of grear parts, but Pride
fpoird all. Wherewithall fall I come before the
Deras will be be pleas'd with thouſands of Roma
(7)
or rivers of Oyi? (Induſtry,Bounty, Long-prayers
will not do. ) What doth the Lord require of the
O Man, but to do Fuſtice, (not abule Men) love
mercy, (not ſpare no Man, or uncover bis Infir.
mities) and to walk humbly with thy God, not
boaft of Good-works. In my youthful days I
heard aged pious learned Divines ſay, They be.
lieved God would unmask him, and let theWorld ſee
be never bad that in bim, that he would bave made
them believe. We thank Mr. Silveſter for doing
the good work to unmask him. I faft twice in
the Week, I pay Tiths of all I poſſeſs. God I thank
thee, I am not as other Men, ſaid one, but did
not ſay above Pride, and Paſſion and the World &c.
And becauſe his words and examples have
drawn many ſometimes from Meetings to the
Liturgy, i deſire ſome to conſider, whe-
ther they would ſuffer ſuch Worſhip in their
Houſes, as they ſometimes atrend on in the
Houſe of God. Would you loath it at home,
and will God be pleas’dwith it in his Aſſemblies?
How many good perſons fall have their
Hearts almoſt torn out, for not going to Prayers,
and Sacrament?Beware how you approacb nigh
that Gurfe, Curſed be he that bath a Male in bir
Flock, and offers to the Lord a corrupt thing. For I
ams great King Offer it to thy Governor Jee when
ther be will accept it. The Service indeed requires
VVith an bumble Voice, not loud. (aying after mi,
nor with, or before Mr. Baxter is often
commended by bitnſelf and others, Car dealing
plainty with Men. It is a good thing, when right-
manag'd, when Dilcretion accompanies De.
yotion; Zeal tho' fire, is not wild fire, Bithop
(897
Sellineflect, whom all greatly honour for bis
Orarines Saerie; Says well, Fire may be in the
Pule, oba ir break not out at the Windows. Our
Old Preachers were plain and yet prudenr. Ire-
member I have read of one whole (in was ſtruck
az by the Preacher, and the Man reſolved bis
Death, and therefore went into a Wood where
ibe Miniſter ofren rerired. As he drew mugh him
he beard him praying for his Pariſhoners, and
at laſt particularly for him. The Man threw a-
way his Weapon, fell at his feet, confeſked his
Delign, beg'd pardon, and Reformd.
And now Reader, having had ſo many of
Mr. Baxter's dull Stories, ler us have fone ces
Farkable ones. It is well known of a Miniſter
thar Scores of Years ſince uſed ſuch plainucis in
Picaching, according to the home-ipun way oi
of
daar time
He would in great Zeal call Drunkards in
in Sermons Mal-worms, but this was a Man
of great Senle as the following account will
Prove. Some of thele Men once beler him on
She Higli-way, and told him he thould pronnle
them to Preach a Serinon (the next Sunilay
ay fome, prelently ſay others, which I know
not) and his Text ſhould be MALT, he bciag
temible of danger promiſed it, and thus began.
diere is no Preaching without Divilion. This
Text cannot be divided into many parts, it is
but one word norinto many Syllables, for i sa
Monofyllable. I will therefore divide it foro
Leticis, which are in Number Four MALT:
And therefore, I fhall look on the words under
a fourfold conlideration. 1. M Morally, 2. A
Allego
(9)
Alkgorically. 3. L Literally. 4. T Tropically
1. M Morally. And that reacherh 10 let
gin with good manners, and therefore M My
Malters, A All, L Liften, T to the Text
402. Allegorically, An Allegory is when one
thing is (poken, and another meant. The thing
Spoken
of is Male: but the thing meant is Ale,
which to you is, M Meat.A Arinour. L Li-
berty, T Treaſure.
3, L Literally. The Literal Senſe is very
famous, and I find it in my Texr. M Much,
A Ale, L Litle, T Thrift.
4. T Tropically. And ſo conſider whar it
will bring Men to in this World, and in the
World to come. In this World to M Murther,
4 Adultery, L Licentiouſneſs, T Treaſon.
And in the World to come to M Miſery, A
Anguilh, L Lamentation, T Torment,
And now, faid he, I come to the uſe of all.
* Me
My Text harh an ſad aſpect on you, for here
I find M to A, a thouſand to one, if ever
you reform, ſeeing you are, L Looſe Livers,
and T Tofpois.
Another plain Preacher was challenged the
Field by a Youngſter for ſpeaking ſo plain of his
Sin in the Pulpit. The Miniſter accepis the chal-
lenge. When they came our, ſaid the Young
Man, there is your Weapon? Here it is ſaid be,
aking his Bible with Braſs nobs from under his
Gown. Is that a weapon to fipbe wirb?. 10), jotkng
wan, good enough for you, ſaid he; when the young
Man drew bis Rapier and began to work, the
Minifler who was a ftout Man, with his Bible
truck it our
of his hand, and kpock'd him dowis
and
dan
( 10 )
and got upon him, and ſaid, Sirrah, I have taken
much pains to get the Bible inte thy heart, but to
no purpoſe, I will now take a little pains to get it
into thy bead. He ſtruck him with the braſs
nobs, till he bruiſed him before, and behind, one i.
fide and the other to purpoſe, without indanger-
ing bis Life. The proud beart' at laſt comes
down.O Sir Spare me. Will you promiſe me then to
come to Church, and fit there reverently? Yes ina
deed I will. See that you do then (and gave him
only a ſmall
gentle knock) Will you go home and
put in practiſe what you hear ? Yes, I will. Then
he gave him another rouch and fo let him go.
Thefe were wife Men that call'd none but Spades
Spades, but our Author did, others not fo.
If any ask, Why I am fo Comical and Face-
tious, it becomes me not on this Subject about
Mr. Baxter. I am comical becauſe I would not
be peevith, for I find fo much Garlick- in Mr.
Baxters Book that hath put an acrimony in my
blood which is naturally acrimonious. And for the
Subject I could have no better then with a Vain
Glorious Man; Who objected thus? when Merril
and Alſop were ſo much more than I. (It may
be other conſiderations may induce to it. Muſt
my Wife be ſpoke to for help to hinder my Vin-
dicie? Though it be the Eighteenth year of
her reign, yet ſhe muſt needs complain, I
am often a very diſobedient Husband, and
therefore this is not the firſt time. But did theſe
Perſons think there was no ſtanding in this caſe:
I have heard indeed. Mr. Baxters Wife was a
Pious, Wife, Vertuous Woman: but had Spi-
rit not too little. So that ſo great a Man might
find that to be true,
Con
( 11 )
Conjugis ingentes animos, linguamq; domare,
Herculis est decimus tertius iſte labor.
Owens Epig.
My Spouſe is indeed a Zealous Baxterian,and
is greatly diſturb’d by day, and perplext by
night, and like one of the well bred company,
She calls me Scribler. But I tell her, My Dear,
I am writing againſt one, and for peace and con-
cords ſake I bave promiſed her, that I will never
trouble the world with an bundred and fifty Books
Now as Mr. Baxter would not ſpare his Father
or Grand-farher, it cannot be expect'd that his.
Followers ſhould ſpare their neareſt Relations,
eſpecially the ſhe ones their Husbands;
who they
would not doubt muſt be in fubjection to them,
could they find ſuch a thing countenanced in
Mr. Baxter's profound Writings, tho’the quire
contrary were in the Scripture.
Mr. Baxter, as a grave Matron merrily told
me, In one Book tells us, what bis Meditations
were when he turn'dfrom his Wife by Night. To
which an Ingenious Woman reply'd, There was
never a turning frem, but there was forft a turning
to. But for my part I muſt not tell what I
think, (I dare not lay for love and quietneſs fake)
That theſe Baxterians blood is Naturally Acri-
monious
and made more jo by wane of Care.
Now Acrimonious Blood cauſes Acrimonious
Words.
If any Ask, But who is the Author of this
Book? Ask fome Hot-headed Baxterians my
a good Friends and for peace and love and cona
cords Jake they will tell you, It is a Crack'd-
Fellow lately come to the City, Bur when ſome
faid
( 12 )
ſaid of Mr. Baxter, That he was Crack'd, Ong
replyed, The more he is crack'd, the more Kerne
we fee. The Author's Scull is too thick to be ſd
as they Talk. But it is one of Mr. Baxter's un
ſtudied Divines (for he is far from his Study, and
hath been ſo many Years,) a fower Fellow, tha
when overmuch difturb'd, is as waſpiſh as any
Baxterian of them all.
What his Circumſtances are, the Lyrick Po
et deſcribes,
Auream quiſquis mediocritatem,
Diligit, tutus caret obfoleti
Sordibus tedi, caret invidenda
sed Sobrius aula.se
He is one who dares not juſtifie himſelf in
all that he hath done, for matter, manner
freedom from Pride, Paſſion, like Mr. Baxter
but knows,
Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus.
De art. Poet
And now a word or two to our Conſcienti
ous Men, Non-refifters, eſpecially Jacobites.
I know your Cry. Mr.Baxter,Mr.Baxter, hath
often when alive declared for Non-Reſiſtance, and
now be is dead, bath left the ſame to the World. I
the Perſon of Charles I. were inviolable, ſo wa
the Perſon of K. James
. Though ſome of them preten
ded they fought not againſt the Kings perſon, yet our
late Wiliamites certainly did. By the help of God
we will not be Trayforsto our Lawful K.6 Sovereign
But harken my Maſters. Let us be ſober.
May not we cry from this Book, Hooker and
Bilſon, Hooker and Bilſon, who aſſerted Reſiſtang
in fome Cafes, and ſure if in any it was lawful i
OUT
(13)
purs. It is a good Reſolution never to be Tray.
ors to a King (no Tyrant) and we are as much
reſolved never to be Traytors to our Country:
You ſee we have twoChurch men for your one
Diſſenter. And one of them is worth ren of him,
as they were true Scholars, acquainted with
all parts of Lirerature. Who knows what our
Advocare was, we know how the Papiſt picture
Eraſmus. You ſaw what King James did, and
knew what he was about to do. Would he not
ere this have made fome facred Biſhops and Re-
verend Clergy.men dance before the whip, as
well as Oats and Fohnſon? Would you make you
4 Captain and return again to Egypt? Know you
not how Mrs.Aſhton and others have been dealt
with in France, who have been great ſufferers for
bis Cauſe? Will not the Barbarities to his exil'd
Friends with him convince you, what you muſt
expect if he return?
Whether you repent or no, that you ſent him
away, you will ſoon repent you ever brought
him back again,if he ſhould return.Some of you
know, He would not promiſe to reſtore the Teſt
when Meſſengers went to him, to treat with
him in France, which broke the Jacobites, and
par a ſtop for Eight Months or thereabout to
the laſt Plot, I know it to be true. Had he pro-
miſed it, he had never performed it, what muſt
you expect now ?
As for your Deliverer King William, whoſe
Ruine you ſeek, I may ſay to you, as Pilate to
the Jewiſh multitude, when they preferred Bar-
rabas a Murtherer, and Dettroyer, before Feſus
the Prince of life, and cryed, Not this Man, but
Barab-
( 14 )
Barabbas, ſaith Pilate. Why, what evil batb he
dore? What good hath not King William done?
Rejoiced you not, ſome of you, when you ſaw
what God wrought by his Hand; may I ſaw
to you as Zonatban to Saul about David, who
fought, and was Victorious againſt Saul's Ene-
mies, and yet unthankful Saul ſeeks his life, that
deſtroyed them who fought his. Thou ſaweſt it,
and didſt rejoice. Why then wilt thou ſay David
without a canſe 2--This melted Saulzmay it you.
You know Thouſands of you, K.Fames fought
your ruine. As he turned you on the Diffen-
ters, ſo the Diſſenters on you for the Money
taken from them, and detained by you. For
that and other things had you been as dead Men.
Our good Prince ventured his Life for you, do
not verifie the Proverb,Save a Thief from the Gal-
lows and he will cut your Throat : If an evil Spirit
from the Lord trouble you. Try whether the
Mufick of the Divine Goodneſs to you, well con-
fidered, and of a happy rempred Prince, will
nor make it to leave you. If not, another thing
may. But if you will blow the Trumpet, and
lay, We have no part in Wiliam; neither have
we inheritance in the Prince of Orange, as Sheba
of David, Remember his head was thrown over the
wall. Keep yours where they are.
Remember Jack Straw and Wat Tyler ſtrutt'd
for a time: but at laſt ruin'd themſelves, and
thoſe that followed them.
And now Reader, drawing to a cloſe, I ad-
jure thee, not to condemn a whole
Party of Non-
conformiſt Miniſters, for the extravagancy of
one Mr, Baxter, much leſs all Men Profeſſing
God-
( 15 )
Godlineſs, No nor yet judge him. Who knows hos
hany Sins may be confiltent with the Truth of
Grace, or what Reaſons the Wiſe, Holy God
may have of leaving Men much, very much to
hemſelves ? I Condemn theſe Writings as be-
ore, nor the Man. He was Towring, Lofry Al-
piring, cannot be deny'd; but he fell in all his
Arternprs, ſome of the greateſt in this Age do
offert.
He aim:d to Write like the School-Men; yet
wrote not good Latin nor ſound Philoſophy:
His and their Divinity perhaps may be much a-
ike. He would be an Hiſtorian; yer a writer
of Idle Tales, as is ſufficiently proy'd.
He was above our Synods, that ar Weſtmin-
ter and others, and diſcover'd ſo much Vanity
hat, if in his Writings he would ſometimes get
up on high, he could not keep there, but fell by
nany Aaws and Abſurdities.
That I have many times in my thoughts ap-
ply'd that of the Poet about Pbaeton's Horles
when he thought himſelf wiſer than Phebus,
Ind fit to Govern all.
Et modo
fumma petunt modo per declive viasque
Præcipites.-
And now what Epitaph ſhall we have for his
Brother Baxter, will not the ſame ſerve the Po-
et gave him.
Hic fitus eft Phaeton, currus auriga paterni
Quem fi non tenuit,magnis tamen excidit aufis.
FIN IS.
Poſtſcript.
WHA
Hat I have written of Mrs. Dyar of New
England, look on as Non Scriptum. I know
what Writers have affirmed, and what have
denied. Many Fallhoods about mariers of Faa,
are charged on Mr. Baxter, about which the World
may ſoon hear from others.
I ſee in the review of my Vindiciz, The loſs of
my first Papers cauſed ſome Confuſion in the reſt,
where are a few things jo the Firft part, I had
forgotten I had wrirren in the Second.
Whereas I lately Printed a Book Inricled Willi.
am Pen and the Quakers either Impoſters, or Apoftates,
on their atowed Principles and contrary practiſes. And
had offer'd before, and in that Book, and fince, a
Publick Diſputation with william Pen to prove all.
Some Quakers came to my Lodgings, whoſe Names
I know nor, por whether Implayed by him. They
denyed, that any Quakers (not George Fox himſelf,
held Perfeétion: That ever Vickris or Steel forbore
their open Meetings in the head of Perſecution un
leſs im ſickneſs or viſis. That I was 4 Lyar, and
worſe,to charge them and that William Pen was not
a King, though I as a Lyar called trim 10. I dy
declare I will 110 more anſwer ſuch Men, thar have
not common Senſe, or common Civility. A greag
Quaker confeft to me, it was their uſual way
to Pick out a Sentence here and there to guarrel
with, and then call it an anſwer to the Book
Errata's are ſeldom uſed, therefore none arc
bere.
呢​.....…....
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