The Utter Routing of the Whole Army of All the Independents and Sectaries, Pages 299-401 (2 of 3)

The Utter Routing of the Whole Army of All the Independents and Sectaries · Pages 299-401 (2 of 3)

p. 334Again the truly praying people are taught to pray lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evill; therefore they pray againſt the toleration of all Religions, which is not onelyonly a great temptation and an occaſion of evill, but the very ſourſe and fountain of all errours, ſchiſmes, hereſies, and of all abominations, and of all the evills both of ſin and puniſhment, that can light upon any Church, Nation or Kingdome, as we may ſee by the example of the Churches of Pergamos, and Thyatyra, to the which the Lord ſaith, Repent, or elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight againſt thee with the ſword of my mouth. And I will caſt her into a bed of great tribulation, and will kill her with death, and all the Churches ſhall know, that I am he which ſearcheth the reines and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. I ſay therefore from very good ground, that a Toleration of all Religions is not onelyonly a great temptation, but the greateſt evill in the world, and would be a meanes of bringing plagues and judgements upon the three Kingdomes, and a diſtraction and diſorder amongſt all the people and a confuſion of all things; againſt all the which as ſo many temptations and capitall evills, all truly godly praying people if they will pray according to Gods will, ought inceſſantly to put up their dayly ſupplications, as they deſire the favour of God and the removeall of his judgements, and in their ſo praying they do but their duty and according to the will of God: p. 335Therefore when the Il-dependents pray for a Toleration of all Religions under the name of liberty of conſcience, and labour for it, and hinder with all their power the ſetting up of the onelyonly true Religion and worke of Reformation, and the ſetting up of ſuch a Government in Chriſts Kingdome, which is his Church as he hath revealed in his bleſſed will, and they have alſo covenanted to bring in, in their ſo doing they neither pray that Gods name may be hallowed, nor that his Kingdome may come, nor that his will may be done, nor that they may not be led into temptation, and be delivered from evill; and therefore they pray not aright, and are not as they falſly boaſt themſelves the only true praying people; for they pray not according to Gods will.

Now when thoſe Churches of the Congregationall way conſiſt of ſuch kinde of praying Members, it is apparently manifeſt they are a mixt Generation of men, and not the Generation of the juſt, nor the men of Gods right hand, which is another title they falſly and phariſaically alſo claime and challeng unto themſelves, as they did the former, as will by and by appear upon due examination and diſcuſſion of the true ſenſe of that expreſſion. For thoſe that are the men and people of Gods right hand properly ſo called, are ſuch, as with all their might ſtand up in defence of Gods true Religion, and earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the Saints, Jude 2, 3. and are not onelyonly ever ready to lay down their lives for that ancient faith, but with all their power to fight for it to the laſt drop of their blood, in oppoſition to all errours, ſuperſtition, hereſies, and all manner of falſe worſhip, and in oppoſing whatſoever is againſt the power of godlineſſe as a Toleration of all Religions is, which tends only to the bringing in of all prophaneneſſe and irreligion.

Now the Il-independents deny, that they did ever fight for Religion: Yea, I my ſelfe have heard many of them ſay, That it is unlawful to fight for Religion, and they profeſſed that when they went out with the ſword in their hands, they fought onelyonly for the liberty of their conſciences, and for a Toleration of Religion which is a part and branch (as they ſaid) of the Subjects birth-right: All this I can with many more depoſe, and therefore they falſly arrogate unto themſelves that title of being the men of Gods right hand, which no more belongs unto them then the other enſignes and titles did: And as little right have they to the title of Saints and the generation p. 336of the Juſt (which is ſo frequently in their mouthes) if wee bring them to the true touchſtone of that mettle; therefore it may be to very good purpoſe to turne to the 15. Pſalme and briefly to run over that where we ſhall finde a true deſcription of Saints indeed.

Who (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) ſhall abide in thy Tabernacle, and who ſhall dwell in thy holy hill? that is to ſay, who are Saints indeed and the generation of the Juſt? For anſwer, the Holy Ghoſt, that beſt knew who were Saints indeed, ſets down the characters of true Saints. The firſt of which is, his upright walking; He that walketh uprightly (ſaith the ſpirit of God) This is a metaphoricall expreſſion, ſignifying the trade of a mans life, his cuſtome and carryage in it, as when a man is ſaid to walk after the fleſh, it is as much in the dialect of holy Scripture as to ſay, He goeth on in his naturall condition and in his irregenerate ſtate, in his ignorance, blindeneſſe, wicked courſes and practiſes, and hath no work of grace wrought in his heart, nor any chang in his will and affections, nor in his whole frame of life and carriage, but he is the old man ſtill, Rom. 18. ver. 1. So to walk uprightly, in Scripture language, is, to walk after the ſpirit, to be regenerate, to be a holy and heavenly minded man, who doth all the actions of one borne again of the water and of the spirit, he makes the Law of God his delight, and ſquares his life and actions according to that rule and the direction of his bleſſed word, and he orders his life by that rule in all integrity, ſincerity and without hypocriſie, or any baſe or by-ends or wordly respects. He makes it his employment with Enoch and Noah to walk with God ſecretly as well as openly, in all manner of converſation, in his thoughts words and deeds, as if he were ever in the ſight and preſence of God, walking uprightly alſo towards men, carrying himſelfe juſtly towards all, but especially his main aime is to indeavour that the true worſhip and ſervice of God may be ſet up in his family, and whereſoever he hath power; hee declines not to the right hand nor to the left in matters of Religion, but keeps himſelfe ſtrictly to the rule and goes right on according to the direction of that: He halts not between two Religions or more, for he knowes how much that is diſspleaſing unto God, who ſaid unto the people by his Prophet, Why halt ye between two Religions? That God cannot indure in any people, no more then he can indure the lukewarme Laodiceans that are neither hot nor cold, but indifferent what Religion be ſet up, ſo they may injoy their caſe; all p. 337ſuch he knows God hath and will ſpew out of his mouth; Such therefore as halt and limp in Religion and hop firſt on this ſide to this Religion, and then on the other ſide to that other Religion, and a little after limp into another opinion, and ſoon after hop into another Sect, all that walk thus, are no Saints in Gods dialect: For the true Saints indeed they walk up …ghtly before God in that one Religion he hath appointed, they turne not to the right hand nor to the left, they take no by-way or croſſe path in Religion, they halt not, nor limp not, nor doubt not of their way; neither do they ſit ſtill or make a ſtand, nor ſet not a foot backward in Religion, all which were not to walk uprightly before God, but all the true Saints walk uprightly, they go on with conſtancy without interruption in their Religion that way Jerem. 6. They are not carryed ſometimes this way with this wind of doctrine, and ſometime that way with that blaſt of opinion, but they walk right on, they ſet not a ſtep backward from their firſt love to Religion like the Church of Epheſus, Revel. 2. but paſſe forward toward the price and mark of their high calling with as great a zeal and fervency as at firſt, and hate all falſe wayes and erroneous religions, they perſevere in all the wayes of God and in the footſteps of all the Saints of old, and imitate all thoſe vertues and graces that are commendable in the Saints and all the Churches; They cannot indure that any doctrine of Baalam, Jezabell, or of the Nicolaitans ſhould be connived at amongſt them, or tolerated, or any other Religion but that which the Lord our God hath appointed and eſtabliſhed in his bleſſed word, and in that they walk and perſevere, they decline not in their love to it, they go not backward with Demas to imbrace the preſent World, nor with Hymeneus and Philetus; they will deny no truth of God, nor with any Hereticks innovate any thing in their Religion, but they walk uprightly to the marke of the high calling in Jeſus Chriſt: They ſtand not ſtill neither, nor make no pauſe in their way, but they are ever journying and in the action of well doing, going from ſtrength to ſtrength till they come to the heavenly Zion, they go on cheerfully in their Religion, yea they run the race ſet before them with patience, and that through thick and thin of all afflictions and perſecutions, and abate not their pace, caſting aſide every thing that preſſeth down, as the love of the world, the love of honours and riches, the love of pleaſures, the love of profits, the love of friends, and all earthly emoluments, p. 338yea and the ſin that ſticks ſo cloſe unto them, all their hereditaty and inbred corruptions, yea they reject likewiſe all novelties in Religion, nothing can hinder them from walking uprightly in the old way God has appointed them to walk in, but in deſpite of all impediments they not onelyonly walk, but run the race, and the whole race ſet before them, Looking upon the author and finiſher of their faith Jeſus Chriſt, who for the glory that was ſet before him indured the croſſe, deſpiſed the ſhame, and is now ſet down at the right hand of God in heaven, Heb. 12. 2. He made that good confeſſion to the death before Pontius Pilate and witneſſed the truth; All they therefore that are conformable to Jeſus Chriſt and deſire to walk in his ſteps and that are Saints indeed and the generation of the Juſt, can never indure a Toleration of all Religions; for that is not to walk uprightly with their God, nor after Chriſt example; for Chriſt whipt the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple, and would not tolerate them but layd corporall puniſhment upon them for their evill doing, and preached againſt the Scribes, Phariſees and Saduces, and all erroneous Sects in his life time, and after he was aſcended into heaven he wrote unto the Churches of Pergamos and Thyatyra, ſharply reproving them for ſuffering and tolerating amongſt them any other Religion then that he had appointed, and for but conniving at any novelties in Doctrine and Religion. They therefore that follow the ill example of thoſe of the Church of Pergamos and Thyatyra, and not onelyonly ſuffer all manner of Religions amongſt them, but labour and indeavour to have an indulgence and a toleration for all under the pretence of liberty of conſcience, they follow not the example of Chriſt the Prophet of his Church, nor the example of Abraham, Jacob, Ioſhua and all the Patriarks and bleſſed Apostles who abhorred all novelties and tolerations, and therefore they walk not uprightly with their God and are not Saints indeed according to Gods own deſcription of a true Saint.

Now whether therefore the Il-dependents by their practiſes can challenge this Character to themſelves, I leave it to the judgement of the learned, when they would have a Toleration of all Religions.

But now to paſſe on to the ſecond Character of a true Saint, He that worketh righteouſneſſe, ſaith the ſpirit, they that make it their imployment to render to every one their due obedience and ſubjection to the higher powers, Rom. 13. Tribute to whom Tribute, p. 329Custome to whom cuſtome, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is due, and they that will owe no man nothing but love, and that love one another, knowing that he that loveth fulfilleth the Law, they are Saints properly ſo called v. the 7. In a word, all that are Saints indeed in Gods repute, worke righteouſneſſe; they firſt give unto God his true worſhip and labour for the eſtabliſhment of that Religion onelyonly that he hath appointed, they cannot indure the Toleration of all Religions, neither will they connive at or indulge that any way of ſerving and worſhipping of God ſhould be permitted, where they have power and ability to hinder it, but that which God himſelfe hath commanded; for they know that that is not to work righteouſneſſe; for that is not to give God his own, For he appointed but one Religion, and that he challengeth for his own; ſo then, they that ſet up any other but that, or tolerate more, or allow of a Toleration of all Religions, they work not righteouſneſſe towards God; for that is unjuſtice and a thing highly diſpleaſing unto his divine Majeſty, as taking his right and authority out of his hand who is King of his Church, and ſubſtituting themſelves in his place, which is the greateſt injustice and unrighteouſneſſe in the world; and therefore all that are the true Saints indeed and the generation of the juſt, dare not attempt any ſuch unjuſt thing; for they work righteouſneſſe.

Again, the true Saints in like manner work righteouſneſſe towards all men, they yeeld all ſubjection to thoſe that are in authority over them, and they give the Magiſtrates their due honour and reverence, yeelding unto them all the duties of obedience and ſubjection and veneration, and they yeeld unto the Miniſters and all their Brethren the duty of love and their true honour, and ſo are fulfillers of the law of God. They therefore that maligne their brethren and detract from their praiſes and hate them and ſpeak evill of them and of thoſe that are in dignity and authority, and raile of thoſe in the Miniſtry, and as much as in them lies endeavour to make them odious to the world by their daily traducing of them, and aſſuming the honour due to them unto themſelves, and all ſuch as do aſſent unto them in this their unrighteous dealing, they do not worke righteouſneſſe, and therefore in Gods dialect they are not Saints indeed, nor the generation of the juſt: for it is great injuſtice to detract from any their due honour.

Now I appeal unto the judgment of any intelligible man, whether p. 340or no thoſe that write defamatory books and daily utter injurious and reproachfull words againſt the great councell of the Kingdome, traducing them before all the people, and accuſing them of injuſtice, and of exerciſing a lawleſſe and an arbitrary government over the people, proclaiming them tyrants and as bad as Strafford and the Biſhop of Canterbury, and guilty of the ſame crimes, and that at pleaſure can impeach any of the Parliament and accuſe them to the people as traitors and ſuch as keepe correſpondency with the enimy, and are betrayers of their liberties, and thoſe that do allow of ſuch men, favouring them and incouraging them by their countenance or connivance, I ſay I appeal to the judgement of any whether they that do or aſſent to ſuch doings do work righteouſneſſe, when they do apparently tranſgreſſe the law of God in ſpeaking evill of their rulers. I am moſt aſſured that upon due deliberation they will acknowledge, that this is no righteous dealing: And therefore they muſt conclude, that they that work not righteouſneſſe are no true Saints, nor the generation of the juſt in Gods eſteem.

Again I demande of any man but of a moderate temper, Whether thoſe that with most opprobrious termes doe calumniate our Brethren the Scots, and detract from their honour and due praiſes who came in for our aſſiſtance and helpe, and for our ayd and deliverance, and have beene under God one of the principall meanes of our preſervation, whether in their ſo doing they worke righteouſneſſe. I demand further of any one but ordinarily principled either in Religion, or Morality, whether to ſpeake evill of their Miniſters, and of their Presbyterian brethren, and fellow ſouldiers, with all manner of calumnies and reproaches, and to defame them in word and writing through the world, and to doe them all the evill offices their most mortall enemies can doe againſt them, and who continually labour, to make them and the Presbyterian government hatefull to the world, and that will take great and chargeable journies, and write large Letters and ſcurrilous Pamphlets to doe any of their Presbyterian brethren an ill turne, and will alſo glory of it, and that in Print: I demand I ſay of any moderate minded Chriſtian, whether the doing of ary of theſe things, or the hindring the worke of reformation, and the labouring for a toleration of all Religions, & the aſſenting unto ſuch be to worke righteouſneſſe, and if he ſhall accord unto mee, that theſe actions are unrighteous, then hee muſt accord alſo that thoſe that doe them p. 341are no Saints; for the true Saints worke righteouſneſſe, it is their trade to be ſo imployed. Now whether the II-dependents bee not guilty of all theſe dealings, I referre the Reader to all their Pamphlets, eſpecially to thoſe of Iohn Lilburn lately ſet forth, and thoſe of my brother Burton his Vindication, and his Vindicia veritatis, and their daily practiſes; and I am moſt aſſured if hee will but ſpend a day or two in reading over the writings and the ſermons of the Ill-dependents, they ſhall find little other then unrighteous dealing of all kinds againſt both Magiſtracy, Miniſtry, and all their Presbyterian Brethren and Fellow-ſouldiers; For they ſlight them all, and make nothing of all that ever they have done; for all the Glory of all the famous victories they aſſume unto themſelves, and attribute the honour and glory of them to that Army they call the praying Army, as if none of the Preſbiterian Souldiers either prayed or deſervedany ſhare in the honour of thoſe victories, when it is moſt certainly knowne, that amongſt the Presbyterian ſouldiers there are many thouſands that live as holy and godly, and that pray as devoutly, and earneſtly for all good ſucceſſe upon their undertakings, and for a bleſſing upon their indeavours, as any Independents in England, and are as dearly beloved of God as any of them; for with God there is no reſpect of perſons, but every one that worketh Righteouſneſſe, Act. 10. of what nation ſoever hee be, God heareth him; yea, and it is well knowne alſo, that in the Army there is ten, if not twenty Presbyterians to one Independent; and all men know likewiſe, that many of them are experienced ſouldiers, whereas not twenty of them before theſe times ever ſaw the face of an enemy; and it is likewiſe acknowledged by all impartiall men, that they have ever fought as valiantly as any Independents, and have ſtood to the Battell when many companies of them ran away, as can be proved; notwithſtanding all theſe things, the Independents aſcribe the honour of all thoſe victories to their owne party, and ſay the Independents got this and that victory, and onelyonly becauſe perhaps ſome of their Colonels, and a few other Independent Commanders had the leading up of the Presbyterian forces, and they that under God did the worke, looſe their due prayſes amongſt the people, and the Independents arrogate the honour to themſelves (which is their daily practiſe) and in its due place will appeare: And therefore when the Independents doe upon all occaſions p. 342derogate thus from their brethren the glory that belongs unto them, and aſcribe it to their owne Fraternity; and when they are culpable and guilty of the foregoing charges, they worke not righteouſneſſe; and therefore unleſ7s;e they timely and cordially repent of all their unrighteous dealing towards God, and their brethren, this character of Saints and the generation of the juſt, will not belong to them; for the Saints indeed, and the generation of the juſt, worke righteouſneſſe, whereas the Ill-dependents worke unrighteouſneſſe. But now to paſſe on to the other characters: the third character of the Saints, and Generation of the juſt, is this.

Hee ſpeaketh the truth in his heart, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, and ſuch an one is a Saint indeed; all double dealing men therefore towards either God or men, and ſuch as have a heart and a heart, and whoſe tongue and heart goe not together, they in Gods Dialect are no true Saints; which doctrine is confirmed by Saint Iames, chap. 1. verſe 8. who ſaith That a double minded man is unſtable in all his wayes, and therefore in the 4. chapter hee exhorting thoſe of his time to draw neere unto God, uſeth theſe words, draw nigh unto God (ſaith hee) and hee will draw nigh unto you, clenſe your hands yee ſinners, and purifie your hearts, yee double-minded; they therefore that are double-minded, & ſpeak not the truth from their hearts, are unſanctified & impure, and are not Saints indeed, whatſoever they pretend. Now then all ſuch as make the world beleeve that they will reveale the whole truth of God unto the people, and promiſe they will give in their modell of governement, and doe notwithſtanding profeſſe, and that in expreſſe words, that they will keepe a reſerve donec ad triarios redierit res, and will not ſpeake the truth in their hearts, nor communicate unto their brethren fully their wayes, though God hath commanded them, that whatſoever hee ſpake to them in ſecret they ſhould preach upon the houſe top openly, they are double-minded men, and ſpeake not the truth in their hearts; and therefore in Gods eſteeme they are not Saints indeed; but ſuch are all the Il-dependents. Again, they that in outward appearance & before men ſhew a great deale of love to their Neighbours, calling them brethren, and notwithſtanding plot all the miſchiefe they can againſt them, ſpeake not the truth in their hearts, according to that of Saint Iohn, in his firſt Epiſtle, chap. 3. verſe 18. My little children, p. 343(ſayes hee) let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. There were it ſeemes ſuch kind of creatures in his time, as made faire ſemblances of love to others in tongue and word, but did not really and in truth love their brethren, which he condemnes, for they ſpake not the truth in their hearts; all ſuch therfore as contrive all the miſchief they can againſt thoſe whom at every word they call brother and good brother, & yet write whole bookes to the defaming of them, and killing of their good name, which is worſe then the murthering of their very bodies, they are ſo farre from being Saints, as they are like Cain that wicked one that ſlew his brother, ver. 12. all ſuch therefore as ſay one thing and practiſe the contrary, are double-minded men, and a Generation not of the juſt but unjuſt; for they ſpeake not the truth in their hearts: when therefore all the Independents in words pretend love unto their Presbyterian brethren, and ſeeme to honour the Parliament, and the Scots, and their godly brethren the Miniſters, and yet ſeeke by all meanes poſſible they can to render them all odious to the people, & to baptize them into the hatred of all men, and write ſcurrilous and defamatory books againſt them all to this very purpoſe, and rejoyce at any evill that happens to any of them, or to heare of any breach or diviſion amongſt them, and labour to make it greater, and will not ſo much as pray with them, or pray for them, but have beene heard, in their publick congregations ſay, and that in their prayers, Now Father we ſhould come to pray for the Parliament and the Aſſembly, but they are not worthy the prayers of the Saints; thus they ſpeake unto God himſelfe of the Parliament and Aſſembly in their owne congregations, and will not vouchſafe them ſo much as their prayers, as can ſufficiently be proved; and yet to the world they pretend they honour the Parliament and Aſſembly, and love all their Presbyterian brethren, and wiſh them all happineſſe, when all their actions, words, and Pamphlets proclame the contrary; for it is well knowne, that the whole ſcope of moſt of their imployments is to traduce the Parliament and their government, and to make the Scots and all the Presbyters their brethren the moſt hatefull people in the world, as if all their indeavours were to bring the people under an unſupportable ſlavery, and a greater yoake of tyrannie then that of the Prelates: this is their very language in all their diſcourſe and writings; yea, often in their meeting p. 344places, by which they have ſo inraged the people every where againſt all our godly and painefull Miniſters, that they are looked upon with an evill eye through Citie and Countrey, and yet they pretend love unto them in words, and call them brethren at every turne, and their godly brethren, and yet would ſterve them if they could, and both in their writings, and preaching, and diſputes, labour to take away their good name, yea, their livelyhoods, their Tythes, the only maintenane by which they ſhould ſupport themſelves and their families, all which their dealing is abominable diſſimulation. So that when they moſt court them, and faune upon them with the title of brother, and good brother, and ſhew them ſome outward courteſies, they had moſt need to take heed of them; for then they plot miſchiefe, and ſpeake not the truth in their hearts; and therefore the Ill-dependents are no true Saints, for they speake not the truth in their hearts. But to goe on to the other characters of the true Saints, they ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, verſe the 3. Back bite not with their tongue, nor doe evill to their neighbour, nor take up a reproach againſt their neighbour. In this verſe there are three other characters together of true Saints, as in the former ver. The firſt, they backbite not with their tongue; the ſecond, they doe no evill to their neighbour; the third, they receive not a reproach againſt their neighbour: they will not entertain, indure, or take up, or beleeve an evill report againſt their brethren: for they that are Saints indeed, know, that they that receive ſtoln goods into their houſes, or doe aſſent unto a Thiefe, are as equally guilty as the thiefe that tooke them away; now all ſuch as make it their chiefe imployment, to traduce their neighbours and defame them, and ſpeake evill of them, and fouly reproach them with all manner of contumelious, and diſgracefull language, calling them the profeſt enemies of Jeſus Chriſt and his Kingdome, the Antichriſtian brood, the lims of Antichriſt, uſing a thouſand ſuch ſcurrilous and unchriſtian reproaches againſt the Presbyterian brethren in tongue and pen, and doe all manner of evill unto them in word and deed, and write libellous bookes againſt them, and receive and imbrace all manner of evill reports againſt them, yea, hunt after ſuch, and ſeeke for them that they may have matter of ſlander againſt them, and give eare to Tale-bearers, and buſie bodies againſt the word of God, and will imbrace the acquaintance of the moſt impious peoyle in the world, as can be proved, and p. 345give eare and credit to the calumnies and reproaches of profeſt Atheiſts in any thing they ſhall falſely report againſt any of their Presbyterian brethren, all ſuch in Gods dialect are no true Saints; for they that are Saints indeed, back-bite not with their tongue, they doe no evill to their neighbour, nor they will not receive a reproach againſt their neighbour, much leſſe againſt thoſe that are in authority and dignity.

Now I ſay, if it can be proved that the Independents make it their ordinary and daily practiſe, not only to traduce, back-bite, and doe evill, and receive a reproach againſt their fellow brethren, but doe all theſe evils alſo againſt thoſe that are in dignity and authority, and are made Rulers and Governours of the people, and over themſelves, it follows that they that doe all theſe evils, and all thoſe that aſſent unto them in their ſo doing, are not Saints indeed in Gods eſteeme; now that the Il-dependents are guilty of all theſe crimes, the many Pamphlets lately ſet forth by them, as thoſe publiſhed by Iohn Lilburne, and my brother Burton, and all the other ſcurrilous and libellous Bookes ſet forth by thoſe of that party, and countenanced by them doe ſufficiently witneſſe. And here I ſhall deſire of any man, ingenuouſly to tell mee, what it is to back-bite their neighbour, and do evill to them, and to receive a reproach againſt them, if ſpeaking defamatory words of them all, and writing and publiſhing of libellous Bookes againſt the great Councell of the Kingdome, and thoſe in authority, be not to back-bite their neighbour. Certainly ſuch words and books, as accuſe the Parliament of Injuſtice, tyrannie, and of exerciſing an arbitrary power over the people againſt Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, and the priviledges of the ſubject, and make them all as bad as Strafford and the Prelate; and ſuch words, Pamphlets, and writings againſt the Houſe of Peeres and Commons, as tend to the defaming of them, and their juſt power and government, and to diſaffect the people againſt them, and to ſtirre up a faction againſt their juſt authority, and to make them odious to all men; and all thoſe, that either ſpeake ſuch words, or write or print ſuch Books and Pamphlets, and all ſuch as allow of ſuch words and Pamphlets, either by their ſilence or connivence, or approbation, or by buying and receiving of them into their houſes, or venting, ſelling, and publiſhing of them, and either prayſe or like of the authors and contrivers of them, and all ſuch as ſhall ſcatter and p. 346ſpread ſuch books abroad, and ſhall releeve and ſupport ſuch men in this their evill doing by ſupplying and furniſhing them with moneys, or viſiting of them and petitioning for their maintenance and allowance in theſe their wicked practiſes, or by their ſilence favour them; all and every one of them may truly be ſaid, and that by divine and humane authority and by the very teſtimony of my brother Burton, to be ſuch as backbite their brethren, and they have all of them a great deal to anſwer for ſuch their doings before the righteous judge of the whole world, and in Gods dialect all ſuch as backbite their neighbour with their tongue and pen, are no Saints; for the true Saints backbite not their neighbour with their tongue.

Now that it is the generall practiſe of all the Il-dependents to do this, I refer my ſelfe to thoſe Pamphlets above ſpecified and to their dayly Proceedings, their combinings and confederatings of themſelves together for this very purpoſe; all which do ſufficiently teſtifie and declare unto the world as well as their dayly publiſhing through City and Country ſuch words and books as tend altogether for the defaming of the Parliament and the traducing of all their brethren; that it is one of their maſter pieces boldly to calumniate all men that ſomething may cleave and ſtick.

Again, I demande of any man what it is to do evill to his neighbour, if plotting againſt the life and blood of their neighbours be not to do evil unto them, if making rents, ſchiſmes and factions in Church and State, and to vent and publiſh deſperate and dangerous opinions and open hereſies, all which are works of the fleſh leading men to perdition Gal. 5. I ask I ſay, of any man, whether the acting of all theſe things be not to do evill to their neighbours? And whether or no to violate all the laws of God and nature upon needleſſe and unwarrantable pretences, as to divide the husband from the wife, the parents from the children, the ſervants from their maſters, the ſubjects from their governours and them in authority over them, the people and ſheep from their Miniſters and faithfull Paſtors, and to labour for a toleration of all Religions in a State and Kingdome, yea in many Kingdomes, and by this means to bring confuſion upon them all: I demand I ſay, of any moderate man, whether the acting of all theſe things be not to do evill to their neighbours? And whether to ride and run from one end of the Kindom to another to ſeduce the people, and to do their neighbours a miſchiefe, and by tongue and pen and all manner of infamous p. 347language to wrong them to the taking away of their good name which is better then their life, be not to do evill to his neighbours? Again I demand of any ſolid Chriſtian whether the indeavouring the taking away all means of livelyhood from the Miniſters, as their tythes the onelyonly ſupport of their families, and the making of them odious by their railing Pamphlets, and the hindring Reformation in the Church, and the breaking of all promiſes and covenants with their brethren to the prejudice of the whole Kingdom, be not to do evill to their neighbours? And whether to raiſe up falſe and infamous reports againſt their brethren the Scots and them in authority, and to publiſh them in word and print be not to do evill to their neighbours? And whether the denying of their brethren their very prayers, aide, help and aſſiſtance at any time, yea to pray againſt them and for their confuſion, be not to do evill to their neighbours? I ſhall here deſire of any ſoberminded Chriſtian to tell me whether the acting or doing of all theſe things or any of them or the conſenting unto them and allowing of them, be not to do evill to their neighbours? And I am moſt aſſuredly confident, that he will candidly acknowledge that the acting of all this is to do evill to their neighbour.

Now that the Il-dependents dayly practice all theſe things, can be proved by a cloud of witneſſes, yea all their Actions and Pamphlets can teſtifie it, eſpecially the late conſpiracy of many of them againſt the life of that Honourable Gentleman Mr Speaker of the Houſe of Commons and many more of the High Court of Parliament, and their running and riding about to preach up their new doctrines and hereticall opinions to the diſturbing of all order in Church and State for the ſeducing of the people; and their running riding and going from place to place to defame and traduce their neighbors, for the hindring of them from coming to any imployment by which they might have been uſeful in their generation to the land of their nativity; all theſe paſſages I ſay can witneſſe againſt them; and innumerable preſidents more of their unchriſtian proceedings againſt their breth…n might be produced and may be proved by numberleſſe witneſſes, beſides their owne writings, that all of them do evill to their neighbours, and that this is the generall practice of the Il-dependents. Yea it is notoriouſly known, that there is ſcarce a meeting of them, whether in their feſtivities or in any of their ſolemn aſſemblings of themſelves together, p. 348gether, that they do any other great thing amongſt themſelves, but that that tends to the evill of their neighbours in word and deed, there ſcarce iſſuing any thing out of their mouths but injurious words againſt them: Yea they cannot contain themſelves in the very open ſtreets and in the Churches from railing againſt their Chriſtian brethren, as can ſufficiently be proved; Yea let any Preſbyterian accidentally but come into their houſes, and they will reproach and raile at him. And if all this be not to do evill to their neighbours, I know not what is to do evill unto them.

Now in Gods dialect all ſuch as perpetrate any of theſe actions, are not Saints indeed: for the true Saints do no evill to their neighbours.

The Il-dependents may not here pretend, that their Miniſters can preach and pray well, and that thoſe of their fraternity have many of them excellent gifts; for gifts are not ſufficient to make Saints, but grace is that that makes Saints; For Saint James and Saint Paul have ſufficiently proved That unto all the true Saints; for ſo in the firſt of the Corinthians ch. 13. v. 1. 2. Though I ſpeak (ſaith Paul) with the tongues of men and Angels, and have no charity, I am become as ſounding braſſe and a tinckling ſymball. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and underſtand all myſteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, ſo that I could remove mountaines, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I beſtow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burnt, and have not charity, it profiteth nothing. So that by the doctrine of Saint Paul all gifts are nothing without that grace of love. And Saint James in the ſecond chap. ver. 17. ſaith, That faith without works is dead, and that ſuch as ſhall not relieve and helpe their Chriſtian brethren in their neceſſities, their Religion is not ſo good as that of the devills, for they beleeve and tremble; for pure Religion and undefiled is to viſit the fatherleſſe and the widdow, and to releeve them in their neceſſities, J am. 1. therefore they that are ſo far from relieving their brethren and doing good to them and loving of them, as they do them all the evill they can, pretend they what they will, they are no Saints. Yea, Saint John alſo in his firſt Epiſtle ſaith ver. 10. In this the children of God are manifes;t and the children of the devill, whoſoever doth not righteouſneſſe is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother; For this is the meſſage that ye heard from the beginning, that we ſhould love one another, not as Cain p. 349who was of that wicked one & ſlew his brother; All they therefore that work not righteouſneſſe towards their neighbors, but do them evill and ſl…y & murther them in their reputations and honour, they are no Saints; but ſuch are the Il-dependents notwithſtanding all their gifts, as all their practiſes declare; for they do all manner of evill in word and deed againſt their neighbours in perſecuting them continually with their tongues and pens, and by all reproachful actions as dayly experience teacheth all men.

And here I ſhall take an occaſion to bring to the memory of the Il dependents ſome paſſages of their uncharitable dealing towards my ſelfe lately, that all men may ſee how unjuſt and partiall judges they are, and how they upon all opportunities will condemne any Presbyterian for that which they count a pleaſantery and an elegancy or matter of mirth in their own mouthes. The ſtory briefly is this.

When the Earle of Strafford was in queſtion before the great Councell of the Kingdome, the high Court of Parliament, as if that ſupream tribunall had wanted either judgement or prudence and ſufficient underſtanding and knowledge for the tryall of a Delinquent, or had wanted courage or reſolution or a minde to execute juſtice againſt ſo eminent an offender as he was, who notwithſtanding carryed on the whole buſineſſe with ſuch wiſdome and moderation and in ſo fair a way, as by which the Parliament hath gained an immortall fame to the worlds end; yet at that time thoſe of the Il-dependent party were the chiefe agents of all thoſe tumults at Westminſter, who made it their imployment dayly to run thither to cry for juſtice againſt the Earle, abuſing him though then in the hands of authority, with all the reproachfull words that with the tongues of men could be uttered, as all the ſtanders by can witneſſe, deſcribing him from all the parts of his body, and from every one of them gathering ſome preſage of evill that ſhould firſt be acted by him, & that ſhould finally bring him to an evill and untimely end, and this for the moſt part was the theam of all their ſpitefull diſcourſe concerning him as he was carryed both to and from the Parliament: Amongſt other of their expreſſions, they ſaid, he looked like the belly of a toad and that his teeth ſtood in his head like a pot-fiſh, and that he was ſo rotten with the poxe, that if they could not by their clamours procure juſtice againſt him, yet they comforted themſelves in this, that he could p. 350not continue long; for ſaid they he will fall apeeces he is ſo rotten with that noyſome diſeaſe.

Theſe and many other expreſſions they dayly and openly▪uttered againſt the Earle, ever affirming that he was the uglieſt man that ever they beheld.

This language I can depoſe I learned amongſt them as never having heard it in all my life from any man before that time; and they took no ſmall pleaſure in venting theſe words upon all occaſions, and they uſed them as the flowers of their rhetorick, and it was thought neither blaſphemy in them nor a lie nor any ſcurrility, neither were there any then of that fraternity ſo ſevere, as to think that any that uſed ſuch words could not have the leaſt dram of grace in them. But upon their clamours and through their exorbitant inſolencies againſt him, I being one day at Weſtminſter waited for his paſſing by that I might ſee what a hideous creature he was, that I might at another time ſay I had ſeen him, and in beholding of him I heard their uncivill and reviling ſpeeches againſt him, but obſerved nothing in his looks and perſon, but had his actions been as ſerviceable to the Kingdome as they were deſtructive to all the Kings Dominions and to himſelfe, there was nothing wanting in the man, either for perſon or courtſhip, or any other accoutrements that might not have made him lovely and venerable in any part of the world. And I may truly ſay this of him, that he had more generoſity in his look then halfe the Il-dependents that ever I ſaw, were they put all together: but thus they did aſperſe him for his very looks and complexion. And in the ſame manner they ſpake of thoſe Cavaliers that accompanyed the king when he came to the Houſe of Commons to demand the five Members, of all the which they ſaid they looked like ſo many devills, furies and feinds from Orco and Hell it ſefe, and uſed all the odious expreſſions people could imagine to ſet them forth: And of all the miniſters of the Church of England they ſay they are belly-gods and ſuch as run from one end of the Kingdome to another to get preferment and to do miſchiefe.

Now upon an occaſion not long ſince of a mutinous company of Il-dependents that ſought the life and blood of many honourable Members in the Houſe of Commons; and had entred into a wicked conſpiracy to that end, whoſe immaculate reputation notwithſtanding they could not with all the breath of their calumnies in p. 351the leaſt thing blaſt; I ſay upon this occaſion being cited and commanded to appear at the Committee of Examinations about that buſineſſe, and coming thither I found ſuch a rabble rout of odd fellows, that for the illneſſe of their looks, and the badneſſe of their complexions, and the manner of their behaviour, I never ſaw the like, or any man that was there that I talked with, as they are all ready to witneſſe, they being ſo rude and uncivill towards all, eſpecially towards my ſelf, they being alſo ſuch a company of ſquanderling fellowes, not one of ſix of them having a cloak to his back as if they had come only to make a tumult or an uprore, and therefore had laid aſide all impediments that might have hindred their activity, as thoſe that ſtoned Stephen, that they might be the more nimble, left their garments in other mens keeping. When I ſaw ſo …ude a company, and hearing withall that they were of all Religions and that they had combined themſelves together by ſwearing to take away the life of many in the Houſe of Commons, and that their buſineſſe might go on the better and with the greater ſucceſs, that whiles ſome of them were there acting of their parts in a diſorderly and tumultuous manner; others of them were in the city at a private Humiliation, a ſpeciall day being ſet a part to ſeek God, (as they ſaid) that they might have juſtice done againſt ſome of the Members of Parliament that were not favourers of the Il-dependents, as Jezabell cauſed the Elders of Jezreell to call a Faſt when ſhee took away the life of poor innocent Naboth.

This that I now ſay, was related unto me by one of that company that not long after went out of the room, who was the onelyonly perſon I knew amongſt them all. But I not knowing the cauſe of ſuch a concourſe of uncivill people, demanded the reaſon of it, and it was replyed, that there was not a third part of thoſe that were to come up; for the whole city would appear there in that buſineſſe the day following, to demand juſtice againſt ſuch and ſuch as guilty of High Treaſon, but that now they were ſeeking God and in private Faſts, and that ſome were aſſembled in ſuch a mans houſe, naming the party. In this formall manner things were related unto me, as the righteous Judge of the whole world knoweth, all which proceedings I ſuppoſe was to do evill to their neighbours.

Now when I had well viewed and conſidered all theſe men, and ſaw their complections …arre worſe then that of the Earle of p. 352Strafford, and beholding all their behaviour, and ſeeing their incivility towards all men, and eſpecially towards my ſelfe, whom they cauſeleſly reviled, ſaying, that they had kept mee from hanging not long ſince, and that I had lived on their almes, and that they had prayed for my deliverance out of my troubles, and that now I was come home with a vengeance unto them; for I was turned an Apoſtate, and a Perſecutor of the Saints, ſo that they could not in their hearts pray for mee, and many other reviling ſpeeches they uſed in the preſence of many honourable Gentlemen, as they can all witneſſe, and that without giving them any occaſion in word or deed, as the ſtanders by are ready to depoſe; I ſay, I ſeeing this their diſorderly behaviour, and withall hearing them with open mouth traduce the great Councell of the Kingdome, and accuſing them all of injuſtice, affirming, that their proceedings were as tyrannicall as thoſe of Strafford, and the Prelates, and not onelyonly ſaying it, but printing it in a Pamphlet, in the which they had moſt ſhamefully and falſely belyed mee, as the whole Parliament knew, in all which they did evill to their neighbours. I in replying to that Pamphlet, in my juſt defence, thought it an abuſe of gravity to uſe it upon ſuch whibling Fellowes, and choſe rather by way of merriment to anſwer them, then ſeriouſly to ſpend time about them: and therefore calling to mind ſome of their owne expreſſions againſt the Earle of Strafford, as that hee had got a blow with a French Coulſtaffe, and that hee looked like the belly of a Toad; and remembring alſo, what they had ſpake of the Cavaliers that came with the King to the Parliament, that they looked like ſo many Furies and Fiends out of Hell, and recollecting withall what they had often ſpake of the Miniſters of the Church of England, how that they ran from one part of the Kingdome to an other to get Church preferments, and regarded nothing but their bellies, and ſought nothing but the inſlaving of the King himſelfe, and all the Gentry and Nobility of the Kingdome, that they might the more tyrannically domineer over all the people, and how they had polluted all the Church of God, with their idolatries and ſuperſtitions, and with all manner of heatheniſh and antichriſtian defilements and abominations, and remembring alſo many of Martins expreſſions againſt the Presbyters of the Church of England, in his blaſphemous Pamphlets, as that of the Arraignment of Mr. Perſecution, and his p. 353Eccho, and his Hue and Cry, the which Bookes were entertayned amongſt all the Independents, and read with great delight, they making themſelves upon all occaſions merry with them, and eſpecially with thoſe expreſſions, wherein hee bringeth in all the Preſbyters, and Maſter Simon Synod, with great ironteeth, and ſuch luxuriant tuſhes, as one might picke them with a Rowling-pin; and I ſay, I calling to my remembrance all theſe their expreſſions, (in which they greatly delighted, and pleaſed themſelves, when at any time they inveighed againſt the Presbytery, and ſtudied to make them all odious to the people, as they have done; in all which they have done evill to their neighbours;) thought it not amiſſe to make choyce of ſome of their owne Rhetorick, which I did purpoſely to find out the humour of the Cattle, and that all men might ſee the partiality of the Independents, and indeed the vanity of all unſtable men in generall, who are won with an apple, and loſt with a nut, and will prayſe and diſprayſe they know not for what, and one day commend that in themſelves which an other day they will condemne in any of a contrary mind, and at one time extoll a man for that which upon an other occaſion they will cenſure him for, with all manner of aggravations. The conſideration of theſe things, and with what diſguiſed aſpects, and hideous lookes, and odde complexions they appeared in all the roomes about the Committee, and how they grinned at mee with their teeth, made mee in the deſcription of them uſe the ſame expreſſions that they had formerly done of Strafford, and the Cavaliers, and the Presbyters of the Church of England, when both in their countenance and actions they paralleld them, and ſay they looked like ſo many furies, and like the belly of a Toad, and as if they had got a blow with a French Coulſtaffe, and that one might picke ſome of their teeth with a Bedſtaffe, all which were their owne expreſſions; and as they accuſed the Presbyters for belly gods, ſo they alſo were very ſenſible of good cheere, and that as the Presbyters had with their ſuperſtitions polluted the Church, ſo they did pollute them with their ſcummering and piſſing in them; and that as they ſought to inſlave the Gentry and Nobility, and the whole Kingdome; ſo the Independets if they could but once attaine the maſtery would doe no leſſe; and for this my ſo ſpeaking I had very good reaſon, being well acquainted with their language and dialect, having often heard ſome of them p. 354ſay, that the Gentry and Nobility had beene the cauſe of all the miſeries of the Kingdome, and that if they continued in their greatneſſe, wee might never looke for happy dayes; nay, it can be proved that ſome of the Independent Miniſters have made it part of their imployment, to run from one place to an other to preach their errors, and in their Sermons to bring the Gentry and Nobility into the hatred of the people, accuſing them as the cauſe of all our calamities, publickly declaming againſt them, as the baſeſt Gentry and Nobility in the world, ſaying in expreſſe words, that howſoever Noble-mens Mothers were knowne, yet their Fathers were Grooms, or ſome baſe fellows, & that they were nothing but droſſe, dreſſe, droſſe; and this they have ſpake in great and crowded Aſſemblies; all the which ſpeeches, if they tend not to make the Nobility hatefull to the people, and ſo by conſequence to the ruine and overthrow of them in time, I know not what can; and whether all this bee not to doe evill to their neighbours, I leave it to the judgement of others; and how many of the Independents have vilified the great Councell, let their bookes be examined and they will ſay I wrong them not in any thing, when I affirm they labour to bring in a confuſion of all things; yea, their words daily at the very Parliament dore can witneſſe that howſoever they pretend to honour the Parliament, yet they do accuſe them of arbitrary and tyrannicall Government, and aſſert that the Lawyers in the Parliament have betrayed the Liberties of the ſubject, and this is their daily language, and that it may bee the better knowne, it is all extant in their printed Books, by all which they do evill to their neighbours. Now then if I, in my juſt defence made uſe of their owne expreſſions to ſet downe the wickedneſſe of their wayes, and to diſcover their bad intentions, there was no juſt cauſe why any rationall man ſhould condemne mee for it, for ridentem dicere verum quid vetat? Now that the Independents have ſo ſeverely cenſured mee cauſeleſſely for this, they ſhew they are altogether partiall and very unjuſt Judges; and whiles they doe the greateſt evill unto men, that can poſſibly by the malice of men be done unto them which no true Saints doe, for they doe no evill to their neighbours, as the Spirit of God ſaith; yet they will condemne others, for but making uſe truly of ſuch expreſſions (as they themſelves have falſely and cauſeleſſely uſed againſt others); for I in diſcribing of them and their proceedings p. 355expreſt my ſelfe but in their owne dialect, and yet they fill the whole Kingdom with clamours againſt mee, for being but their ſcholler. The time was, when I writ my Letany for to make my ſelf and my fellow Priſoners merry in our bands, that when many grave men liked it in private, yet diſſwaded mee from making of it publick, that thoſe that are now the great Sticklers of the Independent party, againſt all the counſell of my grave friends, perſwaded me to print it, proteſting, that they thought it would doe the Prelates more miſchiefe then any booke that was ſeriouſly penned againſt them, and therefore intreated mee by all meanes, that I would publiſh it; yea, they offered mee to ſet it forth upon their owne charges and coſts; and through their importunity they prevayled with mee to give them the copie, and it was printed, and liked ſo wel of by that party, as they commended mee with all the prayſes men could extoll and magnifie a man with, as can be proved, and they have often profeſt unto mee, that they thought it was the beſt way of dealing with any enemies of the Church, and therefore I conceive that Martin uſeth ſo much of this method in his books. But indeed there have bin many, and grave Divines that have writ many merry and pleaſant books againſt the Prelates in all ages & nations, which have diſcovered their vanities more then any thing that was ſeriouſly writ, by which meanes many perſonages of eminent quality, as well as thoſe of low degree, have come to the knowledge of the wickedneſſe of the Papall Hierarchy, which had they beene ſeriouſly penned no man would have regarded; yea, the holy Prophets and divine Pen-men have made themſelves merry with the vanity of the falſe Prophets, and great men of their time, many preſidents of the which might be produced out of ſacred writ, ſo that there is no ſinne in writing pleaſantly againſt any ſuch as goe about to ſeduce and miſlead the people, and alienate them from their duty towards God, and their obedience to thoſe that are in authority, and from their duty and love to their brethren, all which are capitall evils, and which no true Saints will perpetrate.

Now I ſay, in this that the Independents did ſo well like of my Letany, and the merry paſſages in that booke, and are ſo highly offended at my mirth in my juſt defence againſt them, that are equally guilty with thoſe they moſt mortally hate, and in that they ſo harſhly accuſe thoſe expreſſions in my booke, which I have but borrowed from them, ſaying, that none that uſeth ſuch, p. 356can have a dramme of grace in them, in all this they are very partiall, and unjuſt Judges, and give unrighteous judgement againſt their neighbour, which is to doe evill to their neighbour, which all true Saints will not doe; and they may remember that the Lord in the 29. of of Iſaiah, condemned ſuch as made a man an offender for a word: But of all theſe things in their due place, When I upon an other occaſion ſhall anſwer to the moderate checks, wherin I ſhall make it appeare, had thoſe expreſſions beene mine owne, there had beene no blaſphemy in them, without it be eſteemed blaſphemy with them, to compare a company of rude and rebellious wicked people to a good creature of God, when as the Holy Ghoſt compareth ſuch to a Dog returning to his vomit, and to a Sow wallowing in the mire; withall I ſhall then make it evident, that the conſpiracy of Corah, Dathan and Abiram was not greater againſt Moſes and Aaron, then this confederacy of the Ill-dependents at that time againſt ſome of the honourable Members of the Parliament. But letting paſſe their partiality in many other things towards their owne party, in whom they can ſee no ſinne, I will goe on to the other characters of true Saints indeed, as they are ſet downe by the Spirit of God: the third of which, in this verſe, is that they receive not a reproach againſt their neighbors.

The true Saints, ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, take not up a reproach againſt their neighbours, they will neither heare much leſſe entertain or receive an evill reproach or calumny againſt their neighbours, for they have learned better things out of Gods holy word, as in Exodus 23. verſe 1. where the Lord ſpeaking to his owne people, and all true Saints, ſaith, Thou ſhalt not receive or rayſe a falſe report; put not thou thy hand with the wicked, to be an unrighteous witneſſe. Neither is there any thing more forbidden through the whole Scripture, then whiſpering, and tale-bearing, as all the Proverbes, & indeed all the Propheticall & apoſtolicall writings can witneſſe, ſo that all ſuch as either raiſe, or receive falſe reports, or reproaches againſt their neighbours, in Gods eſteeme, are no true Saints, but wicked men and unrighteous wretches; for ſo the Lord proclameth all ſuch; and a greater unrighteouſneſſe and ſinne towards men, there cannot be then to rob them of their good name, which is to them as a pretious oyntment, and better then gold or ſilver, or great riches, Proverbs 22. verſe 1. Eccleſiaſt. the 7. verſe 1. and hence it was that David compares the tongues of reproachfull p. 357men to Speares, Arrows, and Swords, and all inſtruments of death; for by their calumnies they wounded and murthered the reputation of their innocent neighbours, and killed them whiles they were alive▪ which is the worſt of all mortall deaths: and therefore the holy Prophet though otherwiſe a valiant man, and undaunted, yet often profeſſeth, that they had brake his heart with their reproaches; and truly a ſorer affliction in this life cannot lite upon any men, then to bee wounded in their good name, and to have their due honours and prayſes taken from them, & to be made vile amongſt the people, which is the greateſt of worldly evils, as all judicious and impartiall men will eaſily judge; for there is no fence or ward againſt calumnies in the ſchooles either of wit or art; and all ſuch as either rayſe ſuch reports againſt their neighbours, or receive a reproach, and harbour any evill thoughts againſt them, and ſuch as tend to the wounding of their good names and fames, are all in Gods Dialect reputed no Saints; for the true Saints ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, take not up a reproach againſt their neighbours; for thus the Lord hath declared himſelfe in his holy word concerning all ſuch men as either raiſe or receive a reproach againſt their brethren, aſſerting that they are no Saints.

Now when the Il-dependents make it their dayly practice, not onelyonly to receive reproaches againſt their ordinary neighbours and brethren, but againſt both the Magiſtrates, Miniſters and all their Presbyterian brethren both Scottiſh and Engliſh, as all the Pamphlets of John Lilburne and my brother Burton and all the other writings and words and the very Sermons of thoſe of the Il-dependent party and all their proceedings do daily witneſſe, it is ſufficiently evident that they are no Saints: For the true Saints and all ſuch as are Saints indeed, receive not a reproach againſt their neighbours. Yea it is well known and can be proved that they hunt after reproaches againſt their innocent neighbours, and will not only entertain into their companies, but even into their new gathered Churches ſuch infamous perſons as have been a ſhame and diſhonour to all their kindred, and ſuch as continue ſtill in their wicked and ungodly practices; and onelyonly for this, that they can impudently and wickedly reproach their neighbours and raiſe an evill report againſt them; all this I ſay can ſufficiently be proved. Nay ſome of them have been heard ſay, when they have railed at and reviled ſome godly Presbyterian Miniſters that oppoſed the errors and novelties p. 358of the times, whē they were demanded what evil they knew by them, and what they could blame in their lives and converſations; I ſay when this queſtion has been propounded unto them, they have replyed, this is the miſchief and ſpite of it that they are unblameable in their lives: then the which there could not be a more wicked, malitious and unchriſtian expreſſion, by which they declare unto all men that it troubled and perplexed them that there was no evill in their lives by which they might juſtly defame them; ſo that it is evident to all men that it is matter of rejoycing amongſt the Il-dependents when they hear of any failings in their Presbyterian brethren contrary unto the cuſtome and practice of the people of God and the true Saints in all ages; for they receive not a reproach againſt their neighbour; innumerable inſtances of this nature might be produced againſt the Il-dependents, but that their practices are ſo obvious to all thoſe that are acquainted with them, or but come in their companies; for a man ſhall not be half an hour in any of their ſocieties but he ſhall hear them either reproach the Parliament or their Proceedings, or inveigh againſt ſome of the Generalls of our Armyes, or ſpeak againſt the reverend Aſſembly of Divines and againſt all the Presbyterians their brethren, or againſt the Scots; and all that they ſpeak of them or any of them, tendeth to their reproach or infamy, ſo that they do not onelyonly receive reproaches againſt their innocent neighbours that live harmleſly by them, but they raiſe up reproaches againſt them and print them, yea againſt the whole city that has deſerved ſo well from Church and State, and only for that they deſire to keep their Covenant with their God, and which they have ſolemnly taken, lifting up their hands and hearts to the moſt high, and vowed to perform, which will be for their immortall praiſe; and yet for this cauſe onelyonly and no wrong done or attempted againſt them, they can in the Great Court of the Kingdom & in print alſo reproach them all and accuſe them of black choler, yea blackcoat choler, as if they were the moſt malitious, rancorous and envyous wicked men in the world, which is ſo unſufferable a reproach againſt the great city of the Kingdome as yet before theſe our times never ſaw the light.

Now if theſe men at their pleaſure will cauſleſſely traduce and that publickly and in print, men in authority and men that have deſerved ſo well from the Church of God and the whole Kindome, What may any man imagine will not theſe men do and plot in private p. 359to reproach their harmleſſe neighbours when they thus daringly and prodigiouſly reproach them in publick and that in print? So that I may conclude and that truly of them, Except they ſeriouſly and cordailly repent of this their wicked dealing towards their brethren, this character of the Saints alſo will not belong unto the Independents; for the true Saints, neither raiſe nor receive a falſe report or reproach against their neighbours, nor aſſent to any that do either.

And this ſhall ſuffice to have ſpoke of the three Characters of all true Saints indeed contained in the third verſe of this 15. Pſalme. There are yet other four in the inſuing verſes, three of which I will run over briefly, they being all things of practice and well known to all men: And they are theſe; In whoſe eyes a vile perſon is contemned: and he honoureth them that fear the Lord: and he that ſweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.

The firſt of theſe Characters, is, to contemn a vile perſon.

The ſecond is, to honour ſuch as fear the Lord.

The third is, to ſwear to his own hurt and change not.

Thoſe therefore that are Saints indeed, in whoſe lives and converſation theſe three Characters are evidently viſible and apparent; and thoſe that either countenance vile perſons, and honour not ſuch as fear the Lord, or break their vows, promiſes and covenants with either God or men, they in Gods repute are not Saints indeed, pretend they what they will, but are wicked and ungodly men and ſuch as bring down the wrath of God upon the place where they live: For as Solomon ſaith, By the bleſſing of the righteous the city is ſaved, ſo by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Prov. 11. ver. 11. Wicked and ungodly men are the cauſe of the ruine of Cities and Countryes; according to that of Saint Paul the ſecond of Timothy chap. 3. ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This know alſo (ſaith he) that in the laſt dayes perilous times ſhall come; for men ſhall be lovers of their own ſelves, covetous, boaſters, proud, blaſphemers, diſobedient to Parents, unthankfull, unholy, without naturall affection, covenant-breakers, falſe accuſers, incontinent, fierce, deſpiſers of thoſe that are good, traiterous, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleaſures more then lovers of God, having a forme of godlineſſe, but denying the power thereof, from ſuch turne away: For of this ſort are they which creep into widdows houſes, and lead captive ſilly women laden with ſins, led away with divers luſts, &c. In the which words, briefly we may take notice that the Apoſtle ſetting down the reaſon of the perilouſneſſe p. 360and danger of the latter times, ſaith not that either in reſpect of wars, or pestilences, or famines, or earth-quakes, or inundations, or murthers, ſlaughters, and robberies, or for any ſuch calamities, the laſtdayes and times ſhall be perillous; but they ſhall be perillous times, ſaith he, for that men ſhall be lovers of themſelves, covenant-breakers, falſe accuſers, covetous &c. So that ſelfe-love, covetouſneſs, falſe accuſations of their brethren and covenant-breaking &c. are the cauſe that makes times perillous and brings down the judgements of God upon any city and places where the Inhabitants are practicers of theſe ſinnes: And therefore the Apoſtle after he had forewarned all ſuch as fear God of the cauſe of all the evills that are comming upon the world, commands all the true Saints indeed to take heed of ſuch men, and in expreſſe words ſayes, from ſuch turne away; have nothing to do with ſuch, for all covenant-breakers and falſe accuſers, and ſuch as countenance vile perſons and honour not them that fear the Lord, and ſuch as keep not their word and promiſe with neither God nor men, are the cauſe of the perils and miſeryes that ſhall come upon the world, and therefore all ſuch are not Saints indeed, but ought to be abhorred and avoyded according to that of Solomon Prov. 4. ver. 14, 15. Enter not (ſaith he) into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evill men. Avoyd it, paſſe not by it, turne from it, and paſſe away. Here we ſee the wiſe man, as if he could never have given caution enough to all his ſchollers, by many reduplications of his words gives all the people of God a ſtrict charge not ſo much as to company with ſuch men: and that for the many reaſons ſet down in the following verſes; but this reaſon ſpecified by Saint Paul may ſuffice, who ſaith, That all covenant-breakers, and falſe accuſers and ſelf-ſeekers are the cauſes of perillous times: and ſo are all ſuch, in whoſe eyes a vile perſon is not contemned, and who honour not ſuch as fear the Lord, and who keep not their covenant and promiſe: For all ſuch are no Saints in Gods eſteem, and therefore a wicked generation of men and ſuch as make the times wherein they live perillous and dangerous, and therefore ought by all the true Saints and godly to be ſhunned and avoyded.

Now if it can be proved that the Independents be ſuch, as in whoſe eyes a vile perſon is not contemned, and ſuch as honour not thoſe that fear the Lord, and ſuch as keep not their word and promiſe neither with God nor man, but are notorious covenant-breakers, or p. 361aſſenters to all ſuch perſons, then it will follow that they are not Saints indeed: For the Characters of the true Saints are to contemn a vile perſon, & to honour thoſe that fear the Lord, and to keep their vowes and promiſes both with God and men; for not onelyonly the Pſalmiſt thus deſcribeth the true Saints, but Saint John alſo ſaith, By this men are known to be Saints if they love the brethren, by this ſaith Chriſt, ye ſhall be known to be my Diſciples, that is Saints indeed, if ye love one another: I ſhall therefore demand of any well grounded Chriſtian, Whether they beleeve that thoſe that run from place to place, and joyn with any wicked and ungodly men and ſeeke their advancement, & that to places of the greateſt truſt in the Kingdome, and prefer them before ſuch as they dayly acknowledg to be godly and truly religious, and will run from Committee to Committee, to do the moſt wicked and vile men and known Malignants any courteſie, and will both in word, countenance and deeds favour and honour them; I demand I ſay, whether they think that in ſuch mens eyes as will do all theſe offices to wicked perſons and that in oppoſition to any of their godly brethren, and that will at any time joyn with any ſuch againſt either the godly and painfull Miniſters or their Presbyterian brethren to defame them or do them any miſchiefe or to remove them from their places and livelyhoods, or for the hindring of their preferments, yea and which is more for the hindring of the work of Reformation in the Church: I demand I ſay of any truly godly Chriſtian, whether they think that in any ſuch mens eyes as do all theſe offices and courteſies to wicked and ungodly men, a vile perſon is contemned? when he dayly ſeeth the contrary that they honour them and prefer them before ſuch as fear the Lord; I am moſt aſſured he will conclude and affirme, That in their eyes a vile perſon is not contemned.

Now that this is the dayly practice of the Independents, I undertake upon my life to prove it by a cloud of witneſſes, and that there is not the vileſt perſon nor the wickedeſt wretch that they will not joyn with to do any of their Presbyterian brethren a miſchief, & that they will not give credit to in falſly belying their brethren; yea it can be proved, that when the Independents have been demanded by ſome godly and orthodox Ministers why they have left the publick Aſſemblies ſeeing there was now no ceremonies nor any thing in their doctrine that they could finde fault with, and they have replyed, That it was in regard that their Congregations were mixt, p. 362that tagg ragg and all ſorts of men were admitted to the Sacrament, with whom they could not joyne. Whereupon the Miniſters, that they might remove this ſcandall and offence, laboured by all means to perſwade the people ſo to behave themſelves as they might manifeſt unto all men they were worthy communicants, otherwiſe profeſſing unto them that they durſt not adminiſter the communion unto them; and therefore for ſome moneths abſtained from the publick adminiſtration of the Sacrament and uſed all their beſt endeavour in that interim by their faithfull and painfull preaching and exhortations, to fit all men for the better receiving of the Sacrament, and that by this means they might gratifie their tender conſciences; I ſay in this interim of time it ſhall be proved, that theſe Independents, who thoſe godly Miniſters had ſuch a deſire to pleaſe, went unto theſe wicked and ungodly men that the Miniſters excepted againſt for their converſation as ungodly and prophane, and joyned with them againſt their Miniſters, ſaying unto them, What will you give tythes and maintenance to ſuch Miniſters as ſhall thus deal with you as to deny you the Sacrament of the Lords ſupper? ſurely were I in your condition, & were I a Member of your Congregations, I would never own ſuch a man for my Minister, nor never give any allowance to any ſuch as would not adminiſter the Sacrament unto me: By which practices of theirs they have made thoſe painful Miniſters ſo odious to the people by joyning with thoſe wicked varlots as they have not only deprived them of their livelyhoods and maintenance, but ſo perſecuted them with all manner of reproaches and evill language, as they have forced them to leave their places and to wander about the world to get themſelves a poor living for the ſupportation of themſelves and their diſtreſſed families; by all which proceedings if the Independents do not declare themſelves to be ſuch as countenance a vile perſon, and to be enemies of thoſe that fear the Lord, I know not what ever any men did to deſerve thoſe Characters, by all which they proclaim themſelves to be no true Saints, if the Lord himſelf knoweth how to deſcribe Saints indeed: This that I have here related I ſhall by Gods aſſiſtance be able to prove by ſuch witneſſes as againſt whom there can be brought no juſt exception.

And that all the Independents are notorious covenant-breakers, or aſſenters unto ſuch as violate their oathes and promiſes both to God and men, all the Kingdome can witneſſe for me, eſpecially p. 363thoſe Miniſters of the Reverend Aſſembly, with whom the diſſenting brethren have brake all promiſes and ſolemne agreements not once but many times; ſo that it would be a needleſſe work to expatiate any further, in proving them to be no Saints indeed, when they manifeſt by all their practices that they neither walk uprightly nor work righteouſneſſe, nor ſpeak the truth in their heart, and when they backbite their neighbours with their tongue and do evill unto them and receive a reproach againſt their neighbours and countenance vile perſons, and honour not ſuch as fear the Lord, and keep not their promiſes either with God or men; by all which they declare unto the world that they are not Saints indeed, when all theſe Characters are the badges onelyonly of wicked men, to do contrary to that deſcription of true Saints.

Now when all the Churches of the Congregationall way conſiſt of ſuch Members as theſe are, it followes that they are mixt Aſſemblies as not conſiſting of viſible Saints, & therefore ought juſtly to be ſeparated from and not to be communicated with in holy things; and that from their own principles: For they pretend they ſeparate from our aſſemblies onelyonly becauſe they are mixt of tagg ragg and ſuch Saints as Job would not ſet with the dogs of his flock.

Many other Arguments alſo might I here bring againſt both the Miniſters and people of the congregational way to prove them no viſible Saints, and that not from any private information or clandeſtine practices, but for open delinquency and ſcandalous walking and that in the veiw of all men, and ſuch as can be proved by ſuch perſonages, as againſt whom there can be no juſt exceptions. But before I conclude this buſineſſe let me ſay that which a learned man once uttered reading Chriſts Sermon upon the mount and the holy Evangeliſts, either this is not the Goſpel (ſaith he) of Jeſus Chriſt, or if it be the men now living are no Chriſtians: After the ſame manner I may truly ſay of thoſe of the Congregational way, that either this diſcription of the true Saints is not the word of God, or if it be, thoſe of the Independent Aſſemblies are no Saints: for there is no agreement between them and the deſcription of thoſe Saints there ſpecified, as all their practices ſufficiently and apparently declare.

And now the fourth and laſt part of my Minor Propoſition remaineth only to be proved: viz. That the Independents and all thoſe of the Congregationall way despiſe their Chriſtian Brethren p. 364and ſeparate from them as being more holy then they; which is ſo apparently true, as beſides their words and Pamphlets in all which they proteſt againſt us, as enemies of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt & his Kingdome and as an Antichriſtian brood, their dayly practice declareth it, who have moulded themſelves into innumerable ſucking Congregations which they terme the onelyonly true Churches, and have ſeparated from our Aſlemblies as from ſo many Synagogues of Sathan, for this is their language. So that it may be thought a needleſſe ſpending of time, to uſe any Arguments to evince that which is in the view of all men, & which the Independents themſelvs avouch.

Having therefore thus proved all the parts and branches of my minor propoſition, the major being undeniable, the concluſion will neceſſarily follow, That the Churches of the Congregationall way, are not true Churches after the New Teſtament forme, as not conſiſting of all viſible Saints, but are mixt Congregations, and therefore by truly godly people ought not to be communicated with in holy things, and that from their own principles.

So that now, it is apparently evident to the judicious Reader from that I have formerly ſpake & from my brother Burtons words and from their own definition of a Church, That neither the Church of Ieruſalem, nor any of the Primitive and Apoſtolical Churches, were true formed Churches after the New Teſtament form, if my brother Burtons and I. S. his words and their definition of a Church▪ be true, and that the very Churches of the Congregationall way, as not coming within the bounds of that definition, are no right conſtituted Churches, as not conſiſting of all viſible Saints & cōmunicating in all Ordinances, and which is more, That if they will be right formed churches they muſt al be dependent. All this I ſay is ſufficiently proved f…ō all the foregoing diſcourſe to any intelligible & impartiall Reader in the which I have been the more large, that if it be poſſible, I might undeceive the poor deluded people, and perſwade them to take no notice of them (as the Independents do not of thoſe multitudes baptized by Iohn & Chriſts diſciples) as formed into a church or Churches after the New Teſtament form: for the firſt formed Church we read of is Acts the ſecond, that conſiſted onelyonly of viſible Saints, and yet had neither Deacons nor Presbyters at that time, nor diſtinct Officers and Members united into one Church body reſpectively, and wanted that part of Diſcipline alſo of caſting out corrupt Members (as my brother Burton aſſerteth pag. 10.) p. 365So that by this it evidently followeth, That thoſe Congregations that conſiſt of viſible Saints, though they have not diſtinct Officers within themſelves and want Diſcipline, may be true formed Churches after the New Teſtament form, as the Church here of Joruſalem was, which at that time it was a true formed Church (by my brother Burtons confeſſion) had no Deacons, nor Elders nor dictinſtion of officers & members, nor that part of Diſcipline for caſting out corrupt Members, and yet I ſay notwithſtanding it wanted all theſe things (by their own conceſſion) it was at that time a true formed church, & that becauſe the Members of that Church conſiſted of viſible Saints: from all which I may draw theſe two infallibleconcluſions.

The Firſt, that all ſuch congregations as conſiſt of viſible Saints, ſuch as beleeve the Goſpel, and make profeſſion of the Chriſtian Faith, and are baptized, and continue ſtedfaſtly in the doctrine of the Apoſtles, in breaking of bread, and in prayer, are true formed Churches after the New Teſtament forme; although they want both diſtinct Officers, and Members united into one Church body respectively, and although they want that part of diſcipline for caſting out of corrupt Members. This firſt concluſion, I ſay, I infallibly gather from the Independents doctrine.

The ſecond is this, That whatſoever Congregations and Aſſemblies they be, that have both diſtinction of Officers and Members, and Church diſcipline, and all other outward performances, if the Members of them bee not viſible Saints, they are not true formed Churches after the New Testament forme; for all true formed Churches after the New Teſtament form, are ſuch as conſiſt of viſible Saints, without which they are but ſhadows of Churches, and no true churches for ſubſtance; but all the Independent congregations are ſuch as only glory in outward performances & conſiſt not of viſible Saints. Ergo. And this ſhall ſuffice to have ſpake to all that Mr Knollys I. S. & my Brother had to reply againſt all my Arguments, for the proof of my firſt Propoſition, viz. that there were many Congregations and ſeverall Aſſemblies of beleevers in the Church of Ieruſalem, in the which they injoyed all acts of worſhip, and all the ſaving and ſealing Ordinances amongſt themſelves, and that before the perſecution, and under the perſecution, and after the perſecution.

And now I come to what Maſter Hanſerdo, I. S. and my Brother Burton have to anſwer to my ſecond, third and fourth Propoſitions p. 366inſuing; and after I have diſpatched that worke, I will then in like manner reply to whatſoever either Maſter Knollys, I. S. or my brother Burton have to ſay to all my Arguments concerning the gathering of Churches, and touching the liberty of conſcience, or the toleration of all Religions; and becauſe they are not ſo large in their anſwers to them, as they were to my fore-going reaſons; and to ſpeake the truth, ſpeake little to the purpoſe, but for the overthrowing of their owne opinion, and for the corroborating of mine, I ſhall be the briefer in them. But firſt, I will ſet downe my Propoſitions, and ſhew how farre the Jndependents aſſent unto them; and I will then alſo faithfully relate their owne words, ſo far as they are for their purpoſe, or any way make againſt my Arguments, or are in any respect advantagious to their cauſe.

My ſecond Propoſition now followeth, viz. That all theſe congregations and ſeverall Aſſemblies made but one Church. And for proofe of this I ſhall not need to uſe many words, or any great diſpute; for the brethren themſelves acknowledge, that all the beleevers in Jeruſalem were all Members of that Church, and they accord farther, that it was but one Church. And it is manifeſt out of the holy Scripture; for it is ſaid, they that were converted, were added to the Church; and therefore Members of it, and that they continued in the Churches communion, and in the Apoſtles doctrine, and put their eſtates in the Churches common treaſury, and …hoſe Officers for the Church; and all this (I ſay) our brethren doe acknowledge, and take this fellowſhip of theſe Members for a paterne of ordinary Church-communion; and therefore this my ſecond aſſertion is without controverſie, it being in expreſſe words ſet downe in the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. chapters of the Acts, and many places in the ſame Storie, and aſſented to by the brethren.

To this Propoſition, and the Reaſons of the ſame, Maſter Knollys in the eleventh page of his Pamphlet thus replyes. To which J alſo (ſaith hee) conſent; but the brethren have not acknowledged, neither bath the Doctor by Scripture proved, that in this one Church of Jeruſalem there were divers Congregations and ſeverall Aſſemblies of Beleevers; and therein I muſt manifeſt my diſſent from the Doctors opinion, promiſing him, if he ſhall ſoundly prove it in expreſſe words of Scripture (which he hath undertaken) I will acknowledge it.