A Dissuasive from the Errors of the time, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The Carriage of the Independents at London.
The work of the prime Independents of New England, Arnheim, and Roterdam, theſe five yeers at London.YOu have gotten a taſte of the Fruits of this Tree, as it grows in New-England and Holland: When it is tranſplanted to Old-England, conſider if the Grapes of it be any thing ſweeter. Theſe Five laſt yeers, the chief of that party, both from Arnhem, Roterdam and New-England, have kept their reſidence at London, to advance, by common counſels and induſtry, their Way, in theſe days of their hopes. A full account of their courſes in that place cannot be expected, ſo long as many paſſages concerning them lie in the dark, and the end is not yet come. But three things ſeem to be clear, which make their Way at London no more lovely then in the places mentioned. Firſt, they have been here exceeding unhappie in retarding, and to their power croſſing the bleſſed Reformation in hand. Secondly, they have pregnantly occaſioned the multiplication of Hereſies and Schiſms, above all that ever was heard of in any one place in any former Age. Thirdly, they have occaſioned ſuch Diviſions in the State, that, had it not been for the extraordinary mercies of God, the Parliament and all that follow them, had long ago been laid under the feet of their enraged enemies, and the whole Iſle, long before this, totally ruined.
They did hinder with all their power, ſo long as they were able, the calling of the Aſſembly.As for the firſt, The Reformation of Religion, ſo much wiſhed for by all the godly for ſo many yeers, all know it could never have been attained without the help of an Aſſembly of Divines: Who oppoſeth the neceſſary Mean, cannot be taken for a friend of the End. The Aſſembly, the neceſſary means of Reformation, was for a very long time hindred, by the diligence of the Independent party, to be called (A): and when, to their evident grief and diſcontent, the Parliament had voted its calling, they may remember their extraordinary induſtry to get▪ it modelled according to their Principles, both in its members and power (B); to have it an elective Synod onelyonly for advice, to conſiſt of ſo many of themſelves and of their favourers as was poſſible, not any known Divine of any parts in all England of their opinion, being omitted. How cautious they were by great ſlight of hand to keep off ſo many of the old Puritan Unconformiſts, and how much more enclinable towards men of Epiſcopal and Liturgick principles, themſelves do know.
This their underhand-working before the ſitting of the Aſſembly, was ſeen but by few: but ſo ſoon as the Synod did ſit,When it was called, they retarded its proceedings▪ it did then appear to the whole Company who were the men who made it their work and greateſt ſtudie to keep off, by their endleſſe Janglings, the Aſſembly from concluding any thing that might ſettle the diſtracted Church (C); ſo that to this day, after two yeers time and above, in more frequent and learned Seſſions then every we read of in any Aſſembly ſince the world began (D), There is nothing at all ſet up for the comfort of the afflicted Kingdom.
Their averſeneſſe to the Aſſembly doth appear, not onelyonly in their oppoſition to its calling, in their retarding of its proceedings, but in their preſſing of its diſſolution. I do not ſpeak of the huge Contumelies which ſome of their party have poured out upon the face of that moſt Reverend Meeting, in a number of very wicked Pamphlets, which to this day were never ſo much as cenſured, though the Authors, by name and ſirname, are complained of in Print. But that which I ſpeak of, is the expreſſe Article of the Independent Petition, deſiring the Parliament in formal terms, according to Maſter Peters dictates, to diſſolve the Aſſembly (D 2.).
Had either the Popiſh faction, or the Epiſcopal party,That the Churches of England and Ireland lie ſo long in confuon, neither Papiſts, nor Prelates, nor Malignants have been the cauſe. or the malignant Courtiers procured the continuance of our woful Anarchie, our anger would have been greater then our grief or ſhame. But when the mercies of God now for ſome yeers have removed the Papiſts, Prelats and Courtiers ſo far from us, that by word or deed they have not hindred us in the leaſt meaſure to heal the diſeaſes of our Church at our pleaſure; that her wounds to this day ſhould be multiplied, and all kept open to drop out her beſt blood, alone through the obſtinacy of our Brethren, though we compreſſe our indignation, yet we cannot but be oppreſſed with a great meaſure of grief, nor can we chuſe but to be covered with confuſion and ſhame, when we are forced to taſte the moſt bitter fruits of our Brethrens principles, though denied by them in words, yet ingenuouſly avowed by their friends in Amſterdam, and conſtantly practiſed in New-England; to the uttermoſt of their power (E 1.), they muſt oppoſe the building of a Church any where in the world, if it be not after their patern:
But the Independents working according to their principles.That as in New-England no Presbyterial Church on any condition may be tolerated, ſo in Old-England no Presbyterial Church muſt ever be erected, if all their skill and induſtry can hinder it. Such a Reformation, though expreſly according to the National Covenant, to them is a deformation which they cannot wiſh, much leſſe pray for or endeavour, but with all their ſtrength muſt croſſe it, as a corruption unſufferable, where they have power.
Its plain and demonſtrable, that their Principles and Way have forced them to oppoſe the Reformation in hand, and will ever force them ſo to do, till they lay new grounds, and be changed in the ſence of their erroneous minde. However, the actions of our Brethren did proclame loud enough their intentions to delay ſo long as they were able, the ſetting up of any Government; yet when this evil is become ſo groſſe and palpable, that all in words do diſclaim it, and they who moſt do procure it, do moſt in ſhew abominate it, it ſeems a little ſtrange that ſome of their Divines are now begun in Print expreſly to own it, and in Print to perſwade the delay of this work (E 2.).
The great miſchief of that Anarchy wherin they have kept the Churches of England and Ireland for ſo long a time. Independency is the mother of more Herereſies and Schiſms at London, then Amſterdam ever knew.It muſt be a heavie guiltineſſe to be a powerful inſtrument of keeping two ſo great Kingdoms as England and Ireland without the Fold and Hedge of all Eccleſiaſtike Diſcipline for divers yeers together, eſpecially in the time of a devouring War. How many thouſand ſouls have periſhed by this means in their ignorance and profaneſſe, who in a wel-governed Church might have been reclaimed?
Unto this great miſery, another great unhappineſſe addeth much weight. Beſide their marring of the begun-Reformation, they have occaſioned the periſhing of ſome millions of poor ſouls, by the unheard-of multiplication of Hereſies and Schiſms (F). I believe no place in the world, for this miſchief, is now parallel to London. Amſterdam long ago is juſtified; that City hath tranſmitted hither the infamy of her various Sects. Now upon whom ſhall this blame be faſtne… …?
It is well known that the Sects, at the time of the Independents return hither, were inconſiderable, in regard of that which now they are by their means. It was their work to bring people into diſtaſte with the way of all the Reformed Churches: this by their labours was made vile in the eyes of the multitude; and people once having leaped over that wall within the which all the Proteſtant Churches have dwelt in ſafety, by all the skill of their firſt miſleaders could not be holden from running farther away; as in New-England Independency was a mother to Anabaptiſm, Antinomianiſm, Familiſm, and many more Hereſies, We need not wonder to ſee it any where bring forth the like Brood: But hereof indeed do we wonder, that in ſo ſhort a time this Way ſhould change as it were its nature ſo farre to the worſe.
In Holland and New-England, Independency,Independency at London doth not onelyonly bring forth, but nouriſh and patronize Hereſies and Schiſms, contrary to its cuſtom either in New-England or Amſterdam. ſo ſoon as it had found and diſcerned the young brats of Anabaptiſts, Antinomians or Familiſts in her boſom, it was her cuſtom incontinently to fling them away as Baſtards: But Independency at London hath learned not onelyonly to beget, but to cheriſh ſuch children when they are brought forth. Not onelyonly the Churches of New-England, but the very Amſterdam-Browniſts have ever been zealous to caſt out of their Society the Heretikes and Schiſmatickes we ſpeak of: but here in London it is far otherwiſe.
We have heard that many of the Independents here, ſo ſoon as they have fallen into Anabaptiſm or other Errours of the time, have quickly of their own accord run away and ſeparated from the Independent Congregations, as polluted, as falſe, as no Churches: But that ever any of the London-Independents did caſt out of their Churches any man or woman for Anabaptiſm, Antinomianiſm or any other Errour, we never heard.
By the contrary, Independency here is become an uniting Principle; it hath kept our Brethren in the midſt of all their bitter Jarrs with the Reformed Churches abroad, and the Presbyterians at home, in a great entireneſſe and familiarity with all the Sectaries that pleaſed to draw neer them. They have by their debates and diſſents laboured to hinder the Aſſembly from giving the leaſt advice to the Parliament to take any order with the moſt abſurd of the Sectaries, when complained upon for their greateſt Enormities; yea, they have preached and printed divers Tractates for a full liberty to all Sects (G). That ſo ſoon they ſhould have run thus far out, we could never have believed, if our own eyes and ears had not been our perſwaders.
How hazardous it may prove to the State of England.As for the third Apple we obſerved on their Tree, The endangering of the State, it is no leſſe viſible then any of the former. If there were no more but the keeping of the Church-wounds ſo long open, the health, yea the life of the State might juſtly be feared, from this ground alone, by all who know the ſympathy of theſe Twins, and the inſeparable intereſt of theſe two much-united Companions. But beſide the keeping of the Church unſetled, the growth of Schiſms, how pregnant a cauſe it is of a States ruine, we need no other witneſſe then the declaration of their Brethren in New-England (H). We are made here to believe, that the Anabaptiſts and the Antinomians are ſo tame and harmleſſe creatures, that there is no danger of any violence from their innocent hands. If it be ſo, the General Court at New-Boston hath been extremely unjuſt, who profeſſed their wel-grounded apprehenſion of a total ſubverſion not onelyonly of all their Churches, but of their Civil State alſo, from a far leſſe number of theſe Sectaries then are here among us; and avowed to the world their neceſſity to baniſh out of that Countrey the leaders of that dangerous Faction, whether men or women, whether Church or States-men, and to diſarm many of their followers, upon much much ſmaller provocations and lighter grounds of ſuſpition then by the words and deeds of their kinsfolks have been offered lately unto this State. (I)
What more might be ſaid of the London-Independents practices upon the State, readily may come to the world ere long by a much better Pen. I for cauſes at this time abſtain totally from writing on this ſubject.
The Teſtimonies.
(A) Antap. p. 51. I believe upon good grounds, and ſo do many more, you never took any great content or joy in the thoughts of the Aſſembly, but have done your utmoſt to delay it and to put it by. God knows your hearts, and men ſome of your ſpeeches about the meeting of this Aſſembly: But ſeeing it could not be helped, and that you could not keep it off by all your friends, &c.
(B) Antap. p. 255 When an Aſſembly was firſt agreed upon, there were not many more Miniſters and Scholars of your way in the Kingdom who were capable of ſuch a Service, then you got in to be Members of the Aſſembly; ſo that you had as much advantage as your condition was capable of, yea, and favour too. See the Orders of the Aſſembly, which give no power at all of Juriſdiction to the few ſelected Divines, but alone a power of advice.
(C) Antap. p. 269. I am confident had it not been for you five, and a few more, the Reformation intended had been in a far fairer way then now it is. Brethren, there are many complaints, and that by your dear friends, of the retarding the Work of Reformation by your means. You are the Remora to the Ship under Sails, you are the Spoaks in the Wheels of the Chariot of Reformation. Parliament complains, Aſſembly, City, Countrey, all complain of the Work retarded, and all is reſolved into you five principally. I could tell you many particular paſſages, but you know what I mean. In a word, all the Prelates and the Papiſts cannot, nor do not hinder ſo much the Work of Reformation, as you five Members of the Aſſembly.
(D 1.) The Scribes Books carry already above 500. Seſſions.
(D 2.) Prynnes freſh Diſcovery, p. 17. They lately conſpired together to exhibite a Petition to the Parliament for preſent diſſolving the Aſſembly, and ſending them home to Countrey cures, to prevent the ſetling of any Church Government, to which end they met at the Winde-Mill Tavern, where John Lillburn ſat in the Chair, and Maſter Hugh Peters ſuggeſted the advice, which was accordingly inſerted in the Petition.
(E 1.) Anſwer to 32. Queſt. p. 83. If that Diſcipline which we here practiſe, be the ſame which Chriſt hath appointed, and therefore unalterable: We ſee not how another can be lawful. So if a company of people ſhall come hither, and ſet up another, we cannot promiſe to approve of them in ſo doing.
(E 2.) Burtons Vindication, p. 2. If the better heed be not taken, there may be more haſte to a Reformation then good ſpeed; A Reformation therefore will neceſſarily require longer time yet, that we may not go blindfold about it. See alſo Saltmarſh his Queres.
(F) Baſtwicks ſecond part of Independency▪ Poſtſcript, p 37. Before the Independents Apparition in our Horiſon, there were but three or four Sects known among us, and they were few in number, and well conditioned; but out of the Independents Lungs are ſprung above fourty ſeveral ſorts of ſtra…lers, which before their coming over were never heard of among us. John Lillburn related it unto me, and that in the preſence of others, that returning from the wars to London, he met fourty new Sects, and many of them dangerous ones, and ſome ſo pernicious, that howſoever, as he ſaid, he was in his judgement for Toleration of all Religions, yet he profeſſed he could ſcarce keep his hands off them, ſo blaſphemous they were in their opinions; So that he gathered that theſe were now the laſt days, wherein ſo many Hereſies abounded: There are innumerable diabolical Sects, and ſo prodigiouſly impious, that it is not for a Chriſtian to name their opinions; and moſt of them, if not all, were firſt Independents, and ſuch as ſeparated from our Congregations as unholy, and were of their new gathered Churches, and followers of their Miniſtery.
(G) A ſhort Anſwer to Adam Stewarts ſecond part, ſuppoſed to be written by John Goodwin, p. 32. and 36. Is it not an ungodly thing to ſuffer men to be of any Religion? Anſwer. No, For both our Saviour and the Apoſtles, and the primitive Chriſtians did the ſame: Ought we not at leaſt to keep our different Opinions, and Religion unto our ſelves, in obedience to the Civil Magiſtrate that commands it▪ Anſwer. No, Becauſe its better to obey God then man; but if Jeſuited Papiſts, and other ſubtill Hereticks be ſuffered; will they not ſeduce many unto their erroneous By-paths? Anſwer. Though a Toleration of erroneous Opinions may gain ſome to Satan, yet Truth being therewith to be publiſhed and approved, will in all probability, not onelyonly gain ſo many more to God; but any one thus wonn to the Truth, is worth thouſands of theſe that fall from it.
(H) Cottons Model of Church and Civil power related in the Bloody Tenent, p. 120. The falls of Common-wealths are known to ariſe from their diminiſhing the power of the Church, and the flouriſhing of Common-wealths is obſerved to ariſe from the vigilant adminiſtration of the holy Diſcipline of the Church.
(I) Maſter Prynnes freſh diſcovery in the Epiſtle. Their Libels, actions, ſpeeches, proclaim a plotted, avowed confederacy among ſome furious Ringleaders of theſe Independent Sectaries▪ againſt the Parliament, Aſſembly, and all their reſolves in matters of Religion. That which confirms me in this opinion, is, firſt the new ſeditious Covenants which the Members of ſome Independent Congregations enter into, to adhere, defend, maintain, to the uttermoſt of their power, and contend for even to blood, the eſtabliſhment of that Independent Form of Church Government which themſelves have ſet up, and to oppoſe the Presbyterian.
Baſtwicks ſecond part, p. 28. This that I now ſay, I ſpeak upon very good ground; among theſe they think they may confide in, they affirm they will not be beholding to the Parliament, nor any body elſe for their liberty; for they will have it, and ask them no leave. They have the Sword now in their hand, and they think their party ſtrong enough to encounter any adverſe party: And they profeſſe they care not how ſoon they come to cutting of throats, and ſpeak of nothing but the ſlaughtering and butchering of the Presbyterians: And therefore there is juſt cauſe given us to think we may expect better quarters from the very enemies, then from the Independents, who call us in their Pulpits Brethren, but in their hearts hate us.
Ibid. Poſtſcript, p 6. The Presbyterian Government not ſuiting with their humour, they abhor it, and all ſuch as endeavour to eſtabliſh it; and wiſh rather that all the old Trumpery were brought in again; and profeſſe, they had rather have the Government of the Prelates: Yea, ſome of them have not been aſhamed to proteſt unto Prelatical Prieſts, That before the Presbyters ſhall rule over them, they will cut all their throats, and joyn with them for the reeſtabliſhing of the Hierarchy.
Ibid. p. 30. Profeſſing, that all ſuch Preachers who Preach and write the leaſt thing in oppoſition to their Opinions, ought to be hanged: And had they the power in their hands, they would truſſe them up, as many can teſtifie.
Ibid. p. 45. They boaſt of ſuch a party in the Kingdom, if their own words may be credited, as they now think by the Sword to be able to make their own Laws; and have been frequently heard ſay, That they had many Abbettours in the Aſſembly and both Houſes of Parliament, and in many parts through the Kingdom, beſides in all the Armies: And they were all reſolved to have the Liberty of their Conſciences, or elſe they would make uſe of their Swords, which they have already in their hands.
Ibid. p. 68. I know not any Independent in England, except one man and his wife, that do not as maliciouſly and implacably hate the Presbyterians as the mortalleſt enemy they have in the world.