An Answer to the Charge of Walter Bushnel, Title page – To the reader
AN ANSWER OF HƲMPHREY CHAMBERS, D. D. Rector of PEWSEY, in the County OF WILTS,
To the CHARGE of WALTER BVSHNEL, Vicar of BOX, in the ſame County.
Publiſhed in a Book of his entituled; A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Commiſſioners appointed by O. Cromwel for ejecting ſcandalous and ignorant Miniſters, in the caſe of Walter Buſhnel, &c.
With a Vindication of the ſaid Commiſſioners annexed.
Humbly ſubmitted to publick Cenſure
Job 31. 35, 36.
O that mine Adverſary had written a Book!
Surely I would take it upon my ſhoulder, and binde it as a Crown to mee.
1 Cor 4. 4, 5.
I know nothing by my ſelf, yet am not hereby juſtified, but hee that judgeth mee is the Lord.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, and will make manifeſt the counſels of the hearts, and then ſhall every man have praiſe of God.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Johnſon, at the Golden-Key in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1660.
TO THE HONOƲRABLE, Sir Anthony Aſhlie-Cooper, Knight and Baronet: AND, John Earnly Eſq; Knights of the Shire for the County of Wilts: As alſo to the Honourable, the Citizens and Burgeſſes returned for this preſent Parliament, for the reſpective City and Burroughs of the ſame County.
Honoured and Honourable Gentlemen,
I Account it my great happineſſe that Mr. Buſhnel of Box having publiſhed a heavy charge againſt the Commiſſ. of the County of Wilts, appointed for the ejecting of ſcandalous and ignorant Miniſters, and therein bent himſelf moſt fiercely againſt mee as a moſt grievous offender, hath, by dedicating his Narrative to you, put a neceſſity upon mee, (unleſſe I would plead guilty to all hee chargeth mee with) to publiſh my anſwer, and make you the Judges (which I do with all readineſſe and chearfulneſſe) between him and mee. I will not ſpeak a word to fore-ſtall your judgement, but humbly beg your pardon for my enforced boldneſſe, in directing this my Anſwer unto you, at whoſe feet I lay, and leave it and my ſelf with all content. Whereas Mr. Buſhnel, towards the end of his Narrative, having immediately before ſpoken of mee, by name, and the Commiſſioners, writes in his Scoffing Dialect, and Character, Page 208. Theſe men (as godly as they are) love dearly to bee fingring mony; for my part (I am ſure) I never fingred a farthing, but ſpent many a pound whilſt I was imployed as an Aſſiſtant to the Commiſſioners; and I cannot otherwiſe apprehend but that all the Commiſſioners are ſo free from fingering a penny in the execution of their Commiſſion from firſt to laſt, that they are all ready (as I have heard ſome of them proteſt they are, and by name Mr. Bliſſet) to purge themſelves by oath from this crime, and challenge any man to ſpeak, who can teſtifie the contrary of them; I will no further trouble you who are taken up in the weighty affairs of the Nations, wherein that the Lord would graciouſly direct and aſſiſt you, and that Honourable Court whereof you are members, to act to his glory, the honour of his Majeſty, and the happy eſtabliſhment of peace, truth, and righteouſneſſe in our Land, is the earneſt prayer of
Your moſt obſervant (though unworthy) ſervant, Humphry Chambers.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
IF ever a Book hath come under thy view and peruſal, intituled, A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Commiſſioners appointed by O. Cromwell for ejecting of ſcandalous and ignorant Miniſters, in the caſe of Walter Buſhnel, Clerk, Vicar of Box, in the County of Wilts, thou haſt then received a heavy charge againſt my ſelf, amongſt others, into one of thy ears, all that I ſhall beg of thee, is, but to keep the other ear open to hear the Anſwer, and then bee thou an impartial Umpire between us. Si accuſaſſe ſufficiat, &c. If a charge go for proof, none can bee innocent. Mr. Buſhnels Book came firſt to my hand and view on Thurſday the ſixteenth of Auguſt, in the evening; Friday I ſpent in reading of it, on Saturday I imployed as much time as I could spare from my ſtudies preparatory to the Lords day, in writing my Anſwer, which on Tueſday, Auguſt 21. I delivered to a friend to bee tranſcribed for the Preſs; I acquaint thee with this, onelyonly, to ſhew that Truth (needing no invention or art to ſet it off) may ſpeedily bee ſpoken without any long ſtudy. I ſhall add no more but thoſe never to bee forgotten words of our bleſſed Saviour; Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement.
Thine in the Lord HUMPHREY CHAMBERS.