Truth and Innocence Vindicated, Part 1

Truth and Innocence Vindicated · Part 1

Truth and Innocence Vindicated, againſt Falſhood and Malice, &c.

IT ſeemed good to the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus, by a more than uſual method of his Providence, to put me into the Miniſtry (who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints) not many years ago: And afterwards to call and ſend me from London, a place of Eaſe and Advantages, and from all the advantageous Proffers that were then made me, (which did bid fair for the World in conjunction with his ſervice) by the ſame unaccountable hand down to Northamptonſhire; and there to a place and a people that I knew not afore. Where it pleaſed him, in a ſhort time, not only to make my ſervice acceptable to the Saints, and uſeful to their edification; but alſo to own the labours of the meaneſt of his Servants with ſucceſs in the work of Converſion, for the manifeſtation of the excellency of his own power. So glorious a work of Chriſt upon the wheel, muſt needs be expected to awaken all the rage of Satan againſt it; which hath ſufficiently appeared in the various Artifices he hath uſed ever ſince to oppoſe, blacken and defeat it, and to overturn the Church, and tread me under foot.

We were firſt invaded by him with thoſe ſtrange and unuſual Diſtempers on the Bodies of ſeveral, ſo remarkable as to the manner of the Diſeaſe, and the numbers of the Afflicted, that it not only amazed us, but ſtartled all others that ſaw and heard thereof; which hath given an occaſion to all the Reflections and Cenſures that have been paſt upon us ſince.

The Deſigns of that grand Enemy of Souls were apparently theſe.

1. To render me a ſuſpicious Man (verſed in ſome evil Art) both to the Magiſtrates and the People.

2. To deter People from coming to hear me.

3. To caſt an Odium upon the Afflicted, and make them liable to Suſpicion to be under no other Influences, but what were Diabolical.

4. To terrify and diſcourage the Afflicted themſelves.

5. To weaken my hands, and caſt me down in the ſervice of Chriſt.

But under theſe Tryals, the Lord afforded theſe Supports.

1. That tho' the ſtricteſt Enquiry was made, yet nothing of Conjuration could ever be faſtned upon me: Beſides, my Converſation known to ſo many in City and Country, baffled ſo ridiculous an Imagination.

2. His ſecond Deſign was, in ſome meaſure, over-ruled for good alſo; for the Noiſe and Novelty of the Diſpenſation brought many under the preaching of the Word, which probably otherwiſe would not have come. And many of them, that came to feed their Eyes on our Calamities, were reached by the power of God in his Goſpel.

3. Nor did he altogether prevail in his third; for the Converſation and Experiences of thoſe Afflicted; give a ſufficient Teſtimony to the contrary.

p. 24. And as to his fourth Deſign, he is trampled upon; for the Afflicted meet with ſo many Conſolations from the God of all Grace, that they are comforted under their Tribulations with thoſe Comforts, wherewith they are enabled to comfort others. Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord.

5. And as to my ſelf, under great Diſcouragements and Diſconſolateneſs, I was ſupported by the Father of mercies, by his powerful giving in of thoſe words, John 11. 4. and at another time with thoſe words, John 13. 7. So that they and I reſting on his Word, are made, through grace, quietly to hope, and patiently to wait for the Salvation of the Lord, under that duſty Cloud of Reproaches we are covered with; expecting, that in his own time he will expound that myſterious Providence.

But when the Adverſary failed in this Attempt, he ſtirred up ſome to emit a railing Letter, reflecting on my Converſation; I know not where it was forged, but it was induſtriouſly ſpread by an ill Man in the Town up and down the Country, which, like a Squib, having ſpluttered a little while, puffed away to nothing. Some Friends hearing thereof, ſent down their Letters-Teſtimonials concerning my Behaviour, which ſhall be hereafter inſerted.

Theſe Attempts being fruſtrated, he takes up other Inſtruments; for now he prevails with a profeſſing People to engage in the oppoſition. There were private grumblings and mutterings before amongſt them. Our Doctrine was too bright, our Faith too high, our Diſcipline too ſtrict for them: But this ſecret Prejudice burſt not forth to an open Flame, till ſome good Men took occaſion from my Ordination, becauſe it was not according to their Model, to cenſure that and me liberally to all ſorts of People; whereupon the Tongues of Profeſſors were now let looſe to cavil at every thing, and find fault with all our proceedings. Hereupon they were inſtigated to contend, quarrel, oppoſe, and reflect continually, terming our Faith a Fancy, our Profeſſion a Noiſe, our Converſation and Diſcipline proud, ſtrict and moroſe; and affirming, that without doubt we were all under a Deluſion. By this the ignorant multitude were incenſed afreſh, and encouraged by theſe to go on in all manner of Raillery, Reproach and Reflection, as if their Tongues had been ſet on Fire from Hell.

Being alſo ſurther galled with the Reformation the Lord ſtirred us up to in the Church, in our Perſons and Families, their Miſconſtructions, Miſreports, Cenſures and Revilings encreaſed, which were communicated to London and other places by Letters, that fled up and down very thick. They concluded I was too much followed, &c. A Spirit of Envy is dangerous, like Gunpowder, what will it not blow up Men to?

Now came a freſh Aſſault. A young Man dark in the Goſpel, but confident of his own parts, miſſed by Pride and Ignorance, ſets up the Cry of Antinomianiſm. No term was now too bad for us. Diſciples of Criſp, Saltmarſh, and I know not who beſides; which made many enquire into thoſe Books, they had not read nor heard of before; I muſt confeſs I had not for one: However, Dr. Criſp's Works ſold the better afterwards. This young Man made the minds of Profeſſors ill-affected towards us, and he had great opportunity p. 3to inſtil his Inſinuations, by carrying a Pack up and down amongſt profeſſing Families.

Our Tryals thus encreaſing, our Comforts and Advantages did ſo proportionably, bleſſed be the Father of Mercies, and God of Comforts, who comforted us in all our Tribulations with theſe Comforts, wherewith we are enabled to comfort others: for ſeveral were converted, the Saints built up in their moſt holy Faith, Members were daily added, the Church greatly encreaſed, ſpreading wide. And over and above all this, the Brethren being ſtirred up of the Lord, waxed bold by theſe Afflictions to feed the Church that was ſcattered abroad, and offer the free grace of God in Chriſt to periſhing Sinners, whoſe labours God was pleaſed to own very much to the praiſe of the glory of his own excellent power; to which there was added by ſoveraign grace a holy boldneſs in the Members of the Church, in their profeſſion of and teſtimony for Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs, ſo that the Enemy deſpaired of trampling their Faith under foot. This blew up the flame of Oppoſition beyond all Bounds: Now Craft and Deſpair joined with Oppoſition to ſwell up the Flood above all Banks of Chriſtianity, Prudence and Morality. Monſtrous Stories concerning us were invented, reported, impoſed, and as credulouſly received and handed about again. Pulpits founded out againſt us. Coffee-houſes, Ale-houſes, Taverns, and Feaſting-Tables rung of us, in repeated ridiculous impertinent and notorious Falſhoods. I have often wiſhed that time had been ſpent in diſcourſing of heavenly things, and have oftner wonder'd what ſtrange Spirit poſſeſt Profeſſors now adays, and what would the end of theſe things be? I alſo with an heart full of ſorrow have thus reflected, and are theſe then the effects of a day of liberty?

About this time Mr. King being ſent down, headed an oppoſing Party at Wellingborough, which had took the opportunity of a day of liberty to forſake the Communion of the National Church, which (by deſerting their former Profeſſion) they had for years embraced, and he more vigorouſly, than prudently, performs his Work thus.

Firſt, He takes the imperfect Notes of a Sermon, which when he had formed as he pleaſed, he communicates to the Elders at London; then, as he himſelf confeſſed to one, employed Men to bring in ſhreds of Sermons, either real, wreſted, or meerly invented, as might beſt fit his purpoſe. Beſides this, he galloped up and down the Country many Miles compaſs, for theſe two Ends.

1. To incenſe the Miniſters againſt us, that lived many Miles diſtant from us.

2. To rake together all the Accuſations he could get, either from profligate or prejudiced perſons, which hath afforded matter for the Libel. I do judge Mr. King had better ſerved the Lord Jeſus, if he had employed his time in preaching the everlaſting Goſpel.

He was ſoon ſucceeded by a corrupt Party about Keiſo, who had been detected to have had an hand in keeping that Church in its Ruines and Deſolations for divers years. Theſe uſed much the ſame methods with Mr. King, the Lord convince them of this great Evil, if it be his bleſſed Will.

p. 4Then follows Mr. S—of Oundle, who was rather won over by the importunity of the Confederacy, than forced thereunto by any manifeſt Cauſe; for not long afore he had declared to Mrs. Woolaſtori, That Satan had tryed to create Difference between him and me, but that he hoped he ſhould never prevail. However, being got in, he was as active as any in the proſecution of the aforementioned Artifices. With theſe in the oppoſition coaleſced Mr. H—Mr. W—and divers other Miniſters, whom I never ſaw, nor they me; who notwithſtanding were pleaſed to govern themſelves by this Maxim, Report, and we will report it; tho' this is far from being a qualification of a Citizen of Zion, Who backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach againſt his neighbor, Pſal. 15. 3.

At laſt, as the Head-Champion, appears the Gentleman at Bedford in greater Fury and Violence to oppoſe us, than either of the former. This he did twice or thrice publickly in a Town of great Ignorance and Debauchery, where the Goſpel had newly got footing, and had awakened ſome of the moſt Debauched; for which piece of Service, he had great Thanks given him by the Parſon of the place.

Then he proceeded to write his Letters defamatory againſt us to London, to thunder in the Pulpit againſt us, to warn his Hearers and People from receiving or hearing of us.

—Precibuſque minas regaliter addit.

Which may be Engliſhed thus:

Like ſome certain piece of Majeſty, he mingles Threats with his Requeſts.

Modeſty forbids me to relate all his injurious Actions; yet I hope, notwithſtanding all, I ſhould not only forgive, but forget all of them, were I but ſatisfy'd he was truly humbled for them. But by this time the Miniſterial Confederacy had ſucked into itſelf all the fitted Materials that were round about. Theſe now jointly united in repeated Clamors, and Letters of Defamation, to expoſe us to the Nation, and the diſſenting Intereſt in general throughout the Nation; and all this to ſupport that pitiful Idol Self, that muſt tumble at laſt: for he hath ſaid, He will famiſh all the Gods of the Earth, and that is one of the greateſt of them.

Beſides their being diſturbed at the exerciſing of our gifted Brethren, there fell an unaccountable Terror upon them, leſt we ſhould break their Churches; whereas if there be any thing that breaks them, it will be their own oppoſition. But ſurely they muſt be conſcious of ſome great Defects in themſelves, and of ſome irreparable Flaws in their Building, when they teſtifie their Fears of their being overturned by a ſmall handful of deſpicable People: Sure they muſt be but ſlightly founded and cemented, when they are afraid the preaching of the Goſpel will batter them down. It was more worthily ſpoke by a certain Servant of Chriſt, when the ſame Terror was laid before him, That he had not ſo carried it amongſt his People, that their Love to him ſhould be ſoon cooled; and he hoped he had not ſo meanly inſtructed them in the p. 5Truths of Jeſus, that they were in danger to be ſo eaſily ſhaken and removed by any, if they ſhould bring another Goſpel; or words to that effect. I cannot but teſtify how much I was affected with his admirable Prudence, Temper and Moderation, and eſpecially his heavenly Converſation, (which adorned all the reſt) in a late Journy, which I undertook: But as to them it is apparent, that there is ſome ſecret Conſciouſneſs in them of certain unknown and unwarrantable Practiſes; which, together with the unſeen Terror of the Lord upon them, have hurried them into ſuch Fears. And 'tis evident that theſe Fears have precipitated them into all theſe Extravagancies, which have been ſo ſcandalous to our holy Profeſſion and the Miniſtry.

Such oppoſition to the Work and Goſpel of the bleſſed Jeſus; ſuch ſtumbling Blocks caſt in the way of the poor carnal and ignorant World, are fitteſt to be lamented with Jeremiah's Lamentations. May not the Lord ſpeak the ſame concerning us, as he did of Iſrael of old, Iſa. 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard, that I have not done in it? (He having granted us ſuch a day of liberty.) Wherefore, when I looked it ſhould have brought forth Grapes, brought it forth wild Grapes? And what thoſe wild Grapes are, we are partly informed, Ver. 7.—And he looked for Judgment, and behold Oppreſſion! for Righteouſneſs, but behold a Cry! Yet I am ſtill in great hopes the Lord will make good thoſe gracious words propheſied concerning his People in Goſpel-days, Iſa. 4. 4, 5, 6.

But to return: Theſe Adverſaries at length underſtanding that ſeveral; who had received their Reports, inquiring of me concerning particular matters, received a true account, which cauſed them to begin to ſtartle at their proceedings. And probably apprehending alſo, that tho I had been hitherto ſilent, yet ſometimes I might be ſtirred up to vindicate Truth and Innocence againſt continued Aſperſions. To prevent me herein, or in any juſt Defence I might make, they give it out, and ſpread it with great Induſtry, that I was a Lyar, a Diſſembler, an Equivocator, a Man not fit to be credited, that would ſay and unſay any thing. Whereas all that have been and are my Intimates, know to the contrary; and can atteſt for me, that as well afore as after Converſion, I was reputed a Man of Plainneſs, Integrity, and without Folds of Mind; that always abhorred ſuch diſingenuity, and who would not wittingly deviate from the Truth, unleſs through Ignorance, Miſtake, Forgetfulneſs, or Inadvertency. I ſhould ſcarce write what I do, were it not for this, that the Truth is now embarked with my good Name. But as for them it was apparent, that many Artifices they uſed, many Stories they raiſed to make the People believe this. I am informed it is the conſtant cuſtom of one in particular gravely to affirm this in divers places; adding, that he might gain the more credit to his Inſinuations, That he is my very good Friend, and that he can lay me in his boſom; which hath been the Preface or Concluſion of ſundry Reports of his: Yet, for ought I know, the Party may love me, tho he cannot reſiſt the temptations of his Company; but he is not aware how much he ſubſerves the deſigns and intereſt of Satan therein. The Lord forgive him this wrong, I wiſh it heartily, as the Lord for Chriſt's ſake hath forgiven me manifold Evils.

p. 6By this time they were on tiptoes, imagining themſelves ſure of a full Conqueſt. Their triumphings were extravagant in thoſe companies, that were of their Kidney. Nor could they forbear their inſulting Language to others, with unmanly Threats, what Blows we ſhould have e're long; ſending their Letters of triumph to each other; in one whereof there was an exhortation to the Party, to whom it was wrote to pray for my Downfal, and the Downfal of the Church at Rowel.

It cannot be thought otherwiſe, but ſuch Cabals and Actions had their Promoters at London; And a man muſt needs forfeit his Reaſon, that does not conclude, that there was ſome ſecret hand behind the Curtain in managing all theſe Machines of fury and wickedneſs. As Letters poſted up apace to London; ſo no doubt they returned as thick, filled with encouragements. There is no place left to ſuſpect, but that there were Managers of the Party, who clap'd their hands, and halloo'd the giddy young People to ſuch raſh Undertakings. And 'tis as queſtionleſs, that ſuch undertakings had their grand deſigns. The Order of the Goſpel lay a bleeding to death already. And we, that durſt appear for Free-grace being ſufficiently blackened, it was concluded, none dare appear for it, leſt they ſhould be made Partakers of our ſufferings; therefore a bold onſet was publicly made upon the Faith once delivered to the Saints, in a certain book inched to the preſent Juncture of Affairs in ſpiritual matters, ſetting up a new Law, inſtead of the holy, juſt, and righteous Law of God. And now at laſt we feel their long menaced Scourges, and all follow together one in the Neck of another.

The firſt was this plauſible book, laſhing not only at us, but at Religion it ſelf, and the Orthodox Profeſſors of it, over the Shoulders of D^r. Criſp; And then to ſecond it a virulent Pamphlet. And becauſe 'tis Cuſtomary in modern Duels to have thirds, there treads upon the Heels of that the Ketterin-Inquiſition.

Such three Victories had the King of France obtained at once, his inſulting had paſt all bounds: And 'tis eaſy to imagine, how theſe puny Conquerors did alſo glory: But let not him that girdeth on his Harneſs, boaſt himſelf as he that putteth it off. The Cauſe is the Lords, and let the Oppoſers reckon their Triumphs at the cloſe of the day; I ſhall only here acquaint them, we are kept through Faith by the mighty power of God, and are made hitherto to rejoice in the God of our Salvation, bleſſed for ever be his holy Name.

The firſt alarmed more learned and abler Pens than mine, and drew them forth into the Conteſt, to whoſe management I leave it, wiſhing them good Succeſs under the Captain of our Salvation in this Engagement, againſt the Perverters of his Goſpel.

The ſecond Aſſault falls more peculiarly upon my ſelf, and this Church of Chriſt to which I belong, and therefore I am engaged to act here in my own Defence, and theirs; or rather, in the Defence of what is much more valuable, viz. the Faith and Order of the Goſpel of Chriſt.

And firſt I ſhall begin with the Libel. A Libel crammed ſo full with impious Prejudices, writ in ſuch an invective baſe Style, interlaced with ſo many Untruths, diſhed out and adapted for the meaneſt yet prophaneſt guſts, p. 7that it is juſtly to be abhorred by all Men of Underſtanding, Learning and Sobriety, as well as Men of Holineſs and Chriſtianity. The Authors, notwithſtanding all their bold and falſe Charges, yet have took care to keep themſelves obſcure, and have ſhrowded themſelves under a Cabaliſtic Name, not half ſo ſignificant as Smectymnuus of old, having thus excuſed themſelves, by fathering it on the Church of England, which aggravateth their wickedneſs, foraſmuch as they will not ſtand to what they have written, and bluſh to own their own Child, which they lay at other Peoples doors.

The diſcovering the Author, will be more than half anſwering the Libel; and tho I cannot yet point out the very Men, yet I ſhall lay ſuch Conſiderations afore the Reader, as will bring him very near the Covey.

1. The Witneſſes at Kettrin proclaim themſelves ſo near akin to thoſe in the Libel, and conſequently to the Authors thereof, that it will be very hard to ſeparate them.

2. A certain Gentleman on the South-ſide of us, hath boaſted of this Book ſome months afore it came out, and promiſed to ſhew it to ſome, and to another promiſed a Book as ſoon as it was printed; beſides, that the ſame Gentleman has made it his Buſineſs for a long while to ride up and down the Country to gather Accuſations together.

3. The ſame Gentleman hath ſent a libellous Copy of Verſes to one of Ʋpp—written with his own hand, very obſcene and ſcurrilous, (tho' he daſht out the moſt fulſom Obſcenity with his Pen) which came to the view of a worthy and judicious Perſon, who declared the Author, whoever he was, deſerved the Laſh. Perhaps theſe Verſes were intended to adorn the Libel, but, probably upon more mature Conſideration, they were omitted.

4. It is notoriouſly evident, that the Venders of theſe Libels were Profeſſors and Church-Members, witneſs Bedford, Northampton, Wellingborough, Darrington, and Mr. Pain of Oundle, who wrote to Mr. King for 50 of thoſe Goods, as I have his Letter ſtill to ſhew. And this they did, when Church of England Men abhorred to receive them, when brought to them to ſell by unknown hands. Beſides, it was ſuch a ſort of People juſtify'd them. One at Spaldock ſaid it was nothing but Truth: Another at Wellingborough ſpake to the ſame purpoſe. Another at Olney deſended the Ribaldry of it, by the example of the Prophet Elijah inſulting over Baal's Prieſts: So that People muſt put out their Eyes, that will not ſee what ſort of People were the Authors thereof.

We need go no further than the Libel itſelf, to manifeſt the Church of England had no hand in it. There is another ſort of Shibboleth runs through every Page of it, tho' mixt with a great deal of Impiety. I ſhall give the Reader a taſte thereof in ſome few Inſtances.

1. Page 4. Wherein they acquaint the Reader, That we have been with all Love admoniſhed by ſome or other of their Number almoſt weekly and daily, &c.

2. It is plain from their way and manner of mentioning the London and Country diſſenting Miniſters with Mr. Holcraft.

p. 83. From the Form and Style of the Expoſtulation to the People at Rowel throughout, eſpecially that towards the Cloſe thereof, where they adviſe them to get a Paſtor amongſt them ſound in the Faith, and in the mean while to invite their neighbouring diſſenting Miniſters to take their Turns to preach amongſt them, till they can get ſuch an one.

4. They write, Page 3. That they adore and live daily upon the rich Grace of God in Chriſt, &c. Tho' this Libel be but a poor Teſtimony of it, never did Fountain ſend forth ſuch bitter and ſweet Water as this Pamphlet does! And is it thus they live upon Grace? And is it thus they adore it? And does this naſty Book make for the honour of God's Grace? O Antinomians with a witneſs. Is this the effect of their zealous Cry for Holineſs againſt Antinomianiſm? Holineſs ſtands in no need of ungodly Spirits and Practices to defend it. I may well ſay to theſe, as the Apoſtle did to the Jews of old, Thou that makest thy boast of the Law, through breaking the Law diſhonoureſt thou God? While the Name of God is blaſphemed among the Gentiles, through you, as it is written, Rom. 2. 23, 24.

5. It is remarkable, that when any of the ſober ſort of the Church of England have written in ſuch a Style, there has a vein of ſtrong and ſinewy Wit run thro' their Burleſque: But I muſt needs ſay of the Author of this Drollery, that he is ſo far from being fit for the Pulpit, that he would be hiſs'd off a Stage, and would never be accepted at Bartholomew Fair, nor earn his Bread there with all his Buffoonry.

I muſt here enter this Caution, tho' I charge this Libel on a certain Number, who are the Warts and Moles of our holy Profeſſion; yet far be it from me to think, or perſuade others to think, that the diſſenting Party in general is guilty thereof; for I am perſuaded they abhor ſo vile a thing, and can ſcarce be induced to believe that any, naming the Name of Jeſus, ſhould wallow in ſuch Iniquity, tho' it be ſo. I alſo declare, that I think holy and grave Mr. Medwell, would abominate having an hand in the baſe Stuff. The ſame I think of worthy Mr. Clark, who (as I am informed) generouſly proffer'd to teſtify his abhorrence of the Libel under his own hand, when none preſent would ſecond him.

I ſhall now proceed ſlightly to anſwer their Libel, tho', I hope, in another manner of Style than theirs.

Firſt, They charge me with perverting of Scriptures. Theſe are inſtanced.

Mat. 1. 12, 39. Whence I alledged, That the Perſon of Chriſt is the great ſign Faith lays hold on. This I ſhall aſſert, and am ready to defend.

2 Rom. 9, 8. Where God ſpeaking of the former and latter calling of the Jews, ſhews the ſuddenneſs of the work upon them. This is true. It appeared ſo de facto in their former Call, if we conſult the Scriptural Account of their Converſions, inſtance the three thouſand, Acts 2. called and added to the Church the ſame day; and I queſtion not but it will be more eminently ſo in the latter day of Glory, when a Nation ſhall be born in a day.

Mat. 10. 34. I ſhall ſpeak to hereafter.

I know not what they mean by John 7. 37. therefore I ſhall leave it alone, till they explain their meaning.

p. 91 John 4. 18. Perfect Love caſteth out Fear. That Fear I expounded to be ſlaviſh, ſinful, unbelieving Fear, and no other.

In their prefatory Charge in matters of Fact, they ſtumble at the very Threſhold: For,

Firſt, The diſſenting Miniſters of London in their Letter did not cenſure, but enquired of me, Whether ſuch and ſuch things were true? I returned my Anſwer according to their Queſtions, denying what was falſe, affirming what was true, and gave my Reaſons for my Judgment and Practice. This their Letter (of which I have a Copy) can teſtify.

The Reports as to my laſt meeting with them are likewiſe untrue: For,

1. I went voluntary to them, they did not fetch me before them, as is alledg'd.

2. Let the Elders themſelves ſpeak, whether it was their deſign authoritatively to ſilence me.

3. I appeal to them as Evidences for me, whether any ſuch thing was concluded, as bringing in Witneſſes againſt their next Meeting.

4. I did not go out of London, until I had finiſhed my Buſineſs I came about there, and then what ſhould I tarry there any longer? One would think the Reverend Miniſters themſelves being Witneſſes of the falſhood of theſe firſt Reports, might juſtly ſuſpect all their After-Teſtimonies.

Theſe Libellers, by an unadviſed blabbing out of what they have done concerning Silencing, do declare what they expect will be hatched at laſt amongſt the united Brethren at London, viz. an old imperious Claſſis revived again: But it would be Prudence in them to tarry firſt for the generating warmth of Royal Authority, which I hope will never be.

The Story of Mr. Holcraft is a Fiction, as divers in Cambridge-ſhire do atteſt. I ſhall not mention what his Judgment was of a contrary Nature, concerning me not long before his death; but he is now in Glory: And it is an eaſy matter to fix Stories on People when they are dead, when the Reporters know they are ſecured from having their Fictions contradicted.

The Story of the two grave Miniſters, I ſhall conſider in its place.

They ſpeak wickedly, to ſay that I make Diſturbances in the Country; but it is their Wickedneſs, Lying, Slandering, and a bloody Spirit of Perſecution they manifeſt every where, that creates the Diſturbance. Could they or the Magiſtrates either, have found any thing againſt me, ſave in the matters of my God, it would have been done afore now; for the exacteſt Scrutiny has been made in order to Indictments.

Now I come to conſider the formidable Charge relating to my Principles and Doctrines. I have obſerved they have laid down four places eſpecially, where they pretend theſe Doctrines have been delivered, viz. Rothwell, and thereabouts. Kimbolton, and thereabouts. Wellingborough. Cambridge, and thereabouts. The Members and Hearers that uſually attend my Miniſtry in theſe four places, may make but one work of it, to confront their Teſtimony in each place reſpectively. Accordingly I ſhall methodically digeſt their Charge, with my Anſwers ſuited to theſe four Scenes; and the rather, becauſe my Principles and Doctrines (as they alledge, were delivered at Rowell, or thereabouts) are theſe following. And firſt I begin with Rowell.

p. 101. Our Lord Jeſus preached not Terror.

Anſw. I remember no ſuch thing, nor does the Church; but I believe it falſe, and ſo do they.

2. A ſenſe of Sin enrages perſons againſt Chriſt.

Anſw. A ſenſe of Sin purely legal in a ſtate of Nature, has a tendency to Deſpair; and pure Deſpair always enrages Souls againſt Chriſt and his Grace.

3. The Devil of lying has filled the tongues of many Profeſſors.

Anſw. I do not believe I ſaid ſo from their malicious charging of me; tho' this cannot be ſaid of all, (bleſſed be God) yet 'tis too notorious there is a lying Spirit gone forth in the mouths of very many Profeſſors, eſpecially their Mouths and Pens concerned in the Libel.

4. Actually juſtified from Eternity.

Anſw. It was thus I preached or aſſerted it. If by being juſtified from Eternity, be meant our being juſtified in the Decree and Compact, I judge that to be Truth, and God's Decrees, and Covenanting are his Acts. This I know, I have been chiefly on my Guard in this Matter. And when it was firſt charged upon me, I was in London, and heard of it only on my return home. Yet I do not deny, but at firſt I ſpoke of Eternal Juſtification in Foro Dei, as Dr. Twiſſe, Mr. Pemble, and many of the tranſmarine Divines have aſſerted, (as Mr. Baxter himſelf does acknowledg;) yet always reſtrained it to the fore-knowledg of God, his Decree, and the eternal Compact. 'Tis true, finding the Decree of Election no where expreſſed by the name of Juſtification, I waved at laſt that term, and kept rather to that of eternal electing Love and Grace, becauſe I would not keep on foot a vain ſtrife about words to no profit, only to the ſubverting of the Hearers, 2 Tim. 2. 14. When I ſeriouſly weigh'd Iſa. 50. 8, 9. compared with Rom. 8. 33, 34. and divers other Scriptures, I cannot yet but maintain and aſſert, A virtual Juſtification of the whole Elect of God, tho' not yet called in Chriſt their common Head ever ſince his Reſurrection: Eſpecially when I was ſo confirmed therein by the excellent diſcourſe of Dr. Goodwyn on that Subject, in his Triumph of Faith. And they that take away the Repreſentativeſhip of Chriſt, the Foundation of our Goſpel, introduce a new Scheme of Religion, that I cannot find in the Bible. I do not ſee what need there is of all this noiſe about words, as long as I have conſtantly preach'd and affirm'd, That elect Sinners are dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, and under the declar'd Condemnation of Law and Goſpel, till they believe; and that then, and only then, they are freed from that Condemnation; which I take to be actual Juſtification by Faith. As to Juſtification by Faith, I need not put my ſelf to the trouble to define it, as long as I am well ſatisfy'd with the definition given thereof by the Aſſembly and Savoy Confeſſion, by which I ſhall ſtand; and let, this ſuffice for an Anſwer to the following malicious Charges.

5. That Charge tacked to this, viz. That God loved us from Eternity, does very much confirm the Suſpicions I long entertained, that under the Notion of eternal Juſtification, they fought againſt eternal electing Love and Grace,

—Mutato nomine pro te

Narratur—

p. 11Theſe Jealouſies were firſt fomented in my mind, by obſerving that not only well-meaning People, violently with great Ignorance diſputed the Point, but Men of corrupt minds were the fierceſt in the Conteſt. And I further obſerved, the Arguments they brought, were the very ſame alledged by the Arminian Party, to decry eternal Election; and that made me the more willing oftentimes ſo to frame my method of Argumentation, as made many honeſt People think I held an elect Perſon actually and declaratively free from the condemnation of the Law before Faith, which was a miſtake. My ſaying and unſaying the ſame thing, is but a Falſhood charged upon me of the ſame piece with the reſt. The Country Divine, the Libeller mentions, was Mr. Chandler, for with him I had diſcourſe upon this Point; and when he objected my timing of Juſtification, I only replied, I never told him yet when I timed it, and continued on my Guard all the while. 'Tis true, I aſſerted everlaſting electing Love, which he told me afterwards was one of my Blaſphemies: But I think he may as well charge it on the Book of God, particularly two places, Jer. 31. 3. Epheſ. 2. 4. which affirm it in plain terms.

6. There must be no Works, becauſe God reſted in Chriſt, &c.

Anſw. What always was contended for (which theſe Arminians and Amyraldiſts cannot bear) was this, that no Works muſt come into our Juſtification; but Holineſs, as flowing from Faith, I have always preached and preſſed, conſtantly affirming, That they that have believed, do maintain good works, Tit. 3. 8. as hundreds can witneſs. But perhaps theſe Prevaricators judge nothing to be preaching up of good Works, unleſs they be urged as Terms and Conditions of our Pardon and Juſtification, and Perſeverance therein, as the Terms of our eternal Bleſſedneſs.

7. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; but ye only think ſo.

Anſw. The Adverſaries themſelves make nothing of this, and it needeth no Anſwer. Our Lord there ſpeaketh to the Phariſees, who themſelves judged the Scriptures to ſhew the way to eternal life; but yet they did not ſee he was the Perſon the Scriptures teſtified of. No doubt People may ſet up a bare knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture in the room of the Mediator, as it was the Caſe of the Phariſees.

8. Make me as one of thy hired Servants, Luke 15. 9. Lo here is his unbelief, when God would have him be a Son, he would be a Servant.

Anſw. Queſtionleſs 'tis Unbelief not to accept of what is offered, and what we are commanded to receive. That is the only true modeſty, that glorieth not in the Fleſh, but in Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs. And that's Goſpelhumility, where the Soul is emptied of itſelf moſt, receiving from the fulneſs of Chriſt. There may be a legal humility, and unbelieving modeſty. What think ye of their modeſty mentioned, Acts 13. 46. whom the Apoſtles Paul and Barnabas charge with high wickedneſs, for judging themſelves unworthy of eternal life.

9. There ſhall go forth ſuch from Rowell, as ſhall ſound the Goſpel over theſe three Kingdoms.

Anſw. I cannot tell whether ever it was ſaid ſo by any; yet I can ſay it is p. 12my hopes, the Lord Jeſus e're long will ſend forth out of other Churches of Chriſt, as well as that at Rothwell, ſuch as ſhall be made very inſtrumental for the converſion of Souls.