Truth and Innocence Vindicated, Part 1 · Subpart 2
A True Copy of what was depoſed at Ketterin at their Viſitation.
THat the Elect were actually juſtified from Eternity, and are as much belov'd of God whilſt in Rebellion againſt him, as after Converſion; and that God is reconciled to all that he will be reconciled unto—Atteſted by Mr. Bland, Mr. Ley, and Mr. Chandler, who wrote it from his own mouth, and offered to produce Teſtimonies under the hands of Mrs. Seaton, Mr. Acock, and Mr. Nickolls.
We are juſtified ever ſince Chriſt's death—Mr. Bland, 'twas alſo ſaid that Mr. Hunt would confirm the ſame.
We asked Mr. Davis's Friends, whether Mr. Davis did preach, that we are actually juſtified before Faith? And they owned, that they could not deny it; and one ſaid, they hoped they ſhould own it to the death.
The Law doth not prepare for Converſion, the Spirit of God doth not make uſe of the Law in order to Converſion—Atteſted by Mr. Chandler, Mr. Tomlins of Ampthil, and Mr. Holledge of Kimbolton.
Mr. D. objected in his Sermon, But the Law is ſaid to convert. To this he anſwer'd, That it is the Law of the Goſpel, which is this, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy—Mr. Chandler.
The Law cannot convert, becauſe the works of the Law are under a curſe to the Soul—Witneſſed by Mr. Chandler, who engaged to produce the Teſtimony of Mr. Acock of Cayſoe. The Law gives an impious ſight of Sin—Mr. Moor and Mr. Holledge Witneſſes.
All that the Law doth, is to drive Perſons further from Chriſt, and make ſome go away and hang themſelves—Mr. Ley.
Mr. D. preached, Believe not others who propheſie Lyes in the Name of the Lord, who ever wears a rough Garment to deceive, and tell you of John Baptiſt's preparing the way, and preaching his Roughneſs, his Repentance, his preparatory Works, and you muſt bring theſe Qualifications; they propheſie Lyes in the Name of the Lord: Perſons Miſery is their Qualification—Mr. King, who took it in writing from his own mouth.
Such as preach up preparatory Works are legal Preachers, hinder Peoples comfort, and keep them under bondage; we ſhould begin with high confidence in Chriſt, and hold it faſt unto the end—Mr. King.
Here is the Redeemer; Ay, ſaith the Soul, but I muſt be humbled more, and pray more. I ſay, you may repent, and be damned, for this is ſlighting the Goſpel: Do you know how much you would have before you come to Chriſt—Mr. Negus. Sinners muſt come to Chriſt immediately, and be united to him in all their Sins and Filth—Mr. Carlile. Some hold there muſt be preparatory Works, which is a ſtumbling block—Mr. Ainſcomb. The Spirit convinceth of no Sin but Unbelief—Mr. Terrey the Miniſter.
Faith is a Perſuaſion that our Sins are pardoned—Mr. Chandler, Mr. Bland.
A Perſon may ſincerely deſire after Holineſs, and yet be nothing; nay, they may deſire Chriſt to reign over them, and yet not be ſavingly convinced: When then are you ſavingly convinced? You are ſavingly convinced, when you can believe Chriſt died for you—Mr. Robert Page.
At Willingham he preached, That Chriſtians muſt not try themſelves by marks and ſigns of Grace; this is, as if a perſon ſhould ſhut the doors and windows of his houſe to let in more light, and produced Matth. 12. 38, 39. to reprove this way of Heart-examination, which he ſaid lay with awe upon his ſpirit, and he could not but mention it, viz. An evil and adulterous Generation ſeek after a ſign. Adding, Oh Generation of Profeſſors, I may ſay of Preachers, that ſeek after a ſign—Mr. Marſhall, Mr. Gunton. Some will tell you, you muſt examin your ſelves, whether you be in the Faith or no? But I ſay, look for no marks but a riſen Jeſus, ſeek no other—Mr. Negus.
Some will put you upon trying your ſtate, by ſuch marks as Sincerity, Univerſal Obedience, Love to the Brethren, and Love to God, and Chriſts. But this way he denied, and ſaid, Men make Idols of them, and worſhip Stones and Stocks; and ſuch as put them on this way of … Prieſts—Mr. Thomas … Dowly atteſted. Mr …
Sanctification is no Evidence of Juſtification—Mr. Bland; 'twas alſo ſaid Mr. Hunt would atteſt the ſame.
He preaching ſaid, How came the Covenant of Works, and the Elect under it? It was to illuſtrate the electing Love of God, and not to make the Elect happy. The Law entred, that the Offence might abound. The Law was too weak, when Man was in his beſt eſtate to reign over him to eternal life.—Mr. Chandler, who took it from his mouth in writing.
That Believers under the Law had their life from their doing, and they had no longer life than when they were crying, weeping and groaning; witneſſed by Mr. Robert Page, who entring into Conference with Mr. Davis about it, objected Iſa. 53. 5. He was wounded, &c. and therefore the Prophet believed on Chriſt. To which Mr. D. replied, the Prophet did not underſtand what he ſaid—Mr. Robert Page.
Believers under the Law had no real ſight of Chriſt—Mr. Chandler.
When you are diſcouraged with Unbelief in Duty, if you can but believe that Jeſus is there ſtrongly believing for you, this raiſeth your Faith; if you ſee Chriſt loves mightily for you, this draws forth your love—Mr. King, who heard him.
You would mourn, you would weep; no, Chriſt hath mourned, and he hath wept, and you have nothing to do but accept his Grace; the Righteouſneſs by which thou and I muſt be juſtified, is Chriſt's fulfilling Adam's Covenant, and Mount Sinai's Covenant, and the Covenant of Grace—Mr. Carlile.
For any to look to their Sanctification, was a hindrance to their cloſing with Chriſt—Mr. Worden the Miniſter.
Toe fear Sin, is the way to increaſe it—Mr. Holledge.
In Prayer he ſaid, Lord, we ſtand before thee without Sin. And in his Sermon he objected, Some ſay we are againſt praying for pardon of Sin: To which he anſwered, Altho' we are pardoned, yet it is our Duty to pray for Pardon, for the Honour of the Father, and of the Son—Mr. Chandler.
Lord, thou lookeſt upon thy People even when they are ſinning againſt thee, and ſayſt; Thou art all fair my Love, there is no ſpot in thee. Again, there muſt be no more Conſcience of Sin in Believers—Mr. Carlile.
There are five times of Chriſt's eſpecial Interceſſion, &c. Chriſt ſaith, I cannot ſo heartily pray for my People, when they ſneak from their Profeſſion—Mr. Sheppard, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Holledge, Mr. Bland.
The Offers of Grace muſt be made only to the Elect—Mr. Chandler.
Chriſt and Believers are one in Interceſſion: Believers that take comfort in Promiſes miſtake the way, but we muſt flie to Chriſt—Mr. Bland: 'twas alſo ſaid Mr. Hunt will atteſt it too. Whatever is ſupernatural, is ſaving Grace—Mr. N. Acock 'twas ſaid will atteſt it.
Mr. Davis and the Preachers ſent from the Church at Rowel, ſet up Meetings in very many Counties to the compaſs of about fourſcore miles, viz. at Wellingham, Cambridge, Bedford, Needingworth, Northampton, Kempſon, Wellingborough, Oundle, Kimbolton, Kayſoe, Kettering, Tharp Waterfield, Chatreſſe, Aiveth, Creton, Wormditch, Kayſoe-wok, Woolaſton, Olney, Lutterworth, the Fenns, Codgbrook, Old Weſton, Browden, Ruſhden, Brigſtock, Cockingworth, Great Oakly, Gedington—Mr. M—Mr. Blouer, Mr. Taylor, Huſſey, Billoe, Singleton, Dowley, Shepard, King, Chandler, &c. who teſtified ſome of one place, and ſome of another: But the Name of upright Mr. Clark is not amongſt them.
Several of theſe Meetings are in or near the Places where diſſenting Miniſters have their ſtated Congregations and Churches.
Kempſon, within a mile of Bedford—Mr. Chandler, Mr. Tomlins.
At Wellingham, where Mr. Worden preaches—Mr. Worden, Mr. Marſhall.
At Cambridge—Mr. Taylor, Mr. Huſſey.
Needingworth, within a mile of St. Ives, where Mr. Bilio's is—Mr. Billoe, Mr. Freeman. At Northampton—Mr. Blore.
Frequent Week day meetings at Kettering—Mr. M—Codgbrook, within a mile of Mr. Haycock near Mr. Gibbs—Mr. Page.
Tho' deſired to forbear coming to ſeveral of theſe places, yet perſiſted.
He adminiſters the Lord's Supper in places far diſtant from each other, as at Rowel, Thorp-Waterfield—mr. Terrey. At Wormſditch—mr. Sheppard. At Northampton—mr. Blower.
He hath taken Members of other Churches without any diſmiſſion, yea, againſt the Will of the Paſtor and Church.
Mr. Bere from mr. Gibbs—mr. Page.
Thomas Hobbie from mr. Billows—mr. Billoe, mr. Moor.
One of Cayſoe Church, goody Page of Creton—mr. Chandler.
He hath broken Churches, and cauſed Diviſions an Confuſions. mr. Taylor's Church in Cambridge broken—mr. Taylor, Huſſey, Worden, Gilbert Speckman.
He hath broken them at Willingham—mr. Worden, mr. Marſhall.
He hath declar'd it to be his Opinion, that he is happy who is an Inſtrument in breaking all the Churches—mr. Worden.
Furthermore, he hath affirmed that for ſome years, all the Churches are gone a whoring from Chriſt—mr. Medwell.
He being told how comfortably the Miniſters had lived formerly together, he reply'd, with heat, It was the Goſpel he preached made all the diſturbance, for which he brought Matth. 10. Chriſt came not to bring Peace on earth, but a Sword—mr. M—mr. Blouer.
He ſaid that mr. Sheppard was an enemy to Chriſt, and to the Goſpel—T. Leigh…
That mr. Medwell had done more miſchief in two years, than he could repair all his life. Others he call'd dry Sticks—witneſs mr. Shepard.
Scribes, Phariſees, Legaliſts, Baal-Prieſts—mr. Worden, mr. Jennings.
He ſaid, I care not for all the Elders in London, they are moſt of them Arminians, Amiraldiſts, and Baxterians—mr. Chandler, mr. Holledge.
He, with the Church at Rothwell, ſend forth many illiterate and ignorant Preachers, without adviſing with neighbouring Miniſters; one of which ſaid, Chriſt murdered himſelf; Down with Works, down with the Law: Another, Chriſt went about his work blindfold, from that place, who ſo blind as my ſervant, which another of them thus interpreted, viz. Chriſt is blind ſo as to ſee no ſin in his People. Another thus, When People have Convictions, they will go to the Miniſter, and he will exhort them to read and pray, and repent, but theſe are the black marks of Hell. Theſe laſt words ſpoken by mr. Rowlett, and witneſſed by—mr. N. Cook of Welford.
mr. Davis pretended to Viſions, for preaching a Funeral Sermon at Oundle, he told the People that on Thurſday-night, about eleven of clock, in a Viſion, he ſaw his deceaſed Siſter in Heaven, ſhe walking in her uprightneſs; whereas he knew not of her death till late on Friday the day following—mr. John James of Oundle, mr. John Nickolls, both of mr. Sheppard's Church.
That he anoints the Sick with Oyl, is confeſſed by himſelf and Friends. One paſſage relating to this purpoſe, was atteſted by two ſerious Profeſſors produced by mr. Medwell. The paſſage was this: There was a Woman who had got Faith in the Anointing, as alſo ſome of her Relations confident of her recovery thereupon; but the Woman dying ſoon after, there was a noiſe about it, to ſtop which, mr. Davis preaching her Funeral Sermon at Kettering, told his Hearers, That Chriſt had ſuch a deſire of our dear Siſter's company in Heaven, that he denied his bleſſing to his own Ordinance.
He re-baptized one formerly baptized by mr. Browning, namely, the Brother of one mr. Chambers—witneſſed by mr. James and mr. John Nichols, who heard his Brother Chambers ſay the ſame.
A Copy of the Anſwer to Ketterin Charge, as it was ſent to a Friend in London, with ſome Alterations and Additions.
Reverend and honoured Sir,
I Have received the Informations given in to the Ministers at Ketterin; And before I anſwer them, I think it neceſſary to premiſe theſe following Obſervations.
1. That allowing the Inquiſition at Ketterin to be regular, which I am not yet convinced of; Yet I cannot but ſay, that I have met from Brethren with harder treatment in ſome reſpects, than the Martyrs of old did from the bloody Papiſts: For they condemned them for Heretics, either from what they found of their Tenents in print, or what the Martyrs themſelves acknowledged to be their Judgment: But I have been expoſed to the Country, which hath the nature of a cenſure, for mingled, perverted, and half Sentences delivered, I know not how long ſince; as it is pretended in public preaching: Or for wreſted words in private diſcourſe, which has been very diſingenuous, and unchriſtian-like.
2. They ſhould have examined more ſtrictly the credibility of the Witneſſes, ſince it is very much to be ſuſpected; becauſe it may appear to ſober and impartial men to be one entire piece of Malice, carried on againſt me from firſt to laſt; eſpecially conſidering
1. That all the Informants have teſtified towards me a very ill ſpirit all along.
2. That they have broke the rules of Chriſt, in publiſhing thoſe ſuppoſed faults up and down the Country, and ſending them in Letters to London, and very few of them acquainted me with any thing.
3. It is too evident, that the ſame that witneſſed at Ketterin, and the ſame alſo that have had a hand directly or indirectly in the Libel; which will appear by comparing their Informations and the Libel together. A Libel written in ſo impious a Stile, with ſuch a villanous deſign to incenſe the Government, and inflame the Country againſt me, doth ſufficiently proclaim the inveterate malice of the Authors and Witneſſes, which are the ſame.
3. Premiſe, That to many things charged there is but one Witneſs, contrary to that rule of Chriſt, Againſt an Elder receive not an Accuſation under two or Witneſſes, 1 Tim. 5. 19.
4. That in ſome places, where there are two Witneſſes they ſpeak not to the ſame time, and according to the true intent of the Law of God and man, their evidence is but ſingle.
5. That many of theſe Witneſſes, that have given in their Teſtimonies raſhly and affectionately, as will be evinced; when I come to the more particular diſquiſition thereof.
6. That tho it was not fair according to any judicial procedings; nor according to their intent of coming down from London to Ketterin, to receive confirmation of any thing from Witneſſes not preſent; yet this has been done.
I ſhall now addreſs my ſelf to a particular conſideration, of the matters evidenced at Ketterin by way of charge. And in my anſwer I ſhall not conſider any as my Judges; but the adverſe party as Opponents. For better method I ſhall ſet down, what was witneſſed in a different Italian Character, and my anſwer in the other.
In this paper as to matters of Charge in Faith and Practice, there are ſent divers particulars; but they do not acquaint me, whether they find fault with all, nor what in this and that particular they judge blame-worthy; which is a very incandid way of Charging
Notwithſtanding I ſhall take from hence. an occaſion plainly to diſcover my judgment without reſerve. And ſhall not at preſent tarry much to reaſon the matter; but being invaded according to the Laws of Diſputations, will wait to ſee what Tenents will be oppoſed, and their reaſons for ſo doing: Tho, when I think it convenient now, I ſhall not forbear to reaſon the matter, and thus I begin.
[Charge 1. That the Elect are actually juſtified from Eternity, witneſſed by Mr. Bland, Mr. Leigh, Mr. Chandler, &c.]
Anſwer. Mr. Leigh's Teſtimony I teſtify againſt, as being an excommunicate perſon. Mr. Bland's Teſtimony I ſhall contradict by many ſufficient Witneſſes. I ſuppoſe Mr. Chandler never heard any thing like it; for I can prove he has been enquiring of others, whether they heard me. And when at Bedford in diſcourſe he objected to me my timing of Juſtification, I anſwer'd, he had not yet heard of me when I timed it, which he did not, and could not contradict; ſo that I wonder he dare ſay he took it from my mouth in writing. But Mr. Chandler herein, as well as in other things, is a moſt affectionate Evidence. But this I deliver'd at Kinbolton, and in other places, or to this effect: That there was an eternal Juſtification of the Elect in God's Foreknowledge, his Decree, and the eternal Compact, and no further. However, if the term Juſtification be oppoſed, I ſhall not contend with People about a word. See more under Head the 5th, in anſwer to the Libel.
[2. The Elect are as much beloved of God, when they are in rebellion againſt him, as when they are called. Witneſſed by the ſame. My judgment is, God hath loved his Elect with an everlaſting love, tho' not with a love of commerce and friendſhip till they believe. I ſhall add nomore, till I ſee whether this will be opoſed. [That God is reconciled to all he will be reconciled unto.] I do not remember it; but this is my judgment, That God was in Chriſt re-conciling the world (of the Elect) unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes to them: But yet they are not reconciled to God till they believe. But this I ſhall notfurther defend, till I ſee whether it be oppoſed. [3. We were juſtified ever ſince the death of Chriſt. The Elect were juſtified at the Reſurrection of Chriſt virtually in him as their common Head is, that I will own; and let the Oppoſers anſwer Dr. Goodwyn's Reaſons in his Triumph of Faith. See more Head 5, 6. [We asked Mr. Davis's Friends, whether Mr. Davis did preach, We were actually juſtified before Faith? they owned that they could not deny it, and one of them ſaid theyſhould own it to the death.] I reply, My Friends are not to anſwer for me, nor was it fairly done to put them to it; or put ſuch captious queſtions, to well-meaning honeſt Country People.