Truth and Innocence Vindicated, Part 2
An Anſwer to ſome part of that Pamphlet, Called; A Plain and Juſt Account of a Plague being at Rothwell, &c. Wherein it will be manifeſt, that they that gave the Account gave a very unjust Account in ſome Matters, as in others they Charge as Errors the great Truths of the Goſpel of our Lord.
By Rob Betſon, Paſtor of the Church of Chriſt in Wellingborough.
OH that my Head was a Fountain of Tears, that I could Weep Day and Night for a Generation of Men profeſſing love to Chriſt and Souls, and yet their Mouths are full of Revilings, and their Pens dipt in Gall as the firſt Page teſtifieth, and ſeveral other places in the Book; wherein they act like that Orator Tertullus in Acts 24. 5. We have found this Man a peſtilent fellow, and a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World, and a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens, &c. Thus he accuſed, and the Jews aſſented, ſaying, That theſe things were ſo, verſ. 9. And thus do the Writers of this Pamphlet accuſe God's Servant, Mr. Davis; with many others, which I queſtion not but they are dear to our Lord Jeſus: But yet the People are ready to ſay all is true that can be ſpoken; yea, this I obſerve, theſe Men will believe the Reports of the worſt of Men againſt him, when they will not believe their neareſt Friends, that ſpeak for him, tho what they ſpeak they have ſeriouſly weigh'd, which ſheweth them to be of their minds Jeremy complaineth of, Chap. 20. 10. Report, ſay they, and we will Report it. But I believe the Lord in his own time will vindicate the Faith and Order of that Goſpel, which is now oppoſed by a Generation of Men, that have not the Power of Godlineſs: However I earneſtly intreat all that fear the Lord to ceaſe Reviling and take Paul's Counſel, Epheſians 4. 31, 32. Let all Bitterneſs and Wrath, and Anger, and Clamor, and evil ſpeaking be put away, and be ye kind one to another—And if you yet be in doubt, take Gamaliel's Counſel, Acts 5. 38, 39. For we are very willing that whatever there is that is not of God ſhould fall, and we are alſo ſure, that whatever is of God you cannot overturn it, therefore pray have a Care you be not found fighters againſt God: And pray weigh very ſeriouſly what Mr. Davis hath written in anſwer to what is charged againſt him, for I do truſt that in the Fear of God he hath anſwered what he intended to anſwer. I ſhall therefore leave his Anſwers, and give ſome Anſwer to another part of the Pamphlet where they ſeem to leave him, and begin to rail on others, as you have their Words in Page 16. where they ſay,
You may now ſake a taſte of the Doctrins of ſome of his Journey Men the Shoemakers, Joyners, Taylors, Diers, &c. which he hath ſent forth to Preach as an Apoſtolical Tribe, for like Number, Preheminence, and what not. Thus far their own Words. Now let the Reader judge.
1. Whether what is ſpoken be not in a malicious diſdainful way, and whether it be not like that, Matth. 13. 55. Is not this the Carpenters Son? And Mark 6. 3. Is not this the Carpenter? I do believe they will find it ſo, when what they boaſt, it ſhall be brought down, and the Lord alone exalted, it may be by mean Inſtruments, as he was at firſt by Fiſher-men, though the Learned of the Age could not then bear it; But ſure Chriſtians ſhould not follow the Phariſees ſteps.
2. Conſider whether there is not a Blaſphemer's Reflection upon the Twelve Apoſtles of our Lord, in comparing our Number to that Number, ſeeing they have no reaſon for it, there not being ſuch a number of us, only ſome Wicked Perſons were pleaſed to ſay, There was Davis and his Twelve Apoſtles; but muſt Profeſſors follow their ſteps? I think that Word of Chriſt ſhould ſtop them, Rev. 2. 9. I know the blaſphemy of them that ſay they are Jews, and are not.
3. Conſider whether they be not guilty of Lying, in ſaying that he ſent them out as an Apoſtolical Tribe.
But I ſhall now anſwer what followeth concerning my ſelf, who they name by Name, though with many wicked falſe Reflections, which might have been better to have been ſpared than vented by thoſe that pretend Chriſtianity, unleſs they think their Tongues are their own, and there is no Lord over them.
But I bleſs the Lord, who inableth me to rejoice, that I am counted worthy to ſuffer for his Name ſake; for upon diligent Search, I know no reaſon thoſe Men have thus to revile me; for as for my manner of Life, the Lord hath not yet left me to be blamed, for which I bleſs his holy Name, and deſire ſtill to be kept [and whereas they call me Ape] I never yet was left to follow any Man in things wherein I did not conceive they followed Chriſt—but
Whereas they ſay Mr. Davis ſet me up a Paſtor to ſome conceited People in Wellingborough—I anſwer,
Firſt, It is falſe, for Mr. Davis did not ſet me up a Paſtor, for we Inchurched together according to the Rule of the Goſpel, and being Inchurched, I was ſet apart with Faſting and Prayer in the Church, according to the Primitive Pattern, and Mr. Davis, Mr. Bear, and Mr. Greenwood, all Elders of other Churches, and ſeveral Members of other Churches, were by, as Witneſſes and not Actors; the manner of our acting, I ſhall readily relate more fully to any that deſire it, if it might ſtop the falſe Accuſations of Unreaſonable Men, ſo that by this you may ſee it is a falſe Accuſation.
2. It is a reproachful Reflection, for I do believe they that be of us fear God, and will one day ſtand at the Right-hand of Chriſt, and then it will be diſmal to be found one that did revile them; Now followeth what they ſaid was my Doctrins, and my Anſwers to them.
1. That I ſaid, God's Word doth not tell us how we muſt believe, and they refer to Head 25. where you may ſee their Revilings, where they ſay, that I ſaid, If a Revelation of the Spirit will not ſatisfie you, we cannot ſatisfie you.—I Anſwer,
1. To the former part, when I firſt heard it, I did declare that I did look upon the holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of Faith and Practice, (and ſo I do ſtill) and I offer'd them to meet any Man to Diſcourſe with him that would ſay that ever I did affirm the contrary; and Mr. Alen that was at Northampton ſent to them to meet me, but they would not, but diſagreed among themſelves, and are now broken by their Wickedneſs: But I am troubled to hear, that they ſhould falſly Charge me▪ their Converſations gave great Ground to ſuſpect that the Word of God is not a Rule to them.
2. That if a Revelation of the Spirit do not ſatisfie, we cannot. I do ſay, That Faith is a Revelation of Chriſt by the Spirit to the Soul, and a Perſuaſion by the ſame Spirit to leave Sin and Self, and truſt in Chriſt ſo revealed. And by this Revelation and Perſuaſion of the Spirit, the Soul is ſatisfied, and not by any human Teſtimony without it; Math. 11. 25. Rom. 8. 16.
3. Doctrin, they ſay, I ſaid [God commended that which Simeon and Levi did, notwithſtanding Jacob curſed them]—and that I ſhould make as if God commended by Judith's Mouth what he curſed by Jacob's, &c. Anſwer,
1. I never did ſay that God Commended Simeon and Levi's Actions, who in their Rage did what they did in breaking in upon the City; only I plead this by way of Alluſion, their taking their Siſter out of the Houſe of Sechem, and not dealing with her as with an Harlot; from which I preſſed the Church of Chriſt in Cambridge-ſhire, to uſe the Means Chriſt hath appointed in his Goſpel, Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. for the recovery of thoſe that had offended. Mr. Holcraft and Harris were then preſent with the Church, and Mr. Holcraft on that day, with the Churches conſent called me to Miniſter the Word among them, in order to my being called to be Paſtor to a part of them; and ſure if there had been ſuch things delivered, they would have diſcerned them, and not ſo far as they did, have ſignified their Approbation: But truly with Grief I write, if the Perſon that drew this Concluſion from my words is ſo filled with Anger, that it appeareth on more accounts than one he careth not what he ſaith; The Lord forgive him.
2. I never did make uſe of Judith's Name nor Actions, neither did it ever come into my mind; ſo that I am called villanous for that which I never was guilty of; but the Lord humble them for their Evil Speaking.
Then they ask the Queſtion what I would gather from it, and ſay that my next words tell; Therefore my Friends buckle on your Swords and fetch your Brethren back from Idolatry; to which they add many wicked ſcornful Speeches.
Anſ. I never did adviſe to this way of fetching back Brethren, for it is againſt my Judgment to uſe it in matters of Religion; indeed I did put them upon Reforming, (and I earneſtly wiſh all in England would Reform, for I am ſure there is need of it) and I am willing to go with them (tho I go under many Reproaches) for it is Reformation my Soul breatheth after; but I need no Carnal Weapons, but am well ſatisfied, the Sword that goeth out of my Lord's Mouth, will finiſh the Work in his own time; and then ſhall be fulfilled many Scriptures on them that go on in their Scorning.
3. They ſay I ſaid, They that die doubting and Fearing, are Damned. And they charge me with Barbarity.
Anſ. I never was ſo barbarous as the Writers would make me, but I had and have Bowels for poordoubting dejected Souls, as many can Witneſs, neither did I ſay theſe words alone, but this I ſaid, They that live and die Doubting, and never believe on the Lord Jeſus, are Damned s And ſo ſaith the Scripture, Without, are the Fearful and Unbelieving; and he that Believeth not ſhall be Damned.
4. They ſay, I ſaid, Chriſt tore himſelf.
Anſ. When I broke the Bread according to Chriſt's Inſtitution (tho they Revile on that account alſo) I did in ſetting forth the love of Chriſt in laying down his own Life for us, ſay thus, Chriſt gave himſelf; but preſently added, That tho there was a Sovereign Act of Chriſt, in laying down his own Life, according to that Scripture, John, 10. 15. 17, 18. yet it was the wicked hands of the Jews that Murthered him.
5. When we find our Hearts moſt wicked, then to Believe in Chriſt, is Pure Faith.
Anſ. I remember not that I ſaid ſo, but if I had, I know not what cauſe any have to be Offended, unleſs it be thoſe that think to make themſelves good before they Believe: David would truſt in God, when the Iniquity of his Heels compaſſed him about: And whether ſhould a poor filthy Sinner go, but to the Blood of Chriſt for Cleanſing? but, I find the Accuſers would be acting like Naaman the Syrian, that thought the Waters of his own Country, better than the Waters of Jordan: But Paul ſaith, (this is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all acceptation) That Chriſt Jeſus came into the World to ſave Sinners, of whom I am chief, 1 Tim 1, 15. And if Chriſt Jeſus came to ſave the chiefeſt of Sinners, then certainly when I ſee my ſelf the chief of Sinners, and yet Believe in Chriſt, this muſt be pure Faith that looketh through all to Chriſt; and I am ſure, was there more of this Faith, there would be more Holineſs in Heart and Life.
6. That there is no uſe of the Law. This they ſay I ſaid at Oundle; but when I ſaid it, or on what account, I know not, neither do the Accuſers tell me.
But this I do declare as my Judgment of the Law,
Firſt, That it is Holy, Juſt and Good.
Secondly, That thoſe that Believe not, are under the Condemnation of it.
Thirdly, That it is a Rule of Life to Believers.
But yet this I muſt ſay, it cannot give Life to dead Souls, and therefore not of uſe on that account, Gal. 3. 21.
Again, there cannot be Righteouſneſs attained by it, on which account a Sinner may be Juſtified, Gal. 2. 21. For if Righteouſneſs came by the Law, then Chriſt is dead in vain.
7. That the 42 of Iſaiah 19 ver. is meant of Chriſt, That Chriſt was Blind and Deaf, and did not know what he ſhould ſuffer when he came into the World.
Anſ. I did ſay, That that place ſpake of Chriſt, and I judge ſtill that it doth; but I did not ſay, That he was Blind and Deaf, and did not know what he ſhould ſuffer when he came into this World: And pray Reader conſider that Verſe, and the 20. 27. with the firſt Verſe, Behold my Servant: And in this 19 Verſe the Lord's Servant: Again he is ſaid to be Perfect: And again, there is difference between the 18 Verſe and the 19. The 18 Verſe ſpeaketh of the People of Iſrael, that were Deaf and Blind, and calleth upon them in the Plural Number, ſaying, Hear ye Deaf, and look ye Blind: But this 19 Verſe ſpeaketh in the Singular Number My Servant, and he that is Perfect: Again it is ſaid, Seeing many things, but thou obſerveſt not, opening the Ears, but he heareth not. Now, how can this be meant of wilfully Blind Iſrael, or their Prieſts? for tho it be granted they were Deaf and Blind themſelves, yet they could not open the Ears of others, therefore I take the Words to be meant of Chriſt; that tho he did foreſee all his Sufferings that he was to paſs through, yet he did not ſo obſerve them as to hinder him in his carrying on our Redemption; tho he did hear the contradiction of Sinners againſt himſelf, yet he ſuffered patiently for them, according to the 38 Pſalm, 12, 13, 14 ver. They all ſeek after my Life, &c. But I as a deaf Man hear'd not, and I was as a dumb Man that opened not his Mouth; thus I was as a Man that heareth not, and in whoſe mouth are no Reproofs. Compare this with Acts 8. 32. and 1 Pet. 2. 2.
8. That we are Adopted from Eternity.
Anſ. I did Preach our being Predeſtinated unto the Adoption of Children by Jeſus Chriſt, according to the Good pleaſure of his Will. And if any will contend againſt it, let them know, they contend againſt that plain Scripture, Eph. 1. 5. For my part I am well ſatisfied that there are a number Choſen in Chriſt their Head, and fore-appointed by the Father to this Relation of Son-ſhip in Jeſus Chriſt, and becauſe they are Sons, he ſendeth forth the Spirit of his Son, crying Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6. And pray let it be conſidered, it is one thing for us to be took into favour by the Father in Chriſt our, Head; and another thing for us to have this kindneſs of God manifeſted and help given to us to receive it, Gal. 4. 5. that we might receive the Adoption of Sons.
9. That People muſt not reſt on Promiſes, and think to renew their Comfort by them.
Anſ. I did not ſay theſe words ſeparate from others; and if prejudiced People will run away with half Sentences, and be offended, I cannot help it: I have been as wary as I could, notwithſtanding the Unchriſtian Reflections that the Accuſers caſt upon me. This I have ſaid, That People muſt not reſt on Promiſes ſeparate from Chriſt; for tho God hath given to us exceeding great and precious Promiſes, yet thoſe Promiſes are Yea, and Amen in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1. 20.
So I have ſaid, They muſt not renew their comfort by the promiſe ſeparate from Chriſt, and that fullneſs of Grace in him that the Promiſe ſpeaks of. I do ſay, the Word is as it were the Breaſts, but the Sincere Milk of the Breaſt, is Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born Babes deſire the ſincere Milk of the Word. What this Milk of the Word is, you may ſee Verſe 6. wherefore it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief Corne-ſtone, Elect, Precious, and he that believeth on him, ſhall not be confounded. Therefore you muſt renew your Comforts in Chriſt by the Promiſe. And whereas they ſay, Head the 25. Doth not this make void the Promiſe? I ſay no, for it bringeth you to the Promiſe in it's right Place; but I will return the … Doth not their way in Arguing for Comfort by the Promiſe ſeparate from Chriſt, make Chriſt of none Effect?
But if any ask who argueth ſo? I Anſwer, many that I have known, which hath been the cauſe of our thus Preaching; there are many that have great Notions of the Word, and take their Comfort from their Notions, which notwithſtanding reject Chriſt, and count it Preſumption to Believe; and it plainly appeareth by their wicked Carriages and ungodly Reaſonings and hard Speeches againſt the Saints: I ſay, it appeareth that they have not Faith, neither know what it is to Believe, notwithſtanding all their Notions. Thus the Phariſees they took Comfort from the Promiſe made to Abraham, and they boaſted they were his Seed, and thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures: But Chriſt telleth them, That they would not come to him, that they might have Life. And here I intreat all that are high in their Notions, to look to it that their Faith in Chriſt be according to their Notions concerning him.
And here alſo I beſeech poor drooping doubting Souls to learn to take hold of Chriſt in the Promiſe, and reſt on him that ſpeaketh yea, and renew your Comforts in him; learn what that meaneth, Matt. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you Reſt.
Laſtly. They ſpeak of many ſuch Doctrins that I have delivered, but when I know what they are, I ſhall Anſwer them as the Lord ſhall help me: But I hope thoſe that are concerned in writing the Pamphlet, will learn more Wiſdom in their next; and as in this they concealed their Names, as being aſhamed to be known, like Thieves that Diſguiſe themſelves when they have a mind to Rob their near Neighbours; ſo in their next, they conceal their Wickedneſs, leſt that they thought to do to others, be done to themſelves, by the Lord's leaving them to fall under Reproaches and Shame, according to that Word, Iſa. 41. 11. Behold, all they that were incenſed againſt thee, ſhall be aſhamed and confounded, they ſhall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee, ſhall Periſh. Read the next Verſe.
But I ſhall leave the Pamphlet, with the Writers and Abetters of it, and earneſtly deſire the Reader to Pray for, and endeavour to underſtand the Truth, and comply with it, tho Men and Devils ſtrive againſt it; and I earneſtly deſire thee wherein thou thinkeſt I am out, thou wilt Pray for me, and take the firſt opportunity to deal with me according to the rule of Chriſt, Matt. 18. 15. that if I am out, I may be informed, or if I be not out, thy Thoughts may be governed, becauſe wrong informed.
I ſhall add no more, becauſe I would not make our Anſwers too Bulky, but earneſtly deſire the Prayers of the Godly for me, under all my Reproaches for Chriſt, who do and ſhall Pray for thee and my Enemies.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Davis, Truth and Innocence Vindicated (1692)