Gangrena Part 1 and 2, Part 3 – Imprimatur

Gangrena Part 1 and 2 · Part 3 – Imprimatur

p. 34Some Passages in the Prayers of the Sectaries.

ANd though wee are discountenanced by the Civil Magistrate (which is a great thing) after they have had our estates, and our blood, yet Lord &c. When the blinde man was thrust out of the Synagogue by the Pharisees,An Independent Minister in a Church here in London, prayed these words following. Jesus Christ met him; so though wee are thrust out of the Common Assemblies and mens affections who formerly loved us, &c. Let the Spirit teach us, wee may look four, five yeers from an Assembly of men before they teach us, &c. Though they may with-hold the truth in Policie, yet thy Spirit can teach us if, all the Ministers in the world hold their peace, &c. Thou hast triumphed gloriously by a despised Army, not only by our enemies, but our seeming friends, who indeed were our reall enemies, vilifying those men whom thou hast been pleased to honour, &c. p. 35Another Independent Minister in his prayer prayed, that the Presbyteri… might be removed, that Christs Kingdome might be set up. Another Independent Minister, about the end of September last, gave God thanks for breaking the neck of that wretched **It vvas the first Position of many vvell-affected Citisens, for setling the government, subscribed by manie hands, but not presented. In Septemb. last.petition of the Citizens. August last the tenth day, being presently upon Lilburns committing to Newgate, at Knowles Church in St. Hellens on a Lords day, Mr. Knowles prayed these words, or to this effect; Lord, bring thy servant Lilburn out of prison, and honour him Lord, for he hath honoured thee. This last monethmonth in December, one of the Independent Ministers in his prayers at a Lecture, two or three severall Lectures, prayed to God that the Parliament might give libertie to tender consciences. One of the Independent Ministers at his Church-meeting in a house, gave thanks unto God for the libertie of conscience granted in America, and said, Why, Lord not in England as well as in America? or words to that purpose. Another Independent Minister in his prayer put up this petition, O Lord make the Parliament friends to the Saints. **This praier vvas the next Lecture after Mr. Iohn Goodvvin vvas put by Coleman-street.May 25. 1645. An Independent Minister praying for the Parliament, prayed that God would keep the Parliament from greeving the Saints, or doing any acts that might make them sad; that they for whom so many prayers and praises had been put up by the Saints, might not now grieve them. April 24 the same Independent Minister in his prayer after Sermon, prayed, That now God had delivered us both (namely, the Presbyterian and Independent) from such bondage and oppression, we might not be guiltie of bringing our brethren into bondage, left the Lord carrie us back again into Egypt for it. The same prayed on August 1, joyning Parliament and Assembly together, That they might do nothing but what the Saints should rejoyce in, and be glad of. About the beginning of September last, a Reverend Minister of the Assembly who was an ear-witnesse related it, and said he would acquaint the Commissioners of Scotland with it; that an Independent Minister, either in his prayer or Sermon, used words to his effect of the Scots, It vvas upon the great prevailing of Montrosse.That it was just with God to bring this overthrow upon Scotland, because of their beating their fellow-servants; and that they could not be content with suffering their brethren to enjoy their libertie, but must have a domination.

Having given the Reader an account of many errours and blasphemies of the Sectaries,Practises of the Sectaries. with some passages in their prayers; I come now to relate many of their practices. But the Reader must not p. 36conceive I can set down all, or that any one man (although of far greater abilities and leisure, having also fairer opportunities of conversing among them, with lesse suspition observing their wayes, than my selfe) is able to do it. They have many depths, wiles and methods which I know not, nor cannot find out; there are many windings and turnings of the Se…p…nt, crooked goings in and out, off and on, here and there, which I cannot trace, The way of the serpent upon a rock is too wonderfull for me, and which I know not, Prov. 30 18, 19. They, Proteus-like, turne themselves into all shapes and forms, and according to severall occasions and times, have different humours and tempers, sometimes complying so, that one would think all diff…ence would quickly be at an end, and they were ours, sometimes so far off and b…ck again, as causes wonder and amazement in the beholders. I have been told from godly and wise men, who have had much to do with some of them, and have professed to set themselves to studie, and to observe them (men who are moderate enough, and have a speciall love to some of them) that they know not what to make of them, they are strange men, nor cannot fadom their depths, and therfore 'tis not to be expected from me, a plain open-harted man (who hate tricks, playing under-boord, reserves and designes, whose motto is that of the Psalmist, Psal. 25.21. Let integritie and uprightnesse preserve me, for I wait on thee, and never studied Machiavel, nor am not versed in the Jesuits Politicks) that I should discover all their practices and wayes: Neither was it my intention or scope in writing of this book, to speak all I know of their practices and wayes, (for I took a resolution in the entrance of this work, not to be too large) that so the more might both buy and read it, and my purpose is hereafter (God sparing me life, health and liberty) for the benefit both of the present and succeding generations, to write an Historicall narration of all the Proceedings and wayes of the English Sectaries, both in England and beyond the Seas, from the first yeare of the Parliaments sitting, till the time of the setting forth that History, and have already laid in many materialls, and kept an exact account of the most remarkable passages tending that way; and my earnest desire is to all the godly O…hodox Readers, into whose hands this book shall come, who are enemies to sects and schismes, and lovers of truth, peace, and order, whether Gentlemen of Committees in the severall Counties, or Souldiers in the Armies, or Ministers in the severall parts of the Kingdome, or other godly Christians, that they would be pleased within this three or four moneths next following, to communicate to me all the certaine intelligence they have, of the Opinions, wayes and Proceedings of the Sectaries; and I promise faithfully, that whatever agreement or condition be made by anie who imparts any matters to me (as namely for concealing of their p. 37names, or f…bearing the relation of such and such particulars, as place, &c. whatever they be) I will … observe, and they shall find mee both secret and true to them (for I feare God, and dare not violate my promise) only for the present I shall g…ve the world a … and tryall of the Practices of the Sectaries, for upon some of the heads of their Practices and wayes which I in this present Discourse name, I could write upon each of them a booke, in giving instances and examples for a proofe and confirmation of their truth.

Now I might in the first place make a Parallel between the practices and waies of out Sect…ries, and the Sectaries of old in the Primitive times (especially the Don…tist▪) as also between them and the Jesuits, them and the Arminians, of the Netherlands, them and the Prelates, and their Court-party, them and the present Malignants; yea, them and some of the bad Emp…rours, as Iulian, and could shew such an agreement in their practices and wayes, treading so just in their paths and steps, as if none of them were dead or put down in England, only now acted among us under new names, and under other habits and formes, but still the soules and spirits of the Donatists, Jesuits, Arminians, Prelates, and Court-party were alive, and transformed into many of the Sectaries: And indeed to do this fully would deserve a Tractate by it selfe, which I shall leave to be done by some other more able hand; or else if no other take up such a fruitfull Argument, I may find some opportunity hereafter to treat upon it; only before I name the particular Practices of the Sectaries, as I have done their Errours, I will …i… some of the more speciall Parllels between the Sectaries, and the Donatists, Jesuits &c.

First for the Donatists, and some other Sectaries of the Primitive times, 1. Our Sectaries and they agree in their complaints of Persecution of their schisme: the Donatists would alwaies be complaining of th…, as **Aug…st. lib. 1. contra Parmen. l. …. de baptismo contra Donatistas, lib. 2. contra Petil.Augustine shewes it in many places of his learned works against them; and our Sectaries in their Sermons, Prayers, Pamphlets, Discourses, Petitions, all crying out of Persecution, and accusing the Orthodox Presbyterians of Persecution; yea, when for their seditious, tumultuous, libellous sc…ffing, wicked lying, scandalous reports, books and practices, they have been q…stioned, there's nothing in their mou…hs but persecution, and unheard of prosecution of the godly. I am of the minde if any of them sh…uld come to bee imprisoned, and hanged, for stealing, killing a godly Presbyterian, plotting against the Parliament and City, in seizing upon their Forts, or some Parliament-men, one or other of them would cry out of perse…ution. 2. They agree in their furious outrages and violences against all that oppose their way: Learned men know what Circumcelliones there p. 38were among the Donatists, and to what a height they came as **August. contra Parmen, contra literas Petillian.Augustine relates; and among the Sectaries, there are outragious furious men, and such that in the Churches have committed many insolencies, assaulted and abused some Ministers in their own houses, and in other places where they have met them: but I must not enlarge. 3. They agree in their high flatteries of themselves and their party, extolling them and crying them up to the Heavens; the Donatists did …leo adorationum impinguere capita, as **August. contra Petilian.Augustine speakes; and the Sectaries of our times are incomparable flatterers and admirers of their owne party, have written and spoken such praises and flatteries of their side, as have come almost to blasphemy; these phrases are ordinary, as precious men as any upon earth, men of a most precious anointing, none since the Apostles times like them for gifts and abilities; ye…, some have not sticked to say, they were beyond the Apostles, and if Jesus Christ himselfe were on earth he could hardly preach better, that they lead as holy lives as Saints and Angells in Heaven. 4. In their great partiality, practi…ing that themselves which they condemne in others. **August. lib. 1. contra Parmen.Augustine shewes this in many places of the Donatists: I could give many instances, of our Sectaries in this kinde, crying out of preaching and printing by the Orthodox against them, and yet preaching and printing all kind of things against them; speaking against petitioning the Parliament, or interposing in any thing before them by way of Petition, or having me…tings for that end, (as you may find in some of the News bookes the pensioners of the Sectaries,) and yet themselves in a disorderly tumultuous way, being but private particular persons (neither bodies, nor societies representative, nor reall) have had many strange meetings, and drawn up Petitions with clauses and passages medling with the affaires of Parliament, in a kinde charging them, and taking cognizance of things of a high nature done in Parliament, before the time they ought, with many such like:**August. contra Parmen but I take off my hand. 5. **August. contra literas Petil.In their appealing from Ecclesiasticall Judges to the temporall: So the Sectaries, from Classes and Synods to the Parliament, or some temporall Judges appointed by them. 6. In their unwillingnesse to have their actions or writings examined by anie judicious learned men, but keeping things in the darke. Epiphanius resembles Sectaries to a Moule, a feeble creature that doth much hurt by keeping under ground, but it once above ground, then 'tis contemptible and easily taken: Some of the Sectaries have been provoked enough to set down what they would have, p. 39both by earnest intreaties from beyond seas, and at home, by commands in a kind, by upbraidings for not doing it, and yet to this day they cannot be brought to it;Vide Lit. Guil. Apoll. & Respons. and I judge 'tis for these Reasons: 1. Because they cannot well agree among themselves of any system or body. 2. Because they know not how long they shall be of this mind, nor how much further yet they may go. 3. Because what they set downe may offend manie of their owne party, and loosen all the rest of the sects from them. 4. Because some Grandees, and Persons of note (who are gone further,) will not be well pleased at it. 5 Because when once given under their hands, and that after so long expectation, it will be judged by all rationall men their utmost strength (which if it should have answer upon answer, as no doubt it will) and the weaknesse of it discovered and laid bare, they are lost among manie, and will suffer exceedingly in the esteem of all intelligent unprejudiced men, whereas now by being silent, they bare the world in hand, as if they had some great matter of strength; manie before they speake and utter themselves are thought to bee wise, and to have much in them, who when they have once spoken, are easily seene thorow. 7. In their quoting Authours for them, who are acknowledged for the main to be professedly against them; and in their quoting pieces of Authours, and not the whole, leaving the latter part which would explain their meaning; thus the Donatists did **Lib. 1. de Bapt. contra Donat. lib. 2. de baptist.Cyprian, and yet he was much against them as he professes; and so Augustine complains of the Donatists, integrus non allegarunt Scripturas; thus the Author of Sions Prerogative Royall, quotes many Presbyrians for severall things, who professedly were of another way; and one Mr. E. (as the Reader may observe in an Extract of one of the printed Letters) quotes the Churches of France, Scotland, &c. for the Independent way, who are knowne to be professedly against it: and so **Book inti…. The ancient bounds or lib. of Consc.the Author of The bounds of libertie of Consc. quotes the Leydenses aaTitle page.Profess. for him, who professedly speak against it, and in bbSynopsis purior. Theolog. disput. de Magist. 50. Sect. 59, 60.one sentence hee leaves out some three times words all of them belonging to one sentence, which would shew the sense of those learned men to be against him (as notorious a falsification as I think is to be found in any Papist) and so Mr. Iohn Goodwin in his point of Justification quotes Calvin, Bucer, and others, who are knowne ex professo, aaVide M. Rob. answ. to M. Good. Doct. of …ustif. cleared, pag. 75, p. 110.to be of another judgement; and hee quotes bbVide M. Prynns Truth triumph…ng over falshood, pag. 111. The se…st you … is M. Edvvards, wh… maintai…s … bla…k against you thorou…out … Treatisse.my Antapologie with other Authors, to justifie his opinion, when as I have professedly at large p. 40spoken against what he maintains; and among other places which he pe…verts, I shall name one, where he cites the former part of the senten…e, leaving out the latter, which had hee but name…, would have been an evident con…u…ation o… him, … just with me as the Devill did by ChristaaGood Innocencies triumph. Out of my Antapol. 169. The tovver of the Mag…strate, by vvhichwhich hee punisheth sin, doth not subserve to the kingdome of Christ the Mediatour; Hee leaues; … that which follows in the same sentence, there being no fullpo…t, that he may apply efficaciously to the elect, foreign of the P…ophe…icall and Priestly office of Christ; hee doth not affect the invvard man and conscience vvith spirituall punishment, &c., Psal. 916. leaving out the last part, to keep thee in all thy wayes. 2 …he Sectaries and the Jesuites agree in many things. 1 As the Jesuites are ramous for sending out Em…laries into severall Countries to corrupt, not conten…ing themselves to do mischiefe at home; …o do our Sectaries send forth their members into all Counties and places of this Kingdome, they lay hand, upon them, and send them as a Church act to preach such and such errours, to rebaptize, &c. 2 The Jesuites have their piae …udes, holy deceits for the propagating of their cause, fictions, made things to deceive the people; so have our Sectaries many for the spreading of their partie. 3 …he Jesuites insinuating themselves, get into … houses and acquaintance, into g…eat Ladies and Ge…lewomens, and into Princes Courts and Houses, and follow State matters, meet to contrive and consult, not preac…ing too much, nor following their studies too hard; so do many of our Sectaries g…t into acquaintance and favour with great Noblemen, Parliament-men, …ell…cite, follow them, work by the great Ladies and Gentlewomen, consult and de…ate of matters Civill, &c. 4 The Jesuites are full of equivocations, … reservations, say one thing, but meane another, speak things in a sense of their own, d…fferent from what it is in the common accep…ion, so are our S…ctaries. 5 The Jesuites have alwayes one plot or other, never give out, are working active men, if crossed in one, then are trying in another, and have many … in the fire at once, that if one do not take, another may, nothing discourages them, but on they go; so it is with the Sectaries of our ti…e, active nimble men, restlesse spirits, never without plots and …i…e designes, with … of many at once, that if some mis-carrie, yet others may bring forth. 6 Th… Jesuites will work and act where they are not thought to be, by others, a…d by instruments unsuspected, not appearing themselves, but bringing about their ends in such a manner, as a man would never dream of; so our Sectaries will not appear themselves in many things, when yet the hand of Ioab is all along, but get their work done by others, who also draw others to them. 7 The Jesuits p. 41make all things give place to their designes, to advance the Catholike cause, and so they may compasse them, they are not mannerly to stand upon tearms, but will take any person out of the way who stands to hinder them, use severall indirect means to effect what they have plotted, run great ventures and hazards but they wil… go thorow: so the S…ctaries of our times are daring men, will attempt t…I…gs (a wis… man would think) they should be afr…id of, will try to break any man or work him out that stands between them and home, and do things (though otherwise against their principles)

The Sect…ies and the Netherland Arminians agree; 1 The Arminians at first flatter…d the M…g…st…ate…, declyning Synods and Ecclesiasticall Ass…mblies all they could,Vo… select, disput penes quos sit potestas Ecclessiastica. 1 Thes. 4 Thes. 5. Thes. Vide…lius de Episcopat. Constant. magni, pag, …, 4, …, 6.1 Thess 4 and still appealing to the Civill Magistrate▪ crying up the power of the Civill Magistrate in Ecclesiasticalls, ascribing to the Magistrate the ultimate and highest Jurisdiction and power of giving judgement in matters purely Ecclesi…ticall, reasoning, that to the Magistrate alone immediately under Christ did belong the judgement, where controv…rsies of faith did arise in the Church, and they aspensed the Orthodox Ministers for not giving so much: of this the Reader may finde enough in Voetius and Vedelius; so do our Sectaries, all of them are against Synods, declyning them, manie of them say, they will in all matters of Religion give account to the Parliament, or so any Committee appointed by them; and say, they give more to the Magistrate then the Presbyterians, and in that kinde have odious insinuations to reflect upon Presbyterians. 2. The Arminians at first broached but small and few errours in comparison, but in some yeares time, came to vent all kind of errors almost, Socinian errors, and what not? so our Sectaries at first were more modest, but within these foure yeares, especially these two last, how they have growne, and what they are fallen into, the fore named Catalogue is sufficient proofe. 3. The Ar…inians professed reserves, became Scepticks, were against certainty of faith, they came to have (as our Divines have expressed,) a monethly faith, nay an hour…ly; this they now held, but they know not what they might hold to morrow or the next houre; this principle of uncertainty in matters of Religion the Remonstrants did hold forth, in those times of the troubles of the Churches in the Netherlands, that so they might overturn all forms and harmonies; that was one of the scepticall rules of the Arminians, Dies diem docet; so our Sectaries are all for new light and reserves, and multitudes of them are become meer Scepticks and Questionists, and will tell you, this they hold for the present, but know not yet what they may see, &c. 4. The p. 42Arminians could not be brought to speak out a long while, nor to give what they would have, but hid themselves in doubtfull phrases, and were feared monstri aliquid alere: when they stood for and desired a Toleration upon conferences and meetings they were put to it, to give in what they held, and all they held, they were proffered at the conference holden at Delph favour and Toleration, if they would give assurance they desired only forbearance in the five Points, but they could not be got to it; so our Sectaries have forborne to this day, notwithstanding all meanes used, to set down this we hold, this we will stick to. 5. The Arminians in those times in the Low-Countries, in some Cities and Towns where they had power, persecuted the Orthodox, troubled them much; so do our Sectaries in Towns or places where they have power, persecute godly Orthodox men, especially if zealous against the Sects: O how have some Sectaries vexed, plagued and troubled many godly Ministers and people severall waies! of which more under their particular policies, & factious practices. 6. The Arminians, had well nigh undone the Netherlands, and brought all to confusion, & had not the old Prince of Orange been stout and wise, even doing something beyond the ordinarie way of his power; and upon the Synod of Dort determining the Magistrate added the civill sanction, and used coercive power, that Countrey had been lost; so Sectaries have by their errours, divisions and factions they have made among us, hazarded all, and if God do not wonderfully put in, and be mercifull to us, their waies and courses will undo us all. 7. The Netherland Arminians would be Remonstrants, did write against, complaine of the Synod of Dort, that they could not have their liberty, were not well dealt with, could not have so faire a hearing; how many books were written, how many aspersions were cast upon the Synod? And have not, and do not our Sectaries write against the Assembly? complain by word of mouth? are not their mouthes full of such speeches? They cannot be heard, They have not had liberty to bring in their Questions, &c. Is it not remarkable, that the Pamphlet, or rather Libell against the Assembly, put forth by stealth, is entituled, A Remonstrance of the Dissenting Brethren? so that they are the English Remonstrants. 8 The Netherland Arminians when once the Magistrate did effectually set to back the Synod of Dort, and were against them, then they writ books in a far other stile, and that power which before they so liberally measured out to them, they did not a little limit and contract, denying the Magistrate had any power over private meetings; so our Sectaries, if once the Magistrates come to suppresse their errours and false Doctrines,Vide Voet. Thes. 2. de Potest. Eccles. & Vedel. de Episcop. Const. magni. and their private meetings, we shall see how they will change their stile; nay, have wee p. 43not too much experience,Post habitam Synodum Dordraicam etiam libelli longè aliorum stilo scripti sunt, quin… & potestatem hanc non parum limitant ac contrahunt, quam tamen tam liberaliter ante hac admensi erant. how but upon votes for Government, and but upon the preparative Orders for setling Church-Government, upon the overtures of it this l…st summer, when the Order came of casting this City into Classes and a Province, and an Order for choosing tryers of Elders, what passages had we in Sermons, Prayers of some of the Sectaries; as among many to give two onelyonly, on the day of Thanksgiving for taking Sherborne castle, a Sectary preached this, That the Parliament was making of Lawes against the Saints, and that he was not afraid to speake, because he was not afraid to suffer. And others preached of the great persecution that was coming; and how the Bishops tyrannie would be nothing to the Presbyterians, their finger would be heavier then the Bishops loynes, or words to that purpose. The Sectaries and the Bishops, with that Court party agree: 1. The Bishops and the Court party would bring off one way or other, by Letters written from great friends at Court, by appearing for them, by removing to some other place the businesse by finding out one device or another, deluding the parties who prosecuted and troubled them, all those of their party that were active and able; who by vertue of the Lawes, conscience, and courage, some men in place were questioned and indangered, for preaching some Doctrines of Poperie and Arminiansme, &c. or for some practices not legall, of which many examples were in the former time, fetching them out of the hands of Orthodox men who had power; sending Warrants for discharge of Priests, Jesuites, &c. and now all England over generally, the Sectaries for anie of their partie that are questioned, either for preaching false doctrines, or for speaking unjustifiable words, or for other misdemeanours, do use all waies to bring them off; they will use meanes to remove them from one Committee to another, where they are stronger, they will get Letters writ on their behalfe, they will work things so, as by delayes one way or another the Sectaries shall escape, as much as ever the Jesuits, Priests, Arminians, Innovators did heretofore. 2. The Bishops and Court party would prefer none but their party, kept out all men from all places in Church and Common-wealth, though never so deserving, especially if zealous, or had anie great parts to stand for the truth, and they would prefer their own partie though never so unworthy, though little to commend them; and so the Sectaries, in all places where they have power, bring in Sectaries though otherwise unfit, into offices and places, though dishonest and scandalous, and set themselves with all the industry and cunning that may be to keep out godly conscientious men that are against the Sects, though the, p. 44publike suffer never so much for the want of them. 3. The Bishops and Court-party did set themselves to worme out (that being the Archbishops phrase) all godly, zealous, able men out of places, and would by one means or device watching them, cast them out quite, or so hamper and vex them, that they were weary of their lives and places; so doe our Sectaries make it their study, to remove, worme by degrees out of places upon one pretence or other, when they cannot doe it otherwise active Presbyterians, of which we have too manie instances, and set themselves to vex them, by over-rating in Townes where they have place, by bringing them into Haberdashers H…ll, by putting in Articles against them which they cannot prove, and so putting them to chargeable journeyes and expences, with abundance of such. 4. The Bishops and the Court-party to bring about their ends, would bring matters to such a condition, and such a necessitie, and then would make those necessities, that condition of affaires, as a ground of such and such following actions, pleading the necessities and the condition of the times as their warrant; so our Sectaries doe in many cases, they have by their policies and wayes hindred the setling of Church-Government all this while, and they plead the long delay of setling it, as a ground to justifie their gathering Churches, saying, how manie yeares would you have us to stay? when as in the Assembly, Citie, in all places, by all meanes where they have anie interest, they retard the work; and so if meanes be used by Petitioning the Parliament to settle Church-Government, and to suppresse the great errours, then some of the Sectaries say and give out, The Army will be offended, when as many of the Sectaries have used all meanes, and do still, to bring things to that passe, that we might have an Armie under the commands, and in the hands of the Sectaries, though (blessed be God) we have a Noble Generall free from sectarisme and not above one in six in the Armie that way tainted. 4. The Prelaticall faction and that Court-partie were great Innovatours, given to change, running from one opinion to another, being Arminians as well as Popish, yea some of them Soci…inians, and countenancing such,These things I speake not of all the bishops that were, nor of all men that were of that judgement, there being some Orthodox, learned, painfull, pious men, that approved not those wayes, but of the Faction. and were everie day inventing some new matter in worship, adding this ceremonie and the other, putting downe some part of worships, and altering them by substituting other; as in putting down singing of Psalmes in some Churches, and having Hymnes; in putting downe all conceived Prayer, and commanding bidding of Prayer, with a multitude of such like: so our Sectaries are great Innovatours as changeable as the Moon, bringing into their Churches new opinions daily, new practices, p. 45taking away the old used in all Reformed Churches, and substituting new; taking away of singing of Psalms, and pleading for hymnes of their own making; bringing in anoynting with oyl, bringing in their laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghost, with severall other strange wayes and practices, which the Reader shall find in this following discourse, among the narrations of passages and stories. 5 The Prelaticall faction and that Court-Clergie were daring bold men, that durst venture almost upon any thing, upon counselling to prorogue and break up Parliaments in times of danger and distraction, upon putting men out of offices and places that were not for their turne, and to bring in others calculated for their Meridian, upon corrupting Religion and Lawes at once, breaking in both upon the Truth and the libertie of the Subject at the same time, upon any thing or person that stood in their way: So our Sectaries, many of them are daring men, have attempted and been upon high businesses, about counselling and drawing up Petitions for adjourning (as they call it) the Assembly, in a time when the distractions of this Church are so infinite, and things so unsetled; as also have inserted strange passages into other Petitions, which yet have not been presented, others of the company opposing them; with severall other particulars, which would be too large now to relate; in one word, there is almost nothing which they have not and dare not venture on, that stands in their light, and in the way of their designes; and I may say of many of the Sectaries (for I do not mean all, as I have said before, so I say again, there are some good souls meerly seduced, who are not of the Faction) they have overpassed the deeds of the wicked, not only walked after their wayes, nor done after their abominations, but have corrupted themselves more than they; justified the Bishops and their Faction, by falling into those opinions, and doing those actions in an high, bold, and open way, which that Faction never durst do for feare of the people. Next, the present Malignants and the Sectaries agree in the generall thus, that thorowout the Kingdome, it is now notorious, that the greatest Malignants and Sectaries hold together, and vote together against the Presbyterians and the Reformation, in all places and upon all businesses, of which there are many examples in the choyce of Burgesses for Parliament, in the Petition presented in London, at the choyce of the new Common-Councell, the grandest Malignants and the Independents joyned together to oppose; and in some Committees, where men of both these sorts are, it is observed also: but to come to some particulars; The parallel between the present Malignants and our grand Sectaries, stands in these; 1 The Malignants have opposed the proceedings of Parliament, by preaching and writing books against them, reviling the Houses, especially the House of Commons, and many p. 46particular worthy Members by name, speaking against their Ordinances, constitutions, as Covenant, Directorie, Ordination, against their Power and Priviledges; we know what Aulicus that grand Malignant hath done, and how manie books both from Oxford and here at London hath been by the malignant partie printed and vented: so also have manie Sectaries, and here it would fill a great book, to bring into one all the speeches, with the passages in Petitions, Sermons, Prayers, printed books, that have been vented against the Parliament, and particular Worthy Members of both Houses, their Power and Power and Priviledges, with their Ordinances and Orders, in reference to matters of Religion, as the Nationall Covenant, Directorie, Ordinance against mens preaching out of Office, the Monethly Fast, the Ordinance for Tithes, the Orders and Directions about Classes, and chusing Elders; in which Sermons, printed Books, Discourses, Petitions, and other carriages of the Sectaries, there have been more things vented distructive to the verie power and nature of Parliaments, undermining the verie root and foundation, and all their proceedings in reference to matters of Religion, yea of justice and civill matters, then ever have been by all the Malignants in England as ever I could heare of; witnesse Lilburnes booke, with that lately come forth, call'd Innocency and Truth justified, all the printed Letters and Papers that were printed upon occasion of his imprisonment; Englands Birthright, the Ordinance of Tithes Dismounted, the Arraignment of Persecution, and all his fellowes, as Martins Eccho, &c. Turners Heavenly con…erence for Sions Saints, resembling the Directory to the golden Calves of Jeroboam, and affirming there are untruths, contradictions to the Canonicall Scriptures, errours, &c. And here I dare be bold to say, that here have been greater insolencies and affronts offered to this Parliament by many of the Sectaries, then ever was to Parliament in England by any men who lived within their power: as for instance, when Lilburne was committed to prison, and such a Letter was come forth in his name against the Parliament, in such an open vile manner, and at such a time, being prisoner, many of the Sectaries of Southwark met together, and propounded to chuse Lilburne Burgesse for Parliament; and that Lilburne after so great favour and mercy showne him by the House of Commons, after so high an abuse of the honourable Speaker, the honourable Committee of Examinations, yea and of the whole House, as discharging him of his imprisonment, without either acknowledging the justice, or petitioning for the mercy of the House of Commons (a favour that I never heard or read of granted to any man before, and that I thought had been a thing impossible, 'even against the fundamentall Orders of the House, for a man committed by the House upon far p. 47lesse offences, without petitioning to be set free) should yet set forth a **Lilb. Innocency and Truth justified, pag. 37. I conceive I may justly say, without breach of their Priviledges, That I have unjustly dealt with in my late imprisonment, to be imprisoned so contrary to the known and declared Lawes, I have been without either cause showne, or a legall Triall. Vide pag. 71. p. 75. But you will say, the House of Commons is not at leisure, by reason of the publike: I answer, lesse then an houres time will serve my turne in this particular, and it is very strange, in five yeares space, so much time cannot be found from the publike to transmit my businesse; sure I am they can finde time enough to settle great and rich places upon some of themselves, and to enjoy them, notwithstanding their own Ordinance to the contrary: yea & I know some of them at this day, hath plurality of places, & I say the thing I desire of them, is more justly my due then any of their great places are theirs, and therefore I hope they have not had cause to be angry with me for craving justice at their hands, being it was the end wherefore they were chosen and trusted, and that which they are sworn to do. Vide pag. 71. speaking of some passages in a Parliam. Declarat. not easily to be forgotten by those that made them, if there be any sparks of honesty in their hearts. Pag, 21. which Warrant and Commitment (though made by a Committee of the House of Common▪) it as illegall at all the rest, and in my apprehension against the very tenour and the true intent and meaning of the Petition of Right, and expresly against the words of the Statute of the 41 of Ed. 3. Again pag. 37. But I have severall times been imprisoned both by the Committees and by the Vote of the House of Commons it selfe, contrary to a knowne Law made this present Parliament by themselves, against which there is at present no Ordinance published and declared by them and the Peeres for the cognizance of: Ergo, I say they are tied in justice, according to the tenour of this Law, to give me reparation against those persons that were chiefe instruments, either in Committees, or in the House of Commons it selfe, to vote and take away my liberty from me, contrary to this Law: and for my own part I doe expect my reparation for my late causelesse molestations and imprisonments. Pag. 69 I shall freely declare the maine reason which makes me in being true to my liberty and freedome, that in point of honesty I cannot submit to that Oath, in that I conceive all Lawes and Ordinances in such cases as this is, ought to be universall to binde all, and not so restrictive as the additionall Ordinance of Accounts is, which exempt… Peeres, Members of the House of Commons; for my part I iudge my selfe as free a man (though otherwise I desire not to make comparis…ns) as any of them, and I conceive I ought not to be in bondage to any Law or Ordinance that they themselves will not stand to.book to all the world, justifying himself in his former waies, and point blank charge the House with being unjustly dealt with in his late imprisonment, imprisoning him contrarie to the knowne and declared Lawes; yea further, in severall places of his book, after a bold and audacious manner abusing and bringing in dangerous insinuations reflecting upon them.

O what unheard of Malignancies are these I And so Mr. Iohn Goodwin in a Sermon hath uttered that against the Parliament & the power of it, as opens a gap to all sleighting of their authoritie and power; and I beleeve never was there any such speech from any before himselfe. 2 The Sectaries and Malignants agree in being bitter enemies of our brethren of Scotland, and of their Armies; the Malignants wee know look upon them with an evill eye, as the first cause of all their miserie, and cannot give them a good word; and all the world sees how the Sectaries hate the Scots, raise and spread evill reports upon them, are as thorns in their sides, heavy enemies, obstructing them in all places where they have power, devising alwaies to be rid of them, and studying what in them lies to make a breach; I could tell the Reader many speeches, stories of the Sectaries in this kinde in reference to our Brethren of Scotland, but it needs not, for they that run may read it. p. 483. They agree in this, rather to have Episcopal Government and a Toleration, then a strict Presbyteriall and thorow Reformation; we all know this would please Aulicus and his fellowes, and I thinke I can prove from good hands (and if I should name them, the Sectaries would say so to) that some of the prime Ministers in the way of the Sects have said, That Episcopall Government and a Toleration of their way would give them content. The Malignants and Sectaries agree in Independency, the Malignants now turn Independents, and professe they are for Independency, and for this I could quote severall speeches, and name some malignant Ministers, and others of note who are for Independency against Presbytery; but this is now so commonly known, that Britanicus a man who hath done them many good offices, and cryed up several of them, confesses in one of his Pamphlets about a fortnight since, that the Malignants are turned Independents; hardly a Malignant Priest about town, but is for Independency against Presbyterie. Lastly, The Sectaries agree with Iulian the Apostata and some other enemies of Christians in these four things. 1. Iulian was a great scoffer at the Scriptures, Christ and Christian Religion, as Eccles. stories mention; and manie of the Sectaries of our time, are fearfull scoffers and mockers at all things that are good, Scriptures, Trinitie, Christ, Ministery, Ordinances, what not? there was never a greater generation of scoffers at Religion then many of the Sectaries of our times, witnesse manie printed books, as Arraignment of Persecution, and his fellowes, the Ordinance of Tithes Dismounted, besides manie scoffing bookes against the Presbyteriall Government, as the two Brethrens MS. with others of that kinde. 2. aaTheodoret. Hist. Eccles. lib. 3. cap. 7. Iulianus primum vetuit, ne Galil…i (sic enim fidei Se… vatoris nostri consecratos nuncapabat) Poeticam, Rhetoricam, aut Philosophicam disce…ent. Nam nostris ipsorum, in…it, penni…, ut est in proverbio, percellima…: siquidem nostrer… scriptorum praefid…, muniti, contra nos bellum suscipiunt. Postea etiam aliam tulit legem, qua mandavit, ut omnes Galilaei, id est, Christiani, è militia pelle…entur.Iulian was a great enemy to the learning of Christians, used all means to overthrow learning; so do manie Sectaries in our time. 3. He attempted to get the Militia out of the hands of the Orthodox Christians, as Theodoret in his Eccles. Historie relateth: and the Sectaries have and do use all meanes within their power to get the Militia out of the hands of the Orthodox into their hands solely, of which I could tell tales. 4 bbIulian the Apostata therefore granted a Toleratis on of the liberty of perdition (as Austin call… it) because he did hope by that meanes to destroy Christian Religion, August Epist. 166. Iulianus, inquit, desertor Christi, & inimicus, haereticis libe…tate… perditionis permisit, et tunc Basilica… haeretics …ed sidi…, quando templa Demoniis: eo nodo …tans Christianum nomen posse perite … verita…e Ecclesiae de qua laps… …ut…a… invide et, et sacrilegas dissersiones libetas esse … pe…m eteret Pr…teol 1. Elench Haeretic. pag. 247. Iulianu… Areti… …thoren et ducem haeresis … et …onstan…i sententia damnatum, et in …tlium actum, pe…uam benignis literis revocavit, et publica vectura reduxit: Episcopo: sub Constantio exilio mulctatos rerocavit, et in urbes suas redire permisit. Atque id ille non miserico… dia fecit, sicut colligere est, sed ut Epis opos inter se committens ad intestinu… armaret bellum, et suis ipsa dissidiis Ecclesia labefacta…c…ur.Iulian was the great patron of Toleration for all Sects, Donatists, Arians, Eunomians, he was the great man for libertas perditionis p. 49(as Augustine calls it) the Donatists fled to him, hee gave them publike liberty of Churches, hee called backe from banishment Aetius the great leader of the Eunomian heresie,The Emperour Valens did grant freedome of Religion to all heretick…, yea and Heathens, but was a great enemy to the Orthodox Theodore…. Hist. Eccles lib. 4 cap. 22. Valens impunitatem conce…it: Gentilibus, …udaeis, et aliis quibus que …ui nomen Christianum sibi assumenses doctr…am Evangelio repugnantem praedicabant: Sol… autem Apostolicae doctrinae propugnatoribus ty…annus iste se h… stem praebuit. and whether all the sects are not agreed with him in that, as also with Valens another wicked Emperour, who was for Toleration of all but the Orthodox, I leave to their own consciences to determine.

And as I have made a Parallel between the Sectaries of our time, and the Donati…ts, Jesuits, &c. so I might now at large show in all the fore-named particulars an Antithesis and Dissimilitude betweene the godly Orthodox Presbyterians, and the Donatists, Jesuits, Arminians, Prelates, &c. but I dare not enter into it for feare my book be too voluminous, having already exceeded that proportion which I at first intended when I began it; all I shall do then in point of parallel, is but to hint a few things (which I desire the Reader well to observe) of the difference in the carriage and behaviour these foure yeares last past all along of the Presbyterians both to the Honourable Houses, and the Sectaries; and of the Sectaries to the Parliament and the Presbyterians; and for the truth of what I say, I dare appeal to all the world, yea and to the consciences of many sectaries themselves. Though the Presbyterian party from the beginning of the differences between the King and Parliament, among those who professe to stand for Reformation and for the Parliament hath been, and still is (without all compare) the greater part of both Kingdomes, the body of both Assemblies and Ministers, the body of the people in Cities and Countries (especially of persons eminent in place and quality) yea, and the Parliaments too, (of the Parliament of Scotland theres no question;) the Parliament of England also, after advice had with the Assembly, hath declared for Presbytery, having voted and formed into Orders, Directions, and Ordinances, severall parts and pieces of Presbyteriall Government; yet for all this have not the Presbyterians taken upon them to set up the Government in that manner and way as they conceive and judge to be most agreeable to the word, drawing in the people with them, but have waited upon the Parliament all this while for the setling of the Church, addressing themselves in most humble manner, by way o… petitioning, and that both Assembly, Court of Common Councell, Ministers, people; and when sometimes their hopes have been deferred beyond all expectation, and p. 50have met with some disappointments and discour…gements in their Petitions, about setling the Church, as by a vote passed against one Petition before it was presented, as small thanks given for another, and little respect shewed to a third; besides the Sectaries insulting over them and their Petitions, branding them in Pulpits, in the weekly News-books, and in their daily discourses, notwithstanding what ever they might conceive of neglects and hard usage on the one hand, and of great abuse of them by the S…ct…ries on the other hand, yet they have taken all patiently, waiting still, petitioning still in all humble and thankfull manner, fo…bearing to print what was presented (though there was no O…der nor command against it) out of their tender respect of giving any offence, or displeasing the Parli…ment (though in the meane time they suffered much by mis-reports of their proceedings, both for matter and manner:) The Presbyterian partie (though the Assembly of Divines, the representative body of the Citie, the Court of Common-Councell, the Ministerie of the Kingdome, thousands and ten thousands of godly well aff…cted persons, the Kingdome of Scotland, yes all the Reformed Churches own that way,) hath not upon the fore-named things and others (as the not giving leave upon a Petition to print an Answer to the Remonstrance of the Independents, in which the Assembly is extremely wronged) broke… …t either against the Parliament, saying they will fight no longer, &c. speaking their pleasure of them, drawing up all their grievances to a head, and setting them forth in print; or ag…inst particular Members, falling upon them by name, making them to be knowne to the world, whom they conceive and have been informed of, to be the great hinderers of their desires, and sticklers against them; but even as becomes Christians have taken all patiently, waiting upon God and the Parliament. And as the carriage of the Presbyterian hath been thus in all humble dutie and high respect to the Houses of Parliament, and everie Member in their places (for I have not yet heard of any Presbyterian that hath singled out any one Member by name, to abuse him in print, as some Sectaries have done, both particular Members, and the whole House of Commons) so hath it been with all love, brotherly kindnesse, tendernesse, respect and forbearance to the Sectaries; and considering that the Presbyterians were, as I have shewed before, both of the Ministers and people standing for Reformation, the body of both Kingdomes, having the command and power of the pulpits, so great an interest in the people, &c. their love and forbearance to the Sectaries hath been admirable; when the Independents were but few, and other Sectaries a small number, in the first and second yeare of this Parliament, some halfe a score or dozen Ministers, three or foure hundred people, the Presbyterians gave them the right hand of fellowship, admitted them to their meetings, p. 51opened their pulpit doores, unto them, shewed all brotherly respect of love and kindnesse to them, even more then to most of their own way condescending to such a motion, as to forbeare preaching and printing against their opinions and way, making them (who were so small and inconsiderable a party) as it were an equall partie, putting them into the balance with themselves; they appeared not to hinder their being chosen to bee generall Lecturers, for this City in severall great Churches: and as at first, so all along they have been tender and respectfull of them in Assembly, City, and in all cases, suffering them to grow up to thousands; and notwithstanding breach of agreements, drawing away their people, preaching against them in their own Pulpits, many high and strange carriages, yet still using all fairenesse and love, hoping by brotherly kindnesse, forbearance and a thorow Reformation in the Church, (wherein they have been willing upon all occasions to gratifie and have respect to their consciences) at last to have gained them. ☞ O the faithfulnesse, dutifulnesse, patience, long-suffering, forbearance of the Presbyterians; their dutifulnesse, and patience in waiting upon the Parliament; their faithfulnesse in not abating in their zeale and respects to them; O their love, kindnesse and tendernesse to the Independents, yea to other Secta…ies also who have had something of Christ and grace in them, and have not fallen into errours and blasphemies, razing the foundation. But now on the other hand the Sectaries (though a contemptible number, and not to be named at the same time with the Presbyterians) have not waited upon the Parliament and Assembly for the Reformation, but preached against it, and stirred up the people to imbody themselves, and to joyne in Church fellowship, gathering Churches, setting up Independent Government, reb…ptizing and dipping many hundreds; and upon any thing that hath been voted by the Assembly, Parliament, that hath crossed them (though alas, few Orders or Ordinances which have reference to the Sectarries, or are against their minds, have little life in them, or are put into execution; witnesse that Ordinance against mens preaching who are not ordained Ministers, witnesse that Ordinance about Printing, cum multis aliis, Lay-men never preaching so much, no… so openly as since the Ordinance, and all kind of erroneous wicked books printed, dispersed as much as before, they have put forth books against the Parliament, Assembly, preached against them, and their proceedings, the Directorie, Ordinance against preaching of persons not Ordained, &c. talked their pleasure, that they would lay down Arms, that the King would give them a Toleration, that these proceedings would discourage the Army, and such like; they have not forborn prin…ing of Answers to books, Petitions, passages in Letters, or other things which p. 52might make for their cause, because the Parliament did not like them, or had forbid them, there's nothing that may make for the furthering of their way, but they do it, Parliament, Assembly, Citie, Kingdome say what they will to the contrarie. And as their carriage hath been thus to the Parliament, so they have and do all kind of wayes within their power, wrong and abuse the godly Orthodox Ministers and people, vilifying, sleighting, and scorning them, raising up all kinds of evill reports, and casting reproaches on them, requiting them for all their love and kindnesse, with preaching against them in their owne pulpits, stealing away their people from them, labouring by all means, in places where they have any power or interest, to keep good Ministers out of such Churches, and Presbyterians out of all offices and employments; yea, in many places where they have power, they study and watch to throw out by one wile or other, godly Ministers who are against their way, detaining their dues, vexing of them, and making their lives bitter unto them, domineering and abusing the godly Orthodox partie, yea, using all policie and industrie to get themselves into all chiefe places of power and command, that so they may trample upon and crush them. O had the Sectaries been in the place of the Presbyterians, and the Presbyterians in theirs, and they so dealt with by the Presbyterians, as the Presbyterians have been by them, I know what they must have expected from them: I dare appeale to everie ordinarie common understanding, yea, to the conscience of the Sectaries themselves, whether if they had had the Parliaments of both Kingdomes, the Assemblies and Ministers, the Churches and Pulpits, the representative body of this Citie; and the people and wee had been as few as they were in the three first yeares of the Parliament, would they have suffered us to preach in their owne Churches against them and their way, to have from time to time confuted their Doctrine, to have preached up another Government and way, against what the Parliament had voted and was a setling, to have enjoyed speciall Lectures in principall places, to promote a way contrarie to theirs, to have drawne away their people and maintenance from them, to have fallen upon the practice of setting up Prebyteriall Churches and Government, Classicall, Synodicall, in Citie, Countrey, to have printed freely against their way, and used all meanes to have rendred them odious among the people, would they have sate still, and gone without places and offices of honour, power, profit, and suffered the Presbyterians a small partie, to get into Court, Armies, Committees, &c. to increase to such a number, such a strength and head, as to possesse most places of command in the field, and in the strongest Garrisons and Forts? as also Civill offices both of power and profit, yea, to have a pluralit…e of places and offices? Would the Sectaries, p. 53if they had been two **The Sectaries, though they make but a fifth or sixth part of the Army, and the noble Generall who commands all, free from any touch of Sectarisi…e, yet we see how insolent some of them have been of late, bearing themselves upon the army, talking of that upon all occasions of setling Church government, what would they do if they had an army wholly of their own way, and a Commander in chiefe according to their owne hearts?powerfull Armies, consisting of Commanders and Souldiers for their way, under Generals after their owne heart, have born those things at the hands of Presbyterians, which Presbyterians have done from them? O no, they would never have endured the hundredth part of those wrongs, discouragements, injuries; had the Assembly consisted of Independents, excepting a matter of eight or nine Presbyterians, would they have endured that, and put up that from the Presbyterian partie, as the Assembly hath done from the Independent? suffered them to spin out time so long, to speak those things in the Assembly some of them have; and in stead of bringing in (according to Order) the whole frame of their judgements concerning Church-government in a body, with their grounds and reasons, to bring in a Remonstrance, casting dirt upon them and their proceedings? Would they in New-England endure one or more Presbyterians to live among them, and to go up and downe their Countrey, and in chiefe Towns and places to preach against, cry downe their Churches and Church-government, and to extoll and cry up a contrarie way, as Mr. Peters and others do here? For mine owne part I am confidently perswaded, and so I beleeve are all wise men that have observed the waies of the Sectaries, that if they had been in the place of the Presbyterians, having had their power, number, authoritie, and the Presbyterians had been a small number as they were, and should have offered to have done but the twentieth part of that in preaching, writing, &c. against them, which the Sectaries have done against the Presbyterians, they would have trod them downe as mire in the street, casting them out with scorn before this time of day, not have suffered a Presbyterian to preach among us, or to have been in any place or office, militarie or civill, but all would have been shut up in prisons, banished, or else hiding themselves in holes and corners: many godly persons in some places having much ado now to hold up their heads, to live by them, to preach quietly, to go safely in the streets, and to be quiet in their houses. And for conclusion of the differerence in the carriage and behaviour of the Presbyterians and the Sectaries, the righteous Lord judge between them, and recompence to the Presbyterians according to their kindnesse, love, peaceablenesse, forbearance and righteousnesse; and the Lord forgive the Sectaries, and turn their hearts, and cause their folly, insolencies, unrighteousnesse, and unjust dealings with their brethren, to be so manifest to themselves and all men, as they may proceed no further.

p. 54Now for the particular practices of the Sectaries they are many, and it would require a Tractate by it selfe to set them downe; indeed I hardly know any strange practice that hath reference to their wayes, but some or other of them are guiltie in one kind or another. Most of their practices and wayes may be referred to these ten heads; 1 To loosnesse and libertie in life and conversation. 2 To covetousnesse, ambition, and self-seeking. 3 To policies and subtiltie. 4 To activenesse, sedulitie and numblenesse in the prosecution of their way. 5 To tumultuousnesse, disorder and confusion. 6 To the disturbance and overthrow of oeconomicall, ecclesiasticall, and pol…ticall relations and government. 7 To insolencies, pride, and arrogancie. 8 To acts of immodesty and incivilitie. 9 To power and will, carrying all before them, and throwing downe all that stands in their way. 10 To hypocrisie under pretences of pietie and holinesse.

Now for the particular practices of the Sectaries, I had drawne up many, to the number of seventie, and provided for everie practice instances for proofe, and upon some of them I could write a large discourse, even a book upon severall of them; as of their behaviour and carriage towards the Parliament, the Kingdome of Scotland, the Assembly of Divines, the Citie of London, the Ministerie of England, yea of all the Reformed Churches, as of their seeking and getting into all sorts of offices and places they are any way capable of (being Sequestratours, Collectours, Receiv…rs, Surveyours, Excisers, Customers, Secretaries, Clerks, &c. getting places in Court, great Townes, dwelling in sequestred houses freely, procuring Arreares, &c. not a man almost of late coming into any place or office, but an Independent, or Independentish, there being no kind or sort of preferment, employment, place, but some or other of that way enjoy) as of their plotting and labouring from the first yeare of the wars, to get into their hands the sword and power of Armes, by having a considerable Army, which they might look upon more particularly, as theirs, and of their way, by attempting to remove and heave at many gallant Commanders, to get the command of the strongest Garrisons and places, yea to make Townes of consequence that were no Garrisons to have been Garrisons, as Yarmouth; but I am necessitated for divers reasons, to passe by wholly for the present many of their practices, and others to name only, desiring the Reader as hee goes along, to supply the defect, by calling to mind all particulars he knowes and hath heard of upon the severall heads.

1. Practice. They use to ascribe and attribute all the successe of things, all that is done in field, at Leaguers, all victories, brave actions, to their partie, crying them up in Pulpits, News-books, conferences, calling them the saviours p. 55of the Kingdomes; and for this purpose they have certaine men that are Criers and Trumpetters between the Armie, Citie, and Countrey, who trumpet forth their praises, giving them the titles of Terrible, &c. a large book would not containe the relation of all the victories, glorious actions, exploits having been given to the Armie called Independent.

2. Practice. They give out and boast their partie to be more and greater than they are; some of them will speak in all places, as if all were theirs, all for them; they have given out, as if Parliament, Armies, Citie of London, Countrey, all the godly, wise, judicious understanding men, were theirs, and will be theirs: yea, that the Assembly, the French Churches, the Commissioners of the Church of Scotland thought well of their way; and so of particular persons that are prime men, they have given out, as if they were, or are coming over to them. Some of them have bragg'd that Sir Thomas Fairfax, that v…liant victorious Commander in chief of the Parliament Forces began to have some glimmering of new light; and I can prove Letters have been written over to some of their partie in Holland, that Mr. Marshall was turned Independent;A person of worth, who was present at the opening of the Letters, and named to mee the Gentleman to whom such news was writ told it me. they use to boast of their friends in the House of Commons, and they will acquaint their friends in the House of Commons; and they brag of a Toleration, giving out their friends in the House of Commons, have said they shall have a Toleratio…; and they boast thus to awe persons, and to make men afraid to speak against them, or to oppose them; but rather to adhere to them who are so powerfull, and have so many on their side.

3. Practice. They appropriate to themselves the name of the godly and well-affected partie, the title of Saints, calling themselves the Saints, that they only preach Jesus Christ, and though they be Anabaptists, Seekers, &c. yet they are the Saints: this is common in printed Books, Petitions, Sermons, Discourses; what, speak against the Saints? be against a Toleration for the Saints? meaning themselves only.

4. Practice. They pretend one thing, when they intend quite another, and it is usuall for them to pretend the publike good, the benefit of the State, when it is evident they intend their owne interest, and strengthen of their partie; they pretend peace, love, forbearing of all names of difference, to make the Presbyterians secure, negligent, and to forbeare all means of setling things, and yet at the same time go quite contrarie, using all means and waies for promoting their own partie, as they did after the losse of Leicester.

5. Practice. What themselves are most faultie in, that they will charge upon others, the Presbyterian Mi…isters and people, as making d…visions, & wanting p. 56love, as breaking the peace, and causing mis-rules, tumults as be guilty of persecution, when as 'tis evident to all the world, they are most faulty in these particulars, and in many more, and for the proof of it I Iould demonstrate it in a hundred instances.

6. Practice. They do on purpose (having got Churches void) keepe manie Churches without Ministers, seeke out for none, stop (all they can) Orthodox Ministers from coming in, which they do for two reasons, 1. That so they may pay no Tithes: 2. That so they may have the liberty of the Pulpits for all kinde of Sectaries, and mechanick preachers, who come from London, the Armies, and other places to preach in and corrupt the people, and that the people being as sheep without a shepherd, may be more easily now drawne away to error and schisme; and of this practice there are many sad examples in Hartfordshire, Bucking, Essex, and that in some great market-townes, as Chesham, where thousands of souls are.

7. Practice. They have laboured and do by all waies to have no Church-Government at all setled in this Kingdome, but to keep it out. Or secondly, if there must be any, yet to have a defective, imperfect loose Government and Reformation, that may not be able to do the worke, that so others may fall off to their way the more; and for proof of this, they have refused to joyn for a pure full Reformation in points according to their own principles, that so one good might not hinder a greater good (as was expressed) and have opposed to the utmost a thorow Presbyteriall Reformation. 3. They have laboured to get a Toleration granted before the Government be setled, to get an exception before the rule was made, and if once they had gotten that, let the Presbyterians get the Government then when they could, and this they stirred in, and sought to effect last winter. 4. Seeing they could not do this, but this policy was espied, they labour for a Toleration together with a Reformation, that the Church-Government and a Toleration might be borne and brought forth together as twins in one day, and so go hand in hand, and this they are labouring for now, the monster of Toleration conceived in the wombe of the Sectaries long ago, they having growne big with it ever since, are now in travell to bring it forth, and till they could be ready and get things fitted for a Toleration, they bestirred themselves so against the London Petitions, that of September, those of November, lest Government should be setled before a Toleration, and therefore one of them said to some Citizens, why should you bee so h…sty for Government, cannot you stay awhile? how long said they? To spring, said this Sectarie, hoping their toleration businesse would be readie by that.

8. Practice. In some Parish-Churches where the Sectaries are put in, p. 57they have put downe all si…ging of Ps…lms, as at Elsly in Cambr. s…. Alberie in Hartford-shire, and will not suffer the Parishes to enjoy any singing of Psalms; and in other places, they begin to put down all Prayer in the publike Assemblies, and to say there must be onelyonly discoursing and preaching; and in places where they cannot prevaile to shut out singing of Psalmes, they in a contemptuous manner clap on their hats, in the time of singing of Psalms, and having been pull'd off, put them on again; yea in prayer also many of them keep on hats.

9. Practice. They send forth into severall Counties of this Kingdome, from their Churches in London, as Church-acts, severall Emissaries members of their Churches, to preach and spread their errours, to dip, to gather and settle Churches; they are not content with their owne meetings on Lords-daies, week-daies, keeping constant Lectures in set places, for all to come to that will, thereby poisoning many in the City, but they endeavour the leavening of all the Counties, as I might give instances of Lam, Kiffin, with many others sent abroad, yea, of some sent into the North as farre as York.

10. They have appointed and kept Disputations from towne to towne in the Countrey, giving out the time, places and questions they will dispute of, as of Poedob…ptisme, the Ministery of the Church of England, &c. and agree among themselves that some of them shall seem to be for Poedob…ptisme, and in the disputation 'tis maintained at first eagerly by some of their party against others of them who oppose it; but then after long and great disputation at last they confesse they are by the evidence of truth convinced, and before all the people, give glorie to God that now they see the truth; whereby the people seeing them who pleaded for Poedobaptisme confessing their errour and yeelding, (they knowing nothing of this precontract and deceit) they also stumble, question and fall; yea, and to spread their errours the more in some great towne where some of the Sectaries being souldiers have been quartered, they have desired the use of severall houses of persons well-affected, that in the afternoon some Christians might meet to confer together of some points, not contenting themselves to reason in the house where quartered, or in any one house that might be larger to hold many, but to get a new house every day, the more to infect and possesse the people with their waies and Tenets.

11. All things that have fallen out and do in the Kingdomes, of Victories, Losses, O…dinances, Petitions, Actions, Death of particular persons, of all matter in Church, State, Parliament, Assembly, City, they make use of it one way or other to further their designe, and turne it for the furthering p. 58of their way, and against the Presbyteriall Government, as the businesse of Dennington Castle, as the losse of Leic…ster, upon that framing a Petition to adj…urne the Assembly, with other particulars which I cannot now mention.

12. Some of the Sect…ri…s plead miracles, revelations, visions, for their way, and to confirme their doctrine, as some Anabaptists at Yorke for their rebaptization, that being baptized in the winter in the river Ouse the water was as hot as if it had beene in the midst of summer; as healing the sicke with the anointing of oyle; as giving out, Christ appeared to an Anab…ptist, and forbade her to baptize her child, of which the Reader may read more in the second Letter.

13. They are wont upon the coming forth of books against their way, which they see take with wise men, and for which both their opinions and themselves suffer, to give out they shall be answered, and are answering of them, to keep the people in heart till they be forgotten, and the speech of the booke over, of which I could give many instances; and so upon the new Modell (when in stead of bringing that in to the Assembly, they brought in pretended reasons why not) they suffered much in the esteem of all unprejudiced men, speaking they durst bring in none because of the weaknesse of their way; then severall Sectaries gave it out in many places and to many (as I can prove it, and name persons too) that the Modell was a printing, it was certainly in the presse, and all the world should see it.

14. They have done and practised many strange things in reference to baptisme of children, dressing up a Cat like a child for to be baptized, inviting many people both men and women as to baptizing of a child, and then when neighbours were come, having one to preach against baptizing of children; they have baptized many weakly ancient women naked in rivers in winter, whereupon some have sickned and died; they have baptized young maids, Citizens daughters, about one and two a clock in the morning, tempting them out of their fathers houses at midnight to be baptized▪ the parents being asleep and knowing nothing.

15. They use to give great and glorious names, swelling Titles, to their books they set forth, as, Innocency and Truth Triumphing together, as, Truth gloriously appearing, &c. as also to their erroneous Doctrines l…id down in their books, casting upon Truths of God odious names, as The …orming of Antichrist, Discovery of the man of sin, &c. their books being just like the Aegyptian Temples, whose outsides were beautifull and glorious, having the inscription of a Deity upon them, but within nothing but a Crocodile, an Ape, an Onion, or some such vile mean creature.

p. 5916. They are extreamly full of partiality in all their waies, not allowing that to others (though far more considerable for quality, dignity) which themselves ordinarily do, speaking against that in others which they daily practise, of which I will give a few instances; they have cried out in Pulpits, Pamphlets, discourses, of the Citizens, Common Councell, Ministers, for petitioning to settle Government, or humbly representing their desires: O 'tis an interposing, medling, anticipating, and I know not what! when as a few Sectaries, Lilburne and his fellowes, can appoint meetings, and give notice to manie to come to them at such times and places, and draw up Petitions, and that strange ones too, medling with manie things before the Houses, and in debate not determined, and against the known Priviledges of the Houses, of which I might give manie instances; as after the losse of Leicester, in the meetings of the Sectaries, this was one of the clauses of their Petitions, to name such and such members of the House of Commons to be a Comittee for the raising of the Countie…, and appointing Commanders, but opposed by some godly Orthodox Citizens (who saw their d…ift, and observed well whom they named) as being against the Priviledges of Parliament, for them a few private persons to nominate a Committee of the members of Parliament, as also that the Assembly might be adjourned; thus one of the Pamphlets tell us among his Newes,Moderate Intellig. Numb. 44. from 1 Ian. to the 8. that inferiour R…presentatives (which no man of understanding can interpret of anie but the Common-Councell of London) must bee wary of medling or interposing by Petitions, or gathering together, but leave all to the Parliament; but now the Sectaries foure or five hundred of them they may meet together, interpose, rep…esent, may speak their pleasures of and arraign the Parliament, Committee of Examinations, M. Speaker, and other Members of the House, as they did after Lilburns committing, and the Intelligencer will not di…c…pline them. Again, they may print, preach, speak against Assembly, Ministerie, for Independency, against Presbytery, and what not? and yet if any of them be questioned, or book stopped at presse, 'tis persecution, and they cannot be heard, no… have liberty to speak for their way; whereas the same men use all means and waies against Presbyterians, preaching, printing, yea labouring to hinder their putting forth of Answers and calling in Answers made; yea endeavouring to trouble those who License books against their waies: as for instance, the Assembly being falsly and scandalously dealt with in a Pamphlet intit. A Copy of a Remonstrance lately delivered in to the Assembly; the Sectaries have used all their friends to hinder the printing of the Assemblies Answer: so manie of the Sectaries at their meetings drew up a Petition to the House of Commons, to have Mr. Prynns and Dr. Bastwicks bookes called in, and that House to declare their sense against them, and that no such p. 60books might be writ against the godly well aff…cted partie, under the name of Anabaptists, Brownists, Independents, and a large schedule was annexed to the Petition, of offensive passages that were in M. Prynns and D. Bastwicks book (I think ere long they will dare to petition, that no man shall preach against an Anabaptist, or name a Sectarie, or speake a word for Presbyterie, but themselves may preach, print, and say what they list:) And so in the case of the Letter of the City Ministers to the Assembly against Toleration, and in other books; yea, and in Sermons that have been against the sects, they have threatned and endeavoured to trouble and question the Licensers and Preachers.

17. They are full of plots and projects for their way, and increasing their party, they have alwaies designes on foot, they do nothing, nor propound nothing but theres some designe or other in it, they are big with many at once, that if one take not another may, if one misse they presently start another, of which I could give manie instances, and show how the hand of Ioah hath been and is where 'tis little thought; they use other men upon other interests and ends to do their worke, they have waie… collaterelly and indirectly to effect their worke, when it would be marred if they went in recta linea: they can and ordinarily do go about to destroy businesses they seeme to plead for, by propounding and putting upon ways to effect it which they know are not feasible.

18. They have and do when put upon present exigents, yeeld to and forbear things for the present, and sometimes in appearance will seeme to go far with you, and are content to lose the fore-game, that they may play the aftergame better and recover all; they will sometimes appeare to be yours fully till they have served their turne, giving place for a time, but still waiting opportunities, and working in the mean time all they may, and when they have counterworkt, they will fetch all about again another way, and make void all they seem'd to grant you; and of this there are too many examples among the Sectaries, manie of them taking the Nationall Covenant for that instant necessity, that they might worke so as in time to destroy the end and intent of it, and yeelding some arguments and debates for the present, to effect their owne ends afterwards.

19. They have been and are Polupragmaticall, indefatigably active, stirring, restlesse night and day, in City, Countrey, in all places having their agents to doe their worke and promote their ca…se: their eyes are intent upon every thing that may make for them or against them, and they have a hand in every thing, they are men of a hundred eyes and hands, out-acting, and out-working all the Presbyterians, they deale with this man to take him off, and worke with another to qualifie him; they have got most of the weekly writers of Newes to plead their cause, commend their persons, cry up their actions; they have sent p. 61Emissaries to s…verall Countreyes, to preach, carry Letters, deale with persons for chusing of Burgesses in Parliament for their way, as M. Peters and others; they observe all mens tempers, humours, and accordingly deale with them all, some with offices and places, some by holding out principles suiting their lusts.

20. They desperately censure and judge all men, both their estates and actions, who are not for them, they presently unsaint them, and men fall from grace ipso facto by preaching or writing bookes against their errours, as M. Prynne, making him worse then the late Archbishop of Canterbury, and so one M.E. for writing against them; they use this phrase (sometimes accounted a godly man) and of M. Ash, they have not only in England laboured to blast him by their censures and reports, but writ over into Holland, that since he appeared against them, God had evidently blasted him, and taken away his gifts; and lately upon reports (raised by them no doubt) that I was dead (though there was not the least colour for it, not being sick at all,) they gave it out, it was Gods just judgement upon me to cut me off, for preaching and writing against the Independents; and at the same time they gave out, that M. Calamy had broken his arme, and D. Twisse a dying; O saith one of their Doctors of Divinity, you may see the just hand of God against the Presbyterians, M. Edwards dead, M. Calamies arme broke, and D. Twisse a dying, so that if these things had been thus, we may see how they would have judged it; and if such things had fallen to some of us, which have to many of the sectaries (which I name not to upbraid them with, but to shew them their own folly,) as that by the plague of pestilence our children two at a time had been taken away, as M. Goodwins was upon the making his house a meeting for the Sectaries, and some of our eyes put out by a Pike in the street, as one of Lilburns was, immediately upon his Letter coming forth against M. Prynne and the Assembly; and our wives stark mad, as M. Peters wife, wee might have expected as bad books written of us, as were written by the Papists of Luther and Calvin.

21. They take upon them more places then they can or do discharge, and bear the names of some places which they seldome officiate, and have laboured to add more places to those they have already, and that both in City and Countrey, so that some of them besides their places in the Assembly, which they seldom attend (especially this last yeare) and their private gathered Churches, have divers Lectures and places, besides their hanging upon great men, to preach before them to ingratiate themselves, and getting to preach at White-hall, S. Iames, Westminster, and other eminent places, where the great ones, Earles, Lords, and the Grandees of the time resort; they do not, as wee Ministers sit still expecting a call to places, but they are forward men, bestirring themselves to attain this place and that, getting such great mens Letters in their behalfe, using such Ministers of note, and other persons of quality and power in Parishes to make way for them p. 62to come in, pretending to preach for nothing, &c. and still in all these Lectures and preachings, they have an eye to Churches in places most convenient for thier ends, as so situated, so capacious, and to times when few or no Lectures else are, as on the Lords day in the morning between six and seven a clocke, all those Lectures at that time of the day from Stepney to Westminster, they either have possession of, or have strongly laboured for them; yea, and to have set up others on the Lords dayes in the morning, at Ludgat…, Aldersgate, &c. if by themselves or all the friends they made, they could have effected it; and so the Lord, day in the evening, when other Sermons are done, they have gotten that Lecture at the Three Cranes; and so the Lecture on Munday night, when theres no Lecture else, besides the Exposition Lectures on week dayes in the severall parts and quarters of this City, and new Lectures in other eminent places of the City, which they have endeavoured to set up, if they could have obtained the Ministers consents; and in their places they have an eye to good pay, a hundred pound a yeare for preaching once a week in one place, and seventy pound per annum, for preaching once a fortnight at another, and a peece for a Sermon as soone as they have done, and a good supper for another, and yet they will have a care to take no more paines then needs must, as M. B. having a hundred pound per annum for preaching at Cripplegate on the Lords day in the afternoone, could never be got to give the Parish a Sermon now and then on a Fast day, or a day of Thanksgiving, as a great friend of his in that Parish, who knows, told me; besides I could name others, who will do nothing on the Fast dayes. They take upon them the names of such Lectures and Churches, as being chosen and nominated to them, but others of their own partie supply them, somtimes one, and somtimes another, they have one Sprig or another, one Emissary or other from the Army, one House-bird or other to serve the places: It would make a book by it self to relate all particulars in this kind. One man of their way, besides being a member of the Assembly and his a private Church, hath places in Norwich, Yarmouth, Fishstreethill in London. A second, besides the Assembly, hath places at Acton four Lectures at Westminster, besides his interest and share in some Lectures in London. A third hath a place at Stepney, Cripplegate, Cornhill, besides part of another Lecture, and all reserves for this Parliament man and the other to ingratiate himself with them. A fourth, besides the Assembly, which he seldom comes to, and his particular private Church, hath Lectures in London, which all the last summer he seldome preached at, not preaching at one of them in the space of three quarters of a year together. And they do not only neglect their Lectures in our Churches, but they take to themselves more members in their owne Churches then they can preach or look too, for they admit members who live constantly many miles from them, here one ten miles off, there another five miles, another sixteen miles off, p. 63some at Norwich, some at Yarmouth, another forty miles off; every one of their particular Churches is not a Parish Church, but a Bishops Diocesse, nay some of them are Archbishopricks and Provinces, far larger then the Presbyterian Provinces, reaching from London to Dover, as D. Holms, who hath severall members there, going twice or thrice a yeare thither to visit; and in one of his visitation Sermons, preaching to his members, prayed God to blesse, and remember them who had but a bit once in a quarter or halfe a year. And as this is the practice of the Clergie, so the Laity among the Sectaries have plurality of offices and places, some have both militarie and civill, others two or three civill offices, and I could name one, who hath some five or six, besid… his being a Committee-man: In a word, our Sectaries are become Pluralists, Non-residents, and some of them Vbiquitaries, and are well paid for it, as M. Peters.

22. They generally walk loosely and at large, over what they did before they turned S…ctaries, and in comparison of the godly Presbyterians; they do many things under pretence of Christian liberty, which professours heretofore were not wont to do, nor do not, neither durst they have done, of which I could give many instances both in persons & things; I do not know, nor hear of a Sectary in England, that is so strict and exact in his life, as he was before, and as thousands of Presbyterians are; and this is not my observation alone, but a general observation: many of them play at Cards and Tables, are verie loose on the Sabbath days, go to Bowls and other sports on dayes of publike Thanksgiving, as M. Iohn Goodwine and severall of his Church, they wear strange long haire, go in such fine fashionable apparell beyond their places as 'tis a shame; they will feast, ride journeyes, do servile businesses on the Fast daies, and give their Parish Churches no Sermons, no Prayers at all on those daies; they make little conscience of family duties, they will sit and tipple, be joviall and merrie together. I could tell true and certaine stories of manie Sectaries who were exceeding precise and strict before they fell into those waies, but are abominable loose now; and let but a man turne Sectarie now adaies, and within one half year he is so metamorphosed in apparell, hair, &c. as a man hardly knowes him.

23. In all matters and businesses which succeed not according to their mind, but crosse their waies and designes as if a choice of persons they like not be made to places, or if such a thing passe and be done that pleases them not, they will try all waies possible, and cast about to finde some fl…ws or other, pretend this thing and the other to question the election and make it null, or to obstruct it; they will put in Articles against men chosen, though they cannot prove them; they will pretend somthing or other, was omitted, and such a passage was illegall, and all to bring to a new election, and then they will worke all kind of waies to ef…ect their designes.

p. 6424. They have spoken strange and high speeches against the setling of Presbyteriall Government and the Presbyterians, as one Anabaptist of late, That he hoped to see Heaven and Earth on fire before Presbyterie should be setled; another Sectarie, That it was one of the Articles of his beleefe, that within seven yeares there would not so much as the name of Presbyterie be heard in England; a third, That hee hoped to see the Presbyterie as much …rod under foot as the Bishops were; a fourth, That if the Saints were thus persecuted, and could not have the libertie of their conscience, it would come to — A Gentleman told me, he had heard many Souldiers of a Regiment of Horse (which I forbeare naming) say, That when the Army of Cavaliers was overcome, there would be another Army to overcome, intimating the Presbyterians; and I could relate strange speeches told me by faithfull ear-witnesses, no sleight persons, spoken against our brethren of Scotland by some Sectaries.

25. After they have set their hands to papers, as upon agreements in such and such points of difference; as upon the receipts of money, as upon giving in what they desire, when they think such things may make against some of them, have used means to get those papers back again into their hands, and have come to those that kept them some dayes after, pretending they desired to see them, and look upon them for some reasons, and then have desired to borrow them for a few dayes, to compare these papers with theirs, or for some other use, and being lent them by Presbyterians (who are plain honest men, and not acquainted with policies) they keep them, and cannot be entreated to returne them ag…ine, but being asked for them, pretend some excuse or other; of which I could give instances, naming the persons and things at large, but I spare them.

26. They practise and endeavour to get Sectaries, and those that way affected, to attend on and be about cordiall Presbyterians that are of qualitie, place and power, both to observe and watch them, and to qualifie them, and do some good offices for the Sectaries; of which I could give notable instances, but I must only hint it, and leave Presbyterians to their owne observation.

27. About the time of moulding the new Army, some of the Sectaries gave out where ever they came, and went from one to another, both to Ministers, people, that such and such (call them what you will) are the men that will fight cordially for you, overcome the Cavaliers, and when they have done, they will either submit to the Government established, or else leave the Land, you need not feare them; and this they laboured to possesse all men with, that so without muttering or speaking against, there might the more Sectaries get places in the Army; and yet we see now by experience, that upon all motions and petitions for setling the Government, or against Toleration, the Army is spoken of: And will you discourage those that fight so bravely, and that God hath made so instrumentall p. 65to you? and that if they may not have libertie of conscience, and libertie to preach, the Army will be discouraged, and if they may not preach they will not fight; and after victories we have been minded by Letters from the Army of libertie of conscience, and expecting no compulsion in matters of the mind.

28. They upbraid in printed books and speeches many Presbyterians, particularly of the Assembly, with their former conformitie, yea they brand and asperse them, that they have been great time-servers, Innovators; and this they do to make the people beleeve, that what they do now is not out of conscience, but to serve the times, and that such men are not likely to have the truth revealed to them, nor fit to have a hand in the Reformation, who have so polluted themselves with corruptions in worship, and the inventions of men; and among many, good Mr. Calamy hath been abominably belied in this kind, especially in that late railing Pamphlet of Mr. Burtons, called Truth still Truth, though shut out of doores, whereas many of the great Sectaries themselves, and principall Ring-leaders in each Sect, as Anabaptists, Antinomians, Independents, &c. were not only Conformists in the way of old conformitie, but great Innovators and forward Episcopall men, the innovations of Altars, bowing at the name of Jesus, reading the book of Sports, causing the people to come and kneele at the Rail, threatning and bringing their tender conscienced people into the spirituall Courts, yea into the High-Commission being practised by some of them: and I challenge the Sectaries to name so many of the Presbyterian partie, who appeare for that Government by writing, or other wayes, to be so faultie for Innovations, and serving the Bishops, as I can name amongst them. The full Relation of the time-serving and Innovations of Denn, Cox, Ellis of Colchester, Dr. Holms, Saltmarsh, Cummins, Wale of Norfolk, cum multis aliis, would make a new book; and the best of the Independents will be found upon search, yea them of the Assembly, not only for many yeares to have been Conformists, but to have gone further in conformitie to the Bishops than some of us. As for example, Mr. Burroughs in the times of the Bishops pressing Innovations, was wont to ride up and downe the Countrey in a Canonicall Coat, and I ask him Mr. Bridge and Mr. Greenhill, whether they besides Subscription, took not the oath of Canonicall obedience, and gave not some monies to the repaire of Pauls Church in London? whereas I, as great a Conformist (as some of the Sectaries would make me to have been) never had a Canonicall Coat, never gave a penny to the building of Pauls, took not the Canonicall Oath, declined Subscription for many yeares before the Parliament (though I practised the old Conformitie) would not give ne obulum quidem to the contributions against the Scots, but disswaded other Ministers; much lesse did I yeeld to bow to the Altar, and at the name of Jesus, or administer the Lords Supper at a Table turned Altar-wise, or bring the p. 66people up to Rails, or read the book of Sports aaI never justified that wicked oath Ex officio, as Mr. Burton. Mr. Calam. Iust. and necess Apologie, against an ujust lnvective of Mr. Burtons, pag. 5, 8., or highly flatter the Arch-Bishop in an Epistle Dedicatorie to him bbD. Holms: I write not this to commend or prefer my selfe before others, but because many Sectaries to blast my preaching and writing from doing good, have given out falsly to many, that I was a great time-server, and a great man for the bishops and their wayes, using that as an argument not to heed what I write or preach: I therefore thought it necessary to say thus much for the undeceiving of many who know mee not. And had I ever learned the Art of time-serving, I should not have writ such a bo…k as this, nor preach as I do, but would rather turne Sectarie, …or at least comply with them, and so I might be a Creature and a darling of these times., or put Articles into the High Commission Court against any, but was my selfe put into the High Commission Court, and Pursevants with Letters missive, and an Attachment sent out to apprehend me, for preaching a Sermon at Mercers Chappell, on a Fast day in Iuly, 1640. against the Bishops and their Faction, such a free Sermon as I beleeve never a Sectarie in England durst have preached in such a place, and at such a time.

To conclude for this time the practices of the Sectaries, it is apparent they make the propagation and advancement of their way and partie, in opposition to the Presbyteriall Government their supreme Law; for the eff…cting of which they have and do use all means, though dishonest and unlawfull; they say and unsay, affirme and deny, make promises and break them, go backward and forward, and in one word, have dispensed with their most sacred principles of Church-fellowship, so as such things may make for the increase and advancement of their partie, of which I could give a world of instances. Ob. But it may be it will be said, What are the practices of some men, and matters of fact, to a way, it is arguments must convince men, not practices? Answ. Much everie way in this, because both in printed books, Pulpits and Discourses, the practices of the Sectaries are brought to perswade people to forsake our Churches, and to come to them; as the great holinesse, sanctitie, selfe-deniall, humilitie, innocencie of that partie, with their painfull preaching without great livings, or expecting Tithes; and on the other hand, the Presbyterians are branded as men of no great pietie, holinesse, charitie, and if it were not for livings of two or three hundred pounds a year, they would turn Independents: and many people are drawne more by these things, than by all their Arguments. Now therefore the discovering to the people nakedly and truly their practices, may undeceive them, and be as good a means to bring them back to the Communion of the Reformed Church, as ever the false representation of them was to mis-lead them.

Here followes a Copie of some Letters, with a Narration of Stories and remarkable passages concerning the Sectaries.

The Second Part OF GANGRAENA: OR A fresh and further Discovery of the Errors, Heresies, Blasphemies, and dangerous Proceedings of the SECTARIES of this time.

As also a Particular Narration of divers Stories, speciall Passages, Letters, an Extract of some Letters, all concerning the present SECTS: Together with some COROLLARIES from all the fore-named premisses.

A REPLY to the most materiall exceptions made by M^r, Saltmarsh, M^r. Walwyn, and Cretensis, against M^r. Edwards late Book entituled GANGRAENA.

As also brief Animadversions upon some late Pamphlets; one of M^r. Bacons, another of Thomas Webs, a third of a Picture made in disgrace of the PRESBYTERIANS.

A Relation of a Monster lately born at Colchester, of Parents who are Sectaries.

The Copie of an HYMNE sung by some Sectaries in stead of DAVIDS Psalms.

By THOMAS EDVVARDS Minister of the Gospel.

Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves, ye shall know them by their fruits.

Matth. 7. v. 15, 16.

But shun prophane and vain bablings, for they will increase to more ungodlinesse. And their word will eat as doth a Gangrene, of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus.

2 Tim. 1.16, 17

But evill men and seducers shall waxe worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived

2 Tim. 3.13.

LONDON, Printed by T. R. and E. M. for Ralph Smith, at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill near the Royall Exchange. 1646.

Reader,

THou art presented with the Second Part of Gangraena, declaring some other (not infirmities of the Saints, as some men speak, but) abominations of men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the Faith, and a vindication of those few particulars of the former Treatise, which were excepted against; The Author hath proceeded in this Labour, not to please himself (what pleasure can it be to rake in a Dunghill?) but to preserve thee; The discovery of Errours is, (by the blessing of God) the prevention of them, in which regard the Labours of aaAdversus …aereses.Epiphanius, bbAd quod vult Deum.Augustine, ccDe haeresibus.Philastrius, ddH…reticarum Fabularum.Theodoret, of old, of eeContra libertinos Anabaptistas, Servetum.Calvin, ffDe Haeresibus.Danus, and others of late, published for this end, have been, and are of great esteem in the Church of God; And I make no question but these Labours of this Author, as they now find acceptance with judicious and godly Christians, so also in future times will out-live the calumnies by Sectaries cast upon them, and our posterity will admire, what is by us undervalued; Let not clamours of men, who call light darknesse, and darknesse light, discourage thee from reading, it doth not mee from approving that this Treatise be imprinted.

Imprimatur

JAMES CRANFORD.