Gangrena Part 1 and 2, To the reader
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
Good Reader,
TIs my lot (so divine Providence is pleased to order it) that in my conflicts for Truth, and against Error, I should not enter the field and fight single combats, but encounter with many: My Antapologia was an Answer unto five men, esteemed Gyants by many of these times; who though they were five to one, yet by the good hand of God that was with mee in that work, I keep the field till this day, neither they nor any for them (notwithstanding all the great threats given out) having yet engaged against mee in that cause. Now in this present booke, consisting partly of a Reply, I have to do with Three, a three-headed Cerberus, the three-bodied monster Geryon: The Apologists were fair smooth men in comparison of these, their voice was the voice of Jacob; but these are hairy, rough, wilde red men, especially, Cretensis: These are grown higher, are gone farther, and are more daring then the former; and yet I doubt not but hee that then brought me off with safety and honour too, will also now stand by mee, and having delivered mee from the lion and the bear, these uncircumcised Philistims, especially Goliah Goodwin shall be as one of them. Whilest I was making this Reply, had even finished it, striking off this three-headed Cerberus, new heads of that monstrous Hydra of Sectarism sprung up, which the Reader shall also find have their deaths wound too in this present Book; and yet after all these heads cut off, I expect a great red Dragon having seven heads, and seven horne, and seven crowns upon his heads; but let as many Sectaries come forth as will, I shall sing with David, Psal. 27.3. Though an Host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: And besides my Reply to the Answers made against my Book entituled Gangraena, the Reader shall find in this Book more work for the Sectaries, the Second Part of Gangraena, a Discovery of more Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, and Proceedings of the Sectaries, wherein I have not only laid down many Errours, Heresies, and Proceedings of the Sectaries not touched before, but some greater, stranger, higher Heresies and Blasphemies, and some that are more against the second Table, and destructive to the civill Lawes and peace of Kingdoms, which Sectaries in their pleading for Tolerations seem to exempt out of the number of Errours to be tolerated; yea, I desire the Reader to take notice there are some things spoken of in this present Book, some Blasphemies, &c. done by Sectaries, that the like or worse are not to he found in any age since the coming of Christ, nay I think not since the Creation of the world, as that Blasphemy of one *Pag. 162, 163. of this present Book; and that, pag. 8.John Boggis. Now that the Reader may the more profit by this work, and not stumble in the Entrance, I shall premise three things whereby to remove a few prejudices that may be in the minds of some men, both against the matter and manner of this Book.
1 Tis objected, The bringing upon the stage matters of fact, and the practices of some men against a way, is not a right course to convince a way to be naught, nor the followers of it of their errours: Arguments and Reasons are the way to satisfie men. Answ. I have spoken to this objection in the first part of Gangraena, pag. 76. and the Reader may find more said to it in this second part, pag. 79, 80. And therefore that which I shall say here is this. Such discoveries as these, are a more sensible practicall way of confutation of the Sectaries to the body of the people of the Kingdome, then so many syllogismes and arguments; they can understand these when they cannot perceive an argument; and Christ himselfe, in speaking against false prophets, saith, By their fruits you shall know them: Doe men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? &c. And the Apostles in their speaking against the Hereticks and heresies of their times, confuted them thus by their practices and wayes: Whosoeverdoes but observe the passages in the Epistles of Peter, Jude, Paul, shall finde this true.
And whereas tis said by some of them, if they would do so by the Presbyterians, they could show as many Errours held by some Presbyterians, and as bad practises, &c. and so recriminate. I answer, suppose they could, 1. Yet there's not the same reason in divers respects; but I will only give one instance, namely this difference: The Anabaptists, Independents, &c. have their Church way and government up, they are in the practice and possession of it, they may use it, and do to the utmost, to suppresse Errours, Scandals, in the power of censures, in admitting of none but whom the body allowes, &c. and yet in the free practise of it, and under it, all these Errours grow, and men fall from one thing to another, as all men see; but now those who are in their judgement for Presbyterian Government in this Kingdome, they enjoy it not, have not the benefit of it to censure scandalous persons, suppresse any Errors, or to do any Acts of Government at all, but all lies waste. 2. I deny that the Sectaries can show men who are Presbyterians (though they want the benefit of the Government) that fall into those Errours, Blasphemies, Practises which the Sectaries doe, tis a meer flourish, they can show no such thing; nay, I am confident that among all the Presbyterian Ministers and cheife members who have appeared and acted for that way, since Presbyterians, the Sectaries cannot instance in one man like to hundreds and thousands of their Sectaries, either for Errours in judgement, or loosenesse in life.
2. Tis objected tis an unchristian way to bring mens names upon the stage, tis to much to speak against a way from the Practises of some of that way, but to name men in print, and publikly to brand them, this is worse. Ans. I could give many Answers to justifie this, and show the examples both of Fathers and the holiest, judiciousest moderne Writers who practised this, as Calvin in his Tractate against Libertines, naming Quintinus, &c. and giving reasons there by way of Answer to this very objection of naming men, but I cannot now insist upon it: all I will say is this, for my own part tis much against my genius and temper to do it, for naturally I do not love to offend any, or to contend with any man, but to comply and please all; besides, I am sensible of the hatred, reproaches, dangers I am liable to for doing it, but a necessi…y is laid upon me to preserve the people, and to give them warning to beware of wolves in sheeps clothing; and as I hold my selfe bound in conscience to write Books to discover the errours and opinions of such wayes, so to name the persons of prime notorious Sectaries who are sticklers, (not of all men who are mis-led, or in some lesser matters mistaken) and that from the example of the Apostle Paul, who doth not onelyonly name the errours, wayes, but the men themselves, as Hymeneus, Philetus, Alexander, Phygellus, Hermogenes, 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. 2 Tim. 2.17. 2 Tim. 1.14, 15. & 4.14, 15.
3. Let no godly person be offended at my Book, if the stile of it be quick and smart, and if I speak sometimes a little sharply to Cretensis; but rather let them consider how unworthily (not onelyonly unbecoming a Christian, but a man) hee hath dealt with mee and all Presbyterians in his Answer, discovering such unsufferable pride, arrogancie, scornfulnesse of spirit towards all Presbyterians who fall not down to the golden calves of his opinions of Imputation of faith, Independency, &c. as that there seems no way left to recover him but to deal a little roundly with him, and lay open his folly; besides, the Apostle Paul speaking of the Cretians, who are alwayes lyars, saith, Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. In one word, Cretensis in all his Answers is too like those spoken of in 2 Sam. 23.6. that must be thrust away as thorns, because they cannot be taken with hands: the man that must touch him had need be fenced with iron and the staffe of a spear: Cretensis is a man so foul-mouth'd in all kind of filthy language, that his maid had need seowr his mouth alwayes with a wisp when he goes to write any Book. But to hold the good Reader no longer in the porch, let we earnestly intreat thy prayers to God for his gracious assistance, protection, supporting of him who is resolved to spend and be spent, and to run all hazzards for the truth of God and his Churches… against the errours of the times; yea, and if he be offered up upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, he joyes, and will rejoyce.
Thine in Christ, THOMAS EDWARDS.