Gangrena Part 1 and 2, Part 13
A Relation of some stories, and other remarkable passages concerning the Sects and Sectaries.
THere is an Independent Antinomian Libertine Preacher here in London, a man much followed and cried up by the Sectaries, who in Sermons hath delivered these passages, That a poore whoore-master, or a poore drunkard cannot look into your Churches (speaking of the Presbyterian Preachers) but hell fire must be flashed and throwne in their faces. That if a Saint should commit a grosse sin, and upon the committing thereof should be startled at it, that were a great sin in him; And in obedience to this and other Doctrines of some of the Sectaries of our times, I will give the Reader some instances both of words and facts.
There is a godly understanding man, an old Disciple, who told me on April 28. 1646. That having a daughter, a young maid, religiously affected, shee was drawn in to affect the Independents, and to cry them much up, and to follow them, and shee procured her selfe to be servant in a family of some rank and place, where the Master and Mistresse are Independents: Now being there, she expected some great holinesse and extraordinarie strictnesse in the family; but she found matters thus. On the Lords day they were verie loose, in the fore-noon they would go to heare Mr. Sterry at White-Hall, (as not living far from thence) but in the after-noon stay at home, and some other Independents and Sectaries resorting thither on the Lords day in the after-noon, they spent it in common discourse, making no more of it than other dayes; a great part of their discourse on the Lords day being railing against the Scots, and against some of our Ministers, and the books written against the Sectaries; and some men (whom a man could hardly have thought it of) would curse the Scots, saying, A pox upon the Scots, would they were gone, we would give them any thing to be rid of them, and pay them all their money in time: many persons of note of the Independent Faction did often resort to this house, and still they would speak most bitterly and basely of our Brethren of Scotland: The Master of the Family would be often attempting to kisse this young maid, watching her upon the staires and other places, as going up and down, and hath tempted her to be naught, insomuch that the young maid spake to him, Sir, You have a wife of your owne, why should you speak thus? how dare you offer to do this wickednesse, and sin against God? VntoUnto whom this Gentleman the Independent (and an Antinomian too surely) replied, ☞ That God saw no sin in his children, that these were but sins in the flesh, which Christ had satisfied for, with other words to that purpose. One time this man tempting her, threw her all along, so that she was forced to cry out, and her Mistresse came in to her rescue, and said, Fie husband, will you never leave these tricks? whereupon the maid would not stay, but came away, and when her father heard it, he would not indure she should stay any longer, but had her away presently; and so this young maid is converted from being an Independent and Sectarie, by beholding their carriage and loosenesse, blessing God she is delivered from that way and those persons: she had thought the Sectaries had been such holy persons, that there had been none like them, till she saw both that family, and many who resorted thither of the same way, so loose. This godly Christian tells me, That his daughter is ready to take her oath of the truth of these things which she hath both seen and heard, and with many circumstances hath declared to him, as the names of such that resorted thither, that she never knew nor heard of before, with other circumstances; and that he believes them to be so true, as that they are past all question.
There is a Sectary, an Independent Antinomian Taylor, who stealing a whole yard of Plush from a Gentleman, and some yards of Sattin from another, and being found out in his sin, and convinced, so that he could not deny it; some speaking to him how sorrie they were that such a man as he should do these things; he replied, (as I had it from two honest men of good account) to this effect, that he was troubled for them to see them sorrie, but as for himselfe, he was not troubled.
One of the followers of Mr. Simpson the Antinomian, said it in the hearing and presence of divers (Mr. Simpson being then also present) That if a child of God should commit murder, he ought not to repent of it, and Mr. Simpson never reproved him for it, though by one present in the company he was spoken unto to doe it.
An Antinomian Preacher preaching in London on a F…st day, said, It was better for Christians to bee drinking in an Ale-house, or to be in a whore-house, then to be keeping fasts legally.
Many Sectaries have said, that when David lived in adulterie and murther, even before his repentance he was as deare in the sight of God as ever he was at any time.
There is one Samuel Oats a Weaver (a man I have spoken of in my former book, and in this too, page 10.) who being of Lams Church, was sent out as a Dipper and Emissary into the Countreyes: Last summer I heard he went his progresse into Surrey and Sussex, but now this yeare he is sent out into Essex three or foure months ago, and for many weeks together went up and downe from place to place, and Towne to Towne, about Bo…hen, Braintry, Tarling, and those parts, preaching his erroneous Doctrines, and dipping many in rivers; this is a young lusty fellow, and hath traded chiefly with young women and young maids, dipping many of them, though all is fish that comes to his net, and this he did with all boldnesse and without all controul for a matter of two moneths: A godly Minister of Essex coming out of those parts related, hee hath baptized a great number of women, and that they were call'd out of their beds to go a dipping in rivers, dipping manie of them in the night, so that their Husbands and Masters could not keep them in their houses, and 'tis commonly reported that this Oats had for his pains ten shillings apeece for dipping the richer, and two shillings six pence for the poorer; he came veriebare and meane into Essex, but before hee had done his work, was well lined, and growne pursie. In the cold weather in March, hee dipped a young woman, one Ann Martin (as her name is given in to me) whom he held so long in the water, that she fell presently sicke, and her belly sweld with the abundance of water she took in, and within a fortnight or three weeks died, and upon her death-bed expressed her dipping to be the cause of her death. There was another woman also whom he baptized, as a godly Minister that came out of those parts, and had beene at Braintry related to me from a good hand, whom after he had baptized, he bid her gape, and she gaped, and he did blow three times into her mouth, saying words to this purpose, either receive the holy Ghost, or now thou hast received the holy Ghost. At last for his dipping one who died so presently after it, and other misdemeanors the man was questioned in the Countrey, and bound over to the Sessions at Chen…ford, where Aprill the seventh, 1646. this Oats appeared, and I had the relation I now speak of, from three persons that were eare and eye-witnesses, two godly Ministers, and the other Gentlemen of great worth and qualitie, viz. that Oats being brought before the Bench, the Coroner laid to his charge, that in March last, in a verie cold season, hee dipping a young woman, shee presently fell sick and died within a short time, and though the Coroner had not yet perfected his sitting upon her death, all witnesses being not yet examined, nor the Jurie having brought in their verdict (so that the full evidence was not presented) yet the Bench, upon being acquainted with the case, and other foule matters also being there by witnesses laid against him, committed him to the Jaile at Colchester: It was laid to his charge then, that hee had preached against the Assessments of Parliament, and the taxes laid upon the people, teaching them, that the Saints were a free people, and should do what they did voluntarily, and not be compelled; but now contrarie to this, they had assessment upon assessment, and rate upon rate. Some passages also in his prayer were repeated, as that hee prayed the Parliament might not cart the Ark, nor meddle with making Lawes for the Saints, which Jesus Christ was to do alone. Since Oats commitment to Colchester Jaile, there hath been great and mightie resort to him in the prison, many have come downe from London in Coaches to visit him, as a godly Minister who came out of Essex told me: And I have a Letter by me from a Minister in Colchester, sent last week to a friend of his in London, wherein he writes thus; Oats the Anabaptist hath had great resort to him in the Castle, both of Town and Countrey; but the Committee ordered the contrarie last Saturday.
There is one Collier, a great Sectarie in the West of England, a mechanicall fellow, and a great Emissarie, a Dipper, who goes about Surrey, Hampshire, and those Counties thereabouts, preaching and dipping; About a fortnight ago on the Lords day he preached at Guilford in the meeting-place, and to the company of one old Mr. Close, an Independent Minister, who hath set up at Guilford, and done a great deale of mischiefe, having drawn away many of the well-meaning people from the Ministerie of those godly Ministers, whom before they much prized; there this Collier exercised, and it was given out in the Countie he was a rare man, and the people came from the Towns about to heare him: This fellow, in his circuit, at an exercise where he was preaching to many women for rebaptization and dipping, made use of that Scripture to that purpose (as it is reported) Isa. 4.2. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, Wee will eat our owne bread, and weare our owne apparell: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. And truly, it is a sad thing there should be such Emissaries (so like the Devill their Master, compassing the earth, and going about seeking whom they may devoure) in the severall parts of the Kingdome, North, East, West, and South, not one part free; for the East and South, we who live in these parts know it fully, for London, Kent, the Associated Counties. As for the West (besides this instance of Collier) I received a Letter out of Dorsetshire, dated March 13. written by a godly Minister from thence; Sir, I am not yet furnished to my mind with particulars of that nature you expect; but with the help of my fellow-Ministers in these parts, I shall send them to you in an exact Historie of our Westerne confusions. And for the North, besides many instances I could give you of Hull, Beverley, York, Hallifax, &c. of Independent Churches gathered there, and of many Anabaptists and other Sectaries in those places, I shall only desire the Reader to mind these three or four lines written to me from a countrey further North: I received the books sent me, and shall make the best use I can of them; the one I keep for mine owne use, the other I pleasure friends with (and truly never more need in our Countrey;) for whereas formerly wee wanted the Ministerie, now wee have such varietie and strife amongst them, that truly I know not what will become of us.
A person of qualitie and a godly man told me (April 15.) meeting me accidentally in Westminster Hall, that (saith he) just now, neere the House of Commons doore, I had discourse with a great Sectarie (viz. one of Wrights Disciples, and presently the man came into the Hall with another great Sectarie, and he shewed me him:) and the discourse was as followes, That he would be loth the Parliament should bring Paul Bests bloud upon them for his denying the Trinitie. Whereupon this Gentleman answered him, that he could prove cleerly out of the Scriptures a Trinitie of Persons. VntoUnto whom this Sectarie replied, How will you prove the Scriptures to be the word of God? and this Sectarie reasoned against them, saying, there were twentie severall Scriptures, as many as Translations, and Translations are not true; for so the Priests will tell us, that this is not rightly translated: and for the Originals there are divers Copies; besides, I cannot understand them, neither is it my fault that I do not: In sum, the man reasoned there was no Religion at all in the Kingdome, but all Religion he knew of was, To do justly, and be mercifull. VntoUnto which the Gentleman replyed, The Heathen they were just and merciful, and therein did as much as you. This Sectarie re-joyned, For ought he knew, the Heathens were saved as well as any now.
A godly Minister of the Countie of Middlesex told me (April 16.) that there was a great Sectarie and a Souldier, because he had perswaded a family that he was well acquainted with, and where the Sectarie much resorted, to cast him off, and to have nothing to do with him; this Sectarie conceiving it to come from this Minister, when this Minister came downe one day to this house, this Sectarie came to the house and enquired for him, to speak with him▪ this Minister fearing the Devill might stir him up to do him some mischiefe, refused to speak with him, as having no businesse with him; this Souldier and Sectarie sent him in word, if he would not come out to him, hee would come in to him: Whereupon hee desired the Master of the house hee might be safe in his house, and as hee came in love to him, so hee would defend him, and let him returne home in safetie; whereupon the Master of the house sent out a serva…t to him to be gone, for this Minister had nothing to say to him; and as the servant was going, this Sectarie was already come in: whereupon the servant asked him, why hee came in without bidding; hee replyed, to speak with Master —; upon that the servant caught him by the collar, and said hee should not; the Master hearing them bustle together, hee went out, and his wife followed to oppose him; and in conclusion, having his knife before ready by his side, hee reached it to pare the dirt off his shooes, to shake it off against that house, because they would not receive him, as making himselfe an Apostle: and when hee had done so, he departed.
There is one Master Durance, a Preacher at Sandwich in Kent, a bold conceited man, and an Independent, who since the beginning of this Parliament was a Washing-ball-maker, or seller of washing-balls here in London, but now turned Preacher; and being never ordained Minister, hath consecrated himselfe to be one of the Priests of the high places: Among many high affected straines of new light, and strange expressions, which the man uses in his Sermons, prayers, to get himselfe a name by, viz. of a Washing-ball-maker to become such a rare man, these are some; Hee prayed to the Trinitie to take care or cure of these three Kingdomes, God the Father to take care of one, God the Son of the second, and God the Holy Ghost of the third Kingdome: he prayed also for Jesus Christ, that God would, &c.
A godly Minister in Northamptonshire told mee (April 17.) that there was a Sectarie in his Parish, a Yeoman, who hath said it to him and to many others, that now the time is coming, when wee shall all have and bee alike: ☞ I shall have as much estate as such a Knight, naming a Knight of great estate in that Countie, one Sir W. W. Th… Sectarie also holds there is no Hell.
There is a godly Minister in Essex, who related this storie to me (April 6) in the presence of a Minister of the Assembly, and hee who told it mee had it from the mans owne mouth, whom this Minister knowes well to be an honest godly man: This man, viz. one Master A. living at R. in Essex, a godly religious man, and an old acquaintance of Master S…idr. Sympson, coming up to London, and meeting with M. Sympson, among other discourse, asked him if hee might come to his Church, and whether the Sacrament of the Lords Supper would be administred the next Lords day, and whether hee might come to it: Master Sympson answered yes, hee had the Lords Supper, and hee might come; whereupon this Master A. went, and after Sermon stayed with the rest of the company to partake in the Lords Supper, and joyning with them, received the bread; which when hee had received, there were some of the Church-members began to take notice hee was none of their Church, and there was a great stir and muttering about it, and they told him they admitted none but of their Church-way: whereupon this religious man was not permitted to partake of the Cup, but was glad to withdraw, the Independents dealing with him (though a godly man, and a visible Saint, because hee was not one of their members) just as the Papists do with the people, allowing them the Bread, but not the Wine. When all was done, this Master A. went to Master Sympson, and spake to him, saying; Sir, Did not you tell mee I might come to the Lords Supper at your Church? Master Sympson replyed, I said you might come, but not that you might receive. VponUpon this businesse the honest man was much troubled, and for their administring the Sacrament to him after the Popish manner, they have lost a Proselyte of him, this having quite turned him off from the Independents.
The same Minister at the same time related it to mee for certaine, as a thing not only knowne to him, but to many in the Countie of Essex, that a compounded Sectarie, an Anabaptist, &c. whose dwelling is at Castle-Henningham, preached at Chelmsford in a house where (as a common fame goes) there wine and women good store; and as he was preaching to the Sectaries, there came by the house a kind of a wild Gentleman, who was speaking against the Presbyterians, and this man was brought in to the meeting whilest the Sectarie was preaching; and as in the verie midst of their preaching there was wine and liquour, drinking to one another, so before they parted there was good store of it; this wild Gentleman for his part spending about foure shillings, who when hee was come away, meeting some Gentlemen and others, commended the men for honest men, and praising their meetings, said, Why should they not have the libertie of their consciences?