The Bottomless Pit Smoking in Familism, Title page – To the reader
THE BOTTOMLES PIT Smoaking in FAMILISME As may appeare by aſhort diſcourſe on Gal. 1.9. together with ſome breef notes on AB. COPP… Recantation Sermon (as 'twere) Preached at Burford: Sept. 23. 1651.
By JOHN TICKELL Min… to the Church in ABING…ON Berks
This may ſerve for a Key to Familiſme ('till another) opening to moſt (if not all) their chambers of Imagery.
Alſo, to vindicate the true Goſpell, God, and Scripture-purity, and anſwer ſeverall weig… ty queſtions concerning the Myſticall Ʋnion.
There ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts, &c. Mat. 24.24.
Printed at Oxford by L. … for … Anno. D… 165….
To the Reverend his honoured Father Mr GEORGE HUGHES, Paſtor of the Church in Plymouth DEVON.
Honoured Sir,
I Can never tell the World how much I owe you, Natures account is much but that of Grace is more: you have me on both in eternall obligations bound as yours. Rich and free grace all powerfull love, through your ſelfe as the inſtrument, Gave me my true, my beſt, my laſting, I meane my ſpirituall being, the forme of Chriſt in mee. Not Familiſtically.Sir I bleſſe God for Himſelfe, his Sonne, his Spirit, his Goſpell, your ſelfe. What cauſe Sir have I to bleſſe God for you? you have begotten, noureſht, brought me up as your own Sonne in the Goſpell. I will not like Jacob pluck my Brother by the heele. Who ever were the firſt; I bleſſe God I was not the laſt of your firſt fruits in Taveſtocke Devon. Sir I am a plant of your planting, watering and a member, and a Miniſter in the Church of Chriſt. unworthy of either, (but bleſſed be God for both) who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof, I ſend you here a cluſter, I would they were either faire or ripe: they are yet too greene for your taſt: however they are the firſt fruits from a ſlip of your owne. I beg your Acceptance, I am ſure of your protection — what I am and have is yours, bleſſed be God, that I have the honour to ſubſcribe
your Sonne in the Goſpell J. TICKELL. Abingdon Octob. 3. 1651.
To All that love the Lord JESUS in or neere BURFORD
Grace and Peace.
SPECIALL providence brought me to Burford, had there not been more of Gods will then of my will in it, I had not been there that day, nor ſtaid there that houre: ſome ſuſpected a deſigne: I can aſſure them, I knew not of any lecture there that day, till as I was riding by the Church-yard, one told me that Mr Coppe was then to Preach, having not long before heard of his Recantation and liberty, I was very willing to underſtand of the worke of God upon him: upon this account I haſtned to the Church, when I came to the doore, I ſaw there much people ready to heare, but the Pulpit empty, and no one there as yet to Preach. I was no ſooner thinking, whether I were beſt to ſtay that houre, or immediatly to returne from whence I came, then I was preſt in Spirit, a Scripture with ſtrong impreſſions being preſented to me, to take the opportunity of ſpeaking ſomething to the People, ere Mr Coppe came in. This motion put me on motion towards the Pulpit, from whence (aſſiſtance from God deſired) this exhortation ſuch as 'tis was then delivered a Goſpel bleſſing reſt upon it, Preached and Printed. So much may ſerve for that.
If any deſire the knowledge of my Commiſſion let them read Mark. 16.5. Math. 28.19, 20. 2 Tim. 4.2. from thence take ſatisfaction. as for my principle, the ſearcher of hearts beſt knowes it, to whom I ſhall referre inquiries: only thus much, I am not a Son of contention: I love truth and peace: nay more then this, my over-love to peace has often wronged truth, but the blood of ſprinkling waſh this away. Notwithſtanding this, 'has been my lot to paſſ… by peace, for twice or thrice, to ſtand by truth: the prince of peace once taught me this. my ſoule bleeds when I heare the perſon, the nature, the offices, the undertakings, the death, the blood, the Righteouſneſſe, that all-glorious-ſoule-ſaving-imputative-righteouſneſſe of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, blaſpheamed. I had rather ye would rend my bowels, ſtab me to the heart, ſpill my blood as water upon the ground, then reproach, blaſpheme, deſpiſe, that blood, which was the price of my redemption, God will judge for this. Should not I ſpeak, the ſtones would, mans bloud cries, but Chriſts cries loud. The Lord deliver me from bloud-guiltineſſe. through his grace, I am reſolved the blood of ſoules, the blood of Chriſt ſhall not be laid to my account, when their avenger makes inquiſition, and comes to reckon. I judge not Mr Coppe, but experience tels me, that ſome, he knowes, can more cloſely deceive then ever, to be plaine, I met with one not long ſince, that told me my ſelfe and twenty more, that he that had two natures was Antichriſt: againe, he that ſaid that Chriſt had two natures is The Antichriſt. farther, he that ſaies the fulneſſe of the Godhead dwels not in us in the ſame way and manner as it did in Chriſt, is The Antichriſt. the man paſſes for a convert, but God convert him. enough for that.
If any aske what makes this untimely birth abroad, with this homely dreſſe, untill another let them take this anſwere.
1. Truth will abroad as well as errour, and reaſon good: ſhee lives in light.
2. Truth is beſt ſeen naked. error like a Strumpet, dares not appeare without a mantle, a painted face, a gorgeous dreſſe. a crucified Chriſt would have a crucified ſtile: I deſire to know no other Chriſt, I am ſure this Goſpel without the wiſdome of mans words is the power of God unto ſalvation.
3. Phantaſtick preaching, hearing, praying, writing in the great ſin of our age. Luther was not of the garbe, wherein moſt of our late admired Preachers have appeared. I wiſh good men would ſeriouſly conſider and lay to heart, the advantage which Familiſme has taken from their ſeraphicall notions and ſpeculations. O that ſome had not ſet Truth on tenter-hookes to reach their phancies. Chriſt will give them but little thankes for this. for mine own part I deſire rather to be underſtood, then admired, I am not willing to be taken by the ignorant or the unlearned as a Barbarian. I would have the meaneſt capacities take in my notions, eſpecially ſuch as have univerſall relation to faith and practice. When I ſpeake to the meaneſt, I am ſure the chiefeſt underſtand me. For the thing it ſelfe. I muſt acknowledge 'tis an hasty birth, but bleſſed be God for this, as for theſe whence had I them? Well, I moſt gladly glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Chriſt may reſt upon me. and this too ſuch as 'tis. if God owne it, as he did, the enimies themſelves being judges, Ile owne it too, and pray that the bleſſing of the Father of Lights may reſt upon it: that what is wanting in theſe lines, may be made up in your hearts. A farther account of their publike view take thus.
1. When I had done, Mr Coppe did againe and againe, under moſt dreadfull execrations profeſſe his aſſent, and that particularly to the principall poynts which were delivered by mee.
Whether willingly, or unwillingly, truly and ſyncerely, or faignedly, and Reſervedly. (though I ſuſpect) God is his judge and knowes his heart, and will reckon unto him all thoſe curſes, which he reckoned unto himſelfe, if he were not right in this.
If Mr Coppe be a reall friend to theſe truths, and as they were delivered, bleſſed be God, that once a blaſphemer is now a Goſpell-preacher.
If Mr Coppe be ſtill an enemy, and like the Divell appears in All formes for his advantage, the World ſhall know the moſt diabolicall Hippocriſies of ſuch blaſphemers.
There was one paſſage, as eminent among all the reſt, dropt from him. Let me be accurſed (ſaid he) and that with an Anathema maranatha, if I deny any one of all thoſe things which were delivered by him.
Should this fall to the ground? no, through Gods help it ſhall not.
1. Truth ſhall triumph as well as conquer.
2. It ſhall not looſe one teſtimony, which may, to good effect, proclaime its ſoveraignty and divinity.
The Goſpell would not looſe a teſtimony from ehe devils mouth, to the divinity of this ſonne of God, whoſe cauſe we now take up.
This teſtimony is conſiderable. whether free or forc't. if free: ſee here what Truth will doe, it will at length prevaile. if Mr Coppes Recantation be right, and God have chang'd his heart theſe lines will not offend him. If forc't: then ſee what God can doe for truth. let the World know, that at ſuch a time, and ſuch a place, God over rul'd his tongue, ſuppreſſed his rage, and made him ſpeake for truth.
2. As this may ſerve to proclaime Gods truth, ſo Mr Coppes converſion and true returne (if ſuch) to waies of truth, and let thoſe know who have been formerly deceived by him, what he now profeſſes, that ye alſo if God will, may be informed, convinced, and converted.
3. But if ye know Coppes mind in this, and he prove a diſſembler and a deceiver ſtill: I ſay, I will not judge him, I doe profeſſe I doe ſuſpect him, then let theſe lines, the pillars in that houſe, the ſtones in thoſe walls within which theſe things were firſt delivered, riſe up in judgement, and beare witneſſe againſt the wretch in the great day of the Lord Jeſus, and let his damnation which of a long time ſlumbreth not, be proved from God as juſt, and himſelfe as inexcuſable.
As for the notes on the principall paſſages of his Sermon: they ſerve.
1. To cleare the truth by me aſſerted, and by Coppe in the former part of his diſcourſe with execrations owned.
2. To vindicate the Scriptures purity, verity and harmony.
3. To let the World know, that Familiſts have double tongues, and can ſometimes uſe both at once for their advantage. A Familiſt before a Committee at Redding could ſay Chriſt was not God, and yet at Ildeſly could ſay, the fiery deity of Chriſt did mingle and mixe it ſelfe with our fleſh, and was in the center of our Soules, burning and conſuming &c. and at the ſame time at Redding, could call in all with I meant not ſo. Mr Coppe ſaid, Chriſt was crucified at Jeruſalem, Curſed were the man that ſhould deny it: and that Chriſt was crucified at Sodom and at Aegypt, and Curſed was he that ſhould not ſay it: what's his meaning I cannot tell: but let that paſſe.
4. Theſe notes doe likewiſe ſerve to vindicate the Spotles purity, and holineſſe of God, from thoſe black and helliſh imputations of ſins originall, approbation, liberally conferr'd upon his Holy, pure, ſpotleſſe, being, nature, word, and will, and power. One told me a while ſince profeſſedly, that the Divell was God appearing in darkneſſe and diſtance. Coppe himſelfe told me too once in New-gate, that light and darkneſſe was all one to God, ſpeaking upon this account of ſin. there's ſomething in the wind, to uſe his own expreſſions in his Sermon and Recantation.
The Parliaments Act concerning Ranters, hath done bleſt be God for it, much good. but occaſionally (as Gods laws) provokes ſome to ſin the more, if not in one kind yet another 'thas made the Divell break out in another ſtraine. he loves not Newgate ſo well, as to ſpeake directly, however, he is reſolved, he will be known to be the ſame, Collaterally; but more of this anon.
Chriſtian friends, for your ſakes I have done this, the Lord bleſſe it. I ſhall deſire but one or two things from you, and ſo conclude.
Firſt I beſeech you ſtudy, and keepe to the true Goſpell, recorded in the Scriptures of truth, preached by the God of truth in our natures, and thoſe that heard him, and received it from him. the Sonne of God hath with his own blood ſealed it.
To it, even to this Goſpel, have the Apoſtles and Martyrs, in ſeverall ages, with their bloods witneſſed.
'Tis that Goſpell which never can, though to the price of your bloods too be overvalued.
'Tis that Goſpel which will maintain it ſelfe, and maintaine you, by which you muſt be ſaved, and its accurſed deſpiſers and blaſpheamers damned. ô be tender of Goſpel-truths, and the God of Goſpel truths you ſhall finde, as tender of your comforts.
You ſee whither men run, when they forſake the Goſpel. (whether the Scriptures or Ordinances, or moſt eſpecially the Chriſt of the Goſpel, the Imputative righteouſneſſe of our Goſpel-Chriſt. (it ſeemes I miſtooke Mr Coppe, when I ſpake againſt a Righteouſneſſe within us of our owne, though of Gods working, as the matter of our Acceptance, or the Goſpel righteouſneſſe. refined Familiſts are for this, in oppoſition to the imputed righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, the groſſer ſort of them know none at all, but that which bears conformity to hell. to whom light and darkneſſe, purity and uncleanneſſe, God and Sathan make but one. the Lord rebuke you. I ſay you ſee whether they runne, they ſeldome ſtop, till they come to irreligion, to Atheiſme, nay what ſhall I call it, Hell it ſelfe. where I leave them, unleſſe God ſhew mercy to them which I ſuſpect will never be.
2. Let Accurſed Goſpellers be accurſed by you — their Doctrines, their Perſons with their doctrines, bid them not good ſpeed (foreign) the ordinary ſalutation, leaſt you be partakers of their ſinnes, and of their judgements. I mean their plagues. of which a reprobate judgement to refuſe the truth, and entertaine the wrong, is not the leaſt. Contend earneſtly for the faith which was delivered to the Saints. I muſt conclude, the fulneſſe of the bleſſing of the Goſpell rest upon you
In the Goſpel-Christ, I am yours to further your Goſpel-Intereſt in what I may J. T Abingdon Octob. 3. 1651.