Gangrena Part 3, Theological tract · Part 14 · Letter

Gangrena Part 3 · Theological tract · Part 14 · Letter

p. 223Now for the day of Electing our Elders, if a State and the Truth were ever trodden downe at once by men, it was in the preparation for that day, and the practiſe of it: Before the day ſome of them went about to perſwade the people to hold their liberties, and not to bring themſelves in bondage. They choſe our Elders for us, and perſwaded people to accept of them, and being asked by ſome whether they thought them fit to be Elders in their Independent Church, they anſwered no, nor members neither; they ſp…ke evill of our beſt men, and accuſed them of wavering and malice, and when ſome told that if they ſhould chuſe ſuch Elders as they named, people would not be joyned with them, they replied, no matter, they might then come to their Church; and when the day was come and time to chuſe our Elders, albeit their owne Paſtor was preaching in the towne at the ſame inſtant, yet ſome of them came to our choyce, and there affirmed (though not by an open ou…cry) yet by private perſwaſions to ſome, that we were not building the walls of Babal, and went to divers perſous and got them to forbeare giving their voices to Maſter P. telling them that they knew he would not take it, by which meanes we feare he will loſe it; to be brief, we know that they are oppoſite to order, and if there be not reſtraint will bring all to a lawleſſe condition, ſo thinks

June 29. 1646. Your loving freind and Brother

Eighthly, …he Independents and Sectaries have ſpoken, written, and carried themſelves very unworthily towards our Brethren of Scotland; the Sectaries in the Army▪ City; Country, and in all places of this Kingdome have at all tables, and in all Pamphlets p. 224and all kind of wayes abuſed and railed againſt the Scots, inventing many wicked lies, raiſing groundleſſe jealouſies and feares of them, and that of their Kingdome and State, their Army, their Commiſſioners reſident here, their Generall Aſſembly, of particular worthy perſons by name, and as they have done thus about this two laſt yeers with all induſtry and ſubtilty imploying Emiſſaries, ſo more eſpecially ſince the Kings going to the Scottiſh Army they have beſtirred themſelves by their weekly Pamphleters, by many libellous Pamphlets written on purpoſe, by many ſtrange and falſe reports raiſed on purpoſe to incenſe the Kingdom againſt them, and to make them odious; I could fill a great book in ſetting downe all the hard ſpeeches the ungodly Sectaries have ſpoken againſt them in Sermons and other diſcourſes, in tranſcribing out of the Sectaries Books all the bitter, ſcoffing, lying, railing paſſages written againſt them, in relating all ſtrange facts, and cruell unkind dealings of that party againſt them; but they are ſo well knowne, and all wiſe men ſo well acquainted with them, that I need not much enlarge; only for the ſake of weake ones who live remote, I ſhall touch upon a few things, and truly tis the honour of our Brethren of Scotland that the Sectaries hate them ſo infinitely; for would they have beene falſe or remiſſe in the Covenant, and to their principles, they ſhould have beene the great favorites ☞with them, and might have had what they would; but becauſe they were too honeſt, and not to be corrupted by any worldly thing, and they looking upon them as the great thing that letteth and will let, untill it be taken out of the way, therefore they have ſought to blaſt them and deſtroy them all kind of wayes they could deſire. They have therefore laboured to poſſeſſe the people by word and writing that the Scots are a falſe, diſhoneſt, ſelfeſeeking People, all for their owne ends, and alwayes were, that they co…ply with the Kings deſignes, are firmly his as ever the Cavaliers were, that they will joyne with the King againſt the Parliament, a mercinary people that have got a world of money and ſent it out of the Kingdome in whole barrels full, that have had more money, and now demand more hundred thouſand pounds …hen all Scotland is worth if it were to be ſold, that they ſtood for the King to come to London, and to be diſpoſed of by their advice for p. 225nothing elſe but to get great offices about him, and places at Court, that they ſeek nothing but to encroach upon the rights and liberties of this Nation in ſeverall of their demands, and therefore what true Engliſh man can beare it? They have given out of their Armies that they exerciſe ſtrange cruelties, robberies, plunderings in the Countries notwithſtanding all their great pay, and yet they have done nothing for it; what have they done almoſt this two laſt yeeres, ſay the Sectaries? nay ſome Sectaries have given out we owe them nothing, they have had more then their pay comes to. Preſently after the newes came of the Kings going to the Scottiſh Army, there were many jealouſies raiſed and reports given out by the Independent party, that all the forces of the Kings out of Newark were joyned to the Scots, and gone along with them; that Letters were intercepted going from the King to Oxford, to wiſh them to holdout ſo many dayes and they ſhould have releife, that two thouſand Iriſh were come to joyne with the Scots for the King againſt the Parliament, that the Scots had broken the Covenant in detaining the King, and in not delivering up Aſhburnham, with divers ſuch fables, and ſince all along we have by that party ſome fine ſtories or other told of the Scots, as of ſo many thouſands out of France to joyne with them, and ſo many thouſand freſh men come out of Scotland into England, and Informations and Examinations printed of ſtrange things the Scats will do, and the King hath ſpoken of ſince he went to them, reports of ſtories of Robin Hood and little John, of Cocks and Bulls, plots that would be diſcovered of the Scots, and ſome great Noble men. Now for proof of the Sectaries being guilty in theſe particulars, I referre the Reader to divers of the Sectaries libellous Pamphlets againſt the Scots, as Maſter Burtons Conformities Deformity: A black cloud in the North, a late Declaration by way of Letters, **An unhappy Game at Scotch and Engliſh.&c. to divers of the Weekly newes Books of late, and particularly to the Imperfect Diurnall, Immoderate Intelligencer, Ʋnperfect Occurrences, three ſworne ſervants of the Independents, and to his owne remembrance and obſervation of things. For concluſion of this, there are none ſo hated in this Kingdom by the Sectaries, as our Brethren of Scotland, not the Papiſts, not the Prelates, not the Malignants, they exceed the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, p. 226Doctor Wren, &c. who never ſpake with that bitterneſſe againſt the Generall Aſſembly and Church-government, as ſome Sectaries have done; for inſta…ce, let Maſter Burtons Conformities Deformity be peruſed in what he writes againſt the Generall Aſſembly and Church-government of Scotland, and it would be thought rather to be Canterbury redivivus then Maſter Burton, for whom the Miniſters of Scotland and other godly Chriſtians there put up ſo many prayers; but their hatred and malice againſt the Church and Kingdom of Scotland God will in due time remember and viſit; And their extreme malignity againſt our Brethren of Scotland appeares principally in four things. 1. Though ſome of that party have given great teſtimony to them of their faithfulneſſe and worth, yet without any cauſe of theirs or change in them (the Scots co…tinuing conſtant and firme to their firſt principles, and I challenge all the Sectaries to give but one inſtance to the contrary) they have turned Jewes againſt them, and ſpoken evill of them all they could. 2. If any one Sectary take the Scots part as ſeeing their faithfulneſſe to the publick, and ſo declare it, though yet at the ſame time be ſpeaks againſt the Scots Church-government, Covenant, &c. and come to be in queſtion and trouble upon ſome things (though we ſee Sectaries ſtrangely brought off of all troubles, notwithſtanding all miſdemeanors) he is deſerted by his party, may lie and periſh in priſon; and the reaſon is given in **Another word to the wiſe.print to all the world, if we may beleeve it, for his complying with the Scots to drive on ſome wicked deſigne of theirs, and combining with them, whereas the ſame party declares in print the honeſty and juſtice of the Scots for the redreſſe of the great greivances of his Countrey, and though ſtrangers to him, yet upon the goodneſſe of the Cauſe furthering it with all their power to bring it to the hearing of the Houſe of Commons; and he profeſſes he neither knows nor can ſuppoſe the Scots to intend any other wicked deſig… but the ſetling of the Presbyterian Government among us. 3. In the many bloudy ſpeeches divers of the Sectarian party have ſpoken againſt the Scots, viz. that they would as willingly fight againſt the Scots, draw their ſwords againſt them as ever againſt … Cavaliers, that if they had an Order from the Commons to go againſt the Scots, they would go as willingly as ever againſt the p. 227Cavaliers; that it would never be well with us till we had beaten the Scots out of the Kingdom, that if they would not go out now we had conquered the Kings party, we would go lead them out, with divers ſuch ſpeeches. 4. In making it their great buſines to corrupt and poyſon mens minds with falſe notions and apprehenſions about the Scots as if they were the moſt per…idious people that ever were, many ſtories in this kind might be told, but I will content my ſelf with relating one, which is moſt certaine, as having it from the mouth of a godly miniſter upon whom the experiment was made. There was a great Gentleman of the Independent party, (I will not ſay he was a Member of the Houſe of Commons) who laboured to poſſeſſe a godly Miniſter (of ſome note in his Countrey) againſt the Scots, and walked alone with him two houres to repreſent to him the ſtate of things, o…ring him confidently, and that he ſhould finde, that the King …ad poyſoned the Scots, and made them all for him, he had corrupted the Army, the Scots Commiſſi…, the Convention of Eſtates, yea the generall Aſſembly it ſelfe, and they would be all …s much for him as ever the Cavaliers were, with ſeverall other things he laboured to poſ…e him with of the City of London, the Army. &c. but the beſt was, the Miniſter wanted faith to beleeve him and laughed ſecretly that this Gentleman ſhould think to catch old birds with chaffe.

Ni…ly, the Sectaries and Independents have ſpoken and carried themſelves unworthily to the bleeding condition of the Kingdome of Ireland and the Proteſt…ts there, ſome of them have juſtified the Iriſh Rebellion, that they did it for the liberty of their conſciences, and for their Country, and what had the Engliſh to doe in their Kingdome, the Iriſh did no more then what we would have done ourſelves if it had been … caſe, and that they held it not lawfull to go fight againſt them; others of the Sectaries have reaſoned againſt ſending releif thither, as ſaying, whom ſhould we releive to …e Proteſtants there were an unworthy people, that Kingdome had coſ… us more to keep it then ever we go… by it, that it was … to hazard that Army upon it which was ſo faithful, and … for much for us, with other words to this purpoſe; other Sectaries have laughed at the Presbyterians being ſo forward in preaching and praying for releif to be ſent over in all haſt into p. 228Ireland. A Gentleman in publick place told me not long ſince he had heard an Independent ſay upon diſcourſing of the hazard of the loſſe of Ireland, that it was not a three penny matter to England, if Ireland and Scotland both were loſt, England had no need of them; ſeverall ſtrange ſpeeches have fallen from the Sectaries in reference to Ireland.

Tenthly, the Independents and Sectaries have ſpoken, written, and dealt moſt unworthily with the City of London; a whole book might be written of all the calumnies, reproaches, abuſes that have beene offered the City of London within this laſt twelve months, eſpecially about that late excellent Remonſtrance; how hath the late Lord Major, the whole Court of Common-councell and City Remonſtrance been written, preached, ſpoken againſt by the Sectaries of the Army, City, and Country, giving reproachfull names, raiſing wicked lies upon them; and for nothing but for petitioning the Parliament for ſetling the Government, and declaring themſelves for the Covenant againſt Hereticks, Sciſmaticks, and Blaſphemers? Cretenſis, that great Sectary, cals the late Lord Major of London and the Common-councell Brethren in iniquity with me; the Author of the Pamphlet call'd the Lord Majors farewell from his Office of Majoralty, reſembles the late Lord Major to wicked Ahaz, ſaying, the Saints will ſay of him in ſucceeding ages, this is that Lord Major of London Thomas Adams by name: Lilburne in his Pamphlet entituled Londons Liberty▪ calls by way of ſcoffing the Prerogative Lord Major Adams; A Sectary in the Army call'd him raſcall. The Common-councell and Citizens have beene commonly call'd the Sect of the Adamites, and in print to in the Pamphlet The juſt mans juſtification, pag. 16. The Sectaries frequently cal the Citizens Preiſt-riden ſlaves. They ☞have in Pulpits beene call'd the great mountaine that hinders the liberty of the people, refined Malignants, and that if ever this Kingdome was brought into ſlavery, the City would be the cauſe of it: ſome of the Sectaries have ſaid that the King, the Scots, and the Common-councell did drive on one deſigne, it were too long to reckon up al the abuſes offered the City of London and the Honorable Court of Common-councell by ſome of the weekly Pamphleters, as the Moderate Intelligencer, Perfect Occurrences, p. 229and by ſome Sectarian ſouldiers threatning that they would as willingly come againſt the City as ever againſt the Cavaliers. The City Remonſtrance hath beene branded by them; one Captaine in the Army ſaid the Remonſtrance was as deviliſh a thing as ever was penned by man. Lilburne in his Londons liberty in chains diſcovered, page 36. ſpeaking of the City Remonſtrance, calls it that moſt deviliſh, wicked, bloudy, unchriſtian, Papiſticall Remonſtrance of the Prerogative men of London, &c. Other Sectaries ☜have call'd it that monſter with many heads, the …ifteene headed monſter, a baſe railing Remonſtrance; M. Peters hath ſpoken his pleaſure of it in the Pulpit, and the Moderate Reply to the City Remonſt▪ with the City Remonſtrance remonſtrated, have many naughty paſſages againſt the Common-councell and City Remonſtrance, as that it was the diſturber of the quiet and peace of the Church and State, &c. but I ſhall paſſe them by, and tranſcribe only one paſſage out of M. Burtons Conform. Deform. where in the Epiſt. Dedicatory to the preſent Lord Major, he writes thus, Give me leave tobeſeech you, that you would improve the whole power of your office (among other evils) for the not only ſuppreſſing, but utter obliterating out of all Records of memory or mention, that late Remonſtrance of London, which like the Trojan horſe, is ſtuffed with ſuch matter, as if the importunity of ſome might have had its deſire, would unavoidably hale in ruine both to City and Country. Nor doth any thing more clearly demonſtrate that ſpirituall judgement of blindneſſe and hardneſſe of heart to be upon all thoſe who have their heads and hands in that Remonſtrance, and wilfully perſiſt in the proſecution of it now in cold bloud, then the unnaturall hating and hunting after the deſtruction of thoſe very men as our mortall enemies, who have with the extrem hazard of their lives been honoured of God to be the preſer…ers of them, our City and Country, &c. For the ſpirit of that tenhorned beaſt is now making warre with the Lamb, and this ſpirit warreth under new colours, not red, but white, whoſe word is Reformation, and this under afair colour of a Covenant by vertue wherof pretending a juſt title to the War, he hopes by the help of the Remonſſtrance and the prime Authors thereof, and their adherents to erect a new beſtiall Tyranny over ſoules, bodies and eſtates, p. 230under new names and notions.

Elevently, the Sectaries have carried themſelves towards the Aſſembly with the greateſt ſcorne and reproach that ever any ſort of men carried themſelves towards ſuch a company of Miniſters learned and godly, and called by a Parliament to adviſe with in matters of Religion: O how many books have beene written againſt them within theſe two laſt yeers or thereabouts, as The Arraignment of Perſecution, Martins Eccho, and their fellowes. O the railing, bitter, diſgracefull paſſages, in Li…ns Letter to Mr. Pryn, Tender Conſcience religiouſly affected, and divers other Pamphlets againſt the Aſſembly, calling them the black-coats in the Synod, D…ivines, good for nothing but to be burnt, having two hornes like a Lamb, but a mouth like a Dragon, teaching the Parliament to ſpeak blaſphemy againſt thoſe Saints that dwell in heaven: O how commonly by word of mouth and in writing is the Aſſembly call'd Antichriſtian, Romiſh, bloudy, the plagues and peſts of the Kingdome, Baals Preiſts, Diviners, Southſayer…, all manner of evill being ſpoken of them? A Ballad hath beene made of them, having a firſt and ſecond part, wherein they are ſcoffed with the title of Black-bird Divines; the name of the Ballad is A Prophecy of the S…yn…eards Deſtruction, to the …u… of the merry Souldier, or the jov…ll Ti… ker; this Ballad calls the Aſſembly Swinheards, ſaith, theſe Swineheards are ſitting to build old Babels Tower: The Aſſemby …th beene abuſed all kind of wayes, **A Pamphlet entituled A Letter of Advice unto the Miniſters aſſembled at Weſtminſter.threatned if they give adviſe to the Parliament againſt a Toleration of Independents, they ſhall be chaſtiſed as evill Councellors, diſturbers of Church and State, no leſſe then great Strafford or little Canterbury; all kind of imputations charged on them, and they made by the Sectaries the cauſe and ground of all evil… that are upon the Kingdome. The l…ſt warning to the Inhabitants of London, page 7. ſaith, the Aſſembly are only to adviſe the Houſe of Commons when they requi…r them, and have not dealt fairely to ſide with the Scots, or to ſway with the City, or to …ge the Parliament in the leaſt.

Twelfthly, the Sectaries have carried themſelves wickedly and inſolently toward the whole Miniſtry in this Kingdome, and that both in City and Country, reproaching them and … againſt them in Pulpits, Preſſes, and in all places, threatning them to ſend p. 231them packing to Rome, that they will leave never a Preiſt in England, diſtu…bing them in their owne Churches and Pulpits, in giving them the lie, calling them by diſgracefull names, as foole, knave, falſe Prophet, Antichriſt, Frog in the Revelation, pulling them out of the Pulpits, keeping them by force from preaching, invading their Pulpits againſt their wills, drawing ſwords againſt them, aſſaulting them in their houſes with weapons of war, and driving them from their habitations, and laying their Churches waſt. A large book would not containe all the ſtories of the Sectaries miſuſing the godly Miniſters in this kind; I have many inſtances with the proofes by me of the Sectaries inſolent carriages in theſe kinds in Oxfordſhire, Gloſterſhire, Summerſetſhire, Wiltſhire, Bedfordſhire, Northamptonſhire, Warwickeſhire, Leſterſhire, Devonſhire; it would be too much to particularize all the wicked facts done in this kind by Col. Heuſon, Major Axton, Leiut. Webb, Capt. Paul Hobſon, and divers others, as alſo to repeat all the wicked reproachfull names given the godly Miniſters of the Kingdom in the printed pamphlets of the Sectaries, as the Devils Agents, The profeſſed …nemies of Chriſt, The ſworne enemies of Christ, Perſecuting Presbyters, Croaking Fr…gs, and twenty ſuch names, and worſe.

Thirteenthly, the Sectaries have ſpoken wickedly againſt all the Reformed Churches, ſcoffing at their Synods, Claſſes, Ordination, &c. Let their books be looked into, and they will be found to have written more ſcoffingly and reproachfully aganſt thoſe Churches then ever the Papiſts or Prelates did; yea, they have blaſphemed thoſe Churches, the eminent ſervants of God among them, and the truth of Chriſt taught in them. What ſhould I ſpeak of the Arraignment of Perſecution and his fellowes belching out blaſphemies againſt the reformed Churches? many other pamphlets beſides that ſort are extremely faulty, as The compaſſionate S…ri…ne, Divine Light, &c. **Divine light manifeſting Gods love. page 9. 15.. The Reformed Churches are ranged by ſome of the Sectaries with Papiſts and Turks, and Calvin that worthy Inſtrument of Reformation, and one of the Stars of the firſt magnitude, is evill ſpoken of and …ancked with the Romaniſts.

Fourteenthly, The Sectaries have inveighed againſt inferior Magiſtrates, & Courts, as Judges, Juſtices of peace, Majors of Cities, p. 232Committees, and all ſorts of Officers of Juſtice, and have offered ſeverall affronts unto theſe; and tis no wonder that they who with ſo high a hand dare affront heaven and earth, God, his truth, Miniſters and Ordinances, the higher powers, and the ſupremeſt Court of Judicature, as I have ſhowed the Sectaries have done, ſhould not be afraid of ſpeaking againſt and carrying themſelves uncivilly towards Magiſtrates in lower places. The Courts of Juſtice in Weſtminſter Hall, and all their proceedings have been reviled by Lilburne and other Sectarian pamphlets. All the Lawyers have beene cryed downe, and reproached in Englands Birth-right, and other pamphlets, ſome of the Judges have beene affronted in their Circuits at the laſt Aſſizes by ſome Sectaries, as at Hartford and other places. Some Juſtices of Peace for executing Ordinances of Parliament upon Sectaries, as that of Tyths, and Committing upon blaſphemies, have beene arreſted and ſued by Sectaries, as on Southwark …ide, as alſo abuſed and reproached to their faces, and books written againſt them for diſcharge of their office, beſides Conſtables and Officers who have diſtrained and ſerved their Warrants, have beene moleſted and ſued; Majors of Cities, Sheriffs, Aldermen have beene branded for arbitrary, tyrannicall prerogative Aldermen, Sheriffs, and miſcalled at pleaſure, as in Lilburnes late pamphlets, The Lord Majors farewell to his Maioralty; Committees in the Countries have beene affronted by Sectaries, putting on their hats when brought before them, as in Bedfordſhire; and in one word, all ſorts of officers of Juſtice have one way or other, by word or deed, beene abuſed by Sectaries, either by diſobeying the Warrants they have brought, or by miſcalling them, or by branding them in print, as Lilburn hath done in ſeverall pamphlets, ſeverall officers, the Sergeant at Arms of the Houſe of Commons, the Keepers of Newgate, he being more inſolent and clomineering in priſon over all kind of officers then his Keepers over him; but above all, the Sectaries inſolencies towards that faithfull Gentleman Colonel Francis Weſt, and other officers under him, appears by **Lilburns Anatomy of the injuſtice of the Houſe of Lords Londons liberty in chains diſcovered.Lilburnes late libellous pamphlets, and by the threatning ſpeeches of ſome Sectaries comming to ſee Lilburn in the Tower, who being by the Warders ſpoken unto to give their names, and where they dwelt, told them they ſhould anſwer p. 233the prohibiting of them from going to Leiutenant Colonel Lilburne, and that the time was at hand, when they would come in ☜whether the Leiutenant of the Tower would or no. And thus I have given a touch upon ſeverall heads, of the Sectaries tumultuous inſolent unſufferable carriages: but among all their wickedneſſes and abomiuable courſes which may make them juſtly abhorred of all good men, and of theſe Kingdomes, the Reader may obſerve theſe following. 1. That they make it their work and buſineſſe to corrupt, deſtroy, and overthrow all Religion and godlineſſe, to lay all waſt, and to ſet open a wide gate to all error and licentiouſneſſe of living, for the effecting of which they doe not only uſe all means and wayes for a Univerſall Toleration of all Hereſies, Blaſphemies, Atheiſme, which may happen to ariſe; that there being ſuch, they may be tolerated, go unpuniſhed (which Toleration alone would cauſe growth of Hereſies faſt enough, and the ruine of Religion and godlineſſe) but they plot all wayes, and take all courſes under heaven that all Hereſies and Errors may grow and increaſe, that there may be both abundance of Errors and perſons holding them; and therefore they uſe all their power and intereſt to hinder all things which might prevent the growth of Hereſies a…d Errors, as the ſettling of Church-government, and peace in Church and Common-wealth, as the bringing in of Orthodox godly zealous Miniſters into places with the eſtabliſhing of maintenance upon them, as the publiſhing of ſuch Books as might keep men from Errors, having ſuppreſſed ſome Books ſo, which have come from New-England, as a Tractate againſt Toleration, &c. And on the contrary doe any thing, though never ſo unreaſonable, though never ſo much againſt their owne principles, though never ſo wicked and abominable, ſo it will but advance Errors; hence they ſuffer many Emiſſaries to go from Country to Country, from place to place to broach and vent among people all kinds of Errors, and that by force of Arms againſt the will of the Miniſters and people, to invade Churches, Pulpits, to commit tumults, r…ots, break the Kings peace, affront Miniſters, Magiſtrates in their places; and if any of them be queſtioned, troubled, they bring them off by one means and trick or other: hence the more active any are in ſpreading Errors, the p. 234greater Preachers they prove, the greater Errors, and ſtranger Opinions they hold, the more they are countenanced, the ſooner preferred to places of profit, truſt, honor; hence the Sectaries on all occaſions, and in all places joyne and ſide with the arranteſt Malignants, Papiſts, looſeſt and ungodlieſt men in a Country or Kingdome to further Errors, and to hinder any means which might probably ſuppreſſe them; hence they will go againſt their own profeſſed avowed principles and aaVide A little book call'd Independents raſing their own foundation.raſe their own foundations, be mainly inſtrumentall to bind heavy burdens upon others, which they account intolerable, wiſh, joy and be active in the bbVide Vindication of a printed Paper intitu…ed an Ordinance for the preventing the growth of Hereſies.impoſition of that upon their brethren, which themſelves, who are for the impoſition of it, yet count unlawfull to be ſubmitted to, as in the point of Commiſſioners, the imperfect enumeration of ſcandalous ſinnes, in the labouring to bring in ſcandalous and ignorant men to be Elders, and oppoſing able godly men in their choyce, on purpoſe to make the Presbyteriall Government odious, and that people might fall to them, of which I could tell large ſtories, as at Dover; hence the Sectaries will raiſe and invent all kind of lies, go againſt all kind of j…ſtice and right, uſe all kind of diſhoneſt wayes and meanes (indeed nothing comes …iſſe) to increaſe Errors and Hereſies, and to ſtop all meanes againſt them, they will with A…zi…h go and enquire of B…lzeb… the God of Ekron for help; and laſtly, hence our Sectaries doe not only plead for a Toleration, but plead for the things themſelves, have found out many wayes to extenuate, leſſen, juſtifie, yea to ſaint the groſſeſt Errors, worſt practiſes, and the vildeſt Hereticks: It would fill a great book to reckon up all the diſtinctions, excuſes, pleas, pretences, arguments, evaſions, apologies found ou… and made uſe of by the Sectaries within this two or three laſt yeers ☞in defence of Hereſies and Errors in generall, and of the greateſt Errors in particular; as denying the Trinity, the Scriptures, &c. And in defence of Hereticks as being Saints, holy men, men of tender conſciences, harmeleſſe, peaceable quiet men: Whoever ſhall but read Cretenſis Anſwer to my Firſt Part of Gangraena, his 38. Queres upon the Ordinance for preventing the growth of Hereſies, Walwy…, Salt…arſh…, Maſter Burtons, Maſter B…tchelers Comm…ndatory Imprimaturs, with divers other …te p. 235Pamphlets, muſt needs ſay Errors are ſmall things; and that many men go for Saints and Brethren among Independents, that there are many better in Hell then they, and we may as well call Dives Saint Dives, as ſuch Sectaries Saints: All error now is chriſtned and call'd Conſcience, tender Conſcience, Piety, the feare of God, as in theſe books Conformities Deformity, The Parable or Conſultation about Maſter Edwards, Tender Conſcience religiouſly affected the Reader may finde, and the vildeſt Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, Blaſphemers, looſe ungodly perſons are cried up for Saints, the godly party, honeſt men; and it is obſervable, that among all the Independents and Sectaries, who have written againſt my Books, as S…ltmarſh, Gretenſis, Walwin, Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Burton, with many ☜others, not one of them condemned any one Error, or man that I writ againſt, but juſtified all, crying out upon me with great bitterneſſe without any diſtinctions at all of opinions or perſons, for ſpeaking againſt the Saints, the Saints: Some ſay they know no Errors nor Sects at all, or if there be any, none ſo ☜dangerous as the new ſprung up Sect of Presbytery, and the opinion of compulſion in matters of Religion: Errors in matters of Faith, as in the Doctrine of the Trinity, the Divinity of Chriſt, &c. are pleaded for that they be Errors not againſt the light of nature, but againſt Revelation and Faith, and ſo more pardonable; that among the Arrians there were many good men, and that when Errors are according to a mans conſcience, and not againſt conſcience, they are not ſo dangerous. Paul Beſt that …earfull Blaſphemer, and his damnable Hereſie againſt the Trinity hath been in my hearing excuſed, extenuated, and publikely alſo thus pleaded for by many Sectaries, that he was not guilty of blaſphemy; that he denied only the triperſonality, not the Trinity, Athanaſiu… Trinity, no… the Scripture Trinity, that he denies not the operation of the Perſons, but only the name of the Perſons, that he lent his writing about the Trinity to a freind in private, and he betrayed him, not that he had publiſhed his opinion. The queſtioning of the Doctrine of the thre Perſons hath been excuſed, that the Perſons were Schoole notions, the word Perſon was not to be found in Scripture, that it came not into the Church till ſome hundreds of yeers after Chriſt, that ſo long as men granted the p. 236thing, that there were three, though they held them operations, or vertues, it was not ſo materiall. And as Errors are thus pleaded for, excuſed by Sectaries, ſo all kind of ſinnes and wicked practiſes are pleaded for to be no ſinnes, or elſe made light account of, or the perſons protected, and the offences ſmothered; thus ſome Sectaries plead for Inceſt to be no ſinne, the putting away and forſaking ☞of husbands and wives to be lawfull, and a caſting off Antichriſtian yokes, the making no conſcience of the Chriſtian Sabbath to be a part of Chriſtian liberty, the caſting away of prayer and holy duties to be a comming unto perfection, that nothing is ſinne to the regenerate, that they cannot ſinne; that ſuch perſons committing vild ungodly practiſes muſt not be brought to puniſhment, nor proſecuted becauſe they are the Saints, and Chriſt will ☞not take it well to have his Saints moleſted; tis moſt ſtrange to ſpeak of the fearfull bating with, hiding, concealing, juſtifying, excuſing, the ſhuffling off uncleanneſſes, drunkenneſſes, and all kind of wickedneſſes among the Sectaries, as by Maſter Jeſſe and his company in the caſe of Mary Abraham, as by Lams Church in the caſe of one M. leaving and living from his wife, as in the caſe of ſome Sectaries that have been drunk in the Army, with many ſuch, ſo that the Sectaries of our times are in a ſpeciall manner guilty of the patroniſing, protecting, yea and taking pleaſure in all kind of Errors and wickedneſſe, which is an aggravation of ſinne, and a greater evill then the holding of ſuch Errors, or committing ſuch facts as is evident by theſe Scriptures, Rom. 1. 32. not only do the ſame, but have pleaſure in them that doe them, Matthew▪ 5. 19. Whoſoever ſhall breake one of theſe leaſt Commandements, and ſhall teach men ſo, he ſhall be called the leaſt in the Kingdome of bea…en, and Prov. 28. 4. They that forſake the Law, praiſe the wicked, but ſuch as keep the Law, contend with them, upon which text I wiſh the Reader to look Mr. Cartwright on the Proverbs. 2. That when the King freely caſt himſelfe into the Armes of our Brethren of Scotland in Covenant with us, and did nor go for Ireland, France, or into Scotland to Montroſſe and the Rebels there, as he might have done (which courſes as they might have proved moſt ſad and dangerous to himſelfe and his poſterity, ſo very pernicious to theſe Kingdomes in the continuance of a moſt deſtructive p. 237civill Warre, and ſad effects thereof) the Independents and Sectaries were ſo farre from bleſſing God for keeping the King from running thoſe ways, and inclining his heart rather to go to our Brethren in Arms and Covenant with us, that they were much troubled at it, and ſome of them have expreſſed as much, wiſhing the ☜King had gone rather to France or Ireland then to the Scots. An Independent ſpeaking with a Presbyterian of the Kings going to the Scots, the Presbyterian anſwered him, what would you have had the King done? Would you have had him gone to Ireland? the Independent replied, it had been better for us if he had gone for Ireland then now, though may be not better for himſelfe: ☜And ſince the Kings being with the Scots the Sectaries have expreſſed themſelves as being afraid of nothing more then the Kings yeelding to the Propoſitions, and a peace thereupon. A great Independent ſpeaking of the Propoſitions, ſaid, God forbid the King ſhould ſigne them; and ſome ſpeaking of the Kings refuſing the Covenant, an Independent ſaid, Gods bleſſing of his heart for refuſing of it: and I have been told from good hands, that ſo…e of the Independent party underhand make uſe of ſome inſtruments ☜to keep the King off from taking the Covenant, and hint ſome encouragements to him if he refuſe it, all which ſhowes the abominable wickedneſſe of our Sectaries, that they would rather have had the King runne upon the deſtruction of himſelfe and his Kingdomes, then their Independent opinions to be hazarded by the Kings agreeing with his Kingdomes, and ſettling of Church and State. 3. The tranſcendent wickedneſſe of the Sectaries and Independent party appears by their evill carriage towards our Brethren of Scotland, by whom as by a ſpeciall meanes under God both the Kingdome and they came in a capacity to be freed from Tyranny and Popery; and it hath been acknowledged ſince, this Parliament, even by ſome of themſelves, that they were the firſt meanes and inſtruments of caſting off oppreſſions and Popery; and how uſefull and inſtrumentall from firſt to laſt the Scots have beene to this Kingdome and Parliament, all the world cannot but know, who knowes any thing, and without whoſe helpe according to all humane reaſon and ſecond cauſes the Sectaries▪ had not been in a way of doing the Scots any wrong; notwithſtanding p. 238all which, ſuch hath beene the horrid ingratitude of the Sectaries, that they have and doe hate them infinitely worſe then the Papiſts and Malignants, have with all poſſible Art and induſtry reproached, vili…ied them by printing and reporting by word of mouth all kind of evill of them, ſtudied to put upon them them all affronts and diſgraces, ſought all occaſions to fall out with them, and to engage in warre againſt them, not caring to involve theſe Kingdomes in a moſt deadly and deſtructive warre, that they might be revenged on the Scots for the Covenant, and the Presbyteriall Government; and the Sectaries ☞have a long while made account of a warre with Scotland, and ordered many things in reference to that, that they might be ready for it: Many of the Sectaries made ſuch reckoning of falling ou… with Scotland, that the laſt yeere ſome of them bought many ſcore chaldron of New-caſtle coles, thinking thereby to get a great deale of mo…ey, and being diſappointed have loſt much by the bargaine▪ othe…s of them perſwaded their freinds to lay in good ſtore of Coles for their proviſion the l…ſt winter, becauſe of wars with Scotland; and when Lilburne was in priſon in Newgate upon Order of the Houſe of Commons, one coming to viſit him in priſon, and giving him twenty ſhillings to releive him there, Lilburne told him for his love he would doe him this good turne, wiſh him to buy in his ſtore of Coles, becauſe of a breach that was likely to be with the Scots. It would be too long to relate all the ſtories have beene told me of ſeverall paſſages and diſcourſes uſed by Sectaries tending to a warre with Scotland, both by Sectarian Chaplains, Commanders and others of that way, as preaching to ſouldiers of another party, Formaliſts riſing up againſt▪ you, but they ſhall fall under you, as the preſſing upon ſome imployed to Treat with the Cava…ier… to give them conditions contrary to Ordinances of Parliament and all reaſon, that our Armies ☞might be at liberty to deale with the Scots, a… of endeavouring to remove ſome Commanders out of the way, becauſe looked upon as great friends of the Scots, as of ſome imployed to ſound and try men in City and Army how they ſtood affected to a warre with Scotland, as ſaying that they had been upon the Scots before now but for this City, and that they would upon Order from the p. 239Houſe of Commons go as willingly againſt the Scots, as ever againſt the Cavaliers; as intercepting and opening of Letters of the Scots, ſtaying their Meſſengers at Courts of Guard by Independent Officers, as —, as — I ſhall therefore draw to a concluſion upon this head, and conclude, that in the Hiſtories and Chronicles that ſhall be written of theſe times, the Sectaries wickedneſſes in reference to the Scots will be recorded and fully ſpoken of, and they will be infamous for it to all generations, and ſome particular men among them who now hold up their heads full high will be by name branded for their …alſities and unworthy dealings with the Scots, and not caring to have involved the Kingdomes in a new warre for their fancies and New-light, of which themſelves hold they have no ſuch aſſurance or certain…y, but before next weeke they may ſee a contrary light. 4. Among all other wickedneſſes of the Sectaries, their carriage towards the Kingdome of Ireland and the Proteſtants there is prodigious, ſome of them having juſtified that Rebellion, others having reaſoned againſt ſending helpe, many of them having retarded and hindred help from going, none of them as I know having beene forward and earneſt for ſending helpe, but have caſt in many objections, raiſed and nouriſhed needleſſe fears and jealoſies of the Scots, and of plots at home, not caring to have Ireland loſt over and over againe, rather then their particular opinions or deſignes ſhould in the leaſt be hazarded: In the beginning of the Rebellion in Ireland, when wee had no Armies on foot, nor knew not the way of warre, and wanted many advantag…s we have now, yet how was the Houſe of Peeres cried out on, great multitudes coming up to Weſtminſter in a tumultuous way, ready to pull the Lords out of their Houſe, and all to haſten releife for Ireland, and to paſſe what was ſent up by the Houſe of Commons in reference to Ireland, and Oh how were thoſe Lords branded that were thought any way to delay or obſtruct ſuccours for bleeding Ireland? and yet many of thoſe men who heretofore when helpe could not ſo ſpeedily nor effectually be had clamored ſo againſt the Lords, in a time when all Armies in the Feild have beene ſub…lued and hardly a Garriſon p. 240untaken, and great powerfull Armies with all proviſions and neceſſaries for warre have beene ready, though Ireland hath beene ready to be loſt, and in a moſt deſperate condition, have beene the great meanes of retarding releife, hindring many thouſands ready in a body from going, ſpeaking againſt the the Presbyterians for being ſo forward to ſend a great part of Army, and giving out there was a plot to ſend away the Army, and ſuch like; and indeed in this buſineſſe of Ireland, Scotland, the King, their labouring to keepe all things unſetled in Church and State, the great wickedneſſe of the Sectaries plainly appeares. I here remember what I heard a worthy and knowing Member of the Houſe of Commons ſay upon occaſion of diſcourſe of the Sectaries: How could any man think theſe Sectaries had any conſcience, when as to maintaine a ☞party and faction they fomented and nouriſhed jealouſies and differences betweene the Kingdomes, hazarded the loſſe of Ireland by hindring releife, kept both Church and State from being ſettled, and the great burthens of the Kingdome in takes and Armies from being taken off, theſe men to keepe up their party, caring not to let Ireland be loſt, the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland to be hazarded by a deadly war, Gods honour and truth to ſu…er, and all things to lie waſt as they doe. 5. Their damnable hypocriſie, and abominable diſſimulation; and I am perſwaded there never was a more hypocriticall, falſe, diſſembling, cunning generation in England then many of the Grandees of our Sectaries. Now their groſſe hypocrifie plainly manifeſts it ſelfe in theſe particulars, 1. they have covered all their practiſes and deſignes under the pretences of godlineſſe, honeſty, ſaintſhip, purity of Ordinances, tenderneſſe of Conſcience, a perfect thorough Reformation, new glorious truths, giving to themſelves and their party the name of Saints, Saints, the godly party, tender Conſciences, and under that covert they deſtory all godlineſſe, good Conſcience, truth, are enemies to holy duties, ſtrict obſerving the Lords day, humiliation, &c. encourage, protect, and cry up for Saints, Saints, ſonnes of Beliall, and the vildeſt of men; they have pretended and talked of Reformation, but are all for a Toleration and a liberty for all their party to beleeve and live as they luſt; they have talked of purity of Ordinances, and ſpoke againſt mixed Communion as one of their grand grounds of ſeparating from us, and yet they have ſpoken and done all they could to keep mixt Communion among us, and to hinder a more exact and full purity; they talke of tender Conſciences ☜and Conſcience, when as they have Conſciences can ſwallow and digeſt any thing, Oſtrich ſtomacks, can lie groſſely, deceive and cozen, prophane the Lords day, make nothing of holy duties, lay traps and ſnares to catch men, &c. they ſpeak of new truths and new light, but under thoſe notions bring in all abominable Errors and Hereſies into the Church of God, pretend the ſpreading of the Goſpel, and preaching, but in truth the ſpreading and increaſing of all Hereſies and Schiſme. Secondly, they have pretended, held out ſelfe-deniall, have commended the ſelfe-denying Ordinance, ſpoken much againſt mens inriching themſelves, ſeeking great places in theſe times, ſpoken of doing all for the publick, and that the Common-wealth might not ſuffer: and yet theſe men pretending thus, by ſuch pretences have got into great offices and places, procured great gifts, as other mens eſtates, great ſummes of mony, great Arrears with the firſt and with the higheſt, make uſe of their times in their places as much as ever any men did, both for themſelves and their kindred, ſonnes, brothers, coſens, freinds; and many of them before being beggars and meane men, are now fat, ſhining, and growne great. There is hardly a noted Sectary in the Kingdome, or lately come out of New-England, Holland, &c. who is in any kind capable of an office, place, gift, or reſpect, but he is in ſome one or other, and hath beene the better for theſe times. 3. The Sectaries have pretended the liberty of the Subject, the publick liberties of the Kingdome; this they have much held out, and this they have fought for, they ſay, and not Religon; and this is much ſpoken of in all their Pamphlets and Speeches, whereas Sectaries have for the advancing of their owne way and opinions, done the higheſt acts againſt the liberties of the people that ever were, and indeed make nothing of trampling upon the ſubjects liberties and making them ſlaves, being men that where they are in place, and have power, carry things arbi…rarily, making their wills lawes, making nothing of going againſt Charters, liberties of the peoples elections, &c. There are many ſad ſtories in this kind too large to be now related. What enemies many of the Sectaries have beene to the peoples petitioning the Parliament to make knowne their greivances, what obſtructions and blocks they have laid in their way in that kind by printing of, and wriring againſt their Petitions before delivered, by branding the Petitioners for then ill-affected, refined Malignants, driving on the Kings deſigne and I know not what, by preaching againſt their Petitions, by endeavouring to get Votes and Orders againſt Petitions, by labouring to moleſt the Petitioners to have them ſent for to attend Committees, to be put to charges, & kept in ſafe cuſtody, &c. is wel known to the Kingdom, and ſure that's a great part of the liberty and priviledge of the ſubject, and if they may not be free to Petition, what's become of the liberty of the ſubject? Such Princes in all ages as have been looked upon moſt for advancing their Prerogative, & oppreſſing the people, and been a gainſt al defenſive Arms and other wayes of the peoples ſeeking their right, yet ſtill granted them the liberty of petitioning▪ and would not prejudge ☞that; they have allowed preces & lachrymae to be the weapons of Chriſtian ſubjects, though not Swords and Guns. Whether many Sectaries are not very forward to keep on foot all burdens and greivances of the Kingdomes, all payments in their heights, great Armies, Committees complained of, &c. I leave to …hoſe who know-affairs to determine, and if theſe things be for the liberty of the ſubject, then are the Sectaries for the ſubjects liberty. It will bee found that the Sectaries, though they have pretended liberty, yet if they ſhould come to have the upper ☞hand, they would make the people of England the greateſt ſlaves that ever they were in any time, and indeed rule them by an Army, and force inſtead of Lawes, and would trample as much upon the City of London and the Countries as ever John of L…yden, and Knipperdolling did upon the poor Citizens of Munſter. ☞4. The Sectaries hypocrifie appears by their pretending a bare liberty only pea…ably and quietly to enjoy their owne conſciences, and that without any offence or moleſtation to others; And however if this might not be granted after they had helped to overcome the common enemy, they would quietly ſit downe and leave the Kingdome, not offer to make any diſturbance, and this was held out along time in their ſpeeches, and in many books. I have heard Maſter Peters ſpeak thus, and he was wont in many places to ſpeak thus; and the Apologiſts in their Apologeticall Narrat… ſupplicate the Parliament to look upon them as thoſe that doe purſue no other intereſt or deſigne but a ſubſiſtence (be it the pooreſt or meanest) in their owne Land, with the allowance of a latitude to ſome leſſer differences with peaceableneſſe, as not knowing where elſe with ſafety, health and livelihood to ſet their feet on earth: But by theſe and many other ſpecious pretences being increaſed in number and power, and having gotten the ſword into their hands, now they ſpeak out, and are not contented with a bare Toleration, but ſtand for all the places of power, honor and profit in the Kingdome, crying out of the City Remonſtrance moſt of all, becauſe it petitioned againſt Sectaries being in places of publick truſt; its apparent a Domination they aime at, and to have things in ſuch a poſture that they may ſuppreſſe all the Orthodox; ☜hence many ſpeeches have ſallen from them to this purpoſe, that they will never lay downe the ſword whileſt there's a Preiſt lefe in England, that they will pack them all away for Rome; and this laſt yeere in many places where they come they ordinarily will not ſuffer the Miniſters to preach in their owne Churches, Pulpits, but by ſorce hinder them, yea pull them out of Pulpits, threaten them, aſſault them; hence they will not endure zealous godly Presbyterians to enjoy any places in the Armies or other where, but watch for iniquity, uſe all tricks and unjuſt wayes to keep them out and turne them out, of which there are many examples.

5. The Sectaries abominable hypocriſie ſhowes it ſelfe in yeelding to things againſt their mind and conſcience, that thereby they may be in a capacity and inabled to deſtroy and overthrow what they ſeeme to be for, working and uſing all their power againſt it; as for example many of the Sectaries took the Covenant, and do take it (which they hate with al their ſouls) that ſo they might come into ſuch places, & keep ſuch places, where being they improve thoſe places all they can to deſtroy the Covenant, and the contents of it, hindring a Uniformity and the neereſt conjuction in Government, &c. and are all for a Toleration, and inſtead of endeavouring to extirpate Hereſie, Schiſme, they promote it all they can, and plead for ſtrange forced interpretations and Jeſuiticall equivocations of the Covenant, contrary to all literall ſence, the generall ſcope, and the minds of thoſe that made it, alwayes ſo declared from firſt to laſt.

6. The Sectaries great hypocriſie is ſeene, in that in their ſpeeches oft-times, many of their Pamphlets, and for divers of their actions why they do ſuch things, and why they refuſe this and that, as not hearing our Miniſters preach, not joyning to our Aſſemblies, not paying their Tyths, with many ſuch, they alledge the Covenant and bring that for their ground, tis againſt ſuch an Article of the Covenant, or ſuch a clauſe of an Article, when as tis knowne to God, and hotoriouſly manifeſt to all the world they care not at all for the Covenant, make nothing of it, but daily with a high hand breake every-Article, and every clauſe of each Article; but their doing and refuſing of ſuch and ſuch things, are upon other grounds and ends, as the ſaving their purſes, their deſtroying of a ſettled Miniſtry, the increaſing and ſpreading of all Errors and Hereſies, and bringing in of confuſion into Church and State: I could write a large book upon this ſubject how the Sectaries daily break the Covenant, and are indeed like to thoſe ſpoken of in Daniel 11. 32. Such as do wickedly againſt the Covenant. I will begin with the firſt clauſe of the firſt Article, indeavouring the preſervation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine, worſhip, Diſcipline and Government, &c. when as they daily write with all bitterneſſe againſt the Church of Scotland, their Diſcipline and Government, &c. yea, have furthered the printing and ſpreading wicked books againſt the Government of the Church of Scotland, written by Prelats, and their greateſt enemies. O how is Maſter Burton in his Conformities Deformity in his 19, 20, 21. pag. guilty of breach of Covenant in writing ſo againſt their Church Government, as to ſtirre up Princes and all civill powers againſt them, as much as againſt the Popes Supremacie? I might proceed to ſhow though they take the Covenant into their mouth, yet they go againſt that clauſe of indeavouring to extirpate Hereſie, Schiſm, prophaneſſe, &c. on the contrary indeavouring the ſpreading and growing of all Hereſies, Errors, and ſo I might in the reſt; but I ſhall conclude this with one word, which is, that they are fearfully and hypocritically guilty of the breach of the ſolemne League and Covenant, and that if ever the Sectaries ſhould be a meanes to involve and ingage in a war againſt Scotland, our Brethren in their weakeſt condition, even when their Armie's put to the worſe, might in the head of their Armie ſpread before God the ſolemne League and Covenant, and appeale to heaven to help them, as the great. Turk did once in ſuch a caſe againſt the Chriſtians, and might well truſt, that God who is a God keeping ☜Covenant, a God of truth that helped the Turks againſt the Chriſtians, in ſuch a caſe would help them his ſervants againſt the Covenant breaking Sectaries.

7. The Sectaries hypocriſie appeares in caſting that upon others, and unjuſtly charging them with ſuch things which themſelves are faulty in, both practiſe and purpoſe to practiſe, only ſpeak againſt ſuch and ſuch things in another party, that others being ſuſpected by this meanes, and they not, they may compaſſe their ends the better: thus they have given out many reports, and raiſed jealouſies upon many worthy men, as if not right, that they ſought not the good of their Country, Religion, but only preferment, and their owne ends, that ſo they being taken to be the ☜faithfull men, might raiſe their owne fortunes, and bring about their owne deſignes: many Sectaries have given out things on purpoſe of the Scots, that they are falſe, and alwayes were for their owne ends, &c. the better to hide their owne baſeneſſe, being indeed that themſelves which they falſely caſt upon our Brethren: Thus the Sectaries give ou…, that if the Presbyteriall Government ſhould be ſet up and take place, the people would be made abſolute ſlaves, and under Egyptian bondage, whereas tis known tis a moſt excellent forme of Government, having appeals, and the Democraticall Independent Government a moſt ſlaviſh Government where parties muſt be Judges; and there ſhall be no releif for an innocent wronged perſon; and indeed theſe reports are kept up carefully, ſpread by many of the Sectaries, that out of pretences of liberty, and for feare of ſlavery, all things being kept looſe and unſettled, they may come to beare rule by that meanes, be Tyrants and bring in upon the people by degrees both ſpirituall and corporall ſlavery. The Sectaries caſt upon the Presbyter. diviſion, being enemies of peace, worldly policie, whereas themſelves cauſe all our diviſions, and hinder peace. Sixthly, the great wickednes of the Sectaries appears in their fearfull mocking and abuſing the pai…full, faithfull Miniſters of God in this Kingdome, and the deſpiſing their words; this is by the holy Ghoſt reckoned as the concluding ſinne that brought that finall ruine upon Jeruſalem and Judah, 2 Chron. 36. chapt. 16, 17. Now the Sectaries do all manner of wayes by word and deed abuſe the Miniſters, by all kind of reproachfull railing ſpeeches, wicked Pamphlets, detaining their maintenance, and ſtirring up others to doe the like, diſturbing them in the publick diſcharge of their miniſtery, as preaching and praying, invading their Pulpits by force, keeping and pulling them out of their pulpits, driving them by violence from their houſes and habitations, aſſaulting them in the way and their houſes, putting upon them ſouldiers, and the moſt rude to vexe them, of which there are too many proofs by inſtances in Oxfordſhire, Northamptonſhire, Wiltſhire, Gloſterſhire, Sommerſetſhire, and other Countries; and their wickedneſſe is the greater, in that they have no reſpect at all to the age, gravity, learning, holineſſe of any one, but abuſe the aged, the moſt learned godly as much as any other, nor no reſpect to thoſe Miniſters who have been the Parliaments greateſt freinds, ſuffered for them, and have aſſiſted them always, but uſe them even worſe then Malig. Miniſters, nor no reſpect that theſe Miniſters aſſiſted them with their prayers and teares all along in the warres, but requiting them thus to ſeek their deſtruction, who night and day publickly and privately ſought their preſervation, nor no conſideration that theſe Miniſters whom they now ſo abuſe, were inſtruments of working grace in them, if ſo be they have any at all; nor no conſideration of ſuch who are more immediatly imployed, ſent by the Parliaments authority, but affronting, abuſing them to their faces, and in print, as thoſe Miniſters of the Aſſembly ſent to Oxford to preach and prepare for the work of Reformation abuſed by the Sectarian ſouldiers there; all which, with divers other conſiderations, as the godly Miniſters faire carriage and reſpects to them, though contrary minded, &c. exceedingly aggravates the Sectaries finne, and ſhowes them to be monſters rather then men, not only to be void of all Religion and charity, but of humanity and common civility. And here I might adde many things more that clearly ſhow the prophaneneſſe and wickedneſſe of the Sectaries ſpirits, as their ſcoffing and ſcorning at faſting and holy exerciſes, ſpeaking by way of reproach of the morning exerciſe, and giving in Bills among thoſe given to the Miniſters to pray for perſons, ſcoffing at ☜theſe exerciſes of faſting and prayer, as at Maſter Caſes Church, as at Maſter Seamans, and giving up Bills in ſeverall Churches on the publick Faſt day, November 25. as followes, You are deſired to pray for the ſuppreſſion of thoſe Preiſtriden ſlaves who go about to get hands for the disbanding of Sir Thomas Fair…ax Army, who under God have wrought the peace of the Kingdome: As taking the wickedeſt men, the arranteſt who remaſters, prophane ſwearers, &c. by the hands, and in all publick ſocieties and places, where they have to do, and ſuch vild men are joyned with them, to keep off Reformation, as men going againſt all juſtice, equity, all principles of Honor, Religion, Civility, Humanity, and will do any thing, nothing can come amiſſe to bring about their deſigns, as men who have forſaken all principles of piety, and are degenerated into a State-faction, reſolving all into worldly intereſt and policie, ☜doing whatſoever may moſt advance that: So that all theſe premiſes being ſeriouſly conſidered, viz. all the Errors, Hereſies, Blaſphe…es, Practiſes, Inſolencies, Stories, and Paſſages of the Sectaries laid down both in the former parts and in this third, may ſerve to undeceive many people in their opinions of Independents and Sectaries, and may fully ſhow them they are not the men they have been taken for, and pretended themſelves to be, but indeed a pack of covetous, ambitio…s, ſelf-ſeeking, b…aſting, proud, unthankfull, heady, feir…, unholy, falſe people, which ſeeing them to be ſo, they may follow the advice of St. Paul, given juſt in the ſame caſe, 1 Tim. 6, 3, 4. ſpeaking of men doting about queſtions and deſtitute of the truth, ſuppoſing that gain is godlineſſe, From ſuch withdraw thy ſelf; and 2 Tim. 3. 5. Having a form of godlineſſe, but denying the power thereof, from ſuch turne away.

There is a great Sectary living in London, a Tradeſman, who owed fifty pounds to a Citizen of London, which money this Citizen could nor eaſily get, but at laſt getting a bond, when it was due demanded it, and he not paying it, went to an Atturny to adviſe with about ſuing his Bond. The Atturny wiſhed him to try again if he would not pay it by faire meanes, and to tell him he would put his band in ſuit; whereupon this Sectary promiſed to pay him twenty five pound ſuddenly on ſuch a day, and when he came it ſhould be ready, and the other twenty five at ſuch a time, with which anſwer this Creditor was content, and came one the day ſet for the firſt 25. li. which this Sectary told him was ready, and deſired him to go up into his houſe with him, and he ſhould receive it; now when he came up into the roome there the 25 pound was ready on a table, but before he had received it, putting his hand into his pocket to pull out his handkercher, the Bond for his 50 pound accidentally came forth with it, which as he was looking upon it, this Sectary came of a ſuddain and ſnached it out of the mans hand ☞and tore it all in peeces before his face, ſaying he owed him nothing, whereupon this Citizen being amazed, asked him what he meant; he ſaid he owed him nothing, come by it as he could; to which the Citizen replied, I will have this 25 pound howſoever, and laid hands on it, but he threatned him to meddle with it if he durſt, and knocked with his foot to call up ſome body out of his ſhop, ſaying to them this man will take my money from me by force, ſo that this honeſt man was glad to go away without his Bond or any of the money. Upon this he went to a Counſellor at Law, one Mr. W. related his caſe, deſiring his councell in it. He adviſed him to make no words of it, ſay nothing, but at the Seſſions endite him, and get a Warrant of a Suddain before he could take councell to fetch him away, and it may be being ſo ſurpriſed he would pay him the money rather then ſtand it out to anſwer it at the Seſſions: The Citizen followed his adviſe; when the Seſſions came, had a bill drawn againſt him; the Atturney who had ſeen the Bond witneſſed there was ſuch a ſpeciall tye, the Bill was found, and a Warrant ſent out for to attach him; the Officer ſerving it and threatning preſently to carry him away; thereupon this Sectary confeſſed his evill, he entreated his mercy that he would not ſhame him publikely, it ſhould be a warning to him for ever after, and ſo he paying the money, the man proſecuted him no further.

p. 241A Relation of ſome remarkeable Paſſages of divers Sectaries, and of the Contents of ſeverall Letters written up here to London, from good hands conc…rning them.

THere is one Mr. Knollys an Anabaptiſt, ſpoken of in my firſt part of Gangraena, and in this third part page 48. 49. a Letter of his is printed: this man preaches up and down in ſeverall Churches in London and Southwark…, and that with all fierceneſſe againſt Childrens Baptiſme, and againſt our Miniſters, as being Antichriſtian, and having no call to baptize, and among other places, where he hath preached lately, he preached this Novemb. the 15. at Georges Church in Butolph-lane in the afternoone, on theſe words; He that beleeveth and is baptized ſhall be ſaved, where after he had ſpoken of beleeving, in the latter part of his Sermon, comming to ſpeak of baptizing, he uſed theſe words: I have ſpoken to you of the firſt part of the Goſpell, believing, I muſt be faithfull and ſpeak to you of the ſecond, viz. baptizing, and of that there is as great a neceſſity as believing, and therefore I adviſe and charge all you who believe, to be baptized, and whereas it may be you will object, you are baptized already, I anſwer that is a lye, indeed you were rantized but not baptized, and that too was into the name of your God-fathers, which was blaſphemy; and not into the name of the Father, Sonne and Holy Ghoſt; beſides, they who did it, had nothing to do with Baptiſme, as being no Miniſters, but Antichriſtian: and whereas heretofore theſe Miniſters of the Church of England rantized into the name of their Godfathers, now to mend the matter, they do it into the name of their Fathers.

There is one Mr. Symonds a great Sectarie, Mr. Cradocks Colleague, who came to London ſince the wars, and preached at little Alhallowes Thames-ſtreet, and at the Tower, where I have been informed from godly underſtanding men, as well Miniſters as others, that he hath preached ſeverall ſtrange things, as for a p. 242Toleration and liberty for all men to worſhip God according to their conſciences, and in favour of Antipaedobaptiſme, and ſo preaching once at Andrewes Vnderſhaf… for Mr. Goodwin, he preached high ſtrains of Antinomianiſme, as that Chriſt was a legall Preacher and liv'd in a dark time, and ſo preached the Law, but afterwards the Goſpel came to be preached, and preaching at Laurence Pountneys ſummer was twelvemoneth on the day of thankſgiving for taking of Sherborn Caſtle, he ſpake of the great Victories the Saints had obtained for us, viz. the Independents, and yet now the Parliament was making Lawes againſt theſe Saints, with other things to that purpoſe; and as at London he hath preached thus, ſo ſince he left London this laſt Summer he preached at Bath before the Generall ſtrange ſtuffe (as I have been told from underſtanding men who heard him,) viz. againſt Presbytery, ſaying it was a limb of Antichriſt, pleading for liberty of conſcience, and for thoſe who would not have their children baptized till they came to years of underſtanding, and for Weavers and ignorant mechanicks preaching, and ſpeaking of theſe mens guifts, and having the ſpirit before learned men, and men bred at Univerſities, with a great deale of this ſtuffe, inſomuch that Mr. Bode… Miniſter of the Bath (as I was informed) confuted his Sermon the next Lords day, and ſpake againſt it, inſomuch that …ome of the Independent Souldiers, as C. B. &c. …lung out of the Church in the midſt of the Sermon and would not heare him out; and truly 'tis a ſad thing, that Sir Thomas Fairfax that valiant and well-affected Gentleman, ſhould have ſuch kind of Chaplains and Preachers upon all occaſions to preach before him as Mr. Dell, Mr. Saltmarſh, Mr. Peters, Mr. Cradock, M. Symonds, M. William Sedgwick, and ſuch like: and I have ſpoken the more of this Mr. Symonds, becauſe I hear he is nominated for one of the Itinerary Preachers of VVales, that ſo the Country and Miniſters may be ware of him where he comes, and that the Aſſembly when he comes to be approved of may doe their duties, and not let him paſſe ſo eaſily as they did Mr. Cradock.

There is Mr. Burton of London a great Independent, who hath theſe five laſt years written many wild and weak Pamphlets, beginning with his Pr…testation Proteſted, and ending with his p. 243Conformities Deformitie, in which Pamphlets the poore man hath laid down many grounds of Donatiſme and pure Browniſme, yea of Libertiniſme and of a generall Toleration of all Religions, and hath laid about him, ſtriking all who have come neere him without feare or wit, whether whole Aſſemblies and Societies or particular perſons, he hath caſt durt in the face of the Church of Scotland and their generall Aſſembly, our Aſſembly, this famous City of London, and the Honourable Court of Common Councell, the Miniſters of Sion Colledge, particular Miniſters, M. Calamie, my ſelfe, and others, nay he hath not ſpared his Brother Prynne, his Brother Baſtwick, his good old friend M. Vicars, and in all theſe five years among all the Books he hath put forth, notwithſtanding all the damnable Hereticks and Blaſphemers among us, hath not had the heart to ſpeak one word for God againſt them, which gives too juſt ground for the world to thinke M. Burtons former oppoſitions of Arminianiſme, Popery, &c. was not out of zeale for God and his truth, and hatred of thoſe errours, but out of diſcontent and ſpleen againſt the Biſhops, who had croſſed him in his hopes of preferment: For if it had been out of zeale againſt the errours, and not out of anger againſt the men, how could he thus patiently beare all the injuries and diſhonours of Chriſt and his truth done by other men even a hundred times worſe then before. Did Mr. Burton know what ſome of his wiſeſt Brethren have ſaid and do ſay of his Books, he would give over writing, as that his writings are weake, and do more hurt then good, would to God he would give over his writing: Shall I tell M. Burton what Mr. Nye ſaid again and again of his Proteſtation Proteſted, I will if he will not be angry with him, it was this, that in that Book there was groſſe Browniſme which he nor his Brethren no way agreed with him in, and that for his part he would as ſoon ſubſcribe to the Book of Common-Prayer, as to divers things there. Shall I tell him what Mr. Symonds of Roterdam one of the moderateſt and modeſteſt of that way ſaid upon the comming forth of his laſt Book Conformities Deformitie, to a friend of his that ſhewed it him, and asked him of it; no, I will forbear leaſt it ſhould trouble the old man too much. I could tell ſome ſtories of Mr. Burton and his Church, I have a relation given me in writing by … wh… p. 244was preſent and heard all, about a difference that fell out in the time of the Church-meeting, between M. Burton and a Butcher, and ſome others of his Church about prophecying, but 'tis too long to inſert here, and I promiſe it the Reader in the 4▪ part of Gangraena: I have been told a late famous ſtory by divers godly Miniſters of the City, of a great falling out betweene Mr. Burton and ſome of his Church, about ſinging of Pſalmes, Baptiſing of Children, prophecying, and ſomewhat elſe, and upon ſome Brethren cal'd in to hear the buſineſſe how far M. Burton yeelded in thoſe particulars, both againſt his judgment and his practiſe, but I muſt reſerve that too: I could make large Animadverſions on his Pamphlets, and ſhow many ſtrange poſitions in them, beſide contradictions, falſhood, weakneſſe, hard ſpeeches againſt the faithfull ſervants of God, much pride and arrogancie, but I will for preſent animadvert a few things only on his laſt Book, Conformities Deformitie, in a Dialogue between Conformity and Conſcience, and I ſhall refer all I have to ſay at this time to three heads: 1. To ſhow the ſcope of Mr. Burtons Book, and what the man would have in it. 2. To repreſent to M. Burton and the Reader the great evill of it, and how unlike Mr. Burton is to what himſelfe was formerly. 3. Propound ſome queries to Mr. Burton to ſhow him how he is miſtaken all along in the ground he goes upon.

For the firſt his main ſcope is under the name of Conſcience to repreſent the Sectaries as the only conſcientious men, and under that colour to plead for a Toleration of them all, and an indempnity from all reſtraint by the civill Magiſtrate, and under the name of Conformity to brand all Presbyterians and to ſpeak againſt all eſtabliſhment of Religion and Church-Government by Magiſtrates and Synods, as great Hypocriſie, Idolatry, rejecting Chriſt from being King, &c. deſtroying the foundation of faith, and in his proſecuting this, beſides Sion Colledge, the Aſſembly, the City of London, the Ordinance for preventing the growth of Hereſies, which he fals fouly upon, he railes fearfully and ſpeaks moſt wickedly againſt the Generall Aſſembly and the Scottiſh Church-Government, ſaying, that in the Generall Aſſembly there is the like Supremacie ſet up which the Pope …ſelfe▪ claimeth …ver Kings, States, Kingdomes, Common-wealths, p. 245that 'tis a ſpirit of Antichriſtian pride and tyranny, of rebellion, and treaſon, in lifting up a Papall Throne above Kings and Keſars, above Kingdomes and Common-wealths, to the enſ…aving of the whole Nation in their ſoules, bodies a…d eſtates, that it ſets up in the Church an Oracle of Infallibility, and ſuch a Supremacie, as no true-bred Engliſh Chriſtian can interpret for other then Antichriſtian Tyranny, and all under the name of a Chriſtian Preſbyterian Church-Government, that if that Preſbyterian Government be ſet up, thereby our Fundamentall Lawes, Priviledges, and power of Parliaments, Liberties, and freedome of all true-bred Engliſh Subjects would be brought under perpetuall bondage, worſe then that eitherof Egypt or Babilon; all which and much more the Reader may find in page 19, 20, 21. of-that Booke.

For the ſecond, Mr. Burtons great evill, and how unlike Mr. Burton now, is to Mr. Burton formerly, it may apppeare thus, in that M. Burton in all this booke builds up againe the things he formerly deſtroyed, undoing all his owne acts, agreeing with Canterbury, Pocklington, &c. in their Principles, and Practiſes againſt the Reformed Churches, particularly the Scots, and their Church-Government, M. Burton being Cantuarienſis redivivus, nay let me not wrong the dead, though they were great Enemies to the Scots and Presbyteriall-Government, yet in all their writings I doe not find ſuch rancorous malicious paſſages againſt the generall Aſſembly, as in this Booke of M. Burtons, he makes uſe indeed of the Biſhops and their creatures Arguments and weapons againſt the Presbyteriall Government, and the Reformation, but withall goes higher; and in patronizing and pleading for all Errours and Hereſies under ſpecious pretences, as they did Arminian Popiſh and Socinian Doctrines, not writing one word againſt all the Hereſies and Blaſphemies of theſe times, but ſpeaking againſt my books and Dr. Baſtwicks, for the diſcovering of them. O how is M. Burton fallen! I heard a godly and …arned Divine ſay lately of him (upon reading his Conformities Deformity) that he had alwaies thought M. Burton to be a godly man, but he now thought him the greateſt Apoſtate in England: He ſhould not have wondered much to have ſeen ſuch a book written by John Goodwin, but that M. Burton ſhould, he could not have believed it, had he not read it, p. 246and certainely in his writing this Booke and many others, God left him: the man is departed from all his former principles of zeale and love to truth, he can finde no Deformitie now in Hereſie, nor Blaſphemy, but onelyonly in Conformity to Presbyteriall-Government, and the Magiſtrates non-Toleration of Errours: The Lord hath made him a fearfull example, and all men may take warning by M. Burton, for turning Independents, ☞who before he turned Independent, was ſo zealous againſt the leaſt Errours, and the leaſt Innovation in Worſhip, as that he would ſtraine things, and make a great matter of a little; but now he hath no heart againſt the greateſt Errours, he can doe nothing in all his Pamphlets for the honour of Chriſt, he can ſee no deformitie in all the Blaſphemies, Hereſies of theſe times, but onelyonly in the Orthodox Reformed Churches, and Presbyteriall-Government: and that which aggravates his ſin is, he hath done this after ſad and ſerious admonition given him in the fourth Corollarie of the firſt Part of Gangr…na, and after a great ſickneſſe, this Book being ſtiled by himſelf in his Title page, The firſt fruits of his late recovery from death to life: If any man 9 or 10 years ago, when M. Burton was upon the Pillory for writing againſt ſome great men, who favoured Popiſh and Arminian Tenets, ſhould have ſaid to the people, this man whom you now ſee thus ſuffer, and whom you ſo love and adore, the time is coming when he ſhall plead for a Toleration of all Religions, and ſpeak againſt the Magiſtrate, for defending Religion by Lawes and Edicts; this man, whom you thus ſee, ſhall come to preach againe in this City, and have free Liberty of his Miniſtrie, when all damnable Hereſies and Errours ſhall be vented by preaching and writing, and yet ſhall never ſpeake againſt them; this man who hath preached and written with ſo much earneſtneſſe againſt bowing at the Name of Jeſus, againſt people coming up to the Raile about the Table to receive the Lords Supper, againſt Chriſts dying for all men ſufficiently, when the Divinity of Chriſt ſhall be denied, the Scriptures denied to be the Word of God, when all Churches Miniſtry and Sacraments ſhall be denied, he ſhall never write nor preach againſt them; yea, this man who will not yeeld now to Biſhops in a Ceremony or ſome outward matter of order to keepe his Miniſtry, ſhall p. 247afterwards yeeld to the people, and ſubmit to baſe conditions, contrary to his judgement, as to forbear baptizing ſome of his peoples children, and to let ſinging of Pſalmes be ſuſpended, with other ſuch like, and all to enjoy his Miniſtry and Church: Certainly the people would have beene ready to have ſtoned ſuch a man, and ſaid it could not bee, or if they had believed it, fewer certainly would have pitied him, or viſited and rewarded him in priſon: nay, when Mr. Burton was in priſon, if any man had ſent to him ſuch a Meſſage, that he ſhould do what he does now, viz. write againſt, and be a more bitter enemy againſt the Reformed Churches, our Brethren of Scotland, yea the godly Miniſters, Mr. Calamie, &c. then ever Canterbury was or Dr. Wren, certainly the man would have defied ſuch a Meſſage, and ſaid as Hazael, am I a dog that I ſhould do ſo? and yet now we ſee what he hath done, and doth daily. Mr. Burton ſurely is in a ſad condition, and I have often thought of him to be in the caſe of that Idolater the Prophet Eſay ſpeaks of 44. Eſa. 20. hee feedeth of aſhes, a deceived heart hath turned him aſide, that he cannot deliver his ſoule, nor ſay, is there not a lye in my right hand? The Lord in mercy open his eyes and give him repentance for this laſt five years work, and particularly for writing his laſt Book cal'd Conformities Deformity.

Thrdly, I ſhall propound a few Quaeries to Mr. Burton, to ſhow him how he is miſtaken all along in his grounds.

1. Let me ask you M. Burton why you are ſo angry with the Magiſtrate, the Aſſembly, Sion Colledge, the City, for eſtabliſhing and ſetling of Church-Government, if it bee of God, and they are perſwaded ſo, why ſhould they not be for it? and if Independency, Browniſme, Anabaptiſme, &c. be not of God as they are well aſſured they are not, why ſhould they not be againſt them, hinder and ſuppreſſe them? M. Burton you will upon your raſh and weake perſwaſion hinder Presbytery all you can, the Adminiſtration of the Sacraments in a Presbyteriall way, may not then the Magiſtrate upon ſtrong perſwaſions after ſerious debates by a learned Aſſembly, and Scripture-grounds ſatisfying their conſciences, enact by a Law Presbytery, and forbid Independency, &c.

2. Mr. Burton whether is this a good Argument, becauſe Jeroboam p. 248did evill, by a Law and commandement to ſet up the golden Calves at Dan and Bethel, therefore Aſa, Hezekiah, Joſiah, &c. might not lawfully command the true worſhip of God in their Kingdomes, and put down the falſe: and whether may not Magiſtrates lawfully make uſe of their power from God for good, becauſe ſome Magiſtrates abuſe that power for evill; and if it be no good Argument, as certainly 'tis not, then hath M. Burton ſaid little againſt the Magiſtrates power in matters of Religion, for this is the way of his reaſoning in Conformities Deformitie, and the ſtrength of the man.

3. Pray M. Burton let me ask you this queſtion, ſuppoſe the Parliament would by a Law or Ordinance ſet up Independent Government and the Church way, would you account this ſo great a ſinne as Hypocriſie, Idolatry, &c. and if not, how can you then, the ſetting up of Presbyteriall Government, eſpecially ſeeing the queſtion is not ſo much about this or that particular, but the enacting by a Law that which all ſhould conforme to.

4. Mr. Burton, I am ſerious with you, pray anſwer me, here are ſuch and ſuch men hold all kind of errours, and vent them up and down, and they ſay 'tis their conſcience, would you have them ſuffered to preach, write and infect all that come neare them? if there be no ſuch evill and danger in errours but they may be preached, printed, why were you ſo fierce and violent againſt the Biſhops and their Chaplaines for preaching, writing Arminian Popiſh points, though they vented them in an orderly way, in compariſon of your Saints, who goe from Country to Country venting errors; in their own Pulpits, and when called to preach by Authority; not intruding into other mens Pulpits, and printing with licenſe, not in contempt of Authority.

There are divers other Sectaries to be diſcovered, and their waies and preachings laid open, as Greene the Felt-maker, who was one of the firſt Mechanicks that preſently upon the firſt ſitting of this Parliament preached in our Churches publikely, as at Algate and elſewhere, and was one of that company that went over with Colonell Homſtead about Summer was two yeares to Trinidado, but is returned lately, and now preaches in an Alley in Coleman-street, once on the Lords day, and once on the weeke day, where there is great reſort and flocking to him, that yards, roomes and houſe are all full, ſo that he cauſes his neighbours Conventicles as Cretenſis and others to be oft times very thin, and Independents to preach to bare walls, and empty ſeats in compariſon of this great Rabbi, as Spencer ſometimes the Lord Brooks Coachman an early Preacher too, as Gorton who hath lately ſet forth a Book cal'd Simplicities Defence againſt Seven-Headed Policy, wherein are many dangerous and erroneous paſſages, but I cannot ſpeake of them now: the fourth part of Gangraena will ſupply what's now wanting.

I have lately ſeen divers Letters and ſome Petitions that have been written and ſent up from godly Miniſters and others to Worthy Members of the Houſe of Commons, to ſome Members of the Aſſembly, to other Miniſters in the City, and Citizens, concerning the inſolencies, tumults, and ſtrange carriages of many Sectaries, Commanders and Souldiers, as alſo other perſons both men and women of their Sect, but it would be too long to give a Copy of them as I have done of others in the former part of this Book, and therefore I will onelyonly relate the Contents of ſome of them: In one Letter a godly Miniſter about Briſtow writing to a Member of the Aſſembly, tells him he had formerly written to him of a preaching Troope that had infected the Countries with errours, but now he w…ites to him ☜that many of them breake into houſes, ſteale Horſes, and have been indighted here, Theſe are our Saints (ſaith he) who need no repentance; I am ſure they need much grace. In other Letters out of Somerſetſhiere from a godly Miniſter who hath done much publike ſervice, and is well known (if I ſhould name him) he writes thus, Novemb. 16. 1646. to a godly Miniſter in London, I ſent the other day into Gloſterſhiere for rents, and there out of forty pounds per a…num, my Mother and my ſelfe pay five ſhillings per diem, and are now to pay ſixe moneths Contribution to Gloceſter, beſides payes to Briſtow, and other taxes: If ſuch things were done in the Scots Army, they would be cryed up and down London ſtreets, ſome are reſolving to repreſent to ☜the Houſe the ſame things as are repreſented out of the North and worſe: we are able to do it, and ſpeak nothing but truth. He writes alſo as followes, The other day Mr. Greenhill of p. 250Dodington in Gloſterſhire was pul'd down out of the Pulpit, and one Miniſter more in Gloſterſhiere were pul'd out of their Pulpits by the Souldiers, and Independents put up in their roomes: The Souldiers threatned me laſt weeke to pull me out of the Pulpit only for reproving them. This Miniſter alſo relates in one of his Letters, that upon a Lords day not long ſince in the time of the morning exerciſe, divers of theſe Souldiers plaid at foot-ball upon a Green or Common.

Some Letters written from Oxford by ſome of the Aſſembly to perſons of worth in London, mention how M. Erbury (the ſame who is ſpoken of in my firſt Part of Gangraena, and in this third Part, pag. 89, 90.) came attended with divers ſouldiers to a meeting that the Miniſters ſent downe to Oxford had weekly, for the ſatisfaction of the ſcruples of ſome in theſe times, and there ſtarted that Queſtion, that there was no ſuch Office upon earth now as Miniſters, that none were now to be Select Officers, but every man might preach; that is, ſpeak his thoughts (as one Letter expreſſed it) and propounded it, with divers of the Souldiers backing him, to diſpute that point with them: what the carriage of the Sectaries was at the meeting to diſpute it, and the iſſue of the diſputation, I cannot ſpeake certainly nor particularly, as having not ſpoken with any of our Miniſters there preſent, onelyonly I ſhall deſire the Reader to obſerve this, That this Erbury who now comes on purpoſe to Oxford for ſuch a diſputation, and challenges our Miniſters, when as he hath ſo many armed men to back him and to domineere, never could all the while he was in the Earle of Eſſexe's Army Chaplaine there, be drawne by the Miniſters to any ☞Conference or Diſpute about the points he then held and often vented: **Mr. Bifeild and divers other Chaplains then in the Earl of Eſſex his Army, are ready to teſtifie and prove this.He was often moved to it, deſired, but ſtill declined, could never be brought to it, for then he knew he could not have thoſe to backe him in his Diſpute, who were Commanders of many men, and had the power of the Sword in their hands. A Letter out of Warwick ſhiere, dated the 2. of Novemb. relates that two ſouldiers did preach at Rugby on the 25. of October, and there ſaid that no Miniſter was a true one except he was rebaptized, and that our Ordinances were falſe Ordinances, and the Printers have cozened us in printing the Scriptures, and p. 251more tenents they hold which now I cannot write, and on the 26. day of October they baptized ſixe women in a Mill-dam about ☜eleven of the clock in the day, which was ſtrange to us in theſe parts. Some poſitions and ſpeeches ſent up in writing out of Staffordſhiere, maintained and ſpoken by ſome of the Sectaries in the Army, belonging to Colonell Whaleyes Regiment, were ſhewed me by a worthy Member of the Houſe of Commons, the ſum of them is, that there are no created ſpirits, but every ſpirit whatſoever is God, that the Angells are God, and that the ſoule is one with God, that the Scripture is not the Word of ☜God, they diſpute againſt prayer with Arguments drawn from the omniſciency and immutability of God, they ſaid they would goe to Hell, for God was there, and he was as much in Hell as in Heaven, they ſaid where they were quartered, that they would pull the Committees out of their places, and ſit in their ſtead: one of them meeting with an exciſe Booke, asked the Maſter ☜of the houſe where he found it, whether he would pay money, the man demanding how ſhould he avoid it, he ſaid riſe with us and we will free you, for they were all Knaves and Theeves: One of theſe Sectaries ſouldiers told a Miniſter that it was their worke to pull down ſuch Antichriſts as he, and that they made them already to quake. Divers Letters and ſome Petitions out of Oxfordſhiere ſpeake of many ſtrange things done there by the Sectaries, as of ſeverall abuſes offered in the Church of Aſton to one M. Skinner a Reverend learned and painfull preacher of 70. years of age by one Lievtenant Webb, by Colonell Hewſon, and by divers others ſpeaking to and oppoſing him in the time of preaching and expounding. On the 25. of October, 1646. John Webb a Lievtenant guarded with his Souldiers, as M. Skinner was preaching in his Church, ſtarted up and with a loud voice publiquely interrupted him, cal'd him …oole three times, Popiſh Prieſt, tub-preacher, bidding him often to come downe out of his tub, ſaying, he taught lyes to the people: This Webb ſaid, that himſelfe was a Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, and cared not for the Ordinance of Parliament, or Synod, for what were they to him, and in this manner he proceeded, troubling M. Skinner and the Congregation till one of the clock, and then in a rage went out of the Church, calling Mr. Skinner black frog of the Revelation, threatning he would preach in the after-noone p. 252do what he could; and in the afternoone Web got into the Church before M. Skinner could come (his Souldiers having picked the locks of the Church doore) and took poſſeſſion of the reading pew, and was there expounding when M. Skinner came in, Mr. Skinner being thus kept out of his ſeat, went up into his Pulpit, and ſetting a Pſalme, in the ſinging of it, the ſaid Web and his ſouldiers kept on their hats, whereupon M. Skinuer intreated them to uncover, conſidering they were in Gods preſence; But Lievtenant Webb cryed out aloud, ſouldiers and all ye that are on my ſide keep on your hats, which was done accordingly. The Pſalme being ended, Mr. Skinner deſired them all to joyne with him in prayer uncovered, but the ſaid Webb and the other Independents would not uncover, whereupon M. Skinner being over the ſaid Webs head, took off his hat gently, deſiring him to remember about what a holy duty he was, upon which Web in a fury cryed out, my ſouldiers and Conſtable pull him down, caſt him in hold till to morrow, and then bring him before me, at which command two fellowes went to pull him down with violence, but ſome of the neighbours laying hold on them whilſt they were drawing their ſwords, by Gods ☞good providence this old Miniſter of 70. yeares of age with much adoe eſcaped their hands, and after his departure VVebb preached, and in his Sermon compared our Church of England to that of Laodicea, that was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarme For that in Queen Maries daies, her Proclamation made them all Papiſts. In Queen Elizabeths daies her Proclamation made them Proteſtants, but now an Ordinance of Parliament makes ☞them for Presbytery; and he was very confident that ſhortly he ſhould ſee Presbytery laid as low as Prelacy, or to that effect.

On the firſt of November, 1646. Colonell Hewſon came into Aſton Church, accompanied and guarded with his Souldiers, contemned the Ordinance of Parliament read that day againſt Lay-mens preaching, and did preach whether M. Skinner would or no both forenoone and afternoone, he bid M. Skinner be ſilent, and threatned him, that in caſe he would not let him preach, he would lay him by the heeles, he ſaid Mr. Skinner was ☞no Miniſter but a falſe Prophet, an Antichriſt, and he would p. 253prove him ſo to be in the afternoone by 13. marks of a falſe Prophet, which he laid downe in the afternoone. In June laſt divers Sectaries of Mr. Skinners Pari…h joyning and combining with the ſouldiers, did interrupt him as he was preaching in the Pulpit and would not be intreated to forbeare till he had ended, though he deſired them and told them the penalty of the Statute in that caſe; And among others, a Woman one Margeret North cryed to him with a loud voice, M. Skinner, M. Skinner, you take great pains with us in preaching twice every Sabboth and Catechizing, but all comes but to one Sermon in the end of the yeare. On the 25. of October, Colonell Hewſon came into Wallington Church, and there interrupted the Miniſter one M. Price, as hee was at Prayer, and then afterwards as he was reading the firſt chapter of the Proverbs, and alſo as he did expound the foreſaid chapter. The Church was made a priſon for the Souldiers ſeven or eight daies and nights, there they made a fire in the Chancell, and tooke Tobacco in the time of Prayer and Preaching. In the foreſaid Church did Colonell Hewſon, and Major Axſton preach, ☜the one in the forenoon, the other in the afternoone being the 18. day of October. In May laſt one M. Rastell of Sydnam preaching on the 5. of Math. 20. Except your righteouſneſſe, &c. one Captain Nevill a Captain of a Troop of horſe in Col. Rich his Regiment, being then and there preſent ſtarted up and ſaid, This is fine ſtuffe, this is groſſe, who can endure it, I will heare no more of this, he deſerves to be pulled down, and many words to that effect, and ſo departed out of the Church, and walked without under the wall, where with a loud voice he uttered many contumelious words againſt the Miniſter. I have ſeen divers Letters out of Oxfordſhiere, that ſpeake of one M. Potter of Lutenor about a mile from Aſton, leaving his Church, being driven from thence by the Lay-preaching Souldiers, who have for certaine daies made a priſon of that Church, and have burnt up the ſeats and boords in the Church, ſo that it now lyes waſt and deſtitute of a Miniſter; and theſe preaching ſouldiers refuſe to preach now in that Church they have laid waſt, but come to Churches where there are Miniſters who preach conſtantly, as at Aſton, and divers other places, and trouble them in their preaching and performing of other ſervices of God.

p. 254A Reverend Miniſter in Oxfordſhiere having lately occaſion to admoniſh his Pariſhioners to take heed of Anabaptiſme, for tha they denyed the Lord Chriſt that bought them by his blood ſhed ſigni…ied in Baptiſme by water; For in Baptiſme we put on Chriſt, Gal. 3▪ 27. but if we be baptized again we deny him, and put him of as the Anabaptiſt doth, upon which Sermon an Independent neighbour deſired to heare the Miniſter againe on that point, which accordingly the Miniſter did on the Lords day Novemb. …. taking that text Math. 28. 19. v. And uſed Arguments to diſſwade from Anabaptiſme, for it was a denying and putting off of Chriſt, whom by oath they put on in their Baptiſme: Now Lievetenant Webb hearing of this Sermon, did in the afternoone preach on the ſame Text Math. 28. 19. bragging that he could by the ſpirit do as much ex tempore, as that Miniſter ☞by ſtudy. The Miniſter hath ſent to entreat a Copy of his Sermon, with a promiſe of giving him a Copy of his, that ſo the world may judge, conſidering all their boaſtings, who comes neareſt to the ſpirit of God.

I have received ſome Letters of late written to me out of the Country, bewailing the great oppreſſions and ſufferings ſome of Gods Miniſters undergoe both in their owne houſes by ſouldiers laid upon them, and in Gods houſe by being diſturbed and affronted in their Miniſtry, wherein I am ſtirred up not to faint in proſecuting the good cauſe of Gods Miniſters oppreſſed, and his Churches in theſe parts laid waſt, and the Miniſters caſe is thus repreſented to me. The Romane Clergy have been Solomons flagellum on us many years. I but now the Lay-Clergy, theſe preaching Souldiers are worſe, they be Rehoboams ☞whips of Scorpions, worſe then Solomons and Rehoboams, yea then the Spaniſh whip in 88. The Lord give us all grace that are under Gods rod, the wicked the ſword of his hand, that our foreign may bee our foreign, our Nocumenta our Documenta, our Deſtructions our Inſtructions, our Corrections our Directions to Heaven and happineſſe. And then there being divers ſad ſtories related in the body of the Letters, all is concluded after this manner: O ſcelus Independentium, come Lord Jeſus come quickly, and whip out all theſe Independent worſhippers out of thy Church with a dog-whip.

p. 255A godly Citizen of good quality and a Common-Councell man, being in company with another Common-Councell man, and a young Schollar, Chaplain to one of the late Sheriffes of London, and ſome other company, they being in diſcourſe about many paſſages of theſe times, he told them this ſtory (which within a day or two after the Common-Councell man and the young Chaplain told me with all the names of the perſons and circumſtances of it) that a great Independent, I will not ſay a Member of the Houſe of Commons, being deſirous to get another great Independent to be a Burgeſſe of Parliament for a place of note within leſſe then 60. miles of London, ſpoke to this Citizen about it to further it, as having ſome chapmen in that Town, and the Mayor alſo his great friend, whereupon this Citizen did ſtirre in it to make the Mayor and others for this Independents Independent friend, and meanes were uſed to get voices: but after ſome triall of getting voices the Mayor of the Town ſignified that he thought another man who ſ…ood would carry it, moſt inclining to him, and that they ſhould not have voices equall for this man, which this Citizen being certified of, acquainted this Independent how the caſe ſtood, and that it would be in vain for his friend to ſtand, but he made little of that, entreating him that the Mayor and thoſe who were for him would go on to give their voices, and though he had the fewer voices, yet get him but returned by the Mayor, that it may ☜come to the Committee of Priviledges, and then we ſhall doe well enough with it, at which ſpeech this Citizen ſtood amazed, and wondred to heare ſuch words come from ſuch a mans mouth, and would have no hand to meddle further in it; And I am of the mind upon good grounds (which if there be not a redreſſe, I am likely to publiſh in print to the end the whole Houſe of Commons may come to know and ſo remedy it) that there is great need of an effectuall review of divers Elections of new Members, ſome ſitting and voting in the Ho…ſe of Commons who have no right at all, and other men whoſe the undoubted right is are kept out by tricks and devices, which in this juncture of time wherein ſo many great affaires of Church and ☜State have been and are in agitation, and votes of greateſt concernment ſometimes carryed but by two or three voices, yea p. 256by one voice, cannot but be a mighty prejudice both to Church and State, every voice of ſuch a man being two, his own voice going according to that intereſt he judges will keep him in, and in the interim hindring another voice which according to all reaſon may be judged would vote contrary.