Gangrena Part 3, Theological tract · Letter 19 – Letter 31
Some Paſſages taken out of a Letter written out of Oxfordſhire, to a Citizen in London.
ONe Floid newly come to be a Preacher to the Troop of Major Huntingtons that now quarters at Aſton Roreant, preaching in that Church on Sunday laſt, June the 14. on John 20. 17. Touch me not, I am not yet aſcended; collected from thoſe words theſe three tranſcendent points. Firſt, That Lay-men, Weavers, Tinckers and Coblers being gifted might be Preachers. Secondly, Learning was not any meanes or help to underſtand the meaning of the Scriptures. Thirdly, That any Chamber, Barne or Stable, or other place was as holy as the Church; and that there was no holyneſſe in the Temple, for God deſtroyed it, nor in any Church. This Floid a youth of twenty yeares, did lie at Maſter Calverts the Bookſeller at Ludgate-hill. Major Middle…ons man did not only rend with his hand the ſervice-Book, but cut it with a knife, and burnt it in the fire at John Chiches of Kinſton, and it ſet the Chimney on fire till they quenched it. And they juſtifie the burning of the ten Commandements, Creed, Lords prayer, Pſalmes, ninty five Epiſtles and Goſpels. I would bee glad to know of Mr Edwards the Antagoniſt of Hereticks what to do in this matter; To whom though unknown, I preſent my love in the Lord.
June 16. 1646.
A Reverend and learned Miniſter living in Oxfordſhire, was by ſome in the Army, and ſome of the Pariſh conſpiring together, as he was preaching in his Church oppoſed and with tumults diſturbed. There was one ſouldier a great Champion that did openly and boldly in the Church affirme that he was raiſed up of God immediatly, and inſpired with extraordinary revelations, whom the Miniſter by this place of Scripture Matth. 24. 26. Wherefore if they ſhall ſay unto you, behold he is in the deſert goe not forth: Behold he is in the ſecret chambers, beleeve it not; overcame and put to a non-plus, ſo that they went out of Church with a kinde of a Diabolicall fury.
TThere is one Maſter Del a Preacher in the Army, and Sir Thomas Fairfax's Chaplaine, who ſummer was two yeares, preached a ſtrange Sermon at Lincolne, and ſince put out a Pamphlet againſt uniformity in Religion, calling it Anti-chriſtian, &c. the man preaches and ſpeaks much againſt Tythes, and yet beſides his Chaplains place to the Generall, keeps a great living in Bedfordſhire.
This Maſter Del Expounding the ſeven laſt verſes of the 54. of Iſaiah, in Marſton Church neer Oxford before the Generall and other Commanders and ſouldiers, June, 7. 1646. being Sabbath day in the forenoon uſed theſe, or the like words in effect, viz.
1. There are no more of the Church of God in a Kingdome, then there be ſuch as have the ſpirit of God in that Kingdome.
2. Neither Old nor New Teſtament do hold forth a whole Nation to be a Church.
3. Whatſoever a State, an Aſſembly or Councell ſhall ſay, ought not to binde the Saints, further thenthe judgements of thoſe Saints ſhall lead them.
4. The Saints are thoſe that are now ſtiled Anabaptiſts, Familiſts, Antinomians, Independents, Sectaries, &c.
5. The power is in you the people; keep it, part not with it.
6. The firſt party that roſe againſt you, namely, the prophane ones of the Land, are already fallen under you; and now there is ☜another party, Formaliſts and carnall Goſpellers riſing up againſt you, and I am confident they ſhall fall under you.
7. They are willing to become ſubjects to make the Saints ſlaves, nay they are willing to become ſlaves themſelves, that they ☜may tread upon the necks of the Saints.
8. His Sermon or expoſition for the greateſt part of it tended meerly to diviſion and ſedition.
9. Being ſpoken with after his Sermon, by ſome of his hearers, to…ching theſe and ſuch like paſſages, he ſaid to this effect, his intentions were not according to his expreſſions, and hee thought he had preached only to ſouldiers.
Peter Mills.
John Haine.
Nichoas Widmergole▪
Henry Potter.
Theophilus Smith.
There were Copies of theſe Poſitions given into the hands of ſome Members of both Houſes, and ſome Citizens with theſe names ſubſcribed; And when Maſter Del did put forth his Sermon with an Epiſte before it; wherein ſome paſſages were inſerted to cleare himſelf from theſe matters laid againſt him; the Citizens above named put forth a Book entituled a Vindication of certaine Citizens that lately went to the Leaguer then before Oxford; weherin they atteſt the ſeven former Poſitions againſt Mr Del, page 9. And of this Mr Del the Reader may read more of him in a foregoing Letter written by a Learned and godly Miniſter out of the Army.
Some paſſages taken out of a Letter written lately by a godly Miniſter in Cheſhire, to a worthy friend of his in London.
George Young, Lieutenant Colonell Ger. ſouldier, on Sabbath was ſevennight, I being abſent, brake to peeces the railes which for theſe foure years have been transformed into ſeates very commodiouſly for the pariſh, refuſed to ſtay his hand at the inſtance of divers, (who told him I would amend it if any thing were amiſſe) telling them I would ſooner ſet up ſuch things then pull them ☞downe, and that he would do it if I were preſent, and that the Church ſhould down within a yeare; and reported in the Towne that I was drunk with the blood of the Whore of Rome; wiſheth his tongue had cleaved to the roofe of his mouth when hee had taken the Covenant. And it's much feared that ſpirit works mightily in Ger. Company and others. Five Independents are determined ☞for the five Captaines of foot for this Country; judge you whats intended: Great ſtriving hath been to get me out of my Lecture here that an Independent might come in; but I have undertaken the Lecture if need be gratis, rather then any evill fall out by my removall.
Some paſſages taken out of a Letter written from a Reverend and Learned Miniſter in the Northerne parts, to a worthy freind of his in London.
AN eminent Parliament man of our Country came downe lately, with whom I had ſome conference about Maſter Edwards, and about the Schiſmes and Blaſphemies that are broa…hed and connived at amongſt you; He ſaid he thought that Maſter It hath been uſuall for men given to fafour hereſie… & Schiſmes, to ſpeak evill of the zealous Miniſters who oppoſe them; ſo Conſtan. the Emperor often call'd Athanaſius, foreign impi…m, item foreign ſ…elestum Theod. lib. 2. cap▪ 16.Edwards was a very wicked man, and did as much as was in him to embroyle the Kingdome in a new Warre, and deſerved, &c. In all his diſcourſe he ſavored of the new leaven, which I feare many of the higher powers are too much tainted with. I complained that Schiſmes and Schiſmaticks were to much ſuffered by them; He anſwered that truth was victorious, and will be triumphant of it ſelf; and as when many thick miſts gather about the Sunne in the morning, the Sunne by his own light and heate diſſipates them by degrees, ſo would truth do all contrary Errors of it ſelf in time; and therefore it was but reaſon that men ſhould firſt bee convinced of their Errors, and ſatisfied in their conſciences by reaſons and arguments, and not be compelled by force to conſtraine their conſciences to mens wills. I objected Beſts caſe to him, he ſaid that Beſt ſhewed himſelf amoderate man; and willing to be ſatisfied by reaſon, and to lay down his opinions if he might be convinced of them, and his conſcience ſatisfied. I alſo ſpake of Lilburne to him; he ſaid he was a very good and deſerving man, and thought that he might ſay and do and juſtifie all that was yet laid to his charge: He ſaid that Anabaptiſts were not Hereticks, but only Schiſmaticks at the worſt; and that he thought the baptizing of Children could not be proved out of the word of God. I laboured to prove it by Scripture and reaſon, the teſtimonies of the moſt Orthodox Fathers, and the conſtant practiſe of the firſt beſt and pureſt times of the Primitive Church; but he ſlighted my proofs, and ſaid that my Scripture and reaſons were not expreſſe and demonſtrative; and for the Fathers and practiſe of former times we were not to be ruled by them; ex ungue leonem. He is learned and wittie, active, quick and ni…ble and magiſteriall. I feare he hath many abettors which are ejuſdem farinae: Yet I think that he is no broacher of theſe opinions, much leſſe perſwader of any to them, but only by way of diſcourſe accidentally as thus with me.
June 22. 1646.
An Extract of a Letter written to me out of Lancaſhire.
SIR,
THere is imployed in this County by the Houſe of Commons (as tis commonly taken) one Mathewes a man active and of ſtrong parts; he boldly and confidently denies the Scriptures to be the word of God, and pretends to Revelation; we have heretofore ſignified to ſome Members of the Houſe, what a ſcandall tis that ſuch men ſhould be imployed by them; but cannot yet learn that they have put him out. I have here incloſed ſent you two papers that were given me by one of our Sectaries; here being divers more, and ſome that are active of his opinion.
Auguſt 8. 1646.
A Copy of the two Papers incloſed.
GOod Chriſtian Brethren, foraſmuch as the immortality of the Soule is maintained to be a truth, whereof I am doubtfull; I deſire you who are able by ſound Doctrine to convince the gainſayers, to make it good by Scripture that the Soul is immortall; and that it may ſo appear, I deſire you will be pleaſed in a rational way to proceed by giving in writing a definition of the ſubject, whence it is, and what it is, and where it is in man, and whether it be any part of man, and how, or when man is firſt poſſeſſed of it, and how it comes to be guilty of Adams ſin, and what promiſe of Salvation is made unto it in Scripture, and how it is redeemed by Chriſt: and now deſiring you will make it good by Scripture, what you do affirm, that ſo your Chriſtian Brother may receive ſatisfaction, I reſt and ſhall be thankfull unto you.
Yours Thomas Sidebothom.
This was delivered me July 28. 1646. This is the Originall.
Mr. —
I Received your Note, and for anſwer thereto, hoping you are not of the ſpirit of thoſe which ſent to Chriſt to intangle him in his words; neither am I afraid to declare what my Faith is, for I beleeve the word of God contained in the Old and New Teſtament to be a truth; yet in them I cannot find that man or any part of man is Immortal, but that he is wholly Mortal, even whole man is wholly Mortal, and ceaſeth to have any lively Being betwixt Death and the Reſurrection: Now if this be an Errour thus to beleeve, I require you as you are a Chriſtian, and ſpiritual, to reſtore ſuch a one in the ſpirit of mee…neſſe, and to convince by ſound Doctrine the gainſayer, proving by ſcripture what you do affirm, and if you do affirm a Mortal ſoule, that you will according to rationality give Anſwers to thoſe Queries you have, and then I will Reply, that ſo we may bring it unto the ballance, and weigh the ſcriptures on both ſides, and ſo hoping in a loving and Chriſtian way to bring the grounds of theſe to light, I reſt.
Thomas Sidebothom.
This was delivered me Aug. 3. 1646. and is the Original.
A Copy of a Letter written to me out of Lancaſhire.
SIR,
THe bearer having a great deſire to ſee you, & my ſelf a greater deſire to ſerve you; from whoſe faithful labours in the miniſtry I have formerly received much good: I make bold to trouble you with theſe rude lines; the incloſed will faithfully informe you of a ſad accident fallen out in York-ſhire, if the knowledge of it have not come to you from better hands; my ſelf and ſome others are here ingaged with you in the quarrell againſt the Sectaries, and ſhall indeavour to ſerve you and the Church of God according to your deſires expreſſed in your Gangraena: I hope ere long to preſent you with a true relation of the Independents gathering and conſtituting their Church at Sawerby in York-ſhire, which will not be unworthy your conſideration; we have for the preſent only one Independent congregation in all Lancaſhire, which never yet had Officers, it conſiſts not of above thirty perſons, moſt women, all of mean quallity; Mr. Eaton of whoſe activity to promote this way I beleeve you are not ignorant, hath been the great apoſtle to promote their deſign in theſe parts; all our Godly Miniſters generally ſtand right, and in their courſe preach a weekly Lecture in Mancheſter againſt Independency. If I might have a few lines of direction from you by this bearer how I and the reſt of my friends might beſt ſerve you, you ſhould not fail of the faithfull indeavours of him who is
Your reall ſervant to love you and ſerve you, May 25. 1646.
Though I be a ſtranger to you and unknown, yet Mr. — can inform you what credit you may give to me and what I ſhall write.
Some paſſages extracted out of a Letter written to me from out of the Northern parts.
THe Church at Sawerby ſince our conference in March hath been blaſted in its growth; only one (and ſhe a woman) hath been added. The Church at Birch which is but two miles and a half from Mancheſter, growes in number, but yet hath no Officers (as I can hear of) I ſhall hereafter give you a particular account of the Church of Duckenfield; the ruling Elder there is a Sequeſtrator in Cheſhire, and their Deacon a Sequeſtrator in Lancaſhire: The *A fit man to be a Deacon of an Independent Church.Deacon I ſhall ſpeedily bring upon the ſtage, and make a notable diſcovery of his knavery in couzening the ſtate.
Your reall friend to love and ſerve you. Auguſt. 3. 1646.
A Copy of a Letter written out of Yorkſhire concerning an Independent Church in that Country.
SIR,
MUch reſpected, I give you many thanks for your love when I was with you; ſince we have ſpoken to Mr. Roats about a conference, but as yet have no ſatisfying Anſwer: So ſoon as we heard of their intention to chuſe their Officers, we ſent a Note to him to this effect, That whereas we heard it was their reſolution ſo to do ſuch a day; that we deſired him, if that ſo he could with conveniency to forbear and ſuſpend the doing thereof for a time, in regard that we deſired that there might firſt be a conference in the place by ſome Godly Miniſters, that if it might be, the true way might be more cleerly found out, that thoſe that are deceived or miſled, might be undeceived, ſo as we might aſſent to them or they to us, ſo far as truth might appear ſo; his Anſwer was firſt before any thing was done that they might have ſatisfaction given for what wrongs they had ſuſtained. And 2dly, he would allow us to propound ſome queſtions, provided they might do the like againſt our way; ſo ſeeing no better anſwer could be had, and that they reſolved ſtill to go on ſtill in their buſineſſe: It was thought fit by the Inhabitants of the place for that day to lock the Chappel door, to teſtifie their not approving their way, and ſo it was done; the which doth much incenſe them: and the laſt Sabboth they had the liberty of the Chappel, wherein they began their Election by the Deacons.
And in the forenoon ſuch words as theſe was expreſſed in his Sermon, as it was given in to me by an honeſt underſtanding man that was preſent, in an Uſe of exhortation, to thoſe that are joyned together in Societies in a viſible Church, viz. You muſt de…end one another, as Abraham did Lo…, when he armed thoſe that was born in his houſe and brought up with him to defend him; and as Moſes did the Hebrew againſt the Egyptian; and as thoſe who defended Paul when he was in Priſon, againſt thoſe that had taken an Oath, &c. And denounced the puniſhment threatned Zac. 14. 18, 19. againſt thoſe who will not joyn into the viſible Churches, ſaying, It is a Goſpel Text; ſee, the which me thinks are ſtrong applications, and may prove of dangerous conſequence.
I cannot yet ſend you, nor Mr. Holinworth the Queſtions that are to be diſcuſſed, nor certainly the day when, or whether or no; but Mr. — is to be with us next Sabbath, and then if any thing can be pitched, you ſhall hear by the firſt: I pray you remember my reſpects to Mr. — and deſire him to take ſo much pains if that we do ſend directions, to come; and alſo I pray write me in two words by the firſt what was the iſſue of your conference at Bi…tch, and what you hear from above as-concerning that way either pro or con. I have ſent you incloſed a copy of the Articles of their Covenant according to promiſe; thus with my kindeſt reſpects remembred to your ſelf and to Mr. Holinworth, I take leave and reſt, Sir,
Your affectionate friend being much obliged, Feb. 9. 1645.
Some paſſages Extracted out of the Original Letter written from a man of worth in the Army, to a perſon of worth here in London; which Letter was writ preſently after the taking of Oxford.
BEcauſe a man is a Presbyterian, he ſhall be turned out of his command; and to compaſſe it, they have ſent as far as Pendennis for an Accuſer, to London for another, and Briſtow for a third, and all they can ſay againſt our Adjutant General Gray, (who is an honeſt godly Sco…ſhman) is, that three quarters of a year ſince he was met (as they think) drunk becauſe as they remmember, he faultred in his ſpeech, and all becauſe he is Major Generals Officer: Mr. Peters ſaid, That was not all, he had made a Faction in the Army by ſeducing many to the Presbyterian party; ſo it ſeems its counted a Faction with them to hold what the Parliament allowes. A monethmonth ſince they have laboured all they can to get hands for — to be Governour of Oxford; and he being here on ſet purpoſe, the Petitioners are inſtructed to repair to the Generals at ſuch a ſet time, and — the Tragical cornical actor, out of the tyring room of his own contriving, comes and tels the General what a providence tis, that God hath ſtirred up thoſe good men to ſuch good intentions in ſuch a juncture of time, when it happened that — was there, whereas he and they were ſent for. Sermons are daily preached to this effect, That God will rather honour himſelf with a few, then with many; witneſſe this Army, which they hope will be an inſtrument to ſubdue all that oppoſe them, whether under the moſt ſpecious ſhow of righteouſneſſe, and profeſſion of an old ragged religion.
A Coppy of ſome Letters, and ſome Extracts of Letters written out of the North concerning our Brethren of Scotland and their Armies; which I have thought fit to print, becauſe of Letters, and many Libels that have been printed againſt them.
Some Paſſages taken out of a Letter (the Original whereof I have by me) written by one of the Committee in York to a friend of his in London.
THe lamentable complaints ſpread abroad concerning the Scotiſh Taxing the Country ſo much, are occaſioned from want of money; for they have no meanes from any part of England to ſubſiſt, but by Aſſeſſing that corner of England where they now quarter: If conſideration be had by the Parliament that they are neglected in wanting what was promiſed, it will cleer them in that matter: As for their miſdemeanors, they go not unpuniſhed with them; for there was the other day at Richmond one ſuffered vivi comburium, for committing uncleanneſſe againſt nature; a week ſince they have disbanded Vandrusks regiment, which were men of the worſt carriages in all the Armies: As for the buſineſſe at Tickhill which ſo troubled all men, after full examination of the abuſes, it is found that the Engliſh, Iriſh, and Dutch were the authors of the outrages, (no Scot was guilty thereof) and two of them have been ſhot to death therefore. My couzen — was laſt week at the Court, and is much ſatisfied concerning the behaviour of our Brethren both toward King and Parliament: He told me it was wiſe, fair, and honeſt.
June 12. 1646.
An Extract of a Letter written from a Citizen in York to a Common Councell man here in London.
I Am ſorry that when we expected an end, its feared a worſe contention begins: we hear by ſome Letters this week from London, one came from Saltmarſh Miniſter, that a Petition from the Brethren is ſince put up to both Houſes with 20000. hands, for which they had thanks returned, though the Common Councell of the City were high in their expreſſions, that if the Petition were delivered, they ſhould be accounted Incendiaries or ſuch like. Colonel N. writes alſo of this Petition. About 10. or 14. daies ſince one Butterfield a malignant, that did live at Middleham, and other four, writ to the General of the Scots, That if he would ſend a Regiment to quarter there, he would enſure them to enjoy Midhelam Caſtle; they ſent a Regiment thither, and the Colonel ſent the Letters with the mens hands to the Captain of the Caſtle, and bid him take care of it, and proceed againſt Butterfield and the other four as he ſaw cauſe: The like was promiſed of Boulton Caſtle, but their treachery both revealed by the Scots themſelves.
Some paſſages taken out of a letter written from a godly Chriſtian who was ſent from London into Scotland about ſome ſpeciall buſineſſe.
Mr. F.
I Pray remember me to Mr. Bolton, and let him know, that in Scotland there is a precious people, a learned and godly Clergy, who are reſolved in their low condition not to reſt upon ſtrength of Armies, nor confederacies with Nations for deliverance from their Armies without Reformation, but in a lively Faith in God, and performance of the Covenant. There is a Sermon every morning before the Parliament in the Parliament Houſe, where the power of God is ſo eminently ſeem, that I am not able to expreſſe it.
St. Andrewes Decemb. 20. 1645.
A Letter from a godly Miniſter out of the North, concerning the Scots.
My Dear friend,
YOurs was not a little welcome to me, nor am I put to it to ſend you a requitall: The Newes here is ſo good, that I can hardly hold my pen for joy; the Kings coming to the Scotiſh Army in all probability will prove one of our greateſt mercies ſince theſe Wars began. And never did I hear of any Chriſtians carrying themſelves ſo boldly and faithfully in reprooving their Prince, ſo humbly before their God, ſo innocently towards their brethren, ſo deſirouſly of a ſettled and wel-grounded Peace, as the Scots now do; they labour with much earneſtneſſe the Kings converſion; tell him plainly of his blood-guiltineſſe; have ſent for out of Scotland the ableſt Miniſters to converſe with him; have baniſht all Malignants ſix miles from his Perſon by Proclamation; refuſed to entertain him with any token of joy; told him he was a great ſinner before God, and that he muſt give ſatisfaction to both Kingdoms. The malignants droop who were gathering towards him out of both Kingdomes: The French Agent who was active in making a Breach, is much diſcountenanced: The Nobles and Miniſters profeſſe their earneſt longing after a happy Union, the ſetling the government of Chriſt in his Church, which being done, they will preſently return in peace. The Independents themſelves ſtand amazed at their wiſdom, reſolution, and fidelity; Zeal doth accompany all their actions with humility. The malignant party which was much feared, is born down; the mouths that were ſo wide both of Independents and malignants are ſowen up, they have not a word to ſay: And ſee how the Lord bleſſes them; all their enemies in Scotland are routed and brought to nothing. The King refuſes to proclaime Montroſſe and his adherents Rebels; But the King of kings hath taken the quarrell into his own hand and utterly diſperſed them; I have not time to write the particulars, only to let you know I am
Your aſſured friend R. Balſom. May 21. 1646.
A Paſſage Extracted out of a Letter written from a godly Miniſter in Suffolk to a ſpeciall Friend of his in London.
HEre in the Country Malignants and Sectaries do generally murmure againſt the Scots, and would be glad to hear that the Armies ſhould go againſt them, which I pray God prevent: I pray that this Nation do not ſo requite their labour of love and faithfulneſſe unto us.
May 19. 1646.