Gangrena Part 3, Preface
The Preface.
IN this following Book as in a cleare and true Glaſſe, every impartiall and ingenuous Reader may plainly behold the many Deformities and great Spots of the Sectaries of theſe times, Spots of all kinds, Plague ſpots, Feaver ſpots, Purpule ſpots, Leproſie ſpots, Scurvey ſpots, Spots upon them diſcovering much malignity, rage & frenſie, great corruption and infection, of whom may be ſaid as in Moſes Song, Deut. 32. 5. They have corrupted themſelves, their ſpot is not the ſpot of his children: they are a perverſe and crooked generation. O that the Sectaries themſelves and others eaſie to be deceived with good words and faire ſpeeches, apt to be carried away with good names and ſpecious ſhowes, as godlineſſe, purity of Ordinances, Conſcience, would but look into this Glaſſe and continue looking therein, diligently in the feare of God reading over this Book, and obſerving what's here written, comparing and examining one thing with another, which would they do, I am confidently perſwaded many of the Sectaries who know not the depths of Sathan would quickly be taken off, become out of love with their way and returne, and others kept from going after thoſe wayes: this would prove a Soveraigne Antidote both to expell the poyſon already received and to prevent the taking infection. Now that this Book (by the bleſſing of God) may the better attaine theſe ends, I ſhall in generall pr…miſe two things.
1. Remove ſome objections that may lie in the way of the Reader, wipe off the duſt and dirt cast upon this Gl…ſſe that might hinder the clear ſight of things.
2. Give ſome Rules, Directions, and Cautions, as for the better underſtanding of it, ſo for preventing ſome cavils and miſtakes that otherwiſe might be.
For the firſt, I obſerve two things have beene objected againſt theſe Books of diſcovering the Errors, Hereſies, and Practiſes of the Sectaries: Firſt, the manner and way of writing, … …ing with matters of fact, particulariſing men by name, and b…ing very bitter and sharpe: Secondly the matter as being untrue and conſiſting moſt of lyes falſhoods and fables. Now for the ſatisfaction of the Reader in the firſt, the manner and way of writing theſe parts of Gangraena, I have drawn up a large Treatiſe upon this ſubject, viz. a Juſtification of relating matters of fact and the names of Sectaries as wel as their Opinions and Arguments, which I have proved from the Scriptures of the old and new Teſtament both in commands and examples, Orthodox Fathers Auguſtine, &c. other Ancient Writers▪ as Bernard, &c. the moſt learned and famous among the moderne …, Luther, Beza, Bullinger, Danaus, &c. the judgement of …, as Baldwin, &c. from the practiſe of Sectaries themſelves, as Donatiſts, &c. in all ages, both in writing one againſt another, and againſt the Orthodox; and from many ſtrong convincing Reaſons; and beſides theſe proofs have anſwered fully all objections of all ſorts brought against it, as that tis a ſpeaking againſt the Saints, uncovering our brothers nakedneſſe, a going againſt the Rule of Chriſt in Matth. 18. which is to tell our Brother alone: which Treatiſe of the Juſtification of writing theſe Gangr…naes (I am confident) will not be only ſatisfactory, but triumphing over all the clamors, o…tcries, and objections made by the Sectaries againſt my Books, ſlaying their Abſ…loms, and cutting off the heads of their great Goliahs, as that of ſpeaking against the Saints, and in the judgement of al learned and ingenuous men ſtopping their months for ever: Notwithſtanding al which I cannot but expect… of the Sectaries will ſtill clamor; ſpeak evill, and will not be perſwaded, though never ſuch reaſon be ſhowed them, yea if an Angel from he even, or one of the old Prophets ariſing from the dead, ſhould ſpeak againſt their Opinions and wayes, 'tis to befeared many of them would yet go on. The ſtrong deluſion that God hath ſent upon many of them to beleeve lies, the great intereſt of divers in regard of preferment and profit, the Popes Crown, and the Monks bellies, the deep ingagements of others to that way by many relations, and having mens … in admiration, make it is hard work to convince men though there be never ſuch evidence of Reaſon. I may complaine of the Sectaries of our times, as aParaeus in 2. Galath. v. 9. Hodi… quid fit? Opinionibus res geritur, imo affectibus. Nulla Argumenta, nullae Apologiae locum inveniunt.Paraeus doth of ſome Lutherans and others in his time, that things are altogether carried by opinions, yea by affections, no Arguments, no Apologies can take place. They that at the will and pleaſure of ſome men do not approve of unprofitable, ſcandalous, yea monſtrous opinions, they are caſt off, the right hand of fellowſhip denyed them although they preach Chriſt ſincerely. But now in the interim till that Treatiſe can come forth, which I intend ſhall preoede the Fourth Part of Gangraena, I wiſh the Sectaries to conſult bBaldwin Caſ. Conſci…n. lib. 4. cap. 7. pag. 10. 53. 1055. Falſorum dogmatum Propugnatores nominatim perſtringendi ſunt, quomodo enim alias ab auditoribus caveri poſſunt?Baldwins caſes of Conſcience who handling that caſe of Conſcience, whether the Authors and maintainers of falſe opinions are to be ſpoken againſt by name, reſolves it affirmatively giving Scriptures and Reaſons for it, yea ſhowing that falſe teachers are rather by name to be branded, then thoſe who lead only wicked lives, and Calvins cCalvin. Inſtructio adverſus libertines. cap. 4.Tractate againſt the Libertins, giving reaſons of his owne practice, and anſwering objections in not only writing againſt the opinions of the Libertines, but naming Coppinus and Quintinus cheife heads of that fastion.
Secondly, a man would wonder at it, that the Sectaries ſhould ſo rage and cry out againſt me, and my Gangraenaes for meddling with matters of fact, and nominating men, when as long before I put pen to paper in that kind, divers of them had in Pamphlets ſpoken againſt many Presbyterians by name, both godly Miniſters and other worthy perſons, as Maſter Calamie, Doctor Burges, Maſter Prynne, &c. Maſter Burton telling in … Pamphlet a ſtory of me by name a… Colcheſter (but falſe) and raking … old matters at Bury againſt Maſter Calamie in another Pamphlet call'd Truth, ſtill Truth, though ſhut out of doores, and all before the Firſt Part of Gangrana was printed; and indeed the Sectaries have all along both before my Books came forth and … ſince upon all occaſions (yea ſuch of them as have ſpoken and written moſt againſt me for ſo doing as M. Saltmarſh, M. Goodwin, M. …on, &c.) writ againſt the Preſ…rians by name, and related all … of fact & ſtories of them, and in a diſgracefull manner and way comparing them with D. Pockling …, and in a ſcoffing …ing abuſive way dealing with them▪ and … hath not … only by Independents to Preſbyterians, but the … written Books and given us ſtories (and that long before I … thought of this way) of … Sectaries a… Anti…ians. Anabaptiſts, Familiſts, and that by names, with all particulars of their doings as well as opinions, and of his judgement upon them, as Maſter Wells his Hiſtory of the Riſe, Raigne, and Downfall of the Antinomians, and ſome others in that kind, ſo that in this I doe but follow them, and write after their Copie, and I appeale to the ingenuous Reader, how they can with any colour blame that as a great evill and wickedneſſe in me, which they account in themſelves zeale of Gods glory, and a doing God ſervice, eſpecially conſidering that the Sectaries in their naming of Presbyterians, and bringing in matters of fact and ſtories have proceeded in a ſixfold manner and way, all which in matters of this kind be the things moſt liable to blame and exception, and which I have all along carefully ſhunned and declined. Firſt, the Sectaries in writing Books againſt the Reformation and Presbyterians, have not ſpared to write againſt, and that in a moſt reproachfull and vild way, whole bodies, Aſſemblies, Communities, and thoſe the higheſt and greateſt, as the Houſe of Peers, Houſe of Commons, the City of London and Common-Councell, the Aſſembly, the Kingdome and Generall Aſſembly of Scotland, ſome ſcores of ſuch Books written by Sectaries being in all mens hands; whereas in my writing againſt Sectaries, I have ſpoken only againſt particular perſons, but to whole Bodies and Societies I have tendred all due reſpect, vindicating them and their power againſt the Pamphlets and aſperſions of Sectaries. Secondly, the Sectaries in their writings of matters of fact have not▪ only named ordinary perſons, but perſons of the greateſt quality and place, abuſing them by name, as divers Members of both Houſes, the Speakers of both Houſes, ſome of the Lords and ſome of the Commons, the Lord Major of London by name, but I have all along declined the naming of perſons in authority and Magiſtracie, viz. in that way. Thirdly, the Sectaries in their perſonall matters and ſtories of the Presbyterians have ſtill related things manifeſtly untrue, of which there hath been no ground at all, as Maſter Price's ſtory of Maſter Bellamie …ding it unlawfull to ſell Prayer Bookes as the Anabaptiſts in the Lord Majors farewell of the late Lord Major, as ſome ſtories of Cretenſis, Maſter Burroughs and Maſter Burton of me, the contrary unto them being the truth; as a paſſage in Maſter Dels Epiſtle Dedicatory to the Houſe of Commons concerning Maſter Ley of the Aſſembly, moſt falſe, as a paſſage in Maſter Burtons Epiſtle of his Conformities Deformity of the new Lord Major known to be untrue; and ſo I could go on with inſtancing in paſſages in Maſter Saltmarſh, Lilburne, and other ſuch Books, manifeſtly untrue; and indeed of all the ſtories and matters of fact the Sectaries have in their Pamphlets in diſgrace of the Presbyterians, I hardly know one true one, whereas the ſtories related by me of them, the moſt of them are knowne to many, and are certain, and I have beene all along carefull, as by my Reply to Cretenſis is evident. Fourthly, the Sectaries in their matters of fact have fallen upon Preſbyterians with old matters many yeeres ago, before Presbyterians, yea gone back as farre almoſt as to their childhood, as Maſter Price did to Maſter Bellamie, and Maſter Burton goes back to Bury ten yeeres before, to finde ſomething againſt Maſter Calamie, and ſo I might inſtance in others, but I have confined my ſelfe within three or foure yeeres, and to the times ſince they were Sectaries. Fifthly, the Sectaries have brought in againſt Preſbyterians matters of bodily infirmities, of their complexions and ſuch like, as Saltmarſh in his pretended Anſwer to my Second Part of Gangraena, upbraids me, ſaying, Your face and complexion ſhowes a moſt ſadly parched, burnt, and withered ſpirit, but I have forborne that, leaſt I ſhould reproach my Maker, for he that made me made them. Sixthly, many of the Sectaries in their writings againſt the Preſbyterians, the Aſſembly, godly Miniſters, the Scots, and particular perſons by name, have done it in the moſt ſcornfull, prophane, blaſphemous and abuſive way, even to the abuſing of the Scriptures, the Spirit of God, Proaching, Prayer, and other Ordinances, as ever was heard of in any age, witneſſe The Arraignment of Perſecution, Martins Eccho, Cretenſis, and divers others, but in my Diſcoveries of the Errors, Hereſies, Practiſes of the Sectaries, I have ſhunned all ſuch wayes, ſetting my ſelfe plainly to diſcover the Errors and abominable Practiſes, confuting them with Scriptures and Reaſon, and in a ſerious ſad manner applying the danger of thoſe evils to the conſciences of all, both Preſbyterians and Sectaries; and thus much for removing that ſtone of offence out of the way, taken from the manner and way of writing.
2. For the matter of this Booke that there's a Truth in the Opinions, Stories, Practices related in it, notwithſtanding the clamours and ſpeeches of the Sectaries, that they are lyes, all lyes, I deſire the Reader to obſerve and remember theſe following particulars: 1. That the Sectaries of our time are ſo ſhameleſſe in this kind, as to ſay all things written againſt them, are lyes: thus they have ſaid the ſtories of the old Anabaptiſts in Germany written by Sleydan, Bullinger, Lambertus Hortenſ…s & other worthy men were lyes, and they would not beleeve them; ſo Maſter Saltmarſh in one of his Pamphlets againſt Maſter Ley denies the truth of thoſe ſtories, and other Sectaries in Pamphlets before him have ſaid the ſame, affirming if the King had over-come the Parliament, ſtories would have made them as bad as the Anabaptiſts, and the Princes of Germany prevailing againſt them, ſet men on work to ſet them out ſo, but all was falſe; Now if our Sectaries will ſpeak and write thus of all the relations of the old Anabaptiſts, how can it be expected, but that they will cry all downe for falſe written of themſelves? So our Sectaries will not beleive the ſtories of the Antinomians, Anabaptiſts, Familiſts in New England, of Miſtris Huchinſon and the reſt, but ſay all is falſe, all lyes; and ſome of them have cryed out of Maſter Wells his Booke of the Antinomians of New England, as much as of mine. 2. The truth of the maine ſubſtance and matter of this Booke both for opinions and matters of fact is in the Booke it ſelfe, by quoting Books knowne to hundreds, by naming of perſons knowne for witneſſes, by relating of things common in the times, and theſe ſet by the Errors in the Margents, or joyned to the matter, ſo manifeſt that he that runs may read it, and rationally there can be no more queſtion made of them, then whether the Scots tooke New-Caſtle, the Parliaments Forces had a Victory at Nazeby Feild, there be ſuch a man as M. Hugh Peters or John Lilburn. 3. That the Sectaries have uſed devices and found out inventions on purpoſe to poſſeſſe people that relations of things in my Books are falſe, when moſt true; as for inſtance, ſome Sectaries that have been of the ſame name of thoſe Sectaries that I have related ſtories of (though they could not but know by many circumſtances and particulars in the ſtories they were not the men but others) have ſaid, Ther's a ſtory related of me, I am the man he ſpeaks of, and tis all falſe, for I was at ſuch a place then and could not do ſo: thus one Webb an Officer in the Army did, telling the people in the Weſt where he found Gangraena, that the ſtory of Webb was of him, I am that Webb in Gangraena, and … all falſe, I never preached ſuch things, nor was ever queſtioned about ſuch things, or did ſuch things related▪ This a godly Miniſter in the …ſt of England told me he heard one Webb an Officer in the Army ſpeak thus to the people to poſſeſſe them againſt Gangraena; Now I writ not of that Webb, but another Webb a younger man here in London, not one of the Army, who put out a Booke for the vindication of himſelfe, where he confeſſes moſt of the things; and this other Webb could not but by many paſſages related, as of the age, as of being a Schoole-Maſter, as of the Chriſtian name, and divers others but know well enough I meant him not, and yet by this did he labour to blaſt my Book. Again ſome who having beene mentioned in Letters written up to friends, and printed by me, have come to my houſe, denying peremptorily thoſe things ſpoken of them in the Letters, deſiring to know who writ them that they might have …eparations, I having told them their names, & withall writing to thoſe Miniſters to know more fully their grounds of ſuch relations, they have returned …e Anſwers, that thoſe things were moſt true, and they would make them good when ever they ſhould queſtion them, in which kind I could give divers notable inſtances, but the nature of a Preface not admitting many, I will relate only one, namely of Maſter Maſcall of Dover ſpoken of in a Letter ſent from Dover ſubſcribed by five hands to a Member of the Aſſembly, printed in the Second Part of Gangraena in p. 135. of the Second Edition, who preſently after the coming forth of that Book, coming to my houſe with a friend of his and mine formerly, denyed poſitively and peremptorily what was written of him in the Letter, declaring he was of another judgement then to ſpeak ſo of our Miniſters and Synods as is expreſſed in that Letter, holding our godly Miniſters to have a lawfull calling, and Synods to be needfull; wherupon I writing to one of the Miniſters all paſſages that paſſed betweene us, and deſiring to know what he ſaid to it, he ſent me this Anſwer; Worthy Sir, I received your Letter dated June the 18. but could not conveniently Anſwer it till now, becauſe I would ſee the carriages of the Independents on laſt wedneſday when we choſe our Elders. What we wrote of Maſter Maſcall we can cleare, and will maintaine and much more; and according to your advice you ſhall not faile of ſufficient teſtimony if that Letter be croſſed: whereas he ſaith that he holds our godly Miniſters to have a lawfull calling, he will not ſay it in Dover, till he have diſtinguiſhed the word godly into a ſhadow: For his ſaying they never kept Church-meetings in time of the publicke exerciſes, its a very falſe untruth, and for his ſeeming to accord with us in our account of Synods, he knows that we hold it a duty to combine Churches, and to have a combination rule the Elders and Paſtor of a Congregation, which we know they will never allow. Thus much in breife for Maſter Maſcall who I dare ſay will not challenge any man in Dover, for that that is done againſt him, or if he doth, will find as ready an Anſwer as ever man received by man.
Your loving friend and Brother. MICH. PORTER. June 29. 1646.
And thus much for the Firſt generall head, concerning the manner and matter of this Book.
For the Second, the commending ſome directions, and taking off ſome miſconſtructions and cavils, for the better underſtanding of the ſubject matter and manner of this Booke let the Reader obſerve and conſider theſe following:
1. That the Sectaries run ſuch around of all opinions, as that they are come to hold many Popiſh and Prelaticall opinions, and to go upon the Papiſts grounds and mediums for many of their Tenets, which in the Errors, Poſitions and Practiſes reckoned up in this Booke the Reader may obſerve, as the 5, 6, 7, 36 Errors; nay there's almoſt no Popiſh or Prelaticall principle and Error, but many Sectaries are fallen into it, and in the practiſe of it, as being againſt the Perfection, Sufficiency, Perſpicuity of the Scriptures, being for Pope Toleration and a Diſpenſation for want of an Infallible Judge, as the Papiſts are for the Pope upon that ground, denying preaching to be the word of God and the ſervice of God as much or more then ever any of the Prelates did, being for Muſick, Organs, Hymns in the publick Aſſemblies, holding anointing the ſick with Oyle, maintaining Perfection in this life with ſome Popiſh Friers, beſides divers other Popiſh Errors: hence divers Popiſh *The Viſion of God by Cardinall cuſanus, The third part of the Rule of perfection by a Cappuchian Friar, Another booke written by a Preiſt.Bookes written by Preiſts and Friers have beene Tranſlated and lately ſet forth by ſome Sectaries, ſold openly, and I ſuppoſe Licenſed becauſe the Stationers names for whom printed, and Printers names expreſſed.
2. The Reader ſhall find in this Booke the Sectaries Deſigne and Practiſe, not to be only corrupting Religion, running out into extravagancies and ſtrange conceits that way, but to be againſt Magiſtracy and Civill Government, their deſigne of oppoſing ſetled Government, and bringing an Anarchy and Confuſion into Church and State, being here ſo fully laid open that they who run may read it; Tis in this Book unvailed and the w…king of this ſpirit in all ſorts of Sectaries and places clearly manifeſted: they have in Terminis in divers Pamphlets and ſome Sermons declared againſt Monarchie and Ariſto…acie, and for Democracie they have expreſſed themſelves in ſuch a manner concerning that, that they make it noe other then an Anarchie, making all alike, confounding of all rancks and orders, reducing all to Adams time and condition and devolving all power upon the ſtate Ʋniverſall and promiſcuos multitude, whom they make the Creator and Deſtroyer of Kings, Parliaments and all Magiſtrates at there meere pleaſure, without tying them to any rule, or bounding them by any lawes.
3. I doe more punctually and particularly give the proofes of the Errors and Hereſies named in this Third Part then in the two …ormer, with Animadverſions by way of Confutation or Obſervation upon more of the Errors and Practiſes then I did before, as having beene deſired by ſome ſo to do, and being that which I judge will make the work more profitable; and the Reader ſhall finde the proofs of the Errors ſet in the Margents juſt by them, and the Animadverſions under every particular Error, or elſe of divers of them put in one where the Errors are more of a kind; and the Reader will finde I have in all Books quoted all along, to prove the things I charge the Sectaries with, dealt very punctually and faithfully, and I challenge them to name any one thing quoted falſe, or wreſted among ſo many; and for other Relations I have them from ſuch knowne godly Miniſters and Chriſtians being eare and eye witneſſes of them, that I cannot eaſily be deceived: tis poſſible ſome circumſtances of order, time, place, number, may in ſome ſtories be miſtaken, and yet the maine ſtorie true, as we ſee in Hiſtories of battles and other humane things they often are (though I know n…ne ſuch, and have beene in all circumſtances as well as ſubſtance, as faithfull and carefull as a man can well be) and I can ſay it, that of all the particulars in this kind that I have related in theſe three Books, beſides many matters of fact in Antapologia, (which in all amount to ſome thouſands) I do not know of any one particular related by me (excepting one) that I have reaſon to ſuſpect was not true, and yet that was written me in a Letter by a Reverend and godly Miniſter and was the voice of the Country, and all I did was only printing that Letter, no otherwiſe affirming it; which particular, when the untruth of it ſhal… be made apparent to me from the man himſelfe or his freinds, I ſhall be ready, and have offered it to ſome who have ſpoken of it, to right him publickly in print.
4. Whereas ſome Letters written to my ſelfe, or ſome other Miniſters are printed in this Booke, which have ſome paſſages in them caſting honor and praiſe upon me, reſembling me to ſome Worthies in their times, as Luther, &c. for which I may be cenſured, as being the hand & inſtrument of publiſhing my own praiſes, and counted vainglorious; I do by way of taking off this exception deſire the Reader to conſider theſe things. Firſt, that I have left out of Letters many paſſages which reflect honour on my ſelfe, conſtantly paſſing by ſuch Titles, Epithites, and other expreſſions that are matters of praiſe in all particulars, excepting the juſtifying of my work in writing thus againſt the Sectaries. Now my Books for the manner and way of writing having beene ſo cried out of by all the Sectaries: and many weak Chriſtians, by their meanes, having beene alſo offended; I thought it neceſſary to print ſome paſſages of Letters from godly Miniſters giving teſtimony to my Books, and approving me in the way of my writing them, juſtifying me by the practiſe of Morney, Pleſſeus againſt the Papists, and of Luther; and the judicious Reader ſhall find if he obſerve, I print no other paſſages that may ſo much as reflect any kind of praiſe upon my ſelfe, but only thoſe that juſtifie my undertaking in this kind againſt the Sectaries; and which the Lord knowes I print not ſo much for my ſelfe, or my owne praiſe, but for the ſakes of others, that they may be ſatisfied of my Books againſt all the calumnios caſt upon them, and profit by the reading of them. Secondly, Tis not unknowne how the Sectaries by writing and ſpeaking have ſet themſelves to diſparage me, and to caſt ſcornes of all kinds upon me, ſuch as hardly ever were upon any man in any age, and all to weaken my eſteeme, credit and authority with the people, that being looked upon as a man ſo weak that a woman can anſwer my writings, and that I know not how to put the Nominative Caſe and Verb together, &c. all I do againſt the Sectaries might be ſlighted as not worthy to be looked upon: Now it being apparent this is the deſigne of the Sectaries, and their maſter peice, and God by his providence without my ſeeking in the leaſt, ſtirring up many learned men to bear witneſs to my works in Letters to their Freinds, which have beene brought to me, and in Letters writ to my ſelfe, I ſuppoſe I may in ſuch a caſe without the cenſure of vain-glory print ſuch teſtimonies to counterballance the deſpiſings and ſcornings of the Sectaries; yea, if I had gone further, and printed not only paſſages juſtifying my work, but what they had expreſſed of me in other kinds, conſidering how the Sectaries vilifie me, I might have beene excuſed: Saint Paul a humble and modeſt man, yet when by falſe Teachers he was in his perſon, preſence and ſpeech among the people preſented weak and contemptible, to the end his miniſtery might be made ineffectuall, he would not beare it, but takes off all thoſe things, enters into a commendation of himſelfe, ſhowing he was equall with the very cheifeſt Apoſtles, and ſpeaks of his owne knowledge and gifts, and ſpeaks that in this caſe he was compelled to glory, 2 Cor. 10. 10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 11. 5. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 12. 11, 12. And in ſuch a caſe as this if Caſuiſts be conſulted with as Ameſius, &c. they conclude that credit and a good report may not only be maintained, but ſought for, viz. for the glory of A meſius lib. 5. de Co…ſc. c. 14.God, and that we may by our work and example profit others the more by that means.
5. Whereas in my Book there are many Relations of Sectaries in the Army, ſome paſſages in Letters ſpeaking of the Army, and ſome things ſpoken by my ſelfe, that ſome may take to reflect upon the whole Army, I deſire the Reader to underſtand aright that nothing related by me, though written by others, or ſpoken by my ſelfe is meant of the whole Army, or the greater part of it, but only of that part of the Army, viz. the Sectaries in the Army: I acknowlege the New Modell under Sir Thomas Fairfax hath done gallant ſervice againſt the enemy, and did the greateſt and beſt ſervices when it had not ſo many Sectaries as it hath now, and my intent is not in the leaſt to caſt dirt upon the Army, but only to relate Errors and inſolencies of a part of the Army: The Sectaries, who though but a part, and much the leſſer, may be ſomtimes in diſcourſe or writing call'd the Army, viz. in that ſenſe as the Independents crying up the Army in Pamphlets and Sermons uſe the word Army, ſaying, here's an Army, the army hath done thus, when they mean by the Army, and expreſſe ſo much in other words the Independents and Saints in the army, ſo do I when I ſpeak in any place of the hurt the Army doth, or the Errors there I underſtand not the Army, but the Sectares in it.
6. Whereas in this Book there are many paſſages that Sectaries may be likely enough to interpret a ſtriking at the Parliament, a caſting reproach upon them, and more particularly upon the Honorable Houſe of Commons; I do here declare and profeſſe againſt any ſuch miſconſtructions, or conſequences, it being not my intent to reflect either upon both Houſes as conjunct, or upon each as conſidered diſtinct, or upon the Committees of either Houſe, the moſt that can be drawne is, that ſome paſſages in Letters or Relations ſhow there are ſome particular Members that are or favor Sectaries, which in writing ſo much of the Sectaries (as I do) for the good of the Parliament and the Kingdome cannot poſſibly be avoided, (though I forbear the naming of, or deciphering any of them) and that there are ſome ſuch crept into the Parliament all the Kingdome knowes and ſpeaks of it, and therefore I meddle not to ſpeake againſt the Houſes in all my Diſcourſe, neither do I inſinuate any thing in the leaſt to bring the people out of love with Parliaments, or this Parliament: I formally declare, leaſt any ſhould miſtake, tis the peoples great intereſt and bleſſing to have the power and Priviledges of Parliament maintained, and they muſt take heed they be not ſo diſcontented with miſcarriages of any particular Members or Committees that may fall out, as to ſet looſe in their hearts from Parliaments and deſert them. Parliaments are the ſtrong Boundaries of the exorbitancies of Princes and their Miniſters; they have by the conſtitution of the Kingdome and ☞the Lowes, power more then ſufficient to reſtraine the Tyranny of Princes, and to correct their greateſt Favourits and Officers of State, let the people once loſe Parliaments and be out of love with them, and then farewell all Liberty, Property, and ſlavery will come in like an armed man; and that nothing in my Book can be againſt the Honorable Houſes, (however ſomeparticular Members may be guilty of ſome things I ſpeak of, and that party wreſting my words to ſuch a ſenſe to make the Parliament offended with me) yet that there can be no ſuch thing, I deſire theſe things may be conſidered: 1. I do de Induſtria and at large diſcover and write againſt the Sectaries for ſpeaking and writing againſt the Parliament, againſt the Houſe of Lords and Commons, and do plead and contend for the power of both Houſes, both in matters of Religion and civill things, againſt the Sectaries, and therefore I cannot be thought to do any thing againſt them, but for them, 2. That in ſpeaking ſometimes of the Houſe of Commons, I ſpeake not poſitively that they do ſo, or uſe ſuch words of them as mine, or bring ſuch Arguments as if I owned them, but ſpeak the Sectaries words, and ſhow what followes upon their grounds againſt the power of the Houſe of Commons. 3. For any paſſages in Letters or Relations that may ſeem to have any reference to one or both Houſes of Parliament, a… ſpeaking againſt any under them imployed in Military or Civill affaires, or any other matter, I meddle not with thoſe paſſages at all as to juſtifie or aſſert them, but do only barely relate and print them; and for no other end but that the body of both Houſes may know that which may be they have not heard of, viz. ſuch a danger…us man imployed in their ſervice, ſuch inſolencies committed by men vnderunder their pay, and may know the Countries ſenſe of ſuch and ſuch things, how ill tis taken ſuch wicked men ſhould bee implied and may prevent in time the miſcheifs and evils which may grow out of ſuch things and the diſcontents that may be occaſioned thereby. Fourthly I doe with ſalmiſſion conceive that for a Miniſter a known friend and ſervant of the Parliaments in a reſpective way (not in a reproaching reviling way) to make known to the Parliament what the beſt affected ſay and write to …riends of ſuch and ſuch particulars, as the ſuffering, yea preferring of all ſort: of Sectaries, as the not ſettling Religion in ſo long a time, as the letting freinds waite long before they can have their Petitions received, as about the Elections of ſome new Members, as about the carriage of many Sectaries in the Army, &c. is ſo farre from ſpeaking againſt the Parliament or becomming their enemy, that tis one of the greateſt and faithfulleſt ſervices can be done them, and whatever paſſages I may have printed in any of theſe, or any other of this kind, I conceive tis highly for their ſervice, that they may know what hurt the Sectaries doe them, and how the Kingdome takes things; and truly next to the glory of God, the great thing that moves me to write as I doe of the Sectaries, is the great dammage and prejudice that comes to the Parliament by them, that as Heſter ſaid of Haman to Ahazuerus, the enemy could not countervaile the Kings dammage. So the Sectaries doings all the Kingdome over in all kind of Mechanicks preaching, in making tumults and riots in Churches, in driving away godly Miniſters, and venting all kind of abominable opinions does ſo much wrong to the Parliament in the Countries ſeverall wayes, that they can never countervaile the Parliaments dammage and loſſe, and I have related ſuch things for no other end, but to let them know ſo much; and I could wiſh both Houſes had read all paſſages in Letters ſent from ſeverall parts of the Kingdome, and from beyond Seas to London, which I have ſ…ne of this nature, a… what ill bloud theſe things breed, and how becauſe of the Sectaries they loſe a peice in the hearts of their beſt freinds, with many other paſſages which I forbeare now to relate. The Parliament upon many of the wicked doings of the Sectaries, as baptizing a Horſe, making uproares in Churches, &c. may take up a like ſpeech which Jacob ſaid to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to ſtinck among the Inhabitants of the Land: You have troubled us, to make us to loſe the hearts of many well-affected people in City and Country, and thereby encouraged the common enemy to be ready to gather themſelves againſt us again, and we being few in number, in danger to be deſerted of the people by reaſon of you, we ſhall be deſtroyed and our Houſe.
7. Whereas ſome of the Sectaries in their Pamphlets, as Maſter Walwyn and others have often inſinuated that I have preached and written ſo much againſt the Sectaries out of Policy, Superſtition, worldly and ſelfe Intereſt to maintain my owne Covetouſneſſe, Ambition, deſire of Domination, diſtinction betweene Clergy and Laytie, out of a ſpirit of oppoſition and Perſecution againſt conſcientions and peaceable men (all which they have done out of a deſigne to blaſt my books among many who know me not, not knowing otherwiſe how to anſwer them) I do therefore that I may countermine the Sectaries in this and take of theſe prejudices, declare as in the preſence of God, I never have, nor do appeare againſt the Sectaries and Errors of the times from any of theſe principles, but from a zeale of the glory of God and his Truth, and that founded upon knowledge and ſearch, a compaſſion to the Souls of poore people deceived, and the diſcharge of my duty and Conſcience as a Miniſter of the Goſpel; and as for thoſe other of Policy, Self-intereſt, &c. they have never fallen ſo much as under my conſultation, unleſſe that I have conſidered and forecaſt that what I was doing in writting ſuch a Book, and ſuch a Book was againſt all Policy, Self-Intereſt, and the ready way (as the times were and are) to run the hazard of the ruine of my ſelfe and my family, and that what I write is truth, and the Sectaries ſpeeches aſperſions, I deſire the Reader to obſerve theſe following particulars, and do challenge all the Sectaries to diſprove any one particular if they can. 1. Many years ago when I was perſecuted by ſome Prelates and their Creatures, in no poſſibility nor capacity by my principles and practices, of preforment, &. (as the beſt of the Independents well know) I preached againſt, and upon all occaſions declared my ſelf againſt the Browniſts, Separatiſts, Antinomians and all Errors in that way, as well as againſt Popiſh Innovations and Arminian Tenets. There are many who were my Auditors in thoſe times can and will witneſſe what I have preached at London and at Hartford aginſt thoſe Errors, when I have in the ſame places preached ſuch Sermons againſt the prevailing Opinions Innovations and Corruptions of the Prelates, that many thought I ſhould never have preached again; and indeed was not without manifold ſufferings and troubles, being put out of places, ſtopped from coming into others, and at laſt Letters miſſive with an Attachment ſent out to bring me into the High Commiſſion Court. About thirteene years ago at Magnus Church I preaching againſt forſaking the Publick Aſſemblies, had on a Lecture night at the ſame Church a Bill given me up (among the Bills to pray for the ſick) ſpeaking bitterly for ſo doing. At Hartford about 10. years ago, when Independency and the Church way began to be fallen too by ſome men of Note and ſome people to look after it, I preached againſt it earely, and by all wayes laboured to preſerve the people. About 8. yeares agoe when Errors on the right hand tooke with many, I did at a Lecture in the City at Aldermanbury, and Coleman-ſtreet preach againſt Apoſtaſie and falling to Errors on the right hand, and more particularly at Coleman-ſtreet, (many in that pariſh being then leaning that way) gave ſome conſiderations againſt Errors on the right hand, and warned the people of the white Devill, quoting a ſaying of Maſter Cartwright out of the Proverbs, and Maſter Brightman out of the Revelations againſt leaving the Church of England, and Maſter John Goodwin was then well pleaſed with my Sermon that he gave mo great thanks. 2. I never yet ſought any great things for my ſelf, great livings, or coming into publicke places of honor and reſpect, to be of the Aſſembly, or to preach in any publicke places before the Magiſtrates either at Weſtminſter or London, but have contented my ſelfe with ſmall meanes, and to preach in private places in compariſon, having refuſed many great livings and places, preaching here in London for a little, and that but badly paid (a… many well know) minding the worke and ſervice, little the maintenance.
I can ſpeak it truly that in theſe open times when many young men, raw preachers, men who never bore the heat of the day, have got great Livings of two or three hundred a yeere well ſituated with houſes and all accommodations, I have for the publick good declined all ſuch offers, ſpent my owne temporall eſtate to miniſter to my neceſſities, not having had for almoſt theſe two laſt yeers 40. li. per Annum, not withſtanding any conſtant preaching on Lords dayes, week-dayes and all extraordinary occaſions of Faſtings and thankeſgiving: I have beene willing to forſake my fatneſſe and ſweetneſſe, to neglect my profit, health, benefit of my Familie, all advantages, and in a ſort to ſequeſter my ſelfe from freinds, and all worldly enjoyments to ſpend my time, ſtrengh, ſpirits, eſtate, and all in reeding, writing, ſtudying of the Controverſie of theſe times, having prepared many Tractates againſt the Errors of the times; And as for Domination and affecting of Rule and Government, I have little meddled in that kind, beene at few meetings of that nature, and do profeſſe I am ſo farre from being ambitious in that way, that I ſhould account it a great happineſſe to have a call to a place only to preach and write, and a yeerely Penſion for the maintenance, rather then Tyths. Thirdly, I began to write my Gangrenaes, and have continued to write on (ſince which time I have beene accuſed to do all out of policie, worldly intereſt) in the times of the growth and raigne of the Sectaries, when they have beene in their greateſt power and moſt formidable, able to ſit on the skirts, and to cruſh thoſe who have oppoſed them (of which there are many inſtances, which I well knew) and to preferre and honor thoſe who adhered to them; and yet in ſuch a time have I writ againſt them, and more and more laid them open, which certainly could be no policie, worldly intereſt, but piety and duty to appeare in ſo open a manner againſt the riſing ſide: I well knew the Sectaries ſtrengh, policie, activnes, and how England was a bad Aire at that time and ſtill is for zealous Preſbiterians to thrive in, much might be loſt by it, but nothing gained; I underſtood the faithfull witneſſes had not yet put off their ſackcloch; had I indeed written againſt the Sectaries when they had beene on the declining hand, and caſt out as the Biſhops, when all men in high places had turned their hand againſt them, this might have beene interpreted Policy, wordly Intereſt, but to do it in a time when the Sectaries had ſo many friends in high places, ſuch an influence upon our Armies, Councels, &c. ſo many for them in City and Country, I beleive no wiſe man who conſiders it will call it Selfſeeking or Policy: I may ſay in this caſe as Job in another, Is there any taſte in the white of an Egge? So, is there any Policy in what I have done? 4. I have beene ſo farre from getting any thing by my open and earneſt appearing againſt the Sects, that I have ſuffered and loſt much, and am expoſed to all ſorts of hazards and dangers for ſo doing: I beleeve I have ſuffered more in my name, Eſtate, loſſe of Friends, &c. then any Sectarie in England hath done, for maintaining and ſpreading his Errors. I could have beene the darling of the Sectaries in regard of my former Intereſt and acquaintance with many of them, ſo I would but have held my peace and done them no hurt (though I had not beene theirs) I could have had more friends among the Preſbyterian party to have beene more moderate (as they call it) (for ſuch a time have we fallen into of Luke warmneſſe, and favour of Sectaries, that the being earneſt againſt them hath made ſome who goe for Preſbyterians not to owne me as otherwiſe they would for feare of being taken notice of) but I have loſt all them, and many friends more that had ſome relation to Independents, having been deſerted of many with whom I had kept unviolable friendſhip a long time. I have ſuffered by that party in ſome places in the City, where I have beene ſought unto and earneſtly deſired by the knowne godly party, I having beene kept out by the Sectaries meanes, either by joyning together with Malignants againſt me, or taking off ſome friends, or working one way or other: I have ſuffered much in my name, all manner of evill having beene ſpoken of me, having beene reviled, ſcorned, every Sectaries hand turned againſt mee been for a ſigne to be ſpoken againſt: O the …ard ſpeeches and contradictions not only of ſinners, but of many Saints to that I have endured. I have been threatned in many kinds, and there have been conſultations what to do with me; Lawyers have beene adviſed with, what might be done in Law in ſuch caſes of men being named, the Parliament hath beene ſtirred up in ſeverall Pamphlets againſt me, as in Gangraena playes Rex, Walwyns and Saltmarſh's Pamphlets▪ they would upon pretences make the Parliament fall upon me, and have ſaid they hoped the Houſe of Commons would be at leiſure ere long to talk with me; and beſides what I have ſuffered and doe ſuffer, I looke upon my ſelfe as expoſed to many dangers and ſufferings, running a great hazard in this undertaking: I know there are ſome deſperate men among them like the Circumcelliones among the Donatiſts, and what may not they doe, if God reſtrain them not: I am not ignorant what a ſtrong party they have, what a proud generation they are impatient of all contradiction and being croſſed, to whoſe Sheafe they think all ☜Sheafes ſhould bow, nor what a ſubtile malitious revengefull people they are, I am ſenſible what tis at this time to lay them thus open, even as much as to catch an angry Lion by the beard, and to ſtop him in his way rearing after his prey, or as to meet with a chafed Beare robbed of her whelps: and therefore in ſtead of once dreaming of worldly intereſt, the favour of men, I have laboured to prepare my ſelf for perſecutions and troubles, to forecaſt the worſt, having ſet God and his Truth for my helpe, which are ſtronger then all. 5. I have beene ſo farre from Policy, Selfe-Intereſt in wrighting againſt the Sectaries, that I was never guilty of theſe things in any way I ever appeared for: I never was the man ſince I came to years of underſtanding that ever put the queſtion which was the ſtrongeſt and the riſing ſide (they never fell under my deliberation) but which was the good ſide for God and his Truth, that was enough to me, I looked to that and never troubled my thoughts about riſing or great things in the world, as never expecting them; and in my adhering to one party or ſide before another, I have ſtill done it but ſo farre as they have beene for God and his Truth, freely declaring my ſelfe at the ſame time I have beene theirs, againſt wherein they have declined from the Truth and way of God. 6. Whereas the Sectaries, caſt Policy, worldly-Intereſt, &c. upon me, they themſelves are moſt faulty in this kind; and if the Independents Churches and Lectures with other their worldly Intereſts be compared with mine, their hundreds with my ſcores, their applauſe being cryed up, with my being cryed downe, their living in pompe and feaſting almoſt every day, with my ſlender diet, their eaſe with my labours, it will be found many of them fell to be Sectaries out of ambition, pride, profit, and that they might live eaſily. *Cal. Inſtr. adverſ. libert. c. 4 Quod autem Quintinus ejuſque ſocius ex Sartoribus Doctores facti atque ita immutati ſunt, id in cauſa …uit, quod delicate & molliter vivere vellent: nec ſibi putarent labores convenire. Propterea cō modius omni no exiſtimarunt, ut quemadmodum ſacerdotes & monachi cantillando, ſic ipſigarriendo vitam quaererent.Calvin in his Inſtruction againſt Libertines ſhowes the reaſon why Quintinus and his companions of Taylors became Doctors were ſo changed, that they might live delicatly and eaſily, and not be put to labour for their Livings: They thought it better for them that as the Prieſts and Monks got their Livings by chanting, ſo they by prating; and ſo no queſtion one great reaſon of many Mechanicks turning preachers and Dippers is, becauſe they may leave working and live delicatly and idely by going from Country to Country preaching. And indeed inſtead of any Miniſters or people oppoſing the Sectaries out of Policy, worldly Intereſts, tis evident tis the high way to ſome gainfull Place or other to become a Sectarie or to favour them, hundreds turning Independents and Sectaries meerly for preferments and Places, as heretofore men turned Prelatical, and Arminians becauſe of great Livings; and how the Independent party have feathered their neſts, got well for themſelves above other men, the Reader ſhall find more ſpoken of it in this Book. 7. As for that which is ſaid I write ſo againſt the Sectaries out of a ſpirit of perſecution and hatred of peaceable conſciencious men, I can ſay truly, if I perſecute conſciencious peaceable men, whom do I then love? my love, delight and intereſt is in ſuch, and I am ſo far from a ſpirit of perſecution, that I would be glad but to find the ſame meaſure from Independents, Browniſts, Anabaptiſts and others, which I would meaſure unto them if it were in my power, namely I would not impriſon, baniſh them and ſuch like, only hinder them from all places of power and truſt in the Kingdome, and from ſpreading their Errors and Opinions to the hurting of others, keep the unſound from the ſound, which if I differed in judgement from what was eſtabliſhed in a Church, and had nothing elſe done to me, I ſhould never conplaine of perſecution and violence for that; for tis abſolutely neceſſary for the peace and welfare of the civill State, beſides what tis for the honor of God, in the preventing the ſpreading of all Errors and Hereſies. And for a concluſion of this I have the clear and full teſtimony of my conſcience, that my appearing againſt the Sectaries hath not riſen from any ſuch baſe and poore grounds as the Sectaries alledge, but from a ſenſe of my duty that I might witneſſe to the truth of God in this ſinfull and adulterous generation. And now to draw to a concluſion of this Preface, nothing that hath yet befallen me of ſcandals, reproaches, and other ſufferings, or that ſhall further befall me in this way, of Books ſet out against me, of perſecutions and troubles to bonds, impriſonments, loſſe of eſtate ſhall (the grace of God aſſiſting me) turn me out of my way of conſtantly oppoſing the Sectaries, ſo long as they go on in their way, but when they for my writing against them ſhall ſpeak againſt me as moſt vile and abominable, I ſhall anſwer them as David, It was for the Lord that I have done it, and I will be yet more vile then thus, and though every day, naybour in the yeer ſhould bring forth ſome book againſt me, as bad as Balthazar Paeimontanus writ againſt Zuingl. and Bolſecu… againſt Calvin, yet for my part I ſhall be ſo far from being troubled, that I ſhall take all thoſe books as Job ſpeaks, and bind them as a crown to my head, nay if all the Sectaries in England were combined againſt me, and there were as many of them as tiles upon the houſes in the City, and every one of theſe Sectaries were a Devill, yea had a legion of Devils (as I beleeve ſome of them are poſſeſſed with many) yet I would go on against them, and if the Sectaries ſhould be able out of this Book, or any other to take advantage of my zeale, faithfulneſſe and plainneſſe of ſpirit, to make ſomething of ſome words to stir up the Civil powers to trouble me, yet for all that I ſhall not give them ever, but write ſo much the more, p…int them …, pray, ſpeak againſt their Errors, and if God ſhould give me ſo into their hands as to be able to deale with me as the Papists did with ſome of the …itneſſes of the truth, yet I am confident they ſhould have no cauſe to rejoyce, but I ſhould overcome even in that, like Sampſon kill more Philiſtims by my death then by my life, and many Brethren would waxe more …old to preach and write againſt them, and out of my aſhes ſhould ariſe thoſe who ſhould further diſcover them. I know the Sectarian faction muſt be deſtroyed and fall, Babell muſt come downe as well as Babylon, and the making of them naked is a preparatory work to the making of them deſolate and eating their fleſh. But O that God would rather give them to ſee what ☞they have done, and make them to confeſſe, give him glory, and returne, helping to build his Houſe with both hands, which they have ſo laid waſte and hindred all this while; and O that they would take well this Book, look into it, and obſerve Gods hand in finding them out, accept of it as it was indeed intended for their good, and not caſt it away, with ſaying tis ſharp and bitter, but rather remember that of the Apoſtle, that men muſt be ſometimes ſharply rebuked That they may be ſound in the …aith. Eraſmus often ſaid of the Eraſmus ſaepe dixit. Deus dedit huic poſt…emae ae…ati propter morborum magnitudinem acrem medicum. Mel. Adam. vit. luth p. 162.Papacit in his time, that it was ſo corrupt that it weede… acrem medicum, a ſharp Phyſitian, a gentle would have done no good, and therefore he raiſed up Luther a man of a free and hot ſpirit, that cared not for gold, and that feared not great men, but went on in the cure of the Church, ſtrong and rough humors needing ſtrong phiſick to purge them out. The foulneſſe and ſtrength of the diſeaſe of Sectariſme at this time call'd, and calls for a strong P…tion and may juſtly plead againſt the offence of any acrimonie and quickneſſe that may be found in it. Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe that meeke Lamb, of whom it was written he ſhould not ſtrive no… cry, neither ſhould any man heare his voice in the ſtreets, yet his zeale of his Fathers Houſe made him as tis in the ſecond of John to make a …rge of cords and drive all that ſold Ox…n, Sheepe and Doves, and the ch…gers of money out of the Temple and overthrow the Tables, ſaying unto them that ſold Doves, take theſe things hence, make not my Fathers Houſe …n houſe of merchandiſe; and I remember not that ever I re…d of the like ſharpneſſe and quickneſſe of Chriſt, as this, in any other caſe (that againſt the Scribes, Phariſees, and S…es, falſe Teachers was the likeſt) and certainly the ſervants of Chriſt in a … when the Church of God and Religion is bought and ſold, and made merchandiſe of by falſe Teachers, as Saint Peter ſpeaks, the precious truths of God, and the immortall ſouls of them for whom Chriſt died, preſtituted and ſold to the baſe luſts and ſelfe ends of men, when there are not found in the Houſe of God ſo good intruders as th…ſe that ſell Oxen, Sheepe and Doves, ſuch profitable creatures, but thoſe that ſell T…, Crocodiles, Pipers, Serpents, and all kind of Monst…rs, they may and ought at ſuch times and in ſuch caſes to imitate Chriſt, and to doe ſomething more then ordinary for the purging of the Church, and that may ſhow their zeale for God and for his Houſe.