Satan at Noon, Animadversion 1 – Article 3

Satan at Noon · Animadversion 1 – Article 3

p. 8Animad. firſt.

Animad. 1. and that in theſe three particulars, Firſt, as to the Articles, ſecondly, as to the D^rs witneſſes, thirdly, as to his plea.

p. 9First particular.

As to the articles, we entreat the reader to obſerve, that theſe two articles depoſed, and the other two (of which anon) were not collateral paſſages, but, the main heads of D^r Pordage's ſermon, his text was Malachy 3.1. his Doctrine, That, God doth uſually prepare his way, in the hearts of his people, before he comes in with his glory to them. He proceeds thus.

There are ſeverall preparations laid down by Divines, as the conviction of ſin, the terrours of the law, the death of Chriſt, the free grace of God, which are (ſaid he) but fleſhly, and flaſhy diſcoveries.

I ſhall give you (ſaid the D^r) the preparations according to the ſix dayes work in the creation, the ſeventh being that glorious reſt, when God comes in with his glory to the ſoul.

The firſt preparation is a glorious union, which union is 1the fiery deity of Chriſt mingling, and mixing it ſelf with our fleſh.

The ſecond is a glorious righteouſneſſe, Dan. 9.24. 2which righteouſneſſe is not that ſapleſſe, imputative righteouſneſſe of another (viz. Chriſt as he explained it) but, the fiery deity burning in the center of the ſoul.

The third is a glorious liberty, which liberty (ſaid the 3Dr) is not a liberty and freedome from the guilt of ſin, the curſe of the law, the wrath of God, purchaſed by the blood of another, and applied by the cleaving of the ſoul, but the fiery deity burning up our luſts, and corruptions in the center of the ſoul.

Two other paſſages of blaſphemy there were uttered by the Dr, that were forgotten by Mr Tickhill, the Deponent, but after finding his paper, he doth remember them, and doth aſſert them (as upon oath.)

The firſt is this: That God in Chriſt, and Chriſt in the ſaints, is the unity in trinity, and trinity in unity.

The ſecond is this: That Chriſt in his preparatory coming by his fiery deity, quite conſumes, and deſtroyes all ſin p. 10and corruption, which conſuming of ſin is that doing away of tranſgreſſion, mentioned Dan. 9.24.

If it be ſaid, M^r Tickhill is ſevere, and rigid, and ſo prejudice may barre the door againſt truth, then,

Secondly, we requeſt that this teſtimony witneſſed and ſigned with M^r Pendarvis his own hand, may be conſidered.

Theſe are to certifie whom it may concern, that in a ſermon at Ildeſly, D^r Pordage did deliver theſe following expreſſions.

Firſt, That Chriſt was a figure, and but a figure.

Secondly, That the Godhead was mingled with our fleſh.

Thirdly, That the imputative righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, was but a ſapleſſe righteouſneſſe.

Fourthly, the graces, and gifts of the ſpirit were but fleſh.

Fifthly, That D^r Pordage did falſely accuſe M^r Tickhill of coming on purpoſe to oppoſe him, neither of ushhThis work of providence (as it were) ſpeaking thus, (as now we ſee it come to paſſe) yonder is a blaſphemer, hear him, and diſcover him. thought of his being there. I went, and he with me, to preach upon the deſire of the people: what limitation us'd by the D^r, or whether any, I do not well remember.

Ita testor. Joh. Pendarvis.

Second Particular.

To the ſecond, as to his witneſſes, here we do unfeignedly profeſſe, we are even fain to force our ſelves under much unwillingneſſe, to this part of the animadverſion, not that we regard any revilings, and cenſure, ſo as to be troubled, but becauſe we are willing to live in peace. But becauſe the matter of theſe articles charged, and proved, is of ſo high a concernment, that all that is dear and p…ecious to ſouls, in heaven, and earth is imbarqued in it; and becauſe the D^r pretends viſions, and thoſe of ſuch height, and glory (as he calls them) that the like have not been heard, or ſeen: and becauſe his friends do intimate, that, theſe Angelicall viſions are in order to the pure preaching of the goſpel to the Church, which hath been in Apoſtacy many hundred years, p. 11and becauſe he layes ſuch a weight upon his witneſſes. Laſtly, becauſe he hath publiſhed them to the world, and named them often in the text, and margent, we think it a duty incumbent upon us to write the truth, promiſing to deliver nothing but the truth, and purpoſing not to write all the truth we might, merely for quietneſſe ſake, and to prevent family diſturbance.

Truly it ſeems ſomewhat obſervable, that D^r Pordage, who hath enjoyed ſuch viſions of glory, (as he ſaith) hath ſuch high diſcoveries, pretends to ſuch a pitch of ſanctity, and mortification, even to perfection. Having ſo much acquaintance in London, and in the Countrey, and being under ſo high a charge, as Blaſphemy, Devilliſme, Ʋncleanneſſe, and ignorance, that notwithſtanding all this, he ſhould bring no more, or no other witneſſes in his behalf, then he hath done. And were it not that we deſire to be ſerviceable to the publick, we might have ſpared this pains, (we have no itch to be in print) for the very conſideration what manner of perſons the witneſſes are, hath given no ſmall ſatisfaction of the D^rs guilt, to all Chriſtians hereabouts, that know him, and them.

The firſt witneſſe for the D^r is Richard Higgs, we purpoſe not to mention the many ill-complexioned and hard ſpeeches, which this man hath uttered againſt the miniſtry, and maintenance. This language now a daies paſſeth amongſt many, rather for a prime character of a godly man, (as they ſtile it) then for any fault; many (and we ſpeak it ſadly to ſee them ſo befooled) have little elſe to ſhew for their religion, but their being ſcurrilous, againſt Ʋniverſities, Miniſters, Learning, and maintenance. Do we ſpeak for our ſelves in this, or for the truth? the Lord knows, and our conſciences know, and the day will diſcover it.

So that the goſpel, religion, learning might thrive, & proſper, we ſhould deſire to be ſilent, though we ſate in the duſt; and whatever become of us, or ours, or them, we can in ſome meaſure be contented, ſo that the purity and power of the goſpel may dwell in the land.

This man is brought in by the D^r as his chief witneſſe, p. 12he quotes him often, and doth preface his teſtimony, that, he is a pious, prudent, and a learned Chriſtian, and therefore to be heeded by the people, and believed by the Commiſſioners.

Thus he depoſeth, that he heard the D^r preach at Bradfield upon, and for the imputative righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and this he atteſted with much confidence, but now obſerve theſe particulars.

1Being demanded by the Commiſſioners very often, and earneſtly, to declare, what he conceived the D^r did mean by Chriſts righteouſneſſe, he would at no hand (although he was upon his oath) reveal it. We were ſuſpicious at firſt that there might be ſome ugly, ſpeckled toad lying under a wholſome ſage leaf, ſome wretched familiſticall blaſphemy, under wholſome expreſſions, nothing more common: theſe late years paſt have diſcovered this practiſe, more then many former generations; and therefore we preſſed him over and over, ſeeing he had been a ſeven years hearer at times, and a man intelligent, and one that penned the ſermons, that he would tell, what he conceived the D^r did underſtand by Chriſts imputative righteouſneſſe, but there was no prevailing with him, he would not tell.

2Being further asked what he himſelf meant by Chriſts imputative righteouſneſſe, he would not tell, nor anſwer; either, this was his weakneſſe, that he could not tell, or elſe his wilfulneſſe, that he would not. If the firſt, how groſſe is his ignorance? and how unfit his teſtimony? if the ſecond, what unconſcionableneſſe is this? he being ſworn to ſpeak the truth. But it ſeems to be his ignorance, for,

3Being now prompted by the D^r, (from whom he confeſſeth he had the**This practiſe of the Dr l…oks very ill favoured, for this is not the firſt time that he hath done ſo with his witneſſes. paper before he came, preſcribing what he ſhould ſpeak,) to ſay, the righteouſneſs of Chriſt was his active and paſſive obedience, he did tell the Commiſſioners what he meant, but being further asked, what he meant by Chriſts active obedience, he anſwered, Chriſts death upon the Croſſe. This pitifull anſwer makes us, who know his former profeſſion, think, that the fiery Deity and viſions of Bradfield, and a typicall Chriſt, are like to make this man p. 13to forget, if not to ſlight the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, in the ſcripture; and now we have mentioned that bleſſed book denyed by many, and wofully neglected by moſt, the reader may obſerve in the next place ſomthing of this very witneſſe.

Fourthly, This Deponent was much infected with the pernicious 4and now ſpreading hereſie of anti-ſcripturiſme, he denied the Bible to be the word of God, and from whence he ſhould ſuck in this venome, we cannot imagine, but from Bradfield viſions, we are ſatisfied that this alſo is one of the D^rs opinions, even becauſe, (though we have many other reaſons,) this man ſo much his intimate and boſome friend, and grand and choiſe diſciple, is of this judgement; theſe three particulars were witneſſed to his face, before his friends, by ſufficient teſtimony, as ſpoken by him.

That theiiThe Dr prints pag. 40. That Higgs ſaid he ſpake of the eſſentiall word, which is utterly falſe, and beſides m…kes the diſcourſe nonſence. Scriptures were not the word of God.

And being demanded, what they were then, if not the word, he anſwered.

That they were old declaratives

And then he ſpake thus to one of the company, in a wretched blaſpheming way.

That, if we had thekkAnd ſure they think they have, and would be very angry if it ſhould be queſtioned, the Lord lo…k upon the land, ſo many familiſts or q…akers, ſo many Bible makers. ſpirit, we might make as good 3ſcriptures as that and (to uſe his own expreſſion) even thee, Will. Jennings, who was one of the company. Obj. But he profeſſed the contrary, we reply let no man deceive you with vain words, ſure it were a very ſorry plea for a felon convict, to plead thus, I did not ſteal, for I profeſſe my judgement is againſt theft, why doth not this man recant and expreſſe repentance for it, if he doth really renounce it? but ſeducers, and the ſeduced, eſpecially ſeducers ſeldome or ſcarce at all will confeſſe their errours, for fear of looſing their credit and repute, which if they looſe their work is quite ſpoiled: give us leave a little (though it be ſomewhat digreſſing yet it may be advantagious, and we are ſure it is ſeaſonable) to propoſe an inſtance or two firſt, a clamorous & followed Arminian * being much worſted in debate of the generall point, (as they term it) being asked after in private, by a perſon of honour, and piety, whether he were not aſhamed to face it out ſo in publick, and whether he did not ſpeak p. 14againſt his own light (he ſaid) we muſt ſay ſomething becauſe of the people, ſo ſaid a great preaching Anabaptiſticall Arminian to an officer, a gentleman of integrity now in the army, doſt thou think ſaid the officer to him, that your anſwer to the argument was the meaning of the text, no, replyed the preacher, but I muſt ſay ſomething; thus it was in this very caſe of Richard Higgs, who being intreated by one of us to recant, and repent of his all-deſtroying Anti-Scripturiſme, the party ſolemnly proteſting, that he intreated him, intirely for the good of his ſoul, and not to endanger him as to the civill magiſtrate, one ſtanding by, like an Elymas did diſwade him from the acknowledgement of it, as his errour, and perverted him from doing his duty by confeſſing and giving God the glory, ſaying thus, Confeſſe, yea, that is that, they would have: if hereticks, and ſeducers of all ſorts and ſiſes had not bin practitioners in this black art of ſmothering the light, and holding down the truth, nay had they bin but ſo ingenious, as in caſe of a nonplus to have craved day, and ſaid (as a learned man did, and every godly man would) I will anſwer thee to morrow, in all likelyhood, theſe foul hereſies had bin rotting in their graves, which are now jetting and walking up, and down the ſtreets, every where. but to proceed.

The next is Daniel Roherts, he is quoted by the D^r as a witneſſe for him, and here we do profeſſe our pen is very loath to give down its ink, we do find in us a very great averſeneſſe from naming of any names, but, moſt of all, neighbours, but the D^r hath named them often, and pleads for them, and laies great ſtreſſe upon them, and the cauſe is Chriſts, therefore we may not ſeek the favour, or fear the face of man. Thus then, this perſon was firſt a ſeparatiſt, then a preacher de ſe, thens a dipper, and allOur hearts ake to think what kind of perſons all England over lay hands upon, and thruſt themſelves into the administration of Chriſt's ordinance, breaker of bread, then, an Anti-Sabbatarian, (and that very day and time of the day, that he travelled with this miſhapen errour in publick, and miſcarried, it pleaſed God, that there was a travell at his houſe with a birth of a miſhapen child) then, anmmHow many thouſand ſouls have bin robbed and ranſacked by ſturdy and bloudy hereſies, little errours like little thieves firſt creep in at the caſement, and let in the great ones after them. Arminian, much for that darling and intoxicating point which pleaſeth at the heart, (and ſo hath a great advantage to p. 15ſpread) all carnall looſe ones, viz, generall redemption, once a mortaliſt, now, a ſimple compounded Anabaptiſt, perhaps, he may think it an honour to him to be the laſt, and thank us for naming of it, if he doth, we did not mean it ſo, neither did we name it ſo, as to aſperſe him, nor to take of the leaſt from his teſtimony, for that is little enough already, if it were a little leſſe, it were juſt nothing: but, to let the conſcientious, underſtand who are the Drs witneſſes in print, and to judge as he ſees meet.

The next is Mary Pocock, a woman formerly of a troubled ſpirit, who ſeeking reſt, and not finding it, hath turned aſide to lying vanities, and hath layed out her money for that which is not bread, we are horribly afraid for her, that ſhe is gone off quite from looking for juſtification and life by a Chriſt without her, a moſt Chriſt diſhonouring, and a ſoul damning, yet a dandled and huggd opinion amongſt very many, at this day; as to her teſtimony conſider.

Firſt, that ſhe depoſeth againſt Mr Tickhills and M^r Stevens oath, and M^r Pendarvis point blank, as though ſhe were reſolved, &c. Oh ſad!

Secondly, She is one of the D^rs family, fellowſhip, & the country ſaith, community as to goods, and it is thought, it may concern her, in caſe the Dr be ejected.

Thirdly, We are aſſured, the Drs tenet is, that he may ſay, and unſay, though he ſay in his book, twas ſaid maliciouſly, to caſt an odium upon him, and for his practiſe, we have found his anſwers moſt notoriouſly falſe, now this woman we fear, is too much one of his diſciples.

Fourthly, This woman refuſed an oath at Reding when ſhe was to ſpeak for the truth, in ſome articles againſt the Dr, and the very next week, at Newbery when ſhe appeared for him, ſhe was altogether as forward to take her oath.

Laſtly, She being examined at Newbery, upon that oath which ſhe had taken for the D^r, whether ſhe did not relate to ſome perſons of honour, how the Dr had contended with the Dragon, three hours in his chamber, ſaying to one another thou lyeſt, and thou lyeſt, and whether ſhe did not relate that p. 16the D^rs children were ſtrangely acted in their legs, and thighs, and arms, and whether ſhe did not relate to them, how M^rs Flavell had been in a trance, and how ſhe had found the Philoſophers ſtone, which had puzzel'd ſo many wiſe men, (viz.) the divinity in the humanity.

She made an anſwer in a careleſſe way, to our amazement, and pity, (ſc.) ſhe could not tell whether ſhe told them ſo, or no, perhaps ſhe did, perhaps ſhe did not.

It is wonderfull ſtrange, that ſuch extraordinary paſſages, related by her in a glorying way, when they were reaking hot, nay when it was (as ſhe phraſed it) given in to her to reveal them, and ſhe did reveal them to perſons of honour and unqueſtionable evidence, who do ſtill atteſt it, and when ſhe was minded of ſome circumſtances of the relation, ſhe did remember ſomething of them, it is much (we ſay) that ſhe ſhould no better remember this her own relation. doth not this woman think that ſhe may ſay any thing to ſave the D^r from the world?

The third particular.

The D^rs plea.

That theſe articles come not within the compaſſe of the Act againſt Blaſphemous and Atheisticall opinions, by which Act the Commiſſioners are limited. pag. 54. This he pleads for himſelf, often in his book.

Anſwer,

We are well aſſured that all fearing God in the nation, will with their ſouls conſent with us, that the Deniall of the Godhead of our Lord Jeſus, the making a piff at his precious bloud, and calling his compleat righteouſneſſe a poor, vain thing, that the Lord Chriſt is but a type, are blaſphemies that open their mouth againſt heaven, and are of as high a nature, as wretched men, or damned ſpirits can be guilty of: and doe at once, ſo directly deſtroy ſcriptures, duties, ordinances, graces, glory, all. Now if this defence of the D^rs be true, we profeſſe our unfeigned ſorrow from our inmoſt hearts, that the bleſſed glory of our dear Lord Chriſt was no more conſulted for, if there be no proviſion made, for the p. 17ſtopping of the mouth of blaſphemy againſt the Lord Jeſus, by the Civile Magiſtrate.

We profeſſe we cannot but wonder at the great raſhneſſe of this D^r, and lament the diſhonour (as we humbly think) that this vain man caſts upon authority, in that he proclaims upon the houſe top, and tells it in Gath, that hideous blaſphemies againſt Jeſus Chriſt, are not puniſhable by the Commiſſioners of the ſeverall counties; which God forbid, and we believe all the Saints will ſay Amen. And we do with caſe and comfort perſwade our ſelves, that the ſupreme Magiſtrate doth not intend it, and will never ſuffer it.

Whereas ſome do blame the Commiſſioners for being immethodicall, for not reducing the articles under the head, ignorance, we anſwer, that the articles alledged, and proved, do indeed ſhew him guilty of the greateſt ignorance, and inſufficiency, that is imaginable, and doth abundantly clear the juſtice of the ſentence: yet theſe articles when they were exhibited, were look'd upon as having too much hideouſneſſe in them, that the Commiſſioners could not find in their hearts, to rank them under any other head, but that of blaſphemy, and do ſtill look on them as worthy to be branded with the blackeſt Epithite that hell can afford.

And if it be true (as ſome do ſay it is, and therefore do ſay, the Commiſſioners do they cannot tell what themſelves, for theſe articles do not come under the act, as they pretend) then, we ſhall not be ſo quiet in our conſciences as we deſired, unleſſe we beg leave to ſay, that it was no teſtimony of over and above kindneſſe to Jeſus Chriſt, in thoſe perſons that drew up that act, (& who they were, we profeſſe before the ſearcher of hearts, we know not) to draw it up ſo, as not to mention, nor mean the ſafeguarding of his glory, from the tongues of blaſphemers, which are ſet on fire of hell: We ſay again, if it be true, we do not ſay it is ſo, we cannot ſay it: and therefore, were we fit, (as indeed we are altogether unfit,) we would in all humility beſeech his Highneſſe Honourable Counſell to take this matter into conſideration, and to determine as they ſee cauſe, that ſo for the future, all clamours of men, and quibbles of counſellours may be prevented, p. 18and every article may be reduced under its own proper head. The ground of our requeſt is this, we are fully perſwaded they will never ſuffer any to be Preachers of the Goſpel, who are blaſphemers of the Lord Jeſus, who is the ſubſtance of the goſpel, in whom all the promiſes are yea, and amen, and whoſe precious bloud is the bloud of the everlasting covenant.

We have been preſſed in our ſpirits to this boldneſſe, through the grief of our hearts, becauſe we do in ſome pittance perceive what, through the wretched confidence of profane ones, and the ſecret confidence of morall ones in their own civile righteouſneſſe, and what through thennFor ſo theſe would be thought. acuteneſſe of Socinianiſme, and thennFor ſo theſe would be thought. oaringneſſe of Familiſme, and the croaking of the Quakers, and the ſpreading of all theſe, there are very poor, mean, and ſlight thoughts all the land over, in city and countrey, of the glory, love, bloud, and merits of our Lord Jeſus, who is God over all, Bleſſed for ever. And let him be bleſſed for ever: as the great God, and our Saviour, Amen.

Laſtly, Whereas the D^r complains how much he was injured by being repreſented by his enemies, and look'd upon by the Commiſſioners, as a conjurer, and ſorcerer, and one that dealt in Negromancy, (as he called it) and black Magick; and to this purpoſe, ſtuffs out his book with ſeverall allegations of his own dear ones, to vindicate himſelf from Necromancy, and ſorcery; this is nothing in the world but ſtramineous, chaffie ſtuff, put in to fill up a ragged book: for the Commiſſioners did not look upon him as a conjurer, but as an impoſtor, who made uſe of his apparitions, and viſions, as a miniſteriall way, viz. to confirm his blaſphemies, to draw in diſciples, and to confirm thoſe that were ſo, vaunting himſelf thus, what? but one, but one in the whole creation, pretending, that other miniſters knew no more of the goſpel, then a dead horſe, and why? becauſe they are not Nicolaitanes and viſioners.

But he complain's much pag. 71. that the Commiſſioners would not take in his witneſſes, who could depoſe how he had preached againſt conjuration, which witneſſes he names p. 19twice in the margent, to make his reader believe how grievouſly he was wronged.

Anſwer.

Though the buſineſſe be eccentricall, yet we will ſee what the witneſſes could have ſaid for the D^r againſt conjuration, they begin thus and ſay,

They heard the Dr preach in 653 at Bradfield, out of Pſal.**We cannot imagine what verſe, or verſes. were the text out of that Pſalm 51.Ps 51 51. thus, From the ſubtilty and craft of the fireroot, through the prying, and ſearching of it, doth ariſe all Necromancy, and all prying into ſuch curious arts ſpringeth from the fiery eſſence in the will of men and women, that ſtirreth them up, to pry into, and after ſuch hidden curioſities, this is the gate through which all hidden curioſities do enter. For this he quotes Exodus 7.11. Then the king called all his wiſe men, &c, and at another time, he preached at Bradfield out of Matt. 4.5. and from thence he obſerved, that one pinnacle of the devils temple,, was the pinnacle of the unlawfull arts and forbidden ſciences.

His uſe was this, he exhorts the people, and that as they love thir own ſouls, to take heed of this door, the ſubtilty of the dark Magicks. and bids them conſider how the ſcriptures do condemn the luſting and prying mind: and for this quotes Acts 19.19. Thoſe that uſed curious arts burnt their books. For the Divil, the Dragon, doth labour to carry up mens minds to the top of the pinnacle of dark Magicks.

What a ſad thing is it, and who can chuſe but pity the caſe of this Pariſh, to be fed with ſuch husks, ſuch allegogoricall, unprofitable, unſuitable diſcourſes?

What ſhould be in the D^rs mind, to tell them of the fire root, and fiery eſſence, and the pinnacle of the devils temple? and ſo to conjure them, as they loved their ſouls to take heed of the black Magicks, poor creatures, we cannot imagine, unleſſe it be this, that the D^r began to ſmell powder, there was a great noiſe of the Devils, at Bradfield, and there was the Ordinance for ejecting Miniſters, preparing, the D^r was afraid the Prieſts would perſecute him (for his p. 20light eclipſed there,) out of envy, he thought, they would article againſt him, as a conjurer, and therefore he preacheth in his flinty non ſenſicall way, againſt the Dark Magicks, and provides his own family, to obſerve, and bear witneſſe, (for in all his thirteen weeks triall, there was not one inhabitant a witneſſe for him) and ſo in his margent he puts them in rank, and file, to bear witneſſe.

He complains likewiſe in the ſame page, p. 71. how Mr Ford went about to ſtir up the Magiſtrate againſt him, as a blaſphemer. And good reaſon, what harm is in that? what doth the D^r find himſelf a grieved at? is not he a blaſphemer? or does not the civile Magiſtrate want ſtirring up? M^r Ford ſaid his living was poſſeſſed, why, was it not? doth not he ſay, that there were an innumerable company of Devils in his houſe? yea, but he ſaith, Mr Ford branded him for a conjurer: now, that is utterly untrue, and we believe he had no ſuch thought in his heart.

The third Article.

That the diſcoveries of the ſinfulneſſe of ſin, the terrours of the law, the death of Chriſt, the free grace of God, are fleſhly and flaſhy diſcoveries.

To this the D^r gives no particular**In his printed book, he doth acknowledge it, and gives this reaſon, Becauſe it was not comprehended in the Act againſt Blaſphemies. Pity, if ſuch a blaſphemy, ſhould have ſuch a plea. But there, pag. 42. he tells the world, that even the diſcoveries of the free grace of God, and the death of Chriſt, are but weak, in compariſon of the more full, and clear manifeſtations, and operations, of God, upon the ſoul, in bringing of it into divine union, and fruition. Anſwer. For our parts, we have ever thought, that the diſcovery of the Fathers rich grace and the moſt precious death of Chriſt, had been of all diſcoveries, the moſt glorious. St. Paul calls it a height, breadth, depth, and length, and theſe being too ſhort, he tells us, it paſſeth all underſtanding. Epheſ. 1.17. St. Peter tells us, That even the Angels do pry into this glorious myſtery. 1 Pet. 1.12. the word is foreign, which ſignifies, propenſo collo, & accurate introſpicere. And for the weakneſſe of theſe diſcoveries, we are content to be in the dark with St. Paul, who tells us, 2 Cor. 3. the laſt, We beholding as in a glaſſe, the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the ſame image, from glory, to glory, even as by the ſpirit of the Lord. The true and indeed Saints of God, the more they behold by the eye of faith, in the pure, and clear glaſſe of the Goſpel, the glory of the Lord Jeſus, what he is in himſelf, how infinitely bleſſed, and ſelf-ſufficient, and what he hath done for them, in ſuffering ſuch wrath, in conquering ſuch enemies, in purchaſing ſuch glory, with much more, and all this, ſo freely, ſo fully, ſo unchangeably, for ſuch wretched creatures as themſelves, who are altogether as bad, as the worſt in hell: we ſay, the more gracious ſouls do converſe with theſe glories, the more they are transformed, and, that, into the ſame glorious image, and there they proceed, even from glory, to glory, and all this is wrought in them, by the spirit of the Lord. It is not a weakneſſe, but a wickedneſſe in this Dr, to call the diſcoveries of the Fathers grace, and the ſon, death, weak diſcoveries, im compariſon, we demand in compariſon of what? what diſcoveries are more glorious, and powerfull, then theſe? doth not the man mean his viſions at Beadfield, and his tincturation? oh! deteſtable, in his Epiſtle. Dedicatory, he doth intimate the narrowneſſe, ſyſtemes, formes, darkneſſe, of his perſecutours. Be it ſo, nay it is ſo, we arrogate not to our ſelves, we are nothing, and there is nothing more ſometimes, upon our hearts, then this, that God would make our hearts to know our own nothingneſſe. But we do profeſſe to the world, that we would much rather by many thouſand degrees, be in the dark with St. Paul, and St. Peter, then to be in the light, with David George, Caſpur Swincfield, Henry Nicholas, John Pordage.Eph 1:171 Pet 1:122 Cor 3 anſwer.

p. 21The proof of this article.

The aforeſaid M^r John Tickhill to the third article.

This Deponent ſaith, that the D^r delivered, That the diſcoveries of ſin, the terrours of the law, the death of Chriſt, the free grace of God, are fleſhly, and flaſhy diſcoveries: and, being croſſe examined to the D^rs interogatorie, he further ſaith, the very ſumme and ſubſtance of this article was delivered fully, and roundly, by the D^r, in the expreſſe words, for the ſubſtance, to the beſt of this Deponents remembrance, and that without any limitation.