Vindication of the Ministers of London, Title page – Dedication
A MODEST and CLEAR VINDICATION Of the Serious Repreſentation, and late Ʋindication Of the Miniſters of London, from the Scandalous Aſperſions of JOHN PRICE, In a Pamphlet of his, Entituled, CLERICO-CLASSICƲM OR, The Clergies Alarum to a third War. WHEREIN
His King-killing Doctrine is confuted.
The Authors by him alledged, as defending it, cleared.
The Miniſters of London vindicated.
The follies, and falſities of Iohn Price diſcovered.
The Proteſtation, Vow, and the Covenant explained.
By a friend to a regulated Monarchy, a free Parliament, an obedient Army, and a Godly Miniſtry▪ but an enemy to Tyranny, Malignity, Anarchy and Hereſie.
Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſly for my ſake: rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you,
Mat. 5. 11, 12.
You fight for the recovery of the Kings Royall perſon out of the hands of thoſe miſereants, and reinſtate Him in His Royal throne and dignity, that both he and His Poſterity may yet flouriſh in their Royalty; ſo that notwithſtanding all contradictions you fight for your King.
John Price in his Spirituall Snapſack for the Parliaments Souldiers, p. 8.
London, Printed for Stephen Bowtell, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the ſign of the Bible in Popes-head-alley. 1649.
To the Reverend and learned Miniſters of the Goſpel within the Province of London, ſubſcribers of the Serious Repreſentation and late Vindication.
REVEREND SIRS,
YOu are thoſe whom I honour and love in truth, for the truths ſake that dwels in you, and is ſo faithfully promoted by you. Many beſides my ſelfe riſe up and call you bleſſed, for that Serious Repreſentation of your judgments, &c. and ſeaſonable Vindication of your perſons and Miniſtry, which were lately publiſhed in print; Tis true, 'tis your lot, that you who are Embaſſadors of peace, are now lookt upon as men of contention, they who once counted your feet beautifull, ſay now the mark of the Beaſt is on your forehead yea they who would have pulled out their eyes to have done you good, are now ſo filled with prejudice and paſsion, that they would pull out your eyes to doe you hurt; this is the beſt requitall, the more you love, the leſs you are loved of them; though the people are in ſuch a diſtempered Phrenſie, yet I know this provokes your pity, not your fury. I perceive you are made the But of Satans malice, becauſe you make the glory of God, and good of ſouls the mark you aim at in the courſe of your Miniſtry; the Devill will not let you be at reſt, becauſe you will not ſuffer the ſins of the times to be at quiet. Since the publication of your Letter and Vindication, there are many ſcurr…lous Pamphlets ſpread abroad, which labour to ſtain the integrity of your hearts, and the truth of your teſtimony; among the reſt there is one written by John Price, which is ſtuffe… with ſuch falſities, abſurdities, tautalogies, calumnies and animoſities, with ſuch railings and revilings, as if he were of the race of Rabſ…ekah, or the linage of Shime…: the Lord rebuke him, and clear you. He preſents you to the world as guilty of malignity, perjury, hypocriſie, as wanting Miniſteriall abilities, and void of the ingenuity that becomes Miniſters of the Goſpel, as men of falſhood, deceit, diſſention, and what not? but what you are? It may be your comfort to conſider that ſo perſecuted they the Prophets who were before you; Elijah was called a troubler of Iſrael in the Old Teſtament, & Paul a mover of ſedition in the New. When I conſidered what Auguſt. ſaid,M…i quidem ſufficit conſcientia mea, vobis autem neceſſaria eſt fama mea Aug. ad frat. in …em Serm. 53. that a Miniſters good conſcience is ſufficient for himſelf, yet his good name is neceſſary for others: I thought fit to endeavour the Vindication of your names and Miniſtry from thoſe unjuſt aſperſions caſt upon you by many ſons of ſlander; your names, which are as precious oyntment poured forth (ſpreading the ſweet ſavour of the knowledg of Chriſt in many places) will not want ſons of Belzebub, as ſo many flies to corrupt them: yet this may be your confidence, that although they make their mouths as open ſepulchers to bury your names and reputations in, yet there ſhall be a reſurrection of names as wel as bodies at the laſt day, at which time all your reproach ſhall be wiped away, and your Revilers made aſhamed, who have faſly accuſed your good converſation in Chriſt. This is the prayer and confidence of him who is …
CHRIST-LOVER (I) HOPE and a Lover of you in him. Dated this 13 March, 1648. from my houſe about the middle way between Whitehall and Whitechappell.