A Remedy Against Ruin, Appendix
An APPENDIX, ſhewing 1. the riſe, 2. progreſſe, 3. iſſue of a difference between the Authour, and Maſter Samſon Bond prementioned in the frontiſpiece.
1. MAſter Bond preaching in Keverne, on Matth. 5.8. divides it into 1. the purchaſe, bleſſedneſſe. 2. the price, purity in heart. 3 perpetuity, they ſhall ſee God: had the ſecond branch excepted againſt by Maſter Sweet the incumbent, alledging that purity in heart could not be price of that purchaſe, bleſſedneſs: Maſter Bond maintains it; a diſpute is concluded. Many at the time appointed flock to hear it. The liſts are entred. Maſter Bond proves impar congreſſus, flies to ſupplications, whereinvents many nonſenſicalities (as the author is credibly informed,) and the aſſembly is diſmiſſed. Maſter Bond then did cadere cauſay. Not long after Mr. Bond addreſſeth, by a bold Mercury, a certificate of his own abilities, and orthodoxneſſe, unto ten of us Miniſters then met at Truro, deſiring our ſubſcriptions; which we denyed becauſe of this diſpute, writing to them both to meet us at Halſton: There Maſter Sweet modeſtly, briefly opens his accuſation. Maſter Bond as ſtrenouſly juſtifies his ſecond branch, and vents this poſition, that the purity in heart, and bloud of Chriſt were one and ſame thing. Our Prolocutour replies, thereby he had confounded Logick and Divinity; for purity was the effect, Chriſts blood its cauſe: to this effect we moſt of us ſpake as the Spirit gave utterance.M. B. Juſtifying ſome abſurdity produce a printed Sermon. Then the Author produced Maſter Bonds book on Romans 12.1, preached before the Committee of aſſembly of Divines, May 20. 1646. Maſter Ley being chairman, and giving Maſter Bond only a days Preparation, (as his frontiſpiece avers) Maſter Bond ſeemed to deny the book to be his. But ſoon after confeſſed, through want of time he was forced to be beholding to anothers library. Thus much for the Riſe.
2. Progreſs. The Author a while after call'd before Juſtices to depoſe what he heard of unſoundneſſe in M. Bonds preaching, took oath, 1. that M. Bond ſaid in Gluvius pulpit, that beleevers had not only Grace enough, but more then enough. 2. That Christs bloud and purity in heart were all one 3. that M. Bonds ſermon preached on Romans 12.1. was for the fourth part, or there about ſtollen out of Doctor Featlies works. 4 that M. Bond ſeemed at firſt to diſown that book; but afterward confeſt he was forced through want of time to be beholding to anothers labour. At theſe laſt words M. Bond replies, God give you repentance, M. Peters for your perjury; you have taken a falſe oath, I never ſpake ſuch a word.
Hereupon the Author bound him to the good behaviour; M. Bond appears, juſtifies the words, travenſeth, ſonds for two certioraries; and neer a year ſpent in the ſuit. At Bodmine Seſſions Mr. Bond gives theſe words in the face of the Bench, M. Peters is a perjured man, and Ile prove him a perjured man: on this the Authour ſeeks a triall in Guildhall, but his witneſſes not there, 'twas brought down to our aſſizes. Many importunities were made to the Author for a reference, which he declines, till come to the barr where M. Bond's three Counſellers ſue for a reference my Lord chief Juſtice moving the Author, 'tis yeelded unto: ſince which time, M. Bond vents many falſhoods, 1. that the Authour firſt ſought a reference: 2. that the Author at barr deſired it from ſome of Maſter Bonds counſell, nominatim from M. Yard. 3. that the Authors Counſellour, Mr. Long alſo intreated a Reference, and many the like which M. Quarum Miniſter of Manaan refuted to his face, and on oath.
3. The Iſſue, the day of reference came, Maſter Bond proteſteth he never call'd the Authour perjured, yet was it proved by the oaths of Maſter High Sheriffe, Maſter Quarum, Maſter Halſe, Maſter Upcot, all three Miniſters; alſo by the oaths of Maſter Pierca, Maſter Littleton, and teſtimony of abſent Maſter Coode: ſothat Maſter Bond is told, he muſt acknowledg his error; who returns this, Ile die firſt, but after a ſpace, he is ordered to pay the Authors coſts, and confeſſe his fault; which he did very odly. The Order was very eaſie, and if juſtice be done to the Author, he ſhall ſilence his penn: if not, heres room enough to diſcover the finall period.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Peters, A Remedy Against Ruin (1652)