Some New Blazing Stars Styling Themselves New Lights, Section 9
Section IX.
Containing Libellious, Scandalous, unchriſtian Cenſures, and Invectives againſt thoſe Perſons, who out of conſcience have Written or Preached againſt the Independents Seditious, Schiſmaticall wayes and Practiſes.
I Shall firſt begin with ſuch Invectives as concern my ſelf: What large Encomiums (beyond my deſerts) I received from the Independent party, before I writ againſt their new wayes & opinions, only in a moderate & modeſt manner by way of Queſtions; is very well known to themſelves and others, being ſuch and ſo many, that modeſty forbids me to relate them; leſt I ſhould be thought the Herald of my own praiſes and deſerts: How many Libells, Scandals, and falſe reports of all kindes they have cauſleſly publiſhed of me ſince, by Speech and Printed Libells, only becauſe I differ from them in opinion, and have in point of conſcience (being requeſted ſo to do) declared my opinion of their new groundleſſe wayes and Tenets, is very well known unto many, who have leiſure to peruſe the ſeverall empty Pamphlets and Invectives daily publiſhed a gainſt me: I ſhall give you a taſte of ſome few in lieu of many.
It pleaſed Iohn Lilburne among others, for whom I have done ſome courteſies, but never the leaſt injury, or diſcourteſie in word or deed, upon the coming out of my Truth Triumphing over Falſhood, &c. (Licenſed by a Committee of Parliament for the Preſſe) before ever he had read the Book, to write a Libellous Letter to me concerning it, which he ſent to the Preſſe and publiſhed in Print without Licenſe, before I received and peruſed it: which though anſwered in Print by others without my privity; openly complained of in the Commons Houſe, (who referred it to the Committee of Examinations as a moſt Seditious Libell againſt the Parliament and Aſſembly;) yet I deemed it more worthy contempt then any Anſwer, as refuting not one ſyllable in my Book: In this Letter, he ſtiles me, An inciter of higher Powers to wage war with the King of Saints, and his Redeemed ones: An endeavourer to ſet the Princes of the earth together by the ears with Chriſt, to pluck his Crown from his head, his Scepter out of his hand, and his Perſon out of his Throne of State, that his Father hath given him to raign gloriouſly in: He moſt falſely chargeth me with this falſe Poſition: That there is no rule left in the word, how we may worſhip God; but that Kings and States may ſet up what Religion they pleaſe, or may mould it to the manners of their people: Whereas there is not any ſuch ſyllable in any of my Books, but the contrary profe…ſedly aſſerted and the Controverſies therein debated, concerne not the ſubſtance of Gods worſhip or Religion, but only the Circumſtance of ChurchGovernment: which I aſſerted then, on ſuch grounds as their party hath not yet refu…ed▪ not to be preciſely ſet down & determined in the New Teſtament in all particulars, but yet conclude, that no Church Government ought to be ſet up, but that which is agreeable to the Scriptures, though not dogmatically and preciſely preſcribed in them: …o that if this Libeller were not paſt all ſhame, he might have bluſh… to Print and …print ſo notorious a falſhood, without retractation.
After this he thus proceeds: Had I not ſeen your name to your Books, I ſhould rather have judged them a Papiſts or a Ieſuits, then Maſter Prynnes; and without doubt, the Pope when he ſees them, will CANONIZE YOU FOR A SAINT, in throwing down his enemy Chriſt. Certainly no Book of mine, either in the Front or Bulke, carries the leaſt badge of a Prieſt or Jeſuit in it; and ſo far am I from demeriting any thing from the Pope, or to be Canonized by him for a Saint; that I can without vanity or oſtentation affirme before all the world, that I have done more diſſervice to Prieſts, Ieſuits, and the Pope: made more diſcoveries of their Plots, and written more againſt them and Popery, then all the whole generation of Sectaries and Independents put together; and I challenge all their Sects to equalize, or come near, what I have really performed in this particular; ſo that if any man this day breathing in England deſerve an Anathema Maranathae, from the Pope & his party, I have more cauſe to expect itthen any other: The whole Kingdom therefore will Proclaim him a notorious ſlanderer in this particular: He proceeds yet further, Surely (he writes, but his words are no Oracles) you have given away your ears, and have ſuffered as a buſie-body in oppoſing the King and the Prelats: without doubt all is not Gold that gliſters: for were you not a man that had more then truth to look after, namely your own ends and particular intereſts, which I am afraid you ſtrive to ſet up more then the publike good, you ſhould have importuned the Parliament to have continued their favour and respect to that people, that cannot proſtrate their conſciences to mans devices.
Surely my conſcience tells me, that I am free from this injurious calumny: For my ears, I bleſſe God I gave them not away, but loſt them in a juſt quarrell, againſt all Law and Iuſtice, as both Houſes of Parliament have unanimouſly adjudged: But whether you did not juſtly loſe your ears for Sedition then, and deſerve not to loſe he remainder of them (that I ſay no more) for your Seditious and Libellious carriage now, is a great queſtion among your moſt intelligent friends: For my oppoſing King and Prelates as a buſie-body, perchance it might be your own caſe, it was never mine: What I have done againſt the unjuſt uſurpations, and illegall exceſſes of either, I did it in a juſt and Legall way, upon ſuch grounds and Authority, as was never yet controuled; and this I dare make good without vainglory, that I have done more reall cordiall ſervice with my pen againſt the Uſurpations of Regality and Prelacy, in defence of the Subjects Liberties, and Parliaments juriſdiction, then all Independent Sectaries whatſoever, and that only out of a zeal to Gods glory and the publick good, without the leaſt private end or Intereſt, which never yet entred into my thoughts, having ſuffered as much as any man of your Sect (if not more) for the Publick, without either ſeeking or receiving the leaſt recompence, or reward; having ſpent not only my time and Studies, but ſome hundreds of Pounds in the Republicks ſervice ſince my inlargement, without craving or receiving one farthing recompence in any kinde; whereas if I had ſought my ſelf, or been any way covetous or ambitious, I might perchance have obtained as advantagious and honourable preferments, as any Independents have aſpired to, if not challenged as their right, for leſſe meritorious publick ſervices and ſufferings then the leaſt of mine. As for my importuning the Parliament for continuance of their favours to that people you ſpeak of; ſurely when I finde them more obſequious to the Parliaments juſt Ordinances and commands, leſſe willfull and more conſcientious; I ſhall do them all the offices of Chriſtian love; but whiles contumnacy, obſtinacy, licentiouſneſſe, uncharitableneſſe and Schiſme are moſt predominant in them, the greateſt favour I can move the Parliament to indulge them, is to bridle theſe their extravagances with the ſevereſt Laws, and to prefer the publike ſafety of Church and State, before their private Lawleſſe conceits and phantaſticall opinions.
He addes, That I am in this as cruell a Task-maſter as Pharaoh: and that the Son of God, and his Saints are but little beholding to me. Surely to confine Licencious lawleſſe conſciences to the rules of Gods word, the juſtLaws of the Realm, and rectified reaſon, can Proclaime me no Egyptian Task-maſter: but rather decl…re your Sect meer Libertines, who will not be Regnlated by, nor confined within theſe Bounds; yea, I truſt the Son of God and his true Saints are as much beholding to me (in your ſenſe) as to the greateſt Patriarchs of your Independent Tribes, be they whom they will.
This Libeller being queſtioned before the Committee of Examinations concerning this Letter, by their ſpeciall favour returned his Reaſons why he ſent it in writing, which he no ſooner exhibited, but publiſhed in Print the next day after, to defame and ſlander me among his Confederates; who give me now no other Epithites in their diſcourſes; but a Papiſt, a Perſecutor of Gods Saints, an Enemy of Chriſts Kingdom, vvho deſerve to loſe my head for oppoſing them in this cauſe, &c. which I no more value, Then the Moon doth the barking of a louſie Cur.
In this new unlicenſed Paper, firſt he vaingloriouſly relates his own ſufferings and deſerts: Secondly, Traduceth the juſtice of the Parliament and others, againſt ſome ſeditions Sectaries; miſreciting many of their proceedings to the ſcandall of Publick juſtice, and the Parliament, pag. 3, 4. Thirdly, pag. 5. He pretends my Books againſt Independents (Licenſed by Authority of a Committee of Parliament) to be the principall cauſes of the rigid Proceedings againſt Separatiſts eſpecially my Truths Triumphing over Falſhood; which being ſubſequent in time to all the particulars he recites, could certainly be no occaſion of them; and therefore he playes not only the Sophyſter, but Slanderer in this particular. Fourthly, pag. 5, 6. He miſrepeats, and miſapplies ſome Paſſages of mine, to all of his Sect in generall, and to HIMSELF and SVCH AS HE IS in the ARMY and ELSEWHERE: Whereas there is not one Syllable in my Paſſages to that purpoſe, but only againſt ſome particular Authors I there mention, and ſuch of their Confederates, who maliciouſly and audaciouſly oppugne the undoubted Rights, Priviledges, and juſt Proceedings of Parliament, contrary to their Solemne Covenant, League, and Proteſtation; and if you proclaim your ſelf or any other in the Army or elſewhere to be of this Anti-Parliamentary Regiment (as now you do) I then profeſſe my ſelf an oppoſite to you, and ſhall make good againſt you what ever I have written, when and where you pleaſe. Fiftly, He writes, That I eagerly endeavour to incenſe the Parliament againſt him, and ſuch as he is in the Army, and elſewhere, and in the Concluſion of my Independency examined, preſſe the cutting of them off by the ſword, & executing wrath and vengeance on them upon pain of contracting the guilt of higheſt Perjury: A moſt malicious ſcandall: For firſt I never mentioned him or his in particular; neither knew I how he ſtood inclined. Secondly, In my Independency examined; I only in a generall diſcourſe affert, that Kings and Civill Magiſtrates, have by the Law of God a Lawfull coercive power, thought not to reſtrain the ſincere Preaching of the Goſpel and truth of God, yet to ſuppreſſe, reſtrain, impriſon, confine, baniſh the brea…hers of Hereſies, Schiſmes, Erronious, ſeditious Doctrines, Enthuſiaſmes, or ſetters up of new Formes of Eccleſiaſticall Government without Lawfull Authority, to the en…ngering of mens ſouls, or diſturbance of the Churches and Kingdoms Peace: Theſe are my formall words which I there make good by Scripture, & Preſidents in all Ages (& will juſtifie by Gods aſſiſtance upon any occaſion againſt all Sectaries & Independents whatſoever) After which I cloſe up this diſcourſe in theſe very words: And if any Hereticks, falſe-Teachers, Schiſmaticks (chuſe which of theſe three ranks you and yours will fall under) obſtinatly refuſe conformity after due admonition, and all good means uſed to reclaim them, the Poets Divinity and Policy muſt then take place, as well in Eccleſiaſticall, as civill and naturall maladies.
Cuncta prim tentanda, ſed immedicabile Vulnius,
*Gal. 5. 2….Enſe reſcidendum eſt, ne pars ſyncera trahatur.
Is this any urging of the Parliament, To cut you and yours off by the ſword? and to execute wrath and vengeance on you? If you be ſuch obſtinate Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, or falſe-Teachers, who fall within the compaſſe of my words, God forbid, but the ſword of Iuſtice ſhould be drawn out againſt you, as well as others, at leaſt to chaſtiſe and reduce you to obedience, though not finally to cut you off, unleſſe in caſe of abſolute neceſſity: But if you are none of this obſtinate Hereticall, Schiſmaticall Brigade (as I make you not, unleſſe you make your ſelves) my generall indefinite words will relate, neither to your ſelf in perſon (whom I never once minded in my writings) nor to any of your Tribe: And therefore in this particular, I charge you for a malicious ſlanderour and falſe Informer, demanding juſtice and reparation from you for this, and all the forementioned paſſages, wherein you have wilfully done me wrong. Sixtly, pag. 6. He injuriouſly chargeth me, as guilty of being an Incendiary, betwixt the Parliament and their faithfull friends and ſervants; and that my actions and practiſes tend to no better end, but to make him and his partie (VSUS) to be ſleighted and contemned, and that they a faithfull, conſcientious, AND CONSIDERABLE PARTY IN THE ARMY and KINGDOM MIGHT BE DISINGAGEDNote. and CAVSED TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMES, &c. After which, he concludes thus, pag. 7. Now I appeal to everie true hearted Engliſhman, that deſires a ſpeedie end of theſe Wars, of what evil conſequence it would be to the Parliament and Kingdoms, to have ſuch a faithfull and conſiderable partie as Mr. Prynne calumni…teth, and reproacheth as bad, if not worſe then ever the Biſhop of Canterbury did, ſhould be cauſleſlie cut off with the ſword, or be diſingaged by his means (eſpeciallie ſeeing the Kingdoms neceſſities is ſuch, that they ſtand in need of the help of Forrainers) In which Paſſage he intimates: Firſt, that thoſe Anti-Parliamentary ſeditious Sectaries, who confederate with this Libeller know their own particular (pretended) ſtrength in the Army and Kingdom. Secondly, that they fight only for their own private intereſts, and to erect their own Church Government, not for Religion not the publick Cauſe; ſince my very writing againſt their Schiſmaticall ſeditious wayes but in meer generall terms (as this Libeller, one of their privy Cabinet Councell intimates) and that by Authority of a Committee of Parliament, in juſt defence of the Parliaments undoubted Eccleſiaſticall juriſdiction and Authority (which they moſt affront of any men whatſoever) Is a means to diſingage, and cauſe them to lay down their Armes: Thirdly, I anſwer, that if he & his party be ſuch faithfull friends and ſervants to the Parliament, and ſuch a conſcientious conſiderable party both in the Army and Kingdom as he pretends, my writing in defence of the Parliaments juriſdiction (which they pretend to fight for) can be no diſ-ingagement or diſ-couragement to them; And therefore himſelf alone muſt be the Incendiary twixt them and the Parliament, and the diſ-ingager of them to lay down their Armes, by theſe his ſlanderous Libells againſt the Parliaments juriſdiction, Priviledges, Proceedings, not I who have only Cordially maintained them (according to my ſolemn Vow and Covenant) by publike encouragement, and ſpeciall approbation.
I ſhal therefore challenge ſo much Iuſtice from this Epiſtoler, as publikely to retract all theſe his malicious Libellous ſlanders of me, without the leaſt provocation given him on my part; or elſe he muſt expect from God & all good men (yea from his own beſt friends and party) the brand of a moſt malicious Libeller, ſlanderer, Incendiary, and undergoe the puniſhment due to ſuch.
To this I might adde a whole bundle of Calumnies and injuries againſt me in Maſter Iohn Goodwins Calumny Arraigned and caſt, wherein he chargeth me, pag. 2. for aſperſing the Honourable Committee for Plundered Miniſters and himſelf, in averting, that he was ſuſpended and ſequeſtred by that Committee; which all the Committee then, and himſelf with his Confederates ſince experimentally know to be a reall truth, however they outfaced it for a time: His other Calumnies are ſo groſſe, and triviall, that I will not waſte Paper to refute them.
Theſe Libellers are not ſingle, but thus ſeconded by a Brother of their Sect, one Henry Robinſon in his Pamphlet intituled; The Pretences of Maſter William Prynne, &c. (A meer empty Libell fraught with nothing but railings, and ſlanders againſt me) and in his latter Libell intituled: The Falſhood of Maſter William Prynnes Truth Triumphing, in the Antiquity of Popiſh Princes and Parliaments: To which he attributes a ſole Soveraign Legiſlative, Coercive power in all matters of Religion; Diſcovered to be full of abſurdities, contradictions, Sacriledge, and to make more in favour of Rome and Antichriſt▪ then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever publiſhed, whether by Papall or Epi…copall Prelats or Paraſites, ſince the Reformation: with twelve Queries, eight whereof viſit Maſter Prynne the ſecond time, becauſe they could not be ſatisfied at the firſt; Printed in London, 1645.
Here is a large Libellous Title, but not one ſyllable of it ſo much as proved or made good in the Book:Note. wherein he convinceth me, neither of Falſhood nor abſurdities, nor Contradictions, nor Sacriledge: And whereas he chargeth; That my Truths Triumphing, &c. Makes more in favour of Rome, and Antichriſt then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever publiſhed by Papall or Epiſcopall Prelats or Paraſites ſince the Reformation (of which he makes not the leaſt offer of proof in his Book) I ſhall aver to all the world (I hope without oſtentation, being thus enforced to it) and appeal to all men of Iudgement who have read it; that it makes more againſt Rome, Antichriſt, and the uſurped power of Popiſh, Lordly Prelates and Clergymen in points of calling Councels, the Authority of Prelates, Clergy men and Synods in making binding Canons, &c. and other points therein debated then any Book or Pamphlet whatſoever of this Subject written by any Prelate, Clergy man, Laicke, or by all the whole Mungrell Regiment of Anabaptiſts, Sectaries or Independents put together: Therefore this Title of his; is a moſt falſe malicious impudent ſlander, of a Libeller paſt ſhame, void both of truth and conſcience.
His paſſage againſt me, pag. 9. 10. Is much of kin to his Title Page, where thus he writes: The truth is, I cannot deny but Maſter Prynne was once by more then many, and they godly too, held to be a man of Piety (and was highly honoured, in whoſe Books and Pamphlets notwithſtanding which have been publiſhed of late) may be obſerved more corrupted Principles, and a far worſe ſpirit of perſecution, then ever was diſcovered in the late Delinquent Decapitated Archbiſhop, from his firſt aſcending unto his higheſt growth of Authority and greatneſſe; and in the Diary of his life, which I ſuppoſe Maſter Prynne Printed, not to do him honour (though after Ages will not be tyed to be no wiſer then Maſter Prynne) I finde ſuch eminent ſignes of a Morall Noble pious minde, according to ſuch weak principles as he had been bred up in (his own perſecuting diſpoſition, diſabling him from being inſtructed better) and particularly ſo ingenious a paſſage in his Funeral Sermon, whereby he juſtifies the Parliament in putting him to death; as I may ſafely profeſſe to all the world, I never yet could diſcerne any thing near of like piety, or ingenuity to be in Maſter Pryune, by all that ever I yet heard of him from firſt to laſt, or by all the books of his which ever came to my hands, wherein yet I have hitherto done him the honour in being at charges to buy as many, I mean one of every ſort, as I could ever meet withall.
Surely, I am much beholding to this Gentleman, for proclaiming me a man of more corrupt principles, and a perſon poſſeſſed with a worſe spirit of perſecution then the late Decapitated Archbiſhop, but the Archbiſhop far more obliged to him, in Canonizing him for ſuch a Saint: As for his Diary, I publiſhed it as I found it, not ſo much to do him honour as right, which is due to the very Devill himſelf: But had this Libeller remembred, that I reſerved the criminall part of his life, for two other Volumes, one of them already publiſhed; and the firſt part of the other now at Preſſe, which will render him, the Archeſt Traitor and underminer of Religion, Laws, Liberties, Parliaments that ever breathed in Engliſh Aire; or had he ſeriouſly conſidered his obſtinate impenitency, and juſtificntion of his innocency (though moſt criminall of all that for which he was condemned) even on the very Scaffold; he would have bluſhed at his large Encomiums of ſuch a Traytor in affront of publike juſtice, to caſt the greater blemiſh on my ſelf, who was publikely called by Authority to bring him to his triall.
Having thus reviled my perſon only for w…iting againſt Independent new wayes and fancies; having naught elſe to object againſt me, he fals ſoul upon my very Profeſſion of the Law in theſe reproachfull termes, pag. 21, 22. Certainly tis none of Maſter Prynnes leaſt overſights thus to bring himſelf a Lawyer, (whoſe wrangling faculty ſets and keeps all people at worſe war amongſt themſelves, then all Forraign enemies can do) into a Conteſt with Mr. Goodwin,&c.
If Maſter Prynne were a man truly godly and conſcientious, he might long ere this time have conſidered the unlawfulneſſe of his very calling, acco…ding to the greateſt part of Lawyers practiſe, in entertaining more cauſes then they can poſſibly take care of as they ought, in taking of exceſſive Fees, prolonging ſuits, and ſo involving the whole Kingdom in their Sophiſticall quirks, tricks and quillets, as that a man can neither buy nor ſell, ſpeak nor do any thing, but he muſt be liable to fall into their tallons, without ever being able to redeem himſelf, the Lawyers having moſt of their myſteries written in little leſſe then Heathen Language, and detaining us in ſuch Ignorant captivity, as that we may not plead nor underſtand; by which and ſuch like deviſes of theirs, they are become the greateſt grievance, Note.crying loudeſt to heaven for Juſtice to be done upon them by this Parliament, next to the corrupted, depraved Clergy men.
Surely theſe Independent Sectaries, reſolve to extirpate all Lawyers and Clergy-men, as the greateſt grievances under Heaven; that ſo both Law and Gospel may be diſpenſed only by their Lawleſſe, Goſpelleſſe lips, hands: and this makes them raile at theſe two Honourable Profeſſions, without which no Kingdom or Church can long ſubſiſt: For my own part, I bleſſe God, I am not aſhamed of my Profeſſion; its no diſhonour unto me, (ſince God himſelf hath honoured Zen… a Profeſſour of it, Tit. 3. 13.) and I truſt I ſhall never diſhonour it: and though ſome perchance abuſe it (as many do all other Callings) … makes it not unlawfull or a grievance, no more then other Callings, … being the fault of the perſon, nor of the Profeſſion: Take he…d therefore how you pr…ſſ… this Argument further, leſt it reflect with diſadvantage on your ſelf, who have much abuſed the Profeſſion of a Gentleman, by turning Lib…ller; of a Merchant, in turning an Independent Preacher; of a Miniſter, in becoming an unlicenſ…d Mr. Printer of all theſe new Seditious Libels, in an Alley in Biſhopſgate ſtreet, the very name whereof, made you ſuch a Panegyriſt, to trumpet out the Archbiſhops P…ety and Gr…ces to the world, after his Execution as a Traytor.
I ſhall rake no more in this Pamphleters naſty Kennel, which abounds with ſuch fil…hy ſtincking ſtuffe, and Billingſgate Language as this.
The Author of The Araignment of Perſecution, thus makes himſelf merry with me, pag. 15. That Learned Gentleman, Juſt-as conformity of Lincolns Inne, Eſq; can throughly reſolve you, both by Scripture Texts, Preſede…ts of all ſorts, and the conſtant uninterupted practiſes, examples of the Emminenteſt Emperours, Princes, Councels, Parliaments, &c. It is well theſe illiterate Aſſ…s are able thus to de…ide, what they can no wayes Anſwer or Re…ute by Scripture, Reaſon, or Authorities of any kinde, but their own brainſick fancies.
He proceeds thus, pag. 39. By the Apochrypha writings, and Non-ſenſe Arguments of Mr. Edwards: By the diſtracted thoughts, and ſubitane apprehenſions of Mr. Prynne; By the deſigne of the Clergy; By their forced tears; By their Hypocriſie; By their falſe Gloſſes, Interpretations, and Sophyſtications, Good Lord deliver us. Here I am joyned with very good company, though in a Blaſphemous railing Lyturgy, fit only for ſuch Conventicles as this Libeller indoctrinates.
The Compiler of the Sacred Synodicall Decretall, thus ſports himſelf with Dr. Baſtwick and me, pag. 22. Dr. Baſtwick and Jockey ſhall be God-fathers, and the Whore of Babylon God-mother, and it ſhall be Chriſtened, COMMONCOUNCELL OF PRESBYTERS: (heare's like to be a City well governed) but it is not yet fit to be known by that Name, while the Childe is in the Cradle; when it can go alone, it will be a pretty play-fellow for my ſon Iack, if the Doctor can but cure him of the Martin: 'Tis true, he hath given him a good Cordiall againſt ſome Independent Qualmes, wherewith my ſon Iack hath been much oppreſſed, ſince Mr. Prynne hath been Outlaw'd by the Goſpel, his Voluminous errours had the benefit (Sir Reverence) of the peoples poſteriours to correct them, (Let the Doctor have a care of his Bills) Nam in poſteriori pagina, omnia ſua fic Corriguntur Errata: that's a ſigne of ſome Grace; who ſayes Mr. Prynnes not an honeſt man, that hath conſecrated ſo much to ſuch a Reverend uſe? But he ſhall have a better place when it falls, hee's in the way of preferment, he doth ſupply the place of an Informer already, for he muſt do a little drudgery before he be a Judge.
In what an uncivill, unchriſtian manner they have rayled againſt my ever honoured Brother Dr. Baſtwick, as an Apoſtate, a fighter againſt God, an enemy of Ieſus Chriſts, &c. only for writing againſt their Independent Novelties, himſelf hath at large related in his Poſtſcript.
How they have abuſed Dr. Twiſſe, Mr. Hinderſham, Mr. Calamy, Mr. Marſhall, Dr. Burges, Dr. Featly, Mr. Paget, and eſpecially Mr. Edwards, (whom they revile beyond all meaſure) only for oppoſing their new Anarchicall Government, hath in part been formerly touched, and would be over-tedious particularly to relate: I ſhall therefore conclude with two paſſages more; the one concerning Doctor Burges, the other Doctor Twiſſe and the Aſſembly, in their laſt Libell, called Martins Eccho, p. 7 8. Such hath been their good ſervice to the Church and State, that for my part, it ſhould not much trouble me, to ſee them as well knockt down: I mean to ſee Doctor Burges, and a competent number of his brethren, ſet down upon their Presbyterian Thrones, judging the Tribes of this our Iſrael; Be ye mounted upon your great Coach-Horſes, which trundle you too and fro, from London to Weſtminſter; mount all your new Canons, and advance like mighty men of valour, The horſemen and Chariots of Iſrael, even whole black Regiments of you into the fields, under the Conduct of your General…ſſimo, William Twiſſe, Prolocutor; and fire all your new caſt Ordinances at once in the face of your enemies, and ſo finiſh your good work your ſelves, and truſt your Sacred cauſe no longer in the hands of the profane.
By this ſhort taſte, you may diſcern the moſt uncharitable, ſlanderous, lying, Libellous diſpoſition of theſe new Independent lights, whoſe works are ſo full of infernall deeds of darkneſſe, and of the black Language of Hell.