Manifest Truth, Part 1
BEfore I examine the inſide of Mr. Alleins Book, I muſt needs fix my eye a while upon the Frontiſpiece, Teſtimonial and Epiſtle.
Firſt, The Frontiſpiece. And here we ſhall gaze a while on the Title, Author, and a Scripture quoted.
1. The Title, Truths Manifeſt: Here he flouriſheth over the deſign, as if it were (at leaſt in the principal branch of it) the rectifying of miſtakes, and manifeſting of Truths; yet this outſide, compared with the inſide of the Book, ſhews it to be but like the Apothecaries box, which hath Pharmacum in titulo, in pixide venenum, Phyſick in the Title, but poyſon in the veſſel: Before I have done with him, I ſhall prove miſtakes and lies enough to ſhew his Book and Title have no ſweet accord. We ſhall put it to the iſſue, whether his Narrative be ſo full and faithful as he pretends, and whether it ſatisfyeth all that deſire to know the Truth? or rather, whether thoſe that have been before deceived by reports, be not now coſened in print? If it be found ſo, it is a double fault, the falſhood in the Book is one, Truth in the Title another. Here might I preſent thee with a Catalogue of thoſe many ſhameleſs untruths which lye thick ſcattered like dung upon the face of his Pamphlet. Something might be ſaid againſt the Manifeſt, though I dare do nothing againſt the Truth; but I ſhall chuſe rather to take them up as they lye in my way, before I can view them in his Epiſtle or Narrative.
2. I am not to paſs by the Author, Toby Allein, a late member of the ſaid Church. Mr. Toby, your memberſhip I own, but late member gives the Reader to imagine, that either you are already excommunicated, or that we have diſmiſſed you, or that you are an apoſtate from us; I would not have your Reader miſtaken, we have not taken thoſe advantages againſt you, which you carriage may (in unprejudiced mens judgments call for) and I am ſure we have not diſmiſſed you unto any others Congregation; whether you are an apoſtate you beſt know; I do not intend to ſay farewell until you have ſatisfied the Congregation why you leave them: you are not ignorant that the Church hath ſummoned you before them, which call of Chriſt hitherto you have refuſed: will you ſeparate from them without giving them the reaſons of your withdrawing? This ſeems not fair, you will leſſen the credit of your Hiſtory, if you are found Schiſmatical: but I ſhall give you a little reſpite to conſider of the conſequence of ſuch a courſe, whileſt I veiw.
3. The Scripture quoted in your Title Page, Prov. 26.5. Anſwer a fool according to his folly, leaſt he be wiſe in his own concen: I have viewed this Scripture, with the fourth verſe, Anſwer not a fool; they are both the counſel of Solomon, and would require the advice of as wiſe as he, to diſtinguiſh which one ſhould follow: But Reader, I may not hold thee in the Porch, neither canſt thou paſs into the inner rooms without ſome obſervations, of ſeveral names ſubſcribed to a Teſtimonial in the behalfe of the Author: It will be an incivility to let them paſs without taking notice of them, and the Contents of their certificate; and therefore this is the ſecond thing conſiderable.
Secondly, The Teſtimonial: We muſt carry our ſelves warily here, leaſt we be bound to the good behaviour; but I hope without offence, we may put a few Queries to Mr. T. A.
1. Why do you diſparage your ſelf and credit in the world, as if you may not be delivered without any certificate? Good wine, we ſay, needs no buſh.
2. Why will you prove ſo injurious to the Major and Chamber, as for the future to weaken their Teſtimonies, in caſe honeſter men ſhould need them? If I prove you guilty of baſe putid lies, will it not be a reflection on the certifiers, as being too facile and eaſie to give teſtimony for ſome men; (A vice I confeſs too common every where)
Quem cui Commendes iteram atque iteram aſpice, ne mox Incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem.
3. But if there muſt be a certificate had from them, why had you not procured one for your wife and dame, I think (of the three) they needed it moſt.
4. But pray Sir, ſeeing you cannot come abroad without ſome Compurgators, why had you not got letters Teſtimonial under the hands of the Miniſters, as well as Magiſtrates? they are better able to judg of your godly converſation: Or
5. Rather, Why had you not tried the officers and members of that Congregation, with whom you have walked for ſeveral years? Sure they had the faireſt advantages of giving you what you might juſtly claim: I am ſomewhat ſuſpitious of ſome Miniſters, who are forced to borrow hands for their good behaviour, from perſons of a remote habitation from them: it was no longer ſince then the 17. of May laſt paſt, that ſpeaking of our Church, you ſaid, we were the honeſteſt people that ere you came among: why had you not got a certificate from them you thought moſt honeſt?
6. Doth it ſavour of humility and modeſty, to have ſo many lines affirm'd of you without bluſhing? and to get ſo much to be printed in your behalf? but
—Sic notus Ulyſſes.
7. Why would you have ſuch things to be inſerted, as I find in the teſtimony?
1. That you have been one of the Stewards of the City: May you not be a falſe Steward in your account notwithſtanding?
2. That you have been alway well-affected to the Commonwealth: ſo you may and not to truth.
3. That you have been active in, and as Captain raiſed a company for his Highneſs ſervice: ſo you may, and yet raiſe more falſe reports then you did at that time men.
But pray Sir, why was all this inſerted?
1. Was it not to inſinuate to great men in power, as if all the ſubſcribers were men high praiſing you for your owning the preſent ſupreme Magiſtrate; you know what I could retort to this, Spectatum admiſſi riſum teneatas.
Or rather,
2. Was it not inſerted to farther a belief of that which you write pag. 2, 3. That the Protector might be aſſured he had a ſingular friend in T. A. who was willing to diſcover what dangerous agitations there were in a Church at Exeter, that they might be dealt with thereafter? Or at leaſt that the affections of the Supreme Magiſtrate might be alienated from me (which you know is the great eye-ſore of the Chamber)
Well, I will examine you about this no farther: I take it for granted, among other ends you hope to be looked on as an honeſt man by the help of theſe Prolocutors (and I hope to be ſo owned without them) I commend this policy, you will not venture into the field without your Seconds: Defendit numerus junctaeque umbone phalanges.
But this I ſhall tell you, You have made ſo many acceſſories, that I cannot ſee how with Juſtice on your part, and Safety on Mine, your Action on the Caſe may be tryed in Exon.
But what if you had a Legion of men to certifie for you, nay and all good, yet they cannot aſſure us, that your Narrative is full and true: There was a time that Judas might have had a Certificate for his good Converſation and Stewardſhip from all the Saints in the world, yet afterwards he betrayed his Maſter upon a Money account.
And yet me thinks I can fancy with what confidence you now appear in open field, guarded with the Company; and now if ſimple people muſt believe all your reports to be Oracles, for fear of diſpleaſing the Chamber, if Credit muſt be given to your words, I warrant you we ſhall ſee confidence enough in what follows.
Well Sir, We will venture, pace tantorum virorum, to examine that which comes next in order.
III. The Epiſtle to the Reader. Here the man ſeemes ſo grieved, that he cannot but vent his ſorrows to the world: troubled he is,
1. At the cenſure of his wife which he calls unrighteous; for this I refer you to the Notes of my Sermon printed lately, where you will find, that ſcandal and contumacy was proved againſt her, pag. 19, 21.
2. He complains of hard meaſure, that my Notes were printed, the ends whereof he ſaith was to ſpread falſe reports raiſed by our ſelves, as far as we can. No, Reader, there he miſtakes, our end was, to ſatisfie and ſilence them who pretended we had cenſured her for joyning with a Congregation of different principles from us: And the end of the Poſtſcript was to ſhew, how much I ſuffered in my reputation by (abominably) falſe copies of my prayer. And whereas he condemnes us of ſpreading falſe reports, if any ſuch ſhall be repreſented or made knowne to me, there is no man (I hope) ſhall be found more ready and pliable to make ſtrait that which is crooked, or to make his pen do pennance in any ſheets for any error or delinquency in this kind: ſo willing am I to expoſe my ſelfe to the hazard of any diſcovery he can make.
3. He can hardly digeſt Mr. Malls quotations becauſe of their impertinency. What if I ſhould tell this Pamphleter, that he underſtands not what the impertinency of a quotation meaneth, or wherein it conſiſts? Sure I am, that if they attain this end to ſatisfie the conſciences of the Reader, That Excommunication is a delivery of an offender to Satan, and that a particular Church may excommunicate, and that not only great and notorious ſins deſerve this correction, but alſo leſſer crimes increaſed with contumacy and contempt of the Churches admonition, become worthy of the ſame caſtigation; then are they pertinent quotations with reſpect to his wifes caſe. And if theſe learned and Reverend Men (as he is pleaſed to ſtile them, though poor man, I think he never ſaw one of them) do ſatisfie the Reader, that in dealing with a private offender, he is firſt brotherly to be admoniſhed alone, if that prevail not, to call one or two witneſſes, and if that do not profit, then to declare it to the Officers of that particular Church: and if their admonition be ſucceſleſſe, then the original crime, and his contempt is to be declared before the whole Congregation, and upon remaining obſtinacy, the offender is to be excommunicated: Surely this is not Impertinent with reference to Mr. T. A. though he is willing to wave ſuch queſtions, referring his Reader to the learned: Surely it concerned him to have ſtudied thoſe queſtions, and not to content himſelf with an implicit faith in the learned.
There is one thing more that I ſhall take notice of in his Epiſtle, he can hardly forbear challenging me and the Church to anſwer what we have done before the tribunall of him who ſhall judg the world in Righteouſneſſe.
Mr. A. I bleſs God I can think of that day without any feare or horror upon my ſpirits, that may ariſe from any malice I have borne you or yours: I know the Lord will wittneſs for me in that day, that you, and your wife, and my ſelfe, had nor been at this diſtance, wherein we now ſtand, but by her and your miſcarriage: then it will be known that your wife was not cenſured by us for joyning in other Congregations beſide her own, and this book which you have writ for vindication will be brought forth as a wittneſs againſt you, unleſs that the Lord give you timely repentance, which I beg daily for you. But to come to his Narrative.
It is the unhappineſs of this traveller to ſtumble at his firſt ſetting forth, p. 1. He would make the world believe as if he and his wife were members of Mr. Mark Downs Church in 1648. whereas Mr. Nicholas Eveliegh and my ſelf are ready to witneſs upon our Oaths, that he told us, he only deſired that he and his wife might receive the Sacrament at times with them, until there was a Congregation conſtituted, according to his own different judgment; elſewhere to which, he and his wife would then joyn. And another of the Church will witneſs, that Mrs. Allein did ſay ſhe did joyn with Mr. Down on the ſame terms. A Crazy conſcience and a Brickle memory are very ill companions; but why do I blame his memory in this, he lately averr'd the ſame before Mr. Ford Miniſter in Exon, as he confeſſed to me and Mr. Eveleigh, and I have ſome cauſe to believe this, for that ſince my coming to Exon, which was in 1651. he and his wife were my conſtant auditors, and afterward joyned in Church-fellowſhip with us. But I never heard that Mr. Downs dealt with them for ſeparating from him; having prepoſſeſſed his Reader with his actual memberſhip, under Mr. Downs inſpection, he gives us an account, when the Church (to which I ſtand related) was gathered, (viz. 1650.) Here he trips again (the man will be angry if I ſay he lye, and ſo will his Prolocutors too) it was about the middle of the year, 1651.
After he gives the reaſon of their propoſing themſelves to this Church, namely the report of what purity of Ordinances, and excellent adminiſtrations we had amongſt us, even to admiration, which great report he ſaith even rapt them up to a fools paradiſe.
Here Reader take notice upon what ſlender grounds this couple deſire communion of Saints; had they conſulted with the Oracles of God to know his will, and how he could be worſhiped, they had given the world a better account of their holy and tender conſciences, then to ingage ſo far, and ſo long in a fools paradiſe, barely upon a common fame of pure adminiſtrations.
I am bold to ſay, that the riſe of Apoſtacy hath been hence, unſound profeſſors grow big with expectations in the wayes of God, and then miſſing of them like ſick perſons, that deſire a change of beds and chambers: they are reſtleſs in their ſpirits till (under a pretence of trying all things and wayes) they at length throw up all their religion; I cannot but take notice to what a ſtreight Mr. A. is brought, when he knows no way to vindicate his wife, ſave by jeering at pure Ordinances, and confeſſing himſelf and his wife in a fools paradiſe for years together.
But it ſeems, though they were propoſed, they were put off; I do not remember this, nor believe this part of the Narrative; but if they were, was it for ignorance or ſcandal? ſome reaſon ſure is given? why is he aſhamed to diſcover it? well, but the fault is mended, whatever it was, for they were afterward admitted, p. 2.
True they were; but with how little freedome the Reader may ſee in the printed notes of my Sermon, p. 21. They continued with us about four years: Reader, If thou liveſt neer them, know of them, where they were communicants the other 3. or 4. years? I warrant thee thou will never find them at Mr. M. Downs his communion table: of what fold were they all that while? were they ſtrayers, and was there no ſhepherd to look after them?
Next I ſhall examine the grounds for Mris. A. Separating from this Church.
The firſt reaſon was a petition, the ſubſtance whereof was to pray the Lord Protector, not to accept of the Kingly Office.
We are not aſhamed to tell the world, that we and ſeveral other Churches, both in Devon, and elſe-where, did petition his Highneſs; and we laid down our reaſons againſt his accepting the title of King: And whereas it is ſuppoſed, that there was treaſon in the ſaid petition, ſure he ſhewed little good will to us, that he would ſuffer us to perſiſt in any treaſonable undertaking, and not endeavour to hinder us, and as little affection did he ſhew to the preſent Government, that if we were guilty as much as the Archbiſhop, or Strafford, he ſhould conceal this, and thereby become guilty of miſ-priſion of Treaſon: may not I ſay that this man is either a traytor or lyar? let him extricate himſelf from this Dilemma: The great certifiers for him are little beholding to him, that they muſt tell the world that Mr. Toby Allein is a man to whoſe words credit is given, and alwayes well affected to the Common wealth, and yet here charged with lying or concealing of treaſon: But we may ſay, as Gen. 49.23. The Archers ſorely grieved him, and ſhot at him, and hated him, but, &c. Joſeph is accuſed as an enemy to the Chaſtity of his Miſtreſs, yet the true reaſon and ground of his accuſation, was not his enmity, but his faithfulneſs thereunto, though the matter of our accuſation be oppoſition to authority, yet I make little queſtion, but the true and real cauſe thereof, was my affection to it, for which I have ſuffered ſufficiently as a temporizer; he knows well what a mercy we count it, that under the ſhadow of this Government we can injoy our conſciences: but if he could by this artifice, alienate the chief Governors affections from us, ſo as to deliver us into the hands of others, our ruine would be ſure and ſpeedy; however we truſt that our Lord Chriſt is as tender of our lives and liberty as ever, and will continue to give a charge to them that rule, to put forth their power for our preſervation and comfort, though this Tobiah (like him of old) endeavour our ruine.
He tells us, p. 3. That this was the firſt diſreliſh his wife had of our proceedings. Here you may take notice, that for ſeveral years it pleaſed God ſo to accompany us with his preſence, that there was no juſt advantage given to this woman, until this petition was ſigned; it ſeems then that our proceedings againſt Mrs. Parr (whom we had long before with their conſent ſuſpended) were liked by both: and yet in his Epiſtle he affirmes, he ſaw no crimes proved againſt his wife or Mr. Par, That might argue the parties guilty, and that both have been before excommunication, and ſince unblameable in their walkings. How could this man of ſuch a good name and reputation, and ſo well eſteemed of, and beloved for his godly converſation, Conſent to the ſuſpenſion of Mris. P. and walk with us ſo long after, and never diſcover to any fellow member or Officer (that we can hear of) our wronging ſuch an innocent.
But I may not leave him thus: was this the firſt diſreliſh? he is miſtaken; my faithfulneſs to his wife, in charging ſin upon her, for defaming her ſiſter in law, ſwelled her with prejudice, and with ſuch prejudice, that when I deſired a conference with her, ſhe refuſed it, alledging that I forced her to that which was againſt her conſcience, in confeſſing her faulty carriage to her ſiſter, as the Reader may ſee in the notes of my Sermon, p. 22.
Well, However the diſſatisfaction began, yet diſſatisfied ſhe was, and now forſooth, ſhe fears, the Church carried on ſome particular mans intereſt: I wonder what that man ſhould be, I bleſs God, I know not his name, I will not plough with his Heifer, to know the meaning of this, but will contentedly let it paſs. Quorſum hoc, to what end is all this? but to inſinuate with the Reader, as if he and his wife alone were the people that had no ſtate ends, nor politick intereſts, nor worldly preferments in their eye: and yet in the next lines ſhe begs, that he would be exceeding wary, what he did and have reſpect to himſelf, her, and her children; now Reader, the paint begins to weare off, and ſelf will be found the by as of this woman, the thred of ſelf advantange will be ſeen running through this whole piece: ſhe had for ſometime before bewailed the bitterneſs of the Presbyterians toward her husband, becauſe differing from them in opinion, and perceiving ſome hazards to his trade (ſhould he abide among us) ſhe hath found out this expedient to alienate her own and husbands affections from us: and yet, —Primati nil habetiſta domus.
Although ſhe thus reflect on us, yet if her husband may be believed, ſhe was yet to the Church very quiet; too quiet in one ſenſe, that being offended to our treaſonable practiſes, and driving on particular mens intereſts, ſhe had not diſcharged her duty in giving admonition, and deſired ſatisfaction from the ſuppoſed offenders; but I think he means it in another ſenſe, ſhe is yet very quiet, this the Reader muſt obſerve, leaſt he think as ſome do, that ſhe deſerves the Poets Character.
Molliter iraſci non ſciet illa tibi.
2. The ſecond reaſon for her ſaparation was, a members uſing ſuch words in prayer as theſe, concerning the Lord Protector, Lord humble him, what would he have, is not he high enough already? well, I muſt profeſs my ſelf to be a ſtranger, to any reflections of this nature upon his Highneſs, and wiſh from my heart that T.A. and and all his prolocutors were but as faithful hearty friends to the Protector, as that party is whom he ſecretly fathers theſe expreſſions on. And though he inſinuates, as if he were of Mr. Feakes way, yet afterward confeſſeth a day of thanksgiving was appointed by the Church to bleſs God for his preventing ſome inſurrection by the fifth Monarchy men: Oportet mendacem eſſe memorem. But it ſeems this kind of praying, ſo wrought upon T.A. himſelf, that he reſolves, that if the ſaid member prayed ſo again, he would never hear him more: A ſtrange reſolution! ſhould he be impartial, from how many would he withdraw upon a true account? Here I muſt caution my brethren to be wary for the future, how they let fall words of reflection, leaſt they thereby looſe one of their Auditory. Well, how ſlightly ſoever I look on this, it hath ſo great influence on Mrs. A. that hereupon ſhe begins to flag in her affections to our way, as he tells us, p. 4. did ſhe but now begin to flag? it ſeems then the petition of pretended treaſon was more tollerable then the prayer. And why had not ſo great an offender been (at leaſt) admoniſhed, or why muſt her affections flag to the whole Church and way ſhe walked in from one mans delinquency? and why muſt every thing that was amiſs, now be thought on by her? here he would make his Reader believe there were many things amiſs amongſt us, he names none, (I take it for granted there are none) for he loves us ſo dearly he would be ſure to blaz on them) except what is given as a
3. The third Reaſon for her ſeparation, the expreſſions of ſome members, who in making out their experiences at their admiſſions, ſpake of ſuch ſins as are not to be named, which things ſhe ſaid bordered too nigh Auricular confeſſion, p. 4.
1. Let the Reader conſider, that it is no new thing for perſons when admitted to diſcriminating Ordinances to confeſs their ſins? compare, Mat. 3.6. with Luke. 3.10, 14. as Mr. Hilderſham obſerves in the Lectures on the 51 Pſalm p. 148. The people came and cried out, O Sir, we have been unmerciful to the poor, ſecking our ſelves only without all care of the good of others; the publicans came and cryed, we have been worſe then ſo, for we have been ſhameful extortioners, and under colour of law and pretence of right, we have got mens goods unjuſtly from them; the Souldiers came and cryed, O Sir, We have been worſe then all theſe, for we have by violence, without all colour of right, ſpoyled many: ſee more Hild. p. 161.
2. If there were any undecencies in perſons at their admiſſions, why had there not been ſome faithful counſels adminiſtred to prevent what he would publiſh for our ſhame?
3. His wife if not himſelf, ſhew their ignorance, in thinking ſuch a courſe borders on Auricular confeſſions: Auricular confeſſions is a phraſe uſed to denote that which is required amongſt the Papiſt, viz. that every one do confeſs all his ſins, though private to the Prieſt alone, Whiſpering the ſame into his care, now what a ſhame is that put on us in the application hereof to our courſe in our admiſſion? ſurely the conſcience of Mr. T.A. cannot but acquit us of popery and treaſon.
There is ſomewhat more obſerveable in the 4. p. That his wife was much diſcontented with him—What need the world know more of that? but the cauſe is weighty—let it paſs, though I cannot let paſs the words, ſhe then threw forth; ſhe apprehended that ſome of them did carry on a ſelfiſh carnal deſign: A ſtrange inference; He that can gather Grapes of thornes, and figs of thiſtles may happily ſee the naturalneſs of this deduction; I will not aſperſe T.A. with the filth of his own kennel; I will not ſay that his wife adviſed him to ſeparate from us, to ſave the incident charges of the church, to ſave a ſumm of money, that he had ſubſcribed for the erecting of a Gallery in Peters in the Weſt, and to farther his trade in vending Serges; but ask him Reader, whether the tenor and ſtrain of this accuſation be not purely ſatanical? being drawn to the life according to that pattern. Job 1.9. Doth Job ſerve God for nought? for as the Devil there ſeeketh to traduce, and imbaſe that external courſe of ſanctity and uprightneſs which Job held, by falſly charging it with ſiniſter ends and motives, ſo doth the pamphleter moſt unworthily calumniate and deprave the Candid intentions of a Church of Chriſt: but wherein lay the ſelfiſhneſs of this deſign / He ill conſults for ſelf that joyns to this Church in Exon, where the way of God hath the ſame portion of Calumnies, lying, reproaches, as in the dayes of old, Acts 28.22. Againſt which as a ſect, every one ſpeaks liberally, and where the ſpirits of men are ſo exaſperated, that we owe our very lives as well as liberties, to the reſtraining Providence of God, and the vigilant care and tenderneſs of his Vicegerent.
Turpe eſt—Cum Gulpa redarguit ipſum.
But I paſs on to the fourth reaſon
4. For her ſeparation which was a Covenant, and therein two things diſtaſtful, the one whereof was a tying of the members wholy to hear their own Officers, when they preached, and no other without their leave: And the other was that we were to expect a greater bleſſing from their miniſtry, then any others, p. 5.
To which I give this Anſwer.
1. There was no Covenant at that time, drawn up, much leſs to be taken by the Church; and therefore that is falſe which the pamphleter ſuggeſts, only there was a paper of mutual duties betwixt officers and people, with Scriptures annexed to them, for the Church to conſider of.
2. Whereas it is ſuggeſted, that all or a great part thereof was aſſented to by the Church, p. 5. It is abominably falſe; for they did hardly debate the tenth part of the ſaid paper: you may ſee how bold and laviſh this man is, now that he is guarded with his Teſtimonial.
3. I am not aſhamed to declare it as my judgment, that members ought ordinarily to hear their own officers, and may expect a greater bleſſing from their Miniſtry, then any others; and dare avouch that this opinion is no other then what Prelatical, Presbyterial and Congregational men do generally own and defend. In the ſame Page he would make the Reader believe, that forthwith his wife joyned to Mr. M. Downs, before any member had admoniſhed her: which I am confident is abominably falſe, and I have more then Ordinary cauſe to fear that he himſelf was convinced in his own conſcience of the falſhood of it, let his own words be but weighed: who can imagine that ſhe having profeſt ſo much ſorrow for her departing from Mr. Downs, and pretending the judgments of God had follow'd her for the ſame, that her husband would after this, deſire her to joyn with us (againſt whom ſhe was ſo diſpleaſed for the reaſons aforeſaid) as a member with us, I cannot let this paſs before I have taken notice of the grounds of her (pretended) return to Mr. Down, namely Gods diſpleaſure againſt her, manifeſted in her childrens death, and her own ſickneſs for departing from him: ſurely as a late writer hath obſerved, the providences of God are written in the dark and unlegible Characters, which though they may ſoon be diſcerned to be his hand, yet to decipher the ſenſe and meaning of them is a task that oft-times exceeds the line of humane wiſdome: They are like the the hand-writing on the wall, Dan. 5.5. where part of the hand that wrote it Belſhazzer ſaw, but the meaning of it, neither he nor the moſt learned of his Caldeans could find out: to interpret the mind of God in his providences requires the skill and wiſdome of a Daniel: and let the Reader take notice that God hath ſeemed to put a check upon this inferrence from Providence, by the death of one of her children, ſince her ſeparation and excommunication, and whileſt this lying pamphlet lay in the preſs, p. 6. He tels his Reader, that Mr. Ford was traduced, but by whom I know not, only ſtill I find T. A. peccant in neglecting to admoniſh one with whom yet he was in fellowſhip: ſure he that allowes himſelf in the omiſſion of fraternal correption deſerves not ſuch a Teſtimonial of his godlineſs. Immediately he chargeth us with common ſleighting of others that are not of our way (though never ſo godly): this is a falſe imputation, and ſuggeſted by the accuſer of the brethren: Had we commonly ſlighted godly men of different perſwaſions, it had been an intollerable crime, and he ought not to have put it up, without dealing with us about it: is there no way for Mr. A. to make his own and his wifes face clean but by throwing dirt in the face of a Church of Chriſt? p. 7. He confeſſeth that the manner of his wives withdrawment from us, was according as is ſet forth by Mr. Malls account: She refuſed to obey the voice of Chriſt in his commands, Mat. 18.15, 16. She refuſed to hear the firſt and ſecond party, and ſo ſucceſſively; and if the Church did ſend for her, ſhe would not come near them, for ſhe did not mean to be ſo toſt up and down as ſome others had been: ſo that, Reader, had her grounds of ſeparation been juſt (though the contrary doth appear to all unintereſted perſons) yet the manner of her ſeparation is altogether unjuſtifyable; and whereas ſhe pretends ſhe deſired that the buſineſs might be determined by two other Miniſters, and my ſelf with Mr. Mall. I ſhall reply two things.
1. How doth this accord with what is ſaid by T.A. p. 8. where to find fit perſons for the reſolving this queſtion, we knew not; being both of us tender to ingage the Miniſters of the City, leſt it might prove of ill conſequence, or beget ſome anunoſity between them upon the deſiding of the queſtion? why was ſhe not as tender of preventing animoſities in offering the determination of the buſineſs to two Miniſters as in ſtating the queſtion?
2. But to clear up matters more fully know, that toward the end of September laſt, I occaſionally met with Mr. Alleins father, who ſignified to me that his daughter in law (the party cenſured) did with tears in her eyes profeſs her willingneſſe to leave her ſelf to the determination of any two Miniſters within the City or without (ſhe was indifferent) that might confer with me and end the buſineſs in controverſie, whereupon (though I told him it was a great reflection on her Paſtor that he could not be admitted to treat with her unleſs others might be preſent; it was a tacit charging me with unfaithfulneſs, and that I had never given her cauſe for ſuch eſtrangements) yet however I pitched on two Miniſters Mr. Ferdinando Nicols and Mr. Thomas Down and ſent her husband notice of it, who was overjoyed at my condeſcentions, as hoping to reduce his wife by this expedient; but ſhe in ſtead of this flyes off from her pretentions to her father in law, and would not refer her ſelf to them. p. 8. I find Mr. T. A. and his wife agree to have the caſe ſtated whether thoſe things before mentioned (at which ſhe was ſo much offended) were ſufficient cauſe to withdraw from my Church (as he calls it) and go to another? Had he conſulted with the Presbyterian books concerning ſeperation, he might have been ſatisfied: Mr. Brinſley would have told him that is an unwarrantable ſeparation wich is either
1. Unjuſt, When there is no perſecution, no ſpreading errors or hereſie, no Idolatry, nor ſuperſtition maintained in the Church.
2. Which is either when the cauſe pretended is but light, or when the ſeperation is ſudden and heady, without due endeavour and expectance of reformation in the Church: Brinſlies Arraignment, p. 24.25. Or he might have peruſed Mr. Manton on Iude, who would have taught him that the only lawful grounds of ſeparation are intollerable perſecution, damnable hereſie, groſs Idolatry, p. 496. and that lawful ſeparation on theſe cauſes, muſt not be ſudden till all due courſes be tryed, p. 497. And now Reader, do but reflect on the four grounds of Mris. A. her ſeparation and thou canſt not but deſcern, how groundleſs and raſh even in the account of bretheren (diſſenting from … ſeparation is: we are neither accuſed of hereſy, Idolatry or ſuperſtition, and ſhe never declared her reſolutions to leave us, or any grounds thereof, or endeavoured to be ſatisfied about any thing burthenſome to her, untill we admoniſhed her of diſorderly walking in neglecting Church-fellowſhip with us, we had not an hint of any of her diſcontents. Hitherto I have followed this pamphleter to ſee and ſhow his weakneſs in juſtifying this wiſes neglecting Church-fellowſhip and withdrawing from us: I ſhall next take notice what he pleades for her other ſin of running from him: p. 8. 9. he pretends, as if the end of that motion was ſatisfaction, whether ſhe might withdraw from us; what neede ſoe much impatience if ſhe had actually been in Communion with Mr. Downs people? Here Reader I ſhall give thee ſome probabilities that ſhe intended not for Taunton in this expedition.
1. At her departure from her husband in the morning ſhe told him in a paſſion ſhe would leave him, as he confeſt with tears in his eyes to Capt. Roll and Lieut. Owen, about foure of the Clock the ſame day; and yet p. 34. of his Truths Manifeſt, he knowes in in his own Conſcience that ſhe never entertained the leaſt thoughts of deſerting him; is not this a bold lyer?
2. Was ſhe ſo poorly beloved in Exon that ſhe could not borrow an horſe for love or money? where ſhe had her birth and breeding, ſuch as it was.
3. Was ſhe not great bellyed, and conſequently unfit for travel on foot? ſo near her time, it ſeems, that p. 35. of his book ſhe was glad to Carrie her midwife with her. Will any Reader think that ſhe in ſuch a Condition would take ſuch a Journy for ſuch an end.
4. Would ſhe have pitched on ſuch an infamous woman as Dame, who had ran to Ireland as her Brother Mongwel confeſſed after another womans husband? Had ſhe no relations that ſhe might truſt to convey her in caſe her husbands Company was not ſo proper?
5. Why did they not proceed in their journey? what though her brother could not accompany her, muſt ſhe needs returne being in her journey more then half the way, eſpecially when ſhe could goe with more Credit to Taunton then before? but,
6. If the Mare was ſent for to convey her to Taunton, what ſhould Dame her Companion or Midwife doe? muſt ſhe ride upon the Muggle of the Mare?
7. But is it likely that ſhe would ſend about fifteen miles for a Mare to expedite this journey?
8. Is Honnington in the road way to Taunton?
9. There are ſeveral perſons that then lay in the houſe that heard the Landlady ſay, that Mr. T.A. could not be admitted for a while into his wifes Chamber, and that Mris. A. did confeſſe to her, that ſhe left her husband becauſe of a different way from her. Well but he thinks to excuſe, by a friendly lodging he had that night with her p. 9. it was ſure but part of the night, I think it was near nine of the Clock before he took horſe to find her out: for her friendlineſſe to him I will not medle with it, only it Coſt him deare, to travel ſo unſeaſonably, and to ingage (as was reported) that he would never joyn with us more.
10. Her journey was ſinful in the opinion of both husband and wife p. 10. he ſaith, ſhe was ſenſible of her ſin in going from him without his privity, and deſired the Lord to humble her for it, and deſired him to forgive her. Well, grant this, yet the offence became publick, Honnington and Exeter Rang with this ſcandall, and the Church account themſelves obliged to take notice of it, and they appoint members to admoniſh her of it, but ſhe refuſeth to hear them as ſhe was wont: Now let the Reader Judg, whether this is ſo ſlight àn offence, and whether a Church of Chriſt have not power to deale with ſuch an offender, although ſhe be forgiven ſeventy times ſeven by her husband, yet no appearance of ſorrow was ſeene by any of us, for her opening the mouths of wicked men againſt Religion; therefore we expecting ſaisfaction but miſſing of it, we reſolved to follow this offendor according to the inſtruction given us, Math. 18.15.16.17.
In the ſame page he adviſeth his Reader to take notice, that the Church were ignorant of the occaſion and end of her journey, and yet, &c. Noe wonder if Ignorant of the occaſion of that ſcandalous motion, when her own husband knew it not till he found her in Honnington; and as for the end, though he pretends it was to Receive ſatisfaction Concerning ſome ſcruple, yet I doe not believie it: How ever he hath been taught in Peters, that it is a moſt ſad thing, when a man hath nothing to ſay for the juſtifying of himſelf, but this, that he hath a good meaning in ſuch an action; it is no queſtion, a man may have a kind of good meaning in that which is nothing but wickedneſſe; the beſt intention in the world is not good enough to make an evill action to be good. Good is a perfection as evil is a defect, and all perfection muſt come from the concurrence of all the cauſes to compleat it: what think you of Lots Daughters, their end was that they might preſerve ſeed on earth, yet this would not Juſtify them in ſuch an abominable act as that was: yea, he hath been taught, that no man can have a good intention in a wicked action; how can a man have a good end, as long as he walks by a crooked rule, and uſeth indirect meanes for the obtaining of his end? it doth imply, it is a contradiction: The obedience of he Creature to its maker is the end for which it was made, honoring of God by obeying him, is the end of a Chriſtian: now how can he aime at the glory of God that taketh a direct courſe to diſobey him?
But if his wives end was ſo good in that ſwift motion of hers, why had it not been made known when the two others were ſent to his wife? Why did ſhe refuſe conference with them? She knevv vvell enough that the ſcandalouſneſs of the action vvas notorious, and did it not become her (or her husband in her behalf) to ſatisfie us about this glorious end? Beſides, vvhy had ſhe ſuch a ruffe carriage toward thoſe two Bretheren, when coming to her in a meſſage from Chriſt, and his Church, p. 10.11. We know ſhe is a ruffe piece, but that was a ſtrange time ſo to expreſs her ſelf, when ſhe lay under ſo much guilt, as that he confeſſeth, ſhe ask't him forgiveneſs, and ſaid, ſhe was ſenſible of the evil of that journey, and deſired the Lord to humble and forgive her for it: When David had truly repented of his ſin, though a Shimei accoſted him, he vvas not rough tovvards him; though this pamphleter be overbold in his lying imputations, yet the Lord did not Permit him to charge the brethren vvith any uncivil carriage in their conference vvith his vvife, only he confeſſeth that (vvhichwhich needed no proofe) that his vvife vvas rough, yet upon this repentance (though queſtionable enough) he forgives her, ſo might vve: had ſhe vvith tears profeſt (to us) Her ſelf ſenſible of the evil of her journey, deſiring the Lord to humble her, and forgive her for it. To this vvas ſhe bound by the Lavv of the ſame God that obliged her to ask her husband forgivneſs, her ſin being publick, her repentance ſhould have been publick, ſhe had ſcandalized the Church, and ſhe ought to have ſought forgiveneſs from them, as vvell as from her husband: There is a tvvofold forgiveneſs.
1. That vvhichwhich is oppoſed to hatred, grudges, and unjuſt deſire of revenge, thus vve were to forgive her, vvhether ſhe repented, or no.
2. That vvhichwhich is oppoſed to the cenſures of the Lord Jeſus in his Churches, and ſo we are bound not to forgive unleſs there be viſible repentance; and therefore vve are not aſhamed to ſay, that ſuch a ſcandalous ſin is unpardonable to a Church-member, vvithout the Churches ſatisfaction, though he as an husband may pardon the ſcandalouſneſs of it, as relating to himſelf, yet not as relating to the Church; and had he conſulted either for the peace of his ovvn conſcience, or the ſafety of her ſoul, he vvould have taken an occaſion from her private confeſſions to prevail vvith her for a publick acknovvledgment; but he neglecting his duty, and his vvife hers the Journey having opened ſo many mouths againſt Religion, and the pretended end being concealed from the Church, they thought themſelves bound in conſcience to uſe the laſt remedy that Chriſt had left them, namely to ſet apart a day to cenſure her for her offences, and contumacy.
At this he tells us, p. 11. he vvas ſo offended, that therefore he abſtained from our meetings: vvhereas long before vve had brought his vvives buſineſs to an head; he vvas obſerved to neglect fellovvſhip, vvhereupon he vvas ſummoned to appear before the Church, and promiſed to come; but a common lyar (as he novv proves himſelf in print) vvill break his vvord; inſtead of coming, he vvrites a letter, and for the choiceneſs of it he hath publiſhed it. p. 12.13, 14. vvhichwhich letter I ſhall branch into a double charge, and a threefold defence.
In his charge I ſhall conſider, Firſt, His charge of the Church in general, for ſeparation; vve believe ſeparation to be a very great ſin. I am ready to ſay vvith Auguſt. Contra parmen: non eſſe quicquam gravius ſacrilegio ſchiſmatis. Hovv far T.A. is guilty of it himſelf, vve may feare from his Title page vvhere he ſtiles himſelf a Late member; but ſeeing he hath laid the charge, it vvill concerne him to make it good, by ſhevving to vvhat body this Church vvas ever united according to the rules of Chriſt, and that ſuch an union hath been deſolved by them: Which I am ſure he can never evince.
There is another charge of ſeveral members, vvho (he ſaith) have much defamed him, ſo as to make him a perjured perſon, becauſe Mr. M.D. baptized his child. This I believe is a lye, though I think he gave juſt cauſe of trouble to many thereby; he pretends even in this letter that he forbore to partake vvith other Churches, becauſe he vvould not offend us, and yet he knevv that his carrying his child to another Miniſter vvould offend them, as much, if not more: and indeed hath more offended, becauſe of thoſe many ſolemn ſerious profeſſions of his, that he vvas not changed in his principles, and had reſolutions to continue in our fellovvſhip) but if there vvere any ſuch as ſo defamed him, did not they treſpaſs againſt him; and vvhy vvill he live in the conſtant neglect of ſo plain a duty, as telling it betvveen him and the offender, and in caſe of party or parties had not been reduced, to have taken others in order to their healing; but be forgiveth without their asking him mercy. What ever principle of forgiving an offending brother he pretends to, yet he ſhould have ſtudied that in Luk. 17.3.4. take heed to your ſelves, if thy brother treſpaſs againſt thee, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him, and if he treſpaſſe againſt thee, ſeven times in a day, and ſeven times in a day, turn again to thee, ſaying, I repent, thou ſhalt forgive him; from which words the late large Annotators infer that charity muſt connive at ſin, but diſcreetly reprove it, and refer us to Levit. 19.17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy neighbour and not ſuffer ſin upon him; but perhaps the captain is better for a deſenſive poſture, then for a charge.
I ſhall now view him ſtanding on his guard.
1. He ſeems to defend himſelf from any charge, for forbearing our company, by ſaying, that after ſalutes, preſently the diſcourſe was about his wife, which was as gravel to his teeth. Surely he hid it within his gums, I do not know any perſons, that he can juſtly charge with ſuch diſcourſes, but ſome of our brethren did pity his condition, and laboured to ſupport him under troubles, that his wife did occaſion: this I ſay; this I know. I dare challenge him to inſtance in any perſon, that ſo gravel'd him, as he complains; Mr. Toby his memory is not ſo ſhallow, that he can forget what diſcourſes we have had with him about his wife, have been for reducement, and for his direction, rather then for his wifes defamation: yea, he knows that I have deſired conferences with him about ſpiritual things of the higheſt nature: but if any of the brethren fed him with gravel; nay, if any one ſaid, if the unbeliever depart, let him depart; I am very confident he never ſhewed the leaſt diſtaſte to ſuch a perſon, or perſons, until he went about to publiſh this grievance in the Church.
2. Secondly, He goeth about to defend himſelf, for his abſence from our Church-aſſemblies, which he cals private meetings: to which I reply, that when a Church of Chriſt is convened for the worſhip of God, I know not how to call it a private meeting, any more then the meetings of the Saints in the primitive times, when though they met in houſes, their meetings were publick; one reaſon of his abſence ſeems to be taken from our debate, and diſcourſes about his wife. This is but pretended, and founded, upon a falſhood, a double falſhood; 1. We have had very ſeldome debates about her, in our Church-aſſemblies, the works lying on the officers to prepare and ripen matters for the Churches proceedings: and 2. To ſhew the invalidity of his defence, both to this and to the former charge; I do moſt confidently affirm, that he hath ſeveral times pretended another reaſon for both, viz. His hopes of reducing his wife by forbearing our company a while; as for what he ſubjoynes of his being of another apprehenſion, as to the matter in controverſie between us and his wife, then the Church was: this is a witneſſing to the truth of what his wife charged him with, that he was of her opinion, though he often denyed it.
Another reaſon of his abſence ſeems to be ſome brethren vilyfying his wife, at their doors, ſhops, and tables: this is a falſe imputation, he will never be able to prove his defence: beſides the thred of neglecting fraternal corruption runs through the veines of all his calumnies, as you will find anon.
3. He defends himſelf againſt an objection that he ſuppoſeth might be made againſt him for his abſenting from the Lords Table: the reaſon whereof, he tells us was becauſe Mr. Savery was unſatisfied, and leſt the Church ſhould be offended.
1. As to that branch of Mr. Saveries being offended: an underſtanding Reader would rather think that he was offended that views, p. 11. ſaying, that his letter to him carried ſo much, if not more in the terms thereof, as to ſet T.A. at variance with his wife. But that the Reader may know, who is the offending party, I have prevailed with him for a copy of his letter, ſent to him, Auguſt 22. 1657.
Dear Brother,
And beloved in the bowels of our Lord Jeſus Chriſts Grace and peace be ever your Portion.
Having of late not had an oportunity to confer with you, and fearing to come to your houſe becauſe of your wife, have made bold to preſent you with theſe few (though much confuſed) lines, to give you to underſtand, how much my ſoul is grieved for your diſorderly walking; I mean your abſenting your ſelf from our private meetings; to forſake the aſſembling of our ſelves together, is a ſin, and I may boldly ſay, ſuch a ſin as carryes many others in the bowels of it; you may ſee how the Holy Ghoſt doth condemn ſuch an unſaint like practiſe, in Heb. 10.24, 25. your often withdrawing from us, hath dravvn theſe lines from me; vvhat your excuſes be I knovv not, I muſt tell my fears and Jealouſies; vvhichwhich are, that they vvill not hold vveight in the ballance of the ſanctuary; if the vvife of your boſome do divert you, give me leave to tell you, as my Lord hath told me in Luke 14.26, 27, 33. You cannot be his Diſciples, if your multiplicity of buſineſs in the vvorld hinder you from vvaiting upon God in thoſe Galleries, vvhere he hath ſo eminently appeared: Oh ſit dovvn and conſider, that Scripture in Mat. 16.26. and ſo vvith 1 Ioh. 2.15. Love not the vvorld; and vvhat ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? vvhat ſhall vve vvho profeſs our ſelves to be the children of the moſt high, live upon things ſo lovv as the vvorld is? vvhat ſhall vve be ſo earneſt for a dying vvorld vvhen our immortal and never dying ſouls lyes at ſtake? Oh Dear Brother, Remember God will not be mocked; if we bring forth the fruits of the fleſh, doubtleſs we ſhall reap corruption, and confuſion of face forever; truly a name to live and a report to be a Chriſtian, will not ſtand in the day of appearance: all that I ſhall ſay more for the preſent, is to deſire, that the good Lord would grant us ſuch Revelations of Chriſt, as that it might make us to caſt out and cut off what ever is diſpleaſing to him: I ſhould not have been faithful, had I not told you my minde. Now the Father of Spirits give you a heart to receive it as an humble hearted Chriſtian would doe; and take it all in Brotherly and Goſpel love from him, who is,
Yours (whileſt you are Chriſts) in Goſpel Bonds. THOMAS SAVERY.
I doe not ſee that this Letter ſhould breed ſtrife betwixt him and his wife, I dare be Compurgator for T.S. he never in the leaſt intended it: but T.A. is very exact in drawing thornes from Grapes; any man that doth but compare his after inferences from my Sermon, p. 26. 27. 29. 31. 35. may diſcerne it. But ſuppoſe he was offended with Mr. S. why did not he diſcharge duty towards him? Would he ſuffer a perſon to lye in ſo great a ſin from Aug. 22. to Feb. 4. without following him by firſt and ſecond admonition. But (to returne to the Letter) Mr. Savery is unſatisfied, and the Church knowes of it, by what means ſhould the Church come to the knowledg of it, ſeeing Mr. Savery never brought it to their hearing; they had indeed known it on February 4. if I had obſerved his irregular deſires. But was he unſatisfied with T.A. why did not T.A. agree with him quickly, acccording to that Math. 5.25. If Church members take this Liberty to diſſatisfy perſons in Communion with them, and doe not carefully diſcharge duties mutually, a Church will ſoone looſe their purity and will become a Babel: ſtill Reader, Mr. Savery is unſatisfied and now T.A. grows bold, ſatisfied or not; to the Lords Table he will, as if he had never read, Math. 5.23.24. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembreſt that thy brother hath ought againſt thee, Leave there thy gift and goe thy way, firſt be reconciled to thy brother and then Come and offer thy gift. I wounder who thoſe are, that he thinks more wiſe and Godly then himſelfe; that would adviſe him to go to that Love-feaſt, till he had made up a difference between him and his brother? And therefore his deſire was unreaſonable, to aske of us liberty to come to the Lords Table, when the difference between him and Mr. Savery had diſabled him, and being never ſuſpended, he needed not crave that priviledg. In the cloſe of his letter he intended to oblige the Church, by wiping off an ill name, they had got: Did he publiſh this letter and his Booke for this reaſon? Or would any man thinke his ſubſcription, Yours to Command in any ſervice for Chriſt, can poſſibly conſiſt with ſuch paſſages as I find in his Book? where he accuſeth us of unrighteouſneſs in his epiſtle, and of raiſing and ſpreading falſe reports, as Traytors p. 2.3. as ſlighting all that are not of our way p. 6. as glad of any occaſion to cenſure his wife p. 10. as over-reaching Mris. Par p. 28. as proud, as thinking there are no pure Ordinances but in ſuch Churches p. 31. 41 as tollerating of wicked perſons amongſt us p. 41. as miſcalling other Churches, looking on them as Babyloniſh and Synagogues of Satan p. 28.42. and compareth us to the Pope and Phariſees p. 32.39. is this the man to whom we are deare ſtill even to the fourth of February? And is this the way to wipe off what he can, that ill name that is laid upon us?
Thus have I conſidered the letter whoſe Subſcription runs to my Honoured freind Mr. L.S. to be Communicated to the Church who (they ſay) are unſatisfied: Which was it ſeemes the intent of that paper, and the ſubject matter of it confirmes it, though he would delude his Reader with another inſcription, p. 12. vvith this, A letter from Mr. Toby Allein To Mr. Levvis Stucley, to be communicated to his Church before they excommunicated his wife: here a ſimple Reader will think the intent of the letter, was to prevent the excommunication of his vvife, whereas he that Reads it narrovvly, will ſee that it is rather to prevent his own: He doth but as in a parentheſis name ſomewhat, that his wife was diſſatisfiea about, the invalidity whereof I have already evinced to the judicious Reader; neither was that meeting (from which he abſented himſelf And therein broke his Solemne promiſe) appointed in relation to his wives affaires, but his own. By this time I have given thee an account that this Pamphleter doth unjuſtly charge me with unfaithfulneſſe to him, and the Church for not communicateing it, according to the directions given p. 15. Unfaithfulneſs ſuppoſeth ſome preceding obligation; I know noe tyes on any Paſtor to communicate to his Church all the papers that private perſons would have divulged to them, ſhould I be bound to that, I might foone fill the ears of my Congregation with rude undigeſted ſtuff, or with unſeaſonable matter: Was it fit for me to countenance him in an irregularity, of bringing in ſeveral charges, againſt ſome members, before he had admoniſhed them privately? Or would it have been wiſdome in me, to communicate his reflections on the Church in general, before he had made a Juſt defence for himſelf? Beſides, in his paper, there are ſome paſſages ſoe obſcure, that I could not underſtand, as p. 13. this and ſuch like ſayings, begat in me ſome diſſatisfaction, which, for want of better obſervation, I thought z…aie, which, when my good Father heard I Remember &c. With whom he was diſſatisfied I doe not underſtand, nor what he meanes, by zeale, whether he was diſatisfied with his wife, or with the Church, and what the antecedents are to thoſe relatives.
p. 17. He gives you an account of a letter from Mris. Par (who he ſaith was a late member of my Church, and long ſince deſerted them; how a late member, and yet long ſince deſerted us) and Mris Allein, to which I need not ſay much, any judicious Reader may ſee, it robs parricular Churches, of that power and Authority which Chriſt hath intruſted them with, of trying and cenſuring their ovvn delinquent members, upon a pretence that the vvhole Church are parties; to vvhichwhich vve might retort many things, if it vvere needful; but he Pamphleter takes it for granted, that a particular Church may excommunicate (in his Epiſtle) and that vvhichwhich he diſlikes in ſeveral Pages, is our cenſuring the parties for petty ſmall offences; moreover ſo far are either of them, in this paper, from confeſſing any of their ſcandals, that they rather vvould aſperſe us, as if the evil vve vvere cenſuring them for, was their communicating in the Ordinances of Chriſt, with others of Gods people that will admit them to their communion: Sure March the ſeventh was of all the dayes in the week, the moſt improper to blot paper with ſlanderous reflection.
By this time I ſuppoſe I have almoſt wearied my Reader, with inlarging on the unchriſtian liberty, which this Pamphleter hath taken to make both my perſon and the Church I walk with odious to the world, but I may ſay as it was told Ezekiel, Behold yet greater abominations; he is not contented to falſifie, and pervert actions, but p. 20. he jears at the workings of the bleſſed Spirit, in thoſe mournings and lamentings which God was pleaſed to beſtow upon his people, upon that ſad day; this he blaſphemouſly calls a hideous howling cry, and accounts ſo juſt a cenſure to be but like the Popes bull, a beaſt when it roars the loudeſt, p. 33. I ſhould the leſs wonder at theſe expreſſions, had not this T.A. been once preſent, when this cenſure was inflicted on Ganicle; hath this poor ſoul forgotten how they ſorrowed after a godly ſort, what carefulneſs it wrought in them; yea, what clearing of themſelves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement deſire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? The Author of the Hiſtory of the Councel of Trent (though a papiſt) would have taught him more Chriſtianity, who ſaith p. 330. That the exceſs of charity in correcting (ſpeaking of the cenſure of excommunication) did make the corrector feel greater pain then the corrected, ſo that in the Church no puniſhment was impoſed without great lamentation of the multitude, and greater of the better ſort, and this was the cauſe why to correct was called to lament; ſo St. Paul rebuking the Corinthians, for not chaſtifing the inceſtuous, ſaid, you have not lamented to ſeparate ſuch a tranſgreſſion from you.
And muſt this ſcurilous tongue report that dayes mourning for his vvives miſery to be howling and hideous howling? and compare it to the Popes roaring Bull? hovv can this Iſhmael that is grovvn up, and become a ſcoffer of Iſaac, hope to keep his reputation among them, vvho knovv vvhat ſighs and groanes in duty means? it vvas indeed a ſad and black day, and this the excommunicates vvill knovv to their everlaſting ſhame and ſorrovv vvithout repentance; hovvever this adamant heart may flout and jeſt at our ſenſe of the miſery of theſe contumacious vvretches for a vvhile: I knovv, and am perſvvaded, that vve have cauſe given us to glory in that vvhichwhich he vvould publiſh for our ſhame; vve bleſs God that the place of our aſſembling our ſelves together vvas turned into a Bochim, and that the great holy God vvas pleaſed to give us frames of mourning, becoming the vvork of ſuch a day; vve remember vvell, vve are not the firſt that have been ſo traduced, and if this be to be vile, vve deſire to be more vile, if ever ſuch a ſad occaſion preſent it ſelf again.
This Pamphleter having caſt ſuch blaſe aſperſions upon the vvorkings of God in the hearts of his people, and having miſhaped the Congregation, his next vvork is to lay me lovv in the eyes of al men, by printing ſomevvhat of my Prayer for the Reader to vievv, to make vvay for his ovvn falſe obſervations, that aftervvards he annexeth.
I have already in a ſolemn place vvitneſſed againſt thoſe lyes, vvith vvhichwhich I am charged, and ſhould have hoped for ſo much ingenuity from a profeſſing people, that they vvould have given credit to me, in my diſovvning the Blaſphemy, Lyes, Contradictions, and incoherences of ſuch papers; but this I feel and find by ſad experience, that vvhen perſons are ingaged in ſpreading lies to defame their brethren, they vvill hardly be perſvvaded to retract their uncharitable practiſes againſt them; it had ſuited vvith a Goſpel-ſpirit in Miniſters, and others, to have knovvn of me, vvhether I delivered ſuch paſſages, as the bold man fathers on me, before they had believed them, or any vvay contributed to the ſpreading of them; this is not to vvalk by that (generally applauded) rule, Mat. 7.12. All things vvhatſoever ye vvould that men ſhould do to you, do ye even ſo to them; this is not to love thy neighbour as thy ſelf, this is not to uphold the credit of the Miniſter, and the eſteem of our brethren in the Miniſtry, this is not to deal faithfully with our brethren, and not to ſuffer ſin to lye upon each other, and freely and lovingly give to, and receive admonitions from each other, for any evil that ſhall be diſcovered in either of us.
I do once again profeſs to my brethren in the Miniſtry, and to all others, that I am exceedingly vvronged by theſe reports, and if this do not ſatisfie thee, if thou vvilt credit more on H.R. (a perſon ſo notorious, that I believe fevv vvill certifie for his godly converſation) rather then believe a Miniſter of the Goſpel: I may ſay, now walkeſt not thou charitably; Religion will teach thee to ſuſpend rather thy determining any thing in this matter; I cannot force the credit of any, but will commit my cauſe to God; I believe a day of Judgment is haſtning upon us, and then it will be known how much ſin men of all degrees have been guilty of in this matter, by ſaying, report and we will report. In the mean while I ſhall give thee a double Certificate from the members of my own, and ſome of other Congregations.
A Printed Pamphlet under the name of Mr. Toby Allein, coming lately to our view, and finding therein ſomewhat ſtiled a prayer, which is by him aſſerted to be Mr. Stucleys, we cannot but judg our ſelves obliged in duty and conſcience, to teſtifie to all that deſire to be informed of the truth, that ſeveral paſſages therein, are to our knowledg forged, and invented, and ſeveral other material paſſages omitted, and ſeveral incoherences inſerted; ſo that we are verily perſwaded it was fram'd and publiſhed out of a malicious deſigne, to traduce our honoured and beloved Paſtor, and to blaſt the reputation of his name and Miniſtry, which is and will be as a ſweet ſavour to us and many other poor ſouls in theſe parts, who injoy the benefit and comfort of his Gifts and graces.
Signed in the name, and with the conſent of the Church, by
Thomas Mall.
Nicholas Eveleigh.
John Whitehorne.
Having often heard of many ſcandalous papers ſpread up and down, and lately ſeen in Mr. Toby Alleins Narrative, a Prayer ſaid to be delivered March. 8. by Mr. L. Stucley, we account our ſelves debtors both to the truth and reputation of Mr. Stucley, to declare to the world, that having then been ear-witneſſes of what he delivered, we know him to be much wronged in it, for that ſeveral things are omitted which he ſpake, and other things inſerted which he did not deliver, we fear, that if Mr. Allein had not meant to abuſe himſelf, he would never have printed ſo groſs an untruth.
Given under our hands the firſt of June 1658.
Forteſcue Lowman Miniſter
Henry Hill.
Nich. Hitchcock.
George Berry.
James Wood.
John Croſsman.
Allexander Wood.
Robert Gill.
I ſhall let the Reader paſs on to what remaines, when I have aſſured him, that what a miniſter aſperſed me with, as if one or more of my Congregation would be ſworn, that the copies that were ſcattered up and down, was a true copy of my prayer, is a miſtake, to call it by no worſe name; and to aſſure thee of it, I ſhall give thee part of his letter.
Sir, The Copy which I ſaw of your Prayer, was acknowledged by one or two of your Congregation to be true, except the contradiction and miſtake in it, all the reſt they believed was yours; the contradiction was (let us not pray for them, let us remember them in our prayers; and the mistake, viz. God is baniſh't from their preſence, inſtead of, they are Baniſhed from Gods preſence, &c.
Now theſe two members I have talked with, and they are ſo far from ſwearing to the truth of this aſſertion, that they affirm the contrary, yea, the contrary is granted by the limitations annexed in the letter, for if there were a contradiction and a miſtake in the copy, then it was not a true coppy; beſides, theſe two perſons affirme, that H.R. told them, he had omitted one or more particulars; and to ſay but this, thou wilt find upon a ſecond view of the pretended prayer, that the contradiction is now totally omitted, inſtead of (let us not pray for them &c. but remember them in our prayers, let us remember that ſuch and ſuch perſons are this day accurſed) now T.A. p. 23. hath theſe words; let us not pray for them, avoid their company, but remember in our prayers that ſuch and ſuch perſons are this day accurſed.
But the malice of Tobyah is not yet quenched with the blood of my name, unleſs he ſmites my worthy fellow-labourer Mr. T. Mall. He advanceth himſelf in his deſign, p. 25. to aſperſe him alſo, and at once condemns him for uncharitable and invective reſteotions (which he will never be able to prove) and for weakneſs of parts, though that little part of the world wherein he hath exerciſed his Miniſtry will be ſufficiently able to confute his ſlanderous tongue without the need of any other Apologiſts.
The Author of Truths Minifeſt is high flown with confidence, that by this time his infamous pen hath ſufficiently prejudiced his Reader, and made way for the entertaining of what followeth, the main deſign whereof is to give a lying Teſtimonial, concerning his wives behaviour and our opinions and practiſes: ſo it will appear by and by, when I have but rectified the Readers judgment, that may be miſled by a paſſage in his 38, 39. p. Iudg how fit it is for Mr. St. to rake up this petty buſineſs, an offence indeed taken, and not given it, and to aggravate it in Pulpit and Print, beyond all truth neer three years after they had been reconciled, and the ſame had been buried in oblivion, on purpoſe to beſpatter and abuſe my wife. How many lies there are in theſe few words thou will find anon: I might here refer thee to the 21.22. p. of Mr. Malls True account, where thou wilt find that my endeavours to bring the two ſiſters to an agreement, begat Rancor in her ſpirit againſt me; for ſhe confeſt that the reaſon why ſhe would not ſpeak with me, though deſired by me, was becauſe of my unfaithfulneſs, in forcing her to ask forgiveneſs of her ſiſter, and that way to make up that difference, whereby it appears they were not ſo reconciled as T. A. pretends, and that I had cauſe enough to diſcover that fire for my own vindication; and how petty ſoever this buſineſs ſeems to be, yet I am moſt confident that in the ſolemn day, when the books, and hearts of men and women ſhall be fully opened, it will appear, that it was not the want of purity among us that made her neglect our fellowſhip, nor our intermedling with State affaires, nor our tying our ſelves ordinarily to hear them that God hath ſet over us, that made her heart to groan, as he termeth it, p. 3. but her implacable malice againſt her ſiſter, was the riſe of her contumacy and apoſtaſie, her ſpirit was too full of wrath, and diſcontent to walk with her ſiſter, as Church-relation requires, and therefore imbraced any the leaſt occaſion to quarrel with us. In the ſame p. he tells the world, that when I would write letters, I would have as much of reflection in them, as I could, that they might be aſhamed to ſhew them. If I ſaid ſo, I might ask of him yet again, whether I ſpake according to the Goſpel or not? if I did, why did he blame me? if not, why did he not reprove me? why did he lay it up in his breaſt, to throw it up among his diſcontents? (I could never get an anſwer from him by letter, to this) if ever I ſaid thoſe words, (which I do not remember) I may have the liberty to put this ſenſe upon them, that having to do ſometime with perſons, that under pretence of affection and deſire of ſatisfaction may ſeek to defame me, and to take advantage againſt me, from my writings, I think it ſome patt of wiſdome, to interline truth with truth, that if my letters come to the view of many, they may ſee the black ſide as well as the bright of men I write to. But if this pamphleter intends by reflections, lyes, I hope there is no judicious Reader will think me ſo wicked, or if ſo wicked, not ſo much a fool to lodg ſuch a curſed defigne in the breaſt of T.A.
Reader, an advantage ſufficient is given me to follow this pamphleter through his obſervations, as before I have traced him through his narrative; but I ſhall content my ſelfe in giving thee, but two general obſervations I have obſerved through out his book, which I think juſtly ſtain him, more then his Teſtimonial can credit him, with unbyaſ'd perſons.
The firſt thing that I cannot but let thee ſee, is his conſtant neglect of fraternal correption: when he was admitted to our fellowſhip, he ſolemnly covenanted to admoniſh, and reprove thoſe eſpecially of that Church to which he joyned, according to that, Mat. 18.15, 16. that he hath made little account of his ſolemn ingagement, will appear by an induction of particulars, wherein (though in moſt things falſly) yet he hath not walked according to the expreſs rule of our Saviour.
1. In his Epiſtle he taxeth the Church in general for an unrighteous cenſure, and yet hath forborn to tell us all this while wherein the unrighteouſneſs lay.
2. p. 2,3. He chargeth us with intermedling with State affaires, ſo as to make our ſelves guilty of Treaſon; he hath ſuffered this ſuppoſed ſin to lye upon us without admoniſhing us for it.
3. p. 4. He was offended at a brothers expreſſion in prayer: and yet I dare ſay he never dealt with him about it.
4. p. 6. He ſuppoſed a brother to have ſcandaliſed Mr. Ford: but doth not his conſcience tell him, he never rebuked him for that pretended ſlander?
5. In the ſame p. he ſaith, we commonly ſlight others that are not of our way: I never heard that he ſo aſperſed us, before I ſaw his book, ſo far was he from admoniſhing us, but hath ſuffered this (with which he now chargeth us) to lie upon us.
6. p. 7. He looks upon it as a dangerous principle, that no others were to have to do with the buſineſs of our Church: and yet never endeavoured to rectifie our judgments.
7. p. 11. He accuſeth Mr. Savery, as if he ſhould ſet variance between him and his wife: But why had he not admoniſhed him? and in caſe he would not have heard him, to have taken one or two more? &c.
8. In the ſame p. he aſperſeth another; with ſaying, if the unbeliever depart, let him depart: but doth not his own conſcience tell him, he did not admoniſh him? If he did, and the party received it, why doth he rake it up? he ſeems to blame me for this, p. 38. 39. though wrongfully; I may ſay to T. A. why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother eye, but conſidereſt not the beam that is in thine own? thou hypocrite, firſt caſt out the beam that is in thine own eye, &c. Mat. 7.35.
9. pag. 12, 13, 14. He accuſeth ſeveral perſons for defaming his wife, whereas we cannot learn that any one was privately admoniſhed for it.
10. p. 20, 21, 22. He hath publiſhed a falſe copy of my prayer without enquring of me whether it were true or no, or admoniſhing me of the evil of it.
11. pag. 25. He accuſeth Mr Mall of uncharitableneſſe, but never endeavoured privately, to ſhew him that he was guilty of any ſuch ſin.
12. p. 29. He ſaith, That I accounted partaking at the Lords Table in the Churches of Exon to be a partaking of the table of divels; though this be a brazen fac'd ly, yet why had he not admoniſhed me for ſo much wickedneſſe?
13. pag. 30. He ſaith, His wife and Mrs Parr never found that purity which they expected, but were diſappointed; But did he ever queſtion the Church in general, or any particular perſon?
14 p. 31. He ſaith, Such is the pride of Independents, they think there are no pure Ordinances but in their owne Churches: But which of us did he ever admoniſh of this great ſin?
15. p. 35. He ſeemes to be angry at me and ſome of my Church for ſpeaking freely of Dame ſuch things, as we can never prove, and that we very much abuſe and ſlander her therein: to backbite is a ſin, I confeſs, (and I wiſh many in Exon were more convinced of the greatneſs of if) but if Dame was ſo ſlandered, why had not Mr. Toby admoniſhed ſuch offenders?
16. p. 36. He accuſeth the Church, as being partly the occaſion of Mris. Parr lying, by our tampering with her; where alſo he vindicates her to aſperſe us, but he hath forgot what an hand he had in her ſuſpenſion, and that he never declared any diſſatisfaction at our proceedings with her, till ſince March the eighth.
17. p. 39. He ſaith, I told him, That when I wrote letters &c. I would have as much reflection in them as I could, that they might be aſhamed to ſhew them; if this be a true charge and a charge of ſin (for I profeſs as he hath ſeveral times applied it to me, I doe not well underſtand what he means by reflection) but if it was a wicked cuſtome, in his opinion, how unfaithful was T. A. that he did not admoniſh me of it, eſpecially if I accuſtomed my ſelfe to ſuch kind of writing?
18. p. 41. He ſaies he knows as bad tollerated among us, and nothing ſaid to them; the more is T.A. his guilt aggravated, that knowing ſuch, he hath not to this day diſcovered them; how great is his ſin, who ſhall accuſe our Church members of impurity, and yet not ſhew who the delinquent perſons are? He ſaith alſo, in the ſame page, that we have need enough of the laſt uſe of exhortation, the Leaven being amongſt us, the Leaven of the Phariſees, &c. What an unfaithful man is this, that pretends to know ſo much wickedneſs amongſt us, and yet hath concealed it all this while? That he may with the greater advantage bury our names in the duſt, and yet tells his Reader p. 32. That he ſhall not aſperſe us.