Manifest Truth, Part 2
REader, I ſhall not tire thee and my ſelf, to follow this Phamphleter line by line; instead of other particulars, take notice, that whereas the certifiers teſtifie, that to his words credit is given, I have therefore annexed, what I find in his ſheets, that in my apprehenſions croſs ſuch a teſtimony, and without offence may be called miſtakes or lies. Which is the ſecond general obſervation.
1. In his Epiſtle to the Reader, he ſaith, that Mr. T. M. hath publiſhed the notes of my Sermon, to ſpread falſe reports as far as poſſibly the Church can: When he knows in his own conſcience, that perſons were imployed to write after me, and boaſts were made, that they would publiſh that dayes work to the world for my defamation, and that he was not contented to be very Inſtrumental in ſpreading falſe copies of my Prayer, but alſo imployed ſome to write out my notes, in order to the preſs, and therefore to prevent his farther defaming me, I gave way that M. Mall ſhould publiſh my Sermon.
2. He ſaith alſo in his Epiſtle, That he hath made a true report of all tranſactions relating to his wives excommunication; whereas he might have publiſhed to the world all my care that I expreſt to him, and all the Counſel I gave him to prevent this cenſure.
3. He ſaith in his Epiſtle, That he ſaw no crimes proved either againſt Mris. Parr or his wife that deſerved ſuch a cenſure; and yet this very Mr. Allien acted in the ſuſpending Mris. Parr, as farr as any of the brethren, and until the eighth of March, and ſince, we never heard of any the leaſt diſſatisfaction, at our proceedings againſt her; and though he now pretend that his wife walked ſo unblamably before the cenſure, yet he hath often profeſſed, in the hearing of ſeveral perſons, that her carriage to the Church was (next to his own ſins) the greateſt affliction that ever he met with.
4. Whereas in the epiſtle, he calls it, an unrighteous cenſure, he was ſo farr convinced of his wives failing toward the Church, that when I told him at Mr. Eveleighs houſe, whether his wives carriage would lead her, and aſſured him, that for his ſake we yet ſpared her; he was ſo far from declaring a word of diſlike, that he told me (with outward expreſſion of griefe) he was ſenſible of that, an… …ired only our forbearance of proceeding againſt her, till ſhe was delivered of the child ſhe went with.
5. In p. 1. whereas he would make the world beleive as if he were a (fixed) member … Mr M. Down his Church, he hath often expreſſed the con… that he and his wife Received the Sacrament upon conditi… to joyne to a Congregation of their own principle, when God … give them that liberty.
6. In p. 2. He affirmes, that he and his wife Communicated their experiences to the Church, and were not admitted, That's falſe, they were admitted (though with much difficulty) as is to be ſeen in Mr. Malls account p. 21.
7. p. 5. He ſaith, that all the greateſt part of a Covenant was aſſented to by the Church: in which words, there are no leſs then two lyes; it was no Covenant, and very little of that paper ſo much as debated, and what was aſſented to, was not diſliked by himſelf.
8. p. 5. In the ſame page he would have the Reader beleive, as if his wife joyned to Mr. M. Down his Church, before ſhe was admoniſhed, which is alſo full of falſhood.
9. In p. 6. The traducing of Mr. Ford I beleive to be a lye; but that we ſlight the Godly, is undoubtedly an egregious lye and ſlander.
10. p. 8. 9. He tells us, that his wife acquainted him, That ſhe would goe ſome where to be reſolved, and riſing early in the morning, ſhe went her way; whereas the ſearch he made for her, and the teares for her departure, evidenced the contrary, and ſo did that conſolatory language (if ſpoken to him) if the believer depart let her depart.
11. Whereas p. 11. He pretends, that upon reports bruted that the Church had an intent to excommunicate his wife, he therefore abſtained from our private meetings: this is alſo falſe, for he confeſt to ſeveral of us, that the reaſon of keeping off, was the better to prevail with his wife to return.
12. p. 12. 13. He ſaith, the reaſon of his forbearing our company both in a private, and more publick capacity, was, our diſcourſes about his wife; whereas ſeveral of us are ready to prove, that the reaſon he gave, was, he hoped thereby to bring his wife to the better complyance with the Church.
13. He ſaith alſo, That he was of another apprehenſion then we were of as to the matters in controverſie between us and his wife; this is a witneſſing to the truth of what his wife charged him with, that he was of her opinion, which he often denied.
14. p. 19. He ſaith, After the Letter from Mrs. P. and Mrs A. was delivered to me, I opened it, and with two others of my Church looked it over and pocketted it up; whereas I did not open it at all, until I withdrew, and I remember not of perſons that ſaw it then.
15. p. 20. He ſaith, that my prayer after Excommunication, was as there followeth; which differeth from Ratcliffs own copy, and from another copy that I have ſeen, but moſt of all from the Prayer it ſelf, as appears by a Certificate.
16. p. 24, 25. It is falſe that which he ſaith concerning M. Malls ſtanding up after the prayer was ended, and ſaying to the Congregation, now we have ſeparated the precious from the vile, let us renew our ſolemn league and Covenant; there are no leſs then two untruths in this, the one as to the poſture, and the other as to the words.
17. p. 28. He ſaith, that neither his wife nor Mris. Par were looked on as refractory, and rebells to God and man, till they had no more any mind to ſtay with them, and for this they were excommunicated: this is falſe. Mrs. Par was dealt with by the Church, before ever ſhe declared her ſelf altered in her Principles, neither did Mrs. A. declare any diſlike of us, or our way, before ſhe was admoniſhed for neglecting Church-meetings.
18. In the ſame page he ſaith, that we look on all other Churches (that are not Congregational) as Babyloniſh and Synagogues of Satan; this is an egregious lye, we hold communion in all ordinances, with ſome Presbyterian Churches.
19. p. 29. He ſaith, that upon his reaſoning with me about communicating in the Lords Supper with us, and others alſo, (meaning the reſt of the Churches in Exon) that I ſhould tel him be could not partake of the table of the Lord and the table of Devils: to which I ſay, that it is noe wonder, if I underſtood not his meaning, he hath been ſuch a Proteus; ſure I am, I underſtood him not of the Churches in Exon; I do not at all remember any diſcourſes with him about his Communicating with them; moſt ſure I am, that I never called their Communicating Table, the Table of Devils, and as an evidence, that this is not my judgment, I dare challenge all the people in Exon, that have had diſcourſes with me about Church affaires, to be my compurgators: this I have evidenced to ſome Miniſters in Exon in my papers to them, (before this lying Pamphlet was writ) in not admitting a fit perſon of one of their Congregations to joyn as a member with me, which doubtleſs I ſhould not have refuſed, had it been to have delivered him from the tables of Devils. Yea, this Mr. Allein in a letter to me, bearing date, April 19. 1658. draweth an argument from my acknowledging the Churches in Exon to be true Churches, to ſhew how unreaſonable it would be, if I ſhould be offended with him for his holding communion with them.
20. Whereas he ſaith p. 30. I inſinuate his wife to be a very ſtrumpet: this is no leſs then a lye: I muſt needs give this cerificate in her behalfe, that before March 8. or on that day, I had not a thought that ſhe was ſuch an one, and ſtill wiſh, that her husband had as much truth, as ſhe honeſty: and whereas he ſuggeſts p. 35. that I omitted ſomewhat that I ſpake in preaching, to inſinuate into my auditory a ſuſpition of his wives Chaſtity, I aver it to be a moſt notorious falſhood.
21. In the ſame page he ſaith, I care not what filth and dirt I caſt upon any that care not for my independent wayes; this is a broad-faced lye.
22. He ſaith in the ſame page, that the two cenſured perſons, being diſapointed of purity amongſt us, went about to mend their fault by returning to thoſe Congregations to which thy formerly belonged; this is alſo a lye, That Mris Parr owned any of the preſent Miniſters in Exon, as paſtor, before ſhe joyned with us; the ſame I can prove of his wife.
23. He ſaith in the ſame p. that it is a moſt notorious belying his wife to ſay ſhe is a lawleſs women, that knoweth no ſubjection, &c. whereas he knowes, how ſhe hath taken the power of rule out of his hands by turning off a ſervant or ſervants for hearing of me, and diſcountenancing her own ſiſter, almoſt to the turning her out of doores, even then when he manifeſted high affections to me and the Church: I wonder what Conſcience he hath got, to account me a defamer of her, by reporting her lawleſs toward him? Beſides I may not omit her journey to Hanniton, and her reflections on her husband another time, at Mr. Eveleighs houſe, when we were debating the matters in difference betwixt her and her ſiſter.
24. p. 31. He ſaith, that ſuch is the pride of the Independents, that think there are no pure ordinances but in their own Churches. I doubt not but he accounts me one of thoſe Independents, and therefore muſt profeſs this to be a putid lye.
25. In the ſame p. he ſaith, in what a ſad condition I put all that are not independents, as if ſuch are not among Gods people and cannot enjoy the benefit of the Covenant: this is alſo a falſhood of the greateſt magnitude.
26. In 31. 32. p. He would make the Reader beleive, as though none were Gods people but my Church, according to my teaching; this is another lying defamation.
27. p. 32. He aſſures the Reader, that neither he nor his wife could ever ſee ſuch eminency of Godlineſs in our converſations; and yet whileſt his book was printing, he profeſt to two brethren (that were ſent to admoniſh him) that we were the honeſteſt people he ever came among (ſetting aſide this buſineſs of Excommunication.)
28. p. 33. He ſaith, I Slur Mr. Rutherford in my ſermon; it is falſe, and I here publiſh it to the world, that I have high thoughts of him, his pious works praiſe him in the gates.
29. p. 34. He tells us, that in his own conſcience he knows his wife never deſerted him and his family, and that ſhe never entertained the leaſt thoughts of it: the contrary to this is proved already from her own mouth by two witneſſes, to whom he confeſt that ſhe had left him ſoon after her threatning to leave him.
30. p. 35. He ſaith there was no exception againſt Dame, whilſt his wife was amongſt us, and had her for her keeper: to my knowledg this is falſe, and he himſelf was ſufficiently burdened with her, and hath been heard to call her old whore.
31. In the ſame p. he is perſwaded that what I hint and ſome of our Church-members have ſaid, we can never prove, but do very much abuſe and ſlander Dame therein, when (as hath been ſaid) it can be proved, he called her whore, nay old whore; yea, his Br. in law Mr. Mongwel will be found a lyar, if he be not able to prove it.
32. In the ſame p. he ſaith, his wife hath ever ſhewed him as much tenderneſs and affectionate kindneſs as his heart could wiſh, and yet p. 8. confeſſeth words of heat and diſcontent towards him.
33. p. 36. He ſaith in the behalfe of Mris. Par, that the quarrel between the Church and her, began in this, ſhe had a mind to heare ſome other Miniſters; this is alſo falſe, the quarrel began in her contentious ſpirit and ſowing diviſions, and was increaſed, by lying, as you may ſee p. 18. & 20. of my Sermon: ſhe was never queſtioned by the Church for hearing other Miniſters: that is alſo a lye which he adds.
34. In the ſame p. that becauſe Mris. Par was peremptory in her reſolution, not to be tyed from hearing others, that therefore ſhe was excommunicated.
35. p. 37. He impudently chargeth me with neglecting the duty of reproof towards his wife, for the ſpace of four years. How dare this bold man aſſert this? but now that credit is given to his words, he takes this unchriſtian liberty to defame me, as he pleaſeth.
But know, Reader, that I have admoniſhed her, and more then once, for the neglect of that duty towards her (ſuppoſed) offending ſiſter: but beſides in p. 21. of Mr. Malls book, my words are theſe, I think this I may ſay, there is not a brother or ſiſter here that can bare wittneſſe of her performing any Church duty to them of admonition, exhortation or reproofe, and if any of you can wittneſſe for her in theſe things, I charge you to diſcover it. I ſpeake this becauſe if ſhe hereafter fling dirt in this, or that, or the other perſons face by reports, you may look on ſuch things as ſlanders, or on her as a Covenant-breaker in not obſerving the rule of Chriſt: what little reaſon then hath this pamphleter Ironically to note, what a good ſhepheard I am &c. or to ſay that I can find it in my heart to curſe her for neglecting to admoniſh others.
36. In the ſame p. he chargeth me with a partial and untrue relation between his wife and her ſiſter in law. I doe profeſſe, with all ſincerity, that there was noe untruth in that relation, or any partiallity, unleſs in omitting ſome Circumſtances, that would have aggravated her guilt; and many are ready to affirme the ſame.
37. p. 38. He ſpeaks of his wives love, to her brother and ſiſter in law and deſire of their thriving &c. whereas this is ſo contrary to truth, that ſhe perſwaded her husband to be at no ſmall charges to be rid of their company, and ſhe ſaid to their freinds in Wilt-ſhire, that ſhe would give an hundred pound out of her purſe to be rid of them, and keep a day of Thanksgiving to boote.
38. That's alſo falſe in the ſame p. concerning her adviſing her ſiſter againſt careleſneſs in her calling. For when the differences between them were debated, it being demanded of her, by her brother, why ſhe would goe into Wilt-ſhire to ſpeak evil of her ſiſter, and had not rather (if ſhe had ought againſt her) told her of it privatly? ſhe anſwered, ſhe would have ſo don but her husband would not ſuffer her: Falſe alſo is what is annexed, concerning her ſiſters taking great diſtaſt at her for any ſuch Counſel; how could ſhe take great diſtaſt at that which was never ſpoken to her?
39. That's a lye which followeth, that when ſhe was in the Eaſterne parts ſhe was ſoe careful of her ſiſter as to wiſh her mother to give her ſuch good Counſel: whereas the maine end of her going into thoſe parts was to eaſe her ſtomack againſt her ſiſter, and ſhe then told her ſiſters mother, that her ſiſter had almoſt broke her husbands heart, and brought him into a Conſumption, and would undoe him, &c. and whereas he ſuggeſt, that her Mother gave her alſo ſuch advice agaiaſt the ſame fault; this ill agreeth with that letter, that followed upon it, from her Mother Mris. Thurman, which is as followeth.
Poore Soul,
Be content to bear the burden, which it ſhall pleaſe the Lord to lay upon thee, it will turn to thy comfort at laſt. Your Siſter Allein might have imployed her ſelf better when ſhe came into our Country, then ſhe did; but I think ſhe came to rout all the generation of you; ſhe thought to rout me too, but I beare of what condition ſhe is, and I take her to be as ſhe is, and I deſire thee to take no care for what ſhe ſaith, &c.
40. Whereas he ſaith, that his ſiſter in law had engaged a ſtrong party for her. Sure I am, that his own wife had vented her diſcontents and ſlanders to many, and had ſo far poſſeſt me with prejudice againſt her ſiſter in law, that I have confeſt in my Sermon p. 21. that at that time, I came engaged to her as the party innocent, rather then the other.
41. He ſaith they frequented each others company in a friendly manner for the ſpace of above a year, it is falſe.
42. p. 39. Whereas, he ſaith, the offence of his wife in that buſineſſe was taken and not given, it is very falſe. It was given and in ſeveral particulars.
43. Whereas he ſaith, this offence of his wife was printed three years after they were reconciled: It was not a year and halfe.
44. In this p. he is guilty of lying, in charging me with untruth; he would inſinuate, that we had nothing againſt his wife untill ſhe had left her relation to us. Whereas ſhe was admoniſhed by ſeveral perſons, for her neglecting the Church, before ever ſhe deſerted the Church.
45. p. 40. He aſſures us, that his wife had not left us, if we had allowed her to communicate in the Ordinances with other Churches as there was occaſion. This is alſo very falſe, ſhe never deſired it, and we never did forbid it.
46. He ſaith in the 41. p. He and others know as bad as lyars (if not lyers) tollerated in the Church and nothing ſaid to them: I know non ſuch, and have publickly profeſt and ſince ſuffered it to be printed in Mr. Malls book, p. 90. That I know none ſuch in our aſſembly, if we know more ſuch offenders, by the grace of God we ſhall ſo proceed upon them; and for a trial, if any of you have any thing to lay as a charge, do but obſerve the rule that Chriſt hath appointed of private, and then of more publick admonition, and ſee whether there ſhall not be impartial procedings againſt them, if not, then condemn us of partiallity.
47. In p. 42. It is an abominable lye, that we have ſuch great thoughts of our ſelves as if we were the only Church and people of God in Exon.
48. He cloſeth up all with a lying reflection upon Mr. Mall, that whole …ft of her diſcourſe, on March the 8. aimed at this, that we or ly were Sion and the Iſrael of God, and all others as had as she ſtrangers from whom Iſrael ſeparated in Nehemias times if this man forſake the Devil and all his works, who hath ſo lived in the conſtant neglect of brotherly admonition, and hath vented more lyes, then he hath pages, to the number of about fourty eight let the judicious Reader determine.