Manifest Truth, Part 3
READER,
IN the foregoing Pages thou haſt ſeen how weakly and ſinfully this T. A. hath vindicated his wife; in what remains, thou maift obſerve the ſame methods and wiles in his clearing of Mris, Par. He tells us in the Epiſtle to the Reader, that there were no crimes proved, that might argue her guilty, or deſerving ſuch a cenſure, and that her unblameable walkings before and ſince, may juſtly challenge me and the Church to anſwer what we have done before the tribunal of him, who ſhall judg the world in righteouſneſs: p. 28. he ſaith, Mris. Par. was not looked on as refractory, till ſhe had no more any mind to ſtay with us: p. 29. There is nothing in her for which ſhe may not compare with the beſt ſaints among us; again he tells us p. 36. that the quarrel began betwixt the Church and her, becauſe ſhe had a mind to hear ſome other Miniſters, and was peremptory in her reſolutions, not to be tyed hearing of others; how far ſhe might forget her ſelf in diſcourſes with us (which we call tripping in her tongue) he cannot ſay, only (if ſhe did) it was partly occaſioned by our tampering with her for going out ſometimes to hear ſome other Miniſters of the City; and p. 40. that ſhe therefore relinquiſhed this Church, becauſe ſhe held it her ſin to be tyed to one Congregation, and to be debarred fellowſhip with others; yea, p. 29 he tells us, he dare ſay, the city in which ſhe was born and bred, and hath ever lived, can ſay no otherwiſe then that ſhe may compare with the beſt ſaints in the Church. How falſe this certificate is, concerning Mris. Par, will appear by my giving thee an account, why ſhe was ſuſpended, and and what her carriage hath been ſince.
Firſt, The ground of her ſuſpenſion, I ſhall reduce to her contentiouſneſs, cenſoriouſneſs, and lying.
The contentiouſneſs of her ſpirit was proved by ſeveral witneſſes in ſeveral particulars, as
1. In very many, if not in moſt of thoſe debates which have been in the Church ſince our firſt coming together, ſhe hath been uſually ſilent, until the Church have been ready to come to ſome determination, or had determined, and then ſhe would object againſt what ſhe perceived was the Judgment of the Church, and purſued it with much violence; this the generality of the then Church-members witneſſed.
2. When it was moved in the Church to this effect, that it was very neceſſary to have reſpect in our admiſſion of Church-members, to Union in judgment (at leaſt in all the Ordinances of Chriſt) that peace and love in the Church might be preſerved, ſhe did eagerly contend againſt this motion, and occaſioned long and ſad diſputes, between the Church, her ſelfe eſpecially, concerning ſinging of Pſalmes, the practice of which ſhe abſolutely denyed, and declared, that praiſes and Thanksgivings unto God in prayer were only that ſinging which the Scripture requireth: this alſo the generality of the then Church-members did witneſs.
3. She hath oppoſed ſeveral perſons in their admiſſions, who have been known to be of approved godlyneſſe and integrity, and thoſe who have been moſt lyable to exception, ſhe hath moſt contended for; inſomuch that the church having reſpited the admiſſion of a perſon concerning whoſe converſation they were not ſufficiently ſatisfied, ſhe did openly declare againſt it, in theſe words, that it was an unrighteous ſentence: this particular was witneſſed by four perſons.
4. She oppoſed the admiſſion of Mris. D.E. for her joyning with the Presbyterians in the Ordinance of the Lords Supper, and inſiſted upon it with much earneſtneſs, ſhe then declaring, that ſhe could not be ſatisfied otherwayes, then by her acknowledging it to be her ſin in breaking the law of Charity: this was witneſſed by ſeven perſons.
5. She cauſed a great deal of diſturbance amongſt us after the officers were choſen, in preſſing with much earneſtneſſe, that Mr. Stonham might be choſen Paſtor: this was witneſſed by three perſons.
6. She did for a long time contend for womens ſpeaking in the Church, and being admoniſhed for practiſing accordingly, ſhe did openly profeſſe, that ſhe would not be preſent at Church meetings, when matters were debated, unleſs ſhe might have that liberty, and being denyed, ſhe ever ſince contemptuouſly neglected Church meetings, and ſlighted the officers of the Church.
The cenſoriouſneſs of her ſpirit was evidenced in her uncharitable language concerning the Presbyterians and us alſo, reporting one to be fallen from the faith, another to have nothing of God in her, charging Mr. Stonham to have walked contrary to the Apoſtles counſel 2. Cor. 4.2. and to have ſuch expreſſions in preaching and prayer as were but as chaffe to the Wheat, and imputing the afflictions of ſome of the Church, to their unworthy receiving the Lords Supper, not diſcerning the Lords body; theſe were proved by many witneſſes and her own letters.
The Third Head of her Charge was Lying.
1. She affirmed that ſhe alwayes acknowledged Presbyterian Churches to be true Churches in reſpect of Doctrine and worſhip, and that it was hard for her to ſeparate from the Presbyterians, in diſtinguiſhing Ordinances: whereas ſhe excepted againſt Mr. Toby Allein for having his child Baptized by Mr. Ford, and oppoſed his admiſſion on that ground; there were four witneſſes to this.
2. She affirmed that ſhe never oppoſed Mris. D. E. her admiſſion, but was for it; whereas the generallity of the then members of the Church witneſſed, that a long time ſhe openly contended againſt it, to the grief of the Church.
3. She denyed that ſhe ever called the Presbyterian Churches by the name of Babylon, whereas moſt of the Church witneſſed, that ſhe had often ſo called them.
4. She denyed that ſhe ever endeavoured to have Mr. Stonham Paſter, and under her own hand were theſe words, I never laboured to bring him to that Office; whereas the contrary was witneſſed by three perſons.
5. She affirmed that ſhe never profited by Mr. Stonhams preachings, and never approved his Miniſtry; the contrary hereto was witneſſed by three perſons.
6. She denyeth in a letter, that ſhe ſuſpected thoſe that had kindred and relations among the Presbyterians, whereas many witneſſed the contrary.
By theſe paſſages thou mayeſt ſee how laviſh the pamphleter is in his teſtimonial for this woman: I ſhould now annex her contumacious refuſal of admonition given according to the rule of Chriſt; I might tell thee, I have ſeveral times endeavouered to convince her of her ſin, yet I doe not remember that ſhe ever acknowledged her ſelfe guilty: and that ſeveral perſons that were ſent to her (or that went voluntarily) about the work of admonition came away from her with a burdened ſpirit; but I ſhall refer thee to 20. and 21. p. of my Sermon in the true account; her crimes and contumacy being very great, the Church thought themſelves obliged. to ſuſpend her from Communion, before ever ſhe joyned in the Sacrament with any other: This is the woman that T. A. ſaw no crimes proved againſt, that might argue her guilty; and yet this T. A. objected nothing againſt her ſuſpenſion for theſe crimes proved againſt her; this is the woman concerning whom T. A. boldly affirms that her unblameable walkings before cenſure may juſtly ſummon us to Gods bar: and whereas he ſaith that the quarrel between the Church and her began, becauſe ſhe had a mind to hear ſome other Miniſters, that is abominably falſe, that was no particular, for which ſhe was ever admoniſhed by the Church: indeed there paſſed ſeveral letters between her and my ſelf, wherein I endeavered to perſwade her, that it was her duty ordinarily to hear her own officers; which had they ſeen the Sun, the world would have ſeen more of this woman. And here Reader, I ſhall once more take ſhame to thy ſelf, that I did not ſooner excite the Church to their duty, as to the laſt remedy for the healing of this woman: there are ſome who are full of evil ſurmiſes about this matter, as if the Church would never have proceeded againſt her, but upon a deſign to hinder others from deſerting us: But this I profeſs, that I have had no quiet in my ſpirit, that a perſon ſhould lye ſo long ſuſpended, and give no evidence of repentance, but the contrary, and yet ſhould not be proceeded againſt; I took advice with ſeveral Miniſters about this matter, and at length was concluded by them and my own conſcience, that though ſhe was gotten into another fold, yet the rod of diſcipline ſhould be exerciſed towards her; and though ſome men were angry at this, yet I can ſay, we did not cenſure her to reflect on other Congregations, but to diſcharge our duty to her, as Legally a part of our flock.
But Reader, that I may keep promiſe with thee before I cloſe up this unpleaſant work, I ſhall,
Secondly, Give thee (briefly) yet a farther account of her carriage, ſince her ſuſpenſion; there have come ſeveral reports to my eares, of what ſhe hath ſpoken, full of lying defamations, viz. that there were no lyes proved againſt her, that ſhe was ſuſpended only for hearing ſometimes other Miniſters, that I ſhould perſwade her to deny holineſs for Gods ſake, that ſhe was promiſed by an officer of the Church, that if ſhe would but deſert the Presbyterians, ſhe ſhould be entertained amongſt us, without giving any ſatisfaction for former miſcarriages; and that being charged for lying, ſhe pleaded, that ſhe did not remember any ſuch thing, that one of the Church ſhould offer to take his oath for his hearing ſomewhat from her at ſuch a time when he himſelf was not preſent; that two others of the Church have defrauded ſervants of their wayes, that ſhe was never queſtioned, till ſhe diſcovered her reſolutions to leave us. But Reader, I am loath to blot paper with any more of this nature, only I ſhall tell thee, that when I offered to ſome Miniſters of the City, to prove the charge againſt her; I told them, if they would be at the pains to receive her defence, I was very confident (and ſtill am) to prove the falſhood of it by two witneſſes at leaſt. By this time I doubt not but the Reader is ſatisfied what a confident lyar T.A. is, but it hath happened to him as to moſt malefactors, he hath revealed his own, his wives, and Mris. Pars guilt in his endeavours to conceal it, I may ſay of his tongue, hand and pen. Heu quam difficile eſt crimen non prodere. Thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou chuſeſt the tongue of the craftie; thine own mouth condemneth thee and not I; yea, thy own lips teſtifie againſt thee, Job 15.5, 6.
I ſhall cloſe with Davids Prayer againſt Doeg Pſal. 120.2, 3. Deliver my ſoul O Lord from lying lips, and from a dreceitful tongue: what ſhall be given to thee? or what ſhall be done unto thee, thou falſe tongue?
FINIS.
End of the text · Lewis Stuckley, Manifest Truth (1658)