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<DATE>2012-12-04</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Olivia Bottum</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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<ITEM>Proofed text and corrected markup.</ITEM>
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<BIBNO T="umi">99866105</BIBNO>
<VID>118367</VID>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>A TASTE OF The Spirit of God, AND OF THIS WORLD, AS THEY Have appeared in oppo&s;ition here|tofore, &s;o now late&s;t of all at <HI>New-Wind&s;or.</HI></P>
<P>Occa&s;ioned through the violence, and reproach of evil men, again&s;t the <HI>Temple</HI> and <HI>Tabernacle</HI> of <HI>God,</HI> and them that <HI>dwel therein.</HI> Pre&s;ented in a Narrative to the Honourable Committee, for the propagating the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>By ROBERT BACON, Preacher by the allowance of <HI>God,</HI> and the <HI>Nation,</HI> now the&s;e five years there.</P>
<Q><P><BIBL><HI>P&s;al. 50.</HI></BIBL> I kept <HI>&s;ilence,</HI> and thou <HI>thoughte&s;t</HI> I was &s;uch a <HI>one</HI> as thy <HI>&s;elf;</HI> but I will <HI>reprove thee,</HI> and &s;et [all] in <HI>order</HI> before <HI>thee.</HI></P></Q>
<Q><P>A&s;&s;iduum <HI>cum mundo</HI> bellum <HI>gerant</HI> nece&s;&s;e e&s;t, <HI>qui</HI> propheticam fun|ctionem fidelit&eacute;r <HI>&amp;</HI> &s;incer&eacute; <HI>obire volunt.</HI> <BIBL><HI>Calv. in E&s;a. in Epi&s;t. ad Edw. 6. Ang. Reg.</HI></BIBL></P></Q>
<P>LONDON, Printed for <HI>Giles Calvert,</HI> and are to be &s;old at his &s;hop at the &s;ign of the black &s;pread Eagle, at the We&s;t end of <HI>Pauls.</HI> 1652.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="2">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>To the Honourable, the Com|mittee for the <HI>propagating</HI> the <HI>Go&s;pel, Robert Bacon</HI> of <HI>new Wind&s;or,</HI> wi&s;heth <HI>illumination</HI> in the <HI>things,</HI> in the <HI>which</HI> they are <HI>concern'd.</HI></HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Right Honourable,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_IT is meet that to <HI>you</HI> above all <HI>others</HI> in the Land, next to tho&s;e that have <HI>entru&s;ted</HI> you, I &s;hould pre&s;ent this following di&s;|cour&s;e and <HI>te&s;timony;</HI> by which may <HI>ap|pear</HI> in part, what the <HI>Go&s;pel</HI> is, of which men talk &s;o <HI>much,</HI> and <HI>know &s;o little</HI> in the&s;e times: as likewi&s;e what <HI>ado</HI> and <HI>trouble</HI> ari&s;eth in the World from men of <HI>corrupt minds,</HI> concerning it, to whom it mu&s;t needs be (it <HI>could not be the Go&s;pel el&s;e</HI>) &s;o great a <HI>Rock</HI> of <HI>offence,</HI> that they would (whether <HI>Jew</HI> or
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">For as <HI>Luther</HI> &s;aith, the <HI>&s;pirit</HI> of <HI>both</HI> re|maineth in <HI>oppo&s;iti|on</HI> to the <HI>Go&s;pel</HI> e|ven till now.</NOTE> <HI>Gentile,</HI> that believe not) that any other thing <HI>&s;hould be,</HI> then it, <HI>allowed,</HI> and found among men; for as much as it doth <HI>detect,</HI> not only <HI>other,</HI> but the mo&s;t <HI>hidden</HI> and <HI>&s;ecret evils,</HI> are either in the <HI>heart</HI> and <HI>life</HI> of men; &s;o that they <HI>hate</HI> it, no otherwi&s;e then doth the <HI>Malefactor</HI> the Judge, when he comes not only to di&s;cover, but to <HI>give judgment</HI> on him; where|fore mo&s;t <HI>honourable men,</HI> you and the <HI>power</HI> entru&s;t|ing you, will find it no ea&s;ie, yea a &s;carce po&s;&s;ible thing, to &s;ecure <HI>it</HI> from the <HI>reproach</HI> and <HI>violence</HI> of <HI>e|vil</HI> men, as hath been evident from the <HI>beginning,</HI> e|ven
<PB REF="3"><HI>till now:</HI> I &s;hall only crave leave humbly thus much to <HI>beg</HI> of you, in this your &s;o great <HI>undertake|ment,</HI> that in the things of <HI>this nature, as well,</HI> and more then <HI>others,</HI> you rather <HI>in your hearts</HI> con&s;ult <HI>with God,</HI> then <HI>man,</HI> lea&s;t there be of men introduced <HI>another Go&s;pel, then that which is indeed the power of God unto &s;alvation;</HI> wherefore unle&s;s you have been in &s;ome mea&s;ure <HI>on the Mount with God,</HI> as <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> and <HI>Je&s;us</HI> was, I know not how <HI>po&s;sible</HI> you <HI>will,</HI> or <HI>can</HI> be able to <HI>determine of things</HI> of &s;o <HI>divine</HI> and <HI>hidden nature;</HI> if yet indeed you have not hereunto <HI>attained,</HI> without all <HI>peradventure,</HI> you will <HI>find,</HI> and the <HI>State</HI> entru&s;t|ing you, that your <HI>attaining</HI> this, but to a <HI>willing mind,</HI> that <HI>no violence be u&s;ed of one Neighbor,</HI> or <HI>man, again&s;t another,</HI> as <HI>touching the&s;e things,</HI> is the <HI>best,</HI> and <HI>mo&s;t ex|cellent attainment</HI> hath yet been in the <HI>Land,</HI> &s;ince it was <HI>fir&s;t called Chri&s;tian;</HI> for you &s;hall <HI>find</HI> by this <HI>di&s;cour&s;e,</HI> what <HI>violence</HI> would &s;oon be u&s;ed again&s;t the <HI>truth, as it is in Je&s;us,</HI> unle&s;s either it be <HI>repeld</HI> by <HI>force</HI> of <HI>humane power,</HI> or more <HI>Divinely overcome,</HI> by the <HI>patient love and meekne&s;s of them,</HI> with whom is the <HI>Lamb Chri&s;t Je&s;us,</HI> as their <HI>head</HI> and <HI>guide,</HI> to whom I be&s;eech <HI>God</HI> you may be <HI>willing</HI> (with <HI>others</HI>) to <HI>&s;ub|mit</HI> your&s;elves, Amen.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to the reader">
<PB REF="3">
<HEAD>To the Reader, if he under&s;tand.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Reader,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_I <HI>Would</HI> advertize <HI>thee, however I make mention of the</HI> names <HI>of many, and tho&s;e</HI> &s;ome <HI>of them of the</HI> greate&s;t note, <HI>and</HI> e|minency <HI>among men in the</HI> Land; <HI>yet I have</HI> done it, <HI>not in</HI> prejudice <HI>to any, or to</HI> defame, <HI>even the</HI> meane&s;t, <HI>to which this di&s;cour&s;e doth</HI> relate; <HI>for there is</HI> nothing <HI>in the World</HI> I mind more; <HI>then a</HI> healing of all <HI>the</HI> evil <HI>and</HI> hearts (<HI>if it were</HI> po&s;&s;ible <HI>in this</HI> Land) <HI>which I am</HI> in|finitly endeared <HI>unto, to</HI> &s;erve <HI>in the</HI> Lord, <HI>and in</HI> par|ticular <HI>this</HI> Town, <HI>and</HI> People <HI>of</HI> Wind&s;or, <HI>to whom I am much</HI> endebted, <HI>for the</HI> love &s;ake of God unto me, <HI>that</HI> even <HI>to</HI> them <HI>I am</HI> ready, notwith&s;tanding <HI>their &s;trong endeavour to</HI> with&s;tand <HI>me, to</HI> continue <HI>to preach the</HI> Go&s;pel freely; only <HI>this I have</HI> done, <HI>I mo&s;t</HI> free|ly <HI>acknowledge, to no other</HI> intent, <HI>then</HI> if <HI>by</HI> any means, <HI>at least</HI> &s;ome <HI>of them,</HI> might awake out of &s;leep, ari&s;e up from among the dead, <HI>in</HI> tre&s;pa&s;&s;es and &s;ins, that they might have life given them, even that for ever|more: <HI>and that they might</HI> &s;o do, <HI>I have</HI> begged of God, <HI>that they might hear</HI> his voyce, if not <HI>in my</HI> preaching, yet <HI>in my</HI> &s;uffering; <HI>and if in neither of</HI> them, <HI>then in this</HI> my writing, <HI>which for their</HI> &s;ake, <HI>I
<PB REF="4">have thus</HI> produced, <HI>rather then</HI> mine own; <HI>I could have been</HI> exceedingly <HI>well</HI> content, <HI>to have</HI> continued <HI>in the</HI> &s;till enjoyment, <HI>of my</HI> mo&s;t dear Lord, <HI>in my</HI> retirement <HI>under the</HI> reproach <HI>and</HI> &s;corn <HI>of</HI> men; for there is a &s;ecret delight given me of God, which the World is not a ware of, <HI>and</HI> which I am &s;ure, through the grace of God I enjoy, that I am as well plea&s;ed with a Crown of thorns, as with one of Gold, yea, and a thou&s;and fold more: <HI>yet it being the</HI> will of God, <HI>to bear the</HI> affronts <HI>don</HI> him in me <HI>no</HI> longer, <HI>as</HI> hereto|fore; <HI>for he hath not</HI> hid him&s;elf <HI>(I may &s;ay truly)</HI> here <HI>from</HI> &s;hame <HI>and</HI> &s;pitting; <HI>I am</HI> content <HI>at his</HI> bid|ing, <HI>to go</HI> down <HI>as</HI> Mo&s;es <HI>did, to rea&s;on the</HI> matter <HI>a|bout</HI> I&s;rael <HI>with</HI> Pharaoh (<HI>the</HI> head <HI>and</HI> King <HI>of the</HI> e|vil people <HI>and</HI> things in this place) <HI>a</HI> &s;ervice <HI>of</HI> my &s;elf, <HI>I would not,</HI> for a World undertake; <HI>be it known there|fore</HI> unto thee, <HI>who ever</HI> thou art, <HI>that</HI> under&s;tands, <HI>that the time of the</HI> true Churches freedom, <HI>or</HI> deliverance <HI>is</HI> come, <HI>yea the</HI> &s;et time <HI>of</HI> it <HI>is</HI> come: Wherefore <HI>thus &s;aith the</HI> Lord, my &s;word (<HI>his</HI> &s;ore, great, <HI>and &s;trong</HI>
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">His Word of Might, or his mighty Word.</NOTE> Sword) <HI>&s;hal be</HI> bathed in heaven, behold it &s;hal come down upon Idumea, <HI>and</HI> upon the people <HI>of my</HI> cur&s;e <HI>to</HI> judgment: <HI>Wherefore (al&s;o)</HI> cry out <HI>and</HI> &s;hout <HI>thou</HI> inhabitre&s;&s;e <HI>of</HI> Zion; <HI>for</HI> great <HI>is the</HI> holy one <HI>of</HI> I&s;|rael [Thy King Jehovah] <HI>thy tru&s;t and hope, in</HI> the mid&s;t of thee.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="table of contents">
<PB REF="4">
<HEAD>The Heads of this whole Di&s;cour&s;e.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM>Sect. 1. A <HI>Brief of the Authours &s;ufferings from his youth, with the Te&s;timony of the love of God to him therein.</HI> pag. 1.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 2. <HI>A very brief Relation, of whom, and in what manner the Mini&s;try hath appeared and been manife&s;t, and manag'd in this place, &s;ince the Authours fir&s;t coming.</HI> p. 2, 3</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 3. <HI>A Letter of enquiry, directed to the Mini&s;ters, after a while combin'd in a Lecture at</HI> Wind&s;or, <HI>together with the event thereof, in conclu&s;ion.</HI> p. 4, 5</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 4. <HI>A di&s;covery of the &s;uppo&s;ed means, and certain manner of the awakening of the rude and heady people of this place.</HI> p. 5.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 5. <HI>The Di&s;cour&s;e had at a certain meeting or ve&s;try of the people, a&s;&s;embled for the having of a Vicar.</HI> p. 6.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 6. <HI>&V;pon what account, and why with&s;tood in this of the Au|thour,</HI> viz. <HI>becau&s;e they went about to make them a Cap|tain, to lead them back again into</HI> Aegipt. p. 6. 7</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 7. <HI>A &s;econd letter, with the occa&s;ion of it, directed as a ca&s;e of Con&s;cience, to be determined of the Preachers, and of their &s;ilence as to it.</HI> p. 8, 9</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 8. <HI>A Relation of the Di&s;cour&s;e had with the new de&s;ired Vicar, together with a ta&s;te of his Doctrine, and manner of thru&s;ting him&s;elf upon the people.</HI> p. 9, 10, 11.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 9. <HI>How this matter was repre&s;ented to the Lord</HI> Whitlock, <HI>and Mr.</HI> Holland <HI>the Burge&s;s of this place, by a letter to the latter, with the event thereof.</HI> p. 12, 13, 14</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 10. <HI>A digre&s;&s;ion touching an exception taken at the Authours Sermon, by the Preachers here, with the account and ground why.</HI> p. 14, 15</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 11. <HI>An account of the Authours Journey for a vi&s;iting of the people that know and fear the Lord in &s;ome part of the</HI> We&s;t, <HI>and how it doth relate to this di&s;cour&s;e.</HI> p. 15.</ITEM>
<PB REF="5">
<ITEM>Sect. 12. <HI>The offence taken at his unexpected return, and for what cau&s;e likened of &s;ome to</HI> Mo&s;es <HI>his &s;udden coming down from the Mount, with the manner of the rude people, their behaviour towards the Authour, with the event of his being among them, as to the Sacrament, and their taking the name of God in vain, with their leader, in that thing.</HI> p. 16, 17, 18, &amp;c.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 13. <HI>Of the endeavour of the people, by all means to defame the Authour, e&s;pecially by a note procur'd by one Mr.</HI> Baker, <HI>from, as 'tis &s;aid, the A&s;&s;embly of Divines; concerning which, &s;omething is &s;poke as to vindication, with a Letter of Mr.</HI> Bachilers <HI>to Mr.</HI> Holland, <HI>upon that occa&s;ion,</HI> p. 21, 22</ITEM>
<ITEM>Sect. 14. <HI>Of the great abu&s;e of all humane, as well as of the divine Authority of God (his Word) at</HI> Wind&s;or, <HI>with a Letter to the Mayor from the Burge&s;s of this place; and the Au|thors Ob&s;ervation, Te&s;timony, reproach, and Rea&s;on of his crying out under all, now at la&s;t.</HI> p. 23, 24, 25, &amp;c.</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>The fir&s;t Po&s;t&s;cript.</HEAD>
<ITEM><HI>Containing, A Letter, giving light to the fore-pa&s;t Di&s;cour&s;e, to the Councel of State.</HI> p. 29.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>A Letter to the Lord General</HI> Cromwel. p. 30, 31</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>A Letter to the Governor</HI> C. Whitchcot. p. 32, 33.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>A Letter in the name of the Town to Mr.</HI> Holland. p. 34, 35</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>The Authors two Prote&s;tations,</HI> p. 36, 37.</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>The &s;econd Po&s;t&s;cript.</HEAD>
<ITEM><HI>Touching a report given out by one Mr</HI> Wood, <HI>now of</HI> Eaton, <HI>again&s;t the Author, with a true Relation of the manner and ground of it.</HI> p. 38, 39, 40, &amp;c.</ITEM>
</LIST>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="errata">
<HEAD>Errata.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM>Pag. 17. lin. la&s;t, read <GAP DESC="foreign">.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Pag. 28. l. 35. for <HI>una</HI> r. <HI>vera.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Pag. 37. l. 8. r. <HI>as I and &s;ome others.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB N="1" REF="5">
<HEAD>A taste of the Spirit of God, and of this World, as they have appeared in oppo&s;ition heretofore, &s;o now latest of all at New Wind&s;or.</HEAD>
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. I.</HEAD>
<P>_HAving been now the&s;e many years conver&s;ant, through the Grace of God, in giving te&s;timony in the things that concern the life that is <HI>for ever,</HI> as in my youth at <HI>Oxford,</HI> afterwards at <HI>Bristol, Wilt&s;hire, Glocester, London,</HI> and now the&s;e la&s;t five years at <HI>Wind&s;or;</HI> in all which as I have ta&s;ted, felt, and found oppo&s;ition, wrath, fury, yea Phren&s;ie, from &s;ome of all &s;orts and degrees of men, the chief and Ringleaders being in all places &s;ome of tho&s;e commonly, though abu&s;ively enough, cal'd the <HI>Clergie,</HI>
<NOTE PLACE="marg">See anci|ent <HI>Gildas</HI> his epi&s;tle. the latter end.</NOTE> for &s;o it is, as it hath been &s;aid, <HI>Clerus Angliae &s;tupor mundi;</HI> for as for others in compari&s;on of the&s;e, it may be &s;aid, alas, <HI>what evil have they done?</HI> &s;o I have had in all the&s;e places and conflicts, a &s;eal of Gods love, and powerfull <HI>quickening pre&s;ence,</HI> to enliven me in death (for I have been in <HI>deaths oft</HI>) and to enlighten and &s;up|port me, in the mid&s;t of tho&s;e many clouds and darkne&s;&s;es, have &s;o often come upon me; &s;o that as the Almighty hath been, and doth remain, and ever will the &s;ame to me, &s;o have I through his grace and mo&s;t effectuall love, remained (being kept in <HI>his Son</HI>) entire and true to him, though through many difficulties, dangers, temptations, tryals, weakne&s;&s;es, reproaches, contradictions, as are and hath been <HI>the faithful</HI> in all ages more or le&s;&s;e.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="section">
<PB N="2" REF="6">
<HEAD>SECT. II.</HEAD>
<P>I have judged it in my heart before the <HI>Lord,</HI> meet in this junc|ture of time, for the furtherance of the cau&s;e and Kingdome of God, now much talkt of, and in &s;ome degree <HI>come in our own Land,</HI> to make publique this la&s;t encounter I have met with now la&s;t of all, from the combined and fully (it &s;eems) re&s;olved and rude people of <HI>New Wind&s;or.</HI></P>
<P>But as leading to that I will mention the matter briefly, as it hath related to me there, from my fir&s;t coming to this place (to which I was importun'd by the then, and as yet Governour of this Ca&s;tle, as likewi&s;e by the Mayor and Gentlemen of the Town and others, in the which Mr. <HI>Bachiler</HI> now Fellow of <HI>Eaton</HI> Col|ledge was principally in&s;trumentall) there was then living one Mr. <HI>Cleaver,</HI> who according to the account of the Nation had the Name, Title, and Place of <HI>Vicar,</HI> during his life almo&s;t con&s;tantly I taught every morning on the Sabboth day in the Ca&s;tle, a while in the &s;tead of Mr <HI>Bachiler,</HI> but his Chaplain&s;hip failing, I conti|nued in &s;o doing for the continuance of the &s;olemn meeting, upon mine own offer, and the Governours acceptance and de&s;ire, almo&s;t till the death of Mr. <HI>Cleaver,</HI> and till a little after the coming of Mr. <HI>Simons.</HI> About this time there was offence taken, and no little ado made, as touching my <HI>Doctrine, Purpo&s;e, Faith,</HI> man|ner of <HI>Life.</HI> the particulars whereof I lift not now to make pub|lique, but &s;hall if God will hereafter; but the event was, that as to Mini&s;try and preaching I was to be no more in the Ca&s;tle, for it was determined, none was better, then that which was judged wor&s;e, even wor&s;e then nothing, <HI>the price at which the Son of God him&s;elf was, and at this day is, of the world rated.</HI> Upon this there being a vacancie in the Town in the morning, through the death of the forenamed Vicar, I was to my &s;eeming &s;omewhat gladly as wel as oportunly de&s;ired, and did offer my &s;elf to be with them, then, a&s;well as in the afternoon; in this &s;ervice I continued a while, till it was bruited that I had no Warrant from the Nation in this thing; my former order expiring, together with Mr <HI>Cleaver</HI> it being onely to continue during his encumbencie, but this to my hand was renewed, with this clau&s;e, <HI>To Officiate there notwith|&s;tanding the death of Mr. Cleaver;</HI> in this work I continued
<PB N="3" REF="6">with much gladne&s;s, and delight in the Lord, <HI>who had appointed and called me of his grace thereunto,</HI> till &s;ome other and new offences aro&s;e <HI>(for it is nece&s;&s;ary that offences be, but woe unto them by whom)</HI> for which cau&s;e and upon which account I was a while &s;u&s;pended, by the Military power here (it being the fir&s;t and the la&s;t exerci&s;e of it that way, as I have heard of in the land) that the doors were forcibly &s;hut a while again&s;t me, and the whole town; &s;o that the Church it &s;elf, as they call it, was for a while, as by the Pope of old <HI>Excommunicate,</HI> till it was opened again by the endeavor and authority of that worthy and faithfull Gentleman
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Mr <HI>Holl.</HI></NOTE> the Burge&s;s of this place. This conflict being over, which yet continued long, and extended &s;omewhat far, for the debate of it was through complaint again&s;t me had in the <HI>Great and high Council of State,</HI> in which interim I had opportunity a while, to vi&s;it on the fir&s;t day the Neighbour Towns, e&s;pecially on the morning, for it was agreed on for a while that I &s;hould be deprived of the morning Exerci&s;e here; for it was judged it might be for the greater e&s;teem, honor, and u&s;e of the morning Exer|ci&s;e in the <HI>Ca&s;tle,</HI> which was a while upheld by &s;ome of the Fel|lows of <HI>Eaton,</HI> but not without an Order from (as they &s;ay) the <HI>Council of State,</HI> which at length centred, but did not long con|tinue, in Mr <HI>Lockier,</HI> who was not long after called away for a more publique and &s;pecial &s;ervice of the <HI>State;</HI> &s;o that had there not been a &s;upply by me in the Town, there had been &s;ilence as to matter of preaching either in <HI>Ca&s;tle</HI> or <HI>Town:</HI> in this I continued faithful to God, this Nation, and this place, but not in peace or quiet, <HI>&s;ave onely in my heart and life to God:</HI> for in this time it was agreed on, that the people &s;hould come together to make choyce of a Vicar, who coming together more headily then ad|vi&s;edly (for <HI>their time</HI> was not yet) fixed on a certain man,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr D.</NOTE> who was, as they &s;ay, faulty, as to the <HI>State,</HI> and &s;uffered, and doth &s;uffer upon that account, a deprivation (as men &s;peak) of his &s;pi|ritual promotion; &s;o that as they were di&s;appointed, &s;o they did di&s;appoint them that &s;et them upon the thing: &s;o that upon the di&s;agreement they had among them&s;elves (as it fell out for <HI>Paul</HI> &s;ometimes) I had a further liberty among this people, though to my di&s;advantage greatly, as to my outward e&s;tate, yet the <HI>Lord</HI> being in it, I had joy &s;ufficient for a recompence of all I had &s;u&s;tai|ned, or &s;hould &s;u&s;tain in time to come. About this time, or a little
<PB N="4" REF="7">before, there was a Lecture begun in the Town, which was judg|ed meet to be the day before <HI>that</HI> I was a&s;&s;ign'd and <HI>de&s;ired to:</HI> I confe&s;s I &s;ugge&s;ted my willingne&s;s of the Neighbor-Preachers concurrence with me, which was a little after layd hold on both of them, and tho&s;e that particularly applyed them&s;elves to the thing, but &s;o, as that <HI>I</HI> might be <HI>excluded,</HI> as was well agreed on among them, though an humble addre&s;s were made to them with|out either my knowledg before-hand, or de&s;ire, and that by two of the <HI>mo&s;t grave men</HI> of the Town;
<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Mr D.</HI> and <HI>Mr R.</HI></NOTE> but the Preachers, having a man engaged (as they were engaged to him) to vote as they plea&s;ed, they gave
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">The <HI>Gov.</HI></NOTE> him the <HI>chair,</HI> that would have had it them|&s;elves a little <HI>before,</HI> to determine for them; it being indeed his de&s;ign by them, the better to remove me.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. III.</HEAD>
<P>AFter a while, and being often in their company, invited where they were, and rea&s;oning with them, <HI>as I had al|lowance and liberty given me inwardly in my heart of God,</HI> not ever intending in the lea&s;t degree, contention or &s;trife with them, or other; I at length writ as followeth to them, to which I had no Reply.</P>
<LETTER LANG="eng">
<P><HI>Sir, In the behalf of</HI> God, <HI>his</HI> Church, <HI>this</HI> Nation, <HI>and in par|ticular this</HI> Town <HI>and</HI> my &s;elf, <HI>I de&s;ire by this A&s;&s;embly (in ac|count, and I hope in truth, the Mini&s;ters of</HI> Chri&s;t) <HI>to be re&s;olved by the Word of</HI> God <HI>in this Enquiry:</HI></P>
<P><HI>Whether my forced &s;ilence in this place, as to the work I was conver&s;ant in, and exclu&s;ion from your Company in that work, be according to the Scriptures, and the minde of</HI> God <HI>there de|clared?</HI></P>
<P><HI>This I humbly de&s;ire for a double cau&s;e:</HI> 1. <HI>Becau&s;e if I &s;hould be, and willingly abide, in</HI> Tran&s;gre&s;&s;ion, <HI>it would be the damna|tion of my Soul.</HI> 2. <HI>Becau&s;e you cannot</HI>
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Which I &s;poke not as out of doubt, but to urge an an&s;wer from them.</NOTE> <HI>po&s;&s;ibly be conceived to be onely</HI> lookers on, <HI>but mu&s;t needs be judged, if not</HI> promoters of, <HI>yet &s;uch as</HI> con&s;ent to, <HI>the &s;ilencing of me in this place, unle&s;s you declare your &s;elves to the contrary: but if you have</HI> con&s;ent|ed, <HI>this I lay at your feet, begging you to &s;hew cau&s;e by the</HI> Word of God, <HI>why; that if I am in an error, I may by</HI> the Grace of God <HI>be Revoked.</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><HI>Yours in the Truth of our</HI> Saviour, R. BACON.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</LETTER>
<PB N="5" REF="7">
<P> It was not long after this, but there was an endevor to invite, and bring in, &s;ometimes one, and &s;ometimes another of the <HI>Lec|turers,</HI> and at length the broad Seal was got, and 5 <HI>li.</HI> (more then ever was given, I think, for a Bi&s;hops Licen&s;e) payd by a very forward Gentleman of the Town, one (as will anon appear) more ha&s;ty in his undertakements, then <HI>beleeving</HI> or <HI>&s;ucce&s;&s;ful,</HI> though in this they &s;ay his wi&s;dom hath &s;ecured him, for he hath got his mony again of our <HI>body corporate:</HI> This undertakement failing, rather through the ill accommodation and unde&s;ire of the people, then by any endevor of mine to oppo&s;e it, it hath been, upon &s;e|cond thoughts of me, <HI>which they &s;ay are be&s;t,</HI> agreed on at length I &s;hould take my turn, which, as not being a&s;hamed of my Te&s;timo|ny, rather then of a willing mind otherwi&s;e, I yeelded to: In this I have been <HI>thrice</HI> only in their hearing, and have at lea&s;t appear|ingly, and I hope in truth, &s;ome acceptance with them, which I de&s;ire not for mine own &s;ake, &s;o much as theirs, le&s;t they &s;hould become guilty of di&s;owning <HI>the Love of God, which is true in me to them.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. IV.</HEAD>
<P>THe&s;e things I have written briefly, as Introductory to that which followeth, the&s;e being onely <HI>the wounds I have re|ceived in the hou&s;e of my friends, for my Mothers Children have been all along</HI> more or le&s;s <HI>offended with me:</HI> But as it was &s;aid of the <HI>Lord</HI> to <HI>Jeremiah, If in the Land of Peace, wherein thou tru&s;ted&s;t, they wearyed thee, or were an offence to thee, How wilt thou do in the &s;wellings of Jordan?</HI> for behold the <HI>Tide</HI> is turn'd among us, and we are as it were on a &s;udden <HI>as We Were</HI> before this War began, I mean, as to attainment in the <HI>matters of God:</HI> The people that have been in a &s;ort the&s;e many years <HI>a&s;leep,</HI> unle&s;s only in &s;ome <HI>few heads</HI> of them, to their <HI>lo&s;s</HI> and <HI>prejudice,</HI> are anew <HI>awake</HI> among us, &s;ome &s;ay, by the &s;ound of the late Act of Pardon: The&s;e people are &s;o many and &s;trong, I mean in their <HI>re|&s;olves</HI> and purpo&s;es, as well as in their Actings among us, that un|le&s;s <HI>God</HI> help, as I am &s;ure he will his people, we &s;hall all be, if not in other things, at lea&s;t in Religion <HI>(which as it is in God, is after all this ado about it of lea&s;t e&s;teem with men,)</HI> I &s;ay again, we &s;hall be <HI>in &s;tatu quo pri&ugrave;s:</HI> for they &s;ay, <HI>volens nolens, vi &amp;
<PB N="6" REF="8">armis, per fas nefa&s;&abque;,</HI> we will have what we will have; the day's our own, who &s;hall with&s;tand us in the way we have a|greed on among our &s;elves to <HI>take?</HI> This being of me di&s;cerned, I minded them openly of the prayer and reque&s;t of <HI>Ho&s;ea,</HI> which is indeed the reque&s;t of the true <HI>Church</HI> in all ages, concerning the <HI>fal&s;e, Give them O God; what wilt thou give them? give them a mi&s;carrying womb, and dry bre&s;ts:</HI> of this they had &s;ome <HI>&s;en&s;e,</HI> though they u&s;ually &s;ay, of what they hear of me, they have no <HI>knowledg.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. V.</HEAD>
<P>WHerefore a little after we had a &s;olemn meeting of the people, which they call a <HI>Ve&s;try,</HI> having made all ready before-hand, both as to per&s;ons and purpo&s;es, at which by the <HI>will of God</HI> I was, at which they had, as in effect they did expre&s;s, as no expectation, &s;o no de&s;ire: much rea&s;oning and debate they had as to the power by which I &s;tood among them; I thought only to mind them of, and content my &s;elf with declaring this, That the authority by which I &s;tood was the &s;ame by which <HI>I am,</HI> even that of <HI>the grace of God:</HI> Wherefore, &s;aid I, &s;ith we profe&s;s our &s;elves, as we do, <HI>Chri&s;tians,</HI> let us together in &s;obriety, calling upon the <HI>Name of God,</HI> having too the Bible among us, make tryal of the warrant by the work I have been hitherto taken up with; but they wav'd this di&s;cour&s;e, being indeed altogether <HI>un|fit</HI> for it, as it appeared by the uncivil and <HI>rude</HI> behavior of &s;ome at that meeting. Wherefore an Order I mu&s;t produce in all ha&s;te, which as I neither then had by me, &s;o neither did they meet for that <HI>intent;</HI> but what they came for, they did at that time <HI>fru|&s;trate them&s;elves,</HI> which was the &s;ub&s;cribing a Petition, already drawn, for a Vicar; for a Vicar they mu&s;t needs have, what ever came of the <HI>Truth among them.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. VI.</HEAD>
<P>WHat in words they did expre&s;s, that they had in their pa|per, That they were in very <HI>great di&s;tre&s;s,</HI> for (the more is the pity) <HI>food</HI> (poor people) for their &s;ouls, even altogether in &s;uch another condition, as the <HI>mixt multitude</HI> were &s;aid to be,
<PB N="7" REF="8">when they <HI>wept again</HI> for the <HI>fle&s;h,</HI> and other the <HI>fi&s;h,</HI> and the like good things they before had in <HI>Aegypt;</HI> but now their <HI>Soul</HI> was <HI>dryed up,</HI> and nothing left but <HI>this Manna,</HI> whereof <HI>they had no knowledg,</HI> for the <HI>colour of it</HI> was and is like <HI>Bdelium,</HI> that it dazled their eyes to look on it, yea they were (they are) not able to look upon it <HI>at all:</HI> be&s;ides, before it become <HI>food,</HI> it will co&s;t them not a little <HI>labor,</HI> for it mu&s;t be either ground in a <HI>mill,</HI> or <HI>pound</HI> in a <HI>mortar,</HI> and after all <HI>baked</HI> well in an <HI>even,</HI> before there can be any ta&s;te or true <HI>reli&s;h</HI> of it, as they well know, who&s;e dayly <HI>food</HI> it is; for which cau&s;e it's wholly di&s;liked among us, that the people are fain to go for the bread that's for their tooth, &s;ome to one place, &s;ome to another; &s;ome to old <HI>Wind&s;or,</HI> where doubtle&s;s they meet with many a good meal of <HI>onyons</HI> &amp; <HI>garlick,</HI> the &s;avor of which is manife&s;t every where among them; others, or the &s;ame at another time, to <HI>Dotchet</HI> or <HI>Cluet,</HI> concerning which per&s;ons and people I will onely &s;ay this, That a man may &s;ufficiently, that hath any di&s;cerning of the things that differ, take knowledg of the <HI>Prie&s;t</HI> by the <HI>people,</HI> or, which is in effect the &s;ame, the <HI>people</HI> by the <HI>Prie&s;t</HI> they <HI>adore:</HI> for without all per|adventure, neither of all the&s;e three (call them what you will, <HI>Par&s;ons, Vicars,</HI> or <HI>Curates)</HI> are of &s;uch attainment, either in point of knowledg or any good and vertuous life, that they &s;hould have &s;o many followers of them, unle&s;s it be for the cau&s;e above|&s;aid. Wherefore, as I was concerned, as &s;ometimes <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> was, I declared, that for their good I would wholly <HI>deny,</HI> as much as in me was, what they did with &s;uch <HI>eagerne&s;s</HI> endevor after, even as a father hath no regard, but is rather &s;eemingly <HI>cruel</HI> to the <HI>childe</HI> he loves, when he de&s;ires, though with importunity, not <HI>bread,</HI> but a <HI>&s;tone,</HI> not <HI>fi&s;h</HI> but a <HI>&s;corpion,</HI> a &s;nake, a poy&s;onous hurtful thing: yet their importunity at length, which was &s;o great, that I confe&s;s I was a&s;hamed (as the Prophet &s;pake &s;ome|what in alike ca&s;e) that I con&s;ented by &s;uch a time to produce the Order, as I had it, for my being there, which I have had, as to this place, now the&s;e five years, a Copy of which I got for mony, and accordingly at the appointed time it was read among them.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="7" TYPE="section">
<PB N="8" REF="9">
<HEAD>SECT. VII.</HEAD>
<P>AT which, things were for a while <HI>hu&s;h</HI> and <HI>&s;till,</HI> when upon a &s;udden news was brought that one Mr <HI>Wood&s;on</HI> had chanced on a man for the <HI>turn of all the re&s;t;</HI> at which, though &s;ome &s;eemed offended, yet after a &s;ight of him he proved in their eye, as the <HI>Scripture</HI> &s;omewhere &s;peaks, a <HI>de&s;irable young man;</HI> worthy of; and therefore it was reported that he had the great <HI>Seal</HI> of <HI>England</HI> for this place, but it proved not true, neither then nor as yet, onely they &s;ay they have a good minde to the thing, and &s;ome hope of it; however he had enough to bring him here, throgh doubtle&s;s the importunity and &s;olicitation of that <HI>woman</HI> &s;poken of in the <HI>Proverbs,</HI> that led a&s;ide <HI>the young man to his hurt,</HI> as he will it may be in time finde; but he having no <HI>authority,</HI> I could not, I would not, give him my con&s;ent to &s;tand in my &s;tead.</P>
<P>At this &s;econd meeting, when I was by promi&s;e engaged to give them a view of the paper, by which I had warrant, as to this work, from the <HI>Nation;</HI> And having con&s;idered, and indeed &s;poken before-hand, that this <HI>formality</HI> and <HI>tradition,</HI> which I could have wi&s;h'd to have been removed as a &s;tumbling block out of the way of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> long ere this, I mean the <HI>Vicaridg,</HI> it be|ing in this place, that I &s;ay not in the whole Land, a &s;eed of <HI>&s;trife</HI> among the people: as a Ca&s;e of Con&s;cience I propo&s;ed this to the people then <HI>a&s;&s;embled,</HI> and in particular had &s;ome long debate with our late <HI>Knight</HI> Mr <HI>Richard Bream</HI> about it, he contending in effect, that pretence of Con&s;cience was a ground and <HI>&s;eed</HI> of much trouble and evil in a Land, which is true, unle&s;s we come to &s;ome certain <HI>Rule</HI> for the well guiding and right regulating of it; for we that profe&s;s our &s;elves <HI>Chri&s;tians,</HI> ought in all things to have the <HI>con&s;ent</HI> and allowance of <HI>God,</HI> and <HI>his Son our Saviour,</HI> in all we undertake: Wherefore Con&s;cience being nothing el&s;e then to concur with another in knowledg or con&s;ent, as the word <HI>Con&s;cientia</HI> doth denote, it's nece&s;&s;ary, and cannot be but that all men have warrant and ground for what they are and do, either <HI>of</HI> or <HI>from God,</HI> or <HI>his</HI> and our <HI>adver&s;ary</HI> the <HI>Devil,</HI> and con&s;e|quently have in all things either a good or an evil Con&s;cience; which <HI>good Con&s;cience,</HI> that I might retain, and the people with me in this place, I propounded to them, and a Gentleman that
<PB N="9" REF="9">that &s;tood by read this Propo&s;al, which being of no regard with them, I pre&s;ented it, as followeth, by one, to the re&s;t of the Preachers there.</P>
<FLOATEXT LANG="eng" TYPE="proposal">
<HEAD>To the Reverend Preachers <HI>combined</HI> in a Lecture at <HI>New-Wind&s;or.</HI></HEAD>
<P><HI>Much honored men, For as much as it is preached, profe&s;&s;ed, and beleeved, that you are &s;uch with whom the</HI> Word of God <HI>(i. e.) his</HI> minde, is, <HI>as the Apo&s;tle &s;aith,</HI> but we have the mind of Chri&s;t: <HI>It is humbly de&s;ired (becau&s;e it mu&s;t need be judged that you are concerned) to give Re&s;olution to this Demand, now in debate among us in this place:</HI></P>
<P><HI>Whether (as it is acknowledged</HI>
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">As it was of all the people.</NOTE><HI>) if all things done amongst this people (by him that's yet among them) be according to</HI> God <HI>and the</HI> Scriptures, <HI>the &s;aid people ought to be (for a Circum|&s;tance or Tradition not approved in the Bible) countenanced to oppo&s;e the &s;ame, or make the &s;ame voyd unto them&s;elves,</HI> &s;ith no good thing can be oppo&s;ed unto it &s;elf, and no evil thing ought of good men or beleeving to be allowed &s;o to do; <HI>both which are enforced from that &s;aying of our Saviour,</HI> He that is not with us is again&s;t us, and he that gathereth not with us &s;cattereth.</P>
</FLOATEXT>
<P>This was, as far as I could hear, put up in the pocket of him that received it
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Mr <HI>W.</HI></NOTE>, as likewi&s;e was the former, and communicated to none of the re&s;t, at lea&s;t &s;o as I could hear of it again.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="8" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. VIII.</HEAD>
<P>UPon this all was <HI>hu&s;h</HI> again a while, at lea&s;t as to appearance, though a &s;trong endevor, but &s;ecret, &s;till they had to obtain their end, the <HI>man</HI> they had &s;o great a liking to, who at length ap|peared at <HI>Wind&s;or,</HI> with a brute of his having a recommendation, &s;ome &s;aid from Mr <HI>Holland,</HI> others from the Lord <HI>Whitlock;</HI> but neither proved true, as him&s;elf confe&s;&s;ed, coming to my lodging with two of the then <HI>Church-Wardens,</HI> who with great impor|tunity de&s;ired my allowance of his preaching the next day, to which I promi&s;ed within a little while at the Gentlemans lodg|ings to give him my an&s;wer, and de&s;ired them after &s;ome di&s;cour&s;e to &s;u&s;pend it till then; accordingly I came, and after &s;ome &s;peech
<PB N="10" REF="10">had with him of the <HI>Colledg</HI> of which we both were, as he &s;aith, he knowing me, though I have no true remembrance of him, I told him, as I had purpo&s;ed, that I was content to hear him to morrow, not onely <HI>once,</HI> but <HI>twice;</HI> wherefore I would he &s;hould in the morning read a Chapter, and give as he was able the minde and &s;cope of it, and as I and the <HI>Congregation liked it,</HI> he &s;hould preach in the afternoon as I in the morning, and I would read: To this he &s;omewhat &s;olemnly replyed, That he was &s;orry he had not had before-hand <HI>knowledg</HI> of my <HI>de&s;ire,</HI> for then he would have <HI>prepared</HI> him&s;elf for <HI>the thing:</HI> To this I &s;aid, I did not di&s;|own the u&s;e of <HI>reading books,</HI> and other means, but this I would &s;ay, as our Saviour doth, <HI>Every</HI> Scribe in&s;tructed <HI>to the King|dom of Heaven, brings forth out of his trea&s;ury things both now and old;</HI> &s;o that a good man, much more a good <HI>teacher,</HI> is more or le&s;s <HI>always ready;</HI> but this he liked not, for which he would appeal to the judgment and cen&s;ure of all the mo&s;t <HI>orthodox</HI> and <HI>learned men</HI> of <HI>this age,</HI> and in particular mentioned the Judg|ment of Mr <HI>Owen,</HI>
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr <HI>Owen.</HI></NOTE> whom he &s;erved a while, he &s;ays, at his Cure in his ab&s;ence in <HI>Ireland:</HI> but I beleeving Mr <HI>Owen</HI> of the &s;ame minde with me in this thing, told him, that &s;urely what I &s;aid could not be denyed, upon good grounds, of any; and therefore told him, that upon that alone account of his expounding after this manner, as we &s;peak, <HI>ex tempore,</HI> I would con&s;ent to his preaching here, or otherwi&s;e not <HI>at all;</HI> for who is it (&s;aid I) that is notable, and may not get a Sermon ready to &s;ay <HI>by rot</HI> upon all occa&s;ions? Wherefore I advi&s;ed him to be in good earne&s;t, for if he <HI>came not in the Name of God, I would not, I &s;hould not &s;ay</HI> Amen <HI>to what he &s;aid:</HI> at which he was not a little offended, for, &s;aid he, <HI>I preach the Truth;</HI> at which I replyed, that the <HI>Truth</HI> is one thing, and the <HI>&s;hadow, form,</HI> and <HI>picture</HI> of it another; now where the former is not, the latter cannot be as it &s;hould; but he would not, he &s;aid, learn of me: To which I replyed, that he that is not willing to learn <HI>even of the meane&s;t,</HI> is not (as I judg, though I would not offend) meet or fit to <HI>teach any,</HI> unle&s;s you be of any greater attainment then was <HI>Paul.</HI> By this di&s;cour&s;e I had acquitted my &s;elf before the <HI>Lord in my heart,</HI> and was at once ea&s;ed of the <HI>burthen</HI> of him, and the whole Town, that be|fore upon that account lay heavy upon me; for upon the&s;e terms he parted, &s;o that I thought we &s;hould have had his company no
<PB N="11" REF="10">more: late in the Evening came again our two <HI>Church-Wardens</HI> to minde me that the Gentleman was now willing to expound, &s;o he might preach immediately after; but I gave them no other an|&s;wer then before: wherefore after &s;ome menacing of me, that if there were any di&s;turbance I &s;hould bear the blame, <HI>(though you indeed make it,</HI> &s;aid I,) for he &s;hould preach, &s;aid they, whether I would or no; which indeed the next morning came to pa&s;s accordingly, for I coming &s;omewhat &s;ooner then u&s;ual to the place of meeting, found the people &s;peeding thither, and our new Vicar forcing him&s;elf, without any kinde of power warrantable, to the accu&s;tomed place of &s;peaking, where when I &s;aw him, I confe&s;s I was offended, and therefore (there nothing of &s;ervice being yet begun) I went up to the <HI>pul|pit</HI> to him, and told him, <HI>Sir, methinks you do very boldly to thru&s;t your &s;elf upon the people, having no allowance either from Heaven, or of Men:</HI> He told me he had the warrant of the <HI>Church-Wardens;</HI> To whom I replyed, it was no le&s;s <HI>pre&s;ump|tion in them:</HI> where I left him in po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion quiet enough, unle&s;s it were in his <HI>own &s;pirit,</HI> though he hath &s;ince, again&s;t the te&s;timo|ny of his <HI>own heart,</HI> given out a report, I &s;hould in a &s;ort a&s;&s;ault him there, and lay hands on his cloke, as though I would <HI>per force</HI> have pull'd him out thence by the <HI>head</HI> and <HI>&s;houlders:</HI> Tru|ly for this, as I had no minde, as well as I had no warrant, &s;o nei|ther had I, or have, &s;trength to &s;uch a <HI>bea&s;tly bruti&s;h bu&s;ine&s;s,</HI> it is enough that <HI>God is with me,</HI> the &s;ecurity <HI>of that Word and mind of his, is committed to me;</HI> for &s;ure it &s;eems much more becoming a <HI>Christian,</HI> then a Heathen, to profe&s;s, as <HI>Horace</HI> did, <HI>Non egit Mauri jaculis nec arcu, integer vitae, &s;celeri&s;&abque; purus.</HI></P>
<Q><L>Who faultle&s;s is, and <HI>walks with God,</HI></L>
<L>Needs not, as <HI>others,</HI> u&s;e the rod.</L></Q>
<P>My be&s;t &s;trength, through grace, is the doing <HI>in Chri&s;t</HI> the mo&s;t <HI>holy Will</HI> of <HI>God:</HI> wherefore I retired my &s;elf to a place conveni|ent for a hearing of what would be &s;aid, and made ob&s;ervation e&s;pecially of the&s;e two things in his di&s;cour&s;e, he endevoring after the acceptance of the people, though it were to the prejudice of <HI>the mo&s;t holy Word and truth of God;</HI> The fir&s;t was his bending his &s;peech to a ju&s;tification of the <HI>ob&s;ervation of days and times,</HI> e&s;pe|cially according to the form and cu&s;tom of the late much-talk'd of <HI>Church of England,</HI> for which intent, according to the <HI>rubrick,</HI>
<PB N="12" REF="11">were the Chapters read, and his di&s;cour&s;e thereon, a&s;&s;uring, That as &s;uch things were of old in the fir&s;t and be&s;t times, &s;o they ought of good Chri&s;tians to be with no le&s;s <HI>e&s;teem respected now;</HI> not con&s;idering either the <HI>Apo&s;tacy</HI> that hath been now yet of a long time, nor yet the expre&s;s forbidding of the Apo&s;tle the Church of the New Te&s;tament, as it is <HI>Gal.</HI> 4. and <HI>Col.</HI> 2. The &s;econd was his <HI>Charity mi&s;taken,</HI> that all were to be reckoned of the <HI>brother|hood</HI> (for that was his &s;ubject, <HI>Love the Brotherhood</HI>) that had the outward <HI>Bapti&s;m:</HI> a very quick and ea&s;ie way of uniting all Opinions of men, all <HI>Europe</HI> and the World over; for if the bro|therhood be alone upon that account, I may truly &s;ay there is no &s;uch thing at all, as that of which the <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> &s;peaks; but the truth is, the <HI>world,</HI> or which is all one, the <HI>Synagogue of Satan,</HI> whether in <HI>Rome</HI> or <HI>England,</HI> have, for a deceiving of them&s;elves and others, the more &s;ecurely and without controul po&s;&s;e&s;t them|&s;elves, as <HI>Babylon</HI> did of old, of the&s;e and the like mo&s;t <HI>holy uten|&s;ils,</HI> or <HI>ve&s;&s;els of the Temple,</HI> or <HI>true Church of God;</HI> &s;o that he that de&s;cribes the <HI>Brotherhood</HI> by any &s;uch like outward ob&s;erva|tion, it is to me a &s;ure &s;ign that he hath little or no skill of the thing of which he &s;peaks, for as much as the&s;e things are found with much more glory in <HI>Babel,</HI> then any where el&s;e.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="9" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. IX.</HEAD>
<P>BY this Sermon, the people of this place had again <HI>a ta&s;te</HI> of that, which their Souls have the&s;e many years much lu&s;ted af|ter, but have been of <HI>God and Man</HI> in a great degree deprived of, yet in this encounter the matter was, through a cro&s;s endevor of other the people of this place, almo&s;t as &s;oon at an end as begun, for they by Letter to Mr <HI>Holland,</HI> as the other by Petition to the Lord <HI>Whitlock,</HI> gave occa&s;ion of a debate in private <HI>above,</HI> of the matters were more publique <HI>here,</HI> in &s;o much that their expecta|tion became for the pre&s;ent wholly fru&s;trate, as to this <HI>man</HI> and <HI>meats;</HI> yea &s;ome there were, unde&s;ired of me, though not with|out my knowledg, thought good to put an end to the &s;trife ari|&s;ing in this place, as touching the formality, name, and title of <HI>Vicar;</HI> for as for the thing it &s;elf, the matter of <HI>preaching,</HI> and the officiating in all things relating <HI>to the glory of God,</HI> and the <HI>good of the people,</HI> as the <HI>Parliament</HI> by their Authority have allowed
<PB N="13" REF="11">and continued me here, &s;o I have with all gladne&s;s, as to the <HI>Lord</HI> and them, been faithful in the thing and tru&s;t have been commit|ed to me, according to the mea&s;ure of <HI>Gods grace and pre&s;ence with me, which is indeed the rule according to which I walk:</HI> I &s;ay, there was upon this occa&s;ion, by the con&s;ent of &s;ome for this intent, this Letter writ to the Burge&s;s of, and for this place, Mr <HI>Holland,</HI> the import of which I have been of many of all &s;orts, almo&s;t ever &s;ince the death of Mr <HI>Cleaver,</HI> much urged to accept of, but &s;till refu&s;ed upon this alone account that the matter need|ed not, for it could add nothing to the thing I was conver&s;ant in, &s;aving onely a certain fooli&s;h, and &s;ome &s;ay, <HI>Antichri&s;tian</HI> name, which I was not willing, after all this <HI>war</HI> and <HI>trouble</HI> and &s;trug|gle about matters of this nature, to accept; yet now at length through <HI>importunity,</HI> and the con&s;ideration that <HI>as it could add nothing to me, &s;o it could indeed derogate nothing from me, for let men call me what they plea&s;e, I &s;hall notwith&s;tanding through the help of God remain &s;till the &s;ame;</HI> as upon a like occa&s;ion being &s;ometimes asked of one of the now chief Fellows of <HI>Eaton Colledg,</HI> whether it were lawful to be a Fellow there yea or no, I gave him onely this an&s;wer, <HI>that &s;et a light, whe|ther of a Candle, or the like, in the dark Cellar, or el&s;ewhere, it will afford light</HI> as <HI>freely there</HI> as <HI>in the Chamber,</HI> for <HI>certain|ly the Motto of every good man is,</HI> as <HI>his</HI> was, <HI>&s;emper idem,</HI> the <HI>&s;ame in one condition and place, as another:</HI> I &s;ay, upon this ac|count I con&s;ented to the writing and &s;ub&s;cribing this Letter in the words and form following.</P>
<LETTER LANG="eng">
<OPENER><SALUTE>Very worthy Sir,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">A Letter to M. <HI>Hol|land.</HI></NOTE> <HI>We are encouraged again the &s;econd time to pre&s;ent to you our de&s;ire as concerning Mr</HI> Bacon, <HI>that hav|ing had an experience of</HI> his manner of life, purpo&s;e, faith, doc|trine, <HI>and</HI> diligence <HI>in the work he</HI> delights in, <HI>and we by him</HI> partake of, <HI>we have judged our &s;elves</HI> concerned, <HI>and do in a manner fully per&s;wade and a&s;&s;ure our &s;elves of your further|ance of us in this endevor, that the</HI> Broad-&s;eal, <HI>&s;ought for &s;o often for others, might be through your means and our charge fixed now at length on him, not becau&s;e he of him&s;elf either de|&s;ires or needs it, for a ju&s;tification of him, or the work he labors in, but rather fir&s;t to put an end to the &s;trife is already here upon that account; and &s;econdly, thereby is conceived hope of
<PB N="14" REF="12">perfecting of the</HI> good is by him, <HI>through the help of</HI> God <HI>alrea|dy begun; and finally, it is conceived</HI> worthy of the State and you, <HI>and</HI> this place, <HI>to fix him to this place with &s;uitable</HI> encou|ragement, <HI>that hath to his outward prejudice, &s;o faithfully and &s;o long &s;erved the</HI> Lord and you among us: <HI>This if you procure, we &s;hall acknowledg our &s;elves further bound to you; and for that cau&s;e are bold to &s;ub&s;cribe our &s;elves,</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><HI>Your humble &s;ervants and friends, to &s;erve you in the</HI> Lord, <HI>at</HI> Wind&s;or.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</LETTER>
<P>This was after a while &s;econded by the voluntary offer and en|devor of one of the chief men of our Town, who took oppor|tunity at his being in <HI>London</HI> to apply him&s;elf both to M^r <HI>Holland</HI> and the Lord <HI>Whitlock,</HI> from both which he had, as he did pro|fe&s;s, encouragement as to my <HI>continuance here;</HI> onely this they were plea&s;ed to &s;ay, as well the one as the other, <HI>that they did judg it meet not to burthen me with any &s;uch thing, as the name and title of Vicar,</HI> yet not expre&s;&s;ing them&s;elves as willing of Mr <HI>Kind's</HI> coming, to a concurrence with me.</P>
<P>About the &s;ame time I had occa&s;ion in <HI>London</HI> (coming not at any time there meerly upon the account of this bu&s;ine&s;s, to which this di&s;cour&s;e doth relate) Mr <HI>Holland</HI> (which I crave leave of him to make publique) profe&s;t it was his Judgment (as it was and is, I am &s;ure, my de&s;ire) <HI>that this Name and Title of</HI> Vicar <HI>may be in the Land wholly at an end, as indeed it is high time it &s;hould:</HI> at this I confe&s;s I was not a little glad, for it &s;eemed &s;omewhat &s;trange, and a matter indeed much to be lamented, <HI>That after all this ado,</HI> and <HI>turning as a door upon the hinge, we &s;hould be found both in form and practice, not one</HI> Iota <HI>moved, from what we were ten years ago.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="10" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. X.</HEAD>
<P>HAving had this account given me, I returned, as heretofore, with delight and diligence, to the work I was concerned in, and as I remember was in particular engaged to the Tue&s;day Lec|ture, where I confe&s;s I appeared, though few were there to hear me: I will not refu&s;e to make mention of the Text which I judg|ed meet to be minded, e&s;pecially in the times that now are,
<PB N="15" REF="12"><HI>Zeph.</HI> 3.18. <HI>I will gather them that are &s;orrowful for the &s;o|lemn A&s;&s;embly, tho&s;e that are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was and is a burthen:</HI> At this di&s;cour&s;e &s;ome offence was ta|ken, but alone of the Preachers, for opening that of <HI>Solomons Song,</HI> as I did, Chap. 3. v. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. e&s;pecially Ver&s;. 7. <HI>That the Spou&s;e never found her Beloved till &s;he had gone one &s;tep be|yond the Watchmen, of whom &s;he &s;ought him, but found him not.</HI> Verily I was <HI>greatly moved</HI> and <HI>grieved</HI> in my <HI>heart,</HI> that they &s;hould take offence at this; for without all doubt &s;uch as they are &s;hould not <HI>&s;eek their own, but the honor of him they &s;ay have &s;ent them,</HI> that is to &s;ay, <HI>the Lord him&s;elf;</HI> which gave me occa|&s;ion to remember and pre&s;ent the &s;peech of that old dying, but wicked Bi&s;hop in Queen <HI>Maries</HI> time, when one it &s;eems pre&s;&s;ed in &s;pirit &s;aid to him, <HI>Doubtle&s;s it were better that the Scriptures were allowed in Engli&s;h,</HI> replyed with &s;ome heat, <HI>If that door were once open, then indeed farewell all;</HI> as though nothing were <HI>more prejudicial to the Clergy, then the knowledg of the People:</HI>
<NOTE PLACE="marg">At the hou&s;e of Mr <HI>Bream.</HI></NOTE> At this meeting I came, being particularly invited thereto, which is, I confe&s;s, the rule I have hitherto walked by, as to tho&s;e enter|tainments.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="11" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. XI.</HEAD>
<P>WIthin a little while after this, I had occa&s;ion and was bent in my heart for the We&s;t, not onely &s;o much for the cau&s;e of other matters, as <HI>to have a renewed ta&s;te of the fruit I hoped, and have much longed after, to partake of among the peo|ple, with whom I have had my conver&s;ation in times pa&s;t, upon the account of the te&s;timony of the Coming and hope of our mo&s;t dear Lord and Saviour:</HI> Among them I was <HI>a while with great delight, finding them in full expectation of what was much in my heart, the dawning of the Day of God,</HI> and <HI>their gathering toge|ther in one in him, upon that account.</HI> Before I undertook this, I had &s;ome promi&s;e of &s;upply of one &s;uitable to me, and known and much de&s;ired of the mo&s;t <HI>enlightened of the people in this place;</HI>
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr <HI>S.</HI></NOTE> but to make it yet more &s;ure, I endeavored with &s;ome of our Neighbors at <HI>Eaton,</HI> whom I have with a ready minde hereto|fore &s;erved upon the like occa&s;ion, that in my ab&s;ence, if they thought meet, they would &s;tand in my &s;tead: but having no pro|mi&s;e,
<PB N="16" REF="13">I could not a&s;&s;ure my &s;elf of any; wherefore, as upon the account afore&s;aid, <HI>viz.</HI> my longing after the people in the We&s;t, as al&s;o becau&s;e of my <HI>a&s;&s;iduity</HI> and <HI>diligence</HI> among the people here (<HI>unthankfully,</HI> that I &s;ay no more at pre&s;ent, <HI>entertained</HI> of them) I re&s;olved to take the opportunity, and leave the event and guidance of the matter and people to <HI>God him&s;elf</HI> alone, the great <HI>Shepherd</HI> of the &s;heep, <HI>in who&s;e cu&s;tody alone I am &s;ure we are all &s;afe.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="12" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. XII.</HEAD>
<P>YEt being as far as <HI>Newport</HI> and <HI>Cardiff</HI> in <HI>Wales,</HI> I was of <HI>the Lord,</HI> after the &s;econd Sabbath, &s;trongly <HI>moved in my heart</HI> to return, &s;o as to be at <HI>Wind&s;or</HI> on the third, which was the time, is as yet call'd <HI>Ea&s;ter-day; for we have in the Land, as yet, &s;o little of the &s;ub&s;tance, that we are fain &s;till, and do with much zeal, as el&s;ewhere, &s;o especially here, retain, not the Jewi&s;h, by no means, for&s;ooth, that mu&s;t be &s;aid, yet it cannot be denyed but that we hold fa&s;t to the Popi&s;h new-invented Jew|i&s;h, as well as the Heathen types and &s;hadows.</HI> In my ab&s;ence they were de&s;titute of one to fill the Pulpit the fir&s;t day; on the &s;econd they got with much endeavor, having a fit opportunity, Mr <HI>Kind,</HI> having been all this while as it were to this place <HI>fa&s;t a&s;leep,</HI> but he is awake of them, and brought with all &s;peed here, when (doubtle&s;s upon con&s;ultation had one with another) he gave notice of a Sacrament &s;hould be on the next day, (&s;ure as a &s;eal of <HI>that union of theirs, which was not, is not, in God,)</HI> for which intent all things, <HI>at lea&s;t without them,</HI> were made ready, the Innen wa&s;h'd, and the plate and other uten&s;ils made bright for the purpo&s;e, and the wine be&s;poke, becau&s;e &s;uch as they would have was not ready, for they mu&s;t needs have Mu&s;|kadine, there was to be &s;omething, at lea&s;t like it, made of the Vintner that week; at the end of which, I unlooked for, and un|welcom as to the&s;e people, came; &s;ome &s;aying, I was &s;ent for, and came <HI>po&s;t-ha&s;te,</HI> though I had no intimation, &s;aving <HI>onely in my heart from above,</HI> neither was it po&s;&s;ible I &s;hould: Wherefore others, that were as glad of my return, likened it &s;omewhat to the <HI>man Mo&s;es his coming down from the Mount, when in his ab&s;ence Aaron and the people had agreed to make them a Calf in
<PB N="17" REF="13">&s;tead of God in Chri&s;t, to go before them:</HI> Hence there was not a little ado and talk of the people, &s;ome advi&s;ing, and they none of the meane&s;t of them, to defer it (at lea&s;t) to another time; others were as much re&s;olved, have it they would now, what ever it co&s;t them! I hearing this on the next day minded to have &s;ent to the Mayor, or rather to have come unto him, and to have got &s;ome five or &s;ix more of the chief of the Town to have conferred together, to prevent any inconvenience that might hereby ari&s;e; and for that intent the chief man in this cau&s;e, as to activene&s;s, came to me into a place in town, to which I &s;ent for him, and told him my re&s;olve; wherefore we going together, he indeed unwillingly, but <HI>I</HI> of a ready mind,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rand.</NOTE> to an ancient man and Profe&s;&s;or, but he not being within, &s;ome &s;ay willingly, I was urged to go to, and &s;peak with the Steward, but &s;taying a while in the &s;treet, he being calld, came to me, with whom after a little di&s;cour&s;e I abruptly (I confe&s;s) left him, he calling in que&s;tion that which <HI>was to me certain,</HI> and <HI>I am per&s;waded to him al&s;o in his heart;</HI> By all which I un|der&s;tood an agreement was already made, and backed by all the power they had or could (but &s;ecretly) make, to meet the next day <HI>to the purpo&s;e</HI> above&s;aid: wherefore on the morrow I came &s;omewhat timely, willing not to be prevented as I was before, I found the doors &s;hut, but within a while came the Sextons boy, and told me the Churchwardens had &s;ecured the keys, that the doors could not be opened till they came; wherefore &s;taying a while there, not a few per&s;ons of very rude and unbecoming behavior came neer, <HI>reproaching</HI> and <HI>reviling me</HI> openly to my face, one of them at length &s;wearing, <HI>but not in truth,</HI> that what ever come of it, they would I <HI>&s;hould have nought to do there that day,</HI> for however it was with me, yet their con&s;cience was to do as they &s;aid: but &s;aid I, is your con|&s;cience <HI>well informed?</HI> to which was made this an&s;wer, <HI>they could not tell whether it were yea or no:</HI> at length came one more ancient then wi&s;e, <HI>whom God forgive,</HI>
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr. <HI>G.</HI></NOTE> upbraiding me with teaching them what he &s;aid they did not at all under&s;tand, un|le&s;s it were this, that I made them to be all either Jews or Gentiles, yea plainly telling me (as I remember &s;ome have &s;aid of old they called the Di&s;ciples fir&s;t of all <HI>Chri&s;tians</HI> (i.e.) <GAP DESC="foreign"> (i. e.) <HI>Chri&s;ts A&s;&s;es,</HI> at <HI>Antioch,</HI> it being given (as
<PB N="18" REF="14">is believed) as a name of reproach there) that I was one of the verie&s;t <HI>A&s;&s;es</HI> that ever he knew, or to that purpo&s;e: <HI>Now O God, &s;aid I in my heart, yea and tongue, this people talk of what they under&s;tand not, &s;peaking evil of what</HI> is the <HI>alone help and healing of them, the Lord and his love.</HI> The Churchwar|dens coming and &s;eeming to entreat my allowance of them, had in mean time at another door let in Ma&s;ter <HI>Kind</HI> to the Pulpit, where he no &s;ooner came, but he had his guard of <HI>rude men about him</HI> to &s;ecure him there; which when I had percei|ved I withdrew to a place convenient to hear, having a little before had occa&s;ion to tell them, that &s;ure enough it was mani|fe&s;t they wanted what they could not deny was needful at &s;uch a time as that, <HI>to wit, Love; or as it is rendered and now termed charity;</HI> they, I mean two of them that were Church|wardens, for &s;o they wil needs be called, though I am &s;ure they are <HI>no &s;uch thing as the word imports,</HI> told me indeed that for that alone cau&s;e they purpo&s;ed (as they &s;aid) that day not to come to the Communion, meaning the <HI>Idol</HI> they had made rea|dy to fall down <HI>to,</HI> and <HI>adore:</HI> For I had a little before told them, however they made boa&s;t of <HI>amity</HI> and <HI>love,</HI> it was ma|nife&s;t enough they had <HI>none in their heart</HI> to afford me, which indeed they did not refu&s;e to confe&s;s; <HI>yet for&s;ooth they could notwith&s;tanding pray, and do other things well enough plea&s;ing to God, though in mean time they remained profe&s;&s;edly in the hate of him in me, and me for his name &s;ake.</HI> After the le&s;&s;on read, by one that hath in like manner forced him&s;elf to that &s;ervice, I took my opportunity when there was &s;ome &s;ilence in the Congregation, to &s;peak as followeth, &s;itting in the gal|lery and &s;eeing every thing carryed on there by <HI>force,</HI> through a manife&s;t oppo&s;ition again&s;t the <HI>authority both of God and man,</HI> as is evident and confe&s;t. I de&s;ired the Preacher would give out to the people the minde and meaning of this text, and words of <HI>Samuel</HI> to <HI>Saul,</HI> which he &s;pake upon his rebellion again&s;t <HI>God</HI> and <HI>him, To obey</HI> is better then <HI>&s;acrifice,</HI> and to harken (as I am &s;ure they did not to <HI>God</HI>) then the <HI>fat of Rams;</HI> upon this one &s;tood by, and &s;aid I di&s;turbed the Congregation, others began to make a noi&s;e under the gallery, and our &s;inging man calling to Ma&s;ter <HI>Kind</HI> to go on, which he did having yet no warrant either the one or the other, and might with as much
<PB N="19" REF="14">pretence po&s;&s;e&s;s the Ca&s;tle, yea the whole Nation, to which it doth directly tend, and to which it mu&s;t needs come in con|clu&s;ion, if it be <HI>thus</HI> let <HI>alone,</HI> but I held my peace; Sermon ended in the which was an exhortation to the Sacrament, which they had in their way, made ready for them, I went <HI>as the Lord knows in love</HI> to the Ve&s;try, where <HI>I</HI> no &s;ooner appeared but Ma&s;ter <HI>Kind</HI> as moved at my coming, being putting on his gown (which for the greater &s;olemnity of the bu&s;ine&s;s he had brought down with him) <HI>for where the truth is not,</HI> it <HI>mu&s;t be piec'c up with &s;uch toyes as the&s;e,</HI> he demands of me, prevent|ing me, what <HI>I</HI> had to &s;ay to him? Why truly &s;aid <HI>I,</HI> that you read over your text again, which was this, for an <HI>Ea&s;ter</HI> days Sermon; <HI>Come &s;ee where the Lord lay:</HI> Now &s;aid <HI>I,</HI> your text is not as you expounded it, an exhortation to come to <HI>Christ,</HI> much le&s;s <HI>to the Sacrament,</HI> unle&s;s in another &s;en&s;e then you meant it, but that the women &s;hould &s;ee, as the Di&s;ciples did afterwards, that he was not in the <HI>Sepulchre,</HI> where they <HI>thought</HI> to have <HI>found him;</HI> now &s;aid <HI>I,</HI> as your text led you, to <HI>&s;hew where Chri&s;t is not, &s;o if you be able to &s;hew where he is, you &s;ay &s;omething, or el&s;e you do nothing at all:</HI> at which he &s;eem|ed much moved, and would, he &s;aid, di&s;pute with me about the matter before the <HI>A&s;&s;embly</HI> of <HI>Divines;</HI> di&s;tingui&s;hing immediately upon our di&s;cour&s;e of the <HI>Sacrament,</HI> betwixt, as they &s;ay, <HI>Corpus Chri&s;ti Sacramentale &amp; reale,</HI> profe&s;&s;ing his knowledge and power only to meddle with the former, but having no &s;ence or perceiving of the latter: <HI>now the former without this latter is nought at all, &s;pells nothing, is nothing, &s;ave a bare &s;ign or cypher which makes no number;</HI> Neither is there any Chri&s;tian, whether Popi&s;h or Prote&s;tant, <HI>Lutheran</HI> or <HI>Calvini&s;t</HI> that doth or ever did hold the <HI>Supper of the Lord</HI> to be a <HI>bare</HI> and <HI>only &s;ign;</HI> &s;o that <HI>I</HI> might truly &s;ay the <HI>thing</HI> was not <HI>there,</HI> Chri&s;t was not there, of which he &s;pake <HI>(i. e.)</HI> the <HI>Lord or his body,</HI> or which is all one, <HI>caena domini, the Supper of the Lord,</HI> which is <HI>no other</HI> then as <HI>him&s;elf</HI> &s;aith, <HI>the daily, but &s;uper&s;ub&s;tantial and caele&s;tial food of them that beleeve or are born from above:</HI> while&s;t <HI>I</HI> had thus &s;peech with Ma&s;ter <HI>Kind,</HI> came in looking pale our Unknighted Gentleman, Ma&s;ter <HI>Bream,</HI> charging me with a di&s;turbing of the Congregation, and letting of the Preacher in the &s;ervice he was bound for, and
<PB N="20" REF="15">they both together multiplied in their <HI>unbelief</HI> and <HI>ignorance of God</HI> many words, oppre&s;&s;ing me as much as they could with <HI>them;</HI> that <HI>I</HI> &s;ought out a place convenient, where to retire my &s;elf, till their &s;peech &s;hould have an end; but Mr. <HI>Bream</HI> denyed me that re&s;t which <HI>he</HI> could not give unto me, laying hold on my arms and cloak, and by force (<HI>I</HI> not much <HI>I</HI> con|fe&s;s re&s;i&s;ting) thru&s;t me out of doors; at which <HI>I</HI> &s;aid in my heart, and not only &s;o, <HI>What Communion Sir will you have, from which you will excommunicate me?</HI> He with much heat affirmed, the whole Town would agree together, and draw up <HI>Articles</HI> again&s;t me, as &s;ince <HI>I</HI> hear from him they have done: There followed many <HI>rude men</HI> after us, repeating and ju&s;ti|fying what the Gentleman &s;aid; moreover he told me the peo|ple and boys of the &s;treet would <HI>&s;tone me,</HI> and that Hereticks were wont worthily &s;o to be dealt with, <HI>(of which number Sir, &s;aid I, you remember holy Steven was one;)</HI> but <HI>I</HI> departed home, only telling him <HI>I</HI> was &s;orry to &s;ee him in &s;o great a pa&s;&s;ion. <HI>I</HI> perceive the number of Communicants were very few, they &s;ay (&s;ince) <HI>I</HI> was a let unto them, truly <HI>I</HI> did not appear upon that account, or for that end, but meerly &s;ith <HI>I</HI> &s;aw they were <HI>heady</HI> and <HI>re&s;olved</HI> in the bu&s;ine&s;s, <HI>I</HI> thought it my duty <HI>to God</HI> and <HI>them,</HI> to take the opportunity to give them &s;ome <HI>light</HI> in what they <HI>did</HI> &s;o <HI>headily</HI> and upon the alone account of <HI>cu&s;tom thru&s;t them&s;elves upon,</HI> even as the <HI>hor&s;e that ru&s;heth into the battel.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="13" TYPE="section">
<PB N="23" REF="15">
<HEAD>SECT. XIII.</HEAD>
<P>OF this I confe&s;s the next day I gave notice by letter to the Burge&s;s of this place, yet my letter went by Boat, wherefore I could not, neither had I a thought of doing prejudice to any, as it was generally reported, I was the cau&s;e of Mr. <HI>Bream</HI> his &s;end|ing for by a Me&s;&s;enger from the Councel of State that evening; yea one of our grave women (for&s;ooth) very confidently reports,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mis. <HI>M.</HI></NOTE> I was met in the returning from the great City, and told, that that had been my bu&s;ine&s;s there: this is like as true as is the report now fre&s;h in Town, that there came a man at the Church door to &s;peak with me, but I admitted him not to it, who told one of our Neighbors, as <HI>&s;tout</HI> as I was, I had taken of him above <HI>two hundred pounds</HI> for making of Hats for him, <HI>which I would it were true, I confe&s;s I would not refu&s;e the employment; for I am very well content (were I able) to work for my living as the Apo&s;tle was, yet &s;hall not, cannot look back from the work I have been hitherto conver&s;ant in; but had it been for hire, I would have left it long agoe.</HI> About this time was <HI>reawakened</HI> a certain <HI>&s;omthing,</HI> for what it is I cannot tell, produc't as hereto|fore, &s;o upon this occa&s;ion, by one Mr. <HI>Baker,</HI> who <HI>were he as good</HI> as <HI>rich,</HI> might be of <HI>great u&s;e to this Town</HI> and <HI>Nation,</HI> ha|ving it &s;eems, as I have been told, and is certainly true, procu|red of &s;ome of the late A&s;&s;embly of Divines about the time of my fir&s;t coming to this place, &s;ome kind of <HI>&s;ub&s;cribing,</HI> that I was not of <HI>them approved,</HI> as it &s;eems this Gentleman was, and is, as very &s;ound <HI>to God and Man,</HI> both in his <HI>heart</HI> and <HI>life,</HI> as it ap|pears he had a great deal more <HI>favour with them then I;</HI> they would not otherwi&s;e have fortified <HI>&s;uch a man</HI> again&s;t <HI>me:</HI> this note, or whatever it be, hath of him been made u&s;e of, if by any means, to alienate the people of all &s;orts from me, in the which he hath not a little of late prevailed, many in the Town having ta|ken Copies of it, though I could never &s;ee any; yea, they have, as the people of <HI>like nature</HI> and <HI>&s;pirit heretofore,</HI> &s;ought by all means, into all places, where I have been, to &s;earch and find out the forepa&s;t hi&s;tory of my life, making &s;pecial and particular u&s;e of my <HI>&s;ufferings</HI> at <HI>Gloce&s;ter,</HI> yea at <HI>Oxford,</HI> when I was a youth there, as well as of the wrongs and lo&s;&s;es I have &s;u&s;tained
<PB N="22" REF="16">heretofore in the ca&s;e of the Common-Prayer and Ceremonies from the Bi&s;hops, <HI>&s;o that the evil that was in them all, is ri&s;en up and allowed here, or connived at, at</HI> Wind&s;or, <HI>to the di&s;honour of God, and the &s;hame of the pretended high attainment of Refor|mation in the things divine and of God;</HI> but whether this be under the hand of the A&s;&s;embly, or of &s;ome of them, I cannot tell: this they know, that I refu&s;ed not to come before them to a giving te&s;timony of the <HI>truth.</HI> I believe, as they well know, the great matter they &s;eemed to be offended with, was my non|taking the Covenant, which I only refu&s;ed as upon that occa&s;i|on, as though it were even <HI>e&s;&s;ential</HI> to the matter of <HI>preaching.</HI> Some other things they &s;aid as to the <HI>Catechi&s;ms;</HI> but all they took notice of as di&s;plea&s;ing them, as may appear afterwards, as <HI>un&s;ound,</HI> was the bu&s;ine&s;s of <HI>Bapti&s;me,</HI> which they &s;ay, as indeed <HI>I do, as to the outwardne&s;s of it, judg to be in e&s;teem with us of like nature, as are other outward rites and ob&s;ervations, not &s;uch as in them con&s;ists the Kingdom of Heaven, or the true knowledg of God:</HI> this was only mentioned as an error, in a little Book writ by tho&s;e convened at <HI>Sion Colledg,</HI> for detecting of the &s;up|po&s;ed error and fal&s;e Doctrine of many <HI>worthy men</HI> in the Land: 'tis true, Mr. <HI>Rutherford</HI> of <HI>Scotland</HI> in a large Book of his &s;eems offended, not only at it, but other pa&s;&s;ages; <HI>but the &s;tory of the times, and the reproach cast of him upon others more eminent a thou&s;and fold then my &s;elf, as the Lord General,</HI> Mr. <HI>Burton,</HI> Mr. <HI>Dell, &amp;c.</HI> may <HI>&s;ave me the labor of &s;peaking, as to the vin|dication of my &s;elf as to the A&s;&s;embly:</HI> yet I will add what will give &s;ome hint of the offence, they have it &s;eems taken at me <HI>viz.</HI> my being here without either their <HI>allowance</HI> or <HI>order,</HI> which yet was not through either my de&s;ire or endeavour, as it doth ap|pear partly by my being with them in conference from about <HI>two</HI> till after <HI>&s;even</HI> of the Clock; but al&s;o by the following letter written to Mr. <HI>Holland</HI> upon that occa&s;ion, whereby may appear what e&s;teem the Authour of it had of the A&s;&s;embly and me, in tho&s;e days.</P>
<P>Sir, The Bearer hereof Mr. <HI>Bacon, is that good man</HI> which the Town hath cho&s;en <HI>for this place,</HI> as you will under&s;tand further by a Letter from the Mayor and his Bre|thren, Sir <HI>Robert Bennet,</HI> the Governour, and divers others: we doubt not of your be&s;t a&s;&s;i&s;tance, according to the Contents of
<PB N="23" REF="16">the &s;aid Letter: we have al&s;o written to Sir <HI>Henry Mildmay,</HI> hoping that both of you may &s;o carry it, <HI>as to get him pa&s;&s;ed by the Committee, without any reference to the A&s;&s;embly, &amp;c.</HI> Sub&s;cribed your Servant in Chri&s;t <HI>John Bachiler. Wind&s;or</HI> Ca&s;tle, <HI>April</HI> 13. 1647. which it &s;eems was done accordingly.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="14" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>SECT. XIV.</HEAD>
<P>BUt the people to perfect their work of my, or rather the <HI>truths, remove far from them,</HI> it being <HI>Ea&s;ter</HI> week, they cho&s;e two others, but mo&s;t fal&s;ly call'd Church wardens <HI>(rather truth and Church oppo&s;ers, which is the pillar and ground of it)</HI> men much more for the purpo&s;e,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr. <HI>M.</HI></NOTE> the&s;e with others get hands not a few, &s;ome through fear, and &s;ome for advantage, as hath been confe&s;t of one eminent in the Town, <HI>though a Reed indeed &s;ha|ken with every wind,</HI> for the obtaining the man and Vicar they endeavour after, <HI>who&s;e contention about him is like the &s;trife had of the people heretofore about their idol Maypole, for a May|pole they mu&s;t have, and a Vicar the&s;e mu&s;t have,</HI> nec po&s;&s;unt dicere quare, hoc tantum po&s;&s;unt dicere amo te, <HI>for their lu&s;ts &s;ake:</HI> this they pro&s;ecute at <HI>London,</HI> but had a pre&s;ent repul&s;e from the Burge&s;s of the place; but yet have had, they <HI>hold all men in hand,</HI> no little encouragement from the Lord <HI>Whitlock,</HI> of whom they report they have his countenance, yea the promi&s;e of the great Seal, which yet as I do not believe, &s;o I have cau&s;e to the contrary, as the te&s;timony of Mr. <HI>Cokayn,</HI> who&s;e abiding is in the &s;ame hou&s;e with him: as likewi&s;e the Relation of the Lord <HI>Whitlock</HI> him&s;elf, not only to Mr. <HI>Holland,</HI> but al&s;o to a Gentleman of good note and account in this place, who went in particular to him upon this occa&s;ion; yea it &s;hould &s;eem &s;trange, and indeed impo&s;&s;ible, unle&s;s the Lord <HI>Whitlock</HI> &s;hould be contrary to him&s;elf, to allow and permit any <HI>violence of the people to be u&s;ed in any thing, lea&s;t of all in things of this nature,</HI> as the ca&s;e is here; &s;o the people do in profe&s;t oppo&s;ition again&s;t the pretended, if not real endeavour of the Mayor, and the pow|er civil here, as it came to pa&s;&s;e the next Sabboth day, or rather the third after it: the Preacher having in the morning with no little devotion, doubtle&s;s, prayed for the Right Wor&s;hipful the Mayor, and the Wor&s;hipful the Aldermen his Brethren; yea for
<PB N="24" REF="17">the High Court of Parliament; and yet as I &s;pake in the afternoon <HI>(when only the&s;e rude men allow me there)</HI> he not only him&s;elf did act, but profe&s;&s;edly allowed others in an oppo&s;ition again&s;t the expre&s;s <HI>authority of both:</HI> wherefore I do confe&s;s I had with much <HI>&s;truggle</HI> at length obtain'd <HI>leave of God in my heart</HI> to appear again in that <HI>place,</HI> e|&s;pecially the <HI>Pulpit,</HI> which &s;eemed to me <HI>as mo&s;t polluted and de|filed,</HI> with the <HI>lies</HI> that <HI>flow out from thence to the deceiving of the whole Land:</HI> this I did not refu&s;e, when I came there to make known to the people, that then were pre&s;ent; <HI>I was holp in this thing of God,</HI> for <HI>through him I came to under&s;tand,</HI> how|ever I &s;tood in the &s;ame place, yet I was not there upon the &s;ame <HI>account</HI> with <HI>him</HI> and <HI>others</HI> that &s;peak there, <HI>&s;ed non a Deo, but not from God:</HI> there were pre&s;ent at this di&s;cour&s;e, as I have been &s;ince told, <HI>two Parliament men,</HI> that &s;eem, as Mr. <HI>Bream</HI> &s;aith, much offended with what ever I <HI>&s;aid</HI> or <HI>did</HI> at that time; they never heard (as he &s;aith they &s;ay) &s;uch <HI>expounding,</HI> &s;uch <HI>preach|ing,</HI> &s;uch <HI>catechi&s;ing,</HI> yea there was not (which it &s;eems they <HI>earne&s;tly looked after</HI>) &s;o much as a <HI>P&s;alm.</HI> Now I confe&s;s, its &s;ufficient for me, to <HI>mind</HI> the work I am conver&s;ant in <HI>as to God,</HI> whether it <HI>take,</HI> and be <HI>accepted</HI> with <HI>men,</HI> yea or no: yet I have thought, whoever the&s;e <HI>Gentlemen</HI> were, for I know, neither their per&s;ons or names, that though they had no great <HI>liking</HI> to other things, yet they &s;hould very well <HI>re&s;ent</HI> the di&s;|cour&s;e I had to <HI>uphold</HI> and <HI>ju&s;tifie</HI> the <HI>just</HI> power and authority of <HI>Parliament,</HI> whereof the&s;e were Members, unle&s;s <HI>as &s;ome would have I confe&s;s</HI> (as it hath been the ca&s;e of the <HI>powers</HI> of the Nations of <HI>a long time</HI>) that the power of the Parliament whether <HI>&s;ubordinate</HI> or <HI>&s;upream,</HI> &s;hould only be <HI>manife&s;t</HI> and <HI>made u&s;e</HI> of to the <HI>upholding of evil,</HI> both <HI>men and things and cu&s;toms in the Land, rather then the good:</HI> I am &s;ure there is no <HI>exerci&s;e</HI> of it in this place at this time; as to the thing, I have been now the&s;e five years conver&s;ant in; the <HI>power,</HI> whether <HI>Mar|tial</HI> or <HI>Civil,</HI> laying at the feet of rude men, who have and do beat all the <HI>&s;way in this particular,</HI> to the great <HI>&s;hame</HI> and <HI>reproach</HI> of the <HI>Government,</HI> not only of this <HI>place,</HI> but <HI>Nation:</HI> indeed they hold the people <HI>in hand,</HI> yea they have <HI>told me,</HI> and the <HI>Mayor</HI> of the Town, and Mr. <HI>Mills,</HI> that <HI>none have power in that place but the Church-wardens,</HI> they
<PB N="25" REF="17">mean a power of <HI>force,</HI> that of <HI>Bulls</HI> and <HI>Bears:</HI> now the&s;e men may upon the &s;ame <HI>account</HI> make the <HI>Church a Castle,</HI> and <HI>car|ry Guns</HI> and <HI>Swords to &s;ecure them&s;elves in what ere they do,</HI> as <HI>&s;et Ruffians</HI> there <HI>per force to rule:</HI> Indeed, as I once <HI>declared,</HI> even to <HI>the Mayor him&s;elf,</HI> that in the <HI>true Church</HI> the <HI>autho|rity of one</HI> is as <HI>great</HI> as is the <HI>authority of another,</HI> there being <HI>acknowledged in it no other authority then that of the Word,</HI> which is the <HI>Scepter of Chri&s;t,</HI> by which its <HI>rul'd,</HI> not a <HI>power of Bea&s;ts,</HI> or a <HI>bea&s;tly power</HI> of <HI>force,</HI> as the&s;e men like <HI>brutes,</HI> not either as <HI>men</HI> or <HI>Chri&s;tians,</HI> lay claim unto, and have <HI>been</HI> and are <HI>allowed</HI> in.</P>
<P>The next <HI>Sabboth</HI> was &s;ent down a letter from the <HI>Burge&s;s</HI> of this place to the <HI>Mayor</HI> of the Town. A Copy of which I thought worthy here to expre&s;s.</P>
<LETTER LANG="eng">
<OPENER><SALUTE>SIR,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>I <HI>&V;nder&s;tand there is much</HI> di&s;turbance <HI>in the Town of</HI> Wind|&s;or, <HI>about</HI> preaching <HI>in the</HI> Church; <HI>and therefore I thought fit to write to you, to de&s;ire you, that the</HI> peace may be kept a|mong&s;t them by your Authority: <HI>That &s;o he, that yet hath the</HI> &s;ole authority <HI>that I know of, to preach there, may not be</HI> di|&s;turb'd <HI>in the</HI> performance <HI>of his duty, who is</HI> Mr. Bacon, <HI>a man of a</HI> pious <HI>and</HI> peaceable Conver&s;ation, <HI>and &s;o</HI> judged <HI>by all</HI> good men <HI>that</HI> know <HI>him, for ought I</HI> ever yet heard. <HI>And the</HI> Parliament <HI>by their</HI> Authority <HI>having appointed him to be</HI> Preacher there, <HI>I think it's</HI> your duty <HI>to &s;ee that he may</HI> peace|ably execute that which the Parliament hath directed him unto. <HI>Sir, I &s;hall heartily de&s;ire that all the people of the Town may have</HI> &s;uch a teacher as may lead them into truth through the goodne&s;s of God. <HI>And wi&s;h they would</HI> quiet <HI>their own &s;pirits until the</HI> Parliament <HI>&s;hall &s;ettle &s;uch a</HI> cour&s;e <HI>both</HI> there <HI>and el&s;e|where in the Nation, as &s;hall be I tru&s;t</HI> for the glory of God, and good of all his, <HI>which they are endeavouring with all conve|nient &s;peed to do, and had &s;ooner done, if the publique pre&s;erva|tion of the Nation had permitted.</HI> Sir, <HI>I have no more at pre&s;ent, but to &s;ub&s;cribe my &s;elf, Your very affectionate friend and Ser|vant,</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Cornelius Holland.</SIGNED>
<DATELINE>Kin&s;ington, <DATE>May 1. 1652.</DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</LETTER>
<P>This Letter being delivered on the evening of the Sabboth, the next morning as I pa&s;&s;ed by towards the publique place, Mr. <HI>Mills</HI> &s;tanding at his door, de&s;ired me to <HI>&s;tep a little out of my
<PB N="26" REF="18">way;</HI> &s;aid I, that I <HI>&s;hall not do by any means,</HI> yet &s;hall not refu&s;e to come to you, with whom I found the <HI>Mayor,</HI> who together told me of this <HI>Letter,</HI> and how they had <HI>endeavoured</HI> to the <HI>utmo&s;t, but could not</HI> (or <HI>rather without all peradventure</HI> would not) let or hinder the people from their rude re&s;olved purpo&s;e, <HI>confe&s;|&s;ing</HI> they were greatly <HI>a&s;hamed,</HI> yea that it was the <HI>&s;hame</HI> of the Town and place, that &s;uch <HI>violence</HI> of <HI>rude men</HI> &s;hould be <HI>&s;o al|lowed:</HI> the <HI>Mayor</HI> went before, and I came immediately after and found Mr. <HI>Kind</HI> in the <HI>Pulpit</HI> with his guard of rude men at|tending him, among whom when I appeared, and the Mayor, they looking pale, I fear with <HI>wrath</HI> and <HI>envy,</HI> being re&s;olved, as it came from the mouth of one of them, to have <HI>laid hands</HI> on me, the Mayor entreated them, but left his <HI>Mace and his heart be|hind;</HI> but they knew his <HI>mind,</HI> and their <HI>other Rulers too,</HI> though they did pretend &s;ome of them to &s;ome other thing: I askt them what the&s;e rude people meant, they told me they came there to hear, nay rather to di&s;turb, and if need be, to <HI>fight,</HI> to maintain their <HI>lu&s;t and evil;</HI> &s;ome <HI>threatned,</HI> others <HI>per&s;waded me</HI> by <HI>all means to leave the&s;e parts, for they had no de&s;ire of my company.</HI></P>
<P>This day I went to <HI>Eaton,</HI> and heard a good and &s;ea&s;onable di&s;cour&s;e there, I be&s;eech God they may make <HI>good u&s;e of it;</HI> in the afternoon I &s;pake &s;omewhat large by way of expo&s;ition on the 3. <HI>of Jam:</HI> e&s;pecially on the&s;e two <HI>heads, Brethren be not ma|ny Ma&s;ters, for thereby ye &s;hall receive the greater judgement; for we that believe acknowledg one only in Heaven, even Chri&s;t:</HI> and that 2ly, which followeth in the <HI>chapter,</HI> that <HI>out of the &s;ame Fountain cannot proceed bitter waters and &s;weet,</HI> as we <HI>find</HI> (as the <HI>Apostle</HI> doth declare) <HI>that the &s;ame tongue is exerci&s;ed, as well in cur&s;ing</HI> as ble&s;&s;ing, <HI>praying</HI> or <HI>preaching: my Brethren the&s;e things ought not &s;o to be:</HI> yet then the which there is no|thing more <HI>common,</HI> as is evident <HI>among us</HI> in this place: the fol|lowing week being in <HI>London,</HI> I went, the <HI>Lord</HI> directing me, in <HI>love</HI> (&s;eeing Mr.-late-Sir-<HI>Richard Bream</HI> in <HI>We&s;tmin&s;ter-hall</HI>) and had much &s;peech with him, he telling me of his own <HI>accord,</HI> that the <HI>people,</HI> many of them of <HI>Wind&s;or,</HI> had brought up <HI>&s;ome nine Articles</HI> to &s;wear and prove them again&s;t me; and that the fir&s;t of them, or at lea&s;t one of them, was this, That I &s;hould affirm, <HI>that I &s;hould be one of them &s;hould judg them at the la&s;t day;</HI> and &s;hould confirm it with this Scripture, <HI>who&s;e &s;ins
<PB N="27" REF="18">ye do remit, they are remitted,</HI> and <HI>who&s;e &s;ins ye do retain, they are retained;</HI> the re&s;idue he could not tell, only he &s;aid, he had <HI>rebuked</HI> them for it, and would not allow them to go on in their purpo&s;e by any means.</P>
<P>The next day not looking for Ma&s;ter <HI>Kind</HI> again, he having no warrant neither heretofore, nor as yet: Yet I found him here, with his <HI>company fortified,</HI> and ready to go on as heretofore, with whom having &s;ome di&s;cour&s;e, after that I had told them, which in effect I had done before; &s;ith they would needs that Mr. <HI>Kind</HI> &s;hould <HI>teach</HI> or <HI>&s;peak</HI> unto them, he having yet no <HI>authority</HI> &s;o to do, I would <HI>de&s;cend</HI> and be willing, that he &s;hould &s;peak one part of the time, in the morning, and I the re&s;t; and &s;o again to do the &s;ame in <HI>love</HI> and <HI>&s;ubmi&s;&s;ion to the Lord in the</HI> afternoon, <HI>and let the truth prevail and have dominion over both:</HI> but this they <HI>would not</HI> (I know) they <HI>dare not, cannot yeeld unto, for though the truth doth not, error doth &s;eek to &s;ecure it &s;elf in a corner, or at lea&s;t with &s;ome outward force,</HI> as <HI>the preaching</HI> and doctrine of this young man <HI>doth.</HI> This day coming into the <HI>Castle,</HI> and &s;eeing the <HI>&s;ouldiers</HI> at the <HI>Guard,</HI> as I pa&s;&s;ed by, I &s;aid, I think I mu&s;t &s;peak the <HI>Word of God</HI> to you, which they <HI>readily accepted,</HI> and after a little while &s;ent for me, by order of the Leivtenant, to the <HI>Chappel;</HI> where I &s;pake about an hour, out of the <HI>third of Luke,</HI> in the which I was much <HI>refre&s;hed,</HI> e|&s;pecially in <HI>memory,</HI> of the <HI>&s;ouldiers readine&s;s to hear the Word of God</HI> at the <HI>beginning</HI> of the&s;e times, above <HI>other men,</HI> of whom I had occa&s;ion to &s;peak from the <HI>Souldiers asking Iohn, And what &s;hall we do?</HI></P>
<P>This la&s;t day, coming as heretofore at the <HI>appointed</HI> time, I found the doors <HI>&s;hut;</HI> our men that will <HI>needs</HI> be called <HI>Church|wardens</HI> pre&s;ent, &s;aid, the time was not <HI>yet,</HI> (but &s;ayd I) you render that for a <HI>cau&s;e,</HI> which is <HI>none,</HI> the <HI>cau&s;e is &s;ure</HI> your <HI>Ex|clu&s;ion of me,</HI> which they could not <HI>deny;</HI> there were many pre&s;ent and much <HI>offended,</HI> e&s;pecially when I told them, that <HI>what they did,</HI> was of the &s;ame <HI>nature,</HI> with that which did <HI>Co|rah, Dathan</HI> and <HI>Abiram;</HI> and taking a&s;ide Mr. <HI>Kind,</HI> told him, That what he did was not well, not <HI>only to break the Command|ments of God</HI> and <HI>man (him&s;elf,)</HI> but even to <HI>teach men &s;o to do,</HI> as indeed he doth; upholding the people in evil and &s;in, both <HI>a|gain&s;t God and his Chri&s;t,</HI> which they in their own <HI>Con&s;ciences</HI> cannot deny.</P>
<PB N="28" REF="19">
<P> Now it is very marvellous, this <HI>evil &s;pirit and power</HI> (thus to the <HI>di&s;honor</HI> of God, and his <HI>most holy Spou&s;e or Church</HI>) &s;hould finde, as they &s;ay, and as it &s;eems it doth, &s;o <HI>great encouragement</HI> and <HI>&s;trengthening,</HI> not only <HI>from hence,</HI> but al&s;o <HI>from el&s;ewhere;</HI> in&s;omuch as they <HI>boa&s;t</HI> of <HI>Committees, Parliament-men,</HI> the <HI>A&s;|&s;embly of Divines,</HI> Mr. <HI>Peters,</HI> the <HI>Governor of our Ca&s;tles ap|probation of them,</HI> the <HI>Lord Whitlocks;</HI> yea I am <HI>confidently</HI> told by Mr. <HI>Cokayn</HI> (that I name not many others of equal, yea of greater note then he) who&s;e word I &s;uppo&s;e we may be|leeve, that this <HI>whole matter, is &s;upported with much endeavor, even by &s;ome of our neighbors at Eaton;</HI> yea I have &s;ome, or rather great <HI>cau&s;e</HI> to <HI>beleeve</HI> it, <HI>for as God is witne&s;s,</HI> whom I &s;erve in the Spirit of him in the Go&s;pel of his Son, they have <HI>withstood</HI> me in the <HI>truth of God,</HI> almo&s;t ever &s;ince they <HI>came in|to the&s;e parts,</HI> having in manner <HI>whi&s;pered me,</HI> and <HI>my many lit|tle young and innocent babes to death, with their lyes</HI> and <HI>fal&s;e reports, and not a few concerning me;</HI> making me <HI>guilty,</HI> and a <HI>tran&s;gre&s;&s;or,</HI> in the things wherein I have been found faithful <HI>to God</HI> and <HI>men:</HI> This I <HI>&s;peak as of nece&s;&s;ity, the truth of God,</HI> for the <HI>vindication of it &s;elf</HI> in <HI>me, forcing me &s;o to do;</HI> that I may &s;ay, as <HI>Crae&s;us &s;on did,</HI> that never &s;poke <HI>before, What, kill my fa|ther! kill and crucifie my Saviour, yea the Saviour of the Land!</HI> which I am <HI>&s;ure</HI> they <HI>have done in me;</HI> they that <HI>beleeve not, may come and &s;ee, as Thomas did,</HI> and <HI>thru&s;t their hands into the wounds made in his &s;ides, for he bleedeth even a|fre&s;h among us,</HI> as it is &s;aid, <HI>they crucified the &s;on of God afre&s;h unto them&s;elves.</HI> This la&s;t Sabboth, the Governor came him|&s;elf into the Ca&s;tle, otherwi&s;e peradventure I might have had opportunity to have &s;poken to the people, and the &s;ouldiers, as before in the Ca&s;tle; but I &s;hall conclude with this wi&s;h, <HI>God have mercy on the power of the Nation,</HI> that they <HI>may not &s;uffer any power of theirs,</HI> much le&s;s any <HI>earthly power oppo&s;ed to theirs,</HI> to <HI>oppo&s;e it &s;elf</HI> again&s;t the <HI>power of God</HI> and his anointed <HI>One our Saviour, Amen, Amen.</HI></P>
<LG>
<L>Quae <HI>tua</HI> &s;unt <HI>facias,</HI> quae <HI>functio</HI> una <HI>requirit</HI></L>
<L><HI>Comittas &s;oli,</HI> Caetera <HI>cuncta Deo.</HI></L>
<L><HI>Thy</HI> duty do, <HI>and Calling</HI> ju&s;t fulfil</L>
<L><HI>In both thee &s;afe keep,</HI> Jah, Jehovah <HI>will.</HI></L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 N="1" TYPE="postscript">
<PB N="29" REF="19">
<HEAD>The fir&s;t Po&s;t&s;cript.</HEAD>
<P>BEing a Tran&s;cript of certain <HI>Letters,</HI> with a double <HI>Prote|&s;tation</HI> made and annexed, for a further <HI>light</HI> to this di&s;|cour&s;e, and mine own <HI>ju&s;t</HI> and <HI>true intent</HI> in it.</P>
<DIV2 TYPE="letter">
<HEAD>A Letter by way of Petition to the <HI>Councel</HI> of <HI>State,</HI> occa&s;ioned, as it doth declare.</HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">To the Right <HI>Honourable</HI> the pre&s;ent <HI>Councel</HI> of <HI>State,</HI> by Authority of <HI>Parliament.</HI></HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Right Honourable,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P><HI>HAving this la&s;t night had intelligence by a</HI> worthy <HI>Mem|ber of this</HI> Councel <HI>of an</HI> information <HI>and</HI> complaint <HI>made again&s;t me by</HI> Col. Whitchcot, <HI>the pre&s;ent Governor of</HI> Wind&s;or <HI>Ca&s;tle, I humbly</HI> beg <HI>to repre&s;ent before you, that I have been in a con&s;tant way of</HI> &s;uffering wrong <HI>from the &s;aid</HI> Governour (<HI>at lea&s;t from him as an</HI> In&s;trument) <HI>as many of</HI> great note, <HI>and &s;ome</HI> de&s;erving <HI>Members of this</HI> Councel <HI>can I am &s;ure</HI> atte&s;t) <HI>even ever &s;ince immediately</HI> before <HI>the</HI> Armies <HI>la&s;t march to</HI> London, <HI>for the</HI> e&s;tabli&s;hment <HI>of the</HI> pre&s;ent power <HI>as now it is, which I pray</HI> God <HI>to continue in</HI> Righteou&s;ne&s;s <HI>and</HI> Peace, <HI>for the</HI> quiet <HI>and</HI> Profit <HI>of the</HI> Common-wealth; <HI>but as</HI> becomes <HI>my Profe&s;&s;ion, I have with</HI> patience <HI>and</HI> &s;ilence <HI>as to</HI> men, <HI>born the</HI> reproach, <HI>and &s;uffered the</HI> wrong, crying yet in my heart to God the mo&s;t righteous judg of all men and actions, to bring forth my righteou&s;ne&s;s, even in the Con&s;cience of mine accu&s;er, <HI>and</HI> this Nation, <HI>which</HI> I am confident <HI>he will now do</HI> before you, <HI>he having given the occa&s;ion.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Wherefore I mo&s;t humbly</HI> implore <HI>the</HI> Almighty God, <HI>who&s;e</HI> pre&s;ence <HI>is with you, that according to the</HI> wi&s;dom given you from above, <HI>you may</HI> go down <HI>after</HI> his example <HI>into a narrow</HI> view, <HI>and</HI> &s;earch <HI>after the</HI> nature <HI>and</HI> ground <HI>of this</HI> complaint, for the like hath not <HI>yet</HI> come before you, <HI>that it may be as a</HI> &s;ign <HI>to the</HI> Nation, <HI>which I heartily wi&s;h in the</HI> fir&s;t year <HI>of your</HI> Commi&s;&s;ion, <HI>that there is in you of that</HI> wi&s;dom of God <HI>was &s;ometimes in</HI> Solomon, <HI>the fir&s;t year of his</HI> Reign, <HI>to that</HI> intent <HI>and</HI> purpo&s;e, <HI>that as he</HI> was to that, <HI>you may appear to be de&s;ign'd</HI> of God <HI>(by righteous judgment) to give to</HI> this Nation re&s;t <HI>in</HI> Righteou&s;ne&s;s, Peace <HI>and</HI> Plenty, <HI>&s;o prays</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Your Petitioner to <HI>God</HI> for you. <HI>ROBERT BACON.</HI></SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="letter">
<PB N="30" REF="20">
<HEAD>A Letter to the Lievtenant General, now his Excellency the Lord <HI>General Cromwel</HI> (who&s;e <HI>favour</HI> I humbly <HI>beg</HI> in the <HI>pub|lication</HI> of it, being nothing at all to his <HI>di&s;honour</HI>) occa&s;ioned as the Contents do declare.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>SIR,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P><HI>THe</HI> light <HI>of the</HI> Lord <HI>be your</HI> guide, <HI>to</HI> lead <HI>you into tho&s;e</HI> ways <HI>that</HI> conduce <HI>to his</HI> glory, <HI>the</HI> Kingdoms good, <HI>and your own</HI> internal-eternal peace <HI>and</HI> re&s;t <HI>in</HI> Chri&s;t, Amen.</P>
<P><HI>The last night, being</HI> April 30. <HI>the two late</HI> Captains <HI>of this</HI> Ca&s;tle, Robin&s;on <HI>and</HI> Beale, <HI>came and repre&s;ented to me the ground of their</HI> remove <HI>hence, as</HI> your &s;elf <HI>(they &s;ay)</HI> declared <HI>it. Now becau&s;e I am al&s;o under the</HI> &s;ame, <HI>or a greater</HI> charge, <HI>as they</HI> report, <HI>I undertake with your</HI> leave <HI>and their</HI> reque&s;t <HI>to lay the</HI> matter <HI>of my</HI> accu&s;ation, <HI>and my own</HI> clearing <HI>of my &s;elf be|fore you,</HI> though the Lord will clear me; <HI>that is,</HI> his own truth and image in me: <HI>for</HI> nothing el&s;e do I de&s;ire to vindicate, the innocency of which mu&s;t and will appear: <HI>there be two par|ticulars, I under&s;tand, in order to the late remove</HI> charged <HI>on me, I think he mentioned Mr.</HI> Lockier <HI>was the man po&s;&s;est you with it; The fir&s;t was mine adhering to the</HI> Parliament-men pri&s;oners <HI>here. The &s;econd my</HI> provoking <HI>the</HI> Souldiers <HI>to take the Castle</HI> for them. <HI>Sir, I am not in the lea&s;t mea&s;ure, through the</HI> grace <HI>of</HI> God, <HI>&s;o much as inclining to any &s;uch</HI> thing, <HI>but do altogether</HI> abominate <HI>the endeavour both of the</HI> one <HI>and the</HI> other. <HI>The</HI> Lord <HI>is</HI> witne&s;s <HI>how I</HI> &s;uffered, <HI>and was</HI> oppre&s;&s;ed <HI>by the</HI> late Presbyterian power <HI>&s;o called, which</HI> yoak <HI>was by you, as a</HI> princi|pal in&s;trument <HI>in the hand</HI> of God, <HI>broken in</HI> peeces, <HI>I &s;uppo&s;e to the</HI> joy <HI>of all</HI> good men. <HI>And therefore I cannot be in</HI> rea&s;on thought <HI>to</HI> promote <HI>that which indeed I waited</HI> upon God to remove: <HI>concerning the</HI> per&s;ons <HI>of tho&s;e</HI> pri&s;oners <HI>I never had &s;peech</HI> with them <HI>but</HI> once, <HI>and that was not for above half a quarter of an hour, meeting them in the yard: Cancerning the provoking of the</HI> Souldiery <HI>to any kind of</HI> de&s;ign what&s;oever, <HI>it is to me a very great</HI> marvel, <HI>there &s;hould be any &s;uch</HI> &s;ugge&s;tions; <HI>but</HI> that this is not &s;trange to me, <HI>what our</HI> Saviour <HI>&s;ays,</HI> they &s;hall &s;peak all manner of evil again&s;t you fal&s;ly, for my names &s;ake: <HI>this hath been my</HI> lot <HI>from the</HI> Bi&s;hops, Presbyters, <HI>and now</HI> la&s;t <HI>beyond all</HI> thought <HI>by &s;ome of</HI> them commonly <HI>ca&s;t'd</HI> Independents. <HI>There are of your own</HI> Family, <HI>I &s;uppo&s;e, can give &s;ome</HI> te&s;timony <HI>concerning me;</HI> but I &s;eek not the te&s;timony of men, God will witne&s;s for me, as he is witne&s;s in me; that as in
<PB N="31" REF="20">the fear of God, with all good Con&s;cience both towards him and men, I have behav'd my &s;elf in this place, &s;eeking by all means in publique and in private to advance the te&s;timony of the coming of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t in faith and love, waiting for the effect and fruit of it in peace. <HI>Truly Sir, I have prayed unto the</HI> Lord, <HI>and to that</HI> I pre&s;s, <HI>that there might be no more</HI> war in the Land, <HI>and therefore</HI> would <HI>that every man (I would be an</HI> example therein, <HI>as well as a</HI> Preacher thereof <HI>to others) would begin to</HI> war again&s;t him&s;elf, <HI>which I am</HI> &s;ure <HI>would make the</HI> other war <HI>&s;oon to</HI> cea&s;e. <HI>You have it</HI> likewi&s;e <HI>(they &s;ay) and not only upon</HI> report, <HI>for</HI> your &s;elf (<HI>they</HI> &s;ay, <HI>you</HI> &s;ay) <HI>have been a</HI> hearer of me, <HI>that I</HI> &s;eem to deny all Ordinances, <HI>yea they &s;ay the</HI> very Scri|ptures. <HI>Truly Sir, it is not what you</HI> &s;ay, <HI>or what others</HI> report, <HI>but what is, that I mu&s;t have</HI> e&s;tabli&s;hment in. <HI>By the</HI> Ordinan|ces <HI>I under&s;tand the</HI> Commands of God, <HI>that</HI> concern my &s;elf, <HI>which whiles in his</HI> power <HI>I</HI> &s;ubmit to; <HI>I</HI> judg my &s;elf one of them through grace that keeps the Ordinances of God: <HI>But it may be</HI> &s;ome <HI>call their own</HI> inventions <HI>and</HI> Idolls <HI>by that</HI> name, <HI>as you know the</HI> Jews <HI>did; And &s;uch like</HI> Phari&s;ees <HI>there</HI> be now not a few: <HI>But that I may be</HI> calumniated <HI>to &s;ome</HI> purpo&s;e, 'tis <HI>&s;aid, I deny the</HI> Scriptures. <HI>Truly Sir, there be many in</HI> words confe&s;s them, but in life and deed deny them: <HI>I find of tho&s;e, that will</HI> needs be offended with me, <HI>even whether I</HI> will <HI>or</HI> no, <HI>that</HI> &s;ay <HI>the</HI> Scriptures <HI>are the</HI> word of God; <HI>but I ble&s;s</HI> God <HI>I</HI> know <HI>them to be</HI> &s;o, <HI>becau&s;e I find the</HI> effect <HI>and</HI> tenor <HI>of</HI> them <HI>in</HI> my &s;elf. <HI>And I am</HI> confident <HI>others</HI> find <HI>and</HI> feel <HI>the &s;ame in</HI> my word, life <HI>and</HI> Conver&s;ation, <HI>and therefore are offended with</HI> me, <HI>as tho&s;e of the</HI> like &s;pirit <HI>have been</HI> heretofore. <HI>Sir, how I have in my heart prayed to</HI> God for you, <HI>is</HI> &s;ecret alone to him before whom all is open. <HI>Yea</HI> what joy I have had in you, <HI>he</HI> only knows; <HI>but</HI> now <HI>I</HI> fear, <HI>I</HI> fear, I fear, <HI>you are like to be, if not</HI> alrea|dy, en&s;nared of the world <HI>and</HI> men. <HI>Our Saviour</HI> &s;ays, beware of men: <HI>Your</HI> name, power <HI>and</HI> prowe&s;s <HI>have drawn all</HI> mens eyes upon you; &s;ome, <HI>and &s;urely of</HI> that Company you <HI>will find the</HI> mo&s;t, <HI>will not only</HI> act <HI>as you would have</HI> them, (<HI>to get your</HI> favour, <HI>and thereby</HI> honour <HI>and</HI> wealth;) <HI>but over-act</HI> your will <HI>and</HI> Commands <HI>to your</HI> prejudice <HI>and</HI> di&s;honour: <HI>this</HI> upon my life will be the effect of the late complaint from <HI>Wind&s;or,</HI> if you countenance or connive at it. <HI>There be</HI> others <HI>have their</HI> eyes <HI>and</HI> hearts too, <HI>towards</HI> you; <HI>but it is in the way of</HI> pitying of
<PB N="32" REF="21">you,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">I have always <HI>thought</HI> men in <HI>high place</HI> (&s;ith <HI>high pla|ces</HI> are <HI>&s;lippery places</HI>) have more <HI>need</HI> of <HI>pity</HI> and <HI>prayer</HI> then <HI>applau&s;e.</HI></NOTE> <HI>and</HI> praying <HI>for you, being forc't to &s;tand aloof from</HI> you <HI>though the</HI> reproaches ca&s;t on them, <HI>and the</HI> prejudices had a|gain&s;t them, <HI>of which</HI> &s;ort of men, <HI>I could name not</HI> a few, who&s;e coun&s;el would be (<HI>I &s;peak</HI> what <HI>I</HI> know) <HI>the</HI> Councel of God to you. <HI>Sir, I be&s;eech you, do not think</HI> therefore <HI>all is</HI> well <HI>with</HI> you, <HI>becau&s;e</HI> all <HI>about</HI> you applaud your &s;ayings <HI>and</HI> doings; <HI>many</HI> mighty Emperors <HI>and</HI> potent Kings, <HI>have</HI> been undone this way.</P>
<P><HI>I could name a</HI> third &s;ort <HI>of</HI> men, <HI>that look upon you only with an</HI> eye of envy: <HI>again&s;t this kind of</HI> enchantment, <HI>an</HI> evil eye, <HI>there's no better</HI> antidote, <HI>then the</HI> true fear and knowledg of God, <HI>(i.e.) a</HI> union with him, <HI>again&s;t</HI> whom <HI>all</HI> conte&s;ts mu&s;t needs be in vain. <HI>Sir, The&s;e things I have written</HI> as to the Lord, <HI>to whom not in all things to</HI> approve my &s;elf, <HI>I know no</HI> greater <HI>or</HI> wor&s;er death: <HI>I</HI> live not, <HI>unle&s;s</HI> the Lord live in me, <HI>whereby I become</HI> his, and</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><HI>Your &s;ervant, for</HI> his Sons &s;ake <HI>Rob. Bacon.</HI></SIGNED> <DATELINE>Wind&s;or Ca&s;tle <DATE>May 1. 1649.</DATE></DATELINE>
<POSTSCRIPT>
<P>Po&s;cript, If you neglect to <HI>clear us,</HI> and give a right judgment in the <HI>thing,</HI> God him&s;elf will <HI>do it,</HI> and our <HI>reproachers &s;hall be a&s;hamed.</HI></P>
</POSTSCRIPT></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="letter">
<HEAD>A Letter to the <HI>Governor,</HI> after that he had threatned me, fir&s;t to <HI>depart the Ca&s;tle,</HI> &s;econdly that he would <HI>&s;hut the Church doors</HI> again&s;t me, as indeed, he afterwards did.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Honorable Sir,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>I <HI>would not</HI> offend <HI>any man, much le&s;s</HI> you, lea&s;t of all <HI>the</HI> pre|&s;ent power <HI>and</HI> authority <HI>of the</HI> Nation, <HI>yet you are</HI> offend|ed <HI>with me, and go about to</HI> &s;u&s;pect <HI>me, and to</HI> deal <HI>with me as an</HI> enemy, <HI>not only unto</HI> you, <HI>but to the</HI> Nation; <HI>And &s;o</HI> by you, <HI>am I put into this</HI> condition, <HI>not to be in</HI> expectation <HI>of any fur|ther</HI> likelihood <HI>of</HI> &s;ub&s;i&s;tance <HI>in the</HI> Land; <HI>The Lord</HI> forgive you this wrong you do me, <HI>and my whole</HI> enlarged <HI>family; but this I am</HI> prepared <HI>through the</HI> grace of God <HI>to</HI> &s;u&s;tain, <HI>and much
<PB N="33" REF="21">more, even to</HI> death <HI>and</HI> bonds <HI>for the</HI> Go&s;pel &s;ake; <HI>for which I am under &s;o great</HI> contempt with you: <HI>If I have offended you upon</HI> any other <HI>account, why do you not</HI> deal <HI>with me</HI> according|ly? <HI>but it &s;eems nothing</HI> troubles you, <HI>but my</HI> preaching <HI>and</HI> te&s;timony, <HI>which yet is not</HI> mine, <HI>but the</HI> te&s;timony of Chri&s;t him&s;elf. <HI>And therefore on that behalf I am</HI> exceeding glad; <HI>for &s;o</HI> per&s;ecuted <HI>they the</HI> Apo&s;tles <HI>and</HI> Prophets <HI>that were of</HI> old. <HI>Sir, I</HI> adjure <HI>you before the</HI> living God, <HI>and</HI> tho&s;e that promote the &s;ame thing with you, before whom you &s;hall be accountable within a very little while, <HI>whether this</HI> Engagement <HI>and</HI> endea|vour <HI>again&s;t me be not rather to</HI> fulfil your will, <HI>and</HI> &s;atisfie your lu&s;t, <HI>then for to</HI> plea&s;e <HI>and &s;erve the</HI> State thereby. <HI>That it to the</HI> former, <HI>and not the</HI> latter, <HI>will be made apparent to every</HI> under|&s;tanding <HI>wi&s;e</HI> Chri&s;tian <HI>man, and that thus you are doing</HI> nothing now, <HI>but what you with</HI> others <HI>have been</HI> endeavouring <HI>ever &s;ince before the</HI> Armies <HI>la&s;t march to</HI> London; <HI>and that by</HI> &s;undry means <HI>and</HI> ways, <HI>as will be made</HI> evident; <HI>&s;o that this is but</HI> idem agere, <HI>hoping you have an</HI> opportunity <HI>to effect</HI> that now, <HI>which you &s;ought then, though upon other</HI> grounds: <HI>But as for the</HI> latter, <HI>it cannot be; for</HI> God is witne&s;s again&s;t you, <HI>and</HI> will be witne&s;s to them, the pre&s;ent power, <HI>as</HI> he <HI>is</HI> in me, <HI>that you do them</HI> great di&s;-&s;ervice; <HI>for what do you el&s;e</HI> hereby, <HI>but make them, as much as in you is, like</HI> your &s;elf, offenders with that which is good? <HI>&s;o that you</HI> deba&s;e, <HI>and as much as in you is,</HI> hinder what they profe&s;s to promote, the free and open preaching of the Go&s;pel; <HI>and</HI> no other Go&s;pel <HI>is</HI> there, <HI>or can be</HI> preacht, <HI>then that which</HI> is, <HI>and hath</HI> been <HI>by me,</HI> unworthy in this place: <HI>this I &s;peak, as not</HI> prejudicing tho&s;e <HI>that give out the</HI> &s;ame te&s;timony <HI>with me;</HI> for the way of life and peace is but one, one Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><HI>Sir, as being in a great</HI> &s;traite <HI>betwixt</HI> God <HI>and</HI> mine own heart <HI>in order to your</HI> Command, <HI>which is as to</HI> acceptance <HI>of the world a</HI> pre&s;ent &s;nare <HI>upon me, I would be</HI> &s;atisfied <HI>by &s;ome</HI> te&s;ti|mony <HI>of</HI> Scripture, <HI>as a</HI> Ca&s;e of Con&s;cience <HI>by</HI> Mr. Simonds, <HI>or</HI> Mr. Batchiler, <HI>or any</HI> other, whether in this point I can be any ways warranted to &s;it in &s;ilence to morrow, notwith&s;tanding your Command. <HI>And that for the&s;e</HI> cau&s;es; <HI>fir&s;t, for that I</HI> te&s;ti|fie no other <HI>thing, then that which did the</HI> Prophets and Apo&s;tles, <HI>and</HI> Chri&s;t him&s;elf; <HI>If I do, or have done</HI> otherwi&s;e, <HI>let it be made to appear by the</HI> oppo&s;ers <HI>and</HI> deniers <HI>of</HI> it. <HI>Secondly, as
<PB N="34" REF="22">for this</HI> publick place <HI>and</HI> liberty, <HI>with all</HI> thankfulne&s;s <HI>I</HI> acknow|ledge, <HI>I have for it the</HI> pre&s;ent Authority <HI>of the</HI> Nation, <HI>as you know, and did</HI> your &s;elf con&s;ent to, and promote, <HI>and they have not as I know</HI> revok'd <HI>the &s;ame; whether</HI> your will, <HI>or</HI> their Or|der <HI>ought, by me to be</HI> bowed down to, <HI>I have</HI> con&s;ulted with God <HI>in mine</HI> own heart, <HI>and the</HI> te&s;timony <HI>of the</HI> Scripture, <HI>and the</HI> practi&s;e of believing men, <HI>that in</HI> obedience to God, <HI>e|&s;pecially having too for it,</HI> the Authority of men uncontradicted, <HI>&s;aving by your</HI> only word, <HI>I find my &s;elf</HI> nece&s;&s;itated, <HI>though in the mid&s;t of</HI> many temptations <HI>as to the</HI> outward man, <HI>to go on as in</HI> times pa&s;t <HI>in</HI> publick, <HI>unle&s;s I am</HI> hindred <HI>by your</HI> outward force: <HI>to which I &s;hall</HI> willingly yield my &s;elf a Captive <HI>in</HI> this ca&s;e, <HI>even</HI> one <HI>in</HI> bonds <HI>for</HI> the Go&s;pel. <HI>In which</HI> Captivity <HI>I &s;hall have more</HI> freedom <HI>then mine</HI> oppo&s;ers. <HI>Sir,</HI> hearken to the &s;ecret word of God in your heart; <HI>And be</HI> not offended with him, as you are cau&s;le&s;ly, <HI>who is, Sir,</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>A true <HI>Lover</HI> and <HI>Servant</HI> of <HI>you,</HI> but in <HI>the Lord,</HI> ROBERT BACON.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="letter">
<HEAD>This Letter was pen'd (I &s;uppo&s;e by Mr. <HI>Bachiler,</HI>) and &s;ent by Mr. <HI>Mills</HI> in the name of the Town to Mr. <HI>Holland.</HI></HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Honoured Sir,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P><HI>WIth all re&s;pects and thankfulne&s;s returned you for that</HI> great <HI>care and</HI> unwearied pains taken for us in that which is (and &s;hould be) <HI>the</HI> chiefe&s;t means of our happine&s;s, the planting of the preaching of the Go&s;pel of Je&s;us Chri&s;t among&s;t us, <HI>and your procuring for us towards it</HI> 50 l. per annum <HI>from the Committee of plundred Mini&s;ters, out of the Dean and Ca|nons Lands of</HI> Wind&s;or, <HI>in this Borough of new</HI> Wind&s;or: <HI>we further imbolden our &s;elves upon you the</HI> only In&s;trument, whom God in his good providence hath pre&s;erved to forward &s;o glorious a work; <HI>And do give you a &s;hort account of our en|deavours and proceedings therein: we had an eye upon Mr.</HI> Sy|monds <HI>of</HI> Holland, <HI>and made it our bu&s;ine&s;s to have brought him to this place; but God hath otherwi&s;e ordered, fir&s;t him, and then our &s;elves.</HI> Providence, after our longing de&s;ires to &s;ettle
<PB N="35" REF="22">this work of the Go&s;pel in this Town of <HI>Wind&s;or,</HI> hath ordered, that Mr. <HI>Robert Bacon,</HI> Ma&s;ter of Arts, coming to &s;upply the
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Being in|deed of him to that intent <HI>in|vited</HI> there.</NOTE> room of Mr. <HI>Bachiler in the Ca&s;tle,</HI> where he being well ap|proved of, and well known; <HI>&s;ome ten days pa&s;t</HI> we made our de|&s;ires known unto him, to preach al&s;o in the Town this la&s;t Lords day: &s;o that not only that good report we have had of him, but al|&s;o that experience we now have of his &s;ound Orthodox judge|ment <HI>in</HI> the truth of Je&s;us Chri&s;t, preached unto us, confirmeth us of his ability and worth; &s;o that <HI>we meeting together upon the debate of the whole bu&s;ine&s;s,</HI> he is made choice to be (nemine contradicente) the Mini&s;ter to preach in the Pari&s;h-Church twice every week, <HI>viz. once on the Lords day</HI>
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">There being then a <HI>Vicar</HI> in being.</NOTE> <HI>and once in the week-days, and hope to rai&s;e this</HI> 50 l. you have &s;o honourably procured for the work to
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">The fifth part yet, I &s;carce ever had there, in any &s;uch way.</NOTE> 50 l. more, by our voluntary &s;ub&s;crip|tions. <HI>Therefore we reque&s;t you further, to perfect this work for us, and to pre&s;ent him to the Committee of plundred Mini&s;ters, that they may accordingly appoint him to be the per&s;on to offici|ate in this Pari&s;h-Church, according to their Order of the</HI> 23. <HI>of Jan. la&s;t; and that al&s;o you will be plea&s;ed to obtain for us the continuance of the yearly payment of</HI> 50 l. <HI>from the &s;aid Com|mittee; for which and all</HI> your faithful and continued care and re&s;pects of us in the &s;aving of &s;ouls, the Lord multiply ble&s;&s;ings upon you, <HI>which are the earne&s;t de&s;ires and prayers of,</HI></P>
<CLOSER><SALUTE>Sir,</SALUTE> <SIGNED>Your very thankful loving friends to &s;erve you,
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>Chri&s;topher Whitchcot.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Charles Burges,</HI> Mayor.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>John Spen&s;er.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Math: Day.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Rob. Bennet.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>George Starkey.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Baker.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Redding.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>William Botterel.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Will: Mills.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Will: Church.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Andrew Plumpton.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Chapman.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></SIGNED>
<DATELINE><HI>Wind&s;or Ca&s;tle</HI> <DATE>the 13. <HI>of April,</HI> 1647.</DATE></DATELINE>
<POSTSCRIPT>
<P>The Copy of the Order of the Committee, we have &s;ent you now by Mr. <HI>Mills,</HI> who is fur|ther to wait upon you, concerning the Pre|mi&s;&s;es.</P>
</POSTSCRIPT></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="protestation">
<PB N="36" REF="23">
<HEAD>The first Protestation.</HEAD>
<ARGUMENT>
<P>An humble and true <HI>Te&s;timony</HI> or <HI>Prote&s;tation</HI> con|cerning the <HI>manner</HI> and <HI>end</HI> of my <HI>Conver&s;ation,</HI>
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Octob 7th. 1649.</NOTE> (as el&s;e-where) &s;o &s;ince I came to <HI>Wind&s;or,</HI> which I was <HI>nece&s;sitated</HI> to give, and read this day in the Congregation, for the <HI>&s;ilencing</HI> (if it may be) of the <HI>hearts</HI> and <HI>minds</HI> of all that <HI>conceive evil of me.</HI></P>
</ARGUMENT>
<P><HI>HAving been</HI> conver&s;ant <HI>the &s;pace of two years, or thereabouts at</HI> Wind&s;or, <HI>by the</HI> Authority <HI>of</HI> Par|liament, <HI>and the</HI> importunity <HI>and</HI> de&s;ire <HI>of many of the chief of the Inhabitants of that place, as the</HI> Go|vernour <HI>Col. Whitchcot,</HI> the Mayor <HI>that then was, Mr.</HI> Day <HI>a Ju&s;tice of Peace for the Town, Sir Robert Bennet</HI> &s;ince dead, <HI>Mr. Mills, Mr. Cleaver &s;ince dead, Mr.</HI> Ba|chiler, Chaplain <HI>then to the</HI> Gari&s;on, <HI>Mr.</HI> Beake, <HI>Dr.</HI> Spen&s;er, <HI>Mr.</HI> Redding <HI>and others.</HI> I have all this while (as God &s;hall bear me witne&s;s at the great day of his appearing) minded, de&s;igned, pro&s;ecuted, &s;ought <HI>to</HI> magnifie, <HI>and</HI> bring forth, <HI>into the</HI> hearts, lives, <HI>and</HI> Conver&s;ations <HI>of all</HI> &s;orts <HI>and Sexes</HI> of <HI>per&s;ons,</HI> no other matter <HI>or</HI> thing what&s;oever, <HI>then the</HI> pure <HI>and</HI> naked te&s;timony <HI>of the</HI> coming <HI>of</HI> our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, <HI>for the</HI> Reconciliation <HI>of</HI> men <HI>to</HI> God, <HI>and</HI> one <HI>to</HI> another <HI>in</HI> him, <HI>that there</HI> might be peace on earth, <HI>as there is</HI> good will <HI>in</HI> God, <HI>and tho&s;e that are</HI> born of him, <HI>to</HI> men. <HI>Neither do</HI> I know, <HI>or</HI> &s;hall <HI>hereafter through the</HI> Grace <HI>of</HI> God, de&s;ign, <HI>or</HI> pur&s;ue, <HI>any</HI> other <HI>thing.</HI> So help me God.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>ROBERT BACON.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="protestation">
<PB N="37" REF="23">
<ARGUMENT>
<P>A &s;econd <HI>Prote&s;tation</HI> made in <HI>&s;ecret</HI> before the <HI>Lord,</HI> and put thereupon in <HI>writing,</HI> and now <HI>publi&s;hed,</HI> as much as in <HI>me is,</HI> for a <HI>remora,</HI> or <HI>let</HI> to the <HI>flowing in of evil</HI> in the Land, that I, and as many as <HI>the Lord our God &s;hall call,</HI> may not be <HI>overtaken,</HI> or <HI>o|verwhelm'd</HI> therewith; in the <HI>which,</HI> doubtle&s;s <HI>there be</HI> to whom <HI>this</HI> &s;hall <HI>come,</HI> will with the like <HI>readi|ne&s;s,</HI> and upon the <HI>like ground</HI>
<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">I mean, <HI>vow to God and keep it;</HI> for there be a <HI>people,</HI> that are <HI>able</HI> &s;o to <HI>do.</HI></NOTE> do, and <HI>&s;ome o|thers</HI> have done.</P>
</ARGUMENT>
<EPIGRAPH>
<Q>Gather my <HI>Saints</HI> together <HI>unto me, tho&s;e</HI> that have made a <HI>Covenant</HI> with <HI>me</HI> by <HI>&s;acrifice,</HI> <BIBL>P&s;al. 50.</BIBL></Q>
</EPIGRAPH>
<P>I Do hereby <HI>promi&s;e</HI> and <HI>prote&s;t,</HI> that by the <HI>help of God Almighty,</HI> and the <HI>obedience</HI> and <HI>grace</HI> of his <HI>on|ly Son, revealed in me</HI> in &s;ome <HI>mea&s;ure,</HI> through his mo&s;t <HI>holy Spirit</HI> of <HI>light, life,</HI> and <HI>love,</HI> in <HI>all</HI> things <HI>uprightly</HI> to <HI>demean my &s;elf,</HI> both <HI>towards God, inwardly revealed in me;</HI> and <HI>man, outwardly ap|pearing</HI> unto <HI>me;</HI> according to the mo&s;t <HI>holy Law,</HI> and <HI>will</HI> of <HI>God,</HI> as it hath <HI>been,</HI> and <HI>is witne&s;&s;ed</HI> unto, by the <HI>Scriptures</HI> of <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> and the <HI>Prophets,</HI> by <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> and his Apo&s;tles, and the <HI>remnant</HI> of the <HI>Seed</HI> of <HI>A|braham,</HI> that are <HI>till now,</HI> the <HI>ble&s;sing</HI> of all <HI>Generations:</HI> To this of a <HI>ready mind,</HI> in the <HI>hope</HI> of <HI>eternal life</HI> in <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> I <HI>&s;ub&s;cribe</HI> my <HI>name,</HI> together with the <HI>re&s;t</HI> of tho&s;e are <HI>made willing</HI> in this <HI>day</HI> of <HI>Gods Grace</HI> and <HI>Power,</HI> Amen.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>ROBERT BACON.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 N="2" TYPE="postscript">
<PB N="38" REF="24">
<P>The &s;econd Po&s;t&s;cript, touching a report with <HI>great confidence</HI> given out by one of our now <HI>Neighbours</HI> at <HI>Eaton,</HI> not any of the <HI>fellows,</HI> but <HI>one</HI> who&s;e <HI>abiding</HI> is there among them; con|cerning <HI>whom</HI> I will only &s;ay this, that he being a <HI>Companion,</HI> and a daily <HI>guest there,</HI> as well as their <HI>Tenant;</HI> yea, not only a <HI>fellow-Member,</HI> but of late, in the great City an <HI>Elder</HI> of a <HI>&s;e|lect Church and Congregation:</HI> it hath been to me of a <HI>very &s;ad</HI> and <HI>lamentable import,</HI> that after all the&s;e <HI>pretences,</HI> no better <HI>fruit</HI> then the <HI>cau&s;le&s;s and mo&s;t unju&s;t reproach of his Neighbor, again&s;t the mind of the whole Law of God, &s;hould be yielded of &s;o eminent a plant</HI> as <HI>he would &s;eem to be:</HI> truly it minded me of the <HI>Text</HI> I of late heard the new <HI>conduct on, there, Cut it down, why cumbreth it the ground?</HI> for certainly the ground that bringeth forth <HI>nought,</HI> as <HI>&s;aith the Apo&s;tle,</HI> but <HI>Bryars</HI> and <HI>Thorns,</HI> is <HI>near unto cur&s;ing,</HI> yea it is <HI>even cur&s;ed al|ready.</HI></P>
<P>This Gentleman hath had &s;ome 3. or 4. particular things of <HI>offence</HI> to <HI>charge</HI> me with, which he did not at all in <HI>private</HI> o|pen unto me, according to a <HI>Rule</HI> they pretend to demean them|&s;elves in things of this <HI>Nature by,</HI> but in the <HI>pre&s;ence</HI> of <HI>divers,</HI> e&s;pecially one whom he knew had &s;ome <HI>re&s;pect</HI> unto <HI>me;</HI> for which he &s;eems to be not alittle <HI>offended, upbraiding him of it, as an evil &s;carce to be allowed,</HI> rendring for his rea&s;on in general, <HI>his countenancing</HI> not <HI>only here, but appearing openly in</HI> Lon|don, on <HI>the behalf of one, that though he &s;eemed (&s;aid he) to walk according to rule, yet he is indeed a very great &s;educer, and a marvellous let to all good in this place:</HI> which when he under&s;tood to be &s;poken of me, and that with great heat, he told him that he &s;hould take time to <HI>con&s;ider</HI> of it, but could not for the pre&s;ent give <HI>credit</HI> to it, unle&s;s he &s;hould <HI>under&s;tand more</HI> then ever he could <HI>believe</HI> concerning me <HI>hitherto.</HI></P>
<P>The fir&s;t was this, That I &s;hould borrow <HI>Col. Okeys Hor&s;e</HI> &s;ometimes, and when I had it in my <HI>Cu&s;tody,</HI> &s;hould go with it into <HI>Smithfield,</HI> to <HI>&s;ell</HI> it <HI>there.</HI></P>
<P>The &s;econd was this, That I &s;hould be <HI>pre&s;ent</HI> where I &s;aw a <HI>man</HI> in <HI>bed</HI> with another mans Wife.</P>
<P>The third, That Mrs. <HI>Ceenee</HI> &s;ometimes <HI>lodged</HI> at my hou&s;e.</P>
<P>The fourth and the la&s;t, that no man can tell that hears me, whether I will &s;peak from, or of <HI>God,</HI> or the <HI>Devil.</HI></P>
<P>All the&s;e were named of him with this profe&s;&s;ion, that he
<PB N="39" REF="24">would make proof of them, telling it him, as glad to have &s;ome|what of this nature to report of me.</P>
<P N="1">1. Now as touching <HI>Col. Okey,</HI> I &s;carce ever had any &s;peech with him, &s;ave only once, he &s;poke to me at <HI>Slow</HI> going to meet the Lord General coming out of <HI>Ireland.</HI></P>
<P N="2">2. As concerning his <HI>Hor&s;e, I</HI> never borrowed any of him, <HI>he</HI> and the <HI>Lord knows.</HI></P>
<P N="3">3. Yet I will not deny, but being in <HI>Glocester,</HI> I came to <HI>London</HI> upon a <HI>Hor&s;e</HI> which <HI>Colonel Okeys Wife</HI> &s;aid was <HI>hers.</HI></P>
<P N="4">4. This Hor&s;e <HI>Col. Ma&s;&s;ie,</HI> now <HI>pri&s;oner</HI> in the <HI>Tower,</HI> when he &s;eized on me with &s;ome 16. of his Troop, ordered for my u&s;e in this <HI>Journey,</HI> which as I <HI>did not,</HI> &s;o I had no <HI>cau&s;e</HI> to take no|tice of, who&s;e it <HI>was,</HI> being his <HI>pri&s;oner,</HI> and &s;o <HI>wholly</HI> in this <HI>bu|&s;ine&s;s pa&s;&s;ive.</HI></P>
<P N="5">5. This Hor&s;e <HI>trotting</HI> altogether, I road not on till I came to <HI>Warwick,</HI> being till then in the cu&s;tody of the <HI>Corporal,</HI> and one <HI>Trooper, two mo&s;t hone&s;t and Chri&s;tian men,</HI> riding till then on the Corporalls Hor&s;e, and he riding on that appointed for me, both which did of their <HI>own minds offer</HI> and <HI>endeavour</HI> to <HI>exchange</HI> it <HI>for me,</HI> that I might have one more <HI>ea&s;ie,</HI> nothing &s;u&s;pecting, but that it had been the Governours <HI>own,</HI> who had done me all this wrong, which ten Hor&s;es could not give me re|paration for.</P>
<P N="6">6. <HI>Col. Ma&s;&s;ie</HI> did him&s;elf before the <HI>Committee,</HI> promi&s;e to <HI>accommodate</HI> me <HI>well,</HI> and with a good Hor&s;e, to <HI>London.</HI></P>
<P N="7">7. This <HI>Hor&s;e,</HI> as I have heard, as well as <HI>the&s;e men,</HI> were the <HI>States;</HI> for <HI>whom,</HI> and in who&s;e <HI>cau&s;e,</HI> I had &s;uffered great <HI>lo&s;s</HI> before at <HI>Bri&s;tol.</HI></P>
<P N="8">8. This matter is fully enough &s;poken to in a <HI>Book</HI> I writ of that relation of my <HI>&s;ufferings,</HI> &amp; wrong I &s;u&s;tained in that <HI>place,</HI> Mr. <HI>Bachiler</HI> giving a ready, and full <HI>approbation</HI> of it, being the then <HI>Licen&s;er of Books.</HI></P>
<P N="9">9. When this Book and &s;uffering was, I was then ju&s;tified of the <HI>Independents</HI> (&s;o call'd) as an <HI>Independent;</HI> but many of them have &s;een cau&s;e to do &s;ince, more <HI>unwarrantably,</HI> what they then condemned the <HI>Presbyter</HI> for, whence it is my <HI>lot</HI> to <HI>&s;uffer</HI> under <HI>&s;ome of them,</HI> as I did of <HI>their Fathers</HI> that <HI>went before;</HI> I mean tho&s;e, whether <HI>Prelatical,</HI> or <HI>Presbyterian,</HI> of <HI>like &s;pirit</HI> with them.</P>
<P N="10"><PB N="40" REF="25"> 10. This Hor&s;e I refu&s;ed in <HI>London</HI> to <HI>deliver</HI> at the fir&s;t challenge to Mrs. <HI>Okey,</HI> as I had cau&s;e to do; neither did I deli|ver it, &s;he being a &s;tranger to me, till I had an Order from the <HI>Captain-Lievtenant</HI> under <HI>Col. Ma&s;&s;ey</HI> &s;o to do: which when I <HI>&s;aw,</HI> &s;he had her <HI>Hor&s;e,</HI> as &s;he de&s;ired.</P>
<P N="11">11. This Charge was in particular once al&s;o brought again&s;t me by my loving <HI>Neighbor</HI> Mr. <HI>Bachiler,</HI> who had him&s;elf ju|&s;tified me, and the thing, in the book he <HI>licen&s;ed;</HI> but indeed I was then <HI>related</HI> to my Honoured <HI>Lord Say,</HI> and he a <HI>man</HI> then of <HI>great power,</HI> and Mr. <HI>Bachiler</HI> was not yet <HI>fellow of Ea|ton,</HI> nor had as yet by a <HI>full Table</HI> left off, <HI>tru&s;ting in God;</HI> for from his <HI>own mouth</HI> it came, (as God is witne&s;s, I was told by the <HI>Governor,</HI> in the <HI>pre&s;ence</HI> of his <HI>Wife,</HI> and <HI>&s;ome others</HI>) that he <HI>had tru&s;ted in God &s;o long, that he was once like to be &s;tarved.</HI></P>
<P N="12">12. I ble&s;s <HI>God through</HI> his <HI>grace</HI> I am <HI>innocent,</HI> and <HI>without</HI> blame, <HI>in my heart and life,</HI> as <HI>touching this bu&s;ine&s;s,</HI> both as <HI>to|wards God and man.</HI> I do confe&s;s I have thought of &s;ome <HI>further recompence</HI> for this my <HI>&s;uffering and wrong at Gloce&s;ter,</HI> which hath been &s;o judged <HI>heretofore,</HI> e&s;pecially of Mr. <HI>Bachiler,</HI> and tho&s;e of the <HI>Independant</HI> way: that I &s;ay not of the <HI>whole Nati|on as it is now; but as &s;ure as God is, this adulterous and wicked Generation, having through Apo&s;tacy from God and his people, enriched them&s;elves by the &s;poils of others, care not what become of the I&s;rael of God, &s;o they may &s;it in quiet, feeding them&s;elves full with the Onyons and Garlick,</HI> and <HI>other the fle&s;h-pots of E|gipt.</HI></P>
<P>La&s;tly, let it be <HI>judged</HI> of <HI>God</HI> and <HI>man,</HI> what &s;pirit this is that thus <HI>boldly,</HI> and with a <HI>mo&s;t impudent face, reproacheth</HI> the <HI>truth</HI> of <HI>God, manife&s;ted in the extream &s;ufferings</HI> of <HI>his Saints and people.</HI></P>
<P>Mr. <HI>Wood,</HI> for I will not refu&s;e now to name him, his &s;econd charge is, That I &s;hould be pre&s;ent where there was a man in bed with another mans Wife.</P>
<P>To this I will &s;ay, fir&s;t in general, that where the <HI>good man &s;oweth</HI> as becometh him <HI>good &s;eed,</HI> there cometh <HI>the Enemy</HI> and &s;oweth <HI>tares:</HI> That which I have <HI>innocently,</HI> and for the <HI>furthe|rance of the truth</HI> as it is in <HI>God,</HI> declared, <HI>That this adver&s;ary of God and me</HI> hath &s;omewhere <HI>picked</HI> up to <HI>fling</HI> as <HI>dirt into my face:</HI> wherefore, as <HI>the Lord</HI> is <HI>witne&s;s in me,</HI> I will return it
<PB N="41" REF="25">back from whence it came, and give out the report truly with the <HI>foundation</HI> of it, whence it hath and doth ari&s;e.</P>
<P>It's not unknown to &s;ome, that being to &s;ee a Brother &s;ome|times in <HI>Wells;</HI> when I came, his Wife, my Wives Si&s;ter, told me, he was then a pri&s;oner at <HI>Taunton,</HI> by the means of Mr. <HI>Pine,</HI> which indeed I think co&s;t him his life, though he was put forth again, and nothing layd to his charge; which freedom I obtained by a Letter from the L. <HI>Fairfax,</HI> that then was <HI>General:</HI> where|fore my Si&s;ter rode behind me to <HI>Taunton,</HI> but &s;he had ordered it to take Hor&s;e at one <HI>Garmans,</HI> a poor man, yet much talkt of, who came now and then to her hou&s;e.</P>
<P>At this mans hou&s;e I &s;tayd about <HI>half a quarter of an hour,</HI> I had the rather a mind to &s;ee him, in that among others, I had heard Mr. <HI>Peters</HI> as well as others, particularly &s;peaking of him: This man about &s;ome two or three years after, with his Wife (as they &s;aid) came to <HI>London,</HI> of whom I only heard, but &s;aw them not; but having again, with my Wife, a <HI>Journey</HI> into the <HI>We&s;t,</HI> we overtook, and left behind on foot, &s;ome half a dozen of <HI>men</HI> and <HI>Women</HI> on the <HI>Road;</HI> the next day, or the &s;ame day at even, we having &s;tayed by the way, we overtook them again, about <HI>Marlborough,</HI> when, of the man that was with us, they enqui|red my name, which when they knew, they &s;tayed and &s;poke to me, going over a <HI>Bridge;</HI> I willingly went <HI>&s;oftly</HI> to have &s;ome &s;peech with <HI>them,</HI> they telling me in <HI>effect</HI> they were, yea, <HI>that they</HI> were <HI>Jews,</HI> and that the time of their <HI>gathering together,</HI> out of all <HI>Lands,</HI> e&s;pecially <HI>this,</HI> was <HI>come,</HI> and that they &s;hould <HI>away</HI> for <HI>Hieru&s;alem;</HI> yea, that they mu&s;t be <HI>circumci&s;ed,</HI> and &s;o forth: To all which I <HI>replyed,</HI> that in a &s;ence I approved of all this, but not in their <HI>&s;ence,</HI> or as they <HI>applied</HI> it; but &s;aid, <HI>that he is a</HI> Jew, <HI>and of the &s;eed of Abraham that believs, who&s;e prai&s;e is not of men, but of God:</HI> yea, the very &s;ame too, &s;aid I, <HI>are the Circum|ci&s;ion,</HI> which <HI>wor&s;hip God</HI> in <HI>&s;pirit,</HI> and &s;o have the <HI>true Circum|ci&s;ion,</HI> which is <HI>yet</HI> that <HI>made without hands.</HI> La&s;tly, <HI>the place</HI> of <HI>the&s;e</HI> I <HI>judged</HI> to be <HI>no other</HI> then <HI>Hieru&s;alem;</HI> but that I mean <HI>come down from Heaven,</HI> into which <HI>no unclean thing &s;hall be</HI> admitted: as they <HI>liked</HI> not mine, &s;o I <HI>di&s;owned</HI> their &s;en&s;e of the&s;e things, as I am &s;ure I had the greater cau&s;e, after about half a miles riding, I left them, I going another way; about a twelve-moneth after, I came to <HI>London,</HI> and as I was going to dinner in <HI>Fleet-&s;treet,</HI> about eleven of the Clock, or a little af|ter,
<PB N="42" REF="26">there met me a Merchant, that formerly I had knowledge of, and &s;ome acquaintance with, told me, that there were &s;ome at his <HI>hou&s;e</HI> had a great de&s;ire to &s;peak <HI>with me;</HI> I left my <HI>dinner,</HI> and went with him to a <HI>fair</HI> and <HI>great hou&s;e,</HI> where I had never been before, he had me into an upper <HI>Room,</HI> where when I came, I <HI>heard</HI> a very <HI>great noy&s;e,</HI> of one &s;peaking I knew <HI>not what,</HI> with <HI>exceeding great fervency;</HI> I would have <HI>&s;tayed,</HI> and <HI>heard further there,</HI> but he urged me to go where <HI>it was</HI> into the <HI>next Room,</HI> where I &s;aw at the <HI>Table,</HI> the forenamed <HI>Garman wri|ting,</HI> having before him an <HI>Hebrew Bible:</HI> there was &s;ome <HI>two or three</HI> men, be&s;ides this <HI>Gentleman,</HI> who&s;e hou&s;e <HI>then it was,</HI> and my &s;elf: in the <HI>Room</HI> was a <HI>Bed,</HI> and <HI>one &s;itting</HI> up <HI>in it,</HI> &s;peaking as I &s;aid <HI>before,</HI> and claping <HI>his hands</HI> with <HI>exceeding &s;eeming height of confidence;</HI> but the words he &s;pake I did not <HI>under&s;tand,</HI> only they <HI>&s;eemed</HI> to me, <HI>to be a mixture of Latine, and &s;ome</HI> other <HI>tongues,</HI> (they &s;aid <HI>Hebrew</HI>) and <HI>all other Lan|guages</HI>) I confe&s;s, I remembred he mentioned <HI>oft Melchi&s;e deck,</HI> the <HI>High Prie&s;t,</HI> or <HI>Prie&s;t-hood,</HI> the <HI>name Judah,</HI> and <HI>Je&s;us,</HI> with &s;uch zeal, that the <HI>fire &s;eemed to me, even to &s;parkle out of his eyes:</HI> he did be&s;ides, I remember, <HI>cur&s;e with great bitterne&s;s the Prie&s;t-hood, as he &s;aid, that was not after the or|der of Melchi&s;edeck:</HI> by his &s;ide there lodg'd a Woman, which I confe&s;s I did &s;u&s;pect was the Woman I had &s;een before at <HI>Wells,</HI> and after that upon the Road; but not under&s;tanding, and indeed, not <HI>approving</HI> of, yet <HI>wondring</HI> I confe&s;s, at the <HI>bu&s;ine&s;s,</HI> after le&s;s then a quarter of an hour, I <HI>departed,</HI> and have never &s;een them &s;ince.</P>
<P>Now the truth is, as I have had opportunity, I have related the matter, as I here have done, to &s;uch as I thought good, and in particular, did &s;o now in my la&s;t journey, to one at <HI>Bri&s;tol,</HI> from whom peradventure Mr. <HI>Wood</HI> hath had this Relation, or el&s;e I know not whence it &s;hould ari&s;e; and peradventure, this man would I &s;hould have gone and made &s;ome com|plaint of the&s;e people, as the manner of &s;ome is, to be very &s;evere in complaining again&s;t, &s;ometimes, but the &s;eeming evils of others, but in mean time, very &s;paring of their own abomina|ble lu&s;ts, the Seed and Po&s;terity of <HI>Saul,</HI> who kill and make an end, with great zeal for&s;ooth, the le&s;&s;er Cattel of the Herds and Flock of <HI>Amaleck;</HI> but in mean time, &s;ave alive the fat and &s;trong.</P>
<PB N="43" REF="26">
<P> The Scriptures we all know declare, how that our <HI>Saviour</HI> was <HI>him&s;elf,</HI> not only in the <HI>Company,</HI> but left <HI>alone</HI> in the <HI>pre|&s;ence</HI> of an <HI>Adulterous Woman,</HI> whom the <HI>un&s;een Adulterers</HI> had brought there before him to <HI>accu&s;e;</HI> &s;o that certainly there is no cau&s;e of <HI>blame</HI> for my being (as I was) and coming as I did to this place; wherefore they have the <HI>greater &s;in,</HI> who have made it fir&s;t <HI>evil</HI> and <HI>wicked</HI> in their own <HI>hearts,</HI> out of which as the <HI>root of all filth,</HI> they have <HI>ca&s;t it again forth,</HI> if it were po&s;&s;i|ble, for <HI>the &s;taining the innocency and truth of God in me:</HI> &s;o that I confe&s;s, I do not reject the &s;tory <HI>as I have given it, and as it is, as the &s;pirit</HI> and <HI>end</HI> for which it is produc'd.</P>
<P>The third is, Mrs <HI>Ceenee's</HI> Lodging &s;ometimes at my hou&s;e.</P>
<P>Mr. <HI>Wood,</HI> by this minds me of the <HI>rule</HI> which they &s;ay <HI>was Matchiavels,</HI> if a man be never &s;o <HI>innocent,</HI> yet the way effectu|al to <HI>ruine him,</HI> is <HI>audacter calumniare &amp; aliquid haerebit, lade</HI> him with <HI>reproach,</HI> and <HI>&s;ome,</HI> if not <HI>all,</HI> will be <HI>beleev'd</HI> of <HI>mo&s;t:</HI> verily, I have been &s;o dealt with to <HI>&s;ome purpo&s;e,</HI> by this and &s;ome other my friends at <HI>Wind&s;or:</HI> the <HI>Scriptures</HI> &s;peaking of the&s;e <HI>latter times,</HI> &s;ays among others, there are the&s;e two <HI>Characters</HI> of the <HI>evil men</HI> found in <HI>them,</HI> that as they are &s;uch that <HI>have eyes full of adultery,</HI> or the <HI>adultere&s;s;</HI> &s;o they have an <HI>heart exerci|&s;ed with covetous practi&s;es.</HI> Mr. <HI>Wood</HI> &s;hall <HI>find</HI> where the <HI>lat|ter is</HI> in the <HI>heart</HI> (&s;ure it will be found in his) which is <HI>Adulte|ry</HI> as to <HI>God;</HI> for it is <HI>covetou&s;ne&s;s (for&s;ooth no &s;in in the&s;e times)</HI> which yet, &s;aith the <HI>Apo&s;tle,</HI> is <HI>Idolatry</HI> and the <HI>very ra|dix</HI> and <HI>root of all &s;in; there</HI> I &s;ay without all <HI>peradventure</HI> is <HI>the</HI> other, if not in the <HI>body,</HI> yet in <HI>the eye:</HI> this &s;ure at lea&s;t was in <HI>the eye of Mr. Wood,</HI> he would <HI>el&s;e not have reproacht me with</HI> the entertainment of this Woman; for a&s;&s;uredly, &s;he was in my <HI>account,</HI> yea doubtle&s;s in <HI>the account</HI> of tho&s;e made her the <HI>Ma|tron</HI> of the <HI>Savoy,</HI> a <HI>Woman &s;ober,</HI> and of good <HI>report;</HI> yea, I <HI>&s;uppo&s;e,</HI> with the <HI>Governour</HI> and <HI>others here,</HI> who had &s;peech and acquaintance with her, as well as I, &s;he having two Children in <HI>the&s;e parts,</HI> and one of them at <HI>Eaton-School:</HI> as touching her entertainment at <HI>my hou&s;e,</HI> I am <HI>confident,</HI> it was <HI>de&s;ign'd,</HI> if by any means they might <HI>by her en&s;nare me,</HI> a practice <HI>u&s;ed by the Heathen</HI> of old, again&s;t the <HI>holy men</HI> and <HI>Martyrs of God,</HI> to <HI>find</HI> occa&s;ion again&s;t them <HI>to take away their lives;</HI> &s;he came I confe&s;s in an <HI>affright</HI> to my dwelling in the <HI>Ca&s;tle,</HI> &s;he being de|nyed of the <HI>Souldiers,</HI> to return (as &s;he &s;aid) to her Lodging, I
<PB N="44" REF="27">advi&s;ed her, that being <HI>innocent,</HI> &s;he had no cau&s;e to <HI>fear</HI> to go before the <HI>Governour,</HI> before whom they told her, &s;he mu&s;t <HI>ap|pear;</HI> &s;he did accordingly, when being as &s;he &s;aid, <HI>threatned to be put</HI> into the cu&s;tody of the <HI>Mar&s;hal,</HI> &s;he de&s;ired &s;he might have leave to go to her wonted <HI>Lodging,</HI> which was at one <HI>Harri&s;es</HI> in the <HI>Ca&s;tle,</HI> by no means this might be, <HI>but &s;aith the Governor, you may &s;ee whether you may not &s;tay at Mr. Bacons;</HI> wherefore at his moving, &s;he came to de&s;ire me to go to him, when I came, the <HI>Governors</HI> fir&s;t demand of me <HI>was, whether I would pa&s;&s;e my word for Mrs. Ceenee,</HI> I told him no, nor ye for any one <HI>el&s;e:</HI> the next was, whether to prevent her going to the <HI>Mar&s;hal,</HI> &s;he &s;hould abide at my <HI>hou&s;e,</HI> I &s;aid, I thought rather then that &s;he &s;hould be in <HI>distre&s;s,</HI> my Wife would pro|vide &s;ome Lodgings for her, which &s;he did, and I con&s;ented to, in the <HI>&s;implicity</HI> and <HI>uprightne&s;s of our hearts;</HI> it was a frequent <HI>charge,</HI> the <HI>Phari&s;ees</HI> brought again&s;t <HI>Je&s;us,</HI> that he was a friend of <HI>Publicans</HI> and <HI>Harlots, God</HI> hath had <HI>mercy on me in this,</HI> to <HI>drink of the &s;ame Cup</HI> from <HI>men</HI> of <HI>like &s;pirit</HI> with <HI>them;</HI> but <HI>re|joyce</HI> and be <HI>exceeding glad,</HI> for <HI>this hath been the lot of the ju&s;t from the beginning of the World.</HI></P>
<P>The la&s;t of Mr. <HI>Woods</HI> good &s;peeches of <HI>me,</HI> is, that he and o|thers cannot tell, when if at any time they come to hear me, whe|ther I will &s;peak either from, or of God, or the Devil: &s;ay we <HI>not well,</HI> &s;aid the <HI>Jews</HI> to our <HI>Saviour,</HI> thou art a <HI>Samaritan,</HI> and ha&s;t a <HI>Devil;</HI> yet we know <HI>(that beleeve)</HI> of what <HI>&s;pirit</HI> our <HI>Saviour was,</HI> how by the finger of <HI>God</HI> he ca&s;t out <HI>Devils,</HI> yet they <HI>&s;aid,</HI> it was by <HI>Beelzebub;</HI> wherefore &s;aid <HI>he</HI> (and I &s;ay the like to Mr. <HI>Wood</HI>) all <HI>&s;ins and bla&s;phemies &s;hall be forgiven unto men, &s;ave that again&s;t the holy Spirit;</HI> but I will conclude with only the&s;e two &s;ayings, They that are <HI>of God, hear,</HI> and can hear alone <HI>his word,</HI> and he that <HI>knoweth God,</HI> and is <HI>born of him, heareth us,</HI> and he that is <HI>not of God,</HI> heareth <HI>not us:</HI> in <HI>this,</HI> or <HI>by this,</HI> we <HI>di&s;cern betwixt the &s;pirit of God,</HI> and the <HI>&s;pirit of this World,</HI> the <HI>&s;pirit of truth,</HI> and the <HI>&s;pirit of error.</HI> Mr. <HI>Wood,</HI> and others of the &s;ame mind with him, profe&s;&s;eth in this charge, that he hath no di&s;cerning of the one of the&s;e from the other, and &s;o mu&s;t needs be a peece of that man of &s;in, of which the Scripture &s;aith &s;hould come, and even now is in the world.</P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
