MAster Edwards amongst many other Letters, and Relations, which have been sent him from all parts of the Kingdome, hath recei­ved (it seemes) some from the Northerne parts, from Lancashire, and Cheshire: and in some of them there are passages that reflect upon the Church of Duckenfeild, and the Officers thereof, with re­proach and scorne, with falshood and slander; and where any truth is, it is with an injurious intent manifested.

We shall direct to the Pages, transcribe the substance of the words, and make Answer thereto.

3 ^d. Gang. In Pag. [...]8▪ are these words; Mr. Eaton, of whose acti­vity to promote that way, (that is, th [...] [...]ongregationall, which is the truely-so called Presbyteriall way) I doubt not you have heard, hath been the great Apostle to promote their de­signe in these parts.

Answ. It may be a great question whether scoffing or ir­rationalitie be the [...] predominant in this invective charge▪ For it is without all bottom, unlesse activitie (which he onely mentions) he the bottom of it. And then [Page 2] all the Clergie in Lancashire are great Apostles; for he calls them Pag. 167. An Active Clergie, that is, in promoting the Presbyterian Designe. And this is all the reason Mr. Edwards can shew, of inserting Mr. Eatons Name among the Principall Independents and Sectaries in his Booke.

But how comes it about, that Mr. Eaton is the great A­postle in this place, who Pag. 164. is but a Pastor or Teacher of the Church of Duckenfeild?

If Mr. Eaton be the grat Apostle, who are teh lesser? wee had thought among the Apostles there had not been greater, and lesser.

If he be the great Apostle, what, or who are they that have sent him? They must doubtlesse be greater then A­postles; for greater is he that doth send, then he that is sent.

If he promote designes as an Apostle, then the designes are preaching of the Gospel up and downe, and gathering of Churches, &c.

Now Apostolicall preaching of the Gospell in all pla­ces up and downe the Countrey, is a good designe, especi­ally at this time, when there is such want of preaching. But this designe, Mr. Eaton could not heretofore, nor can at this day attend upon, being a prefixed Officer at Duck­enfeild, as is acknowledged Pag. 164. And as for the de­signe of gathering Churches, (which is an Apostles worke) what one Church hath Mr. Eaton gathered? True it is, that he, with many others, wearied out with the long want of some of Gods Ordinances, and with corruption in other of Gods Ordinances, did at length (for their bet­ter spirituall accommodation) joyne together in fellow­ship, that they might injoy all Gods Ordinances. Yet herein he no more gathered them, with whom he joyned, then they him. But be it that he promotes these designes, yet sithence these designes are of no worser import and [Page 3] contemplation then they are, neither they that sent him, (if any such there be) nor he that is sent, have cause to be ashamed.

But his Activitie is great. And wherein appeares this his great Activitie, unlesse it be in entertaining now and then one call of many, to preach a Sermon abroad, as oc­casions will permit? Or unlesse it be that in defence of the way he professeth, he answereth some of the many challenges Brethren make in opposition against it. In which also he is rarely ingaged alone, and lesse active then his opponents shew themselves to be.

In pag. 68. the extract of a Letter written from the Northerne parts, speakes thus; I shall hereafter give you a particular account of the Church of Duckenfeild.

Answ. It had been safer for the Author of this Let­ter to look into his own heart, and see what is amisse there, that he may be able to give a particular account to God of all his wayes, when he shall be called thereto; then to spend his time in observing Duckenfeild, and medling with account of things that concern him not. Is not this to be [...] a busi-body in other mens matters; and if he suffer as such a one, what glory or comfort can he have at the last? Notwithstanding let him be sure his account be just, and it will prove no disadvantage to Duckenfeild that he makes it.

Answ. If the Ruling Elder be an honest man, and Se­questratorship an honest imployment, we hope it is no disparagement to Duckenfeild Church, that their Ruling Elder is a Sequestrator.

Gangrae▪ Their Deacon is a Sequestrator in Lancashire; The Dea­con I shall speedily being upon the Stage, and make a notable discovery of his knavery in cou [...]ening the State.

[Page 4] Answ. As concerning the Deacon, we shall give a true relation of the carriage of that matter. M. Taylor preach­ing at Shrewsbury the last Summer, (in the beginning of the Moneth of August, as he remembreth▪ had discourse with a religious Gentleman (a friend of his, and of the Classicall way for matter of Judgement) concerning the different Church-ways, that are now matters of such hot digladiation amongst many in the Kingdome. The Gen­tleman by way of discourse told him, that there were some in the Church of Duckenfeild, as bad as were to be found in the Parish Assemblies, and named Laurence O­wen, a Deacon of our Church, and referred Mr. Taylor for further satisfaction to Mr. Thomas Smith, Book-seller in Manchester, and to Thomas Hartley, for proofe of his dishonest dealing with the State. Mr. Taylor at his re­turne communicated this businesse to the Elders of the Church, and in a short time after wee both conferred with Thomas Hartley, and received from him a report that he was not satisfied that L. Owen had carried the matter well, and gave some Instances. Hereupon wee resolved, (so soon as possibly we could get a convenient time,) to call Laurence Owen before us, and to require an account of him concerning his Negotiation for the State: and to desire Mr. Smith, Thomas Hartley, and whomsoever els might fall under our Intelligence, as a person able to witnesse any thing materiall concerning L. Owen his pro­ceeding, to give us the meeting. That if it might appeare that L. Owen had done any thing to the prejudice of the State, or peace of a good conscience, wee might use our best endeavours to bring him to the sight of his sinne, and repentance for it, and also to make due satisfaction to the State.

But many importune occasions falling in, in that con­junction [Page 5] of time, deferred the execution of our determi­nations for a short time, till a fit season was by the good hand of providence opened unto us. But when wee were fully ripened by a universall conflux of all conce [...]ring requisites for the issuing of this businesse, (which had not suffered the least delay, but that we had probable, and pro­mising grounds of hope, that the charges against him were founded upon mistakes in his accusers) wee resol­ved to bring it under examination, with a most requisite and impartiall endeavour of discovering (so far as God should help us) the whole truth. Now in this juncture of time, Mr. Smith had drawne up a charge, and brought it before the Committee of Lancashire, who upon a full, and impartiall hearing of the cause, did not find him guil­tie of the things charged upon him, and so dismissed him from their Board, without any censure. And this was the issue of Mr. Smiths confidence that he should spee­dily Pag. 68.discover the Knavery of the Deacon, in his first at­tempt.

And though this businesse issuing before the Gentle­men, according to our former (then present) apprehen­sions, might have given reasonable satisfaction to us in point of the Deacons innocency; yet because wee under­stood that Mr. Smith was not herewithall satisfied, wee resolved (as unforestalled in point of the innocency of the accused by any thing that passed before the Gentle­men, or fell otherwise under our observation,) to give Mr. Smith a full and faire hearing; that so if he could make any reall discovery, wee might improve it to the glory of God, the States satisfaction, and our Brothers spirituall good: and accordingly desired Mr. Smith, when he was ripe for the purpose, to let us understand. After some weekes past, Mr. Smith sent a Declaration to Mr. [Page 6] Taylor, subscribed with his own hand, and the hands of George Jackson, and Tho: Hartley; containing divers char­ges against L. O. Upon the receipt hereof, the Church assembled to fast and pray before God, to seek assistance of grace on the behalfe of the Brother that was afresh accused, that he might carry it candidly, and sincerely in his Answer, as in the presence of God, and be as ready to take shame to himselfe, if any thing were justly charged, as to stand upon the defence of his innocency, in things wherein his Conscience bore witnesse to the integritie of his Actions: as also that the Elders might be inabled to conceive aright of things, and to make report of them accordingly to the Church. The Dutie being ended, the severall Charges were drawne out of the Declaration [the most materiall of them being the same (as we have been informed) that were agitated formerly before the Com­mittee] and L. O. required to make Answers to them: which accordingly he did. After we had thus heard both parties severally, wee desired to heare them joyntly, and that they might come face to face, for which purpose, Mr. Taylor writ a Letter to Mr. Smith, and his two friends, desiring them to give us the meeting at some convenient place, and to bring with them such persons as might give in evidence against L. O. concerning any thing contained in the Declaration, that might stand in need of further proofe. He also desired that Mr. Johnson of Ashton, and Mr. Angier of Denton (two godly, and grave Ministers of the Classicall way) might be present as witnesses of what passed on both sides.

This desired meeting Mr. Smith and his two friends thought fit to decline for these two Reasons, as they pre­tended.

First, That matters of fact were laid downe with that di­stinctnesse, [Page 7] and clearenesse in the Declaration, that they need­ed to adde no more words for the satisfaction of any ingenuous Reader.

Secondly, (and that by way of implication) that wee were not authorized to take their Examination upon Oath.

To which M. Taylor in his Letter to them answered, That our designe was (according to our dutie) to endea­vour to bring our Brother to the sight of his sinne, and repentance for it, in case he should prove guiltie, accord­ing to the severall charges contained in the Declaration, or any of them. That this we could not doe, except wee could convince him. That we could not convince him, and upon conviction proceed against him, but by the proofe of two witnesses at the least, since he confidently denied divers things contained in the Declaration, and in his Answer avoyded the dint, and scope of the rest. That he desired to have his accusers come face to face, and that he might have libertie to Answer for himselfe: and that this Justice neither they, (since they had laid a charge against him, nor wee (if wee would carry it righteously Acts 25. 16. & 26. 1.) could deny him. That wee desired to know whether they did joyntly attest all, and every of the miscarriages charged in the Declaration, or severally. If not all joyntly, but some severally, then we desired to know which of the particulars were attested by one onely witnesse, and which by two or more, since we could not proceed upon a single testimony, but must desire further proofe. That L. O. had brought a Certificate The same Certificate was since subscribed by another godlyman▪under the hand of a man beyond exception faithfull, (who spake not by hearesay, but as an eye and eare witnesse, point-blank, contrary to one maine thing charged in the Declaration, and also another man (that had great reason to know the state of the businesse to which he spake, attesting that [Page 8] which is contrary to the maine thing charged by them, as we should give them fully to understand, if they plea­sed to give us the meeting. That there was also one thing mentioned in the Declaration in generall termes, viz. cer­taine summes of money received that were not given in in his accounts, but no particulars specified, and we desired that the particulars might be given in, and so attested by them­selves, or otherwise. That these things considered, they could not righteously deny us the meeting, notwith­standing the distinctnesse, and clearnesse in matter of fact pretended to be in their Declaration.

And as for the second, it was answered in Mr. Taylors Letter aforesaid; That if they did not judge it unfit to give in their accusation in their Declaration, though they did not look upon us as authorized to administer an Oath to them; why might they not corroborate, and make out their accusation before us (in things wherin there should be need of further light,) though we were not in a ca­pacitie to administer an Oath unto them? These were the most material▪ p ssages in Mr. Taylors Letter.

Mr. Smiths Answer in the most considerable pertinent passages was; That he would have appeared before us, if he had believed us invested with any lawfull power by God [...] to have taken his Examination▪ That to comply with us in thi [...] way, would be a remedy worse then the disease. That if L. O. desired is accusers to come face to face, why according to his counsell had he not brought his Accusers before the Committee? That he would not trouble himselfe with [...] Certificate he [...]ve, or from whom procured, since he [...] to make out the maine particulars of his [...]wn Accounts and Confession and by sufficient [...]ony upon Oath▪ That he [...] not the Declaration to one [Page 9] Church, nor in any of his Letters had acknowledged Mr. Taylor a Minister. That if we desired a meeting in a Christian way, and not in a Church-way, and pleased to let Manchester be the place, he would meet us, and en­deavour to ingage his two friends, and such other Wit­nesses as should be necessary. That for other particulars in the Letter, (i. e. Whether they did attest the things char­ged in the Declaration severally, or joyntly, and if not all joyntly, but some severally, then which were attested by one Wit­nesse, and which by two or more) Wherein we desired satis­faction, he conceived it would be fitter to give in ac­count to the Committee for Sequestration then to us. To which Mr. Taylor replyed, That whether he acknow­ledged the Church of Duckenfield a Church, the Elders a Presbyteris, or himselfe a Minister, neither the one, nor the other, nor himselfe did regard. For with them it was a small thing to be judged of him, or of mans judgement. To their own Master they must stand or fall. That the scope of this desired meeting (on our part) was not to steale from him an acknowledgement of the truth of our Church, or Ministries, but an improvement of it to this end, that our Brother might be healed in his Conscience, if he had done any iniquitie, and in his reputation (so far as in us lay) if none of those things whereof he was accused were found in him. And forasmuch as a meeting of them in the capacitie of Christians, would be of equivolent conducency to the attainment of our end, wee should as willingly meet them under that Notion, as in the capa­citie of a Presbytery.

This Answer being thus returned, we were in plenary expectation, that this businesse would speedily be issued one way or other. But though we condescended to meet Mr. Smith upon his own termes, yet in his Answer to [Page 10] Mr. Taylor, he totally (contrary to his own ingagement, and promise under his own hand,) refused to meet us, and not onely so, but expressed himselfe resolved to forbeare all further intercourse with Mr. Taylor in writing about this matter. The reason alledged by him of his refusall to meet us, was, That he was inhibited by the Committee of Accounts, who were resolved to take the full examination of the businesse themselves, conceiving that our private debates, would no way advantage the publick, and might prejudice them in their pro­ceedings. Assuring us that if we would have but a little pati­ence, things would be discovered to our full satisfaction, out of the examination taken upon Oath.

When we were thus deserted by Mr. Smith, and his two confederate friends, refusing to tell us which of the charges were attested by one onely witnesse, and which by two or more, or to give any particulars attested where the charge was generall, refusing also to give us the meet­ing for the making out of his charge, where it needed proofe, viz. in such things, whereof he, and his two friends, were onely the relators, and accusers, but could not possibly be the attestors or witnesses: When wee were thus deserted, (wee say) yet wee left no stone un­moved, further to informe our selves concerning this businesse. And having notice that L. O. was to come to his Answer before the Committee of Accounts for Lanca­shire, upon Tuesday the second of Febr. 1646. (to our best remembrance) in Manchester: Wee both came thi­ther, and sent to the Gen lemen of that Committee, to de­sire libertie that wee might sit by and heare what passed that day for our further satisfaction. But this libertie was denied us by the Gentlemen at that time. After this Mr. Taylor having intelligence of the meeting of the Committee upon a Tuesday, came to Manchester to desire [Page 11] a Copie of L. O. his charge, the better to enable them to discover the truth of this matter. But after he had come twice or thrice to the place where usually they sate, he was informed, that the Countrey people came not in, and so they would not sit that day, and so lost his labour at that time. After this he applied himselfe to one of them particularly, expressing the desire that him­selfe, and his Brethren had to be throughly possessed of the state of that businesse, and that it would be a very great courtesie to us, if wee might but have a Copie of the Depositions. The Gentleman answered, that it was re­solved at their Board, that L. O. should not onely be al­lowed Breviates, but also Copies at large of the Depositions, and there was but onely one thing undetermined, and that was, whether since all the Examinations were not taken, he should have the Depositions piece meale, or the whole together. Mr. Taylor went away well satisfied in the can­dor, and impartialitie of the Gentlemens proceedings in that matter. And so wee hope that in due time we shall enjoy the advantage of those Depositions, to enable us to make a Judgement of the cause, and till then wee shall suspend our thoughts and determinations about that matter. Onely this wee cannot but take notice of; That Mr. Smith after some Depositions were taken, before L. ☜ O▪ had answered for himselfe, (for that is not yet done) or the Gentlemen had passed any Censure against him, (which also is not yet done) he writ up to a Gentleman a friend of his in London; That the Deacon of Duckenfield his knavery is proved before the Committee upon Oath, and be turned out of his place. His Letter bore date, Jan. 30. 1646. Who reading this Letter, would not conclude, that the Committee, after a full hearing of both sides, had found L. O. guiltie? and for his guilt (or knavery, to speake in [Page 12] Mr. Smiths Dialect) had turned him out of his place? and so his friend in London took it up. Whereas the truth is, the Examinations are not yet all taken, neither to this day of our present writing, hath L. O. a Copie of a­ny one Deposition, nor have the Committee of Accounts passed any Censure at all against him, much lesse put him out of his place. But the Committee of the Countie to ease the publick charge, did diminish the number of the Agents for Sequestration, and (without any Character of disgrace at all) did suspend him from the execution of his place; as they did also many other persons of un­spotted side litie to the State. A Copie of which Suspen­sion is as followeth.

And yet even since that time, that Committee that put him out, hath put him in againe; which doubtlesse they would never have done, had they judged him unfaithfull to the State. A Copie of which order for re-execution of his place is as followeth.

Farre be it from us, to bring any rayling accusation a­gainst Mr. Smith, but let the tree be judged by its fruits, the man by his actions. As for Laurence Owen, and his busi­nesse, we shall leave it in the middle, and neither cleare him, nor condemne him, (further then matters of fact▪ reported in this Narrative are of a tendency one way or other) till the businesse be issued before the Committee of Accounts. Onely hereby it doth appeare, that the Church, and the Elders, have laboured in some good mea­sure to doe their duty.

[Page 15] Now we passe to the prodigious Story of the invisi­ble DRUMME.

In pag. 164. there is the story of a Drumme, and Mr. Edwards makes a godly Minister of Cheshire to be the re­porter of it to him, but his name is concealed; wee may not know him, yet we may aske Mr. Edwards whether the Minister were an eye or eare witnesse of it? If he were not, nor yet asserted so much to Mr. Edwards, how comes it that Mr. Edwards saith in his Preface; For other Relations (alludeing to relations of fact) I have them from such knowne godly Ministers, and Christians, being eare and eye witnesse thereof. This will be found a monstrous un­truth in Mr. Edwards: However, because there was no such Minister, an eare, or eye-witnesse of this matter, it will be found a loud lye betwixt them, upon which of them soever it will fall.

But because there is great Enquiry made in some parts of the Kingdome about this matter, wee thinke it necessary for the satisfaction of all that would be infor­med in the truth of it, to give a briefe relation of it, as it was at Duckenfeild, and afterwards to manifest what a Bundell of untruths were knit up together in the story, as it is represented to the Kingdome. And for the truth of what we say, wee shall appeale to many impartiall Au­ditors, who (as they sometimes repaire to the Chappell) so they were eare and eye-witnesse of the whole matter that very day. Their Testimony (they being neither Mem­bers of our Church, nor of our opinion) wee hope will currantly passe with all rationall men. Which is as fol­loweth.

[Page 17] Having thus brought the truth to light, the untruths, that have been most maliciously and unrighteously for­ged upon it, will more easily be manifest to all mens eyes.

First, That the noyse was like the beating of a March upon a Drumme.

Secondly, That the noyse came in at the doores, and passed up the Isle, and so compassed about the Chappell.

Thirdly, That it interrupted Mr. Eaton, in such man­ner, that it caused him to desist from preaching, and to betake himselfe to prayer.

Fourthly, That at length (the noyse continuing so long) it caused the dissolution of the Assembly, and forced all to flee from the Chappell. These are foure desperate malicious untruths, by whomsoever first devised, and each untruth is more horrid and wicked then other.

Whereas Mr. Edwards doth Comment upon it, and to make it the more remarkeable, would have it obser­ved, that this was the first visible framed Independant Church that was set up in England, and before the Apologists came from Holland, &c.

Answ. Wee answer, visible it hath been from the first day it was a Church, for wee have carried all things pub­lickly in the face of the world, to prevent the many foule aspersions which have been wont to be cast upon dome­stick and clandestine meetings; that with Christ wee might be able to say to all malicious false witnesse bear­ers, wee speake openly daily, in secret have wee said nothing, if therefore wee have done evill, beare witnesse of the evill, if not, why smile you us ca [...]s [...]esly? But whether we were vi­sible, and framed before the Apologists came from Holland, (seeing that it is not yet full three yeares since the Con­stitution of our Church, and little above two yeares [Page 18] since it was compleated with Officers,) let Mr. Edwards himselfe (who knowes the time of their coming from Holland) more considerately compute: and finding it false, (as we are confident he will) let him retract so bold an assertion.

The Conclusions which Mr. Edwards builds upon it, are foolish, cruell, and absurd, as may appeare from what hath been presented in the Premisses; And let it be consi­dered, whether he hath not dipped his pen deeply in Bloud, while he would prophesie what should become of the In­dependants? and whether he hath not shewed himselfe a Bloudy man, and hath already in his heart split a great deale of innocent Bloud: As for us, the prayers that wee have put up day by day in places where we preach, for peace be­twixt us and our Brethren of Scotland, will cleare us that we are not the men he chargeth us to be: And wee com­mit it to God to have our innocency cleared to all mens Consciences in his time. In the Interim, wee are contented that those foule and hatefull Charges, that Mr. Edwards hath made against us, may passe with the world upon such evidence, as they are presented, and that they may be received and credited upon those grounds upon which they are built, which are most impudent falsities, viz. For [certainly, and assuredly,] as there was a Drumme heard, beat­ing a March in Duckenfeild Chappell, so [undoubtedly] doe the Independants delight in warre. Againe, [so surely, and unquestionably] as the beating of this Drumme, drove us out from the Chappell, and brake up our meeting, so [certainly and infallibly] shall the warre which wee have sought, overthrow all our opinions, and meetings, and cast us out of England, as an abominable branch for ever: And so [infallibly] shall some of our heads be served up by the Presbyterians, and put into Bloud, as King Cyrus his head was by Tomyris.

[Page 19] In pag. 166. and 167. there is a Letter, in which the Sectaries are charged to have promoted a Petition for toleration, the members of Duckenfeild to have framed it, the subscribers to be Seekers, Soule-sleepers, Anabaptists, &c. And amongst others, one common Drunken Mini­ster: It is styled, The Petition of the peaceable and well-affe­cted, who desire Liberty of Conscience, as was promised by the House of Commons in their Declaration.

Answ. Truth it is, there was a Petition on foote, both in Cheshire, and Lancashire: The fiercenesse of some Pres­byterians in their Petitions in both Counties against their Brethren (who would have lived peaceably by them) was the cause of it. It was not for Toleration, but against vio­lence, where moderation and forbearing ought to be: It carried no such Title, as the Letter imports. Some Pres­byterians were at the framing of it with Independants; many Presbyterians employed in the promoting of it. The greater part of the Subscribers were Presbyterians; the Minister that is said to be a Common Drunkard, and yet signed it, is one who is entertained by a very godly People in Lancashire, who have spoken very hopefully of him to one of us. However it prove, a Classicall man he is, or was, a little after he had subscribed it, and therefore not for the honour of the Informer, to mention him as a Drunkard. If any young Schollar which subscribed it, said he would defend Independency with his Bloud: the speech was rash, but may admit of as favourable a construction, as that somewhat like expression of a Presbyterian, who said, He would burne at a Stake, before he would reade the House of Commons Declaration of the 17 ^th of Aprill. But how many untruths have been written in these Informations given in about this Petition, may be worth the observati­on of the considerate Reader.

[Page 20] In this Extract also some Gentlemen of noble Qualitie, are most unworthily and falsly charged; And though they be not nominated, yet being it is notoriously known who are intended, the injury is not the lesse, but the grea­ter; for they might vindicate themselves from such a­spersions had they been nominally mentioned.

The one of them is said to be become a great Zealot for Independants, for no other reason, but because he is not causlesly transported, with that rage and fury against them, as the Author of this Letter is, and many other of the Pre byterians are in that County; That he threatned any godly Minister to make their places too hot for denying their Pulpits to Mr. Eaton, is most calumniously asserted a­gainst so honourable a person. The one of us was an eye and eare witnesse, when this man (not a godly as it is said) but an unworthy scandalous Minister behaved himselfe insolently and audaciously against this Gentleman; and yet he bore it with remarkable patience, onely told him his own unworthy intemperate offensive carriage in his functi­on, might ere long be brought against him, to cast him out.

The other Gentleman is said to have incouraged Secta­ries, discouraged and borne downe the Orthodox well affected Gentlemen and Ministers, that they could never to this day, get any thing done against them.

Answ. But this is a most ingratefull accusation against so deserving a Gentleman, who hath done his Countrey, and the Kingdome, such noble service, and it is full of ma­licious slander.

For, first; The persons that he is said to have incou­raged, are knowne to be as godly and as Orthodox (Inde­pendency excepted, which in point of Oxthodoxnesse is under doubtfull disputation) as any other. And what hath his incouraging been, but his entreating them to take [Page 21] their Turnes in preaching with others: which service al­so the Parliament hath required from some of their judgement.

Secondly, What Instance can be given of any one Or­thodox Gentleman, or Minister, that he hath discouraged and borne downe?

Thirdly, When were there ever any attempts made, and set afoote by any of the Gentlemen or Minister a­gainst such person, and he opposed them therein, and in­gaged himselfe for the other party? if none of these, then is he unworthily dealt with. And let it be observed, that whereas there is an implication in his words of a forwardnesse among the Gentlemen and Ministers to sup­presse Independency, there is an untruth closely wrapped up in it; for no such thing hath appeared from the Gen­tlemen, nor generally from the Ministers.

It is also considerable, how to usher in, what (by way of defamation) he would have the world to take notice of concerning this Gentleman, he takes upon him to dis­cover the state of Cheshire, and therein his own horrid apprehensions of the Independents, (for he instanceth onely in them) and he compares them (by way of impli­cation) to some hideous devouring Monster, and all that are taken with them he resembles to a miserable prey; as if Independency were mortiferous and deadly to all the im­bracers of it, poysonous and destructive to mens soules. It is of sad consideration to thinke unto what an unjudi­ciousnesse of mind, and to what moastrous conceptions men are left, through want of charity. And then to confirme what he had asserted of Cheshire, he strengthens it with a notorious untruth; There are (saith he) two or three In­dependent Churches, set up by them already, and they are set­ting up two or three more; the latter part of this relation is totally false.

[Page 22] 3 ^d. Gang. Pag. 167. Having done with Cheshire, he proceeds to lay his de­faming pen, upon some Parliament-Members, and deli­vers himselfe in such language, as if some abominable thing might be laid to their charge, which it would be lesse safe for men to mention, then to blaspheme all the persons in the Tri­nity; And by and by he addes words, which reflects upon the whole Assembly of Parliament: His Expressions are these; The suffering of the Church of God to be rent and torne in pieces by heresies, schismes, and divisions, the retarding re­liefe for poore bleeding Ireland, the grieving and sadding the hearts of our Brethren of Scotland, &c. The words need no Comment upon them who can permit and suffer ought, which the Parliament will inhibit, and so of the rest it may be said; therefore the Parliament is struck at, but most unjustly; For, how they have carried it in all these things, is abundantly evidenced to all that will open their eyes.

There are other passages in these very Letters, and in other Letters which wee have read, which reflect upon some Independent Churches in these parts, and wee are able to contradict those things, wherewith they, and their Officers are aspersed, and to declare the falsitie of them. And if we conceived, that themselves would be silent, we should thinke our selves bound to say somewhat; But it is probable, the sense of injuries done them, will lie upon them, as well as upon us, and put them also upon vindi­cation of themselves in due time. Wee therefore shall rest satisfied in pleading our own innocercy, and shall intreat the Impartiall Reader, to consider with what dis­honest and deceitfull stuffe, both Relations and Letters are filled, which will not abide Tryall. Our request to God shall be, that he would teach them, (who thinke they doe God good service, in beating and baiting their Brethren,) [Page 23] more love, candidnesse, and ingenuity in all their relati­ons of others, and all those who are the subjects of all their Exclamations and oppositions, more innocency, and integritie in all their demeanor, that thence it may come to passe, that all that would accuse their good conversa­tion, may be ashamed.