The VVriters Apology.

GOod people, my Apology is, as my Lord saith in a nother case, that you would pardon my boldnesse, if I follow the Prophets expressi­ons to the priests of Baall, whose Sermon I have heer to deale with, although as seldom as I may which was ironically spoken: cry aloud, it may be he is in a journey, or asleepe; which was the preachers practice to both young and old, Rejoyce young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth: and walke in the wayes of thy heart, (as he did) and in the sight of thine eyes: but for all these things God will bring thee unto judgement.

The Bishops Apology.

FIrst, before my Lord begun his Sermon he des [...]ed the good people to pardon his old memory, but by right he should have craved pardon when he was younger, for his memory was as ill to be trusted then as now, but at that time he granted out so many pardons to others, and absolutions, that he forgot his own, or else it slipt out of his memory; but it may be, he had it from the Pope long since, and then it might be in his Study or in some little blacke box, and so as safe as his own Licence or the rest of the priests, that was made by him or his suc­cessors.

Secondly, he told us upon what ocasion he came thither, included in these words, I am come; he came indeed, but he must needs come when he could not tell how to helpe it; for had not the Sheriffes and their Officers, according to an Ordinance of Parliament, brought him thither, as Elisha said in another case, so say I, you should not have seene his face that day, especially upon, or in that pulpit.

Thirdly, he said he must make use of his paper; he dare not trust himselfe otherwise: but for my part I thin he he never had a stronger motive to stir up his memory, so that if he had never preached but upon a paper all hi [...] life before, he might have throwne away his paper then except his Sermon had been longer, but he that hath not the Spirit to depend upon, to bring things into his memo­ry, and hath not a mouth and wisdome given him from God, he must needs trust to something, let him trust to his paper.

Fourthly, and lastly he saith, good people, but he leaves out all, you know what he meanes, that is an uncomfor­table [Page 7]place to Preach in. I grant it, for if no afflictions are joyous to the gooly for the present, then much more no punishments to the wicked, for the prophet saith no peace [...] speaketh my God to the wicked: besides to preach glad ti­dings unto others and his own Funerall Sermon, it was [...] an uncomfortable time, but the place was good enough▪ for he never had more roome, (had the scaffold been but empty) nor yet a greater audience of people; so much for his Apology, now I come to the [...]ex Heb. 12.1.2.

As his memory was not to be trusted to, but his paper, and his place very uncomfortable, so his time was very short, for he wanted time, otherwise he would have de­vided his Text; but to show his s [...]hollership in too many places, (though it would not have charged his memory, yet his paper,) being charged in the 7. 10. 13. 14, 18, 19. pages too much Latine, except it had bin all interpreted, or else he mighth [...]ve been affraid of this word us: for this word us would have shewed, that it was meant the saints, and not Traitors or impenitent Malefactors, for the cloud of witnesses before used, were such as were persecuted by such as himselfe, themselves being no persecuter; He saith he hath bin long running the Race, I canno [...] say so, a Race, but not the Race: for if he had begun, Christ which was the Author, would have him the finisher, or if he had bin the finisher, he would have finished his worke better, therefore you say well, you are come to the end of your owne Race. You say that the shame must be despised, or else there is no comming to the crowne, I had thought the crowne had bin come to by the free grace of God, and sufferings and effect, in those which have received the assurance, but now I see your Arminianism and your gene­rall Redemntion although you have kept it close, you tell us he hath despised the shame for you, then Christ hath [Page 8]died for all, and if he died for all, then all shall be saved, Indas share and yours is as good as the rest of the Dis­ciples, and he despised the shame for Christ though he cru­cified him. He saith, that be is going apace toward the red Sea, his feet being upon the brink, and it is an argument, that God is bringing him to the Land of promise, and that he instituted a Passover for them; so Pharaoh was going a pace toward the read sea when he persecuted the children of Israel; a poore argument that ever he should come to the land of Canaan, but he was drowned in the sea against his wil, so you, whilst your chariot wheels were on, but now you are come to the red Sea against your will, so as Pharaoh and all his host were drowned, your head hath bin chopt off, and your red bloud run about the scaffold: but Israel passed thorough dryshod and triumphed over Pharaoh and all his Host, as the saints do now over you, your head being chopt off; the Passover was instituted but for Israel, and the Lord past them by, but the first borne of Pharaoh were all slaine; so God hath passed by those which you have persecuted, and you are catched in the same snare; Hagaion & selah. As for your digesting the soure Herbs, you must whether you will or no: and for your being not angry; it is because your Horns be cut off, the day hath been, when you would not have been well pleased with the hearing tell of such soure and bitter Herbs: and though you were a chiefe Bishop you mistake Christs example, for when hee prayeth that the Cup might passe from him, he prayeth so, that the people might understand him, and the Apostle saith, bee will pray with the spirit and with understanding also: else how could they that occupied the roome of the unlearned say Amen?

In the next place you see, though he had some faith such a one as it was; that Israel was saved and their enemies [Page 9]drowned, and the three Children freed from the fiery fur­nace, and they that put them in burned, so that he should be delivered, and they which hee suffered under should suffer themselves; but hee wanted a Revelation for that. He told us also, that his resolution was as the three Chil­drens, and not to worship the Image which the King had set up: telling us that the people had set up their ima­ginations, saying, that he would not forsake the Tem­ple and Truth, to follow the bleating of Ierobvames Calves in Dan and Bethell; you see his thoughts of the erecting worship, but hee sayd nothing of the bleating of the Sheepe, and the lowing of the Oxen, which where in Pauls and many other places puld downe by Order of Par­liament; though formerly reedified by himselfe. He pray­ed that God would open the Peoples eyes, that they might see the right way, for if the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch, it was well considered, for he had led so many into the ditch himselfe, that except they see a righter way then he led them, will not get out in hast.

And as for his Repentance looke into the Epistle to the Reader, but behold what a foule heart he had: for after he had ransaked it hee found no sinnes there (they being hid as Saul was amongst the stuffe,) that deserved Death by any just Lawes of this Kingdome: here is worke for the Parliament, he meanes it may be repealing worke, though he cleares the Judges with his mouth, yet there might be seven abominations in his heart, for I am sure hee con­demns the witnesses, and leaving Christ, he takes comfort in Elfegus; you see that hee keeps his Supremacy still, as the Pope, which saith, that he is Christs Viegerent upon Earth, forgetting what Christ said to his Apostler, let him that it chiefe amongst you be your servant: call no man Lord, for one is your Lord which is Iesus Christ; bee not Lords [Page 10]over Gods heritage; you see hee tumbles good causes and bad together, and good persons and bad together: daub­ing up his comforts with Iohn the Baptist, Paul, and Ste­ven, and with ancient Fathers, as the Papists his Bre­thren doe.

He said also that the Pope had never such a Harvest in his life, but if it should come to the Popes care, he would give him little thanks for his report; if Heading, Hanging, Draw­ing and Quartering, cutting off Archbishops hea [...]s be such a harvest, he will not medle with it, take th [...] cro [...] who will.

You see also what a favorite hee was to the King, and and how he knowes his mind; and who was his counsellor or Achitophel; but I remember Pharaoh he saw it pleased the people and so he proceeded further.

Citizens cleare your selves, for you are taxed by my Lords Booke for going to the Parliament, to cry out for Justice, and there is Scripture against you▪ so that by con­sequence for this great crime you wil bring innocent bloud on your selves, but it may bee hee gives you this caution to make the People thinke himselfe Innocent and you guilty.

Now I am come to my Lords lamentation for the poore Church of England, whilest my Lord was Arch-governour, you were kept in good order, all things went well, Pauls went up apace, all the rest of the houses were puld down that prophaned it, Organs repaired, and not pulled downe, I punished those that spake against the Service Booke; the Singers also had their wages, but now instead of singing longs of alacrity, they sing songs of lacrymae. Profanenesse comes in, and is already, the high Com­mission Court is put downe, every man may doe what hee lift, these Puritans, Roundheads, may doe what they please, whereas I could have slit their Noses, cut their [Page 11]Eares, set them on the Pilory, Starved, Imprisoned, Com­pelled them to blaspheme as Paul did, and persecuted them unto strange Cities.

The last particular, (for my Lord made haste, because the heads-man staid for him) be tels us of his birth, where he was borne and baptized; to wit, in the Church of England: but he forgetteth Sion, which saith, this man was borne there, and that Jerusalem which is from above is the mother of us all. Although he hath been a ruler in England, we have not yet one word of his new birth. But some of his Chaplains would have done well to have prea­ched out of the third of Iohn upon his Masters Pulpit, ra­ther then to have let him preached himselfe; it may be that might have done him some good, and hindred him from sending abroad his hypocriticall or Jesuiticall poyson into the world, and wresting of Scriptures to his owne pardition.

Also he saith, this is no time for to dissemble. Is not this the way of all Jesuits, to die with m [...]ntall reservation ac­cording to Law, who knows his meaning▪ telling us of his innocencie, how he laboured to keepe an uniformity; yea and did, one with the Pope; and would have done with Scotland also, by sending of his poyson thither, if God had not prevented him in his owne time. Also, what clamours of the people hath he suffered; how have they clamored, or rather cried out of him for imprisoning of their husbands, children, and friends, robbing them by his Pursevants, silencing, and turning wife and children out of doores. He proceeds, and contrary to all witnesses, and proceedings of Parliament, cleares himselfe from Treason, or whatsoever is laid against him; but as good a Lawyer as he was, let Master Prynne alone with him, he [Page 12]hath persecuted him once for his sincerity, but now he hath or will lay open his hypocrisie. He saith he would not enlarge himselfe, and so forgives others, and would have others forgive him; he derogates a little from his former practises in the High-commission-Court: for then he granted out forgivenesses for others, and asked none himselfe; desiring them to joyne with him in prayer, (though Salomon saith, that the prayers of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,) the manner and matter being both false. God promised that he would poure upon the house of David the Spirit of prayer and supplication. Paul prayed with the spirit and understanding also, and saith, that the Spirit helpeth the infirmities which cannot be uttered by them; at the day of Pentecost, or the [...]. fiftieth day, the Spirit came downe in cloven tongues, not Books, Beads or Crucifixes: but my Lord though he was ar [...], was not there, therefore excuse him. He desired the Lord to looke upon him, but not till he was bathed in the blood of Christ: here you see he questions his assurance. He prayes that the King and his posterity, and the people may be established in their just Lawes, and ancient liberties: you know what he meanes.

Some Observations upon Sir John Clotworthys Questions, and my Lords Answers.

SIr Iohn Clothworthy asked him, what speciall place of Scripture was most comfortable now at his de­parture.

He answers in Latin, that he desires to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.

You see, as he has got his honour by learning, so he loseth his honour with learning. The Gospell saith, If any speake in anunknown Tongue, let it be interpreted. As also, that he had rather speake five words that he might teach others, then ten thousand words in an unknowne Tongue. But my Lord forgot that.

Sir Iohn Clothworthy told him, that was a good desire, but there must be a foundation for that desire, as assu­rance.

He answers, that no man can expresse it, it was to be found within.

A fit man to be a Bishop; doth not the Scripture say, With the heart man believeth to salvation, and with the tongue confession is made.

Sir John Clothworthy said, It is founded on a word, and that word would be knowne.

He answered, That word is the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and him alone.

But my Lord came too short of giving Sir Iohn sa­tisfaction according to his question. Those that have the knowledge of Christ within them are able to expresse it to others. But my Lord satisfied us not that the Lord is within him.