A fresh discovery of the high-Presbyterian spirit. Or The quenching of the second beacon fired. Declaring I. The un-Christian dealings of the authors of a pamphlet, entituled, A second beacon fired, &c. In presenting unto the Lord Protector and Parlament, a falsified passage out of one of Mr John Goodwins books, as containing, either blasphemie, or error, or both. II. The evil of their petition for subjecting the libertie of the press to the arbitrariness and will of a few men. III. The Christian equity, that satisfaction be given to the person so notoriously and publickly wronged. Together with the responsatory epistle of the said beacon firers, to the said Mr Goodwin, fraught with further revilings, falsifications, scurrilous language, &c. insteed of a Christian acknowledgment of their errour. Upon which epistle some animadversions are made, / by John Goodwin, a servant of God in the Gospel of his dear Son. Also two letters written some years since, the one by the said John Goodwin to Mr. J. Caryl; the other, by Mr Caryl in answer hereunto; both relating to the passage above hinted.

To the Reader.

GOOD Reader, I shal not impose upon ei∣ther thy Time, or thy Patience, at present: the brief of the Story is this. Six London Book-sellers, whose Names thou wilt finde mentioned in the superscription of the next ensuing Letter, and subscribed to the second, all (as it should seem) devout homagers to the Presbyteri∣an fraternity of Sion Colledg, not long after the first sitting of the present Parliament, presented to the Lord Protector, and the Parliament, a small Pamphlet, inti∣tuled, A Second Beacon Fired. In this Pamphlet amongst Errors and Blasphemies (by them so called, and some of them, in my judgment, too truly such) they cite some words of mine, which, and as, they please, out of a passage of my Book of Redemption, leaving out others, which give the sence and import of the passage: These words, thus Sycophantly and traducingly severed from their fellows in the same Sentence, they present to the Lord Protector and Parliament, as containing in them Blasphemie and Error. It was some while after

the presentment of the said Pamphlet, before I came to the sight, or knowledg of it. At last hearing that some∣what published by me was listed in their Muster-Role of Heresies and Errors, to serve the design of their Petition for the Restraint of the Press, as also of their no-Christian intendments against me otherwise, I pur∣chased a sight of the Pamphlet; and comparing the transcription, as they had mangled and misfigured it, with my words related unto by themselves, I found my self most notoriously wronged and abused. Hereupon I wrote and sent a Letter to the said Gentlemen Book-Sellers, desiring Christian and equitable reparations (expressed in the said Letter) of my Name and Repute, which they had not a little damnisied by that egregious falsification of my words, sence, and meaning. These Gentlemen, in stead of giving me that satisfaction, which Christianity and Conscience required at their hands, return me such an Answer in Writing to my Let∣ter, as if they had taken unto themselves seven spirits worse then that, by which they or whosoever for them, in∣dited the said Pamphlet, & the falsifications thereof, ad∣ing drunkenness to thirst, multiplying reproaches, slan∣ders, & revilings (as the ten Tribes somtimes did their Idolatrous Altars) like the furrows in the Field: and are so far from acknowledging any wrong done unto me by mis-using me, and my words, that they justifie themselvs in that high misdemeanour, and seem to think that they do God service in straining the peg of that iniquity yet higher. Notwithstanding I may (I suppose) cleerly and fully acquit the said Gentlemen Book-sellers from the guilt and crime of inditeing, or drawing up, the said responsatorie writing: this I judg to be the froath and

foam of another Spirit, which some yeers since leapt up∣on me, and attempted to rend and tear me:

Sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora ferebat:

Such eyes, such hands, such mouth that spirit had. Only the said Gentlemen have involved themselves in the guilt of the un-Christian Contents of the said writing, by consent, and subscription, and possibly by so∣licitation also; although I rather incline to think, that the Penman was chosen and requested to the work, not by men that use to sell, but by some who are more fre∣quently wont to buy, Books. That Motto in their title Page, For Sions sake we cannot hold our peace, whose device so ever it was, seems, by the Contents of the Book, not to be meant of Sion, in the common ac∣ceptation of the word, viz. as it signifies the Church of God, but rather of Sion Colledg in London. For cer∣tain it is that the Book or Pamphlet is not calculated with any relation at all, except it be that of opposition, to the Interest of the Church of God; but most exactly for the Interest of Sion Colledg and her children. Doubtless whosoever was the Epistler, or Enditer of the said Answer to my Letter, might have stood in the High Priests Hall without danger: his speech would never have bewrayed him to have been of Galilee. I have, in the days of my Pilgrimage, both seen, and heard of many Writings fraught with much more then enough of that which is vile, and sinfully extravagant in men: but to this day never did mine eye see, nor mine ear hear of, nor will it easily enter into my heart to beleeve, that ever there was any Piece (for the inches of it) fuller of that which is un-Christian, yea, un∣man-like, as of most notorious and broad-fac'd untruths

(of such obvious and easie an eviction) such bold slan∣ders, such childish cavils, wrestings, and perverting of words, such scurrilous and unseemly language, such ridiculous quarrelings and exceptings against manifest truths, such revengeful suggestions and insinuations (with many other unworthinesses) then that letter of theirs, here presented unto the world. It may be justly said unto them, Many Writers have done foolishly, but you surpass them all. Their letter is for a writing, what he was for a man, whose character was, Monstrum nulla virtute Redemptum A vitiis. There is nothing savorie or Christian in it, to balance in the least the high demerit of it.

Therefore as Paul, having received reproachfull measure from men, and those faling in their duty, who ought to have vindicated him, complaines that he was compelled himself to appear in his own vindication, which otherwise he had rather should have been the work of others; in like manner am I compelled once again to take hold of shield and Buckler in mine own defence, and either to make, or to keep, those things concerning my self, streight in the minds and thoughts of men, (if it may be) which men of most untrue suggestions have endeavoured to pervert, and make crooked.

For thine accommodation about the Animadversions made upon the Book-sellers Epistle, and for the ready application of them in their respective branches, to the particular passages in this Letter, unto which they (respectively) relate, I have distinguished their Letter into twenty two Sections; and again distinguished these by letters of the Alphabet, where any Animadversion is particularly made upon them, which readily lead thee to

their appropriate passages in the subjoyned Animadver∣sions, characterized by the same Letter also.

And because the Gentlemen Book-sellers, or rather, the son of their right hand (their Amanuensis) chal∣lenge me to print Mr Caryls Letter about the passage of their falsification, sent unto me some years since, and threaten me that they may do it for me, if I will not, glorying over this Letter, as if the publishing of it would confound me, and that the reasons therein against the said passage in my book, were so satisfactory, that they did effectually silence me; I have therefore published both this Letter of his to me, and mine also to him, which occasioned it. The truth is, I had Printed both these Letters presently upon their writing and sending, but only for a clause in Mr Caryls Let∣ter (towards the close of it) wherein he insinuates his unwillingness to have passages of that nature made pub∣lique. So that it was cleerly, and as in the presence of God, only out of my respects to Mr Caryl, that I then forbare the printing of them, and should have done so still, had not these importune Sons of high Presbitery thus reproachfully and triumphingly clamour'd upon me to do it. But as for any reasons against the said passage, either satisfactory, or unsatisfastory, that Let∣ter mentioneth none, unless it be the asserting of the Au∣thors own judgement and some other mens, in the point, in opposition unto mine, notwithstanding any thing offer∣ed by me in my book. If either the Book-sellers, or Book-buyers, judg this a reason so satisfactory, as ef∣fectually to silence me for ever, I cannot but juag them to be of the race and lineage of those, who are owereasie of satisfaction for their own carnal advan∣tage

Besides, of such a reason as this, I was not, nor lightly could be ignorant, before Mr Caryls Let∣ter came to me.

Concerning this Letter; with that of the Book-sell∣ers, I have delivered the Autographons themselves unto the Printer, that there may be no mistake in the printing of these, unless (haply) Typographical, which notwithstanding, I shall endcavour to prevent. For my own two Letters, not having by me the Copies them∣selves, which were sent, but being necessitated to make use of the rough draughts, possibly there may be some variation in words, although my desire standeth, as neer as may be, to varie in nothing, especially with∣out giving notice of the variation, where I have any knowledg of it. This I speak because of the capriti∣ous weakness of my Antagonists, who on the one hand, are wont to make a long arme to reach pretexts and oc∣casions of cavilling, and on the other, to complain of the grashopper as a burthen.

Such personal contests as these have always been the regret of my Genius: and if I thought not that my repu∣tation were, or may be of more concernment unto others, then I judge it to be to my self, I should not move, heart, hand, or foot, to pursue the rescue; but abandon it to the lust and folly of those, who have attempted to make a prey and spoil of it: But I remember a good saying of Austine; For our selves (Brethren) our conscience sufficeth, but for you, our name also had need be excellenta: and Jerom's advice was, that no man should sit still under a suspition, or charge, of He∣resieb.

Besides, this consideration, that by how much a fur∣ther

and fuller discovery is made of the folly, or mad∣ness, (as the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was Englished in our former Translation, 2 Tim. 3. 9.) of those, who resist the Truth, they have so much the less time remaining to endanger the world by such a practise; this considera∣tion (I say) did balance the averseness of my disposition to the work. Now as Jannes and Jambres (saith the Apostle) withstood Moses, so do these also resist the Truth: men of corrupt minds, in-judicious con∣concerning the Faith. But they shall proceed no further; for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was ^c. It is always folly, if not madness, which ingageth men in a resistance of the truth; yea it is one of these which causeth men to per∣sist in this practise. By means hereof, it cannot but in time utter and discover it self. For that which is active, especially in matters and cases of publique and weighty consideration, must needs ere long bewray it's Genius, nature, and property, at least unto those, who are intelligent and apprehensive; who being lovers of Truth, and of the peace and comforts of men, cannot for∣bear the communication of their vision; and in case that which they see in this kind, be of any evil or dange∣rous import unto men, they cannot but give the most publique notice of it accordingly unto the world. And when the generallity of persons shall he brought to un∣derstand and see the folly or madness of men in any course or way of acting, wherein they have been deceiv∣ed and injured by them, they will for the future, abhor their practises, and buy their merchandise no more. I trust this small piece may do some service unto the world in promoting and perfecting the discovery of the folly

of those men, who resist that great Evangelical truth (with its complices) which asserteth, That God, with his Antecedent and primary Intentions, intended the Salvation of the whole world by Jesus Christ. Or however God, and the consciences of other men, shall agree about the event and succese of it, it here prefents ts service unto thee (Good Reader) together with the Christian respects, and further service, of

Thy cordially devoted Friend
and Servant in Christ,
John Goodwin

From my Study.
Decem. 12. 1654.

Notes

• a

  Nobis, fra∣tres, suff cit conscientia nostra: sed propter vos etiam fama pollere debet.
• b

  In snspici∣one Hereseos nolo quen∣quam esse pa∣tientem.