The English Spira being a fearful example of an apostate who had been a preacher many years and then apostatized from his religion, miserably hanged himself, October the 13th, 1684 : giving an account of his dispair, and divers conferences had with him, by several ministers and others of his friends : together with his answer, and papers written by his own hand / left attested by Mr. T. Plant, Mr. H. Collings, Mr. B. Dennis, Mr. B. Keach.

Another Paper written as a Postscript to the former, by Mr. John Child's own hand; a Copy whereof take as followeth.

HAving met with the vile and accursed Book called the Se∣cond Argument, and the Author being filled with horrour and astonishing confusion, at the perusal of it, could not well tran∣scribe the first Paper, and put things into an orderly method; therefore thought fit to write this by way of Postscript.

First, He thanks God that he is not yet in Hell, lamenting his folly, wickedness, and violence with Cain, Baalam, and Jud••••; but has a little time to leave this Account of things, in respect of the first design and progress of the ill-contrived, infamous, re∣proachful, and scandalous Libel.

1. That the very beginning in these words, [it hath been our endeavour to correct, &c.] is devilishly proud and insolent; 2d. part [a sight of their folly in being debarred of their Civil Rights, for groundless Scrupulosities in Religion] this is bold, saucy, and uncharitable. The 2d. page, and part of the 3d. a silly trifling Presumption. 4. The 4th page, the suggesting any thing of an undervaluing nature, touching the Holy Sacrament being a civil thing, of a dangerous tendancy. Declaring in page 9. to the greatest number of Nonconformists to hold Principles dan∣gerously Heretical, and abominably abusive of the blessed God.] This he confesseth not only to be a rash, injurious, and uncha∣ritable, but a devilish, spiteful, and malicious Slander; to be not only hard Measure, but hellish Cruelty and Injustice; to stretch the consequences of mens Principles, beyond the sence of their minds, and then charge wickedness upon them is against Justice, Mercy, and all good Nature; to impute such ill things to the main Body or greatest number of them, that is contained in the two following pages; as it is bold and desperate to report the

matter, so it is most horrible Injustice, and malicious Envy, to fix the Crime, to declare them upon a wicked foundation to be no true Church, to pronounce them a* 1.1 Villanous Body of People, to be bloudy Murderers of God their Maker in the attributes of his Wisdom, Holiness, and Goodness, to proclaim them Mon∣sters, to be giddy and foolish, to want Wit and Policy, is such a venomous Lan∣guage,* 1.2 that Hell could not ex∣ceed. Being in very deed hor∣ribly wicked, abominable, and devilish; justly deserving dam∣nation, and for which the Au∣thor doubts he shall hardly e∣scape. And page 13. to repre∣sent them Enemies to the Bi∣shops and Clergy, Underminers of the Schools and Learning, and against the Law for the Maintenance of the Poor, was spightful, devilish, and malici∣ous and had a tendency to stir up Rage and Persecution; for which a deep Repentance is re∣quired. To mention mens Cal∣lings in a way of lightness and contempt, to expose them to Hate and Derision, was highly base, devilish, and full of poyson. Publickly to discover Nakedness, tho' matters of fact were true, is against all good Nature, and a very great piece of prophaness. To reflect upon them as Deniers of the Faith, and worse than Infidels, not fit to be trusted with a National Church, nor to be a true Church themselves, is a condemning to so high degree, and carries so much of the rank poyson and venome of the Devil, the Accuser of the Brethren, in it, that renders forgive∣ness of the Crime much doubted of: for all the base Reflections, Slanders, and most astonishing Accusations and Censures, I beg Par∣don of all good men, and their Prayers to God, that I may obtain Pardon and Forgiveness at his Hand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  One of the Passages he here ••••••lects upon, is his printed Se∣••••••••ed Argument, expressed in ••••ese words, pag. 11.
• * 1.2

  Now if a sound and true Notion of God be the first and foundation-Principle of Religion, and conse∣quently of a true Church, then such as have it not, but the manifest and direct contrary, can be no true Church, because upon a wicked and false foundation. Such I am sure there are among the Sectaries: and if such a Villanous Body of People is the best and true Church, that e∣ven in their first and main Princi∣ple thus bloudily murder their Ma∣ker in his most admirable Attributes of Wisdom, Holiness, and Goodness; I do wonder in my mind what kind of People the World is.