Animadversions upon a book entituled Inquisition for the blood of our late soveraign &c., and upon the offence taken at it wherein in order to peace the ground, reason, and end of our wars are discovered, the old cause stated and determined, the late insurrection animadverted, and a way of peace propounded / by William Sedgwicke.

SECT. II.

TIS a position in my mind, that no per∣sons or things, that we converse with, are absolutely evil; but there is some good in every thing, else it could not be: and therefore nothing is to be reprobated, or not, till it be first sifted and tried. By my own rule, I am bound to think, that though these angry speeches against me, are my ene∣mies, yet sure there is some just reason in them: such sounds at these, are not with∣out their significancy. If so, then I must not reject them, because opposite and unpleasing, but must admit them to the bar of my own

reason: and not only give them a fair hear∣ing, but all the advantage also that I can; because the Court is my own mind, where they are strangers; and being weak distem∣pered things, I ought to humble my self to them, though mine enemies, and to descend from my own right, to hear and satisfie them if I can, or at least to do them justice: For I consider, though they be dark passions, yet they are humane: and every man is honou∣rable; and every affection in man, though sick and distempered, is of value; besides they are zealous, serious, brethren, friends, Christians: therefore I must query: Have I not erred against them? have I not done them wrong? have I not detained something from them, that is their due? We have pro∣fessed a Kingdom of Heaven within us: if it be there indeed, then we have in us a throne of judgement: which must do right to all things, that come before us. In this King∣dom, there is also sufficient, to answer every plea, and claim, that is made to it, or against it; and therefore we need not fear to ad∣mit the greatest and strongest accusation to a full and fair hearing.

Where there is authority to judge, and sufficiency to answer, there is likewise wis∣dom to understand, what there is in these

clamours, though they be of themselves very dark and confused things: for the mind may taste and try all things throughly; and every thing that comes into it, must be opened, and seen in that light that is in it; because the mind is a supream light, to which all things are subject, that come be∣fore it.

Therefore setting my self to examine and consider these things, I found first, that al∣though there was just reason in the book, yet there was something, that hindered men from the seeing of it: and though there was love and good in it, yet there was something also, that denyed men the benefit of it: and there∣fore tis righteous that it should be animad∣verted, and endure a tryal.

And secondly, I find that there is some thing in my self, that is justly due, both to my friends, and brethren, and to the Book it self: that was not therein communicated: which is my life and spirit; the ground up∣on which I stand: upon which I wrote, and by which I am enabled to assert things so dif∣ferent from others. As these high challen∣ges of my spirit and peace, do tell me, that this is the thing wanting, and now demand∣ed of me: so I am upon this review of things, conscious to my self, that I have not fully

opened my self, and my mind: but have in a great measure concealed it, as well as my name.

And therefore I must thus far justifie the plea against me: That if a man bring forth a notion of things, different from, and con∣trary to the life of others: they may justly refuse that notion: if the Author do not bring forth his own life, spirit, and peace: which only can maintain those notions: and satisfie for that life, that he would take away by those notions. This is for you, and there∣fore I hope you will well observe the justice of it. I am content to condemn what I have done, as guilty of this capital offence: It may possibly stand as a Law to me and others hereafter: That if any man write, be it never so good reason, and with good intention; if he do not produce the head of the spring, from whence it comes, and his own heart, soul, and peace with it: let it wither and be rejected; truly I believe it will.

There is a further justice in the persons offended. If any man utter his matters to his friends, and conceal himself, he deals injuriously with them: in bringing forth the weaker and worse, and hiding the bet∣ter part; which the royal Law of love will

condemn, as a great wrong: for certainly if there be any thing worthy in a man, tis his spiritual life: and therefore I justifie your anger, you do like friends and men; not to take words, notions, and reason, if there be a better thing in me: your own life and peace, being aimed at; you may well chal∣lenge me, to shew a better: I have this re∣lief against this charge: that though I am guilty, in not discovering the best, yet the best is still with me, and being my own as yet, it will support and justifie me.

Neither can I complain justly of any injury done to me by these sharp censures: for if any man will put on an appearance, strange to his neighbours, and withal cover his face; tis no wonder if men beat him, and the dogs bark at him: if he be ill used, he may thank himself, and his covering: There is this remedy also, if hiding the life and face, be the fault, that enmity that is occasioned by it, will rend that vayl, and then the quarrel will be ended.

If I have a right sense of the offence that is against me, (it being at me, and upon me, it sure belongs to me to feel and understand it) then I am called forth to give a judge∣ment of my Book, and to hold forth to the view of all the world, my spirit and life

from whence it came; and to shew what righteousness and power is with me, that can maintain me, and others, in the re∣ceiving and practising such things as I have writ.

I have been very inward, and retired in my spirit a long time; not without some motions to look out; but I have suppressed them; and till now declined all publick ap∣pearance. Being sensible that my mind is both weak, and a great stranger to all the Forms and ways of Religion that are abroad; and having found by experience, that when I did look out, I met with great trouble and opposition, from all sorts of people: I have been willing to enjoy my peace and comfort at home, and alone. I did the least think to come forth in opposition to any party, having in my heart a general love to all men; But I am by this Book, unexpe∣ctedly engaged to come forth in some kind of opposition to many, if not all sorts of spirits, now stirring in the Nation.

The people that have severely censured this book and me for it, are Independents, Anabaptists, Quakers, Fifth monarchy men, and such as profess themselves spiritual, and are in no particular form; I desire them all friendly to consider, how high they have

raised the controversie, and what must ne∣cessarily be the issue, if it be determined: If any of them had taken the book, and dealt with the reason of it: and had answered it, and convinced me; I had been bound to have been their Scholler, and to have sub∣scribed to them as my Master: And if my reason had been too good for theirs, I might have expected the same from them, and no more: But they all leaving the rea∣son, and falling directly upon my person, and the state of my soul, my life and peace; the ••ar is like to be of a higher nature; and the question, who is the Antichrist? who the Apo∣state? who hath sinned against the Holy Spirit? and consequently who must go down into horror and trouble, into Satan, and the displeasure of God? and so it is a war of souls and spirits about the most solemn things of life and peace with God.

And therefore the issue must be this: if you subdue me, and overthrow my state, I must bow, and seek for mercy and peace of you, upon such conditions, as you shall think good to give it: This I know you do expect: and as necessarily I must, so I do be∣lieve, I readily shall perform it: on the other side, if my state and peace be good, and yours fail; I may require the same of you, that

you should submit to me, and accept of my peace and pardon, according to that equal and just Law, Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

I do earnestly desire, that we may on both sides heartily engage in this quarrel: if I find you do shrink from it, I shall endea∣vour to compell you to stand to it, till there be a compleat victory gained by one of us: If you be men, and true to any thing that you say or think, you cannot avoid the try∣al; for I know and feel, that you are come forth against me, in your censures of me, with all your hearts, and with the strength of your God, Religion, and Life: as against an enemy to God and his cause; tis so evident it cannot be denyed: And by it you have drawn forth my life and spirit, (which till now lay close and still) to answer you; and therefore you are bound to stand and abide the dispute: This I write neither lightly, boastingly, nor threatning, but soberly and seriously, in love to you, and to the good and peace of souls.

The combat may be sharp, but it may be friendly also: For I do constantly find this truth in my mind: that as all good doth, and will overcome evil, because it is larger, stronger, truer, and more durable then evil:

so doth love conquer, & swallow up enmity; enmity is a mean, inferiour, base thing, that is but a servant to the greatness and maje∣sty of love. And at this time, I find a spe∣cial love, both of pitty and friendship, pro∣voked and stirred in my heart, by these wounds that you have given me: For I feel such a nature in me, the more you pierce, the more freely my love and life will flow forth to you; so that there is a ring of love made for us, in which we may safely try our strength: and therefore, though it be both a serious and sharp contest, yet it must also be a friendly strife: It may be, love hath laid a train to catch us all, and all the enmity of all men: For observe our quar∣rel, it is of a very high nature, for no less then the life and peace of our souls; yet if we fight it out, the end will be this: ei∣ther I must return to you, and receive mer∣cy from you; of you must come to me, and receive it from me: Either you must be my Pastors or Ministers, and so heal and feed me, as a brother: or I your Bishop and Father. The quarrell is, Whether you shall serve me, with your life; or I serve you with mine? Whether I shall forgive you, or you forgive me? Possibly after some anger spent in the conflict, it may be comprimised, and we

may both have our ends, both serve and be served, forgive and be forgiven: But let us resolve to try it out: for if you draw back and refuse the combat, you will go down into your dark holes of enmity; but press forward, and we shall certainly come to feel and understand one another, though through some smart: and at last after we have spent our heat, end in love.

If we had dealt in opinions that concern the State, you might have feared trouble: but you shall have the state of my mind to deal with: which you may do, without danger of any suffering, but in your spirits: our war will be now purely in and about spiritual things: If we should controvert National Church, Episcopacy, &c. the power of the Nation might be with me: but de∣clining that as you do, and dealing only with my spirit and life: possibly the Bishops may be as different from me, and from my spirit and life, as you are: yea, and be more with you, then they are with me; and I am apt to think it may prove so: How ever you may be confident, you are free from, outward danger, in dealing with the spirit of a private person.

You have advantage, enough: you are many: I am alone: you are whole and

sound; I am I confess, much broken and weak: you stand firm, I have been tossed about: my infirmities and failings are many, and visible to all the world; and most of all to my self: yet truly I do desire and shall endeavour a fair trial, not doubting the issue; which way soever it fall, it must be good.