The pastors charge and cure, or, A sermon first preached in Latine at Oxford and afterwards translated by the author the preaching of which created the author much trouble, and in the winding up of all, suspension from his ministery, and thereupon inforcement to leave his native countrey / by Nath. White, pastor of a congregation at summer islands.

TO THE CANDID and Ingenuous Reader.

READER,

MY businesse with thee (at this present) is not so much to Court thy favour, as to admonish thee: First, read, and then judge; s 1.1 read se∣rioussy, and then judge uprightly: It is the voyce of Heaven, of Christ himselfe, judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement t 1.2. And this I desire for thine own good; for rash & unadvised ••udge∣ment oftentimes more hurts the person judg∣ing, then the person judg••d u 1.3. Now that thou moyst judge whether my (pretended) crime were answerable to the great cry; and, what I merited, to what I suffered: I shall present thee with these ensuing considerations.

First, consider the place where I preached this Sermon, it was at Oxford in the Universitie, in corona doctis erud risque viris stipa••â, in an Ass••mbly of learned and skilfull men, which will somewhat Apolo∣gize for some p••ssages and expressions otherwise liable to censure.

Secondly, consider he ground of my preaching it there: It was re∣quired by the Statutes of the University, and therefore I may say of all the ensuing troubles, they were not unnecessarily drawn upon my selfe, what I did was in discharge of my duty, when called unto it, which meliorates my cause and aggravates their sinne who ••e ••••d that trouble unto me. The punishing the servants of th•• LORD for speaking truly, though boldly, when called unto it lawfully is a provoking sinne, a sinne of a deeper die then they were, or would be aware of w 1.4

Thirdly, consider the subject matter of it, it is the P••stors Care or Charge, that he should take ••eed to himselfe fi••st, to his Flock next; to himselfe, that is to his life, that it be pure; to his Doctrine, that it be sincere and incorrupt: To his flock, that is the Church of God, that he first, feed it; secondly, govern it; thirdly, defend it from such

devouring Wolves as would otherwise prey upon it. And all this, first, because they are Bishops, or Overseers: secondly made such by the holy Ghost: thirdly, because of the excellency of the duty, it is to Feed: fourthly, because of the dignity of the flock, it is the Church of God purchased with his own bloud. These things did flow (as I conceive) na∣turally and without straining, from the Text; these things were suitable to the quality of the Audience, these things I pressed (according to my tenuity) upon the conscience; the white at which I aimed, was Gods glory, the discharge of my duty, the information, reformation, and edifi∣cation of those that were before me.

Fourthly, consider what was the issue and event of my preaching; first, in regard of the chiefe of them: secondly, in regard of my selfe. First, in regard of the chiefe of them, even the same with that of holy Steven: When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on me with their teeth x 1.5: that is, they were filled with in∣dignation, and so impatient, that no sooner was I come amongst them, but they ran upon me with one accord: which verifies that of the A∣postle: Yee see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh—are called y 1.6. Secondly, in regard of my seife, they deman∣ded my Sermon, commanded my stay in the University; ••bout foure dayes after, they (having throughly scanned each part and parcell of it, sif••ed my proofes, compared my quotations, to try if by any mean•• pos∣sible they could finde occasion against me) convented me before them again in their Pharus, or high Tower, where were present Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and six * 1.7 other Doctors of Divinity, who having questio∣ned with me about the space of; hours, and received such answers as the Lord graciously (according to his promise) put into my mouth; they (for a while) dismissed me: And when they had commanded me to goe aside out of the Councell, they conferred amongst themselves (as afterwards it appeared) saying, What shall we doe to this man? And be∣ing convinced in their conscience (as the issue plainly spake) that I had spoken nothing worthy of death or of bonds, nor ought else, that in∣deed did deserve censure, but rather thankes and encouragement from them; yet that they might keep up their reputation, and that they might not blemish their judgements, so farre, as to be thought that they had questioned me de nugis, they resolved (it should seem by the sequell) to require me palinodiam cane••e, that is, in plain English, to recant, or retract what I had said (an old stratagem of Satan, if he cannot mis∣chiefe the fervants of the most High God, by keeping them from spea∣king the truth, he will endeavour to destroy them by retracting it) or otherwise to suspend me from preaching within the precincts of the University. Was not this learnedly resolved? If I would not unsay what I had said, to please them, I should speak no more (within their jurisdiction) to offend them. The snare being thus laid, the Beadle rowseth me once again to try if I would fall therein; but blessed bee the

Name of the most high, God, who stood by me, and gave me power, reti∣nendi animum mentemque, base feare and cowardize flew quite away, and I was as bold as a Lion.

When I was brought into their presence the seco••d time, the Vice-chancellour asked me if I were not convinced of my errour? I re∣plied, In what? I told them that they had scanned every page and line of my Sermon, if they could shew me wherein I had prevaricated, I would confesse it z 1.8. Their answer was, that I might erre in point of dis∣cretion, and to that they came at last (that I doe not nauseam movere) that if I would depart, and within the space of a fournight send it un∣der my hand, that I had erred in point of discretion, it would have satis∣sied them. Was not mine offence (thinkest thou Christian Reader) ca∣pitall, which such a sacrifice as this would have expiated? My answer was, That if they could evince me to have erred in point of discretion, I would confesse it, not otherwise. You (said I) think it to be a point of indiscretion to reprove sin, being called thereunto, my judgement was o∣therwise. Hereupon they suspended me from preaching within the pre∣cincts of the University.

Thus farre (good Reader) thou hast heard how the learned Rabbins of Oxford have acted their parts; and how with the Pole axe of Suspen∣sion they have knock'd a man on the head to kill a Fly lighting on his beard. But was this all? sure it was enough, and more then enough: But, sic fata serchant, so it came to passe, that was not all: For the little man, great in power, but greater in iniquity, being Chancellour of Ox∣ford, and having my Sermon sent him up for a present, with certi∣ficate what they of Oxford had done in it, (as Dr. Pinck afterwards as∣sured me) he forthwith dispatched one of his Emissaries with a Citati∣on to summon me to appeare before the high Commissioners, who ha∣ving apprehended me, he carries me away, keeps me prisoner, (though baile was tendered) untill his Lords pleasure (forsooth) was knowne: which after the expiation of three dayes was signified to be, that I should stand bound with two Subsidy men, to answer to such things as by their Interrogatories they could pump out of me (for that was their righteous proceeding) in the high Commission Court. High it was indeed, and swollen exceedingly, yea monstrously, carrying in its very front the I∣mage of the beast; But its pride hath caught a fall, and they who in it exalted themselves, are brought low, and the chiefe of them are brought to the ground, even to the dust; the Lord hath stained its and their glo∣ry, blessed be his holy Name for ever. The Lord (blessed for ever) hath begun to effect the great work of salvation promised to his Church and people by the Prophet Isaiah: In the Lords Mountain, viz. the Church, hath the Lords hand rested, and Moab is troden down under him, even as straw is troden down for the dung-hill. The Lord hath spread out his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim; he hath brought down their pride together with the

spoyles of their lands. And the Fortresse of the high Fort of Moabs walls, hath he brought down, laid low, brought to the ground, even to the dust q 1.9: So that now the people of the Lord may say, (yea shall sin if they say it not) Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he hath saved us: this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation.

But it may be (Reader) thou wilt desire to heare the proceedings of this grande Court, whose Motto was the same with that of the Lions Den—Nulla retrorsum. In brief, it was after this manner: At my first appearing no interrogatories were tendered unto me; whether it was because the Spiders web was not yet woven, the Cockatrice her egge was not yet hatched; or whether it was that they might weary me out by dilatory proceedings, as their manner was, that so they might the bet∣ter bring me to their bow, I know not: But at the second time of my appearing, certain Interrogatories were tendered, their number I have now forgotten, for their nature I may thus divide them; some were for∣mall, and of course; some were reall, and to the matter; to both sorts, my answer was short, yet succinct, answering the Inter∣rogatories as face answers face in water. I answered the formall Interrogatories formally, and the materiall Interrogatories substantially, viz. that they were extractions out of a Sermon which I had preached in the University, for which I had been convented and censured there; and therefore was not, as I conceived, to give any further answer, the 122. Canon of our Church providing, that no man was to be trou∣bled in two Courts for one and the self-same r 1.10 crime: for this was the cry, how justly, I leave it to thee to judge when thou hast seriously read the Sermon.

This answer, Reader, was very short, yet thou wouldest wonder to imagine how it troubled the little-great man; Oh! hee was chafed e∣ven as a Beare robbed of her Whelps, to see his strength turned against himselfe, viz. those Canons which were at the first cast, and after mounted for the defence of the power Hierarchicall, to be dischar∣ged now against it, and him who strenuously fought for it. Therefore the Kings Advocate, by his advice (as the issue will probably suggest) pressed a larger answer, that so by it they might have intangled me: But in vain was the snare spread before the bird, this at no hand I would be brought unto: and therefore the Arch-prelat, before ever my s 1.11 cause was heard, solus and per se, in the face of the whole Court suspended me ab officio & Beneficio: Was not this to judge before the time? Was not this to bury a man before he was dead? And were not the rest that were with him in a confederacy? And were they not guilty of his in∣justice t 1.12?

Adde to this, that I had tendered to the little-great man, a priviledge of the University with a petition, the purport of w^th priviledge was this, that whosoever of the University should in it commit any crime worthy either

questioning or censuring, unlesse it were for Treason, Felony, Mahem, and one other thing, which is now forgotten, he should be questioned in the University, and that no Court should call him forth to answer; and if he were called, he should not appeare nor answer, under penalty of de∣gradation, with other mulcts to be inflicted.

After suspension thou wouldst think, Reader, they would have been quiet; but alas! that of the Prophet was verified in them, u 1.13 The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The very next Court day (as I remember) or very shortly after my suspension, they prest me to give a larger answer, they well perceived, that as yet they were beside the Cushion, as the Proverb hath it, and therefore that they might have made sure work, and might have gained by a larger answer some advantage, they thus hal'd it on. But I still re∣maining constant and immoveable from my first answer, and withall plea∣ding the priviledge of the University, I was doomed for my contempt, (so Reader they were pleased to term it, which was no other then to make the Hares eares hornes) to the custody of the Pursevant; which I refu∣sing, rather chusing the prision then his house, as lesse devouring, I had my choyce easily granted me, and thither I was going: But before I went, I desired liberty to speake a few words in their cares; which being granted, I spake unto them after this manner: Paul pleaded his privi∣ledge before heathens, and obtained it; and shall I plead mine before Christians and be denied it? Then I appeale to God Almighty. Which having said, I took my leave, and was departing: But it pleased the good and gracious Lord God to carry this appeale so home, and to rivet it so fast, that D. Duck cried out in the audience of them all, Stay, Sir, if you goe to prison, you'l say you goe thither for defending the priviledges w 1.14 of the University, doe not we know what belongs to the priviledges of the University as well as you, and better too? Whereupon they sell into a new debate, and by this means (through the goodnesse of the most high God) I escaped the prison, as Paul did the whip upon the same plea x 1.15. A great mercy it was, and I must acknowledge it: for the season was hot, and the plague rife at that time. Thus this cruell generation having slain me civilly, they were in the high way of murdering me corporally also, by shutting me up in a close prison, in a hot and contagious time; but the Lord graciously prevented it, blessed be his holy Name for ever. Yet still I remained suspended, slain civilly, and thereby at once my self, my deare wife, and poore children, deprived of all manner of subsisten∣cy, and the Church of my Ministery, and I at length enforced to leave my deare and native Countrey, and to betake my selfe into the remote parts of the world, where the Lord was pleased (no thank at all to them) graciously to make provision for me and mine: yet have I seen the Lord powerfully causing light to shine out of that darknesse, which is enough at once to encourage his servants, and to deter the adversary. Reader, thou hast the History, if after the due consideration of these things, thou

esteeme me worthy of what I suffered, I shall not quarrell thee, though I think otherwise, desiring to afford thee what I desire of thee and o∣thers, a latitude of judgement, and liberty of diffenting, as we see cause, onely requesting thee, though we be two in judgement, yet we may be one in affection. If thou shalt conceive that I was injuriously dealt with∣all, and suffered as an innocent, I shall humbly beseech thee to conceive I may doe so in other things: and therefore that thou wouldest (when occasion presents it selfe) stand for him by vindicating his innocency, who will not cease to pray for thee and thy prosperity.

Notes

• s 1.1

  Si judicas cognosce. Sen.
• t 1.2

  John 7 24.
• u 1.3

  Temerarium jud••cium ••e∣rumqucnibil no••••t ei de quo tem••re jud••ca∣tur, etau••em qu••, temere ju∣didut, ••sa••••e∣mer••as ••e cesse est u•• no∣s••at Aug. de Serm Dom. in mont.
• w 1.4

  2 Chron. 36.14, 15.
• x 1.5

  Acts 7.58.
• y 1.6

  1 Cor. 1.26.
• * 1.7

  Dr. Pynck. D. Wilki••son. D. Telson. D. Baily. D. Page. D. Potter. D. Wentworth. D. Wilkinson onely was a friend unto me.
• z 1.8

  Confound∣ding of Bi∣shops & Pres∣byters had been before objected, to which I had answered, that it was not I, but the Spirit of God that confounded them.
• q 1.9

  Isa. 26.10, 11, 12.
• r 1.10

  Themistocles postulants à se Simonidi, ut sententiam quandam inju∣stam ferret: neque tu, in∣quit, Poeta bo∣nus esses, si praetea nume∣rumcaneres, neque ego prin∣ceps probus, si contra leges judicarem. Plut. in Apo.
• s 1.11

  Nec visum bominem nec auditum dam∣nare nefas ul∣timum est, Am. Marcel. lib. 15.
• t 1.12

  Non quod ip∣se nihil injustè facias, justus er is propterea, si cos qui ab a∣liis injuriam patiuntur, ubi tibi potestas e∣rit, non defen∣das. Procop. de bel. perg. lib. 2.
• u 1.13

  Isal. 57.20.
• w 1.14

  Mens conscia recti.
• x 1.15

  Acts 22.25.