The accuser sham'd: or, A pair of bellows to blow off that dust cast upon John Fry, a Member of Parliament, by Col: John Downs, likewise a Member of Parliament, who by the confederacy and instigation of some, charged the said John Fry of blasphemy & error to the Honorable House of Commons. Whereunto is annexed, a word to the priests, lawyers, Royalists, self-seekers, and rigid-Presbyterians. Also a brief ventilation of that chaffie and absurd opinion, of three persons or subsistences in the Godhead. / By the accused John Fry.

I Do wave any Epistle, either Dedica∣tory, or to the Reader, for these Rea∣sons:

First, To avoid suspition of guilti∣ness of the crimes laid against me, as if I needed a protector.

Secondly, To shun the thoughts of Censorious∣ness, as though I thought that Truth could not walk abroad without a Pass-Port.

Thirdly, To decline that unworthiness (which I think some men are guilty of) of begging mens suf∣frages to what I assert.

I did not adventure thus to straggle abroad, with∣out much opposition in my self, which chiefly was the consciousness of mine insufficiency to abide the Test of judicious mens Censures, for method, con∣gruity, and aptness of words and sence.

But rather then I would lye under such a charge of Error and Blasphemy, I chose to lay open my weak∣ness to the world, in point of art, being stirred up too by some of my (I am perswaded) very cordial friends.

What satisfaction I shall give to the world, I am not much troubled at, because I seek not the satisfacti∣on of al; if by this I may avoid the censure of the god∣ly, it is the height of my desire; however, this I am sure of, mine own conscience doth not condemn me.

I were a singular man, if I had not adversaries, such a man is certainly very miserable, according to that in Luke 6. 26. We be to you when all men shall speak well

of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets: And therefore the having of adversaries is rather a com∣fort then a trouble.

Upon the best inquiry into, and recollection of passages for some years last past, I cannot finde that I have gained any Enemies, but either for adhering to the publike interest, opposing of self-interests ac∣cording to my trust, or declaring my opinion in mat∣ters of Religion; for the latter, I think advan∣tages have been taken of me, more in policy then piety, some being glad of such an opportunity (as I have often been credibly informed) to remove me out of the way to their private ends.

I am not discouraged a whit, to think that in a time when the Press is so free, and accute wits so much in view, that mine must come in the rear of all; if that were the consideration, I should not have manifested so much folly as to be in Print; that is proper for his thoughts that writes more to shew his parts, then for one that is necessitated to vindicate himself from so foul an aspersion as is cast upon me: if any man shall say, I am too tender of my reputation, I wish him to make it his own case, and if that will not change his Opinion, he must give me leave to doubt whether he be in good earnest or no.

I am not very greedy to solicite strangers to be∣come my friends in this particular, my desires are to confirm my old acquaintance and Christian friends; yet I would not be wanting so far as 'tis meet, to sa∣tisfie those that have nothing to lead their judgements but reports. I shall therefore give my positive denyal to my Charge, together with my opinion in the point, to be put in one scale, and but his bold and untrue assertion in the other, and if this will not at least sus∣pend

their judgement of me, I appeal to all the world, whether they are upon grounds of equity or no.

I hear that many who have onely heard of me, and had good thoughts of me, are now staggering up∣on the report that I deny the God-head of the Son; if by what I have, and shall say, I cannot regain their good opinions, their uncharitableness will more wound themselves then me, for were it so that no man will believe me, mine own conscience, as to my self, is instead of a thousand witnesses to acquit me before the Judge of all.

I hear that some say (upon what grounds I know not) that what I tendred to the House of Com∣mons for their satisfaction, is so covertly expressed, that they conclude I have but deceived them, & that I am still, & have been for a twelve moneth past of the opinion, that the second in the Trinity, to wit, Jesus Christ is not God; but how groundlesly they conclude this of me, if I have not lost all reputation amongst them, will be very evident by what I hold forth.

That I have many Enemies, I doubt not, and such as are not of petty professions and repute, as namely, Priests, Lawyers, Cavies, Self-seekers, and Rigid-Presbyterians, of all these not a few: to such mens ways I profess my self an Enemy, but not to their per∣sons; and till I see some amendment of them in their trades, I shall not, I hope, alter my thoughts of them; how the Gospel, Law, mens Estates, and the Liber∣ties and Freedoms of the people are bought and sold, I am not altogether a stranger to; and what palpable contradictions there are in these mens professions and actions, I shall endeavor to clear.

First, let us take a brief survey of the Priest, but if

any shall say there is too much gall in my pen for using this word Priest, I shall refer him to what the Apostle saith, Heb. 7. 11. Where there is a change of the Priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the Law; then it will follow, where the Law is not abolished, there the Priesthood is not abolished; and that the Law is kept on foot, I shall instance in one particular onely (though I could shew their legality in many things) as that of Tythes: Was not the Tythes due under the Law to the Priests, as such onely? and do our Tythe and Parsonage-mongers, claim it upon any other score? They like the profit, but not the title the Law giveth them; they would alter the term Priest, into the name of a Minister of the Gospel: but how well this becometh them, their preaching and practice considered, I profess, I think a man of ordi∣nary capacity can see without a pair of spectacles. Our Savior Christ in that Commission to the Preachers of the Gospel, Matth. 10. 7. commands them, Go preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Verse 8. Freely ye have received, freely give. Verse 14. Whoso∣ever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you de∣part out of that house or City, shake off the dust of your feet. Luke 9. 5. saith, Shake off the dust of your feet for a testi∣mony against them: This was practiced by Paul and Barnabas, Acts. 13. 51. They shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium: But is this the practice of these Gospel-Preachers (would be called?) nay, will they not rather shake off the dust of their feet, and be gone from the Saints, where the mainte∣nance is not great, and go among men that scorn both them and the Gospel, for a good fat Parsonage, and there cast the Gospel in the best maner they can,

which is the pearl mentioned, Mat. 6. 7. unto a com∣pany of Swine, contrary to the command? How eager are many of them for a Goose, or a Tythe egg at Easter with their Neighbors? if they conceive they have not that which they call their Due, it shall make a breach between them, that they will never love one another again: if these be Gospel-Preachers, or if these do not sell the Gospel, I confess I know nothing.

Enter Lawyer.

Who would think that a Gentleman of so demure a garb, had so much (I had almost said knavery) craft under his Sattin-Cap and long Robe? put him what Case you will, he wil tell you 'tis good, and perchance he speaks truth; but the silly Clyent knoweth not the meaning, he thinks that his Cause is good, but there is another meaning in it, which is this, it is good for the Lawyers, for they shall get money by it: Doth not too much experience manifest this? There is a dis∣ease called Caninus-appetitus, let us see whether they are not sick of this, especially those that are any thing eminent, and have the priviledge to plead within the Bar: Do not many finde their appetites are so great, that whereas heretofore ten or twenty shillings would serve their turn, now you must give them five or ten pounds, and yet their panches hardly satisfied? Nay, do not many of them take a mans money and not do his work? Doth it not many times fall out, that while the Lawyer is pleading in one Court for one Clyent, another of his Clyents Cause is hearing in another? And when it is the Lawyers fault to enter∣tain so many Causes, that he cannot give attendance to them all, Do they restore the Fees they have taken,

though the man be undone for depending upon him? if there be any such, for my part, I neither know them, nor have I heard of them, but it may be there are black Swans.

A word to the Cavies.

How these have endeavored to sell their own and their Neighbors Freedoms for a mess of pottage, I mean the Kings favor, is so apparent and obvious in every eye, that I need not use arguments to prove it; and therefore I shall onely say this to them, Sithence what they have reaped of all their labor, is but scorn and contempt of all honest true-hearted English men, and a Sequestration to boot, I hope they will take warning for the future, by what is past.

In the next place comes the Self-seeker.

This Gentleman, notwithstanding his false vizard of zeal to the publike interest (which mask is like∣wise put on by all that I have to do with now) is ea∣sily discovered: Do they think that those which have raised handsome Estates out of nothing, and vast Estates out of mean Estates, since our general calamity upon the ruine of many, as well friend as foe, can deserve any other title then Self-seekers? and though they bless themselves in their mis-gotten goods, that any honest hearts can but condemn them for their unseasonable building their nests so high? let them read what the Prophet Haggai saith, ch. 1. v. 4. Is it time for ye, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? So may I say, Is it a time for you, O ye Self-seekers, to ceil and raise up your houses, when

the Nation lies waste? Is not this a preposterous way, to raise your Estates upon your Brethrens ruine? I speak to those chiefly, that contrary to the Self-deny∣ing Ordinance, still keep the Offices of the Com∣monwealth, the profit of which, especially in such a time as this is, ought (allowing a competent Sallery to those that execute them) to be converted to the publike use: And though I speak principally to such, yet I condemn all those new made Officers too, that have enriched themselves (whiles others, better af∣fected to the Nation, have been undone) by the Ex∣cize, Sequestrations, &c.

In the next place a word to Rigid Sir John Presbyter.

How zealous this Gentleman is in his way, would be needless to hold forth, because he is so wel known; but the blindeness of his zeal is not as generally known, and therefore I shall say something to that. I shall propound two Questions:

First, Whether a man may be questioned in mat∣ters Divine onely?

Secondly, If so, How, and upon what grounds he challengeth this Jurisdiction, more then a man of a different judgement?

To the first I answer, I am altogether unsatisfied, that the Magistrate can take Cognizance upon Go∣spel-Rules which we ought to walk by, or call any man to an account for any thing, but what is really prejudicial to his Neighbor, in his person, estate or good Name; because it is said, Who art thou that con∣demnest another? he either standeth or falleth to his own master. And I challenge any one to shew me a Text

in all the New Testament, for such a practice; if they cannot, and yet will practice it, do they not condemn the New Testament of imperfection in matters of Rules, or else usurp this authority because they will, and have no other Reason but their will for it?

But to the second: Suppose such a thing, yet I am not convinced by any thing I ever heard or read, that he hath right to assume this power: If Fire and Fag∣got be an Argument, or the destroving of men in Pri∣sons, what do they less then justifie all the persecuti∣ons that ever were made upon the Saints? If this Gentleman could but demonstrate to me his infalli∣bility, I should be much staggered; nay, they are so far from this, that they dare not say so much: and if so, what is it but the begging of the Question? I wish they would remember that saying of God, He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye; and consi∣der whether that Prophesie in the Gospel may not concern them, The days shall come, when they shall put you to death, and think they do God good service. And for that Argument, They that have the power may do it, and the majority of Voyces ought to carry all mat∣ters: I shall answer it with that place of the Evange∣list, Matth. 7. 13, 14. Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go there∣in: But strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth to life, and few there be that finde it. I could say much more, but I study brevity. There is a saying amongst Physitians, That when diseases are discovered, they are half cured; and that I may not do my work to halves, I shall bestow the best skill I can.

For the Priest, I would leave him to the people, so as the Disciples and Apostles of Christ were; and if

they are his Messengers, he will surely pay them their wages though men wil not: certainly, as they have free∣ly received, so they ought freely to give; and if once I saw them of that disposition, I doubt not but God would stir up the hearts of men to be as free towards them in their Carnal things, as they are towards the people in Spiritual things: For a Gospel-people, will be a free-people.

For the Lawyers cure, I would have the Parlia∣ment to stint him in his Fee, and if he exceeded, or took more Causes then he could manage, so that any man were undone by it, I would have him suspend∣ed from practising, and his Gown pulled over his ears.

And for the Cavies, I would take them short enough for ever being able to abuse themselves and country∣men by any power they should be trusted with: I would never put a Sword into his hands, that had for∣merly used it to the enslaving of himself and country; and if he will be troublesom, and not take such fair warning as he hath had, I would send him to a New Plantation; for it is pity, and dangerous to have any more of the Breed of him here.

As for the Self-seeker, I would be sure to trust him so far as I could see him, and no farther: And to stop this Leaprous disease, I would not onely give him a Vomit, that he might disgorge those filthy Morsels he hath so greedily swallowed, to the prejudice of the Body Politique; but also have a special care, and ex∣act eye upon all the Money-vangers for the future, and not let pass more then a moneth, for the calling of those to an account, who weekly, nay almost daily re∣ceive money in some places, as your Treasurers in

Counties, who receive money for the Army, and money for Sequestred goods, and Rents, and af∣ter this proportion of time, according as moneys comes in to all the several money-takers for the Com∣monwealth, I would deal with them.

Rigid Sir John Presbyter is as desperately sick as any of the rest, and therefore it will require more art then mine, I fear; but yet I will do my best, and what is wanting, let it be supplyed by an abler Artist. By my casting of his state, his disease seems to be some∣what of kin to Mr. Cavies; and therefore I shall pre∣scribe much of what I did to him. I would almost as soon put a Sword into the hands of a mad-man, as in∣to the hands of a high-flying Presbyter; certainly, the forcing of a mans conscience by civil Power, is a note beyond the Apostles Ela: But what do I speak of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ? they were puisns, and lived in the nonage of time; they never saw such an Assembly of Divines, and a gallant Book called The Annotations upon the Bible, which cost them many years travel. Truly, this Book cost me Twenty five shillings, and if any one will give me but twenty for it again, I will give him thanks, though it be not two pence the worse for my using of it; he that can, or will afford time to read it over, hath more leisure and liking to it then I. Happily the Pen-men of the New Testament writ at a venture, as King James did his Book, entituled, Demonalogy; and as old Mr. Allen of New-Inn Hall in Oxford, a reputed Conjurer, understood King James his Book better then himself; so these Gentlemen may the New Testament, then the writers of it: If these Gentlemen will needs be doing, I would make them Masters over all the Bed∣lams

in England, and if that be not work enough, let them go into America, and try their newfound expe∣riment there; in my opinion, it is not fit for Europe, except as afore. We read Heb. 11. 6. That without faith it is impossible to please God, &c. And that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom. 10. 17. And that faith is a gift, Ephesians 2. 8. 'Tis true, that at Rome where this new first discovery was made, the Civil Sword hath been used to drive men to Heaven whither they would or no, but whether it ever wrought that effect, or was at first intended for that end, I very much doubt, whatsoever was pretend∣ed: And since this Opinion was forged there, I wish the Parliament of England would send it from whence it came, and quite banish it our Land; These diseases are grown Epidemical, otherwise I should have spared this labor.