Now upon this goodly Proceeding of theirs we may justly make the following Reflexions.

[Page 7] 1. Hereby we see unto what miserable Subter­fuges Men are forc'd to betake, to palliate that Pride and Arrogancy which their aspiring after a Power they had no right to, had involv'd them in. It is clear to every one who knows any thing of the Congre­gational Principles, that, without the consent of their Churches, the Ministers have no Authority to engage in such a Work, and in all Probability the thoughts of this made them asham'd at first to own it for theirs. But as one Error is introductive of a­nother, so thro' a fatal Mistake (which is an evi­dent Demonstration they were conscious they had transgressed, by publishing this Declaration upon their own Heads) they have egregiously expos'd one of the Brethren of the Conclave, tho' not of the number of the five Subscribers; who to palli­ate (according to Instruction no doubt) the Pub­lication of their First Edition, without their Names, gave out that those Errors were of such Conse­quence, that except they had more fully weighed their Collection of Answers to them, their Design would have prov'd abortive: And they must then have inevitably expos'd that Learning and Zeal (poor and blind as it is) wherewith they have for some time amus'd ignorant, well dispos'd People. Add to this, another short Remark, which will yet expose their Combination somewhat more, They call it a Second Edition, whereas, in Truth, it is very much questioned, whether many of the first Impression found vent; and 'tis generally thought, that the Advertisement, to which these five Names are affix'd, is stich'd by the Bookseller to their Declaration; which, with a new Title Page, is all the Alteration it has undergone.

2. We cannot but note, that they have hereby ob­lig'd the World with a taste of that Learning, which [Page 8] they account sufficient for themselves, and their Churches too▪ For being throughly convinc'd of the Ignorance and Inability of their respective Flocks to assert their own Principles (as the last Subscriber of the Five, very sagaciously has asser­ted) they, like true Champions, by their single Prowess have defended that Cause which none op­pos'd, and confuted those Errors which no body holds, or charges them with.

3. Hereby they demonstrate to the World, how happy the present Constitution of their Churches is; since the Pastors can so easily ravish from the Peo­ple, that Authority, Order and Discipline, which all of them, when first they were called to their Charge, found them in, and place it alone in them­selves; which makes me judge, without any breach of Charity, that they have found their Lording over God's Heritage so sweet, and so profitable, that they would not be very much averse, upon the first Overtures of a Treaty, to attempt to make the two Sticks one again: And then they may ex­ercise Despotick Power without control, beating their People with a heavy Hand.

But 'tis high time to come to the other part of their Advertisement, which shuts up in these goodly Phrases.

[Page 9] And here, Sir, for brevity sake, I shall slightly pass over the awakard Style, this Sentence, (as well as the former) is express'd in. Have these great would-be-Representatives of all the Congregational Churches in and about London, with all their A­cademick Literature, attain'd to no more Judgment in their Mother Tongue, than scarce to be able to write true English? This indeed would be a di­verting Subject to paraphrase upon, had I not mat­ters of greater Moment to communicate to you, which will expose their Honesty somewhat more than their harsh English does their Accuracy. I will not, in what I shall say, take the method most of them do in their Pulpits, when they either force a Text to speak what it never intended, by their im­pertinent Glosses and Distinctions, or constrain it to go with them much longer than the Subject will bear; but I will give you, in short, my Division of the above quoted Advertisement, according to the Genuine Interpretation of the Words, which will unfold to us, what Doctrine is contain'd in them.

Then let us see how Magisterially these Donns open themselves.

It will not be impertinent to spend a few thoughts upon the Consideration of who these We are, that so presumptuously take upon them, to be univer­sal Dictators; and from the vain supposition of their own Merit and Renown, to convince every Reader of the Truth of matter of Fact. Little Scru­tiny made into the Merit of these Rabbies, will ea­sily shew how much Credit we ought to give to what they assert, and what Influence it will have upon all Men of Sense.

[Page 10] The Two first Subscribers then, as we find them rank'd in order, are G. G. and M. M. whom I put together, not for any Resemblance they bear to each other, (for they are in some Respects as opposite as the two Poles) but because the first of them was, by a piece of Policy natural (to the second) decoy­ed to affix his Name to this Narrative, tho' he has since confess'd he did not understand the Intreague, and therefore I shall have nothing more to say of him: And the rather, because I'm credibly infor­med Mr. M. gave Directions, that unless Mr. G. sign'd the Paper first, his Hand should be blotted out; by which Stratagem, the good old Gentle­man was ensnared, and the odium of his being found in such Company falls intirely upon his Betrayer; whose design herein I shall not pretend to unriddle, but leave it to be guess'd by you, and others, who have a clear insight into this Man of Design: only I must add, that I'm apprehensive his engaging to support himself and others, in Practices no way warrantable, will revive a Report which has been whisper'd about the Town of a certain House and Garden surreptitiously obtain'd from the true Pro­prietors.

Step. Lobb, Richard Taylor, and Iohn Nes­bit, bring up the Rear, and are the Persons whom I shall next entertain you with. Mr. T. I must in Justice defend from Censure, and acquit him from any sinister Dealings in this Affair, he being pro­bably influenc'd by the Perswasions of Crafty Men, to whose Wiles the Easiness of his Temper leaves him expos'd; to his own great Disadvantage, and the Encouragement of their Insults.

Mr. L. you have heard much of in the last Reign, and not a little in this, tho' upon other Accounts. Then a Politian and a mighty Courtier, being a Se­cretioribus [Page 11] to the late Tyrant: Now a rough and surly Divine, fighting his betters with his Pen; the common Scribler of what the Synod, meeting at Pinners Hall, alias Amsterdam Coffee-house, alias a House in Moor-Fields, please to employ him in: One while drawing his Dagger in secret, another while fighting the whole Synagogue at St. Hellen's with his Brandish'd Sword in publick. This Man of Contention, with his Friend Mr. N. were the great Promoters and Inditers of this Pamphlet, these two are intimately acquainted with all the steps re­lating to this quarrelsome Declaration. This poor Wretch Mr. N. is least of all to be excus'd, for that he discovers his want of Common Civility, which should teach him to be thankful to a Nation, that has put Money in his Pocket, and set the Beggar on Horse-back, who now in requital would ride o­ver the Necks of his Benefactors; but possibly he may have found some Encouragement for what he has done, in one of the Fathers, which he delights so much to quote, tho' with as little Pertinency as ever was sung the Ballad of Chevy Chace.

But I shall not spend my time in discovering that to you, concerning the two last mention'd, which you are no Stranger to; since the Spirit with which they were acted, will be best seen, when you un­derstand the Methods they took, to perswade the World, that the publishing their Declaration was by the unanimous Consent of all the Congregational Ministers in and about this City. I will not que­stion but the Conclave at Pinners Hall had sounded the Minds of their Brethren of the same Denomina­tion, as they call it, with themselves, how far they would join with them in the Publication of their elaborate Piece; what Resentment the Majority had of it shall not now be told, tho' 'tis reported Dr. [Page 12] Chauncy, Mr. Ness, Dr. Singleton, Mr. Short, Mr. Harris, Mr. Meidell, &c. car'd not to intermed­dle in a Case that concern'd them not. This Last, was formerly a Lutheran, but some Years agoe brought over to the knowledge of the Truth, and is now Pastor to a Congregational Church, his As­sent therefore they most earnestly desir'd, he be­ing a faithful Confessor of Jesus Christ, and a great Sufferer for him; to obtain which, Mr. L. the Scribe, by order of Mr. N. the Dictator, writes him a Letter, which whether more full of Pride, or Ignorance, is difficult to define, wherein he tells him how Harmonious the Ministers all were to usher the second Edition of their Declaration into the World, with an Attestatation to it under their hands, that there was but One more besides him­self, of whose Consent they at all doubted, and that One had been spoke to, and therefore in trust▪ (as he says) requested him not to obstruct so good a Work, lest they should be oblig'd to let the World know, by exposing Mr. Meidell's Name in Print, that he was the only Man amongst them, who refus'd to join with them.

But perhaps you are as tyred as I am, in tracing the hidden By-ways of these assuming [...], I shall therefore sum up all I am minded at this time to communicate, in a few Queries, which I leave to your serious Consideration.

Query, 1. Whether by publishing, a shameless half-side, to vindicate the Reputation of their for­mer title Page and Preface, which, they say, met with a manifest Contradiction; these men do not at the same time discover an overweening con­ceit of their own title Page and Preface, and a measure of Insolence beyond what is common, when they take it in such Dudgeon, that the Au­thority [Page 13] of a nameless title Page and Preface is call'd into Question?

Que. 2. Whether these Men by insinuating, that all to whom they thought fit to communicate their Declaration approv'd of it, become not Guil­ty at least of a very gross fallacy? since Mr. Mei­dell, to whom they did think fit to communicate it (if S. L—, and J. N—, may be credi­ted) openly declared his dislike of it to them at Pinners-Hall. Surely such sly and untrue Insinu­ations ill become Ministers of Christ, who should renounce all hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, &c.

Que. 3. Whether by saying, that their Decla­ration was approved by all the Congregational Ministers in and about London, but by two or three, to whom they thought not fit to communi­cate it, these Men do not manifestly contradict what S. L. wrote Mr. C. M. when he tells him that all had approved of it but One, and that One had been spake to about it. How these things can hang together they should best tell, but 'till I better understand their minds in this matter, I must apply our old Proverb to them. Liars need good Memories.

Que. 4. Whether S. L. when he wrote to Mr. C. M. and assur'd him that what he did communicate to him was in trust (emplying his being intrusted by all the Ministers) when indeed but one or two could be found to have set him on work, did there­in act the part of a trusty Scribe to his Masters all, or like an upright Christian, and faithful Mini­ster, fit to be put in trust with the Gospel? This Query I leave with the Conscience of that busy Emperick.

[Page 14] Que. 5. Whether these Men have not evident­ly run beyond the tedder of Independent Principles, in publishing this Declaration without the Know­ledge of their respective Churches, and in unwar­rantably concerning themselves with Pastors of other Churches? But alas! it is to be feared, many that go under the name of Independents, affect and exer­cise as much Tyranny and Usurpation, over their own Churches and fellow Servants, as any of o­ther denominations, that pretend to no such puri­ty; Witness their counterfeit Agreement, first clandestinely patcht up by Clubbs of Preachers, without the Knowledge of their Churches, and af­terward as arbitrarily imposed upon them.

Que. 6. Whether, by mustering up a Cargo of Antinomian Errors, espous'd by no Party of Men, or single Preacher in England at this day, these Men have discover'd, most of a vain Itch of Pride to shew their reading, or of an angry humour of contention, to be quarrelling, tho' they know not at what, or of a weak air of impertinence, to bring somewhat on the Stage, nothing to the purpose, or of a malicious Design against Souls, to infect our air with some German Antinomianism, which they have rak'd out of the Grave of Oblivion, where they have lain now this hundred years, (as a Poet of their own said) and against the venom of which their poor Antidotes, scrap'd from Dr. &c. are much too weak.

Que. 7. Whether the insolent Methods these Preachers have taken to terrify men more consci­entious than themselves, into a compliance with their base proceedings, do not discover them to be acted rather by the Spirit of Belial then of Jesus? Certainly it is not according to Christ's rule, to [Page 15] Stigmatize others with the Title of Antinomians, &c. that cannot run our length, nor does it savor of true Christian humility for any to be perk­ing above their Brethren with such a Phrase of contempt, as We thought them not fit. It is to be feared, these Men that think others not fit for their notice, in a way of respect, would think them very fit to be degraded, and deliver'd over to the Secular Power, why else should one of their num­ber say, we want a little more of the Magistrate on our side. And what other meaning can be given of that passage, wherein they tell us, they Judge themselves oblig'd, to bear with and exer­cise compassion and tenderness to their fellow Ser­vants, chiefly because our Governors have by a Law tollerated us, and partly because the Savoy Confession hath taught them so to do. But for any Scripture or Grace produc'd by them for Lenity, Quere, Where it is?

Que. 8. Lastly, Whether upon the whole (to set the Saddle upon the right Horse) this Strata­gem was not contrived, and promoted principally by one or two wily Men, that stand conv [...]ct of Demy Arminianism in Principle, and true Anti­nomianism and Intrusion in Practice, in order to the raising a Dust of forg'd Antinomianism and Intrusion on others, so to hinder the persuit of them­selves, for their Scandalous Lives, Ignorance of the Gospel, Invasions, &c. And here, Sir, you must needs take notice how craftily they labour, to bring into black Suspicion, by base Innuendoes, the Persons and Ministry of such whom they most dread, treating them in Print, as the Chieftain at Stepney, formerly serv'd good old Mr. Law­rence in the Pulpit; endeavouring to load them with Calumnies sufficient, that some may stick [Page 16] upon them, and themselves may be accounte [...] Innocent.

A true Resolution of this Query, would serve at once to clear up the Reputation of several; that in all appearance were decoy'd into this Subscripti­on, by the Craft of others, and that followed the [...] Steps, as the innocent Men did Absolom in their Simplicity, not knowing any thing; and at the same time hereby we should see, a little of that great Guilt that lyes on some Men's Consciences, who tho' they would be thought Reverend Men, are ever a­fraid of having themselves laid open: But let such consider that the Secrets of their Hearts will one Day be discovered, then it will be known with what Spirit and Aims this scandalous Pamphlet was pub­lished. In the mean time, I profess to you, Sir, (and you that know my Disposition, will believe me, whatever others think) that nothing but the highest concern for abused Truth, would have drawn me to say all this, and thus to have exposed Men whom, but for the undeceiving of the World, I would rather have been unconcern'd with, as well knowing he that touches upon the failings of the Priest, is like to have the barking of all the Dogs in the Parish. But I must be of the same Mind with Luther, quoted in their Preface, ‘To think Truth to be of so inestimable a Value, that it's bet­ter Heaven and Earth be blended together in Confu­sion, than that the least Dust thereof should perish.’