A reply to a letter printed at Newcastle vnder the name of an answer, sent to the ecclesiasticall Assembly at London, about matters concerning the king, and the government of the church. With the copy of the said letter to the Assembly, in the name of John Deodate, D. D. Also, a certificate from one of the scribes of the Assembly at London.

A reply to a letter printed at Newcastle vnder the name of an answer, sent to the ecclesiasticall Assembly at London, about matters concerning the king, and the government of the church. With the copy of the said letter to the Assembly, in the name of John Deodate, D. D. Also, a certificate from one of the scribes of the Assembly at London.

Table of contents

Title page

The Animadvertors Epistle to all well-affected Englishmen, who are unwilling to be seduced to believe lies.

Some Animadversions upon the Letter pretended to be Doct. Deodates, but written by a Malignant at Newcastle, to the Assembly of Divines.

An Answer sent to the Ecclesiastical Assembly at London, by the reverend, noble, and learned man Iohn Deodate, the famous Professour of Divinity, and most vigilant Pastor of Geneva.

The Translators Preface to the simple seduced Reader.

Reverend, godly, and worthy Sirs, our dear Brethren and Companions in the Work of the Lord.

The Copy of a Certificate from one of the Scribes of the Assembly to a Minister in London.

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A REPLY TO A LETTER Printed at NEWCASTLE VNDER The name of an Answer, sent to the Ecclesiasticall Assembly at LONDON, about Matters concerning the KING, and the Government of the CHURCH. With the Copy of the said LETTER to the Assembly, in the name of JOHN DEODATE, D. D. ALSO, A Certificate from one of the Scribes of the ASSEMBLY at LONDON.

LONDON, Printed by J. C. 1646.

The Animadvertors Epistle to all well-affected Englishmen, who are unwilling to be seduced to believe lies.

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Countrey-men and friends,

SO soon as I received this printed Pamphlet from Newcastle, (which came to me inclosed in a letter, dated Newcastle the 10. 1646.) from an eminent person of that place, who advertised me, that it was all that the Printer had published since his residing there,) I did forthwith repaire to some members of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, to acquaint them with it, desiring to know whether they had ever received any such letter. And upon search finding it to bee a meere forgery, I thought fit to publish this Antidote to preserve the people from being poysoned by it.

I have perused it: and must censure them very simple that will bee seduced with such a notorious fiction, invented by some prophane Atheist: for none else durst dare so often to blaspheme the Name of God to countenance such abominable lies. A stranger hee is indeed, but so unlike Doctor Deodate, that the good old man will be full of sorrow to heare that a Presse should be conveyed to Newcastle to the King, to surprize him with such a scandall.

Take this cordiall (therefore) to heart, which I have prepared to correct the malignancy of that corrosive, and corroborate the simple-hearted people, who are too apt to drink in such sugred potions.

Who this pretender of translating the Doctors letter, is, I know not; but this I am sure that he appeares a Cheater, a Jesuite, a Digby (what shall I say more?) an Ormond, a meer Machiavil.. And therefore the scandals that he hath written against the Parliament and the Assembly, are no more to be valued then what wise men expect from such: All which doth amount to a very poore justification of the Royall actions.

The Lord bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived, So prayes he, who is,

Yours in the Lord. LUKE HARRUNEY.

Gracious street this 15. of December, 1646.

Some Animadversions upon the Letter pretended to be Doct. Deodates, but written by a Malignant at Newcastle, to the Assembly of Divines.

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AS the Printer at Newcastle pretends this Book to be printed at Geneva, so the Episcopall Malignant at Newcastle pretends the matter of it to be Doctor Deodates letterr from Geneva; by which they both approve themselves to be a couple of cheating knaves.

And if any be not satisfied that this letter is forged, they may repaire to the Assembly at Westminster, and see that which is the right.

And although this might be a sufficient answer to it for rationall men, yet lest some poore ignorant souls should be overcome before they discern the danger of the poyson, I will passe some Animadversions upon it.

For that passage in the Marginall Note pag. 5. observe the Lyer: Did the Church of England flourish by the publishing of prophane Books of sports on the Lords day? By stopping the mouths of godly Ministers, cropping off both branch and fruit of all godlinesse, and planting Popishly affected, covetous, and proud Clergy in all the chiefe places of the Kingdome? The Pope indeed had a flourishing party waging warre against the Protestants and Parliaments of England. This Metropolitan of our divisions was fomented by the Hierarchy; they divided between the King and Kingdome, head and body, father and son, brother and brother: a right Babylonish division.

The Scorpion stings himselfe, pag. 6. & 7. His note is still under Episcopacie, which carried such a glorious face with their Cathedrals and Courts, (as the Cardinals and Fry of Rome with their Abbies and Monasteries?) And therefore it was that they stirred up the King to force the Popish Service-book upon the Scots: and when that could not be effected, they animated him to raise an Army against the Parliament of England, and caused the Sheep and the Pastors to goare each other, till the land wallowed in blood, yet still as Bernard saith, they have conscientia mala & tranquilla, no remorse, no sting of conscience, nothing but a dead slumber, a damnable hardnesse of heart.

[Page] And whereas he magnifies the Kings benignity, as of the best of Princes; and that he is the most absolute in wisdome to redresse these miseries; I wish that his Majesty may confirme the same by passing the Propositions of the wisest of Counsells, the Parliaments of both Kingdomes presented to him at Newcastle.

In the eight page you may see what a disparagement hee would cast upon the Parliament and Citie of London, as if they should (by driving away the King) be the cause of the warre and bloodshed; when as his Majesty left them against their will, because they desired and laboured that justice might be executed according to law.

There were many Popish and Prelaticall Tares sowne in the Church of England: And as God hath hitherto, so I doubt not but he will perfect his work by the Parliament, as his Angell with the sharp sickle to cut down that harvest before it doth attain Ripenesse in these Kingdomes. Blame not therefore the Citie, and the reverend Assembly (though they deserted those Vipers) to joyn in hand and heart with the Parliaments, to preserve the Church and people of God.

And how ever the Libeller vapours for the Hierarchy, in the note of the eight page: yet we know how opposite they were to Christ, and that by wofull experience. Christs commands to preach the word in season and out of season, 2 Timoth. 4. 2; But they forbad more then one Sermon a week, nay would have had preaching but once a moneth. God commands the Lords day to be kept holy, Exod. 20; but they prevailed with the King to have sports and recreations allowed on the Lords day. Gods word requires spirituall worship, John 4. 23; They forced human Traditions upon the Ministers and people. And the first Bishops we read of, were no more but Presbyters, preaching Elders, 1 Tim. 3; They proved Prelaticall Tyrants.

It is true, as page 9. there have been many overtures for peace; but the Prelats have so wrought into his Majesties affections, that the Prelats and evill Councellors of their faction, have still hindered the good issue, they have stil been the chiefe incendiaries. How many protestations have they forced from his Majesty to stick to them, and not to leave them?

They would be held up, though three kingdomes be ruined, chusing rather to see England, Scotland, and Ireland, all in a sea of blood, then the pomp of their Prelaticall kingdom should bee overwhelmed. [Page] These have alwayes been the men that have set the whole earth in a combustion.

Though they have unhappily engaged the King in their cause, yet let them know, that there is no Law that allowes their actions lawfull by that power to destroy the Land.

The King governes his people by power, not onely Regall, but politick. If the Kings power in England was Royall onely then he might change the lawes of the Realm without consent of his subjects: But here the Kings government being politick, hee cannot wage warre against his Parliament.

And surely (we may observe upon the notes, pag. 9.) there is a woe to these Prelates, Papists, and Malignants, who have thus traduced the King, and caused the warre: And God will find them out with their Babylonish garments, and wedges of gold; and not only strip them, but bring them to condigne punishment.

And for the other note, of suffering, rather then resisting with armes; it is true, we must let God work his work, yet wee must doe our duty in serving him, every one in his own place, we must use the means.

And let me tell the Prelates; (which is no more but truth) The Court of Parliament is so transcendent, that it makes lawes, and inlargeth lawes, diminisheth, abrogateth, repealeth, and reviveeth Lawes, Statutes, and Ordinances, concerning matters Ecclesiasticall, Capitall, Criminall, Common, Civill, and Martiall. It is of that high Honour and Justice, that none ought to Imagine any thing dishonourable, that proceedeth from that high Court, Mitt. Cap 2. Sect 4. 7. 10. 14. Cap. 4. de default, and Cap de Homicid. Cap 1. Sect. 13. Cap 4 And those that resist that power; resist the Ordinance of God, which is a damnable Act. Rom. 13. 2.

As for the adjurings, and conjurings, by the pretended holy grones, Sacred Censers, and hypocriticall extasies; I cannot look upon them as tending really to a peace. And we may daly see how big the Malignants hearts swell with poyson, to foment (if it were possible) a new warre. why do they pleade for humility, and yet kick against our fasts? What inclination of a good minde can they have towards the people of God, whilst they burn in malice against the Parliament, the Assembly, and the City?

So that (notwithstanding the Marginall notes pag. 11.) It is [Page] cleare that the Malignant party seeke peace onely for themselves, that they may be able to raise a new warre: and though the forger of this letter would lay the guilt of all the blood that hath been shed in this warre, upon the Parliament, and their party; yet it is most certaine, that the Prelates, & Papists have been the very cause of all this blood-shed that hath been spilt in the 3. Kingdomes, wherein so many thousands of Innocent people, have been barbarously murdered for no other cause, but that they were Protestants; and could not professe the superstitions Commanded by the Prelates Authority. And for the latter Annotations in pag. 11, we may easily see that they are still the same Incendiaryes as before, not repenting unto this very day, as is before exprest.

And for that excellent State of the Church, observed by the notes on page 12. whence is it? Their Councelling of the King to these courses, so distructive both to himselfe and Kingdome? Their Activity in cruell oppressions perpetrated by them upon the Innocent people and exorbitant illegall and tyrannicall invasions upon the just Lawes of the Kingdome, and naturall Liberties of the subject? Could these put the Church into an Excellent State? who can endure such abominable untruths. These alwayes were our blemishes.

But to conclude, He that will approve this peece of Newcastle forgery; must be either a papist, or an atheist: A Protestant he cannot be except (to use his own words) he be a Malignant, and a right Malignant too, even such a one who seekes to foment a new Warre; from whom, good Lord deliver us

Amen.

An Answer sent to the Ecclesiastical Assembly at London, by the reverend, noble, and learned man Iohn Deodate, the famous Professour of Divinity, and most vigilant Pastor of Geneva.

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The Translators Preface to the simple seduced Reader.

READER,

MAy the Father of lights open thine eyes to see over this strangers shoulders, and by this impartiall Perspective, what thou, whilst kept down thus low by thy new Masters, and through thy Seducers false Mediums, hast not hitherto been suffered to perceive, it being now purposely hid from thine eyes: Behold a meer stranger, that notwithstanding his manifold Obligations, and personall Ingagements to a contrary Discipline in the Church, & different forme of Government in the State, yet over-ruled by the manifest Truth & Honesty of the Kings Cause, breakes through all those Restraints of his Liberty (as far as he may) to tell thee thus much plain English Truth: Behold here Genevas veneration, & ful vindicatiō too of thine own Mother the Church of England, as it stood under Episcopacie traduced here at home by her own Spurious brood for Superstitious, Popish, Antichristian, what not? And this Apology directed to the Assembly-men in answer to their Letter what ever it was.

Behold here again, a cleer justification of the King, vilified by his own for that for which strangers do admire him; His Clemency, his inclination to Peace, his acts of grace, &c. Behold here the root of Gall, that which hath brought forth all these Nationall mischiefes, the popular tumults and conspiracies pointed at here, is the only evident cause of the Kings Divorce from the Parliament. See here, by whom poor Ireland was deserted: one thing also thou mayst [Page] here take notice of from these standers by, That the Glergy in their own proper Sphere, may be as fit and as honest, and perhaps, in some respects more able for the good speed of a Treaty, then those that do slight them with utter Praeterition.

Last of all, behold here the loyall and religious Subjects only Militia, or his own proper Magazine; to wit, the known Lawes of the Land, that and prayer & submission are the only defensive weapons allowed here by this Master of Fence.

I say no more to thee, save only, that I do heartily pity thee, and therefore I do stil pray for thee, and for all thy fellow-bondmen, that God will bring into the way of Truth all such as have erred and are deceived,

Amen.

Reverend, godly, and worthy Sirs, our dear Brethren and Companions in the Work of the Lord.

IF proportionably to the griefe we have conceived at your Letters; (wherein you have expressed the most sad face of your affaires) we had but as much ability either by our Consolations to asswage your sorrowes, or by our counsels to ease your butthens, or by any our cooperation to help your extremity: we should think our selves very happy in so well corresponding with your honorable, & most loving compellation of us: and right glad we should be thus to requite you with our best and effectuall good offices. But alas, as the scantnesse of our capacity in this; kindso the Ignorāceof the more inward causes of so many miseries, & chiefly the perplex & dangerous nature of matters now in agitation among you: All these put together, strike us quite dumbe we are as men wholly at a stand, able only (in a kind of silent astonishment or holy horrour) to admire, & to adore that finger of God, which is now lifted up over you all.

But since, being by you so lovingly invited to it, we must needs at last break off our silence: We are reduced to an extraordinary Suspence both of Minds and of Pens, what to say first or last, or indeed what to say at all.

And now in the end, after long deliberation, least, as Jobs friends, we should transgresse by precipitate or unseasonable discourse: Behold our hearts and mouths top-full of the Sences and Expressions [Page] of our hearty commiseration, our eyes running down with teares of compassion, our breasts even swoln up with sighes & groans at your calamities. These are they, God is our Witnesse, that fill up the greatest part of our private prayers, of our publike Devotions, Fastings, and Humiliations: In all which we are resolved to give the Father of mercies no rest, untill your tranquility being once more ordained in Heaven, God do extend peace upon Earth unto you all like a River, & the fulnesse of his Blessing, like an ever flowing stream.

Our affaires, yea the generall interest of all the reformed Churches are so closely involved in yours, and so mutually depending thereon, That your safety once procured, assures us all of our own good Estates.

Therefore, especially during this grievous Tempest, which may seem to bring about again the heavie times of the Saints great primitive Tribulation, we are, in a manner, compelled with trembling hearts and lips, to powre out our lamentations into the eares of our most gracious and heavenly Father, no longer now only preparing to contend by Fire, as he once revealed it in a Vision to his Prophet Amos, Amos 7. 4. 5. but already for a long time really contending by Fire indeed: And how then can we forbear from crying out? O Lord forgive, cease we heseech thee, by whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small, and round about all in a flame, by the fire of thy burning indignation. From this our own Watch-Tower, untoucht as yet by Divine miracle: We have beheld this furious conflagration, spreading it self all over; We have seen the Grisoen-Italian Churches utterly defaced, the Gospel in Bohemia its ancient Seat, wholly extirpated; the Palatinate devoured; the French Churches deprived of all humane supports & resuges (like so many poor little Callow Birds, alive indeed, but only during pleasure the) German Churches almost all over-shaken; yea, more then half destroyed, your own Ireland swallowed up with an unexpected deluge of Assassines and Robbers, one onely thing was wanting to that huge heap of publique calamity; namely, that flourishing England (the very eye and excellency of all the Churches, Christs own choice, purchase, and peculiar; the Sanctuary of the afflicted, the Arceonall of the faint-hearted, the Magazine of the Needy, that Royal Standard of good hope) should by so unlookt for an accident, without an externall Enemy, or forraign Impression, become in a manner its own Fe [...]o de se, and make an end of its self with its own cruell hands.

[Page] What a sad spectacle is this to see that Church thus trodden under foot? To see that glorious Fould of our Lord thus ransackt, yea worryed, not by the wild Beasts of the Forrest, not torn in pieces by the mercilesse pawes of the Lyon, or of the Woolf, but utterly dismembred by its own unnaturall sheep inraged and exasperated one against another.

An horrid example this, and till now never heard nf among the reformed Churches.

It seemes, heretofore, like Christs own true sheep, they were kept tame by the feare of God, united by the same bond of Faith, knit together by the apprehension of the common enemy: and so long they did both expresse and exercise holily and faithfully their mutuall charity, quiet and unity amongst themselves: in all which they preserved themselves from the rage of the Wolfe by the Christian simplicity of their own conditions, by the innocency of their pious lives, by the sunctity of their Religion, by the constant undantednesse of their holy Faith.

But now we are wholly struck with horrour at the change of that so glorious Face of your Church, whilest we hear at this distance the loud report of those deadly wars that are now flaming up between the King and his People: to see at Daggers drawing indeed Brethren against Brethren, Parents against their own Children, Christs sheep pushing against and goring their own Fellowes, nay their own Shepheards: At all this we are utterly amazed, and would scarce have believed, that in the selfsame pitched field, one and the same God and Father, in the name of one and the same Mediator, at one and the same time, could be invocated for help on both sides, to shed the bloud of those, that for the Major-part had hitherto by so many clear Demonstrations in the whole equall course of their lives, equall in their Piety towards God, equall in their love and loyalty towards their Country, approved themselves such faithfull and srue Brethren one to another. Strange, that these should now against their own Bowels, turn all their war like power, far better if imployed in the just punishments of their own treacherous Neighbors, or towards the relief of their dearest Brethren so long bowing the back under the weight of their bondage, and even at the last gasp for help.

What marvell then, if these your cruell distractions have awakened; yea, divided even to a variety the judgements and affections too of Christendome?

[Page] Neither do we our selves deny but that for a while we did somewhat stagger at, and as it were fluctuate about it; yet that demur of ours did neither proceed from prejudice against, nor from partiality towards either side, as not being called upon by either, neither publikely nor privately, till now of late in your reference unto us, which we do reckon as no small piece of honou, since in your esteeme, our judgment may seeme of so much weight, as able to advance or ballance down either party, both being of such extraordinary quality.

We have contained our selves within the bounds of a conscionable judgment, and impartiall charity towards both parties, for indeed we are both Brethren; We have neither way exceeded the compasse of our own measure, but still kept a mean, as rejoyeing on the one hand at those good things which we did heare were entertained with the generall applause of all good men; So on the other hand, we could not but behold with griefe those other Sinister passages that in themselves did carry a more fatall appearance.

We were overjoyed at the issue of the Scottish troubles, that seemed at first to presage a combustion, not unlike this of yours, and yet far sooner quenched, for as by Gods own admirable handy-work (So by the never-enough-magnified of your most gracious King, & by the Concord of that wary Nation) that fire was in time put out, ere it did burst into a more open flame.

At the first report of these your own Commotions, our mindes were possessed with a good hope that all past offences might with the same promptitude and facility be forthwith repaired, and all matters composed.

So that what actions or counsels should appear amisse, might by the benignity of the best of Princes be easily redressed, and consequently both Church and Common-wealth without noise or bloud shed, be kept in due order:

In pursuance of all which, we could not but admire the happy and glorious beginnings of the Parliament, and the more then Fatherly affection of his most gracious Majesty, evidenced by his enacting those Lawes, from which for the time to come, there was a cleare hope of a Government full of equity, and freed from all corruption:

An example not so rare, as indeed singular in this our wild Geneneration [Page] so fertile of violent Powers and Princes. But all these our goodly hopes were soone blasted by that raging storme and tempest of popular tumults among you, that did force away both your most gracious Prince from his Parliament, as also a great part of the Parliament from it self. Since which we have heard indeed of many attempts and enterprises, many Propositions and Projects, but all of them come to nothing, nothing is yet brought to perfection, nothing is yet rightly setled or established.

The businesse of the Church might seem the chief object of your care and sollicitude: If it had been handled and debated at times, & with mindes calm and quiet: had the opposite judgments been compared and impartially weighed one with another; such an orderly course might happily have purchased a lasting Peace to your Kingdome, and also rendred unto your Church that most desired Primitive face of the Apostolicall times: Such was Episcopacy in its first Apostolical vigour of Discipline & Government, the which as at the Synode of Dort this very man did both acknowledge unto Bishop Carlton to bee the best Form of Church-Government, and also did heartily wish for it in his own Church; so doth he sufficiently commend the happy effects of it above pag. 5. in that full passage of his conteining the Superlative Praises of the former flourishing estate of the Church of England, as before these troubles it stood under Episcopacie: The Restauration of which former good Estate, is again by this Author at the latter end of this Epistle, pag. 12. earnestly wished and prayed for. but behold how quite contrary the event hath fallen out? for the mindes of both sides being averse from, yea, violently bent one against another, this very matter hath proved the great rock of offence by exasperating the wound, and tearing it wider and wider, by distracting more and more asunder the hearts of each party, distempered enough already through former partiality and discord of affections. Nay, if the report be true, these Church Distractions have opened a wide gap to so many boysterors and private spirits, which we hear have assumed to themselves the most mischievous Title of Independents, then which Destructive Sect nothing could more undermine, [...]ea quite overturne the very foundation of the Church.

Besides all that, we have bin extreamly grieved at this, That the spirit of division hath so plentifully sown among you his pernicious Tares of Feares and Jealousies, that they have not onely fructified, but even [Page] overgrown all over all manner of mutuall trust, in despight of so many Royall protestations sealed and bound up with so many most grievous Imprecations. But the very top and height of all our sorrows on your behalfes, hath been this, That all that cursed fuell thus heaped on, is now at last kindled into bloody warre, lengthned on both sides by a multiplication of deadly feuds, So that during such an universal combustion, what ever mens bare words, & never so frequent Protestations other wise may pretend, yet the Royall Honour, Power and Dignity, cannot but fall into utter contempt: and on the contrary, the licentiousnesse of the most audacious and lawlesse, cannot but gather strength, and ont-grow the other: and then consequently Piety must needs decay, mutual love and charity must needs vanish away; and instead thereof, a kind of savage disposition, yea brutish rage must needs invade at last the minds and maners of the men of this Generation, who in processe of time will no longer look upon the old originall causes that began the warre, but rather upon the new mutuall injuries freshly done, or received in the very progresse or prosecution of the war between two parties divided, far more by an odious difference of reproachful Names, as it were, infamous brands fixed upon each other, then really by the cause it self. It had been farre more easie unto us, and all good men else, to deliver our judgements upon your case: had the Major part of either side differed from the other, either in the more essential poynts of Religion, or else dissented about the Fundamental Lawes of the Common-wealth: or had either party been oppressed Wo be to them that first began that warre whose Nonnecessity, yea Injustice strangers themselves can so far off so plainly perceive and condemne too. by the other in a direct way of open persecutiō, or had there been an introduction of publick tyranny against the lawes through the basenesse and pusillanimity of the other party: But as for you, you have abundant cause of comfort or seeurity against all these evils. To wit, in a faire, quiet, legall Parliamentary way, not in a Martiall way: therefore he mentions not at all the power of Armes, but onely the power of the Lawes. since by vertue of your own most just and powerfull Lawes, those Lawes that already have been indifferently agreed upon by the generall consent of all parties concerned, you may with ease prevent, or put all those forementioned evils which in other Kingdomes may seem almost unavoidable. All these considerations put together, have moved us for a long while seriously to deliberate and advise what might be at last, the best expedient left to procure [Page] an honest and sure Peace among you. Indeed wee have been much scandalized, that all the Mediations of several Kingdomes and Provinces in league with you, have been tried and used all in vaine: Howbeit it came into our mind to propound this one Medium more, whether now at last there be yet any hope to obtain from the Kings most gracious Majesty, and from the Parliament, that, of both sides, Ecclesiasticall persons may bee chosen of unquestioned Trust, and Fame-proofe beyond all suspition, to whom this great businesse may be committed; Namely, that comparing the chiefe points now in controversie, they may chalkout some good way towards an holypeace. But first these men must by Gods good Spirit themselves be dispossessed of all factious inclinations, that so they may become fit Vmpires and Trustees of the publick Peace, and impartiall Embassadours of Reconciliation between both parties, and also able and studious too by all their Speeches, Exhortations, and Sacred Obtestations to charm the hearts that on both sides are so obdurate in War and Bloodshed.

This were the ready way, by thus interposing the Sacred Censer in the very midst of these publike flames, to quench all the heart-burnings: for who knowes whether at the devout Prayers and holy groanes of Persons Sacred, thus prostrate at the footstoole of the Heavenly grace, the Divine power and glory may not break out once more, and shew forth it selfe by moving the hearts of both Parties to lay downe all hatred, and publike enmities? The onely way to procure such sound Councell of both sides, and to purchase again the precious blessing of a generall Peace, is especially when all humane helps faile, to call in the Divine Assistance, which no man did ever try in vaine. By these good meanes that may be brought to passe (what cannot be hoped for from Civill Warre, however the successe prove) that by a voluntary Inclination of Mindes, the wound shall be so fully closed up, as that Love and Charity may in time perfectly be recovered.

The good opinion which you have conceived of us, may suffer us to offer these Considerations unto you. It might be immodesty in us to prescribe, or to advise you any further: But no Law of Modesty can ever forbid us to wish, and to Vow, and to beseech God for you, yea to appeale unto God, and to adjure you all in his Name.

O then above all, take a speedy and speciall care for a sure and [Page] sound Peace, what ever it be What would this Peacemaker have said if he had seen or heard of so many Royall reiterated offers of peace wherwith the Soveraigne hath and still doth wooe his Stiffe-necked Subjects, Certainely, the more peaceable side hath alwayes amongst good men had the Reputation of the better side. tis to be preferred before any Civill Broyles. Beware least the fortune of Warre smiling upon you, draw you on, and tempt you to commit your great Affaires to the Ambiguous Chance of Victory, then which nothing can happen more deadly, yea pernicious unto the Common wealth. Roule away that huge Scandall that lyes so heavie upon the whole Christian world, yea wash and wipe off that foule stain of black oppression charged especially upon the purest Profession of the Gospell, as if still it did in a kinde of Antipathy, or secret hatred, oppose and oppugne all Kingly power, and Supreame authority. Mittigate and asswage the exulcerated, and too-too much provoked mind of your King, and do not compell Him to Pinacles and Precipices.

Rather beare with some blemishes and Corruptions from which no Empire could yet wholly be free, no not in its most flourishing Estate. Account not those Remedies the best, that are abruptly applied and accumulated; but those rather, that being taken in by degrees, may in time, by little and little, go downe more easily, and digest the better, and so at last obtaine a Confirmation. And last of all, by the Bowels and mercy of Christ, suffer your selves to be intreated, that we may no longer see that Wealth, Power, and Strength which God hath graciously bestowed upon you, imployed, yea, utterly wasted in the fatall Ruine of your own selves, but rather let it be stretched out to the Reliefe, and support of so many of your own This was very good Counsell from a Stranger: had the Subjects had the grace to follow it in time; then had there been an end of the old Warr, and a happy Prevention of a new Warr, which, except stopt by timely submission, can portend nothing but the utter Nationall Ruine of Church and State, which God in mercy avert. most afflicted Brethren, even panting after your own Peace. f Of Ireland

May the God of Peace himselfe heare, accept, and grant these our sincere Devotions; May God defeat all the P [...]o [...]s, and disappoint all the Machinations of the Devill, and of Antichrist. May the same God restore your Kingdom and your Churches to that High State and pi [...]ch of Holinesse and of Glory, in which, on the Theater of the Universall Church they have hitherto excelled & out-shinedall the This full Testimony of the excellent State of the Church of England (still as it heretofore stood under Episcopacy) outspeakes all the former, and to this good Ejaculation from Geneva, no right, Protestant-Malignant but will heartily say, Amen. Churches upon Earth.

As for us, take in good part this our plain Sence delivered freely [Page] unto you, in a Brotherly Confidence, and Pardon and Impute our delay of Answer unto these weighty Reasons. The Report was here very strong, that you were now very faire for a Treaty of Peace: Therefore we thought it fit to expect what a day might bring forth, that so all our words and all our affections too, might overflow with meer gratulations and full expressions of our Joyes. But sorry we are, that we have yet againe been deceived with vain hopes. And now that we may speedily recover and enjoy that Happinesse we both wish and pray, with as much Devotion as becomes your dearest Brethren, (who glory not a little in your good esteeme of us) That God will powre downe upon you his richest Benedictions, together with a large Measure of his Wisdome, and Spirituall Strength. Farewell, and prosper in the Lord.

The Copy of a Certificate from one of the Scribes of the Assembly to a Minister in London.

SIR,

I Have perused the paper and examined the Records, and find that there was never any such letter sent from Dr. Deodate in the Name of the Church of Geneva to the Assembly: the whole letter now printed at New castle is an abominable forgery, I find that we did receive a letter from the Church of Geneva in answer unto ours sent unto them, but not Signed by Deodate but 2. others in the name of all the Pastors and Professours of the Church and University of Geneva: but there is no likenesse between the one and the other.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

A reply to a letter printed at Newcastle vnder the name of an answer, sent to the ecclesiasticall Assembly at London, about matters concerning the king, and the government of the church. With the copy of the said letter to the Assembly, in the name of John Deodate, D. D. Also, a certificate from one of the scribes of the Assembly at London.

Edition statement

1646

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A81491

ID [STC]

Wing D1511

ID [STC]

Thomason E367_7

ID [STC]

ESTC R201267

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99861794

ID [PROQUEST]

99861794

ID [VID]

113939

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A81491)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 113939)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 59:E367[7])

Source

— A reply to a letter printed at Newcastle vnder the name of an answer, sent to the ecclesiasticall Assembly at London, about matters concerning the king, and the government of the church. With the copy of the said letter to the Assembly, in the name of John Deodate, D. D. Also, a certificate from one of the scribes of the Assembly at London., Walker, Henry, Ironmonger..

Extent

[16] p.

Printed by J.C.,. London, :: 1646.. (Thomason catalogue attributes the work to Luke Harruney (i.e. Henry Walker), who has signed the "Animadvertors epistle" on A1v, and who claims that Giovanni Diodati is not in fact the author of the letter which appears under his name on leaves A4v-B4. Leaves A2-A3, "Some animadversions upon the letter pretended to be Doct. Deodates, but written by a malignant at Newcastle, .." are apparently by Harruney (i.e. Walker).) (Signatures: A-B⁴.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Decem: [?] 24th [?]"; ink has run, but Thomason copy bound between items dated December 23 and December 24.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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