He thinks he hath done God and his Brethren good service, but I am very confident, and I am not alone in this my confidence, that Bishop Wren was not more mischievous to the Prelacy, then he hath been to the Presbytery; I doubt whether there ever was any in the Christian world who was looked upon as a man professing godliness in that height that he hath been, that ever manifested so much boldness and malice against such as himself acknowledges to be godly, as he hath done; Were there nothing but the Presbyterial opinion that made the difference between him and me, I should not abate my esteem of his godliness in the least, for I believe there are as godly Presbyterians as Independents. But that fiery rage, that implacable irrational violence of his, makes me stand and wonder at him, not so much for recording stories that he hears, but that hearing such vile reproachful things against such as he owns to be godly, and the persons thus reproached living near him in the City, who it may be might satisfy him in the falseness of the reports, so as to keep him from ⟨p. 3⟩publishing them, yea when some of them hearing what he was about, have sent to him to tell him that if he would Confer with them they would satisfy him about particulars they would clearly convince him, that such men were traduced, and himself abused in such reports, yet that he should refuse to confer with them, saying he had testimony enough, and so fall a laying on, take off who will or can, herein following that wicked Jesuitical Maxim, Fortiter calumniare, aliquid haerebit, Calumniate lustily, boldly, no matter whether it be true or false, something will stick. I believe this example can hardly be paralleled in any age. How is it possible that he should ever right those he has wronged, if he says he will recant if he can be convinced wherein any is wronged? That will not do it, for how is he sure that his recantation shall come to the knowledge of all, to whom his calumniation hath come? is this enough for mens names so traduced by him, for him afterwards to say. I was told so, I was misinformed? I beseech God to touch his heart, and the hearts of such as have any way encouraged him in such a foul work.
He thinkes he hath done God and his Bretheren good service, but I am very confident, and I am not alone in this my confidence, that Bishop Wren was not more mischievous to the Prelacy, then he hath beene to the Presbytery; I doubt whether there ever was any in the Christian world who was looked upon as a man professing godlinesse in that height that he hath beene, that ever manifested so much boldnesse and malice against such as himselfe acknowledges to be godly, as he hath done; Were there nothing but the Presbyteriall opinion that made the difference betweene him and me, I should not abate my esteeme of his godlinesse in the least, for I beleeve there are as godly Presbyterians as Independents. But that fiery rage, that implacable irrationall violence of his, makes me stand and wonder at him, not so much for recording stories that he hears, but that hearing such vile reproachfull things against such as he ownes to be godly, and the persons thus reproched living neare him in the City, who it may be might satisfy him in the falsnesse of the reports, so as to keepe him from ⟨p. 3⟩publishing them, yea when some of them hearing what he was about, have sent to him to tell him that if he would Confer with them they would satisfy him about particulars they would clearly convince him, that such men were traduced, and himselfe abused in such reports, yet that he should refuse to confer with them, saying he had testimony enough, and so fall a laying on, take off who will or can, herein following that wicked Jesuiticall Maxime, Fortiter calumniare, aliquid haerebit, Calumniate lustily, boldly, no matter whether it be true or false, somthing will stick. I beleeve this example can hardly be paralleld in any age. How is it possible that he should ever right those he has wronged, if he saies he will recant if he can be convinced wherein any is wronged? That will not doe it, for how is he sure that his recantation shall come to the knowledge of all, to whom his calumniation hath come? is this enough for mens names so traduced by him, for him afterwards to say. I was told so, I was misinformed? I beseech God to touch his heart, and the hearts of such as have any way encouraged him in such a foule worke.
