A vindication of Mr Burroughs, against Mr Edwards his foul aspersions, in his spreading…A vindication of Mr Burroughes, against Mr Edwards his foule aspersions, in his spreading…

There is an odious disease in nature, casting up the excrementitious filthiness at the mouth, which is no less noisome then dangerous, therefore the Physicians call it Miserere mei Deus. Thus exulcerate minds affected with the like malady in morality, being surcharged with superfluity of choler and malice, and not able to contain, break forth into distemper of words, and pour it out in unsavoury language; such we must leave to a Miserere mei. But is M. Edwards sick of this disease? Doth not he profess his zeal for God, his dependence upon God for assistance very often?

There is an odious disease in nature, casting up the excrementitious filthinesse at the mouth, which is no lesse noysome then dangerous, therefore the Physitians call it Miserere mei Deus. Thus exulcerate minds affected with the like malady in morality, being surcharged with superfluity of choler and malice, and not able to containe, break forth into distemper of words, and poure it out in unsavoury language; such we must leave to a Miserere mei. But is M. Edwards sick of this disease? Doth not he professe his zeale for God, his dependance upon God for assistance very often?

Ans. Yes he doth, but I fear he takes Gods name much in vain in so doing; set aside the difference of his judgement, I cannot believe that God will ever own that way he takes; and whether he hath that filthy disease mentioned, if you can endure to look upon the loathsome stuff that comes from him, you may easily judge; if I should relate much of it, it would be nauseous. I will give you one instance. In the first page of his Preface to the first part of his Gangrana, he speaks of Printed pamphlets, where he says he was reproached, but he was not willing to be provoked, or to trouble himself at the barking of every dog; ⟨p. 4⟩and for this he quotes in his margin M. Woodward, and M. Burton. What is M. Burton become a dog now, and M. Woodward, who is a known ancient godly man, a Schoolmaster, yet for ought I know no Independent, is he a dog in M. Edwards his mouth and pen? If M. Edwards and his party rise in their spirits according to this proportion, how can we live near them? what already got so above M. Woodward and M. Burton, even whilst they are but in the shell, and see power but hopefully to come into their hands, that they can look upon them as dogs beneath them? I speak of M. Edwards and his party, because he says so many have given him thanks for his Book.