A78005:45
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…
A vindication of Mr Burroughs, against Mr Edwards his foul aspersions, in his spreading Gangræna, and his angry Antiapologia. Concluding with a brief declaration what the Independents would have. / By Jer: Burroughs.A vindication of Mr Burroughes, against Mr Edwards his foule aspersions, in his spreading Gangræna, and his angry Antiapologia. Concluding with a briefe declaration what the Independents would have. / By Jer: Burroughes.
London: printed for H. Overton, 1646
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
No, you will say, we are not angry that you come so near, but that you go back again from what you seemed to come near in.
No, you will say, we are not angry that you come so neere, but that you goe back againe from what you seemed to come neere in.
Ans. If any man living can show in any one thing wherein I have gone back from what I appeared to be near, either in any thing I have done in the Assembly, in preaching, or conference, I will fall down at his feet, and bear my shame: I only except M. Edwards from being my Judge: The accusations or condemnations of a shameless man shall never make me ashamed. Upon the most diligent search I could make into my conscience, I do not know that in any particle wherein I have come near my brethren of the Presbyterial judgment in the Assembly or otherwise, that ever I started back in the least; yea let any bring forth what ever I have said in the Assembly, either formerly or lately, what ever I have delivered in preaching, printing, or conferring, wherein they think I came nearest my Brethren, I hereby profess that I am still the same, and that I will upon any occasion publish my self to be the same. Indeed of all the Apologists, Providence put me upon that work of handling the point of Heart-Divisions, and I bless God I did it in the uprightness of my heart. In that argument I was put upon showing how near men called Independents came to those of the Presbyterian judgement, wherein I declared my self freely. Now ⟨p. 12⟩let not M. Edwards be angry with me for going along with him two miles, because I cannot go three; and because he thinks if I yield thus far, I cannot but contradict the whole cause, except I will contradict my former assertions: Let him not be displeased with me, though I be not of his mind; his blustering spirit may make my speeches or lines seem to lye cross, but let a meek, quiet spirited man look on them, and they will lye right enough, as they have done to many Presbyterial Brethren. Although nothing under heaven would more rejoice me then to help to find out any expedient whereby I might agree with my Brethren who are for the Classical and Provincial Presbyteries, yet I must needs profess that all that I have hitherto heard in the Assembly or elsewhere, after (I hope) sincere labouring with my heart and with God, that I might know his truth, hath not shaken nor caused any Scruple in those Principles my conscience hath been engaged in, against the extending that ruling power of Pastors and Teachers our Brethren challenge beyond their charge of feeding by the Word and Sacraments.