A78005:65
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.
Thirdly, Had not the Prelatical faction been incensed against me for standing out against their superstitions, I should have ventured to have stood to what I spake, for all I said was but by way Quaere, affirming nothing, for I knew how dangerous the times were then, but putting quarrels tending to justify the Scots when they first rose in Arms, hearing them railed on in the company where I was, all my danger was in standing for them, and that with that wariness that such times required. But I knew what the power of the Prelatical party at that time was, who were extremely incensed against me; a mans innocency then, could not be his safety: I being most foully traduced in the report of my words, though the two other Gentlemen cleared me never so much, as my Lord of Warwick knows, (for the Conference was in his Garden) yet one witness affirmative in such a case would have been taken against an hundred negatives. A mere Accusation then was enough to cause me to provide for my security.
Thirdly, Had not the Prelatical faction been incensed against me for standing out against their superstitions, I should have ventured to have stood to what I spake, for all I said was but by way Quaere, affirming nothing, for I knew how dangerous the times were then, but putting quarrels tending to justifie the Scots when they first rose in Armes, hearing them rayled on in the company where I was, all my danger was in standing for them, and that with that warinesse that such times required. But I knew what the power of the Prelaticall party at that time was, who were extreamly incensed against me; a mans innocency then, could not be his safety: I being most foulely traduced in the report of my words, though the two other Gentlemen cleared me never so much, as my Lord of Warwick knowes, (for the Conference was in his Garden) yet one witnesse affirmative in such a case would have been taken against an hundred negatives. A meere Accusation then was enough to cause me to provide for my security.
Fourthly, but suppose before any such Accusation and danger, when I was in peace and safety, that then I had my call to the Clutch of Rotterdam, yea and had entertained this call, and acknowledged God much in it, (as indeed I had cause) and that this came but as an after Providence of God to make my way more clear to me, and to take off fully all my friends, from whom it would have been hard without some such providence to have got off, without much trouble. Will it not appear that M. Edwards ventures boldly to relate whatsoever he hears, and to put what constructions upon it he pleases, for he brings in this story to prove me false, in the saying with the rest of the Apologists, that we saw the evil of those superstitions that were adjoined to the Worship of God.