IN chap. I. of vol. II. I did obferve from capt. Dean's Letter, what share the Baptifts had in the revolution of the times then treated of; and from thence concluded, as they were not in the favour of the protector, fo no grounds could be given to charge the action of the king's death upon them. Having fince received from the Rev. Mr. Calamy a small pamphlet, setting forth the discovery of his highness's intentions, touching the Baptifts in the army, wrote, we may fuppofe, by an officer, who had been of the protector's intimacy, tho' at that time he thought it adviseable to conceal himself. Indeed, it is penned with fome warmth; and there is more of refentment in it than is ufually found amongst the writings of the Baptifts. But it is to be confidered, that it comes from foldiers, and not only foldiers, but injured foldiers; and therefore makes nothing against what I have hitherto written in behalf of the innocency of the English Baptifts, and their fubjection to government. They had now no king in Ifrael, and no wonder, if every : man did that which was right in his own eyes. However, to do juftice to my readers, and the reverend gentleman who communicated the fame to me, I shall infert the whole thereof in this place, and leave them to make fuch ufe thereof as they fhall think fit. It is intitled, A short difcovery of bis highness the lord protector's Q4 inten intentions touching the Anabaptifts in the army, and all fuch as are against bis refor ming things in the church; which was firft communicated to a Scotch lord, who is called Twidle; but is now come to the ear of the Anabaptifts: upon which there is propounded thirty-five queries for bis highness to answer to his own confcience. By a well wifher to the Anabaptifts profperity, and all the rest of the feparates in England. To his highness the Lord Protector. My Lord, THERE is fome intelligence abroad, ⚫ which I defire to communicate in a prist vate way, left I become malice or envy of the But to the matter inte this: It seems your courfing with a Scot <ed the lord Twidle fay, that there y that were am fe ch y to the ng lyon nd that is being dif who is call re pleased to aing amifi in ch you wo be.am Of new of the 2. The way you intend to take to do this work. "FIRST, to the work; and that is church 'work. It seems you intend to follow 'the fteps of them that are gone before, 'which could not be content to meddle 'with ftate affairs, and to make laws for the body or perfons of men, but for the 'confcience too; and to make laws and ftatutes, and impose them upon the people, as rules of divine worship. And this is the work you intend to be at, un'der pretence of correcting error, and fo to destroy truth. BUT who could have thought, when fpeech to the parngue was fo fweety of confcience, rement for having a per's confcience; who ned, that then heard ould have been fo foon de? unless he had f ain could have f d bitter? But. the way intentions touching the Anabaptifts in the army, and all fuch as are against bis refores ming things in the church; which was firft communicated to a Scotch lord, who is called Twidle; but is now come to the ear of the Anabaptifts: upon which there is propounded thirty-five queries for bis highness: to anfwer to his own confcience. By a wellwifher to the Anabaptifts profperity, and all the rest of the separates in England. To his highness the Lord Protector. My Lord, THERE is fome intelligence abroad, which I defire to communicate in a pri-: vate way, left I become a prey to the malice or envy of the ramping lyon. But to the matter intended, and that is this: It seems your highnefs being dif courfing with a Scotch lord, who is call<ed the lord Twidle, you were pleased to fay, that there was fomething amifs in the church and ftate, which you would reform as foon as may be. Of those that were amis in ftate, fome were done, and the reft were a doing; and as for thofe things that were amifs in the church, you hoped to rectify by degrees, as convenient opportunity prefented it felf; but before you could do this work, the Anabaptifts must be taken out of the army; and this you could not do with fharp corrofive medicines, but it must be done by degrees. From which there are two things obfervable, 1. The work." . 2. The way you intend to take to do this work. 'work. It seems 'FIRST, to the work; and that is church It seems you intend to follow 'the fteps of them that are gone before, ' which could not be content to meddle 'with ftate affairs, and to make laws for 'the body or perfons of men, but for the confcience too; and to make laws and ftatutes, and impofe them upon the people, as rules of divine worship. And this is the work you intend to be at, un'der pretence of correcting error, and fo to destroy truth. BUT who could have thought, when you made your laft fpeech to the parliament, when your tongue was fo sweetly tipt for the liberty of confcience, reproving the parliament for having a finger on their brother's confcience; who 'could have imagined, that then heard you, that you would have been so foon at the fame trade? unless he had fuppofed, a fountain could have fent forth fweet water and bitter? But, SECONDLY, the way you intend to 'take to bring about this defign, is two'fold. 1. To purge the army of the Anabaptifts. 2. To do it by degrees. But, Oliver, is this thy defign? And is 'this the way to be rid of the Anabaptifts? And is this the reafon, because ' they hinder the reforming the things amifs |
