M r SADLER RE-EXAMINED.
M r ANthony Sadler a Minister of the Gospel (as he saith) inwardly called thereto by the Spirit of God, and outwardly by the Ordination of D r Corbet Bishop of Oxon, Complaineth against the Proceedings of the Commissioners at Whitehall for Approbation of Ministers, and against their Commission which doth authorize their doings; as he saith: And gives in as grounds of this Complaint, their Injustice, Partiality, Delayes, and other Injuries done to such as come to them.
That these things are so, and his Complaint just, is by an Instance of their Proceedings in the Disapproving of himself and one M r Taylor of Yorkeshire, wherein many things as Matter of Fact are presented to make good his Complaint and the grounds of it: In the examination whereof, the evil surmises, gross mistakes, and most notorious falshoods of the said Complaint, and his ill spirit in it, will abundantly appear to any indifferent Reader.
For the Commission, which he termes a Spanish Inquisition, and the Importance of it, and the absolute necessity of some such way of Approbation, for substance, as is directed in that Ordinance, if ever there be a Soul-saving Ministry setled through England, is likely to be the subject of a more able Pen shortly. My undertaking at the present, is to discover the Imposture and Falshood in matters of Fact, Pleaded by him and laid as the Foundation upon which the whole Pile is set.
Upon this he builds not only High Reproaches against one of the Commissioners, who I am able to say did as much for [Page 2]him as in Conscience he durst: But ventures at all the re [...], thirty or fourty Persons together (eminently known for their worth, chosen out of both Universities, the City of London and other places for their Prudence and Sincerity) are put under horrid and vile Representations by him.
And yet this is not enough: he ventures also to open his mouth wide against the Powers he appeals to: The Ordinance and Commission it self of such Importance in the Contents of it, done upon such deliberation, and with the assistance of the ablest Lawyers in this Nation, published and acted upon, to the Comfort and spiritual refreshing of Thousands: And now all this is done, in his sight (who is thus lifted up high in his own conceipt) this seems to be but a kind of Romish-Spanish-Inquisition.
I will begin where he begins, with Matter of Fact, pag. 4. of his Book. There begins the Legend, the former Pages contain the vapors only exhaled from his corrupt and rotten Story, which followeth.
M r Sadler §. 1.
I Anthony Sadler a Minister of the Gospel, &c.
I put in my Certificate upon the 10 th of June; which (waiting constantly upon them) was (upon the 14 th day) Rejected, and Redelivered me by M r Nye the Commissioner, saying, It was no Certificate.—
Answer 1.
The Ordinance by which the Commissioners sit enjoyneth, That before any Admittance there shall be brought to the Commissioners, a Testimonial in writing subscribed with the hands of three Persons,—who must testifie upon their Personal knowledge.—Which said Certificate shall be duly Registred and Filed.
M r Sadlers Certificate was the Certificate of One, of a single Person, the Form of it thus: ‘Whereas the Bearer hereof Anthony Sadler, a Minister of Gods most holy Word, and my Domestick Chaplain, &c.—I thought good to attest, &c.’
[Page 3] This was returned to him by the hands of M r Nye, with the true reason why they could not Register such a Certificate; who in all readiness as himself acknowledgeth, directed him to Form One according to the Ordinance, which he accordingly did, as in the next.
M r Sadler, §. 2.
I transeribed their own Form; which upon the 19 th of June I exhibited with the Hands of—
- LETICIA Lady PAGETT.
- WILLIAM Lord PAGETT.
- GEORGE MANLEY, late Justice of Peace.
- JOHN VINER, Minister of Westminster.
- EDWARD MARTYN, now in Commission.
- ANTHONY TINGLE, Clerk of the Abbey at Westminster.
I waited day after day for Nine daies, after this; using all the lawful means I could, that I might but come unto my Triall.
Answer 2.
The 19 th of June he saith. Now the 24 th of June by the Ordinance, was the last for all that were presented in the former whole year, to procure their Admittance, under the Penalty of Lapse, as appeareth in the said Ordinance: The Commissioners extremely burdened with the Multitude that attended, were inforced to lay aside all other business, and for their sakes who were in danger of Lapse (which was not his Case) to intreat of others attending, to forbear untill those were dispatched: M r Sadler also upon this Account was by one of the Commissioners spoken to, so that it is hardly beleeved he did or needed thus to wait: But if it were so, it was with less Inconvenience unto him, living but at Westminster, then many others: And indeed in those first three moneths, the business was so much and great upon their hands, as it was impossible to give that dispatch (especially to such as were Doubtfull) as each desired.
M r Sadler, §. 3.
My Delay was very Troublesome (though not, it may be, Chargeable, as that of M r Taylors was, who came from Yorke to London, and being Called, Examined, and Approved, at three weeks end; was yet stayed seven weeks after; and at the last, (having spent above 20 lb.) was enforced to return without their Instrument; because (as M r Nye told Him; and He, Me;) His Certificate was not subscribed by Hands they knew.)
Answer 3.
This seems to be the Master-piece of M r Sadlers slanders: Three Particulars are affirmed:
- 1. M r Taylor upon Examination was Approved.
- 2. He was staid (by the Commissioners) seven weeks after and spent above 20 lb.
- 3. He returned at last without their Instrument, because his Certificate was not subscribed by Hands they knew.
Two of these are given out unto the world upon M r Sadlers own Credit, the third he had from the Parties own mouth, as he saith, That no man may doubt the Truth of them: If these things be true, they are so much to his Purpose, that M r Taylor well deserved the honour to have written the first Inquisitio Anglicana. But
1. M r Taylor was not approved.
For the attendance of M r Taylor, which you say was three weeks, and of many others besides him or M r Sadler, was not occasioned from any neglect in the Commissioners, who sate constantly every day fore-noon and afternoon. But upon that just account given in the last Answer. Upon the 27 th day of June the second day they sate after the hazard of Laps was over, they endeavoured his dispatch, the result as recorded in their Book, was this that followeth.
July 27. 1654. M r Taylor his Certificate read, and the person examined, he hath given some indifferent satisfaction, but in regard his Certificate is imperfect, the [Page 5]Commissioners doe respite their Approbation, till he mend his Certificate. And that they may enquire further concerning him.
Therefore 1. It is not so as he affirmeth, this man was approved by them: It is true such an Opinion was recorded of him, as (upon further understanding and satisfaction in respect of his conversation) the Commissioners need not be put to the trouble of re-examination, which without some such remembrance could not be prevented whensoever they came to his Approbation: And let me adde here, he giving so just an occasion.—
2. Neither is that true which he intimated Pag. 3. as their method; They first question the Form of his Certificate, and if this will not do, then they scruple the persons subscribing, and if this will not do, then thirdly he is called for and examined, &c.
The falshood of this doth evidently appear by the proceedings of the Commissioners before-mentioned in M r Taylors Case, and so M r Sadler is condemned by his own witnesse, and indeed their ordinary Method is (as with M r Taylor.) 1. Although the Certificate do not satisfie so fully, yet they call in the person. 2. If they finde him so qualified, as if he had a good Certificate, they might approve, he is no longer necessitated to any personall attendance, but may by any Friend or Sollicitor exhibite his better Certificate, and by the same hand receive the Instrument of his admittance. 3. If a man be in any respect doubtfull, they take the trouble of enquiry upon themselves (as in this instance) for having the advantage of frequent Posts in the compasse of a Week or ten daies they can understand from any part of England, and know of what repute the man is whencesoever he comes: This M r Sadler laieth to their charge Pag. 2. as a crime, They have by their Informers (saith he) Intelligence from all parts; surely he only that hath done evil hateth this light.
2. He was not staid seven weeks by the Commissioners whatsoever he spent in that time. Thus it's cleared.
After he had given overture to the Commissioners at his first being before them, of his going back to his charge, he [Page 6]knowing they heard he was still about the Town, and how he avoided coming in sight, and thinking this would offend them, excuseth himself by a Letter to them (which I have by me) beginning thus,— I beseech you excnse my long staying in Town, it was about importunate businesse at Bedford, &c.
Let the Reader judge whether it be possible for M r Sadler to make a truth out of this notorious falshood.
3. For what he addes in the third place, That The Cause of his return unapproved was, because his Certificate was subscribed by men they knew not, I give this account.
The 9 th of August following h [...] [...]ame again to the Commissioners with a Certificate and a Letter, in which it was sent: This Letter bearing date August the first, was penned as from his Parishioners, and such expressions as these, viz. We are heartily grieved for your long absence; We are informed you are sought to for York; We hope in the Lord you will not forsake us; It will be a great losse to us and other Parishes round about which long for your coming home; We hope this Certificate will serve your turn: You know these men every one are of known note, &c.
The Commissioners by a good Providence found it out, That there was never any such Letter written by his Parishiooners, it was forged by himself, and the Names to it counterfeited: The Certificate also, the Names to it some by himself, and some by the hand that wrote the Certificate; The Commissioners were able so fully to convince him of all this his forgery, that though he denied it notoriously at first, he could not at last but acknowledge it, Of all this am I an eye and ear-witnesse, and have the Letters and Certificate to shew, and for this cause the Commissioners durst not approve him; And he was dismift the same day, not by any message sent him, but by the whole board, he being present, who also dealt with him in a Christian way for this his evil doing.
M r Sadler, §. 4.
At last (being wearied with this strange attendance) I sent [Page 7]in a Note to M r Nye and M r Peters, humbly entreating them, that I might have the favour to be Examined, for I had waited almost three weeks.
Word was brought me forthwith, That the Hands to my certificate were not approved of; That Afternoon their Clerk told me as much, and so gave me again my Certificate, and [...]y Presentation both; (I say my Presentation, for This they kept all the while, that they might be informed of the value of it.)
Answer 4.
Munday the 26 th of June, the very first day any such businesse was taken in hand, for the Reasons before-mentioned, his Certificate with these Names were read to the Commissioners. And upon consideration that there being so many Ministers and others in and about Westminster, where he had so long lived, He might adde to his Testimony without much trouble to himself, one or two possibly more known to them then the Honourable persons and others that had under-written, he was desired so to do for their further satisfaction.
For that other passage.
I say my Presentation, for this they kept all the while that they might be informed of the value of it, &c. compared with pag. 3. If they mislike the Minister and probably like the Living, &c.
He would intimate the Commissioners guilty of a very great wickednesse, which I am confident he hath not the least shew of ground for; I do not beleeve it can be said of any of them, that ever they have attempted directly or indirectly to pleasure themselves or any relation or friend of theirs, with any Living that for want of their Approbation hath hitherto become vacant; Much lesse to disapprove any one upon such a vile consideration: If there could have been any instance of this nature produced, I doubt not but he would have bestowed it freely, and it would have served him better then that strained simple surmise, They kept his Presentation three weeks, that they might be informed of the value of [Page 8]the Living. 2. Is it probable a Patron will be so well pleased with the dis-approbation of his Clerk as thus to reward any of those that have done it? 3. Many good Livings that were in his Highnesses gift had been void after that 24 th of June, which (for fit men) they might as likely have procured if their design had been for Livings. But they rather humbly endeavoured with his Highnesse and his Councell, and thereupon obtained a Moneths time longer to prevent their being lapsed; It is a farre fetched strain of Revenge to suggest against them such wide unlikelihoods; The Lord pardon it.
M r Sadler §. 5.
Ʋpon the first day of July I delivered my Certificate to their Clerk, and upon the third day I was called in before their Worships, and M r Nye having the Chair began thus:
Answer 5.
Upon the first day of July, which was Saturday, on Munday the 3 d he was called in, here was no delay; Pag. 17. he saith, He hath fully recollected his Examinations; and here he himself sets them down; Then certainly the Commissioners Examinations are not so long as he chargeth, pag. 4. For if this be the full collection which he hath printed, little more then a quarter of an hour would have dispatched such an examination; If there be any thing left out, then he is unfaithfull in his relating: I have heard some of the Commissioners (who knowing in what a broken and in many things mistaken way he hath printed his Examinations) wonder with what conscience he could offer (as in his Epistle to his Highnesse) to be deposed for the truth of them.
M r Sadler §. 6.
When they rose I followed M r Nye, and askt him of the issue of my Examinations; He told me, The Commissioners did not Approve.— M r Peters told him, That the Commissioners had not yet concluded any thing,—About a Fortnight after I met with M r Lockier, and desired him, That a Vote might passe [Page 9]with me or against me; He said, There was a Vote, and bid me ask the Clerk, whom upon the 7 th of August I did, and having the Book reviewed, there was only this Recorded, That such an One was Examined, and no more—
Answer 6.
It is true which M r Nye told him, and was seconded by M r Lockier, I was present and remember it; I finde it also entred in the Book thus.
July 3 d M r Anthony Sadler his Certificate read, and the person Examined, six of the Commissioners being present and unsatisfied.
He being discoursed with again in the afternoon, when there was a fuller company, the result of it is recorded thus.
July 3 d M r Anthony Sadler who was examined in part in the morning, was this afternoon called in again, and further examined, and not approved.
And I can affirm from some further remembrance there written, That there was not one man of nine or ten then present that could give an affirmative for his approbation. With what forhead can this man affirm, that having the Book reviewed there was only this recorded, that such a one was Examined, and no more. Whereas it being thus written in the book with mine own hand that very day, he was last examined; I can take my Oath there hath not been one word added since it was first written. I question much whether M r Peters would tell him any thing otherwise then what was; If he did mistake him, he had means to rectifie himself by what was recorded; But he is so unwilling to see of himself any thing that is displeasing, that he can reade no unsatisfaction or disapprovement in the Book, though it be written plainly, and in respect to him, and in the common form in which the entry of any man disapproved is ordinarily made.
M r Sadler §. 7.
Sir, I beseech you to hold the Scale with Piety and Prudence, and let it not be turned by Policy or Prejudice.
Answer 7.
He supposeth him that is in the chair to hold the scales [...] Grant it, But if all the weight be put in one scale, and nothing in the other, as it was in his vote; It is not the holding of the Scales though with never so much policy or cunning can alter the result: I wonder what imaginable advantage it can be to any of the Commissioners or any that belongs to them, that a man be put by, more then if he be admittted; Wherein lieth the Policy? To pleasure some friend or relation with their places that are disapproved? They are of all men least capable, as hath been shewed before: If matter of Profit, I can this truly say and have to prove it, Twenty, Forty Pounds at a time hath been offered me to get a Person approved, but I never heard of a Farthing offered to put any man by: And for any ease to them by it, I can truly say from what I have often heard and seen, Ten persons (if of worth) have been put into Places with less trouble, then ordinarily one man is disapproved; The Indulgence of the Commissioners is such, and their unwillingness to misunderstand of any Persons worth, that Liberty is given to those that for present are disapproved, to return and be examined again even toties quoties: If they perceive a man not so ready, or incomposed, they ordinarily intreat one or two of the Commissioners to discourse with him in a more private way, and make a report: It is seldom any Person is disapproved, so long as any one Commissioner hath hopes, that possibly he may some other way, or at some other time give better satisfaction.
M r Sadler, §. 8.
I have, and shall again (as occasion serves,) Preach, both Practicall, and School-Divinity; This for Manifestation in regard of my Sufficiency; and That, for Edification in regard of the People.
Answer 8.
It seems by his own confession he doth not alwayes Preach for Edification, but sometimes for Ostentation, and this he hath done, and this he is resolved to do again: Is such a man fit to be Approved to take Charge of the Souls of People, that purposeth and professeth this to be his purpose so often as occasion serves, that is, when he hath an opportunity to manifest his Sufficiency, then out shall come his School-quiddities, and all his Fine Holliday Sermons, although he knows before-hand this will be onely for the manifestation of his Sufficiency, or (as the Vulgar) Preaching himself, and knows also its an other kind of Divinity, and when to call; it that is, for Edification of the People?
But, M r Sadler, whatsoever you boast, this surely is not your constant Practise, for when you were before the Commissioners for their Approvement (a fit occasion) there was little of these fine School-matters for the manifestation of your Sufficiency: No, and I beleeve others will so judge now you are in print, though your Answers have thriven well for what they were, since they have been in your own keeping, and much better fitted to the Questions, and the Questions better fitted to their Answers.
But Sir, Why do you tell the Commissioners this (that you are resolved as occasion serves, to preach your Self as well as Edifie the People) and then tell his Highness, and the Parliament, and all the Nation, you have told them so; and then complain of their Partiality, Injustice, &c. in not approving you? Certainly this is not such a transcendent high vertue in a Preacher, that wheresoever it is found, though otherwise weak, carnall, superstitious, or what ever other defects, this admirable dexterity in making use of Practical and School-divinity must bear him out?
Now to summe up all for Conclusion: By this Re-examination of M r Sadler, we may observe what he seems to be in his own, and what he deserves to be in other mens opinion. He represents himself as one converted, when at his secret devotion, and now as sure he hath the life of grace in him, as he [Page 12]is sure he hath the life of nature, pa. 9. and applieth Christ with like confidence as Thomas did when he said My Lord and my God (pa. 12.) One that loves the Brethren, and all his delight is upon the Saints: Called to the Ministry by the Spirit and D r Corbet, and takes Preferment out of zeal to advance Gods glory. For this mans state in grace, farre be it from me to judg it; I shall examine only the visibility and proof of it in those fruits mentioned.
1. For his love to ohe brethren, and delight in the Saints, his Practice little confirms it: Where is that covering of Infirmities? Nay is there not a discovering and carrying them forth into the world, Preaching [...]m upon the house top; Printing them, as he professeth, for those that live in after ages: And these too so farre from being their Infirmities, that they are evidently his: They are only his evil surmises, and impudent slanders out of a base self-end cast upon his Brethren, to piece up to himself a reputation of worth and Learning: I say these Lyes and falshoods are his; either naturally begotten, coming out of his own loyns, or by adoption made his, he owning and reporting them.
2. And for his Pretended zeal in his function, or indeed his understanding what belongs to such a High Calling, Compare what hath been said in the last Answer with pa. 17. I shall God willing imploy my talent to my utmost power, to the best advantage. And what is the best advantage? He tells you he hath, yea and shall again preach with regard to his own advantage, credit and applause of men, that it may be said of him, There goeth a great School-Divine: And he is of this opinion, He being such a Preacher is Approved both of God and the world, though their Approbation seldom go together. And now I am come to the bottom of the quarrell I shall end, which is this; M r Sadler being in his own opinion a man throughly furnished with Practicall and School-Divinity, a knowing man in in what is the duty of a Preacher, which he learnedly expresseth in these words, I know a Teacher of Gods word hath a fourfold duty, and the word of God a fourfold use, three practique and one contemplative (and there is all he hath yet of this discovery) one that though he cannot answer quodlibets extempore, [Page 13] nor make out upon the suddain the guifts and graces that are within him, yet it is well known he hath preached in a City, and (the Text given him) upon a dayes warning: Because this man for these high qualifications (as he thinks) may not therefore be approved with all his defects, The Commissioners and their Ordinance; and proceedings, and all must forthwith be disapproved: And leading up thus bravely, he expects and calls upon his Highness the Lord Protector, the Honourable Parliament, the Clergy, the People of this Nation, the present age, and the ages to come, to rise up and follow close after him against those busie men the Approvers, that do the utmost in them [...] to keep mens souls from being starved by the remainder of this Episcopall generation.
Between
Page 2. add
Page 3. adde this.
A Copy of a Certificate according to the Ordinance.
WE whose Names are under-written, for the better satisfaction of the Commissioners for Approbation of Publick Preachers, do testifie upon our Personal knowledge, That M r A. B. of C. in the County of D. is a Person of a holy and good Conversation; In witnesse whereof we hereunto subscribe this—day of— Ann. Dom.
This, or to some such purpose, to be testified under the hands of three persons of known godlinesse and integrity, whereof one at least to be a Preacher of the Gospel in some constant setled place.