[Page] INQƲISITIO ANGLICANA: OR The Disguise discovered.
SHEVVING The Proceedings of the Commissioners at White-hall, for the Approbation of Ministers, IN The Examinations of ANTHONY SADLER Cler: (Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Lady PAGETT, Dowager) VVhose Delay, Triall, Suspence and VVrong, presents it self for Remedy, to the L d PROTECTOR, and the High Court of PARLIAMENT: AND For Information to the Clergy, and all the People of the Nation.
Heu Pietas! heu prisca fides!
LONDON, Printed By J. Grismond, for Richard Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane, 1654.
To his Highness The LORD PROTECTOR: The Petitionary Epistle of A. S. Cler'.
YOur much Injured Petitioner, presents these his impollisht Examinations to the judicious consideration of your Highness.
For the Truth of Them, I shall be Deposed, or Exposed to a farther Triall; so it be, in Publick, upon Questions given, and a time to Deliberate.
It is the Comfortable Hope (as well as the Humble Request) of your Petitioner, that he shall be Protected, from the Malignancy of Prejudice : even the Prejudice of Mr. Nye the Commissioner, against whose over-busie-partiall-and-injurious Proceedings, your Petitioner doth humbly crave, the benefit, of that Iustice; the Law, Reason, and Religion, may, or shall give—unto—
To the high Court of PARLIAMENT, The Petitionary Epistle of A. S. Cler'.
AS our Grievances are to be made Known unto you, so are they to be Redressed by you.
I am therefore humbly-bold to implore your Legall Favour, that, these my Examinations, with the Proceedings of the Commissioners, for Apprabation of Ministers, may be so taken into Consideration; that, (Religion, being maintained, and Justice done; and a Reformation, made)
Glory, may be to God;
Goodwill, to Men;
And in Earth, Peace.
Inquisitio Anglicana: OR, The Disguise Discovered.
UPon the Reformation of Religion by King Ferdinand, the Spanish Inquisition was first Invented, by the Dominican Fryers; for the Enquiring after, and the Finding out, and the Reclaiming of those, Moors and Jewes, which lived in Spain, in a Formall, but not Reall Submission unto the Church of Rome.
The House for those Inquisitors, is very Strong; their Practise, very Strict; their Proceedings, very Grievous: the Smallest Error in Religion, being punisht, with Death, Exile, Imprisonment, or Confiscation.
Their Flies or Informers, are very numerous; and let the Person Informed Against, be never so Innocent, he is sure to Suffer, if his Estate be Great.
Whosoever Speaks in his Desence, or Shews him any Favour, is to weare the Sambenito, to be publickly Whipt, and then Banisht for ten years.
If they Suspect or Maligne any one, he is forthwith Apprehended, and put to the Rack, and if by Torments he cannot be drawn to Accuse himself, of Treason or Heresie, (which they lay to his Charge) then they Flatter him, and [Page 2] let him goe: telling him withall, that (for their parts) they ever had a good opinion of him, and that he was much Bounden to their Lordships, who were thus ready to doe him Justice: then they give him a speciall Charge, of Silence; which, if he keep not, they ipso facto commence a Suit against him, and then, without ever being Heard, he is either Starv'd, or Murther'd in the P [...]ison.
When any one is in Question, he must make means to come unto his Triall, which, if (after long-waiting, much-importu [...]ity, and great-expence) he have, he is then brought into the Consistory, and let him Answer, What, and How he will, (if it be not to their mindes) they tell him, that they are not satisfied, though they give no Reason, Why.
The manner of their Examination, is, first by oath; which, if he Refuse, th [...]n an Indictment's drawn, and they charge him with Improbable, Incredible, and such things, as he never knew nor heard of.
The severall Articles, he must Answer to ex tempore, without any time of deliberation: then they give him Pen, Ink, and Paper, to set down his Answers in Writing; and if his First and Last Answers doe any way differ, he is then certainly undone.
I cannot make a full Parallel (God forbid I should) between those cruell-Romish, and our—English Inquisitors: and yet—
1. THey have, both alike, a Grand Commission, to Authorize their Doings.
2. Their Proceedings are alike, Severe, to those they Disaffect; being very Partiall, Close, Delatory, and Prejudiciall.
3. Their Questions (be they Idle, Solid, or Captious) must be Answered to, alike, ex tempore, and upon the sudden.
4. They have, alike, by their Informers, Intelligence from all parts.
[Page 3] 5, They are alike, Examiners, Witnesses, and Judges in their own case.
6. And lastly, I cannot name the many waies they have, in the Spanish Inquisition, to Question, and to ruine the Person, whom they doe Maligne. Neither can I trace out the many Turnings that Mr. Nye hath to Delay, or Delude, or Deny any Minister (though never so Worthy) Presented to a Living (though never so justly) of the (chargeable and new-found) Instrument, of their Approbation.
If they Dislike the Minister (and probably like the Living)—Then—(I doe not say, that they cannot Approve him, oh no, by no means, they cannot; because (forsooth) he is Disaffected, i. e. not of their Opinion, Or else, secondly,
That his Answers are not to their minde, and therefore he is Insufficient. Or else thirdly,
That there is a Caution against him, though he know not, by Whom, nor for What. Or else fourthly,
That he carries his Hand by his side, and his Elbow up; and therefore he is Proud. Or else fiftly,
That his Certificate is not Satisfactory, i. e. they doe not know the Subscribers, or not believe them to be Godly. Or else sixtly,
That he shall not have that Living (though some other he may) let him doe what he will. Or else seventhly,
That his Voice and Tone likes them not; and therefore he hath not the Gift of Utterance. Or else eighthly,
That he speaks too quaintly, and therefore is he a meer Humanist, and one that hath not the Spirit. Or else ninthly,
That if he will resigne his Living quietly, he shall have a round summe of money so to doe.
I doe not say of any of these things; no, I doubt not, but Mr. Sammois, and Mr. Hart, and the rest, will appear in their own cases: but this, I can, and doe, and will say, that—)—
—Then, they first Question the Form of his Certificate, and reject That: if This will not doe, Then secondly,
They Scruple the Persons, subscribing, and reject Those. If This will not doe, then thirdly,
[Page 4] He is (after three weeks it may be, if not much longer attendance) called for, and Examined: and that a first, and a second time; by five, and then by nine Commissioners: They use all the waies they can, to Baffle him, two or three speaking at once to confound his memory, or Invalid his Answers. And if this will not doe, Then—after a Long, and Strict Examination; they bid him. Withdraw, and call for him no more—And This, is my particular Case, which is here fully Recollected, and now Presented to the Publick View; by way, both of Appeal, and Apologie: an Apologie, for my Self; and an Appeal, to The Lord PROTECTOR and The High Court of PARLIAMENT,
I (Anthony Sadler, a Minister of the Gospel, Inwardly Called thereunto, by the the Spirit of God; and Outwardly by the Ordination of Doctor Corbet, Bishop of Oxon, in the year 1631,) was (upon the Death of the Incumbent Presented (by the Lawfull Patron to Compton Hayway, a Living in Dorsetshire, May the 25. 1654.
According to the Ordinance (for my Institution and Induction I submitted my self to the Examination of the Comm [...]ssioners, in that case provided.
I put in my Cert [...]ficate upon the 10 of June; which (waiting constantly upon them) was (upon the 14 day) Rejected, and Redelivered me by Mr. Nye the Commissioner, saying, It was no Certificate.—
The form of which was this:
VVHereas the Bearer hereof Anthonie Sadler, a Minister of Gods most holy Word, and my Domestick Chaplain, having demeaned himself very Commendably in the Performance of his Place, and Duty; Preaching upon all occasions, both soundly and comfortably, as well to Others, as to my Self, and Family: I thought good (he being now called to a more publick Execution of his Function, for the Glory of God, and the Instruction of his People) to Attest unto all those, to whom these Presents shall come, That the said Anthonie Sadler, is a well-deserving Person, and of right godly Life, and Conversation.
[Page 6] Mr. Nye asked me, If I had not seen the Ordinance? I told him, No. So his Son shewed it to me; and then, and there, and thence, I Transcribed their own Form; which, upon the 19 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. ANTHONIE TINGLE Clerk of the Abbey at Westminster.
I waited day after day for Nine daies, after this: using all the lawfull means, I could, that I might but come unto my Triall.
My Delay was very Troublesome (though not, it may be, Chargeable, as that of Mr. 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 li.) was enforced to return without their Instrument; because (as M. Nye told Him; and He, Me;) His Certificate was not Subscribed by Hands they knew.) I say, my Delay was very Troublesome, causing me to Trifle away my Time, to Neglect the Duty of my Place & Calling: at last, (being Wearied with this strange Attendance) I sent in a Note to Mr. Nye, & Mr. Peters, humbly entreating them, That I might have the Favour to be Examined, for I had waited almost three weeks.
About twelve a Clock, I went away, (having a Familyduty to perform to an Honourable Lady.) I was no sooner gone (so Curious are They to observe their time) but I was Called for, and not being there Then, 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 my Presentation both. (I say my Presentation, for, This they kept all the while, that they might be informed of the Value of it)
[Page 7] After this, (that I might not leave any way unassayed to come but to a Hearing) I made my Addresse to the Master of the Rolls, (now Mr. Speaker) who Subscribed thus,
THis Gentleman, Mr. Sadler, hath Preacht before me, with very good Approbation of me; and I did before that time hear, and I was so informed, that he was a godly Minister.
And to Doctor Temple, who Subscribed thus,
I Have received a good Testimony of Mr. Sadler, and doe believe him to be a man of Abilities to Preach the Gospel, and of a godly Conversation.
Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Arnold, (high Burgesses of Westminster) and Mr. Morrice, a person well known to Mr. (one of the Cōmissioners) these gave me their several Hands, to the former (those beforenamed and Rejected) which (being all together to one and the same Certificate) upon the first day of July, I delivered to their Clerk, and upon the third day I was called in before their Worships, and Mr. Nye having the Chair, began thus:
The first Examination before five Commissioners, July the 3. 1654.
Question.
VVHat is Regeneration?
Answer. It is our Incorporation into Christ by Faith.
Q. What, body into body?
A. No, Christs body is Mysticall.
Q. What's Regeneration?
Q. What's Generation? said another▪ both of them speaing at one time.
A. Regeneration is our New birth in Christ.
Explain your meaning, that's but the word in the plain sense of it.
A. Regeneration is distinguisht from Sanctification, saith Wilson.
Q. What, Wilson 's Dictionary? speaking ironically.
A. If you take Regeneration and Sanctification both as one, then—Regeneration is a work of Gods Spirit, to bring the Will of Man unto the Will of God.
That's something indeed.
The Definition, is a learned Authors.
You may alledge Popish Books.
Q. What, is the Will onely Regenerated, not the Ʋnderstanding?
A. The whole man, both Outward and Inward.
Q. Is Regeneration a Substance, or an Accident?
A. I doe not well understand your meaning.
Its plain, Answer—
A. Here I made a pause, as being much troubled in minde, at so captious, if not ridiculous, a Question; and being silent—Mr. Nye said again—
Q. In what Predicament?
A. In the Predicament of Quality.
Q. But are you Regenerated?
A. Yes.
Q. Make that out.
A. I conceive you mean the work of grace in me.
Q Well, and when was that?
A. About thirty years agoe. [How old were you then? said Mr. Nye.] I was in my Though secret Devotion be alwaies Private; yet Private Dev [...]tion is not alwaies Secret. secret devotion. [He means Private, said Mr. Nye, both interrupting, and deriding me] I was Kneeling and Praying, that God would give a certain Evidence of his Spirit; and shew some good token upon me for good: whereupon, I heard, as it were, a Voice, saying, I have a blessing for thee, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Q. What, was it a Voice, was it Audible?
A. No, not in a Vocall way, it was a Motion.
Q. Was it not a Delusion, as Eve 's voice to Adam?
A. No, I know it was no Delusion, but a good Motion: I know it was, because a good Motion is alwaies in expresse words of Scripture, or Consonant to it: a Delusion may have some part of Truth, but not All: as the Devils was, when he Tempted our Saviour, with a Piece of Scripture.
Q. And you are sure, that you have the Grace of God in you?
A. Yes, I am as sure I have a life of Grace in me, as I have a life of Nature.
Make that out.
A. As I have Breath, Heat, Sense, and Action in my Body, so have I in my Soul.
Q What is the Breath of the Soul?
A. My Longing, and Thirsting after God.
Q. What is the Heat?
A A Zeal for Gods Glory, and my Affection to him. [Then spake two more of them, but what, I minded not, being intent upon the Allegory.]
Q. What is the Sense of the Soul?
A. An Apprehension of my Indisposedness, and a Sense of Sin.
Q. What is the Action of the Soul?
A. The good works I doe, as works of Piety and Charity.
This is all one, a thing studied—
Q. What is Faith?
A. It is a Knowing, a Believing, and a Depending upon Christ, saith one; or, as saith another, It is the Believing not onely of Gods Word to be True; but a firm Perswasion, that the Truth and Promises of that Word, belongs to Me.
—Here (they not hearing, or not regarding what I said, nor suffering me to speak a word more) I was frowned upon, and commanded to
Withdraw.
So I went out, and heard no more of it.
In the Afternoon I came again to know their Worships pleasure: and meeting with Mr. Nye, I desired to know the issue of my Examination : He told me, The Commissioners did not approve. I then askt him, what he would have me doe? He told me, nothing could be done till there were nine Commissioners together. So, between five and six a clock (there being a full Table) I was called in again, and then (though Mr. Tombs had the Chair, yet) Mr. Nye thus said to me,
You were not satisfied with what the Commissioners did in the Morning; but you desire a further Triall of your Parts.
Then said Mr. Tombs—
The second Examination before nine Commissioners, July the 3. 1654.
Quest
VVHat is Originall Sin?
A. It is the Corruption of our Nature, through Adam's fall.
Q. Is Actuall or Originall sin greater?
A. Actuall.
Q. Is Pride or Murder, a Greater sin, than Originall?
Q. Is the Branch, said another, greater than the Root?—That is well put, said a Third.
A. Yes, Originall sin is lesse than Actuall; for, Actuall sin is the Aggravation of Originall: there be degrees of sin.
Q. Did Adam sin Willingly or Ʋnwillingly?
A. Willingly, for, his Will was Free.
Q. Was God Willing, or Ʋnwilling of it?
A. It is a dark Question, I conceive, with submission to your judgment; that, there was a Willing-Unwillingnesse.
Q. Where doe you finde that in Scripture?
A The Question is as dark as the Answer.
Q. What think you of Indeliberate Motions?
A. I doe not well understand you.
Q. Motions to Sin, before Consent are they Sinfull?
A. Not Sinfull, if not Consented to.
Q. How so?
A. Because they be the Devils Suggestions, and are laid to his Charge.
Q. Why, what are the Motions in our sleep, when we dream of killing, or doing any other wickedness?
A. These Nocturnals are not sinfull neither, if when we doe awake we doe not Remember them, or Relate them with Delight, or any Yeilding to them.
You told us in the Morning, that you were sure of the Grace of God in You.
A. I did.
Q. How have you that Assurance?
A. By Faith.
Q. Is Faith Mediate or Immediate?
A. It is Immediate as Gods Gift; but ordinarily, it is Mediate, by the Word and otherwise.
Q. Doe you Believe CHRIST, before you knew him; or Know CHRIST, before you doe Believe him?
Q. How doe you Exiricate your self?
A. I Know whom I have Believed.
Q. What Evidence have you, that you Believe in Christ?
A. Because I have a Zeal to his Glory, a Sorrow for Sin, a Reluctancy against Sin, and I Apply the Merits of my Saviour to my Self, saying, as Thomas did, My Lord, and my God.
Q. Is He your God, and your Lord onely? Christ died for All, and shall not All have the Benefit of his Death?
A. No, I know Christs Death is Sufficient for as many Worlds of men, as there be Men in the World: but surely, its not Effectuall to All: its to all Sorts of People, but not to All people.
Q. Why not to All, as well as to You?
A. Because God will have Mercy, on Whom he will have Mercy.—Yea, said Mr. Tombs, and Whom he Will, he Hardeneth.
Q. Doth God Harden any Ones Heart?
A. Yes.
Q. How can God Harden the Heart, and not be the Authour of Sin?
A. God is said to Harden the Heart, when he Withdraws his Grace.
Q. If God Withdraw his Grace, when he might Hinder Sin, Is He not the Authour of Sin?
A. God hath a threefold Precept: a Precept of Triall, a Precept of Obedience, and a Precept of Conviction.
Q. Give Examples of each of them: What is the Precept of Triall?
A. That, by which, God Tempted Abraham.
Q. What is the Precept of Obedience?
A. That, which God gives to his Elect: when he gives them a Command, and Grace therewith, to Perform the Command.
Q. What is the Precept of Conviction?
A. That, under which the Wicked lie; which, though they cannot Perform, yet God is not the Authour of Sin.
Q. What is the Chief Point, in all the Scripture?
A. CHRIST, and Him Crucified.
Q. Are you Justified by Faith?
A. Faith is my Righteousness, and Faith is my Justification.
There is a Justification before God, and a Justification before Men.
There is actus Ʋnus, and actus Successivus.
I am Justified by Faith, as Faith is the Instrument, or Hand, whereby I say hold upon and Apply the Merits of my Saviour, to my poor Soul: and Faith is my Righteousness, as its Correlative, in reference to Christs Merits.
Q. But, all this while, here is no mention made, of Love to the Brethren.
A. I could not love God, if I did not love the Brethren, All my delight, saith David, is upon the Saints.
Q. How long have you been at Westminster?
A. These seven years.
Q. Doe you know no Minister but Mr. Viner?
A. Yes, I knew your Self, and Many others.
Q. Doe not you know Mr. Roode?
A. Yes, but I have no Acquaintance with him.
Q. How came you to know Doctor Temple?
A. I have seen him many times, at my Ladies, and I have been with him at Battersy.
Q. Had you never any Living, or Cure?
A. I never had any Living absolutely; I had a Cure at Bishop-Stoke; which after the Living was Sequestred, I had 20l. a year allowed me by the Committee of Southampton, as Mr. Major can affirm. My greatest time I lived was, with Esquire Sadler in Hertfordshire, I was his Chaplain eleven years.—Sir, were it not, that I have a Zeal to advance Gods Glory, I would not take this Preferment; I thank God, I can live, as I am.
Q. What doe you say of the Church of Rome, Is it a True Church or no? Bishop Hall saies, it is a True Church, and the Priests and Jesuits, and He that was Executed the other day, said, It was a True Church: What say you?
A. Its no True Church. I think the Church of Rome, is as a Virgin Defloured; She was Pure, but she is Defiled.
—Then, they bid me
I waited to be Called in again (according to their Custome) to hear the Result: but I was called for no more; insomuch that when they Rose, I followed Mr. Nye, and askt him of the issue of my Examinations; He told me, The Commissioners did not Approve; I askt the Reason why; but, he seemed to slight me, and went away without speaking any farther to me.
I went forthwith to Mr. Peters, and told him, I was sorry, that I was not thought worthy of their Approbation: He answered, That the Commissioners had not yet Concluded any thing, and that it was upon Suspence.
About a Fortnight after, I met with Mr. Lockier, and desired him, That a Vote might passe, with me, or against me: He said, There was a Vote, and bid me ask the Clerk: whom, upon the 7 of August I did, and having the Book reviewed, there was onely this Recorded, That such an One was Examined, and no more—
The 14 of August I wrote a Letter to Mr. Nye,—the Copie whereof is This—
BEcause I have been twice Examined, first by Five, and then by Nine Commissioners; and nothing as yet Determined (as upon Record) either for me, or against me; and because my Life and Doctrine is generally known; and I am Commanded by some Persons of Quality, to Satisfie the World, and to Justifie my Self, so farre, as to a Prudentiall Vindication: And lastly, because my Sufficiency for my Calling, is, by You, Obliquely, in the Negative: I have followed the advice of my good Friend Mr. O. Sedgwicke, in making this Addresse unto your Reverend Self.
Sir, I beseech you, to hold the Scale with Piety, and Prudence; and let it not be turned by Policie, or Prejudice.
Fac Aliis fieri quod cup is ipse Tibi, is, a Gospel Precept; and even Mahomet also, in his Alcoran, makes it Obligatory.
Remember (I pray you) the Mottoes upon the Spoaks in Sesostris Wheel: Imagine my Case, Yours; and let God, and a good Conscience guide you, as you will Answer it, at the Dreadfull Day, of the Lords Coming.
You know Master Nye, that every one hath not the Boldnesse, it may be, the Ingenuity, it may be, the Memory (no, the Ablest Scholler is sometimes Indisposed, and Dull; and Haesitates at That; which, at another time, he is Facetious In) to Answer Quodlibets ex tempore, and to make out upon the sudden, the Gifts and the Graces, which are in him.
It is well known, I have, in this City, Preacht (and the Text given me) upon a Daies Warning.
[Page 16] 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.
I know, a Teacher of Gods Word, hath a fourfold Duty; and the Word of God, a fourfold Use; Three Practique, and One Contemplative.
I know, bonae sunt in Scriptur is sanctis Mysteriorum profunditates; quae ob hoc Teguntur, ne Vilescant; ob hoc quaeuntur, ut Exerceant; ob hoc autem Aperiuntur, ut Pascant.
Credimus, ut Cognoscamus; non Cognoscimus, ut Credamus.
Optimus est Lector, qui dictorum Intelligentiam expectet ex Dictis, potiùs quàm Imponat; & Retulerit magis, quàm Attulerit.
Sir, give me any Controversed-Theologicall point, but That, of Free-will, (which was never yet Decided by Oecumenicall or Generall Councell) I shall be, your humble Respondent in any Publique Audience.
I must Entreat you, to Pardon my Boldness: I confesse, the Prophet Excusabat se per Verecundiam; and the Apostle affirms it, by a Question of Abnegation, [...]? and yet, the same Apostle was enforced to a kinde of Vain-glory; if I am so, You have Compelled me; and I crave your Excuse.
My Credit, and my Livelihood, are both Reflected on by the Suspence of your Vote; and the Contingency of your Approbation.
Mr. Peters told me, nothing was Concluded, and the 7 of this instant Aug: I had the Book Revised, and found it so.
I humbly crave an Ultimate Answer, and a Positive [Page 17] Conclusion, upon my Examinations, (which I have fully Recollected, and can produce) my Patron will Present none other, till That be done.
If You please to Approve me (as God, and the World hath, by my Meet Gifts, and Lawfull Ordination) I shall (God willing) Employ my Talent, to (my utmost power) the best Advantage: but—if you are resolved to Disapprove me, let it be (I pray you) upon Record, and the Reason why; that (saving your Complement) Aftertimes may know it, as well as You—This is the humble, and but just desire, of
Of this Letter, I had no Return; but—This was (as were my Answers, my first Certificate, and second Subscribers) Nauseated by his—Worship: so that, (as if his Will were the Law; his Power Unlimited; and both Unquestionable) I am strangely kept (in an Arbitrary way) under the Hatches of their (displeased) Pleasure : yea—and all this (to the losse of my Time, Living, and Preferment) without any reason rendred me.
Being therefore Enforc'd (I say Enforc'd) to this True Relation, and but Just Appeal; I hope, the Lord my God, will so Blesse it; as to be Successfull, to his Glory, and the Publique good.