Mr SADLER RE-EXAMINED.
Mr ANthony Sadler a Miniſter of the Goſpel (as he ſaith) inwardly called thereto by the Spirit of God, and outwardly by the Ordination of Dr 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 Mr 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 for2 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.
Mr Sadler §. 1.
I Anthony Sadler a Miniſter of the Goſpel, &c.
I put in my Certificate upon the 10th of June; which (waiting conſtantly upon them) was (upon the 14th day) Rejected, and Redelivered me by Mr 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.
Mr 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.
3This was returned to him by the hands of Mr 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.
Mr Sadler, §. 2.
I tranſeribed their own Form; which upon the 19th 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 19th of June he ſaith. Now the 24th 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: Mr 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.
Mr Sadler, §. 3.
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 20lb. ) was enforced to return without their Inſtrument; becauſe (as Mr 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 Mr Sadlers ſlanders: Three Particulars are affirmed:
- 1. Mr Taylor upon Examination was Approved.
- 2. He was staid (by the Commiſſioners) ſeven weeks after and ſpent above 20lb.
- 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 Mr 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 Mr Taylor well deſerved the honour to have written the firſt Inquiſitio Anglicana. But
1. Mr Taylor was not approved.
For the attendance of Mr Taylor, which you ſay was three weeks, and of many others beſides him or Mr 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 27th 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. Mr Taylor his Certificate read, and the perſon examined, he hath given ſome indifferent ſatisfaction, but in regard his Certificate is imperfect, the5 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 Mr Taylors Caſe, and ſo Mr Sadler is condemned by his own witneſſe, and indeed their ordinary Method is (as with Mr 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 Mr 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, he6 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 Mr 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 9th 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.
Mr Sadler, §. 4.
At laſt (being wearied with this ſtrange attendance) I ſent7 in a Note to Mr Nye and Mr 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 26th 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 of8 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 24th 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.
Mr 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 Mr Nye having the Chair began thus:
Anſwer 5.
Upon the firſt day of July, which was Saturday, on Munday the 3d 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.
Mr Sadler §. 6.
When they roſe I followed Mr Nye, and askt him of the iſſue of my Examinations; He told me, The Commiſſioners did not Approve. — Mr Peters told him, That the Commiſſioners had not yet concluded any thing, — About a Fortnight after I met with Mr Lockier, and deſired him, That a Vote might paſſe9 with me or againſt me; He ſaid, There was a Vote, and bid me ask the Clerk, whom upon the 7th 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 Mr Nye told him, and was ſeconded by Mr Lockier, I was preſent and remember it; I finde it alſo entred in the Book thus.
July 3d Mr 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 3d Mr 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 Mr 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.
Mr 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.
Mr 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, Mr 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 Mr 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 he12 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 Dr 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; Mr 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,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 Mr 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.