DIE Lunæ, 19 die Februarii.
PRAYERS, by Mr. Marshall.
Lords present this Day:
Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.
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Comes Pembrooke.
Comes Sarum.
Comes Rutland.
Comes Stamford.
Comes Bolingbrooke.
Comes Kent.
L. General.
L. Admiral.
L. Viscount Say & Seale.
Comes Northumb.
Comes Lyncolne. |
Ds. Howard.
Ds. Dacres.
Ds. Hunsdon.
Ds. Willoughby. |
Complaint against Mr. Baldwin, Minister of Hempstead.
This Day Dr. Burges and Dr. Wincupp, from the
Assembly of Divines, acquainted their Lordships with
a Letter, written from divers Ministers and other Persons of Credit in the County of Hertford.
(Here enter the Letter.)
The Letter was read, being "an Information of divers erroneous Points delivered in a Sermon lately at
Hempsteed, by one Mr. Baldwin; and the Sermon being ended, the said Baldwin sat himself down in the
Pulpit, to see who would answer his Opinions; and
nobody undertaking to answer him, he stood up, and
made a Challenge to maintain his Opinions against
any on that Day Fortnight afterwards; whereupon a
Tumult was likely to be. The Assembly presents
these Things to their Lordships Consideration; and
this being against the Covenant, they offer it to their
Lordships Consideration, whether it be not fit to send
down some able Minister to preach at Hempsteed that
Day upon which he appointed them to answer him,
whereby the People may be settled in their Opinions,
and Tumults prevented."
Likewise another Information was read, "of divers erroneous Opinions lately delivered by the said Baldwin
at Hatfield." (Here enter the Information.)
Baldwin to be attached.
Upon this, the House Ordered, That the said Baldwin shall be forthwith attached, and brought before this
House, to answer the said Offence.
Assembly of Divines to send a Minister to supply his Place.
Upon Information this (fn. *) Day received of great
Disorders committed by one Baldwin (pretending to
be a Preacher), in the Church of Hempsteed, in the
County of Hertford, tending to Sedition: It is Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That
the Assembly of Divines be requested (fn. †) to send some
able Preacher to preach in that Church, upon Thursday the last (fn. *) of this Instant February; and truly to inform the People of the Integrity and Care of both
Houses of Parliament, for settling of Matters of Religion, according to the Word of God, and of the
Endeavours of the Assembly to attain that End; and
that, for the future, some grave, learned, and discreet
Ministers be requested to perform that Lecture, till
further Order can be taken; and that (fn. *) the Churchwardens of Hempsted do take Care that none but such
as are known to be Ministers in Orders be permitted
to preach at any Time there."
Settling the Doctrine of the Church.
And this House further Resolved, To send to the
Assembly, to desire them to hasten their Advice, for
settling the Discipline of the Church.
Forrett and Phillips.
Upon reading the Petition of David Forrett, Major
of a Regiment in the Scotts Army; shewing, "That
there is a Cause set down to be heard in this House
in April next, between him and Fabian Phillips; his
Desire is, that either a shorter Day may be appointed
for hearing the said Cause, or else, if the said Cause
should be heard in his Absence, when he (fn. *) is in the
Scottish Army, doing the Duty of his Place, that he
might receive no Prejudice in his Absence:" Hereupon this House Ordered, That, if the said Cause be
heard when the said Forrett is absent in the Scottish Army, he shall receive no Prejudice by his said Absence.
These following Propositions were delivered in
Hatfeild Church, on Thursday the 8th Day of
February, Anno Domini 1643, by Mr. Baldwin.
Erroneous Opinions delivered by Mr. Baldwin, in Hatfield Church.
1. That he prayed neither for the King, Parliament, nor Synod; but absolutely prayed against all
Authority.
His Text was the First of John, v. 11. And this
is the Record, That God hath given to us Eternal Life, and this Life is in His Son.
2. That God's Grace is free, and that He doth
not bestow it upon us for any Goodness in us foreseen; and that there are no Conditions to be performed on our Parts. The Text of Scripture produced for the Proof thereof, was 2 Pet. i. 3. According to His Divine Power, He hath given unto us all
Things that pertain unto Life and Godliness; and
therefore that Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Brotherly
Kindness, &c. are only Additaments without our Endeavours.
3. That the very Distinction of Christ's active
and passive Obedience is not to be named, because
both active and passive Obedience concur to our
Salvation.
4. That Christ's active Obedience was for Himself.
5. That the Work of our Redemption was not
finished upon the Cross, proved out of the 1 Cor.
xv. 17.
6. That Baptism is not to be administered to Infants, because it is not a Seal of the Covenant of
Grace: His Reason was, because it succeeded Circumcision, which he proved was not a Seal of the Covenant, because administered to Ismaell and Esau, both
graceless.
7. That the Sacrament of the Supper is not to
be administered by us; which he passed over without Proof, only he reckoned it among Carnal Ordinances.
8. That the Synagogues of the Jews were useful,
but our Churches are as idolatrous as the Temple
of Diana, and not to be made Use of; and therefore
he excused his coming to the Church, saying it was
by Co-action, as Paule came to Mars-Hill.
9. That Catechising is Papistical, brought in (he
said) by one of the Popes, but he could not say who;
only put down the questioning the Minister in the
Pulpit, to the which he gave the Congregation free
Liberty.
10. That the Wicked do receive Benefit from
Christ, in respect of the Mitigation of Pain in Hell,
which he proved from that Text, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, &c.
11. That this Reformation which we expect and
desire, is no Reformation.
That these Things were uttered by him, we whose
Names are underwritten do declare and testify.
|
"Rob't Winchester Cler.
Henry Aykerayde.
Fulke Tydder.
Rich'd Wilkinson Cler. |
Onslo. Tudder.
Francis Hare.
John Longstart." |
Complaint against him, for these Opinions, to the Assembly of Divines.
To the Right Worshipful our Much-respected
Friend Cornelius Burges, Doctor in Divinity,
Assessor of the Assembly of Divines, at his
Lodging in Coloman-Streete, in London.
SIR,
We whose Names are subscribed, coming on this present Thursday, being the 15th Day of February Instant,
to hear a Sermon at Hempsted, in Hertfordshire, in the
ordinary Course of the Lecture there; we heard one
Mr. Baldwin, who having formerly preached there
(as we are informed) to like Purpose, amongst other
Things which we conceived Heterodox, inveighed
much against Baptizing of Infants, as a Carnal Ordinance, and that all that maintained and practised it
deny Christ's coming in the Flesh, and are of Antichristian Spirits; and promised, on the same Day
Fortnight, to prove that we are free from National
Bondage, which he thought more fit to be insisted on,
because we are like to be engaged at this Time in a
State-religion, and to be commanded to serve God
in One Way, or to use One Way of Worship; and,
in the Close of his Sermon, challenged any in the
Congregation to make Use of their Privilege, which is
(as he said) freely to bring their Allegations against
any Thing that he had taught; and, if no Man objected, he should presume that they were taken for
Truths, and no Man able to reply; whereupon we
were inforced to oppose those Errors instantly upon
the Close of his Sermon. But, Satisfaction not being
given, and the People seeming to be much distracted,
he the said Mr. Baldwin made a further Challenge,
to answer him to any of those Points, especially that
of baptizing Infants, the Fourteenth Day after, which
will be the last of this present February.
Sir, we are in some Streight; we partly doubt
whether it be fit to entertain such a Challenge yea or
nay, and desire your Advice in it, and (if you think
it convenient to be requested) the Sense of the Assembly also, and that with all convenient Speed.
Thus, committing you and your Endeavours in the
Public Service to the Blessing of God, we humbly rest
Your Friends and Brethren in the
Work of the Lord,
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"John Jemmatt.
Raph Rotheram.
John Turner.
Nathanell Debanck. |
Wm. Bann.
Wm. Micklethwayte.
Richard Symonds.
Jeremy King." |
Adjourn.
House adjourned till 9a cras Aurora.