244 LIVES OF TILE PURITANS. rather than the former.". This, indeed is a, charge of a very high nature, and ought to,bave beenwell substantiated. Dr. Walker, notwithstanding his extreme bigotry and enmity against the puritans, seems not to give full credit to the noble historian. " it is probable," says he, " that Mr, Marshall was deeply enough concerned in this. affair ;" but he appears unwilling to affirm it as a matter of fa,ct.t If, however, the above account hadbeen true, why did not the ministers complain to the committee appointed by the house of commons to inquire into their regular methods of procuring hands to petitions ? The learned historian an- svvers, that they were prevailed upon to sit, still and pass, it by ; for the truth of which we have only, his lordship's word, as nothing of the kind appears in Hushwortb, Whit- locke, or any other impartial writer of those times. The whole affair has, therefore, the appearanceof. a mere forgery, designed to blacken the memory of Mr. Marshall and the rest of the puritans. Few persons have censured our divine with greater. seve- rity than the anonymous author, of " A. Letter of Spiritual Advice, written to Mr. Stephen Marshall in his Sickness," 160. " When.I heard of your 'sickness," says this writer, " I assure you I found, in myself such a different apprehen- sion of your state, from that of other.ordinary sick men, that I think you will not wonder if all the king's subjects, who wish good success,to his majesty in this war, cannot impute your visitation to any thing butthe just severity and revenge of Almighty God, for having had so strong an influence upon the ruin of this kingdom and church. For, sir, is it not,apparent that.your eminent gifts of preaching have been made use of for the kindling of those flames of rebellion and civil war, and most unchristian bloodshed ? Have not you, with all theearnestness and zeal imaginable, persuaded your hearers to a liberal, contribution for the maintaining of this unnatural war? Have, not you forsaken your, own,charge, to accompany and strengthen time general:of your army in his resolutions and 'attempts against the just power and life,of his and your. anointed sovereign 5' Does not the whole, kingdom iiinpute almost all the distractions and combustions therein as .much to the seditious,sermons of the ,preachers.oc your ,faction, as to the contrivances.of those, persons who .set you on, orti ? Let your own conscience be your ownjudge Clarendon's Hist. vol. i. p. 161, 165. + Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 15.
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