House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 15 January 1655

Monday, the 15th of January, 1654.

Prayers.

Assessment.

RESOLVED, That the Debate upon the Bill for the Assessment be adjourned till this Day Sevennight.

Prayers.

Resolved, That none shall stay above in the Chamber, during the Time of Prayers in the House: And that, immediately before Prayers, the Serjeant do go up and require all the Members to come down.

Forfeitures.

Mr. Yorke reports from the Committee to whom it was referred, a Bill concerning Forseitures, Confiscations, &c. upon Attainder or Conviction for Treason or Felony: Which was this Day read the First time: And was ordered to be read the Second Time, on this Day Sevennight.

Dingley's Estate.

A Bill for settling certain Manors and Lands, late of Samuell Dingley Esquire, deceased, on Edward Dingley Esquire, he paying several Sums of Money to the Wife and Daughters of the said Samuell Dingley, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time, on this Day Fortnight.

Lunaticks, &c.

A Bill, intituled, an Act touching Lunaticks and Idiots, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time, on this Day Fortnight.

Masham's Estate.

A Bill for raising Portions for younger Children of Wm. Masham Esquire, deceased, out of the Profits of certain Lands settled upon the Marriage of the said Wm. Masham, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time, on this Day Sevennight.

Clerke's Petition.

The humble Petition of Thomas Clerke Esquire, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider of this Petition; and to state the Business, with their Opinion, to the Parliament: And that, in the mean time, and till the House take other Order, the Trustees for Sale of Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason do forbear to contract for, or make Sale of, the Farm of Itchin Abbas, in the Petition mentioned: And that it be committed to the Committee to whom the Acts and Ordinances made since April 1653, are referred: And that Lord Richard Cromwell, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Parker, Colonel Birch, Mr. Hoskins, Colonel Norton, Colonel Whetham, be added to this Committee.

Union with Ireland.

An Act for the Uniting of Ireland unto the Commonwealth of England, the Re-establishing the Courts of Judicature there, the Placing of Judges in the said Courts, and Making a Great Seal, and other Seals, to be used in Ireland, was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill be read again, on this Day Sevennight.

Blasphemous Publications.

Mr. Read reports from the Committee to whom the Books called "The Two-fold Catechism, and other Books of John Biddle; and to whom the Business touching Theauro John was referred:

IN pursuance of the Order of the 12th of December, the Committee for Printing did meet; and resolved to send for John Biddle: Who being sent for; and examined, Whether he did own the Books referred to the Consideration of this Committee; and whether he gave any Order for the printing or publishing of the said Books; He refused to give any other Answer, But that he had formerly given his Answer to the House; to the which he did adhere: And that both he, and his Books, being already judged, it was to no Purpose to be examined concerning the same: Whereupon they ordered, That Biddle should be remanded: And the Committee proceeded in the Consideration of the Book called, "The Two-fold Catechism:" And, after the Consideration aforesaid, passed these Votes.

Resolved, upon the Question, that this Committee doth find, by comparing the Questions and Answers thereof together, that the whole Drift and Scope of the said Book, called, "The Two-fold Catechism," written by John Biddle, is to teach and to hold-forth many blasphemous and heretical Opinions.

Resolved, That, in the Preface to the said Catechism, the Author thereof doth maintain and assert many blasphemous and heretical Opinions; and doth therein cast a Reproach upon all the Catechisms now extant.

Resolved, That Report be made to the House, of the Manner of the Author's venting his said Errors, together with several particular Errors and Blasphemies, in the said Book, contained; that the Manner is by proposing a blasphemous and dangerous Opinion, by way of Question; and by misapplying of Scripture, by way of Answer to the same.

The several Particulars are as followeth:

1. That the Infinite God is confined to a certain Place, Cat. p. 5, 6.

2. That God hath a bodily Shape; that God hath a Right Hand, and Left, in a proper Sense, 2 Cat. p. 6.

3. That there are Passions in God. 1 Cat. 11.

4. He denies the Omniscience and Immutability of God, 1 Cat. from the 14 to the *

5. He denies that all the Three Persons are to be loved with our whole Heart, 1 Cat. 21.

6. He denies that Jesus Christ hath the Nature of God dwelling in him, p. 27, 28, 29, ad 35, and p. 40 to the 60. That Christ hath only a divine Lordship, without a Divine Nature.

7. He denies the Godhead of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cat. p. 21. 2 Cat. p. 16.

8. He denies that Christ was a Priest, whilst he was on Earth, p. 64; or died to reconcile God to us, p. 68.; or that God doth justify any because of the full Price that Christ paid to him in their stead, p. 83.

9. He affirms Justification by Works, p. 96.

10. He denies the Righteousness of Christ is imputed to Believers, p. 82.

11. He affirms that Works give Vigour to Faith, and so makes it able to justify, 2 Cat. 26.; and affirms that Works give Right to Eternal Life, 1 Cat. p. 86, 87; 94, 95; 98.

He affirms that true Saints may turn Apostates finally, 1 Cat. p. 99.

He denies that the Wicked do continue to live in Hell, under the Sense of everlasting Torment; but saith, That they are destroyed, and cease to be, 1 Cat. p. 134, 135, 136, &c.

26 December, 1654.

The Committee, in pursuance of the former Order, took into Consideration the Book called, "The apostolical and true Opinion concerning the Holy Trinity, revived and asserted; and a Confession of Faith, touching the Three Persons:" And passed these Votes.

Resolved, That the said Book is full of horrid, blasphemous, and execrable Opinions; denying the Deity of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost; and particularly asserting,

1. That God the Father only, separate from the Son and Holy Ghost, is the First Cause of all things that pertain to Salvation, Art. 1. p. 1.

2. That God the Holy Ghost is a created Spirit, p. 3. and p. 2. not God: That Christ is a made Lord; and neither the Son, nor the Holy Spirit, the Most High God, p. 4.

3. That Christ is the Second Cause of all Things pertaining to our Salvation, Art. 2. And that the Son is not equal with the Father, 16.

4. That Christ hath no other than a human Nature, Art. 3. p. 19.

5. That Christ is not the Most High God, the same with the Father, but subordinate to him, Art. 4. p. 29.

6. That the Holy Ghost is the only principal Minister of God and of Christ, singled out of the Number of other Heavenly Ministers, or Angels, Art. 6. 44. That Christ is not the supreme and independent Monarch Jehovah, p. 44.

Several Passages in the Book called, "The Two-fold Catechism," quoted by the Committee, were read.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in this Vote, That the whole Drift and Scope of the Book called "The Two-fold Catechism," written by John Biddle, is to teach and to hold-forth many blasphemous and heretical Opinions.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that in the Preface of the said Catechism, the Author thereof doth maintain and assert many plashemous and heretical Opinions; and doth therein cast a Reproach upon all the Catechisms now extant.

Several Passages contained in the Book called, "The apostolical and true Opinion concerning the Holy Trinity, revived and asserted; and a Confession of Faith touching the Three Persons; quoted by the Committee, were now read.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That the said Book is full of horrid, blasphemous, and execrable Opinions; denying the Deity of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee for Printing, to bring in a Bill for Punishment of the said John Biddle.

Resolved, That all the printed Books, intituled, "The Two-fold Catechism," be burnt by the Hand of the common Hangman.

Resolved, That the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex be authorized and required to see the same done accordingly, in the new Palace at Westminster, on Friday next, at Nine of the Clock; and at the Old Exchange London, at Three of the Clock on the same Day.

Resolved, That the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Company of the Stationers, London, be required immediately to make Search for all the printed Books, intituled, "A Two-fold Catechism," and seize all the said Books, and deliver them to the Sheriffs.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, to consider of the Articles preferred against Mr. Akehurst; and to examine the Business; and to report the same, with their Opinion, to the House: With Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, to consider of the Information given to the House against Hemings: With Power to send for him; and to examine the Business; and report the same to the House; With Power to send for Persons and Witnesses.

Ordered, That the rest of the said Report be taken into Consideration, on Wednesday Morning next.

Settling the Government.

Resolved, That the Report from the Committee appointed on Saturday, touching a Revenue, to be inserted in the Bill touching the Government, be now made.

The said Report was made accordingly.

Eodem Die, post Meridiem.

Settling the Government.

THE said Report was read.

The Question being propounded, That the House doth agree with the Committee, that the Sum of Four hundred thousand Pounds, arising by the Customs, and other publick Receipts in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be yearly paid out of the publick Receipts of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector, and the Council, for and towards the Maintenance of a convenient Number of Ships, for Guarding of the Seas, and Securing and Encouragement of Trade, and the Maintenance of such Garisons as shall be necessary for the Defence of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging: Which Revenue shall continue, and not be altered without Consent of the Lord Protector and the Parliament;

The Question being put, That the Sum of Four hundred thousand Pounds be Part of this Question;

It passed in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the House doth agree to the Uses mentioned in this Report, by the Committee.

The Question being put, That these Words, viz. "which Revenue shall continue, and not be altered without Consent of the Lord Protector and Parliament," be Part of the Question;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That these Words, viz. "Which Revenue shall continue, and not be altered without Consent of the Lord Protector and Parliament," be Part of the Question.

And the whole Question being put; It was

Resolved, That the Sum of Four hundred thousand Pounds, arising by the Customs, and other publick Receipts, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be yearly paid out of the publick Receipts of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector and the Council, for and towards the Maintenance of a convenient Number of Ships for Guarding of the Seas, and Securing and Encouragement of Trade; and the Maintenance of such Garisons as shall be necessary for the Defence of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging: Which Revenue shall continue, and not be altered without Consent of the Lord Protector and the Parliament.

The next Vote, brought in by the Committee, was read: And, being put to the Question, by Parts; It was

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "That the yearly Sum of Seven hundred thousand Pounds more, arising by Excise, or other publick Receipts in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be provided by Parliament, and paid out of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector, and the Council, for the Maintenance and full Discharge of such Field Forces as shall be thought needful to be kept up for the Defence of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; and for the Payment and full Discharge of such Forces in Garisons, and Naval Charges, and all incident Charges belonging to every of them, as shall not be satisfied and paid out of the Four hundred thousand Pounds aforesaid;" shall be Part of the Question.

The next Clause being read;

And the Question being put, That these Words, "One thousand Six hundred Fifty-and-nine," do stand in this Question;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That these Words, "One thousand Six hundred Fifty-six," be Part of the Question.

And the Second Clause so amended, was read.

The Question being put, That the House sit longer this Night on this Debate;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this Debate be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.