House of Lords Journal Volume 7: 22 November 1644

DIE Veneris, 22 Novembris.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Walker.

Ds. Grey de Wark, Speaker.

Message from the Assembly, with a Directory for Public Worship;

A Message was brought from the Assembly, by Dr. Burges, One of the Assessors of the Assembly, and others; who said, "In Obedience to the Orders and Commands of both Houses of Parliament, the Assembly have endeavoured to compile a Directory for the Worship of God; and so much as is done, they now present to this House; and the rest, they will make what Haste they can of."

And the House received the said Directory.

and with a Complaint against Webb for Blasphemy.

"They presented another Paper from the Assembly, which they trembled to think on; but, to discharge their Duty to God, they cannot but reveal it to their Lordships."

The House received the said Paper; which was read, as followeth: (Here enter it.)

"Certain Blasphemies, delivered in a private House, in a Sermon, by Mr. Webb, in QueenesStreete, in Covent-Garden, about Septemb. 27, 1644.

Blasphemies uttered by Webb.

"1. That Place in Gen. vi. 6. that it is said, God repented that He made Man, was untrue; and so other Places of Scripture.

"2. That a Man is to believe according to his Reason; for he that believeth contrary to his Reason, it is a Lye to himself.

"3. That the Prince of the Air, that rules in the Children of Disobedience, is God; and that there was no other Spirit but One, which Spirit is God.

"4. That we did look for great Matters from One crucified at Jerusalem Sixteen Hundred Years ago; but that would do us no Good. It must be a Christ formed in us, in the Deity united to our Humanity.

"One of his Company, before the Exercise, endeavoured to prove, that Christ doubted when He cried, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken-Me? So One asked him, "What he believed Christ came into the World for?" He answered, "To live Thirtytwo Years, and to die; and nothing else, that he knew." And Mr. Webb, when he spake of Christ, seemed to speak in Derision.

"5. He thought once, that a Righteousness without him should have served him; but his Exhortation was, Let your Rejoicing be in yourselves, and not in another.

"6. That we should think of ourselves no better than was meet; for God loved the Creatures that crept upon the Ground as well as the best Saint; and he knew no Difference between his Flesh and the Flesh of a Toad.

"7. He said, that a Drunkard did the Will of God.

"8. That the Soul died with the Body, and all Things should have an End; but that God shall remain for ever.

"Edward Grange."

It was further informed, "That One Mr. Grange, a Man of Credit, can prove these Particulars; and can produce others to make them good."

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the said Thomas Webb shall be forthwith attached, by the Gentleman Usher attending this House, or his Deputy, and bring him before the Lords in Parliament, to answer this Charge; and then this House will further proceed against him.

The House called.

Next, the House was called; and these Lords were excused for being absent:

Ordinance for the Attainder of the Archbishop of Cant.

Then the Ordinance for Attainder of the Archbishop of Canterbury was read the Second Time; and Ordered to be committed to a Committee of the whole House, and to be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Absent Lords to attend.

Ordered, That the Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Stamford, Lord Viscount Say & Seale, Lord Willoughby, Lord Dacres, and Lord Mountague, shall have a Command to attend this House To-morrow Morning; and the Judges and King's Counsel to attend likewise.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.