House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 13 December 1654

Wednesday, the 13th of December, 1654.

Prayers.

Equal Assessments.

RESOLVED, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee of the whole House, on the 2d of January next, to take into Consideration the best way how the Proportions of Assessments may be most equally laid for the future: And that Mr. Speaker do forbear to take the Chair.

Settling the Government.

The House this Day resumed the Debate, upon the Report made by Mr. Hoskins from the Grand Committee for the Government.

Resolved, That this Word, "Blasphemy," be Part of this Question.

Resolved, That this Word, "Popery," be Part of this Question.

Resolved, That this Word, "Prelacy," be Part of this Question.

Resolved, That this Word, "Licentiousness," be Part of this Question.

Resolved, That this Word, "Profaneness," be Part of this Question.

The Question being put, That the Word, "publish" stand in this Question;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That these Words, "preach and print," do stand in this Question.

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "contrary to the fundamental Principles of Doctrine held forth in the publick Profession," be Part of the Question.

The Question being propounded, That these Words be Part of the Question; "viz. which shall be agreed upon by the Lord Protector, and the Parliament;"

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Blasphemous Publication.

The House being informed that John Biddle, being apprehended by the Serjeant at Arms according to the Order of the House, was at the Door; He was called in:

And being come to the Bar, kneeled awhile, till Mr. Speaker bid him stand up: And, being demanded, what his Name is; he answereth, John Biddle: And being shewed the Book, intituled, "The apostolical and true Opinion concerning the Holy Trinity revived and asserted;" saith, He doth acknowlege the Book, and the Contents of it; and that he wrote it: And being shewed the Book, intituled, "A Two-fold Catechism," saith, He knoweth the Book, and the Contents of it; and that he wrote it: Denieth he keepeth a School: Saith, he hath no Congregation: Being asked, Who printed these Books; saith, Hitherto he hath answered as a Christian, to give an Account of the Hope that is in him: What the Law of Christ doth warrant him to answer, he will do; but beyond That he will not: The Law of Christ enjoins him not to betray his Brethren:

Being asked, Whether the Law of Christ did enjoin him to believe the Holy Ghost is not God; saith, The Law of Christ doth no-where tell him, the Holy Ghost is God: And thereupon was commanded to withdraw.

And, afterwards, he was again called in:

And, being come to the Bar, was, by Order of the House, demanded by Mr. Speaker, Whether the Holy Ghost be God? Saith, He hath examined the Scriptures; and doth nowhere find, in the Old or New-Testament, that the Holy Spirit is God: He doth own the Books; and his Opinion is sufficiently declared in them.

Being demanded, whether Jesus Christ be God from Everlasting to Everlasting; answered, He doth own the Books; and therein hath declared his Judgment: But saith, He doth not find, in Scripture, where Jesus Christ is called the Most High God, or God from Everlasting to Everlasting.

Being asked, Whether God be confined to a certain Place; saith, This is not to the Hope that is in a Christian: Therefore there is no Necessity lying on him to answer.

Being asked, Whether God have a bodily Shape; saith, He hath answered sufficiently to That already.

Ordered, That John Biddle be committed Prisoner to the Gatehouse in Westminster; and there to be kept close Prisoner, without Pen, Ink, or Paper, in order to a further Proceeding against him.

Resolved, That the Committee do proceed in the Reference of these Two Books of Biddle's: And that they bring in the Report on Monday next.