English Puritan & Reformed

Protestation

John White (1575-1648) · 1,218 words · 5 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A65754.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

THE PROTESTATION OF JOHN WHITE DOCTOR IN DIVINITIE, which he caused to be written the day before his death, to the end the Papists might understand he departed out of this world, of the same opinion and judgment he maintained both by preaching and writing whilst he lived.

I N THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I John White Doctor in Divinity, weak of body, but of perfect remembrance, being fully persuaded of God's love and mercy to me, do briefly make this my last Will and Testament in manner following: First I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God, who infused it when I was borne, and all the days of my life hath enriched it with such graces and habits, as have enabled me unto the services whereto he hath called me, of what nature soever they have been: And my body to be interred at the pleasure of my dear and loving brother Master Edward White, where and in what manner he shall think good.

And touching Religion, and the state and disposition of my conscience therein, I profess that I depart in peace, believing with a Christian faith all things contained in the Apostles Creed, and other Creeds received in the Church of England: To whose judgment I perfectly adhere, in the articles of the Deity, Trinity, Creation, the fall and Reparation of mankind; Redemption by Christ alone, Justification, Faith, and necessity of good works, &c. touching the nature and institution of the Church, authority of the Scriptures, use and number of Sacraments, and doctrine concerning death, and the resurrection of the dead, and the state of the world to come: And all that which our Church doth vniformly teach against the Church of Rome.

And whereas I have these twenty years past, by preaching and writing, published in two books, engaged myself against Papistry, I profess I have done nothing therein against my conscience, but desire all men to assure themselves, that if any error have escaped me, it hath passed me through oversight; for I always bended myself to that work of writing with much humility to God, and such diligence as I was able to use; and having the books always by me, I writ nothing but what I found in antiquity, and in the writings publicly received in the Church of Rome it self. And I do constantly avouch, that what I have written is the truth, and have been the more confirmed therein by the unconscionable dealing of my adversaries against me, when no learned man amongst them hath encountered me, but only such as use base courses of railing and scurrility, vnbefitting Christian Religion. The which my writings I commend to my children, praying God they may live and die therein, without opening their ears unto seducers: and to all my people to whom I have preached; and generally to all people that have been acquainted therewith And this my Protestation I was desirous to insert in my will, wishing it were also printed in my books; nothing doubting but Romish Priests and their followers, when they shall hear of my death (according to a common practice of theirs) will be ready enough to diuulge some tales or other touching my uncertainty in Religion.

And having finished his Will and Testament, seeing himself almost spent, he used these words following :

I am scarce able to say anymore, greater occasion calls me off, my own weakness and more necessary meditation with God, breaks me off, and have taken me by the hand; with whom I hope to be shortly, having a steadfast persuasion, that through faith in Christ, I shall see him, and enjoy him, and live with him forever. Which he grant of his abundant mercy, who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy; and will show compassion on whom he will show compassion. Amen.

A POSTSCRIPT OF A LETTER WHICH DOCTOR WHITE WRlT to a friend of his, who having found comfort thereby, is desirous it should be printed for the comfort and good of others also.

L ET him that will live reposedly, and die cheerfully, hear, pray, meditate, do. First hear God's word in the Scriptures, and in the pulpit, in the Scriptures daily, and in the pulpit make choice of a fit teacher, and stick to him; for the practice of God's word gives knowledge, works holiness, breaks down natural corruption, and fills with strength and comfort against all assaults.

Secondly, prayer hath three rules: daily, without intermission: free, that the mind be vnladen. Go to prayer as you go into the water to swim, go not hot in, but take a time, and first cool yourself, feeling that the words touch your soul. The day I neglect either God's word or prayer is unhappy. That God being so near, and within me, I should neither speak to him, nor he to me, that were too much between a man and his wife.

Thirdly, meditation is the mod sovereign cure of the soul that is. My course is this: I miss no day but I retire myself (if I be at home) to my study, or the field, and there first I pray to God to give me a recollected mind; secondly, I enter into consideration of my sinful state, and examine myself, I call for help to God; thirdly, I take notice of my passion, disposition and inclination, and so I come to the knowledge of myself. Fourthly, I arm myself by vows, resolutions, and prayer, to conquer my, self as a City. Fifthly, I call to mind if anything hath passed between my neighbor (any other) and me: if I remember any unkindness offered, or received, I wash it out, I clear the score, I suffer no man's infirmity to possess me with conceit. Sixthly, I inquire after the day of my death in this sort; first I set it before my eyes; next I examine whether I be fit, prepared, ready, willing to die: thirdly my cowardly soul I encourage, and teach it to look death in the face: Lastly I end this point with flying to my Savior for help, till I become more then a conqueror. I will with great and tender passion, in this point pour out myself and weakness to him. Seventhly I think also (in the next place) of my worldly state; and if it prosper, I give thanks, and lay humility and compassion in my mind: if it be poor, I pray for supply, and bethink me of some honest and lawful means: (here I remember wife, children, servants, and purpose to bring them towards God.)

Fourthly, doing is the life of all; for it is nothing to be religious in ceremonies. Here are four principal points. First, beware of doing against your conscience. Secondly, omit no occasion, place, or time, or person, if you can do good. Thirdly, follow the good of your own calling: too many meddle with the good that belongeth to others to do, as Uzzah. Fourthly, the best good in the world, is compassion, and alms, and comforting in distress, as sickness, &c.

Life is short, the days are evil, our company is small, the account is certain, the comfort unutterable.

London, Prtnted for William Barret.