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    t « ro was printed again by itself in three sheets ; in a little octavo , the same year . Soon after , the Twofold Oattchism coming into the hands of certain persons elected to sit in the Little Parliament , fcalted by Oliver , )

    which began at Westminster , September Sf 1654 , was a public complaint by" some made of it in the house , feeing instigated thereunto by frequent and open preachments against it . Whereupon Biddle being sent for , he gave answer to their

    interrogatories , and did not deny before them , bat lhat he was the author ; so that the matter being referred to a committee , he was examined by them , and in conclusion adhered to the answer that he had before given to

    the house . Reports , therefore , being made by the said Committee , of such things that had passed , the House voted on the 12 th of December , 1654 , that ** the whole drift and scope of the said Twofold Catechism * is to teach

    dren ; wherein , notwithstanding" the brevity thereof , all things necessary unto Life and Godliness are contained . By John Biddle , Master of Arts , of the University of Oxford . ' " Brit . Biog . VI . 86 . " "In the same year , ( 1654 , ) Dr . Gunning- , ( whom I named before , ) afterward Regius

    Professor of Divinity at Cambridge , and no less famous for subtilty of disputing * than learning * , thinking-, it seems , he should do great service to the common doctrine , if he put a baffle upon the great oppug-ner of it , before even those who began to hearken to him ; he came one LortTs day to Mr . Biddle ' s meeting , 'well Accompanied with learned

    witnesses , and commences a fair scholastic dispute , asserting * the Deity of the Holy Ghost 5 and the next Lord ' s day , in the same auditory , concerning the supreme Deity of Christ , the Son of the Most High . Thfcy disputed syllogfistically , and took their turns of responding and of > posing ' wherein John Biddle acquitted himself with so naucfi

    learning ' , judgment and knowledge in the sense of holy Scriptures , that instead of losing ' , he gained much credit both to himself and his cause , as even the gentlemen of Dr . Gun ninths party , soune of them had the ingenuity lo acknowledge . After this , Dr . Gunning cornea agahn at

    unawares , < and hears J . Biddle arguing " aguin&t the satisfaction of punitive justkye by thte Death of Christ , which the Doctor with greatvigour defends ; b * ftt found the apfyommt no i * m skilful end de * 1 ferott& in this conflict fom inth ^ foHtter , which thfe Docioi hJrti » elf had the generosity ttftfefttttrtfr to irtKifeSfc . " &fatt & < &vmt , Vto . * 6 , 7 .

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    and hold forth many blasphemous and heretical opinions , ami that in the preface of 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 /' They then voted also , that * all the printed books , entitled The Twofold Cctfechimn , be burnt bv the hand of the common hangman : that the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex be

    authorized and required to see the same done accordingly in the New Palace-Yard , at Westminster , and « t tbe OM Exchange : that the M # ster , Wardftrs awl Assistants of the company of Stationers , in London , be required immediately to make search for all the printed books , as aforesaid , and seize all the said books , and

    deliver them to tfoe Sheriffs . " * The aextday , Biddle was brought to the bar of the house , and there , after it was read unto him , what had been done , he owned his books , and was thereupon the same day *? ominitted prisoner to the Gatehouse , ifi

    Westminster , f and his books burnt by the hangman in the before-mentioned places , on the 14 th of the same month . But this was not alV fbt the members of parliament , perceiving full weHwfaat mischiefthe said Yttmfbftd € ! atochi $ m did do , and was likely more to tlo , awd that many people were more greedy to buy

    or obtain it than before , the matter was agitated again in January following , by the committee 3 who resolved , on the 16 th of the same month , that the whole drift and scope , ' &c , and " that it be burnt , " &c . The particulars in the said Catechism , which moved them thereunto , were partly these : " ] . Tlite infinite God is

    confined to a certain pfacie . 3 . God hath a bodily shapfc , liiath a right und ' -aMft hand in a proper sfenfcfc . S . < 5 twl forth passions in Mm . 4 . < Jod is not omnipotent and immutable * 5 . The tbree Persons are not to be believed with our whole heart . 6 . Jesus Christ hath not the nature of God dwelling

    * PaK . Bist . m % XX . ^ 903 Wfrite-. locke Mem . p . 591 . t ' * ' * t > bb ih * r& kept without t ** , ibk , ot pftper , in v > td ^ i to n fwfrth ^ r pYtrtrtfctftafc against him . " Mog . Brit « . VI . 400 . 401 * Thk m&rt AtK < jmt % M { f ^ * *> t tfife ttt *** o £ ^ ny visitant /* * . ^ f .

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    414 JLifefifJ ^ oknBtdile / i yMntkm

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1818, page 414, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2478/page/6/