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    Afterwards facing more satisfied m his mind by reading-various authors , he drew , up several arguments against the > generajly-reeeiifed deity of the Holy Ghost , which he intendedshortly after toiprint ; but being betrayed by

    one * whom he took to be his sure friend , who had , as it seems , a copy of : them ,, he acquainted the magistrate and ¦ parliament committee , then in the said city , of the matter . Whereupon , after they had perused them , they committed the author , then

    labouring under a fever , to the common goal there , on the £ d of December , 1645 , to remaiu in that place till the Parliament * should take cognizance of the matter . But a certain person of tiote , dwelling in Gloucester , who had a respect for Bid die , ( for the truth isj except his opinions , there was little

    or nothing blame-worthy in him , ) he procured his liberty , by giving sureties for his appearance when it shouid please ; the Parliament to send for him ; About , the month of June , in 1646 > the learned Usher , Primate of Ireland , travelled through that city in his way to London , and having before heard of , spake to , and used him with

    gi ^ trates , of heresy in that point , before whom he exhibited in writing * this confession : < May 2 , 1644 . c I believe that there is l ? ut one Infinite and Almighty Essence , called God .

    c 2 . I believe that as there is but one Infinite and Almighty Essence , so there is but one person in that essence . * 3 . I believe that our Saviour Jesus Christ is truly God , by beiflg- truly , really and properly united to the only person of the Infinite and Aluiiffhty Essence . '

    ** But when this did not satisfy the magistrates , hut they did still press upon him to acknowledge three persons in the Divine Essence ,-and he , it seems , knowing ' - " 'that the word persons , when ascribed to God ,

    is taken both . by the ancient fathers and by modern writers , in various significations , did , about fourteen days aifter , Confess that there * are three in that one Divine Essence , commonly termed persons .

    " By this it appears , that how distinct ; soever he might be in his conceptions con- ( cernitig * the Trinity , - yet he was not deter ^ - , minate enough' i& his ^ expressing of that matter , > t as- b # -becaitte ^ Aot long , after . " Short Account i pp . 4 * 5 . ; > " Whi ^ h mxS theh inflated with tieneba £ && againsti sii * ft ^^ ret | c * . j&tii

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    all fairness and pity , as well as with strength of arguments , to convince him o £ his dangerous error , telling him that either he was in a damnable error , or else that the whole church

    of Christ , who had in all ages worshiped the Holy Ghost , had been guilty of idolatry : but Biddle , who had little to say , was no whit moved either by the learning , gravity , piety or zeal of that good Archbishop , but continued , as it is said , obstinate .

    After he had remained about six months ; at liberty in Gloucester , hewas cited to Westminster to make his defence ; but being put off by the Parliament to a committee to be examined , his crime was by them laid closely to his charge . The crime he

    denied not , and desired withal that some theologist , whom they should appoint , might dispute with him con * cerning that criminal matter in hand . But it being delayed from day to day , Biddle desired * a certain knight ( Sir

    Hen . Vane ) of that committee that his cause might be heard or he set at liberty . The Knight proposed it and shewed himself a friend to Biddle , who thereupon was confined more close than before * +

    Whereupon came put his book for the satisfaction of all people , with this title : —

    opinion touching the Peity of the Holy Spirit , is clearly and fully refutecLV Printed 1647 , in quarto . Before \ vhich is printed a Letter tending to the said purpose , written to the said Sir Henry Vane , a member of the House of

    Commons : and at the end is * ' An Exposition of five principal Passages of the Scrips ture , alleged by the Adversaries t 6 prove the Deity of the Roly Ghosts j These , 1 say , being published , and

    making a great noise in 1 he world , tlie author was summoned to appear iit the bar of the tlou&e of Cornmou s avid being asked whether r ? lie ow ne ^ i tiiiat book ^ or Twelve Questions , &C . and the opinions therein , he answered Yea , and . that they were his : whereupon being remitted to his prison ,

    ; ' . ' ... ¦¦ ' - - 1 - ¦ - ¦¦ ¦ ¦ M — ¦ .. « A 'R « " - II .. ' .... ¦¦ ' - - 1 - ¦ - ¦¦ ¦ ¦ — ¦ ... - II .. * In 9 fetter ^ aM priM , 1 ^ 47 . Short Account ^ pp .. ^ - ~ 16 . _ . . f Hi ¥ u resiraloV coitjuuea fdr fiye ym ^^ n ^ nir , r / . ;/; ::.,::.,: 1 f ^ Vmt : Tracts , Vott : " ;

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    Jjtfebf John Middle , by Anthony Wood . " $$ 1

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1818, page 347, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2477/page/3/