interests what their charge is and of what value their livings are out of which they have been ejected 2. That there be an account taken of the well-affected Gentry Nobility and Commonalty whose hearts the Lord may open to lay out themselves in the Cause of God and of the sums they are ready to contribute towards the relief of his faithful servants in the work of the Ministry which account is to be returned to a Grand Committee for that purpose appointed in London 3. That there be Treasurers and Receivers in the respective Counties consisting in each County of two suffering Ministers and three well-affected Gentlemen to dispose of the foresaid charitable Contributions so gathered as they shall judge most necessary and advantagious to the advancement of the Common Cause and that there be Commissioners of Inspection that may look into their Qualifications who may claim the benefit of the said benevolence and contribution The 2â— of the sixth moneth It was ordered That Mr. Calamy Mr. Case Mr. Bates Mr. Spurstow Mr. Gough c. do meet to morrow about the twelve thousand pound gathered among the Brethren to gratifie the Right Honourable and the well-affected who own the Cause of God in Court and Parliament and that it should not be called a bribe but the humble acknowledgement that the people of God make to the Honourable personages that stand in the breach at such a time as this and that Mr. Cradocker Mr. Jackson and Mr. Brice do look into Newmans Concordance for three or four opposite Texts of Scripture wherewith this money may be savingly delivered And it is further ordered upon Mr. Spurstows motion that Act. 12. 20. be one of those Texts consulted And Herod was highly displeased with the men of Tyre and Sidon but they came with one accord to him having made Blastus the Kings Chamberlain their friend And upon Master Jenkins his motion Act. 24. 2 3 4. was ordered to be another Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness and that very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation by thy providence we accept always and in all places most Noble Faelix with all thankfulness notwithstanding that we be not further tedious unto thee well may thee accept of this The 23 of the sixth moneth It was agreed upon that a List of those thousands that must now lye down in heart breaking sorrow upon the removal of their faithful Guides be prepared for his Majesties view that he may see the strength of our party and may be convinced that the people of God is his greatest strength The 22 of the same moneth It was agreed upon that would be for the advancement of the Cause if they would take the occasion of some farewell Sermons to promote it provided that those discourses should be very quickning And 1. That Master Lye was to bid them beware of Episcopal Divines of Ceremonies of Popery and to weep a quarter of an hour 2. That Mr. Jenkins perswade the people that any place is as holy as the Church and that two or three met together in a private house might do as well as a thousand in the publick Congregation 3. That Mr. Caryl being to expound that place in the Revelation about them that walked with the Lamb in white should take that occasion to speak against Surplices 4. That Mr. Watson may give twenty Rules which may be his Congregations Directory and among other Rules this may be one That seeing they cannot have their Ministers they may yet read their books so that if they cannot preach they may yet live by writing 5. That Mr. Case do cry two hours together next Lords day for the abominations of Service-book Altar-worship Lordly Prelacy c. The same day it was Enacted That some well-affected Stationers do gather all the Farewell Sermons in City and Country to one volum and that they scatter them throughout the Nation for the propagation of the Gospel the Cause will not be a little promoted by the dying words of the faithful Pastors and because the twelve Apostles are painted before the Bible though we otherwise allow of no Images yet it may be very convenient that twelve Reverend persons heads may be set before the Sermons and though Mr. Serman urged that their heads set there would give occasion to the prophane to compare them to the Traytors heads at London-bridge or to that row of heads set before that prophane book called Montelion last year yet it was voted unanimously that they were not so fearful as not to dare shew their heads they were ready to die as well as to be reproached for the Truth But when it was urged that Mr. Loves head might be amongst them Mr. Calamy Mr. Case and Mr. Jenkins stood up and voted it down as ominous The 23 of the sixth moneth heathenishly called August there was an offer made by several well-affected Citizens of Mr. Seamans and other Congregations that were ready to oppose that Mass book commonly called the Service-book but it was over-ruled that those Eminent persons be excused that service and be reserved for more honorable service and that the work of the day be carried on by the Apprentices who with such success helped the Lord against the Mighty in the beginning of the wars that sure the presence of the Lord was still amongst them whereupon Mr. Greenhil held forth upon those words of the eighth Psalm Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightst still the Enemy and the Avenger Out of Mr. Meads Diatriba three quarters of an hour by Shrewsbury-clock as Sir John Falstaffe speaks in the third of Edward the fourth and the fifteenth It was offered by Mr. Jenkins that the Lord had often forsaken the Prentices as in 48. with Colonel Brown and Massey and in 59. in Hewsons businesse to which Mr. Caryl replied that it might be their strength might fail them when they raised tumults against their brethren and the servants of God but if you mark it said he the text saith the enemy and the avenger The same day in the afternoon was brought in by Mr. Gurnall Mr. Ford c. and other Latitude men the humble Petition of several young men that had not taken the Covenant for leave to conform as their Reverend Fathers had done before the Warrs Whereupon Mr. Case rose up in a great fury and said If Baal be God serve him if God be God serve him But Mr. Owen and Mr. Caryl More moderation becomes you you know conscience is a very large thing and you know not how far it may reach Saith old Mr. Jackson Brethren it is necessary that there be some seed-plots laid for the next Generation Had not the Lord left us a remnant among the old Conformists we had been as Sodome and we had been like unto Gomorrah We know not but that these young men may live under the Government to cast it off as we
Indulgence was likely to go on Whereupon Mr. Seaman and Dr. Goodwyn offered this viz. That there was no way better to try the Kings pronenesse to indulgence then to make use of their Christian friends aforehand at some holy meeting or if that were not publick enough at one of those many Churches that are at our disposal And immediately Mr. Calamy was ordered to watch an opportunity at Aldermanbury and go up and preach Very fit this agreed upon by the whole company for either the King would wink at it and then we are sure he hath a kindness for us and the world may think that we are considerable in his eyes and that we have over-ruled the Law or it may be he punisheth it however we have honourable Friends that shall bring Mr. Calamy off and it may be five hundred pounds in his way Well said Mr. Brice we have a price put into our hands the Lord give us hearts to use it let us redeem the time that hour Mr. Calamy had need be well spent Mr. Calamy Mr. Caryl Mr. Lye withdrew to consider what subject he should preach upon and they reported that none was more seasonable then this either Ichabod the glory is departed or The Ark is departed Whereupon Mr. Calamy was desired to insist on all the hints of fears jealousies and surmizes which had already possessed the people concerning the departure of the Gospel And it was ordered that since notice should be given of this extraordinary mercy and that Mr. Calamy being thanked by the City for his great paint should be desired to print and publish his Sermon for the common good And in the mean time let us promote a strict Act for regulation of Printing that no Orthodox books as they call them be published but with much difficulty as may be wrought upon by money that as soon as we understand the method of the Law we may understand the method of affronting the Law September 24. It being represented to the Reverend the Committee of ejected Ministers that there are so few honest men left that the people are at a losse is to publick meetings It was ordered that there should be twenty or thirty young men to supply by turns some carelesse Episcopal mens Pulpits to keep the root of the matter in the good people and that there be Messengers to invite the good people to these soul-searching Sermons from Dan to Beersheba that the same course be taken as to Lectures that may be preached upon week-dayes especially at Aldermanbury Allhallows-Breadstreet and Laurence-Jury and likewise as to Funâ—ral Sermons which the well-affected must take care that they be preached by none but the honest men About this time notice being sent from honourable friends that the Bishops resolved upon their respective Visitations it was ordered that the platform of Government offered at agreed upon in London Cambridge and Northampton by Mr. Cartwright Mr. Travers Mr. â—â—all c. and other discount enarced Ministers in Queen Elizabeths time and petitioned for by the thousands of Israel in King James his time and offered to the Parliament by the Assembly of Diâ—ines in King Charles his time should be drawn up and agreed to and immediately exercised in opposition to that Antichristian way of Bishop but the brethren of the Congregation alway making some difficulty of submitting to the Pattern in the Mount it was agreed however for the present that two Elders grave and apt to teach should be designed for each County to confirm the brethren and as Barnabas to exhort them to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart and to that end it was thought fit that the discourse concerning Liturgies and their Imposition Mr. Case and Mr. Crofton of the Covenant Baines and Ames against Ceremonies together with the Province of Londons discourse about Presbytery be reprinted to be bestowed by them in their respective charges together with the books of Miracles Mr. Brooks's Gods Consolations for Saints in affliction and Mr. Alliband's Nubecula est citâ— transibit The Ministers Case for said Mr. Watson when they may not hear us they may read us when they have not us they may have our books At the same time it was resolved among the brethren of the baptized way That Mr. Jessey and Mr. Knowles should go and visit their friends and edifie the respective members of their Congregation all over England with Letters of salutation from the Friends in London thus directed Jer. Ives c. a Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve Tribes which are scattered abroad greeting It was reported on the 24th of the seventh moneth to the Provincial Assembly then seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer that the union among them of the Congregational way was now finished and that a great design was going on whereupon Mr. Case pressed that they should be unanimous now Gebul and Ammon and Amaleck the Philistines with them of Tyre were joyned together And not long after there was an overture of accommodation between them upon the terms of the Covenant only some other time was reserved for explaining the words Herefie and Schisme As to the Design on foot it was judged unlikely that so unconsiderable a part of the Nation could do any good and therefore answer was made by the members of the Assembly to the brethren of the Congregational way that they would wait upon providence i. e. see if their undertakings prospered if not they would disown it for as one said very well experience had taught them the method of overturning this Government and that method is this to keep the City and get a major part in Parliament this Government must be insensibly overturned by possessing the major part of the people with such discourses as most accommodates their thoughts and consciences Therefore seeing there was no likelihood of dissolving this Parliament it was offered that the vacancies by death in Parliament should be observed and that the people be prepared upon all these occasions to make a choice according to the Lords mind of men â—earing God and loving and tender towards his people and well affected to the good old Cause for which purpose it was judged expedient to improve the spreading discontent about Chimney-money and other Impositions for which we are much engaged to the discretion and faithfulness of our good Friends who observing the necessities former times have run the Government into promoted these unusual supplies at once to oblige his Majesty to our party for our care of his Revenue and to enrage the people against the Parliament for their profuseness of their money and neglect of their interest suggesting the danger of a French government or a Norman slavery whereby the Nobility and Gentry shall withdraw their necks and leave the poor Commonalty to the charge and slavery of subjection with which a groan or two must be interposed touching the Ark tender Consciences and the Gospel in the purity of it and
how all good people that have an interest therein should be affected therewith it being the great interest of the good people to keep the thoughts of the departure of the Gospel warm upon the spirits and consciences of believers conscience being the strongest tie upon reasonable souls in the world It was withall agreed that two active persons should observe all the failings of State and report them to a Committee appointed to improve and agravate them as might most conduce to the good old Cause especially by engaging the people in conscience against the government and in passion against the Governours and in contempt against both and keep this worm upon their hearts that the cause is Gods The fourth of the eighth moneth It being represented that there was some miscarriage in Mr. Carly's meeting so that the persecutors had them before Governour and imprisoned them It was agreed 1. Hereafter that there should be no private meeting of the brethren upon any time of publick meetings 2. That not above twelve should meet together 3. That their meetings should be in Dining-rooms where the Tables should be set so that if any body came they were only there refreshing themselves with the good creature 4. That the meetings should be as often as may be in some Officers house who by his place may not be suspected and if discovered may lay it upon his Wife 5. That at most meetings there may be a Sacrament which may be an obligation to secrecy and faithfulness 6. That the meeting consist of these exercises 1. That there be an account of all transactions since the last meeting 2. That there be a prayer poured forth suitable to the dispensation 3. That a Scripture may be opened that may speak to the present providence 4. That every brother may open his doubt and scruple to be resolved by the brethren if it be possible if not to be reserved for the great Congregation 5. That after due refreshment of our selves we forget not the afflictions of Joseph but send portions to the poor distressed Ministers and people for it was very well observed by Mr. Seaman that the King and Church have lost most of their friends by neglecting to make a competent provision for them for it is Interest saith he that governeth the world the greatest prop to our Cause was our care of disposing places and Delinquents Lands to the well affected where by a hundred thousand families were engaged to live and die with us October 17. A bill was brought in of some well-affected persons that would go through all the Qualifications to be prescribed by King or Parliament to promote the honest Interest in their several capacities as Common-councel men and other Officers of the City provided alwayes that upon any scruple they repair to Father Calamy and father Clarke to be resolved and the bill was brought to be registred to father Clarke that in his next Volume of Martyrology he may record them as the great Patriots of their Country friends to the holy Cause and restorers of paths to dwell in But said Deputy Ash What if all Officers for the ensuing year must renounce the Covenant Alas saith Mr. Nye have not we all renounced it long ago have not we all taken the Engagement and was not the Engagement a renunciation of the Covenant Beloved did not the long Parliament the famous long Parliament that were I am sure at the making of the Covenant and knew sure as well as anybody how far it did bind us lay it aside as an Almanack out of date an beloved said he you must do more for the Cause then renounce a Covenant that hath been this many a day out of date October 17. It was moved by some well affected Citizens that did lye lyable to the Bishops that some confiding Lawyers were consulted about their power whether in all cases they might not escape them by appealing to the Common Law where the whole Cause will fall to the ground for want of prosecutors and how far Church wardens might act without the necessity of taking an Oath and what power they had in Vestries and other Parish matters without their Minister that they might understand what advantages they have in their places for promoting the discountenanced Interest of the Lord and his servants and whore a man might get in with some Officers under whose wings they may safely serve their Friends and the good old Cause The same day Mr. Baxter offered seventeen Considerations touching the conveniency of More-fields Islington Hackney c. for habitations to the ejected Ministers and withall produced the history of Philip Nerius father of the Oratorians among whom it was agreed that the zealous Christians should meet a-dayes in St. Jeromes Oratory and there a religious meeting should be held after this manner first silence being made they began with Prayer and one of the brothers read some pious Lessons at the reading of which the Father used to interpose upon occasion explaining more fully enlarging and vehemently inculcating on the minds of the Auditors the things read continuing his discourse sometimes a whole hour to the great satisfaction of the hearers dialogue-wise asking some of the company their opinions of such a thing afterward by his appointment one of them went up into the Desk raised upon steps and made an Oration without flourish or varnish of Language composed out of the approved and choice lives of Saints sacred Writ and sentences of holy Fathers he that succeeded him discoursed after the same manner but on a differing matter then followed the third who related some part of the Church story in the order of its several ages every of these had his half hour allotted to him and performed all with marvellous delight and approbation then singing some Hymne and going to prayers again the company broke up Which way together with some additions of his own sutable to the present occasion he offered to their consideration The eighteenth of the eighth moneth A confiding Lawyer brought word that notwithstanding the Act for Uniformity there was Liberty left yet for the suffering brethren to undertake the most advantageous employment to them and their Cause viz. teaching of School which said he may be done thus an inconsiderate person that hath conformed may be hired to take care of a School in a brothers house and the brother under the notion of boarding may instruct them himself in all parts of learning and godliness All applanded this motion not only as a present provision for their persons but a likely advantage to their Cause Which if we cannot said Mr. Nie promote in our time yet by this meanes it may be restored in the next generation they that are Masters of the children in this age may be Masters of the men in the next Having given order for translating the Farewell-Sermons into Dutch for the propagation of the Gospel among the reformed Churches and the keeping up of the dying cause in the world
CABALA OR AN Impartial Account OF THE NON-CONFORMISTS Private Designs Actings and Wayes From August 24. 1662. to December 25. in the same Year LONDON Printed in the Year MDCLXIII THE CABBULA OR AN HISTORY OF THE NON-CONFORMISTS From Aug. 24. 1662. to this present May 1663. April 6. 1663. At a Close-Committee of the well-affected and ejected Ministers It was Ordered THat whereas Baronius hath written Martirologies for the Christians under the first ten Persecutions and whereas Bonsarchius hath written a Catalogue of such faithful Witnesses as suffered for the Testimony of Jesus as hath Illyricus c. Whereas the persecuted Waldenses Bohemians and other faithful ones have their history And whereas Mr. Fox that good man hath written the sufferings of such as held the Word of God patiently under that great Tryal in Queen Maries daies and worthy Mr. Clark hath added to that a famous Martirology of those such as suffered since in France Ireland and England especially of sundry eminent men that suffered under the late Bishops as we do now and that eminent Patriot Mr. Prynne hath taken great pains to publish his own and his Brethrens sufferings in those elaborate pieces whereof the one is called the Tyranny of Lordly Prelacy and the other is called Canterburies Doom for the promotion of the Holy Cause the advancement of the Gospel the strengthening of the hand of those that are weak the convincing of gain-sayers Mr. Clark Mr. Vicars and Mr. P. be desired to exercise their gift of History in a faithful relation of what hath happened among them that are faithful from the 24 day of August 1662. to this present time G. Griffith Ph. Nie Jo. Goodwyn Ri. Venning in the name of the whole Committee An additional Order April 6. in the afternoon by the same Committee Whereas Josephus hath given several rules for a true Historian as that he should conceal no truth out of fear nor utter no falshood out of favour It is ordered 1. That our Historians be wholly guided by Mr. Poole Mr. Addersley Mr. Brooks and the rest of the Committee for that purpose appointed and that they vary nothing from the sense of the Brethren 2. That an officious Lye may be allowable for the advancement of the Holy Cause 3. That the infirmities of some weak Brethren under this great Tryal may be passed by with that charity that covereth a multitude 4. That the Books of Wonders the antipathy of Lordly Prelacy the holy Martyrs the century of scandalous Ministers Wilsous History bloud crying under the Altar and all those godly books that carried on the cause twenty years ago be consulted by the Historians 5. That when there is an holy Cheat to be expressed let it be told in Scripture phrase let the Cause of God be expressed in the Word of God 6. That Mr. Clark be sent to the Baudy Courts to search Records and see what Brethren and Sisters have done penance this last year of persecution 7. That the heathenish names of moneths days c be reformed throughout the History T. Goodwyn Jo. Brice W. Bridges Ed. North. The twentieth of the sixth moneth commonly called August it was ordered That there should be Letters sent to the Churches and the several Pastors thereof to incourage them to be stedfast and unmoveable that they be not soon shaken in mind or troubled neither by word nor by letter and that Mr. Mantou Mr. Jacomb Mr. Poole and Mr. Lye draw that Letter The 21 of the sixth moneth commonly called August the foresaid Letter was read by Adoniram Bifield to this effect Brethren and Beloved in the Lord IT was much upon our spirit to have setled a Communion between us and the Churches of Christ through out the Land especially against the time of Persecution that is now approaching and as an earnest of that Communion we unanimously agreed upon these Letters whereby you are given to understand that our good L. H. C. our Lord A. R. S. H. M. at Court whom we waited upon with your great sense of their favour to and care of the Holy Cause and the twenty thousand pound you presented them with and our good Brother the E. N. together with our good friends the Catholiques have perswaded us that it was our interest to give way to the Act of Vniformity in Parliament where our opposition did but exasperate our Adversaries to a greater severity then they were inclined to and stand against it every man of us in our places that we and the world may know our strength and power not doubting but that our considerable number and interest which will appear by the publick and general dissent to that Vniformity enjoyned may gain us an indulgence that will vacate and make void all former Laws and being confident of his Majesties promise from Breda for Liberty to tender Consciences and withall of that clemency and mercy which we wrought upon in his Father not forgetting that we can make it appear to his Majesty that there are not Miuisters to supply our places and in the mean time in our Petition for peace and our account of the accommodation endeavoured at the Savoy we shall satisfie the people that offered all that we can for Peace and Liberty to exercise our Ministry for the salvation of their souls and that if we be torn away from our Beloved Flocks its long of unreasonable men By these and other attempts we doubt not but to prevail with his Majesty and his Councel to dispence with the said Act and with the Parliament in the next Session of it by that time we have incensed the Gentry and Commonalty against the Bishops to grant such an Indulgence as may in effect repeal it Therefore Brethren as we pray the God of all Grace to settle strengthen and establish you so we beseech you to stand fast in the Faith and not to be moved from the hope of the Gospel to be faithful to your principles and stedfast in your Covenant Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward for ye have need of patience for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry now the just shall live by Faith but if any man draw back our souls shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of them that draw back to Perdition Brethren farewell in the Lord. Copia Vera. Ja. Robotham Adoniram Bifield The 22 of the sixth moneth by the people called August it was ordered That Mr. Lewis Mr. Bifield Mr. Hickman Mr. Evans Mr. Eilis Mr. Conyers be sent with these Letters as Messengers to the several Churches with instructions how to settle that correspondence and communion that may maintain a good understanding during the time of persecution As 1. That there be an account taken in each County of all the faithful Ministers that can suffer rather then sin what their abilities are how useful they may be in the present exigent according to their several capacities and