ground of our seperation and with-drawing to this day so as that the name of the Lord is greatly reproached thorough these Misreports concerning us it might therefore hereby appear that the cause why we do so is for such sins as are publikely scandalous and sinful that so whatever becomes of our persons the truth may be vindicated Reas 3. That all who fear the Lord in uprightness of heart may consider and see it 's their duty to with-draw and seperate from all such persons For what saith the Apostle Know you not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump Purge out therefore the old leaven c. And may it not be spoken with grief of heart that the lump or generality of the Churches in this day are much leavened with a luke-warm sensual selfish spirit seeking the honor and favor of men for their own advantage rather then setting the Lord before them and approving their hearts to him and indeavouring after the advancement of his glory in the world which comes to pass in a great measure for want of doing their duty to such persons in this particular Reas 4. That if it should please the Lord to call any or all of us further to suffer herein or upon such like account it may appear we suffer for his Name sake and not as evil doers the mouthes of many professors having been already opened in this respect though wee could wish it hath not rather been to palliate and cover over their own Apostacy Reas 5. Because thus saith the Scripture Them that sin to wit in the sight of all men as these have done and that against the light of Nature and Grace rebuke before all that others also may see and fear and do no more so wiâ—kedly for as Jannes and Jambres Korah Dathan and Abiram with their company withstood Moses in the work of GOD in their day so these likewise do resist his cause and truth in our day proceeding from iniquity to iniquity Reas 6. That so such as are unknown to us and have been already engaged in this work of seperation may bee incouraged and not discouraged and may know that whatsoever their afflictions and trialls are thereupon the same are also accomplished in others of their Brethren upon the same account that so from a spirit of love to truth we may be strengthning one anothers hands in so blessed and honorable a work Rea. 7. If Pilate was so sensible of the innocency of Jesus Christ that he could do no less but in the presence of the Court and the whole multitude take water and wash his hands saying these words the better to clear himself from being guilty of his blood I am free from the blood of this just man look ye to it Doth it not much more concern us in such a day as this when our Lord in his members and cause contended for in the late warrs is again crucified afresh put to open shame to take this water of our publike testimony in the presence both of Saints and Sinners and testifie our dislike of and seperation from so great iniquity as also the persons guilty thereof And if our Lord Jesus could charge upon the Jewes all the righteous blood shed from Abel to that day and Peter Act. 3.13 and so Stephen Act. 7.51 52. likewise charge them for retaining their forefathers wicked spirit though they pretended otherwise manifested in denying betraying delivering up and killing of Christ and the Saints who were witnesses to the truth in that day May not wee justly fear that if we should be silent in this day the guilt of their blood which was shed in the late wars as also of the sufferings of the Saints formerly and yet imprisoned for their faithfulness to the despised cause and interest of Christ who did and do offer themselves so willingly may be found upon us when the Lord makes inquisition for the same and we come to be partakers of that judgement which we are perswaded will lye heavie upon all that shall be found guilty more or less Reas 8. Because of the so plain discovery through a generall silence of a Laodicean or luke-warm spirit for Christ in this day which the Lord loaths and threatens to spue out of his mouth But on the contrary commends the Churches of Ephesus and Smyrna c. for their zeal and faithfulness in discovering of and not bearing with sin nor sinners yea the Lord delights in such who offer themselves willingly And the Inhabitants of Meroz are cursed with a bitter curse not because they appeared against Gods cause and people but for standing Neuters and not coming forth when an opportunity was offered to his help against the mighty So in Psal 94.16 there seems to be another plain word of instruction in this case where the Prophet by way of Proclamation hath these vvords Who will rise up for me against the evil doers Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity He doth not say as some say novv Sit still and let God alone for he will finde out wayes and means to do his work in his appointed time himself for he hath power at command why do you trouble your selves more then a great many wiser men No So the Lord seems to speak in this day as once Iohn said Who is on my side who And although such poor creatures as vve are can adde nothing to him yet he loves to see us shevv our good affection and to do vvhat vve are able and he hath so appointed that the foot yea the feet of the poor and the steps viz the indeavours of the needy shall tread down the lofty City And the least of the Flock shall draw them out c. And it may not be forgotten how that the Parliament in the time of the late war as they took notice of Neuters by way of dislike on the one hand so they did very kindly resent the constant good affections of others on the other hand Reas 9. When sin comes to be National First in respect of the sin it self Secondly in respect of the persons committing it being in a National or publike capacity Thirdly And contrary to professed and declared light as the sin of this day is and persisting therein after many admonitions so as that we may truly say of the transgressors of this day as the Spirit of the Lord by Isaiah said of Israel of old Wo to the rebellious children saith the Lord that take counsel but not of me that cover with a covering but not of my spirit that they may add sin to sin that walk to go down to Aegypt and have not asked at my mouth to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharoah and to trust in the shadow of Aegypt c. Now as in verse the eight the Prophet is commanded to go write is before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for
mourn and grieve for you that if it were the Will of our heavenly Father you might be recovered out of the Snare and do trust many of you will but in case We should join with you before the least acknowledgement of your evil should not we return to you before you return unto the Lord and so come under the reproof of that Scripture Jer. 15.17 and that also in 2 Cor. 6 17 18. Yea Would it not rather be a grieving of the Spirit and making light of so precious an Ordinance as Prayer is Have We not some sad experience hereof already in that dya of Prayer kept with you when our first Paper was to be debated What contrariety of spirits did then appoar Were We not in the duty deeply judged and censured by one of the chief amongst you when We came to lay the matter in difference before the Lord If so little confort then sure less now Can two pray together except they be agreed We do therefore humbly apprehend before any such conjuction be that you will first inquire into the great evil amongst you and not to eat with such persons but in brotherly love to admonish them and then to waite and see whether the Lord will humble them in the sence thereof if this were done We know that the consequence on your part would be to lye low before the Lord for complying with them to this day and when you shall minifest repentance by such a Work then We should have joy and confort in joyning with you to be further humbled before the Lord and also to lie at the Lords and your feet as to any other thing you should desire of us for his Name sake for We hope it is not in our hearts to be lifted up above our Brethren but onely to be faithful unto the Lord in a day of so great Apostacy Now as to the second thing about seeking to the Lord for a right way what you and we ought to do for the healing of the breach between us This seems to turn the goodness of the Lord upon himself and to forget his loving kindness yea to deny that We have been in a right Way after so much seeking unto and waiting upon him for direction and counsel from time to time yea give us leave to say That we humbly judge the Lord hath led us in a right path to this day and hath made darkness light crooked things straight before as well as since our first withdrawing Moreover wholly to question the ground of our proceedings to this day would be also of great reproach and dishonour to the Name and Cause of our Lord Jesus Christ and pre-declare to any discerning eye that We are returned from whence We vvere withdrawn upon no solid substantial grounds To the third namely That if there were any other thing necessary to be added we might have our freedom This we conceive needs little return respect being had in our answer to the two former propositions Thus desiring a tender construction if it may be of what is here laid down as to your last Message and chiefly to eye the first part as it relates to the choice of persons for clearing of the difference between us We remain Dated the first day of the first Month 1657. Your poor unworthy Brethren Sisters mourning for you yet apprehending that as truth is with us so the Power of the Church rests in us Signed in the Name and by the appointment of the whole none contradicting John Proud Tho Cary Caleb Ingold John Sealey AFter the delivery of this Paper We continued waiting upon the Lord as formerly expecting a return as to the contents of the first part thereof relating to the choice of persons by us and them to hear the matter in difference which many of us did the more earnestly desire not onely for the further manifestation of truth but also to take off that scandal laid by them upon us That we were altogether Judges of our own cause and would not admit of the hearing of it by others but three months time expiring since the delivery of our said Paper or thereabouts and no return given unto us one Way or other it seemed to many of us that their silence was a flat denyal to our render to the first part of our said Paper which put us upon further inquiry into our duty and to that end a day was set apart to seek the Lord for advice and counsl and the greatest part whereof being spend upon that account we then came to enquire of each other what the Lord had set upon our hearts as our further duty and after some discourse about it came to this result That having made so many tenders unto those from whom we were withdrawn with so little effect we had hopes to obtain our reasonable desire from them and therefore judged it our duty to proceed to the work of separation And accordingly some Brethren were chosen out from amongst us to make a draught thereof as the Lord should direct them and yet hereby not to exclude any Message that might come in the mean time from the other part neither to be too sudden about it so that it was about five or six Weeks before the draught of separation was brought in but after it was presented and agreed upon it was questioned by some whether it should yet be given in for some reasons urged by them unto which it was answered by others That they conceived the Lord would be much glorified in the delivering of it in as the unanimous consent of the whole But some again stood up and said That they conceived this would most glorifie God at present to wit that we should revive the tender make in our foregoing Paper notwithstanding their by their practiso to this day But this was opposed again by others judging that it would be little effectual considering how we had been dealt withall from the first day of our withdrawing until now however it was â—udged meet this being our last step towards those from whom we were withdrawn to be very diligent and watchful least Satan should take advantage upon us at the last and the Lord thereby be dishonour to take the advice of some upright and grave brethren who were faithful unto the Lord in this day of apostacy and present our Paper of Separation unto them for advice and counsel so far as the Lord should administer unto them Which was accordingly concluded bernard upon and the Brethren aforementioned to wit Mr. Cann Coll. Danvers Mr. Squibb c who accompanyed us as Witnesses when we gave in our Admonition at London-House were sent unto and upon their Meeting the Paper of Separation was delivered unto them who received it and in brotherly love took the matter into consideration taking their times and seasons of meeting together spreading it several times before the Lord in prayer as we have been credibly informed upon their desire we did also diliver in
the like liberty with those chosen by you to speak what might be upon their hearts as to the matter in difference But in case they were not so chosen although they might be Church-members yet they might not have liberty to speak any thing as to the matter in difference yet he said it was very likely that upon our request some liberty might be given in that kinde But in case any chosen by us should not be actuall Church-members though it may be granted for them to hear what was Controverted yet no liberty for them to speak any thing at all Likewise such persons so chosen their names should be given in to you for approbation as to their Principles and Conversations Now the Reasons why we cannot condiscend hereunto are these following 1. As being directly contrary to the end of our message more at large contained in our last paper not having therein exceeded our Gospel-liberty 2. It is altogether needlesse to make choice of persons to hear a matter in controversie and deny them liberty to speak unto it if they have any thing upon their hearts to say 3. To bind us up not onely to Church-members but also in a great measure to the Churches for their choice when it is very plain that the Apostacy of this day hath reached to the generallity of the Churches whereby there are few Zealous in the cause of Christ though many faithful ones in other things is to exalt the form above the power of Godliness 4. That it seemes to us directly contrary to the Principle of the Congregation you so much pretend unto which is To receive Saints as Saints and not as bound up to this or that form 5. To condescend hereunto is to undervalue the Spirit of the Lord breathing in severall of his servants who are not enemies but friends to Church Communion though not formal Church-members by reason of the foulnesse of the waters of the Sanctuary at this day and whom we desire to esteem far better then our selves 6. As there is no command in joyning us to Churches alone in this Case neither is there any against it therefore we humbly conceive our Gospel Liberty cannot be denied us Moreover there is but one example in all the New Testament as we can remember which was in the Church at Autioch sending to the Church at Jerusalem Asts 15. About the matter of Circumcision neither was there any visible Apostacy among the Churches at that day as now is else we conceive that the Church at Antioch would not have sent unto them about it These Reasons being premised and the substance of our last paper relating hereunto considered we do humbly declare That we can in no wise condiscend to a debate upon those conditions received from you neither upon any other terms then is mentioned in our last paper and upon which account we refused at first not that we desire to stand upon terms of advantage for our selves were we not groundedly perswaded the name and cause of Christ we are ingaged in would very much suffer thereby Thus desiring to hear a return from you if a debate of the matter in difference be really intended And that we may have our free choice without any bonds imposed upon us or them we shall chuse provided they be men fearing God and working Righteousness any more then we desire to impose bonds on you or whom you shall chuse for which we shall wait 14. dayes from the date hereof and in case of no return by that time we shall be in no longer expectation thereof We remain Your unworthy Brethren and Sisters mourning and praying for your return yet apprehending that as truth is with us so the power of the Church rests in us Dated the 4. of the 6. Moneth 1657. Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of the whole John Proud Caleb Ingold ACcording to our promise we waited for a return till the expiration of the time mentioned in the said paper but having no Answer neither any intention thereof so far as we could understand but rather an aversness thereunto considering that they had committed our said paper to the perusal of the Pastors and Elders of several Congregations to whom they said they had given up our business and to be directed according to their advice Who upon perusal thereof apprehended our desire and tender therein to be but reasonable Yet was their advice and proposition refused also A coppy of the agreement of the messengers of the Churches met at Allhallowes the II. of the 6. Moneth 1657. At the request of those from whom we are withdrawn about our paper Dated the 4. of the 6. Moneth 1657. 1 1. That Persons of approved Godliness may be endowed with wisdom to advise and to help to heal breaches as well as others 2 2. That the Persons that the dissenting Brethren had chosen which were not Church-members were well approved of for Godliness 3 3. For peace sake which we are to follow after we judge it not unlawfull but convenient that such Godly and approved persons as are mentioned in the last paper Dated the 4. of this Moneth may freely be admitted to hear and advise in the matter propounded with the like number of such as the Church with Mr. Sympson did choose 4 4. Our advice is that the number of Persons so chosen should not be many not exceeding ten of a side at the most Now it being so obvious that they not onely refused our tender but theirs also to whom as on their parts they had committed the matter in difference we judged it our duty to wait no longer upon them being without hope after so many denialls and therefore the Brethren to whom the orderring and managing the affairs of the Congregation was commited were appointed to perfect the draught of Separation intended and present it unto us with all expedition which was accordingly done a Coppy whereof is as followes Our last Testimony or separation from the Souldiers of the Army being guilty to six scandalous sins likewise from Mr. John Sympson their chief Abettor and others with him As also from the rest of those Brethren and Sisters we formerly walked withall whom we desire to mourn for yet as they hold Communion with those scandalous sins and Persons must separate from them IT is we trust some grief and trouble of heart unto your poor unworthy Brethren and Sisters that notwithstanding the Lord hath cast us into dayes of so great light and profession wherein he calleth upon all to repent without excuse or pretence of Ignorance you should to this day not onely hold Communion with but be justifiers of severall persons amongst you that are guilty of such sins as are not commonly named amongst men which is the more considerable in regard they are the sins of the last times into which we are fallen yea your continuance therein seemes to speak unto us as if the custom of sin had taken away the conscience thereof in
many of you Indeed we have ground to fear that many of you are so far become guilty as to call their evil good and our withdrawing from them and you upon this account evil And although we have been now one whole year and half or thereabouts waiting upon you in the Lords way by our withdrawing from you wherein we have been desirous to exercise patience and much long-suffering and as we hope with yearning bowels towards you in some measure willing to have compassion of you as of our own soules left we should also be tempted Likewise a year and half before our withdrawing bearing our Testimony against the evill amongst you so that had there been any heart in you to purge out the old leaven you might have become a new lump unto the Lord in so long time and thereby have been a vessel of honour meet for the Masters use in your generation but notwithstanding their sin hath been so often laid before you by us since as well as before our first withdrawing and having we hope out of love to your soules as well as for the glory of God in discharge of our own duty admonished the Souldiers of their evill and your selves as their Abettors according to the Rule of the Gospel that if it had pleased our heavenly Father you might thereby have been duly humbled under his mighty hand by smiting upon the thigh saying What have I done and each one have considered from whence you are fallen and done your first works Moreover in regard it was imputed to us That we would have none to Judge of or hear the ground of our withdrawing but our selves we did thereupon offer unto you that we were willing others should have the hearing of our Cause or rather the Cause of our Lord Jesus Christ wherein such poor worthlesse wormes as we are ingaged Provided we might have Liberty on our part to choose Persons of known Integrity and Godliness of whose faithfulness to the cause of Christ we might have good ground of Assurance in such an evil day as this is which by your practice you have absolutely denied us and in stead thereof have sent a third time to the several Congregations in and about the City without our consent or approbation that they might by their messengers hear and judge of the Matter in difference between us though they have refused to meddle with it And Oh that the consideration thereof might yet at the last put you upon some serious inquiry what should be the minde and will of the Lord concerning you therein and whether a third denial of this kinde doth not speak that you have so often gone out of the Lords way about that work and have refused susch equal wayes as might tend to the further discovery of truth as we humbly apprehend Likewise about 7. or 8. weeks since after seeking the Lord and receiving advice from such as were faithfull to the cause of Christ in this day we did judge it our duty notwithstanding your refusall to this day yet once more to make the same tender unto you as we had done formerly That the matter in difference might be debated in the presence of a certain number of godly persons one half chosen by you and the rest by us and all of them having equal liberty of speaking as occasion might require To which we received Answer being little less then a plain denial of our tender however we make a speedy reply in writing that our willingness to such a work might appear for answer whereunto we have been about four weeks in expectation but having no return we do discern that the Lord hath shut up your hearts from it which doth the more plainly appear for that we are informed those Members of Churches to whom you have committed the perusal of our last paper did give in their Judgement That our desire therein was but reasonable and ought to be condesscended unto Now we could wish that the sence of your great evil might lie more upon our hearts wherein we would also not be unsensible of our own miscarriages in the management thereof desiring we hope to mourn before the Lord for the same yea we desire not onely in the words but Spirit of the Prophet Jeremiah to say Oh that our heads were water and our eyes a fountain of tears that we might weep night and day for our own sins and iniquities as well as for the great abominations of this time being an open Apostacy from the Cause of Christ and this Nations freedom sealed unto in the late Wars by the Faith Prayers Blond Tea's and Estates of many thousands of whom not a few were Saints whereinto you are so greatly fallen and it is upon the hearts of some of us that if the Lord shall not mercifully yet at the last send his Angel and pull you out from amongst this Apostatizing generation this may probably be your portion That Partaking of their sins you may partake of their Judgements An therefore that we might be remisse in nothing so far as the Lord hath discovered it to be his minde and will unto us It is after seeking of his face for Councel and direction and some searching of our own hearts judged to be our duty to leave this paper with you as our last Testimony against the crying evils and abominations amongst you and cleaved unto by you some more some lesse as is hereafter mentioned First As to our Brethren the Souldiers We humbly declare and testifie in the Name and fear of the Lord who is the searcher of all hearts they do appear unto us very manifestly guilty of those several sins laid to their charge by us as being principall Abetters unto and Supporters of the Apostacy of this day headed by the Person now in Power by whom our Brethen stand and so stiffly contend for as if they would justifie him in all his Oppressions wherein he ariseth and higher to the great reproach of the Gospel The sin we shall onely name being more largely set down in our first paper First Treason having betrayed the Cause and Intrest of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Nations Liberty contended for in the late Wars which did maniselt it self First In pulling down all Antichristian laws Statutes ⋆ Having before proved that there is an Apostacy we now come to shew the rise of it and is as followeth When the War was ended at Worcester the Lords people expected that the good things the Army declared for and promised should be brought forth Also the man in Power and the Army appear'd in words to do so to And do blame and pretend they dissolved the old Parliament for not doing those good things and likewise to call the Little Parliament as men fearing God and Principled to bring them forth as also to Act for the Advancement of Christs Kingdom And go on to say that something was at the door and that we were at the edge and threshold of the
THE Old Leaven purged out OR THE APOSTACY Of this DAY further Opened BEING A true and faithful Narrative of the orderly Proceedings and Dealings of the Lesser part of the Congregation formerly walking with Mr. John Sympson with and against severall Souldiers of the Army who being fallen in with the APOSTACY of this DAY contrary to Professed and Declared Principles and the many out-goings of the Lord thereupon are withdrawn and separated from together with Mr. Sympson their Chief Abettor and others after neer two Years labouring whilest we were in the Congregation and neer two Years more since AS ALSO The true Coppies of seven of the Letters which Mr. Sympson wrote with his own Hand and sent to the Congregation whilest he was a Prisoner for Truth in Windsor-Castle WITH An Answer to severall Objections that have been or may be raised against Printing and Publishing the Whole ALL Humbly presented to Publique view not in Strife Vain-glory or to be seen of Men but we hope out of conscience to endeavour a Recovering of the Name of the Lord which hath layen under so great reproach through Misreports raised of us since our first withdrawing 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you And will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Thes 3.6 Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly c. 2 Tim. 3.4 5. Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away Printed in the Year of our Lord 1658. To all that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity in this evill day whether in Churches or out Beloved in our Lord INcrease of Faith Hope Love Humility Zeal Wisdom and Patience with all other the fruits of the Spirit be multiplied unto and bestowed upon you according to the purchase of our Lord Jesus who is King of Saints and Nations that you may bee able to stand upon the Sea of glasse mingled with Fire and maintain your Victorie over the Beast and his Image and Number of his name having the Harps of God in your hands that when his Iudgments shall be made manifest and a reward given to Babylon according to his word you may not with the Merchants and great Men of the Earth stand afar off crying alas alas but may with the Angell and the followers of the Lamb who are called chosen and faithfull with rejoycing say Righteous art thou O Lord because thou hast judged thus How unmeet such as we are above any who have obtained like precious faith to appear in this publike manner is best knowne to the Lord and our own souls being in some measure through his Free grace made sensible of our insufficiency to so weighty a Work the consideration whereof might wholly discourage our proceeding herein did not the honor of God the interest of Christ Jesus our Lord groundedly provoke us thereunto for now as all will behold whether Saints or Sinners so many being already prejudiced in their judgments thorough false reports received of us as they have been apt enough will shoot their arrowes against us but with how much unwarrantableness on their parts let the Reader judge by this ensuing Narrative Others being convinced of the truth and goodness of the cause we are ingaged in as they do not speak against us so on the other hand lest they should come under the like reproach with us are silent in saying any thing on our behalf yet some Elijahs there are who have been and still are willing to bear part of the burthen with us Adding hereunto that we are a stumbling block to many thorough the many failings infirmities and miscarriages such poor nothing-creatures as we are have been compassed with in the management of so honourable and weighty a cause as this is for which each one of us have great reason to be truly humbled before the Lord though hereby we may humbly say Are we as Signs and Wonders in Isreal Howerver notwithstanding all the reproaches and hard speeches that hitherto hath attended us from many of our Brethren and Familiars whom we desire dearly to love in the Lord as wel as from the Apostates of this day the latter of which as we have may expect it so we do not much regard it We have been strengthned in our Head the Lord Jesus to bear up under all though many halts stops have been made in this work thereby which hath caused some searchings of heart amongst us and we trust that the same power and goodness of our Father which hath been so wonderfully manifested towards us to this very day will still carry us on therein to the glory of his grace by Jesus Christ which is to be acknowledged by us before him and his people with all humility and thankfulness some passages whereof are inserted in these following particulars First by frustrating the intentions of those from whom we are seperated to have proceeded against us even to a casting out though the chiefest of them were unanimous therein and in making them confused and abortive in all their indeavors that way Secondly that when they had sent as they apprehended to the soberest and choicest of the Independent and Baptised Congregations in the City to countenance them therein who accordingly sent chief men from amongst them they hitherto have been so over-ruled by the Lord as that they have not been capable of advising therein Thirdly In keeping us together as one intire body from first to last though full of weaknesses inabling us from time to time that according to Gospel-rule to admonish those from whom we are seperated end to watch over one another in love though Mr. Sympson gave out upon our first with-drawing that he was confident we should break asunder within three moneths or thereabouts as the just hand of the Lord against us And therefore the Lord having so graciously owned us we do not desire to be fore-casting what will be the event or issue of this our publike testimony but looking up to him desire to rest satisfied in this that herein we have done no more then our duty for these following reasons First That in regard the Lord hath been and is so greatly dishonoured by a professing generation sinning against so great light as never was known before amongst whom the Souldiers and Mr. Sympson we are seperated from are apart it may appear there is a remnant among the Churches of Christ who do not wink at or comply with so great iniquity but do desire to bear a sutable Testimony against and make a due seperation from it Reas 2. There being many reproaches and calumnies cast upon us as to the matter and
the time to come for ever and ever that this is a rebellious people c. so ought we to do the same if we would be found faithful to the Lord his despised Cause People in our day as the Prophet Isaiah was in his the sins and persons committing them in our day being very like the sins and persons guilty thereof in that day And though to bear up a sutable testimony in this day be as irksome unto us as it was to Jeremiah chap. 20.8 9 10. yet when we consider what encouragement he had from the Lord to hold on his way and not to return to them and though they might lay many snares for him he would stand by him and make him as a fenced City and brazen walls against them and be with him to save and deliver him We are comfortably perswaded that he will likewise be with us his poor nothing creatures in this our testimony if we be found faithful herein unto the death as he was For these forementioned Reasons among others that might be given are we encouraged to publish our proceedings from the day of our first withdrawing to the day of our separation being the substance of three years labouring or thereabouts for the Name and Cause of our Lord Jesus and therefore give us leave to contend earnestly for the faith of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus once deliver'd to the Saints and for common Justice and righteousness which hath been sealed unto with so much of the Saints and others blood in the late Wars though now it be very unworthily betrayed not by Enemies but professed Friends many of whom are Brethren in Church-Relation We hope we can as in the presence of the Lord that searcheth all htarts however others may judge of us profess our selves very disirous to follow after those things which makes for peace so far as the shooes of the Gospel will carry us but to have peace with Dishonesty Injustice Unrighteousness Lying Deceit or Oppression c. is contrary to the mind of the Gospel of peace any of which sins should Paul himself been found guilty of were ground sufficient by his own Argument for the Church of Corinth and so by consequence for any other Church to refuse Communion with him therefore to have peace upon this account is to have peace where God would have war and to bring our selves under that wo pronounced against those who call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness c. And if any shall yet blame us for appearing in this publike way give us leave to say unto them as David said unto his brethren when he came into the Camp of Israel What have we now done is there not a cause Adding hereunto also the report gone out amongst many of those from whom we are separated saying That if we could prove any thing against the Souldiers they were ready to do their duty towards them as well ae we Wherefore it is very requisite that others should see the matter of fact and judge whether from the whole we had not just ground for this our withdrawing and separation and we also hope that such among them who are sensible of the evil testified against will bear with us in what we have done therein But if any shall say of us deridingly as Michal said of David How glorious was the King of Israel to day who uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants as one of the vain fellows shamelesly uncovereth himself c. Give us leave for answer to say as David said It is for the Lord otherwise we had rather be silent then displease any much less those whom we dearly love in the Lord. But if this be to be vile we shall yet be more vile we hope in our own sight also and although flesh may in some respects be ready to shew it self in this case yet if all things be duly considered there is little reason for it for where flesh would shew it self it is for some advantage but it seems to us as if there were little fleshly advantage to be reaped by it for flesh naturally loves a good report of all especially among the generallity of professors but do we not hereby yea have we not already lost the good report of men and of Brethren too Again flesh loves the Rulers favour where there is hopes of honor profit or preferment c. But on the contrary do we not hereby hazard our Estates and lives and all But admit that flesh will be shewing it self as we have sufficient cause to fear and as we have experience and may too sadly complain thereof in our own souls in the best and most warrantable Work the Lord may require of us yet this ought not to be matter of discouragement but of caution Pray therefore for us all ye faithful ones in the Work Kingdom and patient expectation of our Lord Jesus to whom this especially is directed and on whose behalf in a great measure this Testimony comes We humbly intreat that you would beg of the Lord that flesh may receive a rebuke every way What temptations we have and do meet withall none knows so well as our selves it being sometimes suggested to us That it were better to lay down our Testimony and venture no further then run the hazard that may follow thereupon but when we think of that Scripture Well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruler over much enter thou into thy Masters joy c. It is then matter of encouragement to us to persevere therein considering also how easie a thing it is for us to lose the Crown of our Testimony Rev. 3.11 by declining the Cause of Christ we through Grace have been and yet are engaged in although we may not lose the salvation of our own souls which puts us in mind of Barnabas of whom it was said He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost exhorting the Saints at Antioch to cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart yet afterwards this good man received a check by joyning with John whose Sirname was Mark who left Paul in the Work at Pamphilia that Paul testifies against him for so doing and afterwards we do not hear of Barnabas in any further Work for Christ as formerly he had been so good it is to stick close to Christ in an Evil day And have we not also this further promise Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keepe thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth It would have been too long and tedious to have inserted the whole matter as it was publikely debated in the whole Congregation drawn from those six scandalous sins laid to the charge of the Souldiers then amongst us
at this day which makes the hearts of the righteous sad whom the Lord would not have fadned and the Enemy great ground to rejoice that so large profession should end in the greatest oppression wickedness that we could have expected from the adversaries of his glory against whom so great a contest hath been by blood for so many years and for our Brethren to own and approve of him who hath so greatly dishonored the Lord by serving him with their Swords in their hands cannot we think free them from being transgressors thereof in a high measure And now we shall humbly lay before you some particular instances from these generals though one would think this were enough to every impartial eye for by how much sin comes to be countenanced c carryed on by a Law by so much it is the more dangerous for particular persons to fall in with it Our Brother Kelzey cannot be freed from having a hand in the v rise of the Government the Cockatrice Egge of this day in regard himself and Coll. u Coll. Kelzey did at Mr. Sapmsons house in Cole-harbour before many brethren more fully confess what was laid to his charge in coming down to the Fleet then is laid down in the paper Moreover at that time he said also That before his coming down to the Fleet he was at a Meeting of the Officers of the Army when the Government was presented to them in writing for their approbation and that he himself did alder something therein and so gave his consent it being his judgement and conscience as he said although when his coming down to the Fleet was first laid to his charge it was denyed by him in these words That he had not directly or indirectly a hand in the rise of the Government whereby he was guilty of a plain untruth onely this is to be remembred That whereas it is said in the paper Coll. Clark was with him when the first came down to the Fleet it was a mistake for it seems he came down alone that time Clark was imployed in December 1653. to come down to the Fleet then riding before Portsmouth brought along with them the Paper of Government in writing with a blank in that Article where the Persons Name who was to be Protector should be inserted when it was also declared that it was thought the Lord General should be the Man but it was not yet determined Likewise since that he hath taken upon him to be a Major General whereby the Nation is divided into Provinces the plain fruit of Monarchical Conquest as if twelve or thirteen years War wherein so much blood both of the Saints and others had been spilt though in pretence for Christ yet indeed to establish the lustful interest of one particular person founded upon a more Tyrannical and Antichristian bottom then the late King who was cut off for his Tyranny Moreover as a Fruit of this our Brothers new degree of honour he hath oppressed several of the Lords People by forcing Taxes from them as from Coll. Rich. †A copy of Coll. Rich his Letter to Kelzey was produced to know the reason of his sending Souldiers to quarter upon him and Kelzey's answer wherein he declared That there they should quarter till the Tax were paid a prisoner for truth of which we have been particular in making it out how long the Souldiers quartered at his house in Kent selling his Corn killing three of his Tenants sheep for Food and last of all distrained which they might have done at first but that they resolved to make the yoke as heavy as they could and not onely so but took between four of five pounds more then the Tax came to Likewise since that Taxes have been forced from Capt. Burcher Capt. Owen and Capt. Price in Canterbury from the first of whom the Souldiers took to the value of thirty shillings to pay for their quarters a day and night as they said and if this be not Oppression we know not what it Also he justifieth the imprisonment of our Brethren by saying 'T is possible they suffer for evil-doing Our Brother Capt. Harrison was Keeper to our Brother Sympson whilest he was a x It is some grief of heart unto us that we should make mention of Mr. Sympson's Name as declined from that spirit of Testimony which was upon him whilest he continued a prisoner prisoner for truth and though he might do it in love yet that will onely excuse the aggravation of the sin and not the sin it self for we are to do no evil that good may come of it yea we are to avoid every appearance of evil and since that the Church took cognizance of our Brothers evil therein and did declare their dislike of that act yet notwithstanding have they received him by their last vote without the least acknowledgement of his sin Our Brother Ducket did in the presence of the Brethren at London-house declare his full approbation of the present Government as if there had been no sin in its first rise and indeed did so justifie the iniquity of this day that the generallity of the Brethren were much dis-satisfied with him Also he declared That he would have none in his troop but such as would engage to be true to the present power which did then much dis-satisfie the Brethren and our Brother Sypmson also since which he hath been in Scotland Our Brother Strange had the custody of our Brother Major General Harrison until we think he was ashamed out of it by some of the Lords servants who came to visit him professing their non-communion with our brother Strange in common eating whilest he was his brothers Jaylor Likewise our brother Strange did ask our brother Speneer in Marybone-Park VVhether the Souldiers had sold their Debentors unto him Brother Spencer answered No he did profess they would not sell them Strange answered Is not their time out if it be cashiere them This our Brother Strange denyed saying If that can be proved you may judge all the rest to be true but it was witnessed to his face at our brother Gardners house Likewise he did declare That he would have none of the congregation in his troop which came to be made known upon this occasion Our brother Hathorne declared to our brother Spencer his desire to ride in the Major Generals Troope whereupon our brother Spencer sent him to the Major General but not having an opportunity to speak with him he less his Errand with brother Strange and coming back to brother Spencer he told him Thou hast undone thy self for Strange hath said he will have none of the Congregation in his Troop which he also denyed with a great deal of cavilling but it was witnessed to his face Our brother Summer being asked what he fought for now he replyed For half Crowns Whether a Saint if called to venture his life onely for money can with comfort lay it down having
upon our hearts to have delivered by word of mouth should be done in vvriting as vvell for your sakes as in discharge of our own duty according to the Rule of the Gospel and therefore vve intreat that you will suffer us hereby to plead a little vvith you for truths sake and vve hope it is unfeignedly upon our hearts to lay your great sin before you from some sense of the great dishonour brought unto the Name of the Lord by you and let these lines be patiently read through before you judge you poor unvvorthy brethren and sisters for we can truly say that we disire to mourn and groan in secret for you as well as for our own vveaknesses and this is some part of our joy That in simplicity and godly sincerity many of us have been by the space of two years and upwards endeavouring to get your feet as well as our own out of the Snare of the apostacy of this day having compassion of you as of our own souls for we are in some measure perswaded that some eminent hand of the Lord wil be manifested in due time to distinguish between those that serve him faithfully and those that serve him not In the first place therefore we pray you to consider the six great and scandalous sins laid to the charâ—g of the brethren amongst you wearing the Sword which for brevity sake we shall here onely mention referring you to our paper already given in for a more particular knowledge thereof wherein We desire the Scriptures in the margent may be diligently perused and some remembrance had of vvhat the Lord did inable us to speak from them when our Paper vvas debated in the Church although it is very vvell knovvn so much liberty vvas hardly obtained First Treason against Christ as King and Prophet of his people and King of Nations also for the latter part of the late VVar did run in that Channel Likewise against the faithful and vvell-affected in this Nation whose Liberties and they are made bond-slaves to their brethren though some blood was spilt and treasure spent to obtain it our of the hands of the late Tyrant Secondly Convenant-breaking and false swearing having engaged before the Lord and his People to perform the good promised on the behalf of Christ his People and the Nation vvhich are novv broken in the face of the Sun Thirdly Oppression by Tythes Taxes c. upon the bodyes and consciences of the Lords People and the well-affected the Nation at this day Fourthly Persecution of Saints many of the Lords people having been and some are still imprisoned for their testimony on the behalf of the Lord his Cause and the Nations liberty and therein the Souldiers are altogether active there being no rule not so much as according to the Law of the Land to justifie their practice by Civil Officers Fifthly Maintaining Antichristian Laws Statutes and Customs contrary to former Engagements and Declarations by vvhich the Saints of old have suffered and some do now suffer at this very day Sixthly Hereby the hearts of the righteous are greatly grieved for that brethren at least professing themselves so to be should be active in abetting and supporting so great vvikedness That these sins were plainly proved against our brethren wearing the Svvord novv amongst you is very manifest not onely in general but also in a great measure particularly and therfore shall leave it unto the Lord vvho judgeth righteously Yet vve do hereby humbly admonish them of their evil as being very great and scandalous After this there is laid down several Queries how vve vvere in duty bound to withdraw from them and by the same Rule to admonish and withdraw from your selves as being partakers with them having made your selves m Guilty for they are hereby encouraged to keep their places whereby the Man in Power is encouraged to go on in his apostacy and to judge himself in pretence at least to be in a good condition for when he hath been told That he had not the love of good people as formerly and that many were grieved at his present actions he replyed They were but a few inconsiderable people who were dissatisfied for the greatest part of honest men in the Army and Churches were for him and approved of what he had done which approhensions are begotten by members of Churches and other professors holding places under him for whilest they do so their tongues are tyed that they dare not openly speak their minds though they really apprehend yea and will to some confess That the present state of things are out of course and are not so honest as in the day of their straits they declared they should be Wherefore doth is not concern the Churches to take heed how they encourage those by continuing them among them who abet and uphold the present apostacy lest they become guilty thereof themselves and incur the Lords displeasure for so doing guilty of their iniquity by your vote of communion with them And this vve do in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ who hath commanded us to withdraw from every brother that walks disorderly though herein we would distinguish between such of our Brethren Sisters as do plead for encourage and support them in their evil and others who for want of a true knowledge understanding thereof together with the overawing of some amongst you as we fear are notwithstanding in their degree also become partakers with them in their evil And here desire so far to digress as to answer one objection namely That our brethren the Souldiers desired leave to go off from us before we procceded so far as now we have but we would not To which vve answer That it is to be considered their sins are very scandalous and if so such a practice would be contrary to the Rule directing in such cases That if a brother or brethren offend to admonish them particularly then more publikely as he or they are found to persevere in their sin that if the Lord will they may see their evil and repent and not suffer them to go off without knowledge of their evil for if they should it may prove to the hardening of their hearts and consequently to the ruine of their souls Indeed to have let them gone off would have been much more easie to us and pleasing to the flesh for we did in some measure foresee how hard it would be in this rough path to follow the Lord fully yet we take comfort in this That our Cause is of God and our hearts we trust in the main upright therein Now we shall proceed to give you a short account how the Lord hath led us since our said withdrawing wherin it will be manifest if the Lord give you a spirit of discerning that we have to this day been patiently waiting upon the Lord and you to the end that if it had pleased our heavenly Father it might have put you upon inquiry how far you are become
from them trusting that the promise of grace mentioned 2 Cor. 6.17 18. In these words Wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and be a Father unto you and you shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty We desire also for their and our encouragement to leave with them that Scripture Psal 9.4 Hos 11.12 to be theirs and our portion also But till then we do also hereby humbly testifie and declare that as they now stand we cannot have Communion with them as otherwise in the uprightness of our hearts we desire to have and should much rejoyce in were they clear from the evil of this day and withdrawn from amongst those disorderly persons till then we have just ground to believe they are in their degree partakers of their evil according to that Scripture 1 Tim. 5.22 Be not partakers of others mens sins keep thy self pure Now to conclude and end this our Testimony we do in the General and to each one say and humbly declare That we cannot discern the power of the Church rests in you as under those sins you are now guilty of and fallen in with each one in their degree but ⋆ Only Moses Aaron Caleb and Joshua c. Who followed the Lord and had truth on their side and separated from Corah the Princes and famous men of the Congregation were owned by him and had the power with them as also to prevail that the greater part of the Congregation might not wholly be destroyed Num. 14.19 20. compare ch◠16 41. to 50 ca. 262 which notably agrees with Matt. 18.18 19. Whatsoever ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heaven c. Again if two of you viz. having the truth shall agree on earth as touching any thing they shall ask it shall be done unto them c. And upon this account chiefly it was that they had the power and this presence with them and not so much because the one was the Leader and the other as it were the Pastor of the Congregation for if with the others they would have made a Captain to return to Egpt as also have stoned Caleb and Joshua in all likelyhood they had perished with them yea we finde that because the did contrary to the minde of the Lord at the waters of Meribah they must die by the way and not go into the good land and the power they had deliver'd unto others and onely Joshua and Calch c. who followed the Lord fully have the power and his presence with them Numb 20.12 24 26. Deut. 3.27 compare Chap. 34.4 By which it plainly appears the Lord would have the power to reside with those who follow him and have truth on their side though the lesser number and not with the greater though the Pastor be with them that are declined and so have not the truth with them We also finde Revel 2.7 9 10. Revel 3.4 to 10. That onely the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia and the few names in the Church of Sardis who followed the Lord fully and kept close to truth and had not desiled their garments and such as overcome and keep close to truth to the end are own'd by Jusus Christ and shall inherit the promises but he threatens to remove the Candlestick from the Church of Ephesus and to come upon all those of the Churches of Pergamus Thyatira Sardis though the greater number as a Thief and to fight against them and kill them with death unless they repent and return from the evil among them And the Church of Laodicea the worst of them all are for their Lukewarmness threatned to be wholly spued out of his Mouth Revel 2.5 16 23. Revel 3. 3. Which things are not written as onely belonging to that time but are also a prohesie of what shall be among the Churches a little before or about the time the promises and prophesies relating to the Kingdom of Christ and Zion shall be fusilled See Revel 2.26 27. Revel 3.10 12 21. in your poor unworthy Brethren and Sisters in whose name this comes though the lesser number Which we desire to mention with all Humillty and not in vain-glory knowing that we have no cause to be high minded but fear that such poor shrubs as we should stand when so many tall Cedars fall It being no where recorded in Scripture that the power of the Church rests in the greater number as under that Denomination but in those who according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ do withdraw from every Brother that walks disorderly be they the less or the greater number for where truth is there is the true-Church power according to that in Matt. 16.18 19. in these words Thou art Poter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven c. Whence we desire to observe that although our Lord Jesus speaks to Peter as a single person yet layes the weight of the Church upon him not as Peter but upon the truth whereof he made so upright a Confession whereby it seems plain unto us That where truth is not onely in the judgement but practice there is the Church with the Keys to wit it's power And this our Brother Sympson hath formerly declared saying That he should judge it his duty to joyn with a little number were they but 30 or 40. in number against 500. being perswaded that the Keys of the Church were truly there where the truth appears not onely in the doctrine but practice And yet we would say That where the greater number oppose the truth more caution is to be used more humility and brokenness of Spirit manifested and much looking up unto the Lord to be guided aright by the seffer number wherein we must acknowledge we have been too remiss desire to be humbled before the Lord for the same in the face of Jesus Christ Thus desiring that this out last Testimony may be received in love and be of that use and weight as to provoke you to a godly jealousie as Pauls Epistle did the Corinthians about the Incestuous Person that we may have cause to rejoyce upon the same account as he had which could we once see we should willingly lie at your feet for truths sake and be more glad thereof then of our daily food till then we desire to mourn and pray for your return Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of the whole John Proud Tho. Cary. Caleb Ingold James Chadwick Humphry Hathorn John Portmans Dated the 1. of the 7. Moneth 1657. THis Paper was committed to the custody of six Brethren chosen from amongst us to present and deliver it according to direction and if it might be obtained that some one of the six might have liberty to read it in the presence of them all but when they came they were denied the
Moreover we should thereby have given occasion to some to have given a Reply to many things which we suppose will hereby be avoided But if any notwithstanding our indeavors shall adventure to blemish the Truth and Cause we do hereby contend for we trust the Lord will give us wisdom to make an humble and sober Reply â—o such persons if need be And therefore for the better clearing of truth to the understanding of the Reader some Marginal Annotations are onely added whereby the matter of fact is proved by the Armies Declarations and Engagements c. whilest they pretended to be faithful to the cause of Christ whereof the Souldiers aforementioned were then and still are Members besides several particulars proved against them all being contained in our first paper and after that comes in our gradial proceedings against them and their Abettors upon their perseverance in so great evill that so it may appear we have walked according to Rule in order to the convincing and recovering of them if the Lord had so pleased We know upon perusall of the subject-matter contained in this Book there will be many infirmities and weaknesses shewing forth themselves therein but we hope the Lord hath given you such bowels of tenderness as to pass them over and rather be eying the drift and scope of what is intended hereby and therefore shall take up no more time in an Epistolary way but leave it unto the blessing of the Lord with this Exhortation to you as well as unto our selves Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity hating even the garment spotted by the flesh that so at the appearing of our Lord Jesus he may say unto us Well done good and faithfull Servants enter you into your Masters Joy Signed in the name and by the appointment of the greater number of the Congregation who have seperated from those now walking with Mr. John Sympson Humphrey Hathorn Caleb Ingold John Seely John Portmans THE Old Leaven purged out OR The Apostacy of this day further opened A true Copy of our first Paper to Mr. SYMPSON and the other part of the Congregation after we were withdrawn upon the account of the Souldiers declaring the grounds and reasons of our withdrawing Dated the first day of the fourth month 1656. Delivered in writing at London-house the next first day after the date hereof by six of our Brethren accompanied with the whole Onely the Marginal Annotations were since added to prove what we have asserted in the body of our papers Dearly beloved Brethren Sisters in our Lord Iesus Christ HAving spent some time together and apart to seek the Lord for counsel and direction since we absented our selves from you having had as we hope some sorrow and grief of heart that we cannot with any comfort partake with you at present of those Ordinances our Lord Jesus hath left his people to be exercised in until his second coming and appearance and we trust have endeavoured in some degree of sincerity to search our own hearts concerning those sins laid to our charge as Vncharitableness Pride Rashness Self-will'dness Arrogancy c. which we must acknowledge to be in as in too great a measure yet doubtless this we may speak to the glory of the free Grace of our Father in Jesus Christ That notwithstanding Satan togegether with the body of sin we carry about us hath had great advantage to blemish that blessed Cause and Interest we have been so long contending for we may we hope declare That in â—â—plicity and godly sincerity this Work hath been managed by us and also that it is out of love to Truth as well as on Truths behalf we are so far engaged It is in the conclusion of our waiting upon and seeking to the Lord much upon our hearts to lay before you the Truth we are so much under a Cloud for that if the Lord will we may find such a fruit of this our seeking to and waiting upon him as will bring most glory to God and comfort to you and us and the provoking the Churches of Christ in this Nation too generally fallen in with the iniquity of this day Dear Brethren and Sisters and longed for in the Lord You very well know how for some years together the Lord hath been risen out of his holy place to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity and notwithstanding those Inhabitants have and do under a form of godliness get into Zion yet so narrow hath the Lord been and still is in his search at this day that the sinners in Zion are afraid for he hath set up his fire in Zion and fornace in Jerusalem and will not leave till he hath throughly purged his floor in which great Work we find that his own people have not been without their refinings in regard of so great filth they carry about them for he saith that he must wash away the filth of the daughter of Zion from the midst thereof and purge away the blood of Jerusalem by a spirit of Judgement and a spirit of Burning that upon all the glory may be a defence The nature of this Work hath been not onely by the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God in the 〈◊〉 of his Servrnts the Prophets but also by the Sword of a man or the material Sword and herein we find the Saints not onely by their prayers but their persons also have been instrumental making good that Word in the Psalms Let the high praises of God be in their â—â—â—ths and a two-edged Sword in their hands to execute upon the Adversaries of his glory the judgments written to binde their * * VVas not the vengeance executed upon the King his Issue Nobles Gentry Clergy and other abettors a manifest return of prayer to the Lords people and in part a fulfilling of that Scripture Yea let the army the souldiers from whom we are separated look ouer their Declarations and Remonstrances c. upon this-account See Abridgm Remonst at Albâ—ns pag 30-31 oâ— Book called The Looking Glass and Decl July 19 1650 pag 46 47 of that Book Decl Aug 1. 1650 p 48 49 50. or in a sheet or paper commonly seen Decl after old Parl was dissolved p. 53 54 in their Speech to the little Part p. 55 56 58 61 62 63 of the aforementioned book and we entreat all the churches of Christ in this city and the three Nations to consider how far they encouraged the army therein whether they did not take up arms for the interest and cause of Christ at the invitation of their Pastors and Elders if not so we are not able to judge upon what account churches as churches should be sent unto to take up the material Sword but if tâ—â—e what means this general silence under falling in with the present power upon the old â—â—ock of Monarchy who not onely have taken the remainder of the great Houses
Robes Revenues c out of the spoils of the late Monarchy and put them among their ownstuff which ought to be improved to carry on the work of the Lord but also the old bribing practice of giving receiving honors with other arbitrary antichristian powers that part of the accursed thing which should wholly be destroyed to uphold themselves and court in that outward Pomp Pride Luxury yea greater oppression tyranny which so much faith prayer appeals hath formerly been put up and exercised blood and treasure spent for the ruin and destruction of Kings in Chains and Nobles in Feters of Iron c. But oh that which we desire to mourn before the Lord for is That after nine or ten years War wherein for the latter part thereof our adversaries have been but as dust before the Wind not being able to stand before the Faith Prayers and Persons of the Lords people either by Sea or Land Wherein we cannot but think that the dispensation of the Lord hath been somewhat like that of Israel in their journey to Canaan and our present standing somewhat like that in the sixth and seventh of Joshua where Achan thorough his Covetousness made bold with a wedge of Gold and Babylonish Garment contrary to the command of the Lord in the destruction of Jericho upon which account it is called an Accursed thing wherein give us leave humbly to observe this e e Mr. Sympson upon asecond day at All hallows spake from Ioshua 6.26 Cursed be the man before the lord that riseth up and buildâ—s the Citie Iericho c. and raised the same observation from the words that we have here inserted and did then say That he looked upon the late King and his Monarchy with the Hierarchy of the Bishops to be that Jericho in whose ruin the lord was as much glorified as in that of Jericho being the fruite of the faith and prayers of the lords people as well as of their persons and that whosoever should build it or when built maintain it did hazard the bringing themselves under the curse of the lord for so doing and by way of allusion unto Jericho did spiritually discover the present apostacy manifesting how dangerous it was to be an abettor unto and a complyer with the lericho builders of this day That that person or those persons who shall build that which the Lord hath got himself so much glory in the destruction of do transgress the Command of the Lord and hazard the bringing themselves under the Curse of the Lord for so doing and such also who partake with them in this their building become guilty thereof before the Lord and not onely so but to partake of the Wedge of God and Babylonish Garment surely such persons are in a high measure accessary to such transgressions by means whereof the Work of the Lord is retarded as to any visible appearance yea he is withdrawn from us and goeth not forth with our Forces f Hath there not been a series of providences loudly witnessing against the present apostacy since its first rise and to mention but three or four of many First In frustrating the consultations of both his Parliaments though as we conceive they were called and garbled on purpose to settle the person in power Secondly the very chargeable and in a great measure fruitless expedition of the Navy to the Straits Thirdly The wonderful blasting that so much boasted of design to and at Hypaniola though some have vainly said That the Lord was bound to carry on that design to manifest their integrity for Christs interest yet hath it hitherto been greatly dishonourable to this Nation and the loss of many thousand lives by a few cow-killers and a great mortality there and at Iamaica Fourthly In not onely withdrawing the prayers of his people from but engaging them against it and their forces doth clearly declare that God is departed from them and become their Enemy Isa 26 11 by Sea or Land as of old but we fall and consume away before our Enemies according to that in Isa 30.15 16 17. And now give us leave in the fear of the Lord and we hope in humility to declare That our dear brethren who wear the Sword to maintain the present Power and Government the new erected Jericho of this day being all of the formerly engaged for God and Christ before the present Apostacy cannot free themselves from those publike sins laid before them by us in the presence of the Congregation to wit First Treason contrary to an Act g If every just Ordinance of man ought to be obeyed 1 Pet 2 13 then surely this Act of Jan. 30. 1648 with that of March 17. following see Looking-Glass pag. 43 44. being a fruit of the Parliament together with the Lords people and the armies publike testimony against Oppression and Tyranny as also Monarchy the foundation thereof in prosecution whereof the Army and Navy were wonderfully blessed against all opposers not that we magnifie that form of Government otherwise then as we saw it at that time more conducing to the advancement of the interest of Christ and the Nations liberty and more refined in its nature than Kingly Government could be at the best from whom many corrupt members being purged Tyranny was in some measure supprest and the cause of Christ carryed on in opposition to antichrist for otherwise we judge that all forms of mens invention may be broken and made void when they answer not the end for which they were appointed made by Parliament the then Authority of this Nation after many out-goings of God not onely against the late King as a Tyrant but against his Monarchy as the root of Tyranny whereby the Form as well as the Power was destroyed as that Jericho which stood in opposition to the Lord his Cause and People so that to build it or when built to maintain it the Lord being much glorified in the ruin of it can be no less then publikely scandalous for without the Army of which our Brethren are Members and some of them very eminent in office in the judgement of reason this h An image of the Beast in regard it prosecutes the same tyrannical interest from a tincture of the same spirit which the late King did stands upon the same yea a more bloody bottom so much of the Saints others blood being shed in opposition to it is more arbitrary then the former having first by himself and secondly under the false cover of a second garbled Company of Sallary and self-interested men without the lords people and the Nations consent taken the Military power and a negative voice c. which no King ever was allowed and is not onely sinful and scandalous but contrary to the mind of the lord and right Reason Therefore when Soul through a spirit of apostacy in and from the wrath of God upon the people was chosen king Samuel declared he would be such a one 1 Sam. 8.9
party in Parliament true to God and their Trust did bring to justice and cause to be executed the late King did lay aside the House of Lords and for the good of the people resolved the Government into a Common-wealth and removed the King and Kingship And that it might appear the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ was in the womb of all their undertakings they cause more particularly to declare for the same see Decl. Aug 1 1650 say they And having these things singly in our eye namely the destruction of antichrist and the advancement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ c. and being perswaded in our consciences that the King and his Monarchy was one of the ten horns of the beast spoken of Rev 17.12 13 14 being witnesses to so much innocent blood of the Saints he had shed in supporting the beast considering the loud cryes of the souls of the Saints under the altar we were carryed forth to desire justice upon the King c VVe are not souldiers of fortune nor meerly the servants of men we have not only proclaimed Christ to be our King by profession but desire to admit him to the exercise of his royal authority in our hearts and to follow him whither soever he goes it is our prayer dayly that those that seat the Lord in England and Scotland may become one in the hand of the Lord joine together in the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and throwing down and trampling upon the seate of the Beast why should not Scotland as well as England rejoice to see the horns of the beast cut off that we may join together to hate the whore burn her flâ—sh with fire c in another Decl. pag. 54 of the same Book they desire the people might forget Monarchy See their speech to the little Parliament pag 55 61 62 63 of the aforementioned book where much is spoken to this purpose And what interest is now exalted but self-interest how is antichrist destroyed but in changing Bishops for Triers VVhat Church and people delivered but the National Church and such as are willing quietly to walk under the former abominations what means the present Monarchy at whole doore will the blood of the Saints shed in opposition to the late King lye yea and the blood of the King and his party lyespunctel Give leave to instance Hos 1 4 Yet a little while and I will avenge the blood of Jezrel upon the house of John Are not our brethren and the army souldiers of Fortune and the servants of men now if not so would they crouch to such abominations as these Have they not chosen another King besides Jesus Surely these Declarations and Engagements stare them in the face and at which they could not but blush if their consciences were not feared see what is the mind of the Lord concerning this thing in the following Scriptures Numb 30.2 Eccles 5.4 compared with Psal 66 13 14. Deut 33 2â— Isa 5.9 3 Hos 10.4 Mal. 3 5 Gal 3 15 2 Tim 3 3 June 14. 1647. likewise another upon the Armies going into Scotland dated July 10. 1650 wherein they do voluntarily and without compulsion declare unto the World that they will not set up a single person over the Nation though he were such a one as they could most confide in looking upon that form of Government not onely to be tyrannical but antichristian And many more reasons are there laid downe to ground their judgements upon truth according to the Scriptures whereby it plainly appears to us they are no less then guilty of Covenant-breaking and false swearing whatsoe're may be said to the contrary by objecting That me can not prove their hands were to any such Declarations or Engagments for it is all one if they being then in or belonging to the Army did in their place prosecute the ends of those Declarattions and Engagements against the Stuarts Party and other opposers never in the least declaring against the matter and ends thereof Thirdly For one sin doth not go without its Concomitants the Lords people their own Brethren are oppressed first Because they cannot pay Taxes n Besides the forementioned particulars the very same and greater arbitrary powers which they declared should not be exercised by any much less by themselves viz. a negative voice the costly pomp of a Court of which the man in power once said He abhor'd that way of government for nothing more a House of Lords of whom he said It would never be well whilest there was one Lord left in England and till the Earl of Manchester was called Mr. Montague Keeping men in prison without bringing them to tryal Injustice in proceeding at Law Paying Taxes whilest Oppression remains Forming a balancing party in the Parliament for his interest Forcing â—rebble damages from those who refuse to pay Tythes Locking up Printing-Presses against whom they please Vpholding Monopolies Which is as in other things so now up on the Bible with many other particulars that might be named all practised in this day which the Army the generality of the Churches and other godly prodeclared against as may be seen in the several Declarations Remonstrances Petitions and Letters of the army as also the large petition presented to the Parliament by thousands well affected people in and about London in pag. 9 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 29 32 33 37 38 39 40 41. of Book called The Looking-Glass And yet for our Brethren and the Army after all to be upholding not onely the same but greater oppressions and chiefly among themseves it can be no less then open apostacy And to demand much more force the Lords people and others to pay Taxes to maintaine them herein it being evident they ventured their Estates Lives and all with them whilest prosecuting the cause of Christ it can be no other then Oppression in a hign degree With those Scriptures in the Margent see Obad. ver 13. to maintain them in their present standing of apostacy and backsliding Secondly Tythes o To demand much more force the payment of tythes for maintenance of parish-Ministers or others upon that account is against the dispensation of the Gospel Heb. 7.12 The Levitical priesthood being changed so is the Law Heb. 7 13. Christ sprang from Judah of which Tribe was no priest to receive tythes the National Ministers pretend to receive their Commission from Christ who sprang from Judah and not from the Priesthood which was of the tribe of Levi There is no New-Teltament-Rule for any dwelling within such a compass of ground to build a Steeple-house to preach the Gospel in or to compel all or any within that bounds to come to hear that Minister which is either appointed by themslves or by others imposed upon them whether they come or no to demand much less force a contribution to help maintain that House and Minister and in case they refuse to hale them before Magistrates and cast
as they began to lay their sin to their charge they withdrew themselves and came no more to them as we are since informed otherwise they had proceeded further against them cast out of two Churches in Wales upon the same occasion to wit Mr. Jenkin Jones Mr. Powells Churches and likewise as we hear another in England whose Name at present we have forgotten 13 13. Whether that Principle of the Congregation namely Communion with Saints upon the account of union with the Head be not unduly charged as broken by us when it is not intended by so good and righteous a principle that a Brother or Sister should take a liberty thereby as an occasion to the Flesh to walk scandalously among Saints and sinners for that is the corruption and not the true end of it The consideration whereof we think doth lye with such sorrow upon our souls as we may truly say hath wrung tears out of some of our hard hearts We shall not add more at present fearing it may be thought we have been too large in this already onely this that whereas it is said Nothing would content us but the sudden casting out of our Brethren without an orderly process according to the Scripture to which end we had resolved our present withdrawing before we came to the Church We do therefore desire to leave this with you as before the Lord That it was the least in our thoughts so to do for we hoped that truth would have taken so much place as that our brethren would have been admonished of their sin by the Church and so to have withdrawn from them if happily thorow a more narrow search into their hearts hereby the Lord might please out of his Grace to discover this their sin which hath and doth bring so great dishonor to the Name of the Lord though at present as they say unseen to them and in this Work not to have counted them as enemies but admonished them as brethren but so sudden a vote for communion with them lying under so great sin as we judge by what was offered that day did so amaze us that when we came out of London-House we knew not what to do only some of us did then conclude to meet together to enquire what was the mind of the Lord in this thing in which way of seeking to him we have continued to this day Now we hope you will bear with us and put a brotherly interpretation upon any thing therein that may not seem to carry with it that Love Affection and Gentleness which we desire from our hearts should be it not being our intention to justifie our selves in any evil but rather to lye at the Lords and your feet therein yet would gladly be found faithful to the Lord in such a day as this when they that tempt God are delivered and they that work wickedness are set up yea he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey and a snare is laid for him that reproveth in the Gate Thus we humbly leave these our thoughts to your serious consideration hoping that whatever our failings may be yet we shall not want the guidance and direction of his spirit in every way of truth and we also trust That as you are in some measure pressing after that excellent Grace of Love so you may abound therein more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that you may approve things that are excellent in such a day as this being sincere and without offence until the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God and then it will be our joy and rejoycing to return unto you and in the mean time we judge it our duty to be waiting upon the Lord and you till his mind and Will be further revealed concerning us in whose protection we leave you and remain Dated the first day of the fourth Month 1656. Your poor destitute and mourning Brethren and Sisters in some measure till the Lord restore you to your primitive spirit of Faith Light Love and Zeal for his glory wherein you have been as a Beacon upon the top of a Mountain AFter some solemn waiting upon the Lord this Paper was signed by threescore in number or thereabouts and was intended so to have been given in but was otherwise determined upon for these two Reasons First Because in such an evil day as this we ought not to trust in a Friend no not in a Guide but to keep the door of our mouths from those that lye in our bosome If so then not to trust our hands with those who had so unworthily betrayed the Cause of Christ Secondly It was judged most for the glory of God to go in person all of us being about twelve more then signed it and own the said Paper which would be more authentick and less advantage given against any particular person and therefore an exact Copy was drawn out and carryed unsigned all of us accompanying the Brethren to whom it was chiefly committed unto London-House the next first day after the date thereof when being come a Brother of ours stood up and spake a few Words to this effect That we were here come to present unto them in brotherly love after solemn waiting upon the Lord a Paper containing the evil of those persons amongst them against whom we had been so long contending together with the Grounds and Reasons of our withdrawing to this day which we had the more hastened to give in in regard we were several times urged thereunto by several Brethren sent by their appointment unto us and further desired that liberty might be granted unto one of the Brethren by us intrusted for the reading of it Which was not onely denyed us but much scruple raised by some What Scripture-Warrant we had to give in our dissatisfactions in Writing To which answer was made That we judged it our Gospel-liberty to give it in by writing or otherwise as might be most for the glory of God for by this writing we did give in our joynt Testimony against the present evil with the reasons of our withdrawing which we apprehended could not be so well done by a private brother or brethren in speaking but that we might have had just grounds of exceptions against some things that might be spoken against such brethren Hereupon our Brother Marsh who walks with them said That he thought it was not onely our Gospel-liberty but the Scripture would warrant our practice else Pauls writing to the Corinthians about the incestuous person was not warrantable but if it was then our practice had ground in Scripture and therefore conceived there need be no further discourse about that And by this means was that Scruple in some measure removed and some Way made for the reading of our Paper but not by any one of us which although we judged it a little unreasonable yet for peace sake we condescended thereunto
it shall appear that it is groundlesly division and therefore we should have no vote with them neither should there be any vote in the Church except we would withdraw Which not a little grieved our spirits But notwithstanding so foul an aspersion we made little reply but waited to heare what others would say but a general silence continuing we concluded that the major part were of his mind Whereupon we departed and waited patiently for some time to see whether they would send us their thoughts about the Souldiers since they would not let us have a vote with them and least if should be laid aside which Mr. Sympson endeavoured all along to do We did by Messengers remind them several times likewise to know whether those Words then spoken by Mr. Sympson were the sense of the whole which they disown'd as being Mr. Sympsons Words alone but to the other We could get no return to this day as by our next Paper given in to them doth more at large appear Likewise before the delivery of the ensuing Paper having spent some particular time to seek the Lord for direction and counsel and also to enquire into his Will at this time it was judged a duty incumbent upon us to go to our Brother Sympson lay his evil before him in abetting the Souldiers and declining the Testimony of Christ he had suffered for in Windsor Castle as by several Letters from thence being read amongst us did appear some Copies whereof the Reader may peruse in the close of this Book and accordingly six Brethren in the Name of the whole were sent unto him and with all humility to intreat his hearing of what by them we had to say which accordingly they did but how unkindly they were received will appear by the eusuing Narrative being the substance of what then passed between him and them The 11th of the 9th Month 1656. A briefe account of some Passages between our Brother Sympson and the Brethren appointed by us to meet with him about some Letters he wrote to the Congreation during the time of his imprisonment in Windsor Castle it being apprehended he is very much fallen from the truths therein laid down to the great dishonour of the Gospel and the grief of many of the faithful in this day THE six Brethren appointed to this Work met at a Brothers House in Coloman-street the day abovementioned about two in the Afternoon to commend their present Work unto the Lord and desire his blessing upon them therein and then made their repair to our Brother Sympson where after a little waiting for the coming of our Brothers Shrimpton and Marsh who desired as the Brethren were informed to hear what should pass in relation to the Letters This motion was also made by Brother Powell being also present That before any progress be made there might be a word put up to the Lord for a blessing To which end another brother made answer That it would be necessary the naked ground of their coming should be first laid down that we might pray with understanding Which being done the Brethren sent by us declared their readiness to joyne therein Hereupon one of the Brethren proceeded to declare the ground of their coming to this effect That several of our Brother Sympsons Letters from Windsor Castle being presented to several Brethren who met at our Brother Caryes house intentionally upon another account but those Letters intervening we spent our time in perusing them which in the reading did so work upon their hearts that they throught meet to present unto the Brethren Sisters in whose Name they were then come the said Letters and to offer Whether some Brethren should not be chosen in the Name of the rest humbly to lay the matter contained in them before him that if it were the Will of the Lord he might be convinced wherein and how far he had declined the Cause and Interest of our Lord Jesus and be provoked to that old Spirit of Life and Zeal in testifying to so glorious a Cause and accordingly upon reading of them we were of one heart that the Brethren aforementioned in the Name of the whole be desired to lay them before him with as much love tenderness as could be and that we were also reproved in our own spirits as having missed of the Will of the Lord that we had it no more upon our hearts to beg mercy for him at the Throne of Grace that the Lord would restore unto him that primitive spirit for the cause of Christ that many of our hearts were broken on his behalf at the reading of his Letters After an account thus given it was offered that a Word should be spoken to the Lord in prayer before any discourse should be Our Brother Sympson then spake to this effect That having had some knowledge of their coming from some of us and the occasion of their coming from some others before their meeting here he had privately commended the business they were come about unto the Lord as he did suppose they also had done likewise he judged that if any of them should speak unto the Lord in prayer he could not freely joyne with them so neither if he should speak there might be that spoken wherein they could not freely joyn with him which being pre-considered be judged it most convenient to proceed to the work without prayer and thereupon spake further to this purpose That since they profest they had in all plainness declared the ground of their coming he would give them as plain an Answer which that he might the better do he should lay down his Answer under three heads 1. As to themselves and those whom they represented 2. As to the Church meaning those with whom he walked 3. As to the Letters about which our Brethren came As to the first They were to know that he could not have discoursed with them in regard that the Church had dealt with us and not onely declared their dissatisfaction of our withdrawing from them but also that he had in the Name of the Church admonished us of our evil therein that they had waited upon us a great while to the end we might repent and return but we persisting in our sin and refusing to hear the Church we were thereby cut off from the priviledges of the Church and therefore he could not look upon us as Brethren but as heathens and publicans and so to refuse discourse with them upon account of the Brotherhood according to that in Matth 18. Which though they might look upon as very harsh and a manifestation of little love yet it being the Rule of Christ in the Gospel he therefore was not to dispute the reason of it but rather to judge That obedience to the commands of Christ in this as well as in other things is the only rule of love and therefore did declare That the Church having so proceeded against us he could not entertain any debate with
them about those Letters Which brought in the third Head to which he spake to this effect That the Letters about which they came were directed to the Church meaning those with whom he walked and if he had written any thing therein contrary to sound dectrine or otherwise he must appeal unto the Church as Paul did from Agrippa to Caesar and if the Church thought meet upon perusal to call him to an account for any thing therein he should be ready to answer it before them but he could not give way to the debating of them by our Brethren for the reasons aforementioned besides he could not in this case bring himself under the judgement of his adversaries or Words to that purpose and thereby also give away the priviledges of the Church into the hands of such whom according to the Rule of the Gospel be must look upon as Heathens and Publicans but if they or any other would come in their own k Mr. Sympson did not mean by coming in our own Name to receive us as Brethren but as Heathens and Publicans Name he should be ready to discourse with them yet herein it was to be weighed whether the Church would give away so much of their priviledge as that any Letters directed to them should be questioned by any person without their consent at least After this our Brother Cary one of the six said It was somewhat strange to him that he could so considently assert an untruth to wit That we should lye under the Admonition of the Church when there was never any Admonition from those Brethren and Sisters from whom we were withdrawn much less from the Church Which the said Brother further made out thus That himself with some other Brethren were appointed in the Name of the Whole to go to the other part of the Congregation from whom We were withdrawn who went to Allhallows and met with a considerable number of those Brethren in the Vestrey to know of them Whether those Words spoken by Mr. Sympson that day our Paper was debated to wit That the Holy Spirit had set a mark upon us for such as had made division were the sense of the whole with them To which they answered It was not theirs and Mr. Sympson also said They were his own words After this our Brother Cary was silent and then our Brothers Marsh Shrimpton and Powell being present as aforsaid said They never remembred any such Admonition Mr. Sympson said It was so which he endeavoured to make out thus That the Brethren who were entrusted with the Government of the Church did agree that we should be admonished as having sinned in leaving the Congregation and turning out backs upon the Ordinances of Christ and that they had committed it to him to declare the same which he did at that time when brought in our paper containing the grounds of our withdrawing through at that time we were not admitted to read them the Church not disowning of it he looked upon it as an admonition of the Church After this other of our Brethren spake in few Words to this purpose That they were come as brethren and they hoped in much love and singleness of heart to discourse with him and to have laid down wherein we judged he had missed of the Will of God and declined the Cause of our Lord Christ comparing the present frame of heart he is in with what it was when he lay a prisoner in Windsor Castle when they could not but look upon him as having an excellent spirit for Christ but since he did refuse they would turn unto the Lord who would hear and mourn for him And so those Brethren departed returning the said account unto us Being thus unkindly yea may We not say unchristianly entertained by Mr. Sympson We still continued vvaiting upon the Lord in our estate of vvithdrawing our spirits being grieved by this carriage of his And after some time seeking the Lord and enquiring into his mind and Will We came to this conclusion as a present duty lying before us That in regard We did find no repentance in the Souldiers but rather hardness of heart as also Mr. Sympson hardened in his evil in excusing and abetting of them vvhich encouraged others to do the like and the rest vvho vvere some vvhat sensible of the evil amongst them much darkned in their understandings by reason thereof We should unanimously go unto them and lay before the Souldiers their ovvn evil and the evil of the rest as abetting of them in their degree and to admonish them in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ vvith as much brotherly love as the Lord should help us And that We might have the greater avve of the Lord upon our souls and be more orderly in this Work vve did agree to send unto the Brethren hereafter mentioned to intreat them in brotherly love and for the glory of God to accompany us as Witnesses therein vvhich was accordingly done and persons chosen from amongst us to speak unto them The Names of the brethren sent unto are these Mr. Cann Mr. Clark Col. Danvers Mr. Bland Mr. Barbone Mr. Waters Mr. Squibb Mr. Luxford Mr. Barret Mr. Ireten Having given notice to the other part of the Congregation the VVeek before our coming That vve intended upon the next first day after to come offer something to them All these brethren except Mr. Barbone who vvas not vvell being members of other Congregations and Societies came according to our request and accompanyed us to Lodon house upon the said first day of the VVeek in the Afternoon vvhere being come the said brethren vvere not vvillingly admitted but after our coming in vvith them one of our brethren stood up to acquaint them with the occasion of our coming at this time but Mr. Sympson and two or three more speaking together very confusedly cryed out No no we should not speake except those Brethren that came along with us would depart To which answer was made That we desired their company to testifie to the Truth of vvhat we had to say And then the brother vvhich spake first would have gone on but several of them cryed out together very confusedly as before to which vve replyed That having sought the Lord therein before our coming we could not give way thereunto but since they did refuse to hear vve vvould depart And in a short time after vve sent them the substance in VVriting of vvhat was then intended to be spoken A Copy whereof is as follows Dear Brethren and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ SInce your unkindness towards us the last l We mean that time wherein we intended to deliver this Admonicion by word of mouth and had testified thereunto according to the Rule of the Gospel Math. 18 16 17. time we vvere with you after some seeking unto the Lord vvhat might be our duty yet further this is gathered to be his mind and vvill That the substance of what was then
Narrative of the matter in difference which containing many things would require some time to be searching into but before any entrance be made thereupon he desired to know whether any of the other part gone off from them were there if they were he did desire to hear somthing from them in this case did hope that the Pastors Elders there present would be very careful how they did intermiddle therewith for if what he had heard herein were true it was a marvellous good separation upon good grounds or to this effect After this a Brother of ours stood up and spake to this purpose That after solemn waiting upon the Lord several Brethren in the Name of the Whole withdrawn from that part of the Congregation were there present being chosen to present unto them in love and humility the Reasons why We could not admit of their hearing the matter in difference between us but before that they desired the liberty of three Questions if it might be granted and then the Brother which spake kept silence to hear their Answer Upon which Mr. Nye stood up again and said It was but reasonable that we should have our liberty Hereupon the Brother which began stood up and proceeded with the following questions two to the Brethren and Sisters from whom We were withdrawn and one to the Pastors and Elders c. Quest 1. Whether they did look upon us as part of the Congregation To which Mr. Sympson made answer That sure we were for he knew not when we were dealt with to the best of his remembrance Q. 2. We humbly propose to the Pastors Elders and Brethren of the Churches now present Whether they were all of them sent and chosen by their respective Congregations Here there was a great silence but afterwards several of them spake some saying That they were chosen by their respective Congregations others That they were sent unto as particular persons Whereby it was plain there was a disorder in their choice which was in love acknowledged by them Q. 3. Whether the Pastors Elders and Brethren of the respective Congregations then present were invited and sent unto in the name of the whole Church Here several of them were at a stand not knowning well what to say but they generally gave in at the last That they were sent unto in the Name of the Church Which was not so for that themselves in answer to our first question acknowledge us to be a part and what was done in sending for them was without our knowledge or consent After this one of our Brethren stood up and desired liberty to give their Reasons in our Name Why they could not condiscend to the hearing the matter in difference by the Pastors Elders and Brethren of several Congregations then present Which are as follows 1. We conceive it to be contrary to the practice of the Churches of Christ in the New-Testament that brethren of other Churches though chosen by consent of their respective Congregations should hear a Church-controversie without the consent of both parties amongst whom the difference is see Act. 15.1 2 3. the whole Church at Antioch sent to Jerusalem about Circumcision as well those that were against it as those that were for it Upon this Mr. Nye stood up and did acknowledge that there was a plain disorder and miscarriage in their choice every way but desired to know whether notwithstanding such miscarriages the Brethren in our Name had power to enter upon the debate To which one of the brethren spake to this purpose ' That they had several Reasons more to urge and then they should make further answer And liberty being granted the brother who began proceeded to the next reason viz. 2. That it seems contrary to Morality much more of Christianity for members of other Churches to enter into the debate of a Church-difference when that part of the Congregation with whom the difference was did not choose any of them neither had they knowledge of the matter till the other part resolved upon it and had sent their messengers to invite them thereunto To this Mr. Nye stood up and said That it was indeed contrary to the principles of Morality and then was silent whereupon the brother proceeded to the third Reason 3. That We should betray the cause our Lord Jesus Christ to give it up unto the Judgement of the Pastors Elders and Brethren then present First In regard they came not with our consent Secondly For that against some of whom We might have just grounds of exceptions if it were meet to speak of it at this time 4. It seems to us preposterous to enter upon such a Work till We had the result of the whole Congregation about the matter in question or of that part at least from whom We are withdrawn which We have not had though We often intreated and sent to them about it 5. The foregoing Reasons being true we humbly conceive that if a debate of the matter in difference should at this time be admitted we should walk out of Gods way and so not obtain the promised blessing in matters of that nature These Reasons were no sooner given in but the Pastors Elders and Brethren of the several Churches there met together rose up suddenly to goe away which Mr. Sympson observing he asked them before they were gone Whether they would give them no advice in the present business To which Mr. Nye made answer That they were not in a capacity as things stood to give any advice To which Mr. Sympson said What no advice VVhereupon Mr. Nye replyed That the least they could do was to make a tender unto us whether we would joyn with them in sending to the Churches and this was all the advice they could give and so they departed and presently after those brethren sent by us came away also but as they were going one of the other part that sate in the speaking-place asked the brethren sent by us whether they would embrace the advice given To which answer was made That they were no more then six brethren intrusted by us to give in our dislike of what they had done but were not impowred to meddle w th any thing else but if they had any thing to offer they knew our time and place of meeting when and where the whole being present they might if they pleased tender any thing they thought meet so those brethren came away But the same day in the Afternoon being our time of meeting to edefie and build up one another in our most holy faith two brethren came to us from them with the same Message which was received in love and this onely given in answer That we should consider of it and return an answer so soon as conveniently we could And accordingly either the same day on the next first day following we concluded upon a day to spread their Message before the Lord which when done we sent them a return
might according to our Christian liberty in this extraordinary case choose on our part faithful Brethren many of which had hazarded their lives for the Name and Cause of our Lord Jesus Christ so openly betrayed at this day against whom We trust there shall be no just grounds of exceptions as to their lives and conversations and you may proceed to send unto the Churches on your part as you shall think meet Now least the objection you made when the Brethren were last with you by our appointment to wit That by this Answer we do wave that our sleves which we have pressed upon you about sending to the neighbouring Congregations when we were not willing to join therein Which we do plainly deny for we never moved it unto you much less pressed it upon you but your proceeding herein hath been your ovvn voluntary act without us though indeed we excepted against your practice as it was by yourselves without our consent therewith also apprehending your present estate to be no less then the plain fruit of open backsliding from the Cause of our Lord Jesus Christ though we desire to mention it with fear and trembling and due respect unto some amongst you as not so guilty herein as others are likewise we have ground to fear that most of the Churches of Christ in this City are more or less tainted with the sore Apostacy of this day not that we delight in such reflections but desire to speak it with humility grief and sorrow of heart and should be glad there vvere no just ground for such a jealousie This pre-considered it seems more obliging unto you to follow that practice then unto us at this time and may excuse the formality of the practice on our pare and the rather when you proceeded in such a VVork not onely without the consent but without so much as a tender thereof unto your brethren and sisters joyntly concerned therein until this last time which was not so much of your selves as seemingly necessitated thereunto by those Brethren of other Churches who refused to advise you in or hear any thing of the matter in difference till at least you had asked our consent and approbation thereof and therein you may please to remember the stress of their refusal did lye to heare ought you had to say and if so we humbly apprehend it will take off that scandal of hypocrisie and changedness of mind laid to our charge by some amongst you Thus having given you a brief account of our last Message together with what hath passed between us and you since our last Paper was given in having therein unfeignedly and in all plainness opened our hearts unto you we shall not add more onely desiring That in case you do not think meet to receive our tender herein but proceed as formerly yon have done that then you will favour us so far or rather the Truth as to let this Paper be read unto the Brethren you shall send for before any proceeding be afterward the other two in their order as your intention was the last time the Messengers of other Churches were with you Intending here to conclude not having ought considerable to add some of our Brethren inform us of a Message received from you the last sixth day was a seven night to be communicated to us in words to this purpose That you did think meet to offer unto us that there might be a day of solemn fasting and prayer unto the Lord wherein you desire our conjunction the chief end of the duty being upon these three accounts First That both you and we might be deepely humbled before the Lord and be made sensible of all our evils and miscaerriages especially as they do relate to the present difference between you and us Secondly To enquire of the Lord a right way what you and we ought to do for the healing of it Thirdly That if there were any other thing we bought necessary to be put in we had our freedom to add thereto The consideration whereof hath put us upon a further enlargement in writing by way of answer and to which we desire to give this humble Reply That as to the VVork of humiliation it self and a day to be appointed in order thereunto we do fully approve of as being not onely a Gospel Ordinance but also incumbent on the Lords People in this day of sore affliction and time of Jacobs Trouble not onely as it may relate to our miscarriages evils committed since our first withdrawing wherein we desire to acknowledge before the Lord and you that herein we have ground sufficient to lie low before him and cover our Faces with shame in the sence thereof so far as it may not eclipse the riches of Grace in our Lord Jesus Christ but also in respect of the crying evils through the backsliding of professors under so great light which we fear doth fore-run some sore judgement upon this Nation in general and upon professors in particular but how to join with you as the case now stands between us we can see no Scripture-bottom or rational ground for the same it being pre-supposed first That you have amongst you those that are guilty of gross and scandalous sins upon which account We are withdrawn from you Secondly that you have not onely voted communion with such persons notwithstanding their sins but by a second Vote and continued practice justifie them in their evil and so many of you are become greatly partakers with them of their evil deeds and the rest also though less guilty Thirdly That you have so far own'd and approved of them as to forget their evil and charge us your poor brethren and sisters with making a rent and division for doing our duty when they indeed are the persons from whom the offence first came and some chief among you as greatly guilty as they by pleading for and excusing of them and so properly to be charged with making a rent and division in the Church Fourthly You have endeavoured to carry it on against us so as to take upon you the power of the Church without us and thereby would have proceeded to admonish us son making air out as you say in the Church had not the Lord wonderfully frustrated you in all your endeavours that Way though We should have rejoiced therein being comfortably satisfied that it would have been for his Namesake because We are contending for truth against the great iniquity among you and so the persons offending with their Abettors though the greater number to be admonished and withdrawn from by the lesser which if true then the power of the Church resides in the Lesser number and this in effect is no more then according to the practice of all the Congregational Churches in their withdrawing from the Parochial Churches Dear Brethren and Sisters these things are plain and true and therefore bear with us for We have yet longings of heart after you and desire to
Promises and Prophesies and therefore should lift up our hears and rejoyce however if there were neither promise for this nor prophesie we should covet and endeavour after the best things and do speak as to purity in Magistracy and Governments as if none but who had the Spirit were fit to Act upon Christs account at this day And likewise hint as if themselves were a part or at least had the Spirit of the Stone which shall break and consume all other Kingdomes c. And as if the Call of the Little Parliament was a fruit of the Stones smiting quoting Dan. 2.44 With many other excellent good words relating to the Calling of the Jews and the glory that will be in that day See his speech to them either by it self or in pag. 56. to 63. of book called the Looking-glass Now what did this hold forth but that they would endeavour to bring things as near as might be before Christ comes to what they shall be when he is come Isa 32.1 2. Mich. 4.1 2. Psal 72. But all this as we have too just ground to fear and by what hath since appear'd was but to cover the designe of self Advancement For when those who were faithful in the Little Parliament came to do those good things and to take away all Antichristian and Oppressive Lawes and Customes that were and are yet remaining among us Several self intrested men among them and others easily led by them perceiving that if they went on it would go ill with be Lawyers Clergy and other Corrupt Intrests took Counsel together how they might dissolve that Parliament and in Order thereunto came to the Parliament House in a morning two hours sooner then usually and moved tho resigning their Power But some of the other party coming in opposing it they durst not venture to put it to the vote but with the Speaker rose up and went away leaving a considerable number behinde them who were soon after turn'd out by Collonel Goff Lieunant Collonel White and Musquetteers thereby putting a stop to the Work of God and the aforementioned Persons going to White-hall and signing a Paper whereby they pretended to resign their Power to the Man who is now in Power Is the foundation of this present Government and so of the Apostasie and Customs any ways intrenching upon the Consciences of the Lords people in their publike Worship Secondly To prevent making any such Lawes for the time to come Thirdly To pull down all lawes in any measure oppressing the bodies of the Lords people or any others that violence may be no more heard in our Land Fourthly to deliver the Spiritual Church of Christ from the like oppression of Body or Spirit in any of the Dominions of Antichrist Fifthly To execute the Judgements written upon the great Whore who is drunk with the blood of the Saints Sixthly That Christ might be King in these Nations and his Lawes our Rule to walk by Seventhly that Monarchy or the power in one single Person might be extirpated because opposing Christs Dominion and utterly inconsistent with Common Freedome Eighthly That men fearing God and hateing Covetousnesse might be in Authority and no other Now whether Treason be not comitted in all these respects at this day and our Brethren therby become Traytors in abetting thereto with their swords in their hands we shall leave unto the Lord who judgeth Righteously and one day will make it known when the thoughts of all men shall be revealed Secondly Covenant breaking and false Swearing there being many Engagements and Declarations of the Army wherof our Brethren were and now are Actual Members for removing the evil and establishing the good mentioned in the foregoing Head Thirdly Oppression of the Bodies and Consciences of the Lords People and others well affected in this Nation by Tythes Taxes and Illegal Imprisonments The Latter of which the Army formerly Declared so much against as being very Oppressive that any man should suffer Imprisonment without any Legall cause ⋆ See Looking-glass pag. 7. Say they that no man be kept in Prison above a moneth but in that space to be brought to Triall by a lawfull jury of his equalls or else be discarged of Course There are many the like expressions in other of their Declarations shewed for it and keeping them there at will and pleasure and how frequently this hath been practised since this last Apostacy and is still continued we leave to all unbyassed persons to judge Fourthly Persecution of Saints two of them having been jaylors to their Brethren and the rest standing by in the day of their Brothers Calamity and Justifying the Persecutors by saying It is possible a Saint may suffer for evil doing Fifthly Maintaining Antichristian Lawes by which the Saints of old have suffered and do now suffer though so much blood and treasure hath been spent for the abolishing of them Sixthly Hereby they are the cause of sadning and grieving the hearts of the Righteous whom the Lord would not have sadned though our Brother Kelzey was and herein is more particularly guilty above any of the rest as hath been plainly proved which at first he denied yet afterwards confest at Brother Sampsons house much more then could be proved against him not with any sense of his evill therein but said It was his Judgement and Conscience to do what he had done And Notwithstanding that many of us had been labouring to Convince them and inform the Brethren to whom the ruling part of the Congregation was committed of their evils upwards of a year and half before our withdrawing who at first joyned with us and were more ready to be active herein then our selves yet afterwards declined for no other reason as we know but because their sin being of a publique nature was like to receive more then an ordinary countenance and so the more difficult and hazardous if they with us should be found doing our duty impartially not fearing the faces of men but it being to our labor proved fruitlesse and those who before were forward in the work of the Lord now became backward and not onely so but many of them excusers and Abettors in a very great measure to the grief of many of our hearts However that we might keep in the Lords way it was after solemn waiting upon him judged our duty to bring their evils before the Church that so if possible they might thereby have been brought to the acknowledgement thereof And here we hoped that iniquity shold have bad it's mouth stopped and truth have had the preheminence in such a Congregation as this had been for so many years being like a Beacon on the top of a Mountain but instead thereof the greater part votes Communion with them notwithstanding their evil laid before them which is to be mention'd not with joy but with grief and sorrow of heart though we conceive that vote was chiefly occasioned by our Brother Sympson thorow his constant pleading for and
liberty of reading it some of the Chief amongst them saying That is ought first to be perused by the Brethren amongst them at their usuall meeting and if they thought meet then to have read it otherwise not or else if we would stay till the next fourth day of the week it was possible we might have liberty to read it our selves But this was not thought meet to be embraced but since they denied us the present reading of it to leave it with them to do therein as they should think fit onley a Brother stood up and declared It was our last testimony of Separation against those scandalous sins and evils which many amongst them are guilty of and that it was our prayer that the Lord would please to sanctifie it unto them After this the Brethren took their leave and departed And so ends this Narrative Signed in the Name and by the Appoinment of the greater Number of the Congregation who have separated from those now walking with Master John Sympson Humphry Hathorn John Seely John Portmans Caleb Ingold A Preambulatory Epistle to seven of the Letters which Master Sympson wrote to the Congregation whilest he was a Prisoner for Truth in Windsor Castle IT doth much concern every true Believer in such a day as this When darkness covereth the earth and gross darkness the people to be watching narrowly to their paths lest they turn aside from the holy Commandment delivered to them as many have sadly done in this day which is to be bewailed with a bitter Lamentation had we a suitable Spirit thereunto when the Father is dishonored Christ reproached and the Spirit blasphemed and all under a form of godliness were we Baptized into Jeremiahs Spirit we should in the sense of the back-stiding of Professors say Oh That I had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men that I might leave my people and go from them for they be all adulterous an assembly of Treacherous men they bend their tongues like a bow for lies but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth Jer. 9.2 3. Many of us have had no small Wrestling in our own Spirits whether these Letters of Mr. Sympsons should be published or no chusing rather to have silently Mourned over him in the sense of the loss of that Spirit he seemed to be anointed with whiles he Continued in Windsor Castle as by his following Letters dated from thence will appear But considering what a Noble and Honourable Testimony he hath born against the iniquity of this day and that from the Spirit of God as he profest and since that to be as highly professing on the other hand saying That it was his errour and evil drying down all his former professions visions as delusions and of flesh Which hath staggerd some as to the very Principles of Godliness Likewise considering how he is fallen in with the present Abominations he hath formerly so witnessed against Adding hereunto that he hath been the instrumental cause of our Breach and Separation by falling in with and pleading for the Souldiers and present Power Which had he not done for ought as we know they might have turned from their evil way and thereby the Congregation having purged out their old Leaven might have become a new and pure Lump to the glory of God and comfort of each other in this evill day Likewise his owning of the Tryers by sending to them as well as others for advice how there might be a proceeding against us for our withdrawing Also to take a Commission from the Person in Power to Preach at All-gate though he hath formerly declared very highly as well against the Tryers with their Practice as the present Power we humbly apprehend may so far silence any Persons as not to Judge any thing before the time lest they be found Judging their Brethren or the work they are upon without a thorow knowledge of the cause or Spirit leading thereunto Yea give us leave humbly to say That the sense of the former Courage Life and Zeal which was in him for the truth wherein we cannot but Judge that the Spirit of the Lord was eminently manifest in him as to the matter of his Testimony though as to the manner most of us in many things were not so well satisfied with it seemes unto us to be rather a provocation then a discouragement in this work for we do not hereby publish his failings but onely by his naked Letters without paraphrasing upon them give a taste of that Spirit which formerly appeared in him for Christ against Antichrist and all evil doers Psal 94.16 And let the Reader Judge though it seemed unto us much like that Spirit the Church is found in Rev. 12.1 Which every true member ought to be Clothed with being Clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feer All sublunary Creatures appeared nothing to him he seemed unto us like unto Paul Acts 20.24 Tell him of troubles likely to fall thorow his faithfulness to Christ and his despised Cause and none of these things move him Moreover we are provoked hereunto considering how much Life and Courage was Administred unto us in the hearing of them read which we trust upon perusal of them by others may be useful unto them as well as unto us And shall truth die for fear of displeasing a man or men that are gone off from the work of Christ in their generation surtly no yea we trust that the publishing of them may be to the reviving of his Spirit again that he may consider from whence he is fallen and do his first works and then we shall rejoyce it may appear that he is in the number of those mentioned Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them c. And we should much rejoyce if the Lord should make this way in any measure Instrumental to eat out that core of Apostacy which more gentle meanes though applied would not do or deliver the feet of any out of the snare who by reason of him are fallen from their own stedfastness however this is our rejoycing the Testimony of a good Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have been exercised herein and not out of malice strife or vain glory Signed in the Name and by the appointment of the greater Number of the Congregation who have separated from those now walking with Mr. John Sympson Humphry Hathorn John Portmans John Seely Caleb Ingold Here follows the Letters themselves JOhn a Prisoner not of Cromwel and his Council but of the Lord Jesus Christ unto the Saints and faithful Brethren which meet at the place which is known by the name of Great All-hallows London Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Blessed be the Name of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who dayly loads you with his loving kindness and tender mercies in Christ and for ever let his glorious goodness be
the accomplishment of what is behind It is sweet to me now in this confinement to consider that I had a hint of these things by Intellectual vision or dreams before they came to pass In a slumber about Worcester Businesse I saw great O lying upon the ground with most of his great Officers and their mouthes stopped with clay by which I was perswaded that they should not be able to act any more for Christ or fetch breath in his cause which is come to passe Before the dissolution of the long sitting Parliament In a dream I beheld some lusty fellowes binding an old man who when he was bound his cords did break but he was so feeble that he could not rise again and presently after they had left him they caught hold of me and apprehended me It was given in that the Parliament was the Old man and that after they had dissolved the Parliament they should persecute me which I charged upon the memories of some friends to remember I scarce know how to speak of these things because some may think that I speak in wrath when I speak upon a more noble account for the glory of God But let truth be spoken though I suffer in the opinions of some Saints I shall conclude with desiring your Prayers for these things first that I may oppose the enemies of Christ as his not mine hating their wayes yet loving their persons as my own Secondly That I may pray in faith with the Psalmist Psal 119.134 Deliver me from the oppression of man so will I keep thy precepts Thirdly That God might strike my strongest corruptions under the fifth rib by this imprisonment Fourthly That God would anoint me with fresh oyl to Preach and Baptize Fifthly That God would teach me to see how far my suffering may be accounted a Martyrdom in relation to Christs good cause and a Judgement in relation to my unprofitable walking before God and his people for the same suffering may be a Martyrdom for Christ and a judgement to our flesh 1. Pet. 4.16 17. The Lord enable you to ask these things in faith and thoroughly enable you to every good work through Christ to whom be glory everlastingly Amen J.S. From the old Steeple 4th Moneth 3d. day 1654. This a true Coppy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Severall Objections against the Printing and Publishing of the aforementioned Transactions relating to our withdrawing and separation from the Souldiers and Mr. Simpson c. As also Mr. Simpsons Letters weighed scanned and answered WE finde a certain rule in Scripture that where a Brother or Brethren walk disorderly they are to be adminished and withdrawn from 2 Thes 3.6 And in case of perseverance in their evill after admonition to he saparated from and all Church relation disowned with them according to Mat. 18.15 16 17 18. Cor. 5 5.2 Cor. 6.17.2 Tim. 3.5 And when this is done they are to be unto us as those that are without but we see no Scripture warrant leading us to publish the sins and evill practices of such persons but rather to leave them unto the Lord to be converted or otherwise as he in his secret will hath determined yea it seems to us rather to savour of malice and revenge then of a Gospel frame of Spirit Answ There are two things to be considered for the making a righ answer to this objection which we desire may be weighed First the nature of the sin such persons are guilty of that is to say whether it be of u private or publique concernment for accordingly the Lord is either more or lesse dishonoured and therefore the Apostle speaks concerning some in this kinde I Tim. 5.20 in these words Them that sin rebuke before all that others may fear painly intimating that if persons who are called brethren have such foreheads of brasse as to commit sin in the face of the sun whereby God is not onely dishonoured in respect of the sin it self but others undone thereby as the sin of the Souldiers is by Treason False-swearing Oppression c And that not to the ruine of a few but the whole Nation yea to the crucifying and destroying of the Cause and Interest Christ contended for in the late Wars with the losse of so much precious blood we do then conceive that they ought to be rebuked before all that the Nation against whom they have sinned may know that we disown such wicked practices being contrary to the light of nature much more of grace which is also the more to be weighed in regard that Publique Sinnes brings Publique Judgements so did the sins of the Rulers in Israel upon the whole mation And therefore Pilate himself being forewarned by his wife not to have a hand in the death of our Lord Jesus being an innocent person without doubt did foresee how sad it would be with the Nation upon that account and therefore took water in the presence of the whole Court and published before them all that he would have no hand in his death and what a Judgement hath there been upon the Jews ever since for that publique sin And how did the Apostles afterwards testifie against the Rulers publiquely for their sin in so doing And if lawfull to speak in that manner against them then certainly it cannot but be as lawfull to write In the next place as the sin is to be considered so the Estate Quality and Officer of such persons who commits it And herein also sinne is the more aggravated for when Souldiers or Magistrates have professed before God Angels and Men what they would do for Christ his glory and poor afflicted people in administring of Justice and Righteousness relieving the oppressed and breaking yokes as also to improve all their Military civil power for the same whereunto they were called and intrusted both by God and man shall instead thereof take the Crown from off Christs head and put it upon their own and make use of their Power and Force to oppresse a Nation and do violence to all that will not bow down to their Lusts Also maintaining Antichristian Laws to force the consciences of the Lords People and all this contrary to their professed and declared light which is the more considerable in regard they have been Instruments in the Lords hand to pull down the late King with his Son other abettors for the like abominations now committed by themselves we then do humbly apprehend that not onely a Personal but National reproof is to be given them according to the nature of their offence and the capacity wherein they stand so that it seems to us not onely to be our Gospel Liberty but our Gospel Duty to publish by whriting the sin of the Souldiers with their abettors Objection The aforesaid Scripture although it speakes full as to their being rebuked before all according to the nature of their offence with the capacity wherein they stand which we must
conscience slay in Pharoahs Court when he beheld the affliction of his Brethren Heb. 11.24 25 26. though we think his condition there was more harmless and might more have been improved to the glory of God and the good of his Brethren then our Brethren imployment can possibly be and yet he forsook Pharoahs Court. Fifthly By this present Apostacy the whole body of the Laws r Upon search into the Laws Statutes and Customs of this Nation it will appear most of them are contrary to Scriptute as that of Felony which for stealing to the value of 5. s. is death but for further satisfaction see that Book called Examen Legum Angliae And indeed we may well wonder how any man pretending conscience could at once swear to maintain such a numberless number being most of them made in the times of popery It were likewise to be wished that all other subordinate Officers as Justices of Peace sider how they can with comfort take such Oaths as they do for it is time now for professors to look before they leap Statutes and Customes of this Land are sworne to be maintained without any enquiry into the equity or justice of them which brings in the support of many wicked and s We call that Antichristian which is set up for Christs institution yet hath no warrant in Scripture and surely it never entred into the heart of Christ to set up Patrons Parsons Viccars Curates Triers Deans Doctors Chancellors c. but are from the Pope continued by the succeeding popish carnal selfish kings Queens and Protectors of this Nation as will appear upon search wherefore let that Scripture Amos 8.14 compared with 1 King 12.26 27 28 29. be considered where Ieroboam set up two calves at Dan and Bethel to the end the people might not go up to Ierusalem to worship fearing the Kingdom would return to the house of David and thereby caused them to lay aside his true worship which thing became a sin and a snare unto Israel And doth not the upholding the National clergy c run parallel and as God was then greatly dishonored is he not so now for do they not by their practise declare that Christ as a Son in his house was not so faithful as Moses a servant whom first the Pope and all others to this day acting as Head of the church directly or Law received a just recompence of reward how shall this generation escape who maintain an invention of worship in opposition to Christ and force the people to bow down to it by the payment of rythes though the Tythes Tenths first Fruits which are claimed as the Magistrates Clergy and others due are no other in their rise then what King Harry the eighth took from the Pope and the Pope with his Priests had before cheated our forefathers of under pretence of good works and charity to merit heaven by and for saying prayers for their souls and the souls of their deceased ancestors that they might escape the torments of hell for further satisfaction see a Book called The Great Case of Tythes stated sold for 3 d. at the Black-spread-Eagle neer the west of Pauls which notably discovers how Parsons Viccars and Curates c with Tythes were at first brought in and have been continued to this day Antichristian Laws some whereof are already put in execution as that of Patrons parsons Viccars Curates Tythes together with the old Hierarchy of Bishops though couched under a new Name of Triers and in this we conceive our Brethren are guilty also for time was the Army did declare for removing every yoke from the necks of the Lords People whether Civil or Ecclesiastical and that they were not Mercenary to serve the lusts of men as now they are some of them also pleading for the Right of Tythes and by deceitful words excuse these abominations to the grief of our hearts and do stand by to maintain him who is the Head of this Apostacy Sixthly The great reproach t If what is reported from other countreys may be believed the reproach unto the Name of God by this apostacy is so great that it is sufficient ignominy to be known as an English professor And as for our own Nation all who joyned with the Army in the work according to their former good professions and Declarations are a stink in the Nostrils both of the late Kings party and others insomuch that in a deriding manner they say to our very faces c. Did we not tell you before how things would be carryed we knew the spirits of these men you followed better then you did as now you seâ— Did not we tell you they desired the destruction of the King that they might get into the Throne themselves is not Oliver Cromwell a greater Tyrant now then ever King Charles was You simply out of honest intents followed him thinking to have greater liberty and priviledges which we alwayes told you would be otherwise and we think you find our words true now You then scrupled the paying a little ship money and such small matters But what do you say to the great Taxes and Burthens laid upon the Nation now and yet know not what they will do further And say others of them Though we were grieved at cutting off the Kings head yet when we considered the honest things the army held forth in their Declarations against their own self-interest and for liberty in opposition to oppression we were the more quiet hoping they would have been as good as their words but now we see plainly you are all a company of juglers and intended nothing else in all you said and did but your own advancement this is the godly army we will never trust professors more for your sakes And many more of the like and worse expressions whereby Religion is made a scorn so that we may say in truth as Nathan said to David 2 Same 12 13. Because by this apostacy so great occasion is given the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme therefore shall not this iniquity pass away without some special judgement Adding hereunto the great reproach that is brought upon the wayes of Christ by the divisions and breaches among his own people such as hath not been for many generations past it puts that Scripture often in some of our thoughts Mat. 18.7 Offences will come but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh And is there not just offence given by the army and our Brethren in particular More especially Coll. Kelzey who said in the presence of the whole congregations That if any should rise up against the present Power under what pretence soever he would sheath his sword in their bowels though his own Brethren for he should look upon them as disturbers of the peace And have we not cause to be offended grieved at these things can we sit at Christs Table with such persons as he Surely no. brought to the Name of God his Cause and Son