A DECLARATION Of several of the Churches of Christ AND GODLY PEOPLE In and about the Citie of LONDON Concerning The Kingly Interest OF CHRIST AND The present Suffrings OF His Cause and Saints in England LONDON Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1654. A DECLARATION Of several of the Churches of Christ And Godly people Being a few of the despised Remnant in and about the City of London that yet cleave close to the Cause and Interest of our Lord Jesus so much disowned and rejected in these times of Apostacie and in this hour of our great Tribulation and Temptation IN the Name of Jehovah-Nissi Exod. 17.15 our Lord Christ Protector of his People King of Saints and Nations To all that are sanctified in Jesus Christ whether in Churches or out that partake of the same Faith with us of our Lord Jesus especially the sealed number now upon their watch that have not defiled their garments whose robes are washed with the blood of the Lamb that are redeemed from among men and fellow the Lamb whither soever he goeth in these three Nations or elsewhere We their unworthy Brethren one with them in the present Sufferings of our Lord Jesus and his Saints in the behalf of our selves and many others Do from the bottom of our hearts wish like Faith Grace Zeal Light Joy and Peace which we enjoy from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FOrasmuch as we believe many godly people in these three Nations and elsewhere are deceived and therefore unsatisfied concerning us in the matters of our faith relating to the most precious Cause Interest and Monarchy of the Lord Christ which we cleave unto through misrepresentations and false reports made of us and our Principles by persons and Letters posted about the Nations for that purpose full of errors mistakes unchristian censures uncharitable reproaches and invectives wherein the Adversaries have all the advantage against us that worldly power can possess them with but now that we may no longer by a forced silence be a dissatisfaction to our Friends grievance to the Truth offence to the Saints a trouble to our own Consciences and advantage to the Adversaries or be so much the subject as we have been of our Enemies malice to forge their lyes jealousies or evil reports upon nor yet be suspicious to many and for signes and wonders to most in the Common-wealth as if we were monsters and not men infidels and not believers enemies to Government and not orators for it day and night as God hath appointed it We shall therefore in the behalf of thousands more we hope one with us herein in all faithfulness meekness and clearness declare unto you and to all the world how far we are engaged in this most glorious though crucified cause of Christ maugre all opposition of Men or Devils in as little room as this short Narrative will allow us being awakened thereunto every day Yet it cannot be expected that in this Paper we should relate all our Grievances lay down all our Grounds or answer all Objections which we hope to do hereafter but onely so far as may make obvious to any unbyassed eye or understanding the just rise of our Discontents Troubles and Dissatisfactions and as may exonerate our souls in the sight of Heaven and Earth O our bowels our bowels our hearts even ake and are pained within us to hear the doleful and daily groans of Gods people crying out O where are our Deliverers and Saviours The Reeds that we leaned upon have pierced our hands and we bleed And after our eyes fail with looking for Freedom Peace and Light behold Darkness Oppression and Distraction and what hope is left us And all this through the declension of the Armies first Principles and former Declarations extant to the view of the world witness p. 14 15 of the Remonstr Albans p. 66. They urge it upon the grounds of Common Right Freedom and Safety that Parliaments be by a certain succession Annually or Biennially And in their Declar. June 14. 1647. p. 8 9. they declare this so essential and fundamental to Freedom as that it cannot nor ought it to be denied or withholden from us and that arbitrary or absolute power in any person or persons during life doth not render that State any better then Tyranny nor the People subjected thereto any better then Vassals And therefore they say p. 9. We are so far from designing or complying to have an absolute or arbitrary power signed or setled for continuance in any persons whatsoever as that if we might be sure to obtain it we cannot wish to have it so in the persons of any whom we could most confide in or who should appear most of our own opinions or principles or whom we might have most personal assurance of or interest in but that the Authority of this Kingdom in Parliament may ever stand and have its course Yet for all this were not the last Parliament dissolved for that they would rule as Saints or part of the fifth Monarchy for Christ and for doing that the former Parliament neglected therefore were dissolved and for doing that which the Army and good people had many yeers declared to be their duty to do viz. Remonstr p. 20. And have not some by Printing opprobriously and injuriously abused those precious members that stood for the Magistracie and Ministery of the Gospel or Unction as if they would have had no Government no Ministers nor Propriety at all and after all their integrity cast an Odium upon them and upon the name of Saints yea and upon the Interest of Christ against which they have opened the mouthes of many thousands to blaspheme O these are the swords which pierce our hearts Besides doth not this Personal Interest now up look too much alike that which God hath confounded and stamped upon before our eyes in the same predicament of Pride Profaness Persecution of Saints and Oppression with them that went before Oh! are not the Wicked exalted on every side and such taken up again Malignants and others as not long since they most declaim'd against and are not the Saints and them onely or mostly afflicted cast out of their Assemblies from praying and preaching and some of the faithfullest of them in all these Wars now closely imprisoned for their Consciences and this Cause of Christ from the common air yea cast among Malefactors condemned threatned reproached and trampled on Oh! can we have hearts so hard as to mention these and many more such like effects without yerning and mourning Besides are not the new Court of Tryers at Whitehall for Ministers of like make with the Bishops High-Commission-Court The Graven image of the worldly power creating a worldly Clergie for worldly ends highly scandalous and against the Rule of the Gospel and Faith of Christ and as much to be exploded as the Pope and Prelate notwithstanding they assume the title of Orthodox and soundness of
opinion to themselves and upon that account charge others that are not one with them in their Carnal and Antichristian Interest with Errours and Rashness But as the Declaration of the Army to Scotland p. 15 saith This hath been found in all ages of high advantage to them that assumed it that it were strange if those Civil Tryers should not have used it to smite them withal whom they would render odious and destroy And is not This against their own Declar. to Scotland p. 16. where they say That that Church-Government which is of God Gods own means viZ. his Word must establish without a busie medling with or engaging of the authorities of the world And the Lo. General CROMWEL in his Letter to the Kirk-assembly from Dunbar p. 11. saith It is worth considering how those Ministers take into their hands the instruments of a foolish shepherd that meddle with worldly policies or earthly powers to set up that which they call The Kingdom of Christ which indeed is neither it nor if it were would such means be found effectual for that end and neglect and not trust to the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit c. Is not this all true in the Tryers And is not this also against their own Remonstr Albans pag. 20. where they declare it the Parliaments part to protect religous men and take away all the corrupted Forms of outside-Religion and National Church-stare whether imposed without Law or rooted in Law in times of Popish ignorance or idolatry or of Gospels dimmer light and also to take away the dependence of the National Clergie in Civil Laws and Ecclesiastical affairs which they had upon the King or that interest of the Clergie in Civil Laws and Affairs which the craft of both in length of time had wrought for each other But that the King's part was to discountenance the Godly or any conscience obliging above or against humane or outward Constitutions to uphold and maintain the Civil dependence of the Clergie and their Church-matters under him Our bowels are so moved at these things that we cannot refrain from bewailing our condition after so vast a stream and treasure of the blood tears prayers lives and spoils of our dearest relations O did we ever think to see so many hopeful Instruments in the Army Churches and elsewhere to be so fully gorged with the flesh of Kings Captains and Nobles c. i. e. with their Lands Mannors Estates Parks and Palaces so as to sit at ease and comply with Antichrist the World Worldly Church and Clergie Oh! how hath the Cup of the Whore foxt and inchanted men viz. with the wine of the wrath of her fornication to commit sin with her daily which the sober blush to see and to paint her over afresh for New Lovers to lie down with to their utter ruine O the Mystery of Iniquity works apace This subtil spirit and soul of Antichristianism in a new body hath bewitched many of the Common sort and is wonderful cunning to deceive although by this universal falling away amongst us the Man of sin is blessed be Jehovah more discovered then ever who must be destroyed with the breath of Christ's mouth and the brightness of his coming Yet under a sad sense of so many fresh assaults which the Saints meet with daily by outward Violence and Ecclesiastical Tyranny and in a clear apprehension of that heavie Doom and Precipice hard by we verily believe upon all those Powers and Interests of men which keep warm the Seat of the bloody Beast for the Mother of harlots And after many Solemn Meetings and seekings of God for a special presence rolling our selves onely on his Arm having no carnal confidence blessed be our wise God now left us to look upon we are fully perswaded in our souls that he who hath hitherto most eminently appeared and plainly owned this blessed Cause which the Apostates of the times have cast aside and we yet cleave unto in England Ireland Scotland and else-where according to the faith and prayers of his poor despised people that he will yet appear and that more eminently and terribly too to save then ever and witness to the righteousness of his own Cause and the innocencie of his servants that suffer therein in great mercy and pity passing by the failings and infirmities of us his poor creatures Therefore though we are sure that God will vindicate his own Name to purpose ere long under so much reproach yet in the dread of that Name we appeal unto the LORD who will be a swift witness against us if we utter these things in hypocrisie or for base ends or for any carnal Personal Interest whatsoever if we are not in the sincerity and simplicity of our hearts so far as we have one grain of true grace in us for Christ alone and his poor rejected Cause and People that we may ease and exonerate our selves in the sense we have of our duty herein and be withdrawn to the eye of all from partaking in the crying sins and Apostacie of the Times with all faithfulness holy awe and humility we profess and declare 1. For this Cause and Kingly Interest of our Lord Jesus in England Ireland and Scotland or elswhere according to the several Declarations of the Army sealed to with the blood of thousands of the precious Saints the cry of whose blood is for Christ according to the Declaration of the Army to Scotland p. 36 37 38 39. who declare They were stirred up by the Lord to assist the Parliament against the King for this end To bring about the destruction of Antichrist and the deliverance of his true Church and people upon this simple account was it that they engaged in the Wars of the three Nations against all Opposers of this work of Jesus Christ having these things singly in their eye viz. the destruction of Antichrist and advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and deliverance and reformation of his Church and the establishment of Christs Ordinances according to his Word and the just Civil Liberties of Englishmen And this they declare with the loss of many precious Saints p. 38. That they engaged against the late King and his Monarchy as one of the ten horns of the Beast guilty of the blood of the Saints which act they say they are confident God will own against all Kingdoms or Nations that will oppose them and that will not suffer Jesus Christ to be King So page 39. they declare they value the Churches (a) Then owning the Congregated Churches as appears by Letters written to Mr. Feak and Mr. Simpson and the Churches that walk in fellowship with them and others of Christ who are the lot of Gods inheritance a thousand times beyond their own lives and that it is their duty to persevere therein to the utmost hazard of their lives and that the Lord made them instruments to vex all in his sore displeasure that take counsel against Christ
principles therein who are contented with all our souls the Lord knows to be convinced of any Errour or Mistakes by the Word of Truth But we think not Imprisoning or Persecuting us a competent or fit way to convince our Consciences if we were in errours as they pretend And although we need no Law of men to allow us this Liberty it being our Birth-right in Christ among Christians and so fully warranted by the Word of God and practice of Primitive Saints yet if we should condescend to the Captious of our times we could tell them The Instrument intituled The Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland in the five and twentieth Article declares That Liberty shall be given to discover and confute Errour and Heresie and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine All which the Engager fol. 46. hath promised in the presence of God to observe and cause to be observed to his power subscribed O. CROMWEL In the mean time men would do well to take heed of Blaspheming Reproaching Christ his Spirit and his Monarchy as they do daily for which our hearts are grieved within us and to search the Scriptures whether these things be so or no. For as the Lord Cromwel writes in his own Letter to the Kirk of Scotland The Word of the Lord may be to some a word of judgement that they may fall backward and be broken and snared and taken there may be a spiritual fulness which the world may call drunkenness or giddiness Act. 2. O that we might beseech such in the bleeding Bowels of Christ crucified before our eyes to think it possible they may be mistaken Though the Great Ones and Wise Ones Priests and Rulers Scribes and Pharisees and Orthodox Professors so accounted of the times were all on their side yet a little handful of the weak ones may have the Truth though but the despised persecuted Truth on their side And we do in the tenderness of our hearts and affections to all that are faithful beg of them in the Name of the Lord Jesus who is coming to raign righteously and gloriously that they will have nothing to do with them that are guilty of so great sins lest partaking of their sins they partake also of their plagues And we hope the Lord will enable us to undergo the sharpness of this day for our dear Christ and his Cause through the Reproaches Imprisonments Persecutions unjust Charges uncivil Railings or un-Gospel Carriages which we have or are like to meet with whether less or more so we may drink out of Christ's Cup and pledge our Master who first drank to us the bitter Potion We shall close at present with our heartiest prayers and supplications That God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would in his due time cast down all those carnal earthly cruel and political combinatious of men of all sorts that would not have him to Reign over us but set up themselves and their own corrupted interests in the room of that Scepter of righteousness which he hath given into the hands of his dear Son that he would by his Spirit resting and abiding upon you and us keep up all our hearts in a constant and patient waiting for his coming till he comes Even so come quickly Lord Iesus come quickly ORDERED by this Assembly mentioned in the last branch of the Declaration That 150 and no more of the Names subscribed to the Declaration be transcribed out of the Original Copie and published in the name of the rest And that a short Word to the Reader be drawn up and printed to signifie so much The 30 day of the sixth month 1654. Of the Church that walks with M. Feak now close prisoner for this caus of Christ at Winsor-Castle EManuel Runwel Will. Bathoe John Jones Philip Hieron Miles Petty John Greene Tho. Cartwright Robert Shepherd Peter Kirby Peter Chamberlain In the name of the whol Church that walks with Dr. Chamberlain John Light John Spittlehouse John Davies Richard Ellis Richard Smith Robert Feak John Rogers In the name of the whole Body that walks with Mr. Rogers now prisoner for this Cause of Christ at Lambeth-prison Henry Bridges Glid Beaumont Gregory Garth Hur Horton William Medley Christoph Crayle Samuel Rutter Edward Grove John Saunders Gregory Kirby William Russel Benjamin Rutter Francis Young Abel Wescot Humphrey Talbot James Gresham John Fuller Nicolas Spencer Thomas Ridel Joseph Jefferies Thomas Bernard James Hicks William Righton John Palmer David Morris Of the Church that walks with Mr. Raworth Richard Bland James Wilson George Rickets Thomas Selbie Thomas Waltham Daniel Rosier John Swetnam Robert Aske Philip Rickards Robert Young George Lawson Josiah Carsewel John More With M. Knowls John Withinbrook Thomas Franklin John Perkins John Dunton Robert Mason David Towler Ioseph Heather Simon Wyld Iohn Hewet Nathaniel Aske Thomas Harrison Iohn Webber Daniel Ingold Thomas Wilkes Of the Church that walks with Mr. Simson Ieremy Wright Iohn Sealy Iohn Turner Will. Shrewsbury Iohn Coombe Arthur Jones Peter Kidd Daniel Hackman Ioseph Cleaver Of the Church that walks with Mr. Jesse George Barret Iohn Clarke Thomas Pierson William Minchin Nathaniel Hewet Ioshua Rickards Iames Allen Iohn Berry Iames Rich Iohn Iones Ioseph Makreth George Ewbanck Of the Church that walks with Mr. Barbone William Morris Iohn Thorne Peter Soone Iohn Green Iohn Iackson Thomas Trouer Iohn Richardson Thomas Raymond Iohn Luxford Iames Willow Christopher Cope Iohn Tufnel Hugh Griffen Samuel Bradleigh Iohn Young Caleb Nicolas Robert Smith Thomas Crundal Iohn Franklin William Lucas Iames Mason William Mort Of the Church that walks with L. Col. Fenton William Seale Edward Farmer Humphrey Bache Samuel Gilbert Ferdinando Adam William Smart Thomas Wheeler Lawrence Ranson Thomas Hill Matthew Turner Robert Steele William Iohnson Mihil Miles Thomas Baker Iohn Hayward Will. Burrowston Iohn Glover Of the Church that walks with Justice Highland Lewis Honyburne Iohn Allen Philip Thomas Ralph Willis Iohn Nicks Iohn Low Iohn Read Anthony Cooper Robert Woodard Nich. Waterson Ieremy Wright William Bate Iohn Marlow c. To the Reader Christian Reader THou art desired to take notice that the End of this DECLARATION being to witness to the blessed Truth with the persecuted Cause servants of the Lord Jesus these NAMES published are thought sufficient Fewer might have render'd it an inconsiderable Testimony and given Men advantage against us and Christ's Cause on that side The Multitude or More either those which we have or the which we might have hereto might probably represent it far more evil formidable or dangerous to them that are too ready the Lord knows to receive any Charge against us for our Faith and Consciences in these matters of Christs Kingly Interest Now to obviate this Advantage also which men might have taken Order is taken for these Names onely and no more to be published herewith and that several other Churches beside whom we might mention be forborn And for subscriptions out of the Countries notwithstanding the hundreds out of Kent they are also all omitted on purpose to leave it to the Churches in their several Counties to bear their own Testimony to this suffering Cause of Christ and his Saints as in discharge of our Duty with the comfort of our Consciences blessed be our heavenly Father we who are judg'd to be in the first place concern'd have done and DO this DAY in the sight of heaven and earth and GOD IS OUR RECORD FINIS