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cause_n	great_a	lord_n	people_n	4,203	5	4.5705	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09926	An epistle written (dated the 30th of the 11th month 1659,) and sent from London into the countrey. By a friend to the glorious (though at this day despised) cause of Christ, in answer to a letter sent up to him (dated the 16th of the same month) wherein the following things are treated of, (viz.) 1. The fifth kingdom it self, which the God of Heaven sets up in the latter dayes. 2. The kingdom of the beast which is to be destroyed. 3. The instruments that are to be used in destroying the one and erecting the other; with the way or manner how they are to be used. 4. The time of the beginning of this work. [bracket] First, before Christs personal comming. Secondly, before the call of the Jewes. Thirdly, that it is already begun, and hath taken place in this nation and that Cromwel with the army, hath apostatized from it, and that all the powers, or governments that have been set up since that time, have been, and still are upon the foundation of the apostacy. As also, severall of the particular evills which the army, and others abetting the apostacy are guilty of. Together with, some considerations tendered to the favourers of Christ's righteous cause, wherein is laid down, their duty of separation from Babylon, and from all the parts and branches (both in church and state) of the forementioned apostacy.	N. S.	1660 (1660)	Wing S119B; ESTC R183121	59,145	52

Vialls Rev. 16. The Vialls do containe and are called the seven last Plagues that must accomplish the destruction of the Anti hristian world and do much agree with the VVork of the Stone in Daniel 2. Now these Vialls or six of them must be poured out before Christs personal comming First because they do the VVork gradually and therefore are seven Vialls otherwise one Viall if it were at Christs coming would do all the Work Secondly They do the destroying Work which as hath been proved must be done before Christs Personal coming and if the Vialls do the same Work with the Stone or Kingdom and six if not all must be poured forth before Christs Personal coming then the Work must take place before that coming As against all Truths there are several Objections so against this First it is objected and alleadged That the Saints must be in a Suffering state till Christ comes Answ There is a Twofold Suffering the one by the Antichristian bondage and slavery the other by corruption and inward temptations From the first the Saints shall be delivered before Christs coming as hath been shewed the other may remain till Christ at his coming binds Satan and changeth our vile bodies Also there is a twofold coming of Christ in the latter day the one a comming by his Spirit in his Saints-to the Work of executing vengeance and so Christ is the Stone and so he overcomes the ten Hornes and so he comes at midnight when the Virgins sleep and so he comes as a Thief and this is the Coming spoken of Luke 18.7 8. And shall not God avenge his own Elect Neverthelesse when the Son of man cometh shall he find Faith on the Earth Till this coming the Saints were to be in a suffering State upon both the former the latter Accounts The second is his Personal coming with all his Saints and all the holy Angels when every eye shall see him This shall not only be a coming in Power but also with great Glory before this coming the Saints shall be in the Posession of the Government upon the account of Christ who is the rightful King and the Vialls or Six of them shall be poured forth by which much of the vengeance that is to be executed shall be accomplished upon the Earth But although the Saints shall be in the Government of the Nations under and on the behalf of Christ the King yet the Devil being not bound shall go forth full of Rage because the time of his binding is near and immediatly before the Personal coming of Christ shall stir up the Nations to rebell against Christ in his Saints and the Nations shall raise War against the Saints and shall take the City of Jerusalem and it shall be a time of great trouble and then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those Nations as when he fought in the day of Battel and then the Seventh Viall shall be poured forth into the air which holds forth the making a full and perfect end of the VVork my apprehensions in this matter are grounded upon Eze. 39. Zech. 14.1.2 3 4. Revel 16.16 chap. 19.17.18.19 and several other Scriptures which relate unto and must have their fulfilling in this time In the understanding of the weighty matters which relate to the latter day I would commend two things to consideration which may through the blessing of God be very helpful and useful to prevent mistakes First To wait upon God for his Spirit in the search of the Scriptures for a right distinction of the several Times and Seasons as First the Time of Christs suffering State the Time of Antichrists Reign the Time of Christs coming by his Spirit in the Saints to execute the vengeance the Time of his Personal coming the Time of the thousand years Reign The end of the thousand years and the last Judgement when he shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father And as these times should be distinctly considered without misplacing them or causing the one to clash against the other so The Second thing to be considered is through the spirit diligently to search the Promises Prophesies and Types of this Latter day work contained in the holy Scriptures and before we passe judgement upon any of them to wait upon the Lord for a right understanding of the respective Times unto which the Promise Prophesie or Type doth relate for if we go to open then and not First understand what Time they relate unto we are in danger of very great mistakes and this I judge is much of the cause of the great differences that are among even those of the People of God that Wait for the Kingdom at this day and through this mistake the poor Jews stumbled and fell misplacing those Promises Prophesies and Types that did relate to Christ in that day if these two things be diligently observed it would save much labour in answering several Objections some of which not yet spoken to are as followeth Object That Christ must be first in the possession of this Glory he being the Captain that was first made perfect through suffering and therefore the Kingdom must not be set up till his Personal coming Ans This ariseth mostly from a mistake for though the Saints shall take and possesse the Kingdom before Christs Personal appearing yet Christ shall be first in the Glory of it Dan. 7.14 It is given to Christ and the opening of it in verse the 18. saith that the Saints shall take the Kingdom though all this while Christ in his person is in heaven for first Christ must have the preheminence to be first in the Glory as the Saints by his Spirit do obtain it Secondly They do not onely obtain it by the Spirit of Christ but also upon the Ground of his Authority as he is King of Kings c. Thirdly They do it by his Command all which may appear by the foregoing discourse upon the Saints being the Instruments in the work and so the Glory of the Conquest is to the Lamb Rev. 17.14 The Lamb shall overcome them c. Revel 4.10 The Crowns are cast before him and the Saints do take and exercise the Government for and on the behalf of Christ upon whom Psal 132.18 his Crown shall flourish It is further objected Object 2 Tim. 4.1 His appearing is joyned with yea put before his Kingdom even when he shall judge both the quick and the dead therefore his Kingdom shall not take place before his appearing Answ Though his Appearing be here joyned with and placed before his Kingdom yet the Scripture doth not say neither by the order of words can it be safely gathered that his Kingdom shall not begin till his appearing and those that consider the Spirits Method in the Scripture may know that ofttimes those things that are to be performed Last are placed First and sometimes words do respect a thing in its beginning and sometimes in its perfection as 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your calling and

King of Nations and under him it is given to the Saints who must possess the Kingdome Dan. 7.27.18 and therefore it is no wonder that all this time of the Apostacy the Apostates could make nothing Rise from the Nationall Constitution or if they did could not make it Stand up but it hath been like a man when his life is gone from him and the Day of the Lord according to Isa 2.16 hath been upon all their pleasant Pictures Then come to the VVar with Holland and call over the Records which do abundantly manifest how eminently God Wrought and made his Wonders to be known in the Deeps yea both VVind and Sea obeyed him in that Warr. As to the Eminent Hand of God in the Call of that Little Assembly I shall not speak of it in this place having spoken to it in the First Ground but upon the whole I may conclude this Second Ground with these Scriptures Num. 23.23 According to this time it shall be said of Israel and Jacob what hath God wrought compared with Psal 40.5 Psal 78.4 107.8 111.4 also Psal 75.1 that his name is neere his wonderous works declare And though this Generation as Deut. 4.9 have forgot the things that their eyes have seen yet God in much mercy makes these Wonderfull Works as pretious food to a poor Despised Remnant that are witnesing to and waiting for the Resurrection of the Glorious Cause of Christ. Psal 74.14 111.2 3 4. Compared with v. 5. Psal 46.8 Come behold the works of the Lord c Hos 14.9 who so is wise and he shall understand these things c Isay 51.9 10. Awake Awake O Arme of the Lord as in Ancient dayes art not thou it c. The Third Ground which may further manifest that the Work of this Kingdome hath taken place is from the Cause that was Stated and Layed in the Bottom as the Foundation of the Quarrell upon which the great Works have been wrought and Victories obtained and that hath been the Cause of Jesus Christ in opposition to the Kingdome of Antichrist and as the Day so the Light hath increased First against Popery and Prelacy not only against their wicked practices but against the Foundation of their standing as Antichristian and though there was then but little Light in the visible Kingdome of Christ yet there was so much as the Lord saw needfull for that day Secondly in the beginning of the Wars which outwardly to men appeared to be betwixt the King and Parliament but in the Bottom as those who had the Light of that Day may remember was betwixt Christ and Antichrist and many of the people of God took up Armes in Judgment and Conscience upon the account of Christ and went to the help of the Lord against the mighty although it was but a dark Day and a day of small things But by that time we came to the Warr with Scotland there was a good measure of Kingdome Light given down and sprung up though it was not upon all that were engaged in the War but only some few to whom the Lord was pleased to manifest it and through this Light the Cause came more clearly to be stated in publique view and then the ground upon which the late King and his Monarchy was taken off is publickly asserted by the Army who were the most eminent outward Instruments in the Work to be upon the account of Christ as may appeare by a Letter from the Officers of the Army at their march for Scotland directed to the rest of the Army that remained at their Quarters in England and also by their Declaration when they were come to Muscleborough in Scotland This Cause comes yet more clearly to be Stated and Owned in the Breach of the Old Parliament and is laid in the Bottom by those that were Anointed for and had the Light of that day as the Ground upon which they were Broken and also as a farther manifestation of this the Kingdom of Christ being to take place next to the Image Government and that being broken the Little Assembly was called and the Government delivered to them upon the Avowed Account of the Son of God Also in the Stating and Carrying on the War with Holland the Faith and Prayer for the Successe in that War was by those that had the Light upon the account of the Kingdom of Christ these things are evident and may further appear by a Letter from the Officers at Whitehall to Lt. Gen. Fleetwood and the rest of the Officers in Ireland upon the Breach of the Old Parliament and also by Cromwels Speech to the Little Assembly shewing their Call to be upon the account of Christ and also the proceedings of the Assembly and Council and the Committee of Admiralty in the managing of that War with Holland The Letter to Ireland and the Letter before mentioned to those of the Army that remained in England the Muscleborough Declaration and Cromwels Speech are all Printed together in the Book before-mentioned called The Kingdom of Christ or Fifth Kingdom in opposition to the Kingdom of the Beast and is Sold at the Crown in Popes-Head Ally The Grounds upon which the enlightned Part of the Little Assembly did Act and Own their sitting do also clear the Cause to to be stated for Christ against Antichrist The Fourth Ground to clear this Assertion is from the Anointing a Measure whereof hath been given down in for the accomplishing of the Work by which it hath been done And first that there is an Anointing reserved for and promised to this Work of the Fifth Kingdom yea that the Work is to be done by the Anointing though not without the use of Instruments consider Isa 10.27 which speaking of the Latter day Work and of Zions deliverance saith That the yoke shall be broken off because of the Anointing also Isai 28.6 speaking of this VVork saith The Lord shall be for a Spirit of Judgement to them that sit in Judgement and for strength to them that turn the Battel to the Gate Also Haggai 2.5 My Spirit remaineth among you fear ye not though this word in the Letter may relate to the Building of the Temple yet that VVork being Typical to this Glorious VVork of the Latter day this promise of the Spirit doth most properly respect this Latter day VVork So Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by Power but by my Spirit c. The word upon the forementioned ground may also be applyed to this VVork of the Fifth Kingdom Isai 59.19.21 when the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall put him to flight c. These and several other Scriptures do clear it that this VVork hath the promise of the Spirit in a special manner belonging to it and now that a measure of this Spirit hath been given down for Light wisdom strength and courage in the Work which hath been done amongst us hath been very evident to and owned by

Navy by which they were carryed forth above and beyond their own Spirits in the Work which makes it very evident that the Work hath been done not by the Might or Power of Man but by the Spirit of the Lord though all that were employed in the Work had not the Anointing Not all that were with David in the VVork but Himself and his VVorthies with some others had the Anointing for it All the Men of Issachar had not the Anointing to understand the times but it rested with the Heads of them who had all their Brethren at their Command 1 Chro. 12.32 from these and divers other instances it may appear that the ordinary way of the Lord hath not been to Anoint all but only some of them that have been imployed in his great VVork The Fifth Ground to prove that the Work hath taken place in this Nation may be taken from the many Revolutions and Overturnings that have attended all the pretended Governments and Governours that have been in this Nation since the interruption of the exercise of the Government of Christ in the hands of his People in the Little Assembly before mentioned It is evident that they have been such Revolutions as have not been known in former days though few considers the Cause of it There have none come up upon the Stage to Usurp the Power that haue gone off without a brand upon them of Gods displeasure Now that such things must be when the Day of the Lord or Kingdom of Christ takes place in the World Consider First that word in Isa 2. speaking of the Day in which the Lord alone shall be exalted which must respect the Day of his Kingdom saith in Verse 16. The day of the Lord shall be upon every pleasant picture which I understand to be those pretended Governments which shall be Set up when the great Powers or the Image Government is broken and further in Verse 18. the Idols shall be utterly abolished which as I understand respects the same with Verse 16 It must be granted that many pleasant Pictures and Idols have been set up since the Apostacy in this Nation and it is most evident that the Day of the Lord hath been upon them and like that in Isa 8.9.10 the Apostates have Associated and Guirded themselves and taken Counsel but all hath come to nothing except shame and contempt upon themselves The Spirit speaking Isa 27.9 of the Latter day VVork when the Stones of the Altar must be broken a sunder holds forth that there must be Groves and Images and endeavours used to make them stand up there hath been among us many Groves and Images since the Apostacy but that Word hath been fulfilled that they shall not stand up and though the Apostates have been seeking deep to hide their Councels from the Lord yet the VVisdom and Understanding of their VVisemen hath been hid perished and their turning of things upside down hath been esteemed as the Potters Clay Isa 29.14 15 16. The Throne or Government being given to Christ is become too heavy for the Apostates to bear but they sinke and wither under it It is not unknown how Cromwell and his Family sunk under it they were weaker and weaker from the first day they came to the Throne till it was taken away from them the like of the Reliques of the Old Parliament who though they came in with a high hand yet soon withered and came to nothing but scorn and derision the like of the Army and their pretended Committee of Safety and for these that are now returned and in the Usurpation of the Throne and have the very spirit of the Nation with them I do not doubt however they may carry it with a high hand but they shall shortly melt like wax before the fire and shall be as smoak driven away and made as Ashes under the Soles of the feet of those that Favour and Wait in a true spirit for the Resurrection of Christs Righteous Cause though the Lord may for a time suffer them yea and make them as the Assyrian Rod to execute the Stroke that is comming upon the Professors of this Generation for their Disowning Denying yea and Crucifying the Righteous Cause of their dear King who through the shedding of his Blood for them deserved other things at their hands I shall present one Scripture more to this Fifth Ground to wit Dan. 2.44 The Kingdome shall not be left to other people The words do hold forth Two things First That other people then Saints shall make attempts upon and endeavour to take and keep this Kingdom after it hath taken place in the hands of the Saints Secondly Though other people may endeavour to take and possess it yet it shall not be left to them or they shall not enjoy or possess it as the other Foure Monarchies that went before this Kingdome which were left to other people The Monarchy of the Chaldees was left to the Medes and Persians and their Monarchy to the Graecians and the Graecians to the Romans and the Romans shall be left to the Kingdom of Christ whose Kingdome shall never be destroyed nor left to other people and it is manifest that since this Kingdom hath taken place in the hands of the Saints Other People have endeavoured and made great attempts to Take and Possess it as Cromwell the Army the Reliques of the Old Parliament which God hath at severall times Cast out and it is as cleare that the Kingdom hath not been neither is left to any of them and though the Family of the Stuarts whom God hath poured Contempt upon and Broken have also endeavoured to take the Kingdome and for ought I know may come as neere to Obtaine and Possess it as Cromwell or any of the forementioned Usurpers have done yet let them know that the VVord of the Lord shall stand and the Kingdome shall not be left to Other People then the Saints who by grace are kept for Christ the King and by Faith and Prayer with the VVord of their Testimony are helped to undermine and bring down all the Groves and Images which the Treacherous Dealers have set up The Sixth Ground to prove that the Work of the Fifth Kingdome hath taken place is from the Eminent hand of God that hath been seen in preserving the lives of those which have been kept by Grace from the Apostacy in a Testimony for Christ against those that have turned aside from and betray'd his Righteous Cause It is not unknown that ever since the First day of the Apostacy the Lord hath had a Remnant which he hath kept helped to Favour Cleave to the Pretious though despised Cause of Christ and by them a Publick Witness hath been kept up against the Apostacy and there hath been many Gins and Snares laid and Trappans imployed to take them and Old Acts revived and published by which their Testimony should be adjudged Treason Severall of the Faithfull Remnant having been Taken

and Imprisoned and deep Designes and Plots laid to take away their lives the Great Apostates having even been thirsting for their Blood but such hath been the Wisdome and Over-ruleing hand of God that to this day all their Plots have been disappointed and not one of the Remnant hath suffered to the loss of Life by them and though those now in Power or some that may Succeed them may be permitted to come so high as to take away the Lives of many of Gods people as a judgment from the Lord upon them for their turning aside from the Cause of Christ and joyning in affinity with and pertaking of the Sins of Babylon yet surely the Lord that hath hitherto will still preserve the lives of his Faithfull Remnant whom he shall please to keep for his Son in this evil day In former days the lives of Gods faithfull ones were taken away by the Enemies when according to their own Laws they could not lay so much to their Charge as may be Charged upon the Remnant at this day who according to the VVicked Lawes may be adjudged guilty of the Highest Treason in VVitnessing for and Proclaiming Christ the King in opposition to the Usurpers and yet their lives have been and still are preserved and the reason I understand is not that these Usurpers are better then the Cruell Persecutors in former days but they being in that day when Babylon was filling up her measure and making her self Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and these comming upon an Apostacy after Babylons Cup was full and the Vengance of the Lord by the pouring out of his Vialls being begun upon her though the former were permitted to persecute the Faithfull People of God to death yet these are not suffered so to do because the Dispensation is altered and this Work having taken place though great Tryalls and Deaths are come upon it and a great Apostacy from it yet the Lord suffers not the Work to be so farr turned back as that Babylon should drink any more of Zions Blood the streame being now turned upon Babylon but if Gods people abide in and share of Babylons sins let them not think that because they are the People of God they shall escape her Plagues Rev. 18.4 And though Zion must reward Babylon and the Vialls must come forth of the Temple yet the Lord for wise ends and best known to himself may permit the most VVicked and grosser part of Babylon to execute that part of the Vengance that is to come upon such of his Own People who remaine in and pertake of Babylons sins thereby prevent his Own People from doing that part of the VVork which might be unpleasant to them There are many Objections made against this Truth to wit That the Work of the Fifth Kingdome is begun some of them I have already occasionally spoken to in the forementioned Grounds But the great Stumbling Block that lyeth in the way of many is the Apostacy from and so the Death that is come upon this VVork which makes them ready to say with the Disciples Luke 24.21 VVe trusted it had been he c. When this Cause was publickly own'd by the Lord in the High places of the Field there were many that would cry Hosanna to the Son of David and with much rejoyceing imbrace his Cause but since a Death is come upon it the Number of the true Favourers that publickly own it is become very Small When Christ was upon the Earth in the Days of His Flesh shewing and doing great Signes and VVonders there were many own'd and follow'd him but when he comes to the Judgment Cross and Sepulcher very few continued with him severall eminent Disciples were stumbled not understanding the Scriptures till Christ being risen comes and opens them Luk. 24 25 26 27.45 46 and as the Disciples in that so many of the Professing Generation in this day are through ignorance surprised not understanding or at least not so considering that after the Fifth Kingdome hath taken place in the world there must be such an Apostacy from and Death upon it Now if there be an Apostacy from a VVork the VVork must needs take place before the Apostacy without which there could be no such Apostacy That there must be such a Revolting from and Death upon the Work of this Fifth Kingdome Consider First The several Types thereof contained in the Old Testament as Israels coming out of Egypt to Canaan in which were many Revoltings Turnings back and Deaths upon the Work yea Forty Years was the Tryal upon them before they came to Canaan and for ought we can find from the Scriptures the Lord had not before given them warning or told them of this Death in the Wildernes though he had told them exactly how long they should be in Egypt and given them great grounds for sence to say Is the Lord among us and many might cry out as at this day What Scripture ground is there to believe that such a Death should come upon the Work of the Kingdom and if we had no more ground then we find Israel had to expect such a Death yet as it was theirs so it would be our sin after such wonderful Works of God as he hath wrought among us to say as in Exod. 17.7 Is the Lord amongst us or hath the Lord begun to bring us to the promised glory though God had wrought many wonderful VVorks in the sight of Israel of old yet they understood not his wonders no doubt but they knew that such things were done but they understood not the great Design of God in them Psal 106.7 The Second Typical example is from Davids Kingdom which did clearly Type out this Fifth Kingdom according to Luk. 1.32 If we read 1 Sam. 16. to 2 Sam. 6. we may find many Deaths upon the Work of Davids Kingdom after it was begun First whilst he was pursued by Saul and then after Sauls death he obtains but one Tribe to follow him for Seven years and six Moneths 2 Sam. 2.11 There was War betwixt him and the House of Saul long after Sauls death 2 Sam. 3.1 and in most of the time of that Seven years War his Kingdom was under a great Death also there came a great Death upon his Kingdom when his son Absalom conspired against him and all Israel from Dan to Beersheba followed Absalom and David fled from Jerusalem which was the Kings Seat 2 Sam. 15.16.17 Chapters The Third Typical example is Israels return from the 70. years captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem and their building of the Temple great Deaths and Interruptions did attend that Work both from the enemies of Judah who endeavoured to block up the way and from Gods own People who cryed the time is not yet come though they thought it a time for themselves to dwell in their cieled houses and this may be observed by the way that though the enemies of Judah by force did cause the Work to cease

Slaying and also a Time of their Rising and Standing upon their Feet before they are Caught up to Heaven into the Throne of Government and both may be distinguished from the Three Years and a Half of their Lying Dead and that the Lord who never leaves Himself without Witnesse will keep a Remnant alive to Bear up his Name and Truth even whilst the VVitnesses are said to Lie Dead in the Streets of the Great City or Territories of Babylon which in Rev. 17.18 is Called The Great City and their Slaying being spiritual and not Corporal is most likely to take place after God hath begun to Reward Babylon If this I say be considered why may not this Tryal that is Come upon the VVork at this Day and the spiritual slaughter that is come upon those that have been VVitnesses for Christ agree with and in a great measure answer to the Slaying of the VVitnesses For as hath been shewed the Lord suffers not Babylon to drink more of Zions Blood because he hath begun to Reward Her And as to the extraordinary things that the Witnesses are said to have Power to Do in shutting Heaven and smiting the Earth c. I understand that it holds forth their Prevalency with God through Faith and Prayer not that we must needs expect those several things to be done in the Letter for it is not said that they shall do them but they have Power to do them Verse 6 and no doubt but the Lords People that have been kept Faithful for him have had Power as Princes to prevaile with him for Great Things and he hath answered them by terrible things in Righteousnesse Psal 65.5 But I shall say no more to this Objection Though there are several other Objections against the VVork of the Lord as it hath taken place in this Nation I shall not further insist upon them being much perswaded that the Day of the Resurrection of it is very near in which God will wonderfully answer the Doubts and Objections of his Own People and will stop the Mouths of Gain-sayers and Cloth the Enemies of his Son with shame while the Children of Zion shall be rejoycing in their King and singing Hosanna to the Son of David upon whom alone the Crown shall flourish Psal 132.18 I shall not add more in this Matter having spoken to the Several General Heads But from what hath been laid down of the Work and the Apostacy from it The Officers and Souldiers of the Army by keeping their Places under Cromwell and the rest of the Apostates in the Apostacy and not openly improving their Power to the hazzard of their all for Christ who had formerly owned them against the Apostates wicked Usurpation but declaring and improving their Power for the Apostacy against Christ whose Cause they had engaged to own they became guilty of Cromwels Abominations and the others that have Succeeded in the Apostacy and comparing their Solemn Oaths Covenants Engagements and Declarations made by them at their first taking up of Arms and at the New Model of the Army in 45 and at Naseby Triplo-Heath Albanes Putney and VVindsor Also at their March to Scotland when they went to engage in that VVar and at Musclebrough and Dunbar in Scotland when they were brought very low also at VVorcester and in the late War in Ireland and after VVorcester In their Solemn daies of Prayer at Jameses immediatly before the breaking up of the Parliament with many other Solemn daies of Prayer All these with many more Engagements which are best known to God and their Own Souls being compared with their late Abominations in turning aside with Cromwel and engaging and standing by the Apostacy and setting up Rich. Cromwel the Son of the Apostate it is plain and manifest to all that are not blinded through partaking with the Apostacy or do not willfully shut their eyes or through Carelesness or fearfulness look not after these things That the Officers and Souldiers of the Army with others who have kept their Places in the Apostacy are deeply Guilty First Of Treachery in betraying the Cause of Christ and the Liberty of the Nation which is abundantly wrapped up therein Secondly Of doing Injury and Violence to Jesus Christ by withstanding and interrupting his Government in the Hands of his People in the Little Assembly Thirdly Of the highest Usurpation in Owning and Standing by Cromwell in his Usurping the very Throne of Christ Fourthly They are Guilty of Theft or Robery in not only Robbing Christ as much as in them lay of his Throne and God of his Glory but the Nation of its Treasure by forcing from them Taxes Excise and Customes to maintain the Apostacy For though it may be lawful in a Lawful Magistracy to Raise Money in the Nation to do the Nation service yet it is Robbery and Oppression for a Usurper that sets himself both against God and the Nation to impose Taxes upon them Fifthly They are guilty of Blood the Cause and Interest of Jesus Christ which hath been a foot amongst us being the only Ground to Justifie and clear the Instruments imployed in the War from the Guilt of the Blood that hath been shed therein and also of the Blood of the late King and his Nobles whose Heads were taken off the Army and those that have been engaged in the VVar and are since turned aside in the Apostacy to the Disowning and casting off the Cause of Christ must needs bring the Guilt of the Blood upon themselves Sixthly They are guilty of the breach of Oaths and Covenants and of Lying both to God and Man Seventhly They are guilty of the Persecuting Imprisoning and Banishing the People of God who through free grace have been kept from the Apostacy and helped to Witness for the Righteous Cause of Christ against it and although Cromwel and his Councel had the greatest hand in the Apostacy yet the Army in standing by them and putting their Commands in Execution carrying the Saints to and keeping them in Prisons and that with much Heighth and Rage of Spirit are involved in and become Guilty of the Evils with Cromwel Eighthly Through this Apostacy they are fallen into and have embodyed themselves with Babylon or the Antichristian State and have made themselves as a Prop to the Whorish false Church and did manifest this by setting up Tryers for Babylons Ministers and Keeping up the Universities or Schools of Antichrist and Tythes which is Babylons Maintenance and also Babylons Lawes and Courts and many such like Abominations have been and are kept up by Cromwel and those that have succeeded him in the Apostacy through the Power of the Apostatising Army without which they could not stand and so the Guilt of these Evils falls upon the Army these things not being done in a Corner but Publiclky transacted in the Face of the Sun and the most of them being Published in Print to the World I shall not take up time to insist more upon Partitulers in the

to have done according to 2 Tim. 3 4 5. but have had fellowship with the unfruitfull Works of Darkness and not reproved them contrary to Eph. 5.11 and b● all these Scriptures those Churches that have so Turned aside wi h the Apostacy have greatly Sinned against the Lord and as a further A dition to there Evills severall of the Elders and Leading Persons of the Baptized Congregations in London have set forth a Very Evil D claration bearing Date the 12th of the 10th Moneth 1659. which as appeares b● the Title compared with the ●ostscript they would have it be understood to comprehend the Ju gment of the Generality of the Baptized People and although many Things in that Declaration is Manifestly contradictory both to the Judgment and Practise of not only the Generality of the Baptized People but even of Severall of ●hose whose Hands are to it and the Evills of these Persons made Obvious to the World yet the Churches to whom they Relate have not Dealt with them but rather Justified them in those Evills by which they become Partakers with them in those Sins and now those Churches being Guilty of the Evils before mentioned it is the Duty of the Lords Faithfull Remnant whose eyes are open to see these Evils after all due meanes that according to Rule hath been Used for their Recovery to Withdraw their Communion and Seperate from those Churches according to 2 Thes 3.6.14 Withdraw from every Brother that Walks Disorderly It is not the Church or the Greater Number of Persons in that Church if they Walk Disorderly that will exempt them from the Censure due to the Sin When the Church of Israel turned aside from the Lord Jeremiah though a Single Person Seperates from them and Sets alone chap. 15. 17. and the Lord doth so far approve of that Action of his as that in Verse 19. he saith Let them return to thee but return not thou unto them Also in Exod. 32.26 When Israel had sinned and turned aside from the Lord in the Matter of the Molton Calf Moses stood in the Gate of the Camp and said Who is on the Lords side let him come unto me In the forementioned place of 2 Tim. 3.4.5 Timothy though a single person is commanded to turn away from the Evil Doers and no doubt if a Whole Church come under the Guilt of those Evils there mentioned Timothy is not to abide with them because they are a Church there being no such Limitation in the Command but from such he must turn away I have formerly thought that a Particular Member might not Separate from a Church till thorough sin their Candlestick was taken away but after waiting upon the Lord much searching the Scriptures and through many Tryalls bearing my Burden I have seen that according to Rule as there is a difference betwixt the VVithdrawing from and the Cutting off of a Member so there is a difference betwixt the Withdrawing from the Unchurching of a Church and as a Church may Withdraw from a Brother without Cutting him off or Counting him as a Heathen or a Publican but still to admonish him as a Brother 2 Thes 3.15 so a Brother for Sin committed by a Church may withdraw from them and yet not count them as Heathens and Publicans and though VVithdrawing be an Authoritative Act as is alleadged yet the Authority doth not of necessity rest with the Greater Number but with Truth and where Truth is there is the Authority of Christ Math. 16.18 Christ doth not Build his Church upon the Number but upon the Truth which was with Peter when he said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God I know it is objected That in several of the Seven Churches in Asia mentioned Rev. 2. and 3. Chapters though there was a great turning aside yet there were some kept faithful even in those Places where the Churches were turned aside and we do not find that they were commanded to Separate The Answer to this is Twofold First That though in Sardis and Thyatyra which are as I think the only Churches that can be instanced in this Matter there were some kept Faithful even in those Places it will not follow that because they were in Sardis and Thyatira which were the Places in which those Churches were and these Faithful Ones were written to by John that therefore they were in Communion with those that had turned aside from the Lord. And Secondly Though we do not find they are expresly commanded to Withdraw if they were in Communion by the Epistles that were written to them yet it was sufficient that there were such Rules laid down in the Scripture which Rules they ought to look to for there were several Churches that were written to by the Apostles and no mention made in the Epistles either of Baptism Breaking of Bread and several other Ordinances but it will not therefore follow that those Ordinances ought not strictly to be observed by them according to other Scriptures The Last thing that I shall present to those that are Waiting for the Resurrection of the Cause is to be giving up Themselves and their All to the Service of Christ the King accounting it a very great mercy if he shall Accept of and Imbarque them with all their Concernments in the Bottom with that Dear Cause that so they may be Waiting at his Foot till he shall Arise up to the prey and blow the Trumpet giving them the Word of Command to gird on their Swords and Follow him in the Revival of his Work and the further Execution of the Judgements written in which Day they shall undoubtedly Reap the blessed Fruit of all their Labour Service and Tryals that they either have or may yet further undergo for him In due season we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6.9 They that sow in Tears shall reap in Joy Psal 126.5 Thine eyes shall see the King in his Beauty Isai 33.17 Let the Children of Zion be joyful in their King Psal 149.2 Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour my Righteteous Cause Psal 35.27 And it shall be said in that day Lo this our God we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Isai 25.9 And thus I have according to the Measure of Light received Presented unto Thee with the rest of my Friends in Communion with thee that are Waiting for the Coming of Zions King my Understanding in these Matters of the Fifth Kingdom and I desire but so much favour from you as Paul obtained from the Bereans and when you have seriously Weighed the several Things contained in this Epistle in the Ballance of the Sanctuary wherein I may appear to be in the Dark or Mistaken about these Great Matters be Earnest with the Lord for me that my Mistakes may be rectified and my Judgement rightly Informed for I desire I may not through Errour serve the Design of Satan But that I may by the Spirit of the Lord be led into all Truth and so serve my Dear Lord Jesus Christ who Loved me a Vild Wretch and shed his Precious Blood for me and if you receive any Benefit by these Things let Christ my King bear the Glory according to Isai 22.24 Zech. 6.13 And now I shall Commit you with these Things to the Blessing of the Lord and Close with that Word in 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all Things I remain through grace thy B●other and Servant in the Kingdom and Patience of Christ N. S. POSTSCRIPT SEveral Friends having Knowledge of this Epistle and earnestly desiring Copies of it more then could well be Transcribed I have for them and Others of my Friends both in City and Countrey Caused several of them to be Printed But considering my own Weakness and the many Books that have been Published about these Matters I have not been willing to Publish this to the World but only to present it to such of my Acquaintance that Love the Lord Jesus in sincerity some of them being far Remote in the Countrys that I cannot as yet visit them and Others in such Churches where by Reason of my Judgment and Testimony in these Matters of the Fifth Kingdom I am debarred of my Liberty of Preaching to them and the Lord make this Service so far as it shall really appear to be for his Glory and their Good Acceptable and Successful to them The END