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
10 v 18 layes opâ—n the arbitrary power and oppression of a king or monarchy so that he is onely divers in name through the old thred-bare pretence of giving liberty to the lords people which is no other then to go peaceaby to their several meetings and home again if they let him alone and not reprove his tyranny and usurpation but to all who speak against it and comply not with him therein he is both in look and in deed more stout then his fellows as by his former and late actions to some doth plainly appear Image of the Beast now set up could not stand and though our Brother Kelzey was pleased to say That he or they were Traytors who spoke or rose up against him who had now the power of the Nation though usurpedly in his hand thereby endevouring to fasten than upon us which he himself with the rest are guilty of yea we think it is plain to every one that will not shut their eyes against the light that it can be no treason to speak against a person who hath no Law for his standing or practise i The Army in Remonstrance at Albons Novem. 16 1648 and in the Abridgement thereof See looking-Glass â—… 7 28 30 to justifie their pressing for justice against the king in opposition to the Parliament about the personal Treaty do say That where a person trusted with a limited power to rule according to law shall not onely pervert that Trust but assume hurtful powers never committed to him and swallow up all foundations of right and liberties into his absolute wil and power to imposs takâ— away and destroy at his pleasure c. and shall by force uphold himself in that tyrannical power is guilty of the highest treason against the highest law amongst men and forfeits all that trust and power he had and sets the people free to take their best advantage to bring him to justice c. And in answer to that common objection from Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers c. urged by malignants in that day as by members of Churches and others now they say Paul speaks of magistracy in its constitution not of a person abusively exercising it to be Gods instrument for good to every one an encourager of good in every man and an enemie to evil therefore the kings of the Israelites must know the law for a rule for this they quote Deut. 17.2 kings ii 12.2 Sam. 23. wherein we apprehend they speak the will and mind of God Now if a lawful power acting thus or king Charls between whom and the people was some kind of compact and agreement could not nor was not then reputed to be Gods Ordinance and might not onely be spoken against but brought to justice then surely O. Cromwel who forceth his power upon us committing the same and greater wickednesse is much lesse Gods Ordinance and may not onely be spoken against but brought under the same and greater condemnation And for our brethren the Souldiers to be abetting and supporting such abominations having formerly declared and engaged against them may and ought to be reproved and in case they persist therein to be withdrawn from yea to disown all Church relation with them but like a brute beast hath broken all the bounds limits of Law or Reason to accomplish his lustful Will therefore where there is no Law there is no transgression And what Law of the Nation do we transgress yea Is there not a good Law of the Land that doth justifie us in making it Treason for the person now in Power to act singly in the Government and our Brethren who abet him that he may not be brought to publike Justice are likewise transgressors of that Law yea the Instrument of Government shall be Judg he having therein sworn to maintain all the the laws of this land of which that Act is one yet in force so that we humbly think they do directly come under the reproof of that Scripture 2 Tim. 3.4 in these Words Traytors heady high minded having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away which is the more considerable if compared with the first verse of that chapter where the Apostle among other sins reckons that to be one of the dangerous sinnes of the last times and that likewise in the sixth of Luke verse 16. where our Lord Jesus speaking concerning Judas calls him Traytor foretelling what he would do to him and whether the cause of Christ be not betrayed k Iudas professing love to the person of Christ as a friend Disciple afterwards falling in with the Power in being betraying him into their hands for 30. pieces of silver was called a Traytor So the army having declared for the advancement of his Kingdom Interest in opposition to Antichrist Monarchy and Tyranny and after all for the riches and preserments of this world to deliver up this blessed cause and the people who are kept faithful to it to be persecuted and imprisoned by their General who to keep power in his hand is acting upon that foundation and doth those very and worse things for which the former Tyrant and Monarchy were destroyed in the mean while like Iudas when he kist Christ pretending faithfulness thereunto they may more truly be called Traytors then he having herein acted not onely the part of treacherous Iudas but been more vile then the wicked Magistrates by this generation for whom our Brethren do so-stifly contend we leave unto the Lord and you to judge yea with grief of heart we may speak it to be truth Secondly which is the sadnesse of it our Brethren cannot free themselves from being guilty of the breach of that Engagement l See the Ingagement in page 46 of the forementioned Book which was sent to the Officers and Souldiers to sign to take off the reproach cast upon them That they cut off the King to set up one of theire own we look not upon their transgression so much to consist in being against a Common-wealth otherwise then as it was opposed to Monarchy which was is and in the hand of any single person but Christ will be tyrannical and antichristian And if self-interest Oppression and arbitrary power were not more establisht now then before we should be the more silent being to eye the end of an Engagement and the form onely as it answers the end but we may truly say there is a breach of the form with the power and end also as is plain to every eye not by ast with gifts and preferments which Deut. 16 19 doth blinde the eyes of the wise c. given by the Parliament to all that served them To be true and faithfull to the Government as it was then established without a King and House of Lords Besides the Declaration of the Army m See this Declaration in the same book page 3 as also Deol Iuly 19. 1650. pag. 46 47 say they A
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
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
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
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
them in prison this is no other then the invention of the Pope and his Brethren the Magistrates of Antichrist to support their interest and power over the people and not the mind of Jesus Christ whose appointment is That although his Ministers who administer their spiritual things to others should if they are poor live of the Gospel and reap of their carnal things 1 Cor. 9 10 14. com with Gal. 6.6 yet he hath no where appointed that any should be compelled to hear or maintain them much less presecuted of imprisoned for refusing either but the contrary see Matth. 10.8 11 13 14 com with Luke 10.5 to 10. The Lord in Mich 3 5 doth threaten those priests and prophets that teach for hire and divine for money and prepare warre against him that putteth not into their mouths com with Isa 56.11 All which with much more that might be spoken to this purpose being considered we wonder how such who have so highly declared for Christ against antichrist dare be supporting of such abominations he that runs may read the daylie Oppression of this kind except there be a bowing down to the Golden Image of the national Clergy with her head are forced from many to the oppression of some and the undoing of others and so they oppress a man and his house a man and his Heritage Now it is not so much our selves are likely to suffer if we should willingly walk after the Commandment but the glory of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light will be so much blemished as is beyond expression And indeed this is much to be lamented that there are so few to bear up their testimony for the Lord against the Evil-doers at this day Likewise our posterities if the Lord should not mercifully ease us of our Oppressors would feel the weight of so great bondage as to be at the will and mercy of one man to dispose of their persons and Estates and this backed with an Army of thirty thousand men and what is likely to be the consequence if the Lord should continue us under this bondage we think that eighth chap. of the first of Samuel from verse 9. to verse 19. to gether with Amos 5.10 11 12. will plainly make out the sadness of our condition and the dislike of such who shall quietly acquiess in and approve of those oppressions and the sad condition also of such who shall be active for such Oppressors and Oppressions Moreover we desire to ask our Brethren who wear the Sword these two questions First Whether they do not receive the unrighteous Wages of Warre in a time of peace Secondly Whether the Wages so received be not to enslave us p A Testimony for this in the former and present imprisonment of many of the servants of Christ for testifying against the abominations of this day to wit Mr. Carew Major General Harrison Mr. Feake Mr. Rogers Mr. Courtny Coll. Rich Sir Henry Vane Major General Overton Vice Admiral Lawson M. Cann Cornet Day and several others some whereof remain in prison to this day and the Soldiers the chief instruments in this oppression yea their General lately to take off the odium that such a wicked act would bring upon him Commissionates the Mayor and Sheriffs of the City who employ the baser sort of man Act. 17.15 that like themselves will do any drudgery is put upon them to come to the meeting in Coleman street to interrupt and hale the Lords faithful people to prison for nothing but pleading for and pressing after those good things which himself and the army have been greatly instrumental to lead them into for declaring against their back-sliding from them therefore what man or woman that hath any love to Christ his Cause and People can pay Taxes to maintain such Oppression and Persecution or hold communion with any of them in the Ordinances of Christ in our consciences as wel as in our persons For whatever the Government saith We shall have liberty of conscience it is only to such who can quietly acquiess in their unjust and Antichristian proceedings Fourthly Persecusion of Saints q Besides what is already mentioned concerning the Soldiers being instrumental to imprison the faithful in this day and what is hinted in this place there are some things more particularly charged upon Coll. Kelzey Major Strange Capt. Harrison c. immediately following the sixth head adding hereunto besides the Scriptures in the margent Obad. v. 10 11 12. where Esau is charged for his violence and persecution against his brother Iacob and for standing on the other side when his Enemies dealt hardly with him Then surely they are guilty who uphold the present persecution and say It is possible our Brethren suffer for evil-doing Let also Acts 7.58 comp with chap. 22.20 be considered where Paul after conversion acknowledgeth himself a persecutor before conversion for standing by and keeping the Rayment of them which stoned Stephen thereby consenting to his death And are not the Souldiers who are members of Churches and professed brethren much more guilty who can imprison their brethren themselves and be their Jaylors too Yea some of them to get the applause and favour of man lye in wait to catch the Lords people who visit their Brethren in prison and when they have caught them like Soul Acts 9.2 go to the head persecutor to obtain an Order to keep them there as Mr. Feake was dealt withall at the Tower not long since yea Coll. Eaxter one of the new Lords many times keeping not only the acquaintance but Wives and Relations of the Lords people in his custody from visiting of them which Heathens would abhor to do see Acts 24.23 and yet the plausible pretences these men make are with their Pastors c. and some other professors blinded as themselves like the whore Prov. 30.20 wiping her mouth as if they had done no evil Wherefore we may justly take up the lamentation of the Prophet Psal 55.10 11 12 13 14. which we desire the Reader to peruse particularly for plain it is many of our Brethren and others suffer imprisonment for bearing testimony against the present Iniquity having no evil to lay to their charge and in this that which we would mourn before the Lord for is That some of our Brethren do not stick to say That it is possible they suffer for evil-doing Which word It is possible is no less to us then an indirect justifying the persecutors in their imprisoning of them thereby adding affliction to their bonds wherein we think that Scripture doth truly reach them Prov. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and condemneth the just even they both are abomination to the Lord. And in this the Souldiers are altogether instrumental having neither the Law of God or man to justifie their practice by civil Officers And we are sure that good Moses though he might have been owned and honored as Son to Pharoahs Daughter could not in
to them all our Papers containing the sum and substance of what had been done by us as to those from whom vve vvere vvithdrawn that so they might have the clearest knowledge of things as we were able to give them and after some VVeeks we received this return from them viz. That according to our request they had been meeting together and waiting several times upon the Lord that they might be able to give us such advice as they might judge to be of the Lord and that as to what we had already done they did conceive we had been graciously led by the Lord and could not but own and approve of our proceedings hitherto but withall did apprehend before any further proceeding should be by us wherein they were very unanimous namely That we should yet once more make a further tender unto those from whom we were withdrawn about hearing the matter in difference between us as formerly we had done for these following Reasons viz. 1. To the end that those Brethren and Sisters of whom we write so tenderly in our Papers might thereby be brought off from those disorderly persons or else be the more without excuse if after such a tender made though refused they shall yet continue vvith them 2. In case such a debate be granted it is conceived that Truth of the one hand and Iniquity on the other will be thereby discovered and the eyes of many opened to whom the knowledge thereof shall come or else we thereby the more vindicated as to any further proceedings if such a tender should be refused 3. That those Brethren whose advice had been desired will be the more cleared and justified in any further proceedings whether a debate be granted or not 4. That the Messengers of the Churches called in by the other part of the Congregation were so tender as not to proceed without the consent of both parties therefore those brethren whose advice we have desired could do no less then make such a proposal unto us that if possible a debate of the matter in difference my be obtained 5. That though it is believed what is contained in our Papers be true yet by such a debate truth will be made more plain unto those Brethren whose advice we have desired for their further proceeding and justification before others 6. That this VVork being of Concernment unto all the Congregations in the Nation ought therefore to be done with as much consideration as may be in regard the issue of it if done in the spirit of the Lord will be much for his glory and the advantage of his despised and reproached Cause and People at this day After these Reasons laid before us a Brother stood up in the Name of the whole and gave them a kind acknowledgement of their brotherly love That there were any who would own and stand by the truth in such an evil day as this is and for what they had offered concerning another tender to be made unto those from whom we were withdrawn we should consider of it with their Reasons inducing thereto and according as we should be directed by the Lord so we hoped it was in our hearts to preceed and no otherwise And so those Brethren departed after which a little time was spent together and a day concluded upon to seek the Lord by prayer as to what they had offered unto us and accordingly at the time appointed we met and in the conclusion of the day came to this result That it would be much for the glory of God respect being had to the foregoing Reasons to make another tender unto those from whom we were withdrawn and that two brethren be forthwith chosen to acquaint them therewith The substance of the Message delivered to the other part of the Congregation at Allhallovvs the sixteenth day of the fifth Month 1657 by the two Brethren appointed thereunto That they were sent in the Name and by the appointment of the Brethren and Sisters withdrawn from them to present a Message unto them after seeking the Lord as being that which they judge to be his mind and will concerning them and is to this purpose Notwithstanding we had two several times already offered unto them for the further manifestation of truth and clearing up our integrity in the matter and ground of our withdrawing we did hereby once more make this further tender unto them that according to the tenure of our last Paper given in we might according to our Gospel-liberty in this extraordinary case choose on our part men fearing God and working righteousness and faithful to the Cause of Christ in this evill day and such who have hazarded their lives for the same whether in Churches or out to hear the matter in difference between us and they might on their parts take the like liberty if they thought meet there being no command forbidding or injoyning us to send unto Churches onely in matters of Church difference though we conceive it be a very equitable way to send unto Churches did it not appear the generality of Churches are either silent under or complying with the Apostacy of this day and in regard we had already waited about three or four monthes since our first tender in this kinde without any return we judged it meet to offer that we might receive your answer one way or other by this day fortnight And so the two Brethren intrusted with the delivery of the said message came away leaving it to their consideration About twelve dayes after Master Jessey accompanied with Brother Palmer and Brother Marsh brought us an answer to the said Message which is inserted in our next paper it being thought meet to be given in writing that they might the more plainly judge of our Reasons why we could not condescend thereunto and likewise that it might either be a witness for or against us for the time come And is as follows A paper Containing our Reasons why we could not condiscend unto the message brought by Master Jessey accompanied with Brother Palmer and Brother Marsh Dear Brethren and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ VPon the 28th of the Last moneth we received a return to our last message by Master Jessey accompanied with brother Palmer and Brother Marsh and was in words to this effect That himself with Master Knowles and Master Barebone were by you acquainted with a message received from us being the same we had formerly delivered And in regard the matter in difference was by you referred to the members of several Churches to do therein as they think meet of whom they were a part they did thereupon give notice to the rest of their Brethren intrusted with this businesse who meeting together came to this result to which they had also received your consent to wit That they thought it but reasonable we should have the liberty of our choice provided those we sent unto be Church-members chosen by the consent of their respective Congregations if so they were to have
for a time have acted their parts with applause upon this stage How bravely did Judas act his part in praying preaching working of miracles by Christ and afterward betrayed his Master How well did Demas manage his businesse before he embraced this present world Alexander the Copper-Smith who did much wrong unto Paul and against whom he prayed in the Spirit of the Gospel that God would reward him according unto his works had almost suffered death as a Martyr for Jesus Christ Acts 19.33 May we go so far in paths of light and righteousness and afterwards prove like the Renegado Turks the greatest Persecutors of Christians in the world Oh! Then how ought we to examine our works our prayers our hearing our speaking of the things of God lest there should be any root of bitternesse in them which at length springing up should discover us to be Liars Impostures Mamonists Hypocrites before God Angels Saints and sinners My Letters unto you as yet have been as suits of clothes made up but not fitted for any particular person if they fit any Men and their guilty Conscience do apply particularly unto themselves the things spoken and prophesied of in them in general I shall begin to be perswaded that I do not drop Ink upon paper in vain give me leave therefore to come home into your bosoms hearts and consciences in a word of Trial of your works gifts duties actions professions performances and the like First try the original of your Actions if the spring of your Actions be poysoned the streams cannot be healthy if flesh be the fountain whatsoever proceeds from it is fleshly If the tree be evil the fruit cannot be good Ask thy soul this question dost thou pray and speak of spiritual things by a gift or by the Spirit of regeneration the prayers of the Formalists though never so well guilded are abominable unto Jehovah because they are not from the spirit of the New Creation Secondly Try the rule of thy Actions Christians are to walk exactly by rule and by line darest thou bring thy heart and thy Actions to be tryed by the good light of the word of God Thirdly Try thy wayes by the good example of Saints and prophets Take my brethren the prophets for an example Jam. 5.10 Not the court Chaplains and Temporizing Demases of this backsliding generation Fourthly Try thy Actions by thy faith two men may do the same thing Abel and Cain the one doth the will of same thing it is not the same thing which they do One man Preaches Free-grace and the Interest of Christ and Saints in the flesh and then abhors his own Preaching the other doth Preach the same things in faith and hath the smile of God for the present and his Crown of glory hereafter for a reward Fifthly Try thy wayes by the sincerity and uprightness of thy heart upright walking is sure walking Let Jehu say Come see my Zeal for the Lord of hosts But be thou able to say with Hezekiah Lord thou knowest that I have walked uprightly before thee Sixthly Try thy Actions by thy affectionate willingness to do or suffer for God Gods people are a willing People in the day of his power Psal 110. Christ loveth chearfull and obedient Servants Seventhly Try thy Actions by the Testimony of a pure and enlightned Conscience Beloved if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God and whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1 John 3.21 22. Lastly that my Letters may not be burthen some try and search your wayes by your aims and ends do nothing as to man or to your selves but all as to God and the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 I put you not to a harder task then by the help of Christ I have done many times since I came into this place And after my most exact scrutiny and search into my own heart the Spirit of truth bearing me witness To me it is given not onely to believe but to suffer as a Prisoner for Jesus Christ By the light of the Spirit I do like my Cause in which I suffer every day better and better I do rise higher in my faith for obtaining promises Heb. 11.33 That God will bring down Tyrants and Persecutors new and old I do not repent but rejoyce in the things which I have delivered and am confident that within a few years not to say moneths I shall be found without Cromwells timely repentance as true a Prophet unto him as I was to the long sitting Parliament In the mean while abstain from all appearance of evil abhor Jezabels Fasts pray down the Antichristian Clergy and their Nasty Nests the Universities Believe down Antichrists High Commissioners with Patrons Parsons Vicars Curates Lecturers and their Tythes and all things belonging to that New Hierarchy wait for the pouring forth of the Spirit in grace and gifes and the power of God and the grace of Christ shall be with you and him who is Christs Prisoner John Sympson Windsor the last day 1. Moneth 1654. This is a true Coppy of the Original examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clementa Brethren in Christ GOd hath brought you upon the stage of this world to live in such times in which the hearts of many Hypocritical Professors shall be discovered and the inward parts of all Saints shall be very much tried And thereofre it doth concern you all to be much in Trying and Examining your base deceitful hearts lest any of you having walked a great way hand in hand with the Saints should at Lengt shamefully and wrectchedly forsake them and with Demas imbrace this present world If ever the Devil had an advantage against Professors he hath an advantage against them in these times He cometh unto them as he did unto Christ with his last and strongest temptation Matth. 4. 9. These things will I give you How many eminent Professors doth the Devil swallow down his wide throat and doth bury them alive in the belly of this world Secondly How evident doth that truth of Christ shine forth at this time Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Your gilded Mamonists in London will not be able to hold long their profession without wavering but will basely and unworthily desert the Cause and Interest of Christ and his People for a morsel of Bread You will finde that many who were very Zealous for the interest of Christ when it was calm will not be able to hold it out in a storm They that pleaded for Christ and his Interest in the Sun-shine day will in the clouldy rainy and stormy day plead against him and his People such Christians who have not learned to deny themselves daily and to take up their Gross and follow him will forsake him The whole world will wonder after the Beast and his horns Rev. 13.3 If God doth not put you among
the Lambs company upon Mount Zion you will never be able to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Rev. 14.4 The very noise and rumout that Christ is going unto a Prison and that we shall not be able to keep Company with him and minde his Interest vigorously unless we are made willing to follow him into a Prison will make some recant and rather blasphemously Father the Issues and births of the Spirit in them upon the flesh then run the hazard of suffering persecution for the Truths concerning Christ and his Interest which they have declared But you will say Why do you send these lines unto us are we not all for Christ and his People their Cause and Interest I answer with Paul to Agrippa I wish that you were not almost but altogether all of you such as I am except those bonds I wish that you were all as really for the Cause of Christ and his people against all Antichristian Spirits whatsoever as you seemed to be when the Churches at the first met at All-hallows But know that men do easily deceive themselves in generals In general Papists carnal Protestants all Professors of Christianity are against Babylon and Antichrist the man of sin who professeth himself to be Christs Vicar will say that he were not worthy to live if he were not against every Antichristian Spirit And therefore come to particulars if you will not be deceived and deluded by your own hearts Again if you will not be deceived by the great Cheaters Jugglers Impostures your own hearts do not onely try your selves in particulars in which all men Saints and sinners agree and which you may agree with them in without suffering persecution but come to particulars in the profession of which you may suffer persecution The word of Christ in our generation may be a word for a while for which we may suffer Christ had never had any Martyrs if there had not been some raised in Spirit to hold forth something in opposition to the judgement of the powers of the world under which they lived It is an easie thing to Preach and maintain a thousand truths without suffering And it may be that Christ would have one truth preached and witnessed unto which will certainly bring persecution at the heels of it You may Preach and speak against ten thousand sins and not suffer the loss of one hair by it And yet there is one sin which Christ will have his People speak against which may cost them their lives which I could easily demonstrate but the messengers departure doth inforce me to break off abruptly The Lord preserve you in wayes of truth and peace and make you more willing to suffer with the Interest of Christ then to raign with a base beggerly and proud Interest of men which shall be the prayer of him who in the Spirit of truth can subscribe himself Your Brother and Christs Prisoner John Sympson Windsor 1. Moneth 25. day 1654. This is a true Coppy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Brethren in the Lord IF I am not mistaken concerning the time in which we live the next eminent work of God which will appear upon the stage will be the filling of his Temple with smoke from the glory of God and his power Rev. 15.19 And therefore it will not be an unseasonable word to stir you up to pray for the Accomplishing of it there will not be any great thing done beyond what you have seen with your eyes until the Angell of the Covenant come into his Temple to fill it with the glory of his Spirit surely the Spirit is upon his return to the Churches of Jesus Christ During the raign of the man of sin the Learned Impostures of the world with their Accademical Anointings have ecclipsed the glory of the Saints but when the promised Spirit of glory in Graces and gifts shall dwell among Sions Congregations the learned wisdom and policy of the carnall Church will be confounded As yet as I humbly conceive one vial hath not been poured forth But suddainly a great voice will be heard out of the Temple saying to the seven Angels Go your wayes and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth Rev. 16.1 As when the Temple of Solomon was Consecrated fire came down from Heaven and the glory of the Lord filled the house and the Priests could not enter into the Temple 2 Chron. 7.1 2. So Christ of whom Solomon was a Type is about to Consecrate his New Testament Temple which Antichrist hath profaned and polluted And suddenly the glory of Jehovah will fill his Churches fire will come down from heaven upon his beloved ones The Angel will fly thorow the midst of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel and the earth will be enlightned with his glory Hitherto onely some of Antichrists body hath been destroyed but then his Spirit will be confounded and destroyed It was the speech of Luther concerning King Harry the 8 th that he hated the body of Antichrist but loved and lived in his Spirit So there are many in these times who hate the body but love and live in the Spirit of the Whore The Spirit of the Whore is exalted in England and though few can see Spirits yet blessed be God there are some who have Eagles eyes and behold the Spirit of Christ and Antichrist combating upon the stage of England As blinde as I am who am not worthy to be accounted a spiritual Saint from Windsor Castle I descry and behold the Spirit of Babylon gotten upon the throne in England yea I behold a Beast risen in England with two horns like a Lamb but he speakes like a Dragon It was the speech of a Pope concerning an Archbishop of Canter bury That he was a Pope of another world Alterius orbis Papa Meaning of England I tell you the truth there is not onely a Pope of Rome but there is a Pope of another world but by faith I do behold his hornes dropped off And I pray to my God that that may happen unto him which befell the Caldean Lion Dan. 7.4 That his wings may be pluckt and he made to stand upon his feet and that a mans heart may be given unto him Oh that he might cease to be a beast and become a man If the Spirit of Antichrist be in the Pope and his Cardinals he is in this Beast and his Delegates The Lord Jesus hath set in his Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healing Helps Governments diversity of Tongues But this Beast by his Ecclesiastical Antichristian power hath set up Commissioners Patrons Parsons Vicars Curates and Lecturers The Lord Jesus doth make Ministers by the Unction of the Spirit But this Beast doth make Ministers by a Sealed Instrument The Lord Jesus hath appointed that his Ministers should live by the free contribution of the People But this Beast will