A DECLARATION Of several of the Churches of Christ AND GODLY PEOPLE In and about the Citie of LONDON Concerning The Kingly Interest OF CHRIST AND The present Suffrings OF His Cause and Saints in England LONDON Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1654. A DECLARATION Of several of the Churches of Christ And Godly people Being a few of the despised Remnant in and about the City of London that yet cleave close to the Cause and Interest of our Lord Jesus so much disowned and rejected in these times of Apostacie and in this hour of our great Tribulation and Temptation IN the Name of Jehovah-Nissi Exod. 17.15 our Lord Christ Protector of his People King of Saints and Nations To all that are sanctified in Jesus Christ whether in Churches or out that partake of the same Faith with us of our Lord Jesus especially the sealed number now upon their watch that have not defiled their garments whose robes are washed with the blood of the Lamb that are redeemed from among men and fellow the Lamb whither soever he goeth in these three Nations or elsewhere We their unworthy Brethren one with them in the present Sufferings of our Lord Jesus and his Saints in the behalf of our selves and many others Do from the bottom of our hearts wish like Faith Grace Zeal Light Joy and Peace which we enjoy from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FOrasmuch as we believe many godly people in these three Nations and elsewhere are deceived and therefore unsatisfied concerning us in the matters of our faith relating to the most precious Cause Interest and Monarchy of the Lord Christ which we cleave unto through misrepresentations and false reports made of us and our Principles by persons and Letters posted about the Nations for that purpose full of errors mistakes unchristian censures uncharitable reproaches and invectives wherein the Adversaries have all the advantage against us that worldly power can possess them with but now that we may no longer by a forced silence be a dissatisfaction to our Friends grievance to the Truth offence to the Saints a trouble to our own Consciences and advantage to the Adversaries or be so much the subject as we have been of our Enemies malice to forge their lyes jealousies or evil reports upon nor yet be suspicious to many and for signes and wonders to most in the Common-wealth as if we were monsters and not men infidels and not believers enemies to Government and not orators for it day and night as God hath appointed it We shall therefore in the behalf of thousands more we hope one with us herein in all faithfulness meekness and clearness declare unto you and to all the world how far we are engaged in this most glorious though crucified cause of Christ maugre all opposition of Men or Devils in as little room as this short Narrative will allow us being awakened thereunto every day Yet it cannot be expected that in this Paper we should relate all our Grievances lay down all our Grounds or answer all Objections which we hope to do hereafter but onely so far as may make obvious to any unbyassed eye or understanding the just rise of our Discontents Troubles and Dissatisfactions and as may exonerate our souls in the sight of Heaven and Earth O our bowels our bowels our hearts even ake and are pained within us to hear the doleful and daily groans of Gods people crying out O where are our Deliverers and Saviours The Reeds that we leaned upon have pierced our hands and we bleed And after our eyes fail with looking for Freedom Peace and Light behold Darkness Oppression and Distraction and what hope is left us And all this through the declension of the Armies first Principles and former Declarations extant to the view of the world witness p. 14 15 of the Remonstr Albans p. 66. They urge it upon the grounds of Common Right Freedom and Safety that Parliaments be by a certain succession Annually or Biennially And in their Declar. June 14. 1647. p. 8 9. they declare this so essential and fundamental to Freedom as that it cannot nor ought it to be denied or withholden from us and that arbitrary or absolute power in any person or persons during life doth not render that State any better then Tyranny nor the People subjected thereto any better then Vassals And therefore they say p. 9. We are so far from designing or complying to have an absolute or arbitrary power signed or setled for continuance in any persons whatsoever as that if we might be sure to obtain it we cannot wish to have it so in the persons of any whom we could most confide in or who should appear most of our own opinions or principles or whom we might have most personal assurance of or interest in but that the Authority of this Kingdom in Parliament may ever stand and have its course Yet for all this were not the last Parliament dissolved for that they would rule as Saints or part of the fifth Monarchy for Christ and for doing that the former Parliament neglected therefore were dissolved and for doing that which the Army and good people had many yeers declared to be their duty to do viz. Remonstr p. 20. And have not some by Printing opprobriously and injuriously abused those precious members that stood for the Magistracie and Ministery of the Gospel or Unction as if they would have had no Government no Ministers nor Propriety at all and after all their integrity cast an Odium upon them and upon the name of Saints yea and upon the Interest of Christ against which they have opened the mouthes of many thousands to blaspheme O these are the swords which pierce our hearts Besides doth not this Personal Interest now up look too much alike that which God hath confounded and stamped upon before our eyes in the same predicament of Pride Profaness Persecution of Saints and Oppression with them that went before Oh! are not the Wicked exalted on every side and such taken up again Malignants and others as not long since they most declaim'd against and are not the Saints and them onely or mostly afflicted cast out of their Assemblies from praying and preaching and some of the faithfullest of them in all these Wars now closely imprisoned for their Consciences and this Cause of Christ from the common air yea cast among Malefactors condemned threatned reproached and trampled on Oh! can we have hearts so hard as to mention these and many more such like effects without yerning and mourning Besides are not the new Court of Tryers at Whitehall for Ministers of like make with the Bishops High-Commission-Court The Graven image of the worldly power creating a worldly Clergie for worldly ends highly scandalous and against the Rule of the Gospel and Faith of Christ and as much to be exploded as the Pope and Prelate notwithstanding they assume the title of Orthodox and soundness of
opinion to themselves and upon that account charge others that are not one with them in their Carnal and Antichristian Interest with Errours and Rashness But as the Declaration of the Army to Scotland p. 15 saith This hath been found in all ages of high advantage to them that assumed it that it were strange if those Civil Tryers should not have used it to smite them withal whom they would render odious and destroy And is not This against their own Declar. to Scotland p. 16. where they say That that Church-Government which is of God Gods own means viZ. his Word must establish without a busie medling with or engaging of the authorities of the world And the Lo. General CROMWEL in his Letter to the Kirk-assembly from Dunbar p. 11. saith It is worth considering how those Ministers take into their hands the instruments of a foolish shepherd that meddle with worldly policies or earthly powers to set up that which they call The Kingdom of Christ which indeed is neither it nor if it were would such means be found effectual for that end and neglect and not trust to the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit c. Is not this all true in the Tryers And is not this also against their own Remonstr Albans pag. 20. where they declare it the Parliaments part to protect religous men and take away all the corrupted Forms of outside-Religion and National Church-stare whether imposed without Law or rooted in Law in times of Popish ignorance or idolatry or of Gospels dimmer light and also to take away the dependence of the National Clergie in Civil Laws and Ecclesiastical affairs which they had upon the King or that interest of the Clergie in Civil Laws and Affairs which the craft of both in length of time had wrought for each other But that the King's part was to discountenance the Godly or any conscience obliging above or against humane or outward Constitutions to uphold and maintain the Civil dependence of the Clergie and their Church-matters under him Our bowels are so moved at these things that we cannot refrain from bewailing our condition after so vast a stream and treasure of the blood tears prayers lives and spoils of our dearest relations O did we ever think to see so many hopeful Instruments in the Army Churches and elsewhere to be so fully gorged with the flesh of Kings Captains and Nobles c. i. e. with their Lands Mannors Estates Parks and Palaces so as to sit at ease and comply with Antichrist the World Worldly Church and Clergie Oh! how hath the Cup of the Whore foxt and inchanted men viz. with the wine of the wrath of her fornication to commit sin with her daily which the sober blush to see and to paint her over afresh for New Lovers to lie down with to their utter ruine O the Mystery of Iniquity works apace This subtil spirit and soul of Antichristianism in a new body hath bewitched many of the Common sort and is wonderful cunning to deceive although by this universal falling away amongst us the Man of sin is blessed be Jehovah more discovered then ever who must be destroyed with the breath of Christ's mouth and the brightness of his coming Yet under a sad sense of so many fresh assaults which the Saints meet with daily by outward Violence and Ecclesiastical Tyranny and in a clear apprehension of that heavie Doom and Precipice hard by we verily believe upon all those Powers and Interests of men which keep warm the Seat of the bloody Beast for the Mother of harlots And after many Solemn Meetings and seekings of God for a special presence rolling our selves onely on his Arm having no carnal confidence blessed be our wise God now left us to look upon we are fully perswaded in our souls that he who hath hitherto most eminently appeared and plainly owned this blessed Cause which the Apostates of the times have cast aside and we yet cleave unto in England Ireland Scotland and else-where according to the faith and prayers of his poor despised people that he will yet appear and that more eminently and terribly too to save then ever and witness to the righteousness of his own Cause and the innocencie of his servants that suffer therein in great mercy and pity passing by the failings and infirmities of us his poor creatures Therefore though we are sure that God will vindicate his own Name to purpose ere long under so much reproach yet in the dread of that Name we appeal unto the LORD who will be a swift witness against us if we utter these things in hypocrisie or for base ends or for any carnal Personal Interest whatsoever if we are not in the sincerity and simplicity of our hearts so far as we have one grain of true grace in us for Christ alone and his poor rejected Cause and People that we may ease and exonerate our selves in the sense we have of our duty herein and be withdrawn to the eye of all from partaking in the crying sins and Apostacie of the Times with all faithfulness holy awe and humility we profess and declare 1. For this Cause and Kingly Interest of our Lord Jesus in England Ireland and Scotland or elswhere according to the several Declarations of the Army sealed to with the blood of thousands of the precious Saints the cry of whose blood is for Christ according to the Declaration of the Army to Scotland p. 36 37 38 39. who declare They were stirred up by the Lord to assist the Parliament against the King for this end To bring about the destruction of Antichrist and the deliverance of his true Church and people upon this simple account was it that they engaged in the Wars of the three Nations against all Opposers of this work of Jesus Christ having these things singly in their eye viz. the destruction of Antichrist and advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and deliverance and reformation of his Church and the establishment of Christs Ordinances according to his Word and the just Civil Liberties of Englishmen And this they declare with the loss of many precious Saints p. 38. That they engaged against the late King and his Monarchy as one of the ten horns of the Beast guilty of the blood of the Saints which act they say they are confident God will own against all Kingdoms or Nations that will oppose them and that will not suffer Jesus Christ to be King So page 39. they declare they value the Churches (a) Then owning the Congregated Churches as appears by Letters written to Mr. Feak and Mr. Simpson and the Churches that walk in fellowship with them and others of Christ who are the lot of Gods inheritance a thousand times beyond their own lives and that it is their duty to persevere therein to the utmost hazard of their lives and that the Lord made them instruments to vex all in his sore displeasure that take counsel against Christ
whom the Lord hath anointed and decreed King and that they were not meerly the servants of man and that they were not meerly the servants of man and that they not onely proclaimed Jesus Christ King of Saints to be King but that they would submit to him alone upon his own terms and admit him onely to the exercise of his Royal authority Therefore say they in pag. 40. We beseech you in the fear of God look about you for our Lord Jesus is coming c. Now accordingly we have and do declare for this Royal Interest of Christ which ought to be set up which so much blood hath been poured out for like water in the three Nations This Cause of Christ was magnified by God in answering the Dunbar-Appeal against the King of Scots The English Army appealing to God according to the Act of Parliament 1648. declaring it High treason to set up Charles Stuart or Any other person Chief Magistrate in England or Ireland or any of the Dominions thereunto belonging And as our Appeal was for No King but Jesus by which were the greatest Victories obtained that we had the Scots Appeal on the other side was for A King or Personal Interest of Man c. God's answer was so full and wonderful on the No King's side but Jesus and according to the Act of Parliament upon which the Army marched against the King of Scots that all Scotland was given in in few months and their armies destroyed and to use the very words of the Act of Parliament Die Martis 17 Septemb. 1650. This answer was enriched with so many remarkable circumstances as is to be admired at by succeeding generations evidencing such a divine presence as the Commonwealth can never be thankful enough for and that it was given in as a Seal or Confirmation from heaven of the justness of this Cause after solemn appeals made on both sides to God himself the righteous Judge in this War between England and Scotland and that God did so decide the Controversie himself was of such value and high consequence that Generations to come may taste the sweet of it c. Besides all this much more we might mention of their own for this Cause and Kingly Interest of Christ which we are resolved to adhere to and if the Lord will enable us never to recede from but to live and die in it Neither is it a Resisting of Government as some say of us but a Reforming of it which our Principles lead us to according to the Word And seeing the Army and Parliament have often declared as pag. 7. of Declar. June 14. 1647. No resisting of Magistracie to side with just Principles upon which Maxime they assisted the Parliament against the King and that it is one witness of God in the world to carry on a testimony against the injustice and unrighteousness of men and against the miscarriages of Governments when corrupted or declining from their primitive and original glory We use their own words 'T is true Every soul must be subject to the higher powers and it is in obedience thereunto that we are subject to Christ and stand by this his Cause as we do so long as the Controversie is not now with us between Man and Man as was wont to be in other ages but it is between Christ and Man Which of these two then shall have the absolute power of Government in the Nations and who are the resisters of the higher powers which are of God those that own or those that oppose Christ's claim Judge ye 2. Because the Boutefeu's of the Times are ever blowing up the flames upon us and incensing the present worldly powers and others against us with their lying accusations and evil surmisings as the adversaries did Ezra 4. and Nehem. 6. against Iudah and Ierusalem to render them odious to Artaxerxes that they intended to rebel when they had done their building and that if he suffered them to go on it would hinder his Revenue c. and so Sanballat sent Nehemiah word that he and the Jews intended to rebel when they had done with the walls they were about and all this to weaken the hands of them that had a minde to work Therefore to avoid such Jealousies and Fears We do freely declare against all Carnal Plots Devilish Designes or Ungodly Combinations of men whatsoever as inconsistent with those gracious Principles which have we hope carried us and yet do daily into a spiritual warfare and hot contest for this Cause of Christ by the Word Faith Prayer and Solemn appeals unto our God the righteous Judge of heaven and earth And indeed being thus armed with the whole armour of God we dare as before wrestle with Principalities and Powers and through the grace of our God we are not afraid of their Armies or Numbers but although we have not the least reliance on any arm of flesh yet we can bid defiance unto all the enemies of this glorious Cause of Christ contended for by the Saints with those means that God's Word leads us unto for which our dear brethren are imprisoned and suffer persecution at this day Therefore in a just and necessary defence of what is dearer to us then our lives bought with the price of the blood of Christ and thousands of his dearest Saints we call heaven and earth to witness between us and our brethren that have denied us and this Cause For in Cases not clearly or properly under mans judgment or where it is not easie for man to give a certain judgment the engaged upon sure Principles and Pretences do centre in appeals to God for judgement and so did the two tribes and a half Josh 22. for that it is then the proper work of God to bear witness and give righteous judgment which as he hath always done sooner or later clearer or darker after the Appeal is made to him so in this last age and part of the world he hath made more haste then formerly to judgement and given it more quickly speedily and terribly and made his own Arm so bare therein as all men might see it witness the aforesad Appeal at Dunbar In the same Cause the Appeal is now made by us again All which hath induced us to take up the Word of God Faith and Prayer by Solemn Appeals to the just Judge of Heaven and Earth in the like and the same Cause A few particulars of the Matter whereof take as followeth 1. About their Vows Declarations Promises Engagements made unto God for Christ and his Interest Psal 66.13 14. Deut. 23.21 Eccles 5.3 4. 5.6 in time of their great distress all which are they not broken both as to Magistracie Ministery Churches Liberty and the Right of the Saints of the most High We appeal to God 2. Whether an espousing of the same or a like interest with that which God hath destroyed before our eyes and rejecting this blessed Cause of Christ King of the Nations for a Personal
Cause of Man as we now conceive Jer. 3.1 Mal. 2.11 be not a provocation of God in the highest degree and too full a testimony of the foulest hypocrisie and selfishness in them whose former Profession and Declarations obliged them to the contrary 3. Whether a persecuting and imprisoning some of of the choicest and holiest servants of Christ in the present light and work of this Generation whilst the Wicked are exalted on every side and such as were cast by taken up again Isa 49.24 25. Ier. 13.17 be of God or no 4. Whether the violence and force flattery or any other wayes which are used to compel any of us against our Consciences to prostrate to mens carnal interests and to sin against the light be according to their former pretended Principles or the Word of God 5. Whether their unjust and unchristian accusations of us in the face of the world are not full of loathsome and cruel lyes whiles they spread about That we are against Magistracie Ministery Propriety Ordinances and the like Whether it be so or no we appeal to him that judgeth righteously 6. Their vexing and rising up against the Spirit of God which they call an Impostor and the false devilish fanatick spirit of Black-Fryers or Alhallows-meeting speaking blasphemously against it and that frequently wherein we appeal to the Lord to judge Whether that Spirit that is among them leading to Pride Pomp Worldliness Carnallity Lying Persecution and Blaspheming or that Spirit which leads us day and night to the duty of Faith Assembling Praying Preaching Exhorting and Building up in the present Truth contested against by them and to Comforting Counselling and Quicking up one another every day to hold fast our profession without wavering to Self-denying and Morification that we may not minde the present World nor the vanities thereof Whether this Spirit our infirmities excepted or theirs which acts them be of God and which is the devilish wordly and deluding spirit Isa 63.10 2 Pet. 2.7 8. 7. Is not pomp pride and vanity in Court and elsewhere now up again in some respects more then ever so much contested and inveighed against for so many yeers together by themselves and others Whether by these amongst other things they have not opened the mouthes of the Enemies to blaspheme Christ and his Spirit to reproach his Cause and to harden their hearts And whether they have not given advantage to Charles Stuart or some others to invade us our lives our relations afresh by open Wars Inundation of blood and Mischief so as seems to make void and uneffectual many yeers Wars with vast treasure expence and blood 8. Whereas they say we are all for Wars and would have no Peace with the Nations round about we appeal to God therein whether we are not for the best safest and lasting godly Peace and were it God's will could wish no more blood might be shed Although we would not willingly see a peace worse then War made with the nations against the Word of God Safety and Liberties of the good people for which so many have bled both by Land and Sea and upon such terms too as makes more for the interest of some men then for the Publick or upon such Articles as might make us blush for shame at this time of the Day and after so many out-goings of God in the midst of us as have not so much as one Article for the Lord Jesus or his Saints that are in the present work of this generation concerning Christs Kingdom or Interest to subscribe unto Numb 33.52 53. to the end Exod. 23.32 33 and 34. chap. 12.13 Upon these and many other grounds we are induced and are resolved in the strength of Christ to keep up the Altar * Iosh 22.34 ED and continue our Appeal until the Lord doth answer in justice and yet in much mercy to his poor little remnant which we are perswaded will be speedily as Luke 18.7 8. And if men will yet needs blinde their eyes and harden their hearts we could wish it be not to their destruction yet we do bless our heavenly Father that hath opened our eyes and kept our feet from falling with them that we can so comfortably see the things that concern our best Peace according to the Law and the Testimony in the sure Word of Prophecie Blessed be JEHOVAH Amen Amen 3. But thirdly and lastly for that we finde much Misunderstanding among some and Misrepresentations among most of the Fifth Monarchy or Kingdom of Christ in the Nations which the holy Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament do clearly and plentifully declare with a positive period to the Worldly Heathenish Laws Ordinances and Constitutions of men as they are now executed in the Nations of the world And whereas it is also upon the hearts of many of the choice servants of God that in this present Age the Lord JEHOVAH is setting up the fifth Kingdom as Dan. 2.44 7.22 26 27. Zech. 21. which shall not be left to other people but shall break in pieces all the four kingdoms and remain for ever and ever and that at this time whenas the fourth Monarchy is partly broken in these Nations that Christ may be the onely Potentate the King of kings and of all Nations 1 Tim. 6.15 Micah 4.7 Zech. 9.9 10. Col. 1.16 Heb. 2.8 Rev. 11.15 17. Chap. 14 19. Chap. 15.16 Now finding this the present Truth so much opposed by the National Rulers and their Clergie yea and by some godly people and Church-members accounted Orthodox who cannot endure the day of Christs coming We therefore are resolved according to the presence and assistance of the Lord with us to entertain a serious Censideration and Debate for the benefit of all others touching the premises viz. of the Laws Subjects Extent Rise Time Place Offices and Officers of the fifth Monarchy or Kingdom whereby the World must be governed according to the Word of God without the mixture as now is of Mens Laws and Inventions whether in respect of Magistracy or Ministery Church or Civil affairs which Debate we intend to hold once a week in this City of London and we desire our beloved brethren which are one with us in the present Truth and sufferings whether in Churches or out whether in City or Country that are enlightned to take special notice of it for this end that they may enjoy the like fredom with us in those Meetings and Debates as often as they please to come And if the Lord give us the liberty we do purpose to proceed with the Debate of it from this day onward until we have taken up a full and clear Narrative thereof so far as shall appear to us out of the Scriptures fit to publish to the view of all men that our Principles in that point of the fifth Monarchy may be fully known with desire to know what any of our Adversaries now against us shall have to say to us or to our