Crandall 5 li. Fine and to remain in prison untill their Fines be either payed or security given for them or else they are all of them to be well whipped When Obediah Holmes was brought forth to receive his Sentence he desired of the Magistrates that he might hold forth the ground of his practice but they refused to let him speak and commanded the whipper to do his Office then the whipper began to pull off his Cloathes upon which Obediah Holmes said Lord lay not this sin unto their charge and so the whipper began to lay on with his whip upon which Obediah Holmes said O Lord I beseech thee to manifest thy power in the weaknesse of thy Creature he neither moving nor stirring at all for the strokes brake out into these expressions Blessed and praised be the Lord and thus he carryed it to the end and went away rejoycingly I Iohn Spur being present it did take such an impression in my Spirit to trust in God and to walk according to the light that God had communicated to me and not to fear what man could do unto me that I went to the man being inwardly affected with what I saw and heard and with a joyfull countenance took him by the hand when he was from the Post and said praised be the Lord and so I went along with him to the prison and presently that day there was information given to the Court what I had said and done and also a warrant was presently granted out that day to arest both my self and Iohn Hazel which was executed on the morrow morning upon us and so we were brought to the Court and examined the Governour asked me concerning Obediah Holmes according as he was informed by old Mr. Cole and Thomas Buttolph of my taking of him by the hand and smiling and I did then freely declare what I did and what I said which was this Obediah Holmes said I I do look upon as a Godly man and do affirm that he carryed himself as did become a Christian under so sad an affliction and his affliction did so affect my Soul that I went to him being from the Post and said blessed be the Lord but said the Governour what do you apprehend concerning the cause for which he suffered my Answer was that I am not able to judge of it then said the Governour we will deal with you as we have dealt with him I said unto him again I am in the hands of God then Mr. Simons a Magistrate said you shall know you are in the hands of Men the Governour then said keeper take him and so I was presently carried away to prison The next day about one of the Clock I was sent for again into the Court the Governour being then about to go out of the Court when I came in delivered this speech to me said he you must pay 40 shiâ—lings or be whipped I said then to those of the Court that remained that if any man suffer as a Christian let him glorifie God in this behalf then I desired to know what Law I had broken and what evill I had done but they produced no Law only they produced what the two witnesses had sworn against me my speech thereto was this my practice and cariage is alowed by the word of God for it is written in Rom. 12. Be like affectioned one towards another rejoyce with them that rejoyce and it is contrary to my Iudgment and Conscience to pay a Peny then said Mr. Bendall I will pay it for him and there presented himself I answered then and said I thanked him for his love but did believe it was no acceptable service for any man to pay a peny for me in this case yet not withstanding the Court accepted of his profer and bid me be gone then came Iohn Hazell to be examined Iohn Spur. Here followeth the testimony of those that came in against me I Cole being in the Market place when Obediah Holmes came from the Whipping Post Iohn Spur came and met him presently laughing in his face saying Blessed be God for thee Brother and so did go with him laughing upon him up towards the prison which was very grievous to me to see him harden the man in his sin and shewing much contempt of Authority by that cariage as if he had been unjustly punished and had suffered as a righteous man under a tyrannicall Government Deposed before the Court the 5th of the 7th M. 1651. Increase Nowell I Thomas Buttolph did see Iohn Spur come to Obediah Holmes so som as he came from the Whipping Post laughing in his face and going along with him towards the Prison to my great grief to see him harden him in his sin and to shew such a contempt of Authority Deposed the 5th of the 7th Month 1651. Before the Court. Increase Nowell As for Iohn Hazell to my knowledge although he had some occasion of business in these parts yet the main business that drew him hither was to visit the prisoner whom he at this time took by the hand who was indeed his neer Neighbour lived in the same Town together walked together in the same fellowship and faith of the Gospell and had their hearts knit together in a more than ordinary neer bond of love and as a manifestation thereof he undertoke so great a journey it being between fourty and fifty miles to visit him he being indisposed by reason of his age for such an undertaking being between three and fourscore years old and when he was there understanding it would not be long before he should suffer out of the same tender love could not leave him before it was over who also accompanied him from the Prison to the Post and so back again now for him only for taking his friend by the hand when he had suffered his punishment and was loosed from the Post to be thus handled shall not the Nations that know not civility that neither fear God nor reverence man be astonished at this if this be to do to others as we would that others should do to us which is the Law and the Prophets the command of Christ and his Apostles let all true Christians judge the Man being old did professe as I was informed That if they should have laid the strokes upon him they would certainly have killed him which I know ceized not a little upon him and how far what was done had influence into his death the Lord onely knowes for as is before said the same day he went forth he fell sick and within ten dayes he died The Lord grant that no part of his death may be laid to their charge and that they may see the exceeding greatnesse of the evill of thirsting after the blood of the Innocent before the Lord come forth to avenge it and as to that story I shall say no more but leave the Reader to his own relation which partly in Prison and partly upon his death Bed as may
therein they that cannot interpret it by the other four nor yet by the Commission it self nor by the Commissioners faithful observance thereof in all other instances let them prove if they can these three particulars 1. That Lydia ever had a husband 2. In case she had that ever she had any children by him and if so then in the 3. place that they were not dead or so grown up that they might hear and receive the word gladly as well as their mother 3. A third argument to prove that a visible believer is the person that according to the mind of Christ is to be baptized in water may be taken from the order which the Spirit of Christ laies down faith and baptism in the scriptures of truth putting faith still in the first place witness Mark 16. 15 16. Mat. 28. 19. Heb. 6. Eph. 4. A 4 argument may be taken from the nature of the ordinance and a 5 from Johns Baptism Yea much more might be said to this point but this may suffice And also the only person that is to walk in the visible order of his house and so to wait for his comming the second time in the form of a Lord and King with his glorious Kingdome according to promise That he is the only person that is to enter into and walk in the visible order of his house will evidently appear if the order in which our Lord left his house when he went to his Father to receive his kingdome be duly considered for in his last will and testament we shall find it thus recorded when our Lord was about to be gone he gave order unto his Apostles whom he made stewards in his house of the mysteries of God to make him Disciples of all Nations and that such as were so made should then be baptized and so visibly planted into Christ and put on Christ and having so received him should walk in him observing all things whatsoever he had commanded the first thing wherof as touching order was to be added or joined one to another in the fellowship of the Gospel by a mutual professed subjection to the Scepter of Christ and being a company thus called out of the world from worldly vanities and worldly worships after Christ Jesus the Lord which is the proper English of these words the Church of Christ and is in other terms called the Houshold of faith should steadfastly continue together in the Apostles doctrine sci the consolation reproof and instruction thereof in Fellowship sci mutual support both inward and outward in Breaking of bread thereby remembring the death of our Lord whose soul was made an offering for sin as his flesh is meat indeed and his blood drink indeed by the help of the Spirit to nourish our souls and spirits up unto eternal life and in prayer one with and for another And that this is the absolute order which the Lord hath appointed in his last Will and Testament doth evidently appear both by his own precept and command and by the practice of such as first trusted in him and if so then neither infants of daies nor yet such as profess themselves to be believers in Jesus but refuse as a manifestation thereof according to the practice of such as first trusted in Christ to yield up themselves to be planted into the death burial and resurrection of Christ and so visibly to put Christ on as did the Christians of old I say such have no visible right to enter into or walk in the order of the Gospel of Christ and to conclude the point the argument stands thus They and they only have visible right to enter into and walk in the visible order of Christs house and so to wait for his comming whom Christ Jesus himself being the Lord of the house hath appointed and his Apostles being his stewards have approved of But such as first have been taught and made disciples or Scholars of Jesus and believers in Christ and afterwards have bin baptised or dipped and therby visibly lively planted into the death burial and resurrection of Christ are they and they only whom Christ hath appointed and the Apostles have approved of See his Commission peruse their practice Ergo They and they only have visible right to enter into and walk in the order of Christs house and so to wait for his comming the second time in the form of a King with his glorious Kingdom according to promise See for a farther confirmation of the last clause in the first Epistle to the Corinthians 1. 7. 1 The 1 10. 2. The. 3. 5. But to proceed He is the person that is also to wait for his Lords sending down from the right hand of his father in the time of his absence the holy Ghost or holy Spirit of promise and all this according to the last will and testament of that living Lord That this living Lord did promise when he left this present evil world that is in a great measure subjected to devils and went to his Father not only to return again but in the time of his absence as a testimony of his great love unto such as are called to be his disciples manifest the same by loving him keeping his commandments and as a teâ—â—imony of his loving acceptance at the right hand his Father to send down the holy Spirit which should be in them as a well-spring of living water flowing forth unto eternall life who being a Spirit of truth and sent by Christ who is the truth which God will exalt shall glorifie him take of him and his and shew unto them and so lead them from truth to truth until he hath brought them into all truth as a comforter or Spirit of comfort shall fill their hearts with joy in believing by bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God and by revealing unto them the precious things w ch God hath prepared for them that love him which neither eye hath seen nor ear hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive and as a holy Spirit shall set them apart that are justifyed by the blood of his Son unto the holy God and sanctifie them throughout in soul and spirit and body and as a Spirit of supplication shall help them to speak unto God and as a Spirit of prophecy to speak unto men that this Lord I say did promise unto his disciples who love him and keep his commandments in the time of his absence the presence of such a Spirit as this which hath supplies in him beyond what the â—oul lacks and that therfore they are to wait for this promise and for these supplies in his appointments will clearly appear 1. Out of the words of the Lord himself See Iohn 14. 15 16 17. so v. 26. chap. 15. 26. chap. 16. 7 8. so v. 13 14 15. five times in that night in which he was betraied doth he repeat that promise to his Disciples
following meet again at the said William Witters in contempt to Authority you being then in the custody of the Law and did there receive the Sacrament being Excommunicate and that you did Baptize such as were Baptized before and thereby did necessarily deny the Baptism that was before administred to be Baptism the Churches no Churches and also other Ordinances and Ministers as if all were a Nullity And also did deny the lawfullness of Baptizing of Infants and all this tends to the dishonour of God the despising the ordinances of God among us the peace of the Churches and seducing the Subjects of this Commonwealth from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and perverting the strait waies of the Lord the Court doth fine you 30 pounds to be paid or sufficient sureties that the said sum shall be paid by the first day of the next Court of Assistants or else to be well whipt and that you shall remain in Prison till it be paid or security given in for it By the Court ENCREASE NOWELL And now because his sufferings and the sence which his Soul felt of the Lords Support according to promise is affectionately set forth and commended as a token of his love in a Letter written with his own hand and sent unto those that have obtained like precious faith in London or elsewhere whereby by an experiment which God hath been pleased to give to him and us they may evidently discern that Iesus Christ is in point of tender compassions touching those that confess his name before the Sonnes of men the same to day that he was yesterday that as yesterday so to day it may be said as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ so that they which keep the commandements of God and Testimony of Iesus Christ may be hereby incouraged to fear none of those things which they shall suffer before they come nor when they look them in the face and begin the incounter with them be soon weary and wax faint in their minds but faithfully and hopefully expect they suffering for the name of Christ and as Christians that the spirit of their Lord and of glory shall rest upon them The words of his Letter followeth Unto the well beloved Brethren Iohn Spilsbury William Kissin and the rest that in London stand fast in that Faith and continue to walk stedfastly in that Order of the Gospell which was once delivered unto the Saints by Iesus Christ Obediah Holms an unworthy witness that Iesus is the Lord and of late a Prisoner for Iesus sake at Boston sendeth greeting Dearly Beloved and longed after MY hearts desire is to hear from you and to hear that you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ and that your love to him and one unto another as he hath given commandment aboundeth would be the very joy and great rejoycing of my Soul and Spirit had I not been prevented by my beloved Brethren of Providence who have wrot unto you wherein you have my Mind at large and also by our beloved Brother Clarke of Road-Iland who may if God permit see you and speak with you mouth to mouth I had here declared my self in that matter but now I forbear And because I have an experimentall knowledge in my self that in members of the same Body while it stands in union with the head there is a sympathizing Spirit which passeth through and also remain in each particular so that one member can neither mourn nor rejoyce but all the members are ready to mourn or rejoyce with it I shall the rather impart unto you some dealings which I have had therein from the Sons of Men and the gracious supports which I have met with from the Son of God my Lord and yours that so like Members you might rejoyce with me and might be encouraged by the same experiment of his â—ender mercies to fear none of those things which you shall suffer for Iesus sake â—t pleased the Father of Light after a long continuance of mine in death and darknesse to cause life and immortality to be brought to light in my soul and also to cause me to see that this life was by the death of his Son in that hour and power of darknesse procured which wrought in my heart a restless desire to know what that Lord who had so dearly bought me would have me to do and finding that it was his last will to which none is to adde and from which none is to detract that they which had faith in his death for life should yeeld up themselves to hold forth a lively consimilitude or likenesse unto his death buriall and resurrection by that Ordinance of Baptisme I readily yeelded thereto being by love constrained to follow that Lamb that takes away the sins of the World whither soever he goes I had no sooner separated from their assemblies and from Communion with them in their worship of God and thus visibly put on Christ being resolved alone to attend upon him and to submit to his will but immediately the adversary cast out a flood against us and stirred up the spirits of men to present my self and two more to Plymouth Court where we met with 4 Petitions against our whole company to take some speedy course to suppress us one from our own Plantation with 35 hands to it one froÌ„ the Church as they call it at Tantoâ— one from all the Ministers in our Colony except two if I mistake not and one from the Court at Boston in the Mathatusets under their Secretaries hand whereupon the Court straitly chargeth us to desist and neither to ordain Officers nor to Baptize nor to break bread together nor yet to meet upon the first day of the week and having received these strait charges one of the three discovers the sandy foundation upon which he stood who when the flood came and the wind blew fell yet it pleased the Father of mercies to whom be the praise to give us strength to stand to tell them it was better to obey God rather than man and such was the grace of our God to us-ward that though we were had from Court to Court yet were we firmly resolved to keep close to the rule and to obey the voyce of our Lord come what will come Not long after these troubles I came upon occasion of businesse into to the Colony of the Mathatusets with two other Brethren as Brother Clark being one of the two can inform you where we three were apprehended carried to the prison at Boston and so to the Court and were all sentenced what they laid to my charge you may here read in my sentence Vpon the pronouncing of which as I went from the Bar I exprest my self in these words I blesse God I am connted worthy to suffer for the name of Iesus whereupon Iohn Wilson their Pastor as they call him strook me before the Iudgment
our friends house at Lin where we lodged it being two miles out of the town we were persued and also apprehended by the Constables under the name of erronious persons being strangers and by that power were caried after a full and clear manifestation of our unfreeness unto their Assembly then to Prison and after a while were also brought before their Iudgment seat in which two Assemblies to which we were forced they drew forth matter enough as they conceived to make us transgressors thereupon proceeded to sentence us without producing either Accuser Witness Iury Law of God or man whereby either we might appear to be guilty or they to be just and justified in their proceedings against us 2 After we were thus persued and apprehended under the name of erronious persons and strangers and by their Court condemned and sentenced as Herericks or scismaticks a motion being made by their Governour touching a discourse with their Ministers was readily accepted by us and often repeated and as often promised by them but yet could not be obtained as is here at large to be seen 3 Although through the mercifull hand of our God upon us we had wronged no man corrupted no man defrauded no man as he together with our Consciences then did and still to this day do bear us witness yet besides the exceeding great loss and detriment otherwise sustained we had all no doubt met with as cruell Scourgings as his faithfull servants of old had not the provident hand of our God so disposed the hearts of some of our friends to lay down our ransome by which two did escape and this did evidently appear in the third who came under their zealous yet merciless hands and received from them 50 stripes above the restraint of the Iews as writers report yea and such entertainment no doubt should strangers or Angels from Heaven yea Christ Iesus himself have received at their hands if they could effect it in case they should have come among them and not submitted as it is not possible they should unto that golden and glorious Image or likeness of the worship and way of God appointed by Christ which they have set up 4 When this faithfull Martyr and Witness that Christ is the Lord had born this fourscore and ten stripes cruelly laid on not only with a patient mind but with an exceeding great joy of the holy spirit as the spectators could not but discern and was loosed from the Post and was going to Prison again some being inwardly moved with joy in beholding the gracious support which the Lord afforded him as they have affirmed could not forbear to take him by the hand for which thing sake two of them were apprehended sentenced to pay each of them 40 s or els be whipt Let the Actors themselves and all that peruse their practice for cautions sake consider whether the spirit by which they are led thus to act be not very like unto if not the same which is seen Revel 13. Acting the second Beast that arose up out of the Earth which had two hornes like a Lamb yet spake like a Dragon and exercised all the power of the first Beast that was before him caused a lively Image to be made unto him and forced the Earth and them that dwel herein both small and great rich and poor free and bond to worship his Image and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the marke or the name or the number of his name Here is Wisdom and let such as desire from their hearts to live Godly in Christ Iesus and do as really expect to suffer with Christ in this present evill World as they do to reign with him in that good World which yet is to come let such I say consider and bear still in mind these expressions Revel 13. 10. He that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword here is the patience and faith of the S ints Rev. 12. 11. And they overcame him by the bloud of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 6. 9 10 11. I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they beld And they cryed with a loud voice saying how long holy and true wilt thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwel on the Earth c. Rev. 20. 4. And I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness of Iesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshiped the Beast neither his Image neither had received the marke upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years And now forasmuch as it was boldly affirmed by a Solicitor for New-England and that in the Councell Chamber before that honourable Committee there assembled in Councell that men in New-England might freely injoy their understandings and Consciences provided they walk civilly among them and that they that suffered of late did not suffer for their Consciences but for some misdemeanor thereby endeavouring to possess those noble brests with that which is false therefore I think it necessary both for the Vindication of truth and to the end that such worthy persons may not be taken with or deceived by such unworthy reports so as to be drawn to countenance persons that walk in a way that they are ashamed in plain and open terms to prosess and acknowledge for these ends I say I think it necessary to produce their Laws at least such as speak to the matter in question whereby these two things will plainly appear 1 That they that will not or else in Conscience towards God cannot conform to their worship or suspend the worship of God as their Souls are perswaded are by the authority of their Laws to be forced to the one and restrained from the other and that the Magistrate is thereby not only justified in but also injoyned unto such a proceeding against them although the men otherwise walk not only as civilly or soberly as themselves but also righteously and Godly in this present evill World and are such indeed as are a Law to themselves 2 Although they have Laws thus to proceed to force all to their worship to restrain those that differ from them from that worship to which their Souls are perswaded yet in our case they were so far transported with zeal that what they did unto us they did without Law yea against those Cautions which their own Laws have provided Certain Lawes established in the Colony of the Mathatusets in New-England and drawn forth by constraint to prove that the Authority there established cannot permit men though of never so civill sober and peaceable a Spirit and Life freely to enjoy their understandings and consciences nor yet to live or come among them unlesse they can
doe as they doe and say as they say or else say nothing and so may a man live at Rome also IT is ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof That no mans life shall be taken away no mans honour or good name shall be stayned no mans person shall be arrested restrained banished dismembred nor any wayes punished no man shall be deprived of his wife or children no mans goods or estates shall be taken away from him nor any wayes indamaged under colour of Law or countenance of Authoritie unlesse it be by vertue or equity of some expresse Law of the Country warranting the same established by a General Court and sufficiently published or in case of the defect of a Law in any particular case by the word of God And in capitall cases or in cases concerning dismembring or banishment according to that word to be judged by the General Court see p. 1. For the suppressing of Anabaptists It is ordered by this Court and Authority thereof that if any person or persons within this Iurisdiction shall either openly condemn or oppose the baptizing of Infants or goe about-secretly to seduce others from the approbation or use thereof or shall purposely depart the Congregation at the administration of that Ordinance or shall deny the Ordinance of Magistracy or their lawfull right or authority to make war or punish the outward breaches of the first Table and shall appear to the Court wilfully and obstinately to continue therein after due means of conviction every such person or persons shall be sentenced to Banishment see pag. 2. Against Blasphemy being a capitall transgression It is ordered that if any person within this Iurisdiction whether Christian or Pagan shall wittingly an willingly presume to BLASPHEME the holy Name of God Father Son or Holy-Ghost with direct expresse presumptuous or high-handed blasphemy either by wilfull or obstinate denying the true God or his Creation or Government of the world or shall curse God in like manner or reproach the holy Religion of God as if it were but a politick device to keep ignorant men in awe or shall utter any other kind of Blasphemy of the like nature and degree they shall be put to death Lev. 24 15 16. See p. 5. To raise money for Publick charges in Church and Commonwealth It is ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof that every Inhabitant shal henceforth contribute to all charges both in Church Cōmonwealth whereof he doth or may receive benefit and every such Inhabitant who shal not voluntarily contribute proportionably to his ability with the Freemen of the same Town to all cōmon charges both Civil and Ecclesiastical shall be compelled thereto by assessment and distress to be levyed by the Constable or other Officer of the Town as in other cases and that the lands and estates of all men wherever they dwell shall be rated for all Town charges both Civil and Ecclesiastial as aforesaid where the lands and estates shall lye their persons where they dwell See p. 9. Lawes Ecclesiasticall 1 All the people of God within this Jurisdiction who are not in a Church way and be orthodox in judgement and not scandalous in life shall have full liberty to gather themselves into a Church estate provided they doe it in a Christian way with due observation to the rules of Christ revealed in his word Provided also that the General Court doth not nor will hereafter approve of any such companies of men as shall joyn in any pretended way of Church fellowship unless they shall acquaint the Magistrates and the Elders of the neighbour Churches where they intend to joyn and have their approbation therein 2 And it is further ordered that no person being a member of any Church which shall be gathered without the approbation of the Magistrates and the said Churches shall be admitted to the Freedom of this Common-wealth 3 Every Church hath also free liberty to excercise all the Ordinances of God according to the rules of the Scripture 4 Every Church hath free liberty of election and ordination of all her Officers from time to time Provided they be able pious and orthodox Now the question is who shall judge of these words of restraint Christian way rules of the Scripture word of God able and orthodox 13 That if any Christian so called within this Iurisdiction shall contemptuously behave himself toward the Word preached or the Messengers thereof called to dispense the same in any Congregation when he doth faithfully execute his Service Office therein according to the will and word of God either by interrupting him in his preaching or by charging him falsely with any errour which he hath not taught in the open face of the Church or like a son of Korah cast upon his true doctrine or himself any reproach to the dishonour of the Lord Iesus who hath sent him and to the disparagement of that his holy Ordinance and making Gods wayes contemptible and ridiculous that every such person or persons whatsoever censure the Church may passe shall for the first scandal be convented and reproved openly by the Magistrate at some Lecture and bound to their good behaviour And if a second time they break forth into the like contemptuous carriages they shall either pay five pounds to the publick Treasurie or stand two hours openly upon a block or stool four foot high on a lecture day with a Paper fixed on his brest written in Capitall letters AN OPEN AND OBSTINATE CONTEMNER OF GODS HOLY ORDINANCES that others may fear and be ashamed of breaking out into the like wickedness 14 It is ordered and decreed by this Court and Authority thereof That wheresoever the ministry of the word is established according to the order of the Gospell throughout this Iurisdiction every person shall duely resort and attend thereunto respectively upon the Lords dayes and upon such publick Fast-days and dayes of Thanksgiving as are to be generally kept by the appointment of Authority and if any person within this Iurisdiction shall without just and necessary cause withdraw himself from hearing the publick ministry of the word after due means of conviction used he shall forfeit for his absence from every such publick meeting 5 shillings All such offences to be heard and determined by any one Magistrate or more from time to time 15 It is ordered by this Court That the civil Authoritie here established hath power and liberty to see the peace ordinances and rules of Christ to be observed in every Church according to his word As also to deal with any church-member in a way of civil justice notwithstanding any church relation office or interest so it be done in a civil and not in an ecclesiastical way Nor shall any church censure degrade or depose any man from any civil dignity office or authority he shall have in the Common-wealth It is ordered that from henceforth all lands cattle and other estates of any kind whatsoever shall be lyable
to be rated to all common charges whatsoever either for the Church Town or Cōmon-wealth in the same place where the estate is from time to time see pag. 18 19 20. Heresie Although no humane power be Lord over the Faith and Consciences of Men and therefore may not constrain them to beleeve or profess against their Consciences yet because such as bring in damnable heresies tending to the subversion of the Christian Faith and destruction of the soules of men ought duly to be restrained from such notorious impiety It is therefore ordered and decreed by this Court That if any Christian within this Iurisdiction shall go about to subvert and destroy the christian Faith and Religion by broaching or maintaining any damnable heresie as denying the immortality of the Soul or the resurrection of the body or any sin to be repented of in the Regenerate or any evil done by the outward man to be accounted sin or denying that Christ gave himself a Ransom for our sins or shall affirm that we are not justified by his Death and Righteousnesse but by the perfection of our own works or shall deny the morality of the fourth comandement or shall indeavour to seduce others to any the heresies aforementioned every such person continuing obstinate therein after due means of conviction shall be sentenced to Banishment see pag. 24. Disturbing of Churches It is ordered and decreed by this Court and the Authority thereof That if any person whether in Church-fellowship or not shall goe about to destroy or disturb the orders peace of the Churches established in this Iurisdiction by open renouncing their Church Estate or their Ministry or other ordinances dispenced in them either upon pretence that the Churches were not planted by any new Apostles or that ordinances are for carnall Christians or babes in Christ and not for spirituall or illuminated persons or upon any other such like grounded conceit every such person who shal be found culpable herein after due means of conviction shall forfeit to the publick Treasury forty shillings for every moneth so long as he continues in that his obstinacy Torture That no man shall be beaten with above forty stripes for one Fact at one time Nor shall any man be punished with whipping except he have not otherwise to answer the Law unlesse his crime be very shamefull his course of life vitious profligate see p. 50. The Testimony of John Clarke Obediah Holmes and John Crandall Prisoners at Boston in New-England concerning the faith and order of the Gospell of Christ Iesus the Lord as the same was laid down in four Conclusions and proffered to be openly and publikly defended against all gain-sayers when none would comeforth thus to oppose it now again by the aforesaid John Clarke reviewed particularly and strictly examined by the Word of God and Testimony of Iesus and thereby as is here at large to be seen confirmed and justifyed The first Conclusion ITestifie that Iesus of Nazareth whom God hath raised from the dead is made both Lord and Christ you may see this testimony clearly and plentifully witnessed and confirmed by the Scriptures of Truth for First that God raised him from the dead appears by the testimony of 12 chosen Witnesses Acts 2. 24. 32. This Jesus say they hath God raised up whereof we are Witnesses so also chap. 3. 15. And being alive again he was seeen of above 500 Brethren at once being faithfull Witnesses Children that will not lie see 1 Cor. 15. 6. And last of all he was seen of Paul whom he sent to the Gentiles see 1 Cor. 15. 8. Acts 22. 18. 21. And this is layd by Paul as the foundation of the hope of the Israel of God that they shall be raised and shall share in that glory that shall then be revealed yea it is that word of Truth as Peter witnesseth by which the Father of mercies doth again beget such as had sinned faln short of the glory of God were without hope unto a lively hope of the glory of God in an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away and is reserved in heaven for them see 1 Pet 1. 3. 4. And in the second place that God hath made this Iesus whom he hath raised from the dead both Lord and Christ see it also confirmed Acts the 2d the 36. 10. 36. 2 Cor. 4. 5. Acts 18. 5. This Iesus I say is the Christ in English the Anointed One hath a name above every name that he is not onely said to be a Christ and an Anointed one which although it be a name of eminency among men yet may there be sound many both before the time of Reformation and since upon whom this worthy name of Christ or Anointed one may be worthily called as were those names of eminency among the Israel of old as King Priest and Prophet and such as being washed in the blood of the Lamb are also Anointed and made Kings and Priests unto God and Prophets to men compare the 2 Cor. 1. 21. 1 Io. 2. 27. with Rev. 5. 10. 19. 10. I say he is not onely a Christ but that he might appear in this eminent name to have the preheminence he is called the Christ see Mark 8. 29. Io. 11. 27. 6. 69. 20. 31. which in English is the Anointed one as will appear 1 Io. 41. We have found saith Andrew to Simon the Messias being the Hebrew word which being interpreted into the Greek Language is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Christ but rendered in English as in the margent is the Anointed and hence he is called in the 9 Luk. 20. the Christ of God or in more plain English the Anointed of God suitable to this are such expressions of the spirit of God in the Scriptures of truth as these Him hath God Anointed and that with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellowes see Acts 4. 27. 10. 38. 1 Heb. 9. And that he hath a name above every name doth evidently appear for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell yea all the fulnesse of the God-head bodily that in all things or as it is in the Margent among all he might have the preeminence see Coll. 1. 18 19. 2. 9. so Phi. 2. 9. Wherefore saith the Apostle God hath also highly exalted him and given him a name above every name he hath a name above the Anointed Kings Priests and Prophets of old they being but types and shadowes of him and yet were the highest names in Israel which was a Family that had a name above all the Families of the Earth and so a name above all the names on the Earth and yet this is not all for he hath a name above all Principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not in this world only but also in that which is is to come Ephe. 1. 20 21 22. Phi. 2. 10 11. He is the Anointed Priest none to or with him in
was baptized went up straitway out of the water therefore had he been down in the water 6. That this appointment of Christ was not by sprinkling but by dipping or as it were a drowning appears in that Iohn the Baptizer his work being to baptize remains in the wilderness by the river of Iordan and afterward in Aenon and the reason that is rendred by the Spirit of God why there he abode was because there was much water there which need not have been if that appointment could have been performed by sprinkling and not by dipping See Luke 3. 2 3. Iohn 3. 23. 7. That this appointment of Christ was not to be performed by sprinkling but by diping c. appears from the nature of the Ordinance it self for it is such an ordinance as whereby the person that submitteth thereto doth visibly put on Christ Iesus the Lord and is hereby visibly planted into his death holding forth therein a lively similitude and likeness unto his death whereby onely through faith he now professeth he hath escaped death and is in hope to obtain life and peace everlasting and so to have fellowship with him in his death as to be dead with him and thereupon to reckon himself to be dead indeed unto sin Sathan the law and the curse See Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 8. 2. 3. 5. 7 8. 11. 1 Cor. 15. 29. But the planting of a person into the likness of death is no waies resembled by sprinkling but by dipping it is lively set forth and demonstrated therefore 8. This appointment of Christ sci Baptism is an ordinance whereby the person that submitteth thereto doth hereby visibly and cleerly resemble the buriall of Christ and his being buried with him so as in respect of the old man the former lusts and conversation like the Egyptians to be taken out of the way and seen no more See Romans 6. 4. 6. Col. 2. 12. But sprinkling doth no way lively resemble the buriall of Christ or the persons being buried with him as dipping doth therefore 9. This appointment of Christ sci Baptism is an ordinance wherby the person that submitteth thereto doth visibly and lively hold forth herein the resurrection of Christ declares him whose life was taken from the earth to be alive again who although he died and was buried yet was he not left in the grave to see corruption but was raised again and behold he liveth for evermore and as hereby he holds forth the resurrectiof Christ so doth he also his own being planted into the likeness therof so as to reckon himself to be in his soul and spirit quickned and risen with Christ from henceforth to live unto God the fountain of life and to Christ Iesus the Lord who died for him and rose again and so to walk in newness of life in this present evill world being also begotten unto a lively hope that in the world to come he shall be raised and quickned both in soul and body to a life everlasting See Rom. 6. 4 5. 8. 11. Acts 8. 33 35 36. Col. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 15. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 3. but sprinkling doth no way lively resemble the resurrection of Christ or the souls or bodies rising or being raised by him as the way of dipping doth Therefore this appointment of Christ was and still is to be performed by way of dipping or putting the person into or under the water and not by sprinkling And that this dipping in or into water in the name of Iesus is one of the commandments of this Lord Iesus Christ doth evidently appear Mat. 28. 19. Mark 16. 15 16 compared with Acts 2. 38. 41. 8. 36. 38. and 10. 47 48. And that it is also to be observed by all that trust in Christ as other of his commands as he is the Lord untill he come again is likewise expresly manifested to be his will Mat. 28. 20. Gal. 1. 7 8. Jude 3. 2 Tim. 2. 2. Col. 2. 5 6. Rev. 2. 25. 3. 11. Hold fast till I come Rev. 22. 14. 19. Heb. 12. 25. But to proceed That a visible believer or disciple of Christ Jesus that is one that manifesteth repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ is the onely person that is to be baptised with that visible baptism or dipping of Jesus Christ in water That a visible disciple or Scholar of Christ one that manifesteth himself to have heard him to have been taught by him and to have yielded up himself to him as his teacher is the only person c. will be made manifest 1. By the commission it self and the argument stands thus they and they onely have right to this ordinance and appointment of Jesus Christ whom the ordainer himself sci Christ Jesus the Lord hath in his Last Will and Testament appointed it to but Christ Jesus the Lord hath appointed it to Disciples and to Believers and to such onely Therefore The first proposition cannot be denyed and the second will easily be proved see the commission by which the Apostles were warranted to administer this ordinance and so must all that baptise or they will appear but usurpers Mat. 28. 18 19. All power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth saith the Lord go ye therefore and discipulize or make disciples not among the Jews only but among the Gentiles and Nations and baptize them so that if the question should have been made Lord whom shall we baptise of the Nations among the Jews and Gentiles his answer was given in the words before and he would have given no other you shall baptize amongst the Nations Jews and Gentiles such as first have been taught and by teaching have been made my disciples so Mar. 16. 16. Go ye into all the world saith the Lord and preach the Gospel to every creature to the Gentiles as well as the Jews he that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved c. So that if the question here again should be propounded who among the religious and strict Jews and the loose and profane Gentiles should be baptised the answer is plain those to whom the Gospel first hath been preached and they through that Gospel have also believed 2. By the practice of the Commissioners who were faithful unto their Lord and to the charge which he gave them and the argument stands thus Such as the faithful Apostles and first Commissioners of Christ Jesus the Lord administred this ordinance of baptism unto such and such only ought to be made partakers thereof But the Apostles and first Commissioners of Christ administred not this ordinance unto carnal babes infants of daies such as are by the testimony of the Scriptures declared to be conceived in sin to be brought forth in iniquity and being born of the flesh to be but flesh and so by nature the Children of wrath one as well as another being also untaught But to such as first were taught and were ordained by the immortal seed of the word to be born
verse 13. which proves that for which I produced this scripture and for further encouragement unto a servant of Christ to improve that Talent in his Lords service that he hath bestowed upon him 3. In the third place is declared the exceeding great countenance and rich reward which this Lord will bestow upon a faithfull servant that hath thus improved his Talent when he shall have received the Kingdome and shall return in the glory of his Father the countenance I say appears in these words he will say well or as it is in the 25 of Matthew well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful in a few things the rich Reward appears in these Enter into the joy of thy Lord or have thou Authority in my Kingdom over ten Cities be thou also ruler over five Cities c. But to proceed And in the congregation he may either ask for information to himself This was a liberty amongst the Jews in their synagogues or congregations as appears Luke 2. 46. where Christ being about twelve years old is found by his parents among the Doctors in the Temple not only hearing them but asking them questions and when he also taught in the Temple or elsewhere the people did not only hear him but asked him questions yea made objections against what was delivered without interruption and it cannot be conceived but this is much more a liberty in the congregations and Churches of Christ and therefore 1 Cor. 14. 35. where women are directed to ask their husbands at home if they will learn and the reason is given because it is a shame for them to speak in the Church it is plainly declared that men that will learn may ask in the Church for it is not a shame for them to speak there But to proceed Or if he can he may speak by way of prophecy for the edification exhortation and comfort of the whole by prophecy here I mean a plain and brief declaration of the mind and counsel of God in words significantly and easie to be understood confirmed by the words of the Apostles and Prophets of God and brought forth for the edification exhortation and comfort of the whole The 14 of the 1 Cor. will plentifully clear this truth and make this liberty good unto the Saints in the Churches of Christ and it cannot be shut out but by the spirit of Antichrist See verse 1. 5. 12. 24. 26. 30 31. 39 40. So 1 Thes 5. 19 20. Quench not the Spirit is the exhortation to him that is therby moved to speak and despise not prophecyings is the exhortation to them that are present to hear But to proceed And out of the congregation at all times upon all occasions and in all places as far as the jurisdiction of his Lord extends which is not only to the utmost parts of the Earth but also to heaven See Mat. 28. 18. Heb. 1. 2. Ephes. 1. 20 21 22. May yea ought to walk as a Child of light justifying wisdome with her waies and reproving folly with the unfruitful words therof provided c. For a warrant here see Deu. 6. 7. Mat. 5. 14. 16. 10. 32 33. 11. 19. Eph. 5. 11. Act. 4. 20. Jam. 3. 13. And so have I done also with the 3d. Conclusion the fourth followeth 4. I testify that no servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty much less authority from his Lord to smite his Fellow-servant This will be evinced to be a truth many waies from the mouth of the Lord. 1. In that it is the great commandment of this Lord to his disciples and servants to love one another and so to bear one anothers burdens who ought to have their love stronger than death so as to lay down their lives for the bretheren See John 13. 34. 15. 17. 1 John 3. 23. 4. 21. Gal. 6. 2. 1 John 3. 16. Now to smite one another is a breach of that Law of Love in a very high degree Therefore 2. The servants of Christ are called upon by their Lord to learn of him to be meek and lowly and are put thereby into a capacity to be further taught the way and fear of the Lord to increase their joy and they are such as shall inherit the earth and also heaven for they shall find rest for their souls and this meek quiet and gentle Spirit is declared by the Spirit of the Lord to be an ornament of very great price See for a proof of all this Mat. 11. 29. 21. 5. Psalm 25. 9. Isaiah 29. 19. Mat. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. but to smite is an argument of a domineering proud and lofty spirit which is far from a Spirit that is meek and lowly Therefore 3. The servants of Christ are called upon by their Lord to be so far from smiting their fellows that in case they should be smitten by others for his and the Gospels sake meerly on one cheek they should rather turn the other than seek to revenge it See Luke 6. 20. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Cor. 6. 7. why do ye not rather take wrong saith the Apostle why do you not rather suffer your selves to be defrauded but this is far from smiting one another Therefore c. 4. This Lord being also that Prince of Peace doth so far dislike such practices as these among any servants of his that belong to his house that he hath absolutely and expresly declared that he by no means will have a striker to supply the Office of an Elder or Steward therein no nor one that is of a Lordly or domineering spirit nor yet one that is froward and will be soon angry See in the first Epistle of Timothy 3. 3. Titus 1. 7. Peter 5. 3. Therefore c. 5. That no servant of Christ hath such authority from his Lord to smite his fellows doth plainly appear in that Parable Mat. 18. 34. where it is said The Lord was so wroth that he will have that wicked servant delivered to the tormentors that did but take his fellow by the throat and him that fell to smiting his fellowes in his Lords absence Mat. 24. 51. it is said The Lord shall come upon in a day when he looked not for him and in an hour that he is not awar of and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrits where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth But to proceed in the testimony where it is said No nor yet with outward force or arm of flesh to constrain or restrain anothers conscience nor yet his outward man for conscience sake or worship of his God c. That this is a truth will be made out by the Scriptures of truth and that many waies The first argument to prove it standeth thus 1. Arg. If any Servant of Christ Jesus be he high or low rich or poor have any such liberty or authority from his Lord so to do then he is able to shew it as that which may be his warrant so to