terrible manner Job 27.20 21 22 Terrours take hold of him as waters a tempest stealeth him in the night the east-wind carrieth him away and he departeth and as a storm burleth him out of his place For God shall cast upon him and not spare he would fain flee out of his hand All this time that God beareth with you and waits for your repentance he is whetting his sword and bending his bow and preparing for you the instruments of death and the longer the sword is whetting the sharper it will be and give the more deadly wound when it strikes you Ps 7.10 11 12 God is angry with the wicked every day if he turn not he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the instruments of death he ordaineth his arrows against his persecutors Plea 9. It brings us in great profit to go and inform against these men and their Meetings and therefore being in straits and having need of Money we take up this trade of Informing for thereby a third part of all fines will come into our Purses Ans 1. If the work you went about were so good yet it is sordid and sinful to go about such an employment from a covetous principle Teaching the Word of God is a good work and judging the causes between man and man is a good work yet when a man 's great end in these works is to get Money they become sinful Mic. 3.8.11 I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord to declare unto Jacob his transgression and Israel his sin The heads thereof judge for reward and the Priests thereof teach for hire and the Prophets thereof divine for Money 2. Judas gained thirty pieces of silver by betraying of Christ but what good did his Money do him when his Conscience was awakened and made sensible of his sin his Money was a trouble to him he was weary of it and threw it away and hanged himself Matt. 27.5 He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and hanged himself When Balaam was sent for to Balack to curse Israel and had a great reward proffered him the love of the wages of unrighteousness prevailed with him to go but what befel him in the way An Angel met him with a drawn sword and would have slain him had not the Ass turned out of the way Numb 22.32 33. And God to shew to Balaam his folly and madness gave the Ass a voice to rebuke him 2 Pet. 2.15 16 which have forsaken the right way and gone astray following the way of Balaam the Son of Bozor who loved the wages of unrighteousness but was rebuked for his iniquity The dumb Ass speaking with mans voice sorbade the madness of the Prophet They that out of love to the wages of unrighteousness will curse the Israel of God are little better than mad-men The very beasts had they power to speak would cry out of and rebuke the iniquity of these men 3. If this practise of yours be so sinful as hath been proved then what you gain in this kind is got with the loss of your Souls and if you could gain the whole world and should lose your souls you would be miserable for ever Mark 8.36 What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own Soul 4. Consider what the Scripture saith of unrighteous men and the gain they make by their unrighteous practises And I leave it to your Conscience to judge whether to get riches by causing men to be punished for praying to God and hearing his Word be not to get them unrighteously 1. All that is gained unrighteously is got with the loss of the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 9.6 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 2. All that is gotten unrighteously will last but a little while Jer. 17.11 He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and in the end shall be a sool 3. The riches you get this way will eat your flesh as it were fire the remembrance of these things in the other world will torment your Conscience as much as fire does your flesh Jam. 5.3 4. Your gold and silver is cankered and the rust of them shall witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ye have heaped up treasure against the last days Behold the bire of the labourers which have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the crys of them that reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth If the hire of a labouring man kept back by fraud cryeth and the cry entereth into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth how much more do the estates of those Ministers who have been Labourers in God's vineyard which have been by you taken away by force and violence cry unto the Lord and their crys enter into the ears of the Lord of Hosts And if the rust of the estates of covetous men who heap up Money and do no good with it will be a witness against them and will eat their flesh like fire then what a witness will all those goods be against you at the day of Judgment which you have caused to be taken away from the servants of God and how will the remembrance thereof vex and torment your Consciences even as if your flesh were continually burning in the fire Plea 10. We abhor those men that turn Informers for filthy lucre sake and look upon them as vile persons It is zeal for the glory of God and the good of the Church that makes us prosecute these men I purpose to give my part of the fines to the poor and to charitable uses therefore I hope I am praise-worthy Ans 1. Suppose it be zeal that carries you out to prosecute these men yet you may be guilty of persecution When the Apostle Paul made havock of the Church of Christ and haled the members of it to Prison he did not act for gain or preferment but out of zeal yet he acknowledgeth himself a persecutor and injurious though what he did proceeded out of a blind zeal Phil. 3.6 Concerning zeal persecuting the Church Act. 26.9 I verily thought with my self I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth And though he did nothing against the members of Christ but what he thought to be his duty yet when he was better instructed he called himself the chief of sinners for persecuting of Jesus Christ 2. An indiscreet zeal may carry a man out not only to do that which is prejudicial to himself but may bring Judgments upon the Kingdom where he lives Saul slaying the Gibeonites out of zeal to the children of Israel and Judah brought a famine which is a sore Judgment that continued a long time in the Land even three years 2 Sam. 21.1 2 Then there was a
people of God shall have such a day of trouble as never was since the world stood 2 Thess 1.6 7 8 9 It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his power CHAP. V. Humble Advice to Magistrates not to countenance these Informers nor to suppress the Non-conformist Ministers or their Meetings SEeing these Informers are wont to address themselves to the Magistrates and bring false accusations to them against these Ministers called Non-conformists informing them that they keep Seditious Conventicles and do thereby excite and stir them up to imprison or fine those Ministers and suppress their Assemblies I shall crave leave before I conclude this discourse humbly to advise and request those Magistrates to whom these Informers address themselves for assistance in their undertakings First That they would not give any countenance to this generation of men that take upon them the employ of being Informers Secondly That they do not at their instigation punish the Ministers and Servants of Christ when no other Crime can be proved against them but that they have been praying to God in the Name of his Son or that they have been Preaching or hearing his Holy Word 1. My humble request to you is that you would give no countenance or encouragement to this sort of Men. And that for Gods sake in whose stead you are placed in the world for your own sake and for the Kingdom sake that guilt and wrath come not upon your selves and upon the Kingdom for the sake of these Informers that they be not multiplyed and increased Give me leave to touch briefly on these Heads 1. You are Gods Vicegerents you stand in his Room and Rule in his stead When God made Moses Ruler over Aron and the people of Israel he tells him Thou shalt be to him instead of God Exod. 4.16 You rule and judge not for your selves but for the Lord who stands by and observes what you say and what you do and therefore you had need take heed what judgment you pass upon every man that comes before you 2 Chron. 19.6 Take heed what you do for ye judg not for men but for the Lord who is with you in the judgment And seeing you stand in Gods stead and rule and judge for him Look how the Lord God would carry himself if he were in your Places so ye ought to carry your selves whom he would encourage those you ought to encourage whom he would rebuke and reprove those ye ought to rebuke and reprove Now consider with your selves if the Lord Jesus Christ were on Earth and were in your place and these Informers came unto him to complain against his Servants for praying and Preaching and hearing his Word what are your thoughts and what do your Consciences tell you he would do in this case would he countenance or reprove and Punish them surely he would give no Countenance to such vile persons in such a sinful undertaking 2. By asisting these men you will bring down Gods Wrath upon your selves and the Nation Upon your selves To evidence this weigh what was said by the Prophet to Jehoshaphat 2 Chr. 19.2 Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that bate the Lord Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. This Wrath came upon Jehoshaphat for helping Ahab in fighting against the Syrians Here let it be considered 1. That Jehoshaphat was a great man he was King of Judah he was also a good man v. 3. Nevertheless there are good things in thee in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the Land and hast prepared thy Heart to seek God Yet neither his greatness nor his goodness kept of the wrath of God from him for helping an ungodly man 2. Ahab whom Jehoshaphat helped was a King King of Israel And it might seem good policy for one neighbouring Paince to help another Because by helping Ahab he might have had his help another time against the adversaries of Juda yet neither did this excuse him 3. The Persons against whom Jehoshaphat helped Ahab were the Syrians And the Syrians were Idolaters that Worshipped strange Gods 2 Chr. 28.23 They were also great enemies to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah Jer. 9.12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind and they shall devour Israel with open Mouth They were a People devoted to destruction 1 Kings 20.42 Now if Jehoshaphat incurred the displeasure of God for helping Ahab because he was an ungodly man to suppress the Syrians who were Idolators and enemies of Israel and Judah How can you think but that you shall bring down the Wrath of God upon your selves if you help these Informers who go about to oppress and suppress the Servants of the true and Living God while they are worshiping serving the Lord. If it be said It doth not appear to you that these Informers are ungodly men and such as hate the Lord you do not judge them like Ahab that had sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord. If you did then you might fear God would be angry with you for being helpful to them To that I answer 1. If you please to peruse those demonstrations which I have given out of the Scriptures of the Evil of their ways in the second of Chron. you may be convinced that their practices are not consistent with godlyness In some respects those men are worse then Ahab for when Ahab was reproved by Elijah for taking a possession of Naboths Vineyard which he had gotten by unjust means he humbled himself before God and Fasted and rent his Cloaths and lay in Sackcloth 1 Kings 21.27.29 But we hear of no Humilliation from these men after they have been reproved for taking into their possession other mens Goods which they obtain by undue means And as you will bring the Wrath of God upon your selves so also upon the Nation if you countenance and incourage this sort of Men. When the Rulers do not punish evil doers they bring guilt and Wrath not only upon themselves but upon the Nation where they live how much more if they give encouragement to them Nehe. 13.17 18. Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah and said unto them what evil thing is this that ye do and prophane the Sabbath day Did not your Fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this Citie yet ye bring more Wrath upon Isarel by prophaning the Sabbath They were the meaner sort of the People that prophaned the Sabbath such as bare burthens trode the Winepress sold Fish and other wares v. 15.16 And because
commit a trespass in the accursed thing and wrath fell on all the Congregation of Israel and that man perished not alone in his iniquity What was Achan's sin which brought wrath upon all the Congregation of Israel we find Achan himself confessing it to Joshuah Josh 7.20 21. Achan answered Joshuah and said Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel and thus and thus have I done When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babilonish garment and two hundred shekles of Silver and a wedge of Gold of fifty shekles weight then I covered them and took them and behold they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent and the Silver under it The sin of these Informers seems to me equal if not greater and as likely to bring down wrath upon the Nation as Achan's sin and that for these Reasons 1. The men of Jericho were God's enemies and they and their substance were accursed of God Josh 6.17 The city shall be accursed even it and all that are therein But the righteous and all they have are blessed of the Lord Ps 3.8 Thy blessing is upon thy people not only their persons are blessed but their substance also Deut. 33.11 Bless Lord his substance See also Deut. 8.4 5. Now is it not as great a sin for these men to oppress God's friends who are the blessed of the Lord and to take away their substance which is under the blessing of God as it was for Achan to take away silver and gold and rayment from the men of Jericho which were God's enemies and both they and all that they had were under his curse 2. Achan committed his sin secretly he hid what he took in his tent Behold they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent He laboured to cover his sin but these men declare their sin as Sodom They are not afraid to sin openly in the sight of all men And the more openly and impudently a mans sin is committed the more provoking to God to send down his Judgments 3. Achan confessed his sin and thereby gave glory to the God of Israel Josh 7.20 These men glory in their shame and will not be brought to acknowledge their iniquity 4. Achan was punished for his trespass all Israel stoned him with stones and burnt his house with fire Josh 7.25 But these men are so far from being punished that they oft-times go away with a reward Another instance of a whole Nation suffering for the sin of one man we have in David's case David's numbring the people provoked God to send a Pestilence which in three days time slew seventy-thousand men 1 Chron. 21.2.7 And David said to Joab and to the Rulers of the People Go number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan and bring the number unto me that I may know it And God was displeased with this thing therefore he smote Israel v. 14. So the Lord sent Pestilence upon Israel and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men Let it be considered whether those Informers that go to the Assemblies of these men to take the names of those that worship God in order to the punishing them for their serving God do not sin in as high a degree as David did in the numbring the people For 1. The numbring of the people was not without a president for it was done by Moses at God's appointment in the second year after Israel came out of Egypt Num. 1 2. But to number mens names in order to punish them for being present then and where Prayer is made to God in the name of Jesus Christ and God's Word preached hath not been practised by any persons that have occurred to my observation in reading the holy Scriptures 2. David might have pretended better things to have excused his sin than these Informers have for their practice As by numbring the people he might see the accomplishment of God's promise who promised Abraham a great and numerous posterity and all the Generations from Abraham to David were but fourteen Generations Matt. 1.17 Now that there should be a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword and four hundred threescore and ten thousand in Judah beside Levi and Benjamin that were not numbred 2 Chron. 21.5.6 When David heard this great number he might have made this use of it what a demonstration is here of God's faithfulness and power that from one and him as good as dead should spring so great a multitude of men besides women and children Besides he might have said what cause have I to be thankful to God that hath put such honour upon me to make me a King of such a numerous people For in the multitude of people is the Kings honour Prov. 14.28 He might also judge it a point of prudence conducing to his credit and his peoples safety to know his strength that having so many potent enemies on every side he might judge when and with whom to make War and Peace as it becomes a wise and wary Prince to do Luk. 14.31 But these things did not excuse David from sin God saw an irregularity in David whether it were pride or curiosity or neglecting the offering that was prescribed when the people was numbred Num. 12.13 14. I shall not determine 3. David was troubled in conscience for his sin and made an humble confession of it to God 2 Sam. 24.10 And Davids heart smote him after that he had numbred the people and David said unto the Lord I have sinned greatly in that I have done and now I beseech thee O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly But we hear of no remorse from these men 4. David offended but once in this kind but these men go on in their evil way and often renew their sin 5. David when convinced of his sin was willing to have suffered death so that God would not proceed to punish Israel for his sin 2 Sam. 24.17 And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the Angel that smote the people and said Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly but these sheep what have they done Let thy hand I pray thee be against me and against my father's house Whereby it is evident that he had no evil design upon the people when he caused them to be numbred But these men that go to these Assemblies to take names and watch them as they come forth in order to the getting them to be punished make it manifest that they have a design upon them to do evil to them 2. The actings of these Informers are prejudicial to the whole Kingdom because righteous men are the strength of a Nation and are blessings to the places where they live Zech. 12.5 The governours of Judah shall say in their heart The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God Prov. 11.11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted When Elisha was
with Balack's messengers he thought he had good warrant to go for God had said If the men come to call thee rise up and go with them Which some conceive to be spoken Ironically others by way of Indignation seeing he had tempted God by coming again to enquire of his going when he knew it was expresly against his mind He spake in anger and said Rise up and go with them Or if he had leave there was covetousness or malice or some other evil in his heart whether he had a Warrant to go or not I do not now enquire but this is certain God was angry with him for going Numb 22.22 Gods anger was kindled against him because he went And he was in danger to be slain by the Angel that stood in the way 4 If you think your selves obliged by virtue of the Law to go along with these Informers if you find nothing of Sedition in the Assembly to which they carry you if you find them met in a peaceable manner Preaching sound Doctrine praying for things agreeable to the Will of God instead of cursing them or punishing them leave your blessing upon them and say The blessing of the Lord be upon you and punish these Informers as false accusers When Balaam went to Balack instead of cursing Isiael he blessed them though he angred Balack thereby and lost great honours and promotions They that will rather curse an Israelire than run the hazard of small losses of losing their dignities and promotions come short of Balaam who yet fell short of eternal lise Obj. 3. We have yet one scruple more about these men and these Meetings if we could get over that we would not molest them and it is this we shall not be accounted the Kings friends if we do not suppress these Men but shall be accounted friends and favourers of Phanaticks If it were not for this we would not meddle with them Answ 1. This is a strong temptation upon some men to do irregular things for fear they should not be esteemed the Kings friends as we may see in the case of Pilat he was very loth to have meddled with Christ when the Jews brought him He would know what Crime they had to lay to his charge before he would do ought against him Joh. 18 29. What accusation have ye brought against this man And when they pretended he was a Malefactor Pilat was very desirous to have been excused from meddling in the case vers 31. Take ye him and judge him according to your Law And when they urged him he vindicated Christ vers 32. I find in him no fault at all And when they pressed hard upon him to crucify Christ he would have put them off again and told them he could find no fault in him Chap. 19. v. 6. They cryed out saying Crucify him Crucify him Pilat saith unto them Take ye him and Crucify him for I find no fault in him Then they plead their Law that by their Law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God vers 7. Upon hearing this that it was given out that he was the Son of God he was the more afraid to give sentence against him and sought which way to release him vers 8.9 12. Then they used this devise they tell Pilat he should not be looked upon as Caesars friend if he let Christ go If thou let this man go thou art not Caesars Friend And though he had withstood the reasonings and importunities of the Jews hitherto the hearing of this that he should not be Caesars Friend prevailed with him contrary to his judgment and Conscience to deliver up Christ to be Crucifyed v. 12 13 16. If thou let this man go thou art not Caesars Friend When therefore Pilat heard this saying he brought Jesus forth and sate down in the judgment seat Then delivered ho him to be Crucifyed If things be duly estimated these Informers that Stir up Magistrates to Punish the Kings Subjects for praying and Preaching and those that take in with them will appear to be none of the Kings Friends but rather his adversaries For 1. They that misuse Gods Ministers bring Gods Wrath upon the Kingdom as hath been before proved from 2 Chr. 36.16 They mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of the Lord arose against his People till there was no Remedy Is not this misusing the Lords Prophets and Messengers when they are Punished for Preaching Gods Word and whether are they to be reckoned the Kings Friends or Enemies that bring the Wrath of God upon his Kingdom 2. David counted those his Adversaries that prompted him to Punish Shimei when he was setled upon his Throne in Peace and yet Shimei had cursed David to his Face in the day of his distress 2 Sam. 19.21 22. And Abishai the Son of Zervia said shall not Shimei be put to Death for this because he cursed the Lords anointed And David said what have I to do with you ye Sons of Zervia that ye should this day be adversaries unto me shall there any man be put to Death this day in Israel for do I not know that I am this day King in Israel These men pray for the King and Kingdoms welfare And if David accounted the Sons of Zerviah his adversaries for stiring him up to destroy Shimei who had cursed him because he had humbled himself may we not count these Informers the Kings Enemies that seek the Destruction of these men who pray to God both in their Families and Assemblies to bless the King and Preach obedience to the King in all lawful things 3. In the multitude of People in the Kings honour but in the want of People is the Kings destruction Prov. 14.28 And therefore to Suppress Impoverish to force to flee out of the Nation so great a Part of the Kings Subjects as the Nonconformists are would be a diminishing of the People and so a diminution of the Kings Honour and Safety 3. It 's a Calumny raised by the adversaries of the Nonconformists to excite the Magistrates against them that they shall not be esteemed the Kings Friends if they do not suppress them For our Soveraign Lord the King hath been graciously pleased in several of his Declarations to testify unto his Kingdom that he hath a kindness for his Nonconforming Subjects as well as the rest of his Subjects And besides these there may be other demonstrations given that these Magistrates are true and real Friends to the King who do shelter the Nonconformists from the fury of the Informers and keep them from being persecuted for righteousness sake As 1. They are the Kings true and real Friends that uphold his throne and endeavour to establish his Throne for ever and this they do that deliver the oppressed and shew mercy to such as are under affliction Prov. 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the Poor his Throne shall be established for ever Prov. 20.28 Mercy and truth preserve the King and his Throne is upholden by Mercy Who sheweth mercy he that Punisheth Men for Praying and Preaching or he that Spareth them 2. They are the Kings Friends that bring down the blessing of God upon the Kingdom and cause him to wax great and to be so feared by the Neighbour Nations that they make no War with him And this they do who encourage the faithful Preachers and Preaching of the word of God When the Preaching of the Word of God was encouraged in Jehoshaphats days there were such eminent Blessings came upon him and his Kingdom that he waxed great exceedingly and was feared of all the Lands round about and none of them durst make War with him 2 Chr. 17.8 9 10 11 12. And with them he sent Levites and Priests and they taught in Judah and had the book of the Law of the Lord with them and went about through all the Cities of Judah and taught the people and the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kindoms of the Lands that were round about Judah so that they made no War against Jehoshaphat And also some of the Philistins brought Jehoshaphat Presents and Tribute Silver The Arabians brought him Flocks And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly FINIS ERRATA'S PAge 14. l. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 29. l. 22. we think we do well p. 40. l. 4. 1 Sam. 12 23. l. 6. way p. 42. l. 18. 2 Kings 10.1 c. p. 55. l. 17. belly l. 46. 2 Ep. Joh. v. p. 56. l. 20. wallow p. 75. l. 33. overthrow l. 47. will ye p. 77. l. 5. spake l. last r. brake p. 78. l. 2. brake
famine in the days of David three years year after year And David enquired of the Lord and the Lord answered it is for Saul and his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites and the children of Israel had sworn unto them And Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah 3. Those alms which you give to the poor out of these mens estates that are fined for meeting together to pray to God and to hear his Word are no way acceptable to God For 1. He loves judgment and righteousness and hates those Sacrifices which are taken by Robbery from other men and then presented to him for a Sacrifice Is 61.8 For I the Lord love judgment and hate Robbery for burnt-offering 2. He that would give alms which may be acceptable to God must give alms of what he getteth righteously Matt. 6.1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them Some copies render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Beza observes Take heed you do not your righteousness before men Alms may be called righteousness because they must be of goods honestly and righteously gotten Your alms We must give alms out of our own not other mens estates 4. Those that sought to build up Zion with blood took the ready way to destroy Zion Mic. 3.10 12 They build up Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field and Jerusalem shall become heaps Plea 11. We hate these men and know not how to find an occasion against them except it be in the matters of their God and this is a ready way to be avenged of them Ans 1. If you hate these men then you are Murtherers in God's account and shall have no part in his Kingdom 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him 2. Though men cannot see the spite that is in your hearts but it may be covered over with fair pretences yet God seeth it and he will requite it Ps 10.14 Thou hast seen it For thou beholdest mischief and spite to requite it with thy hand 3. Suppose any that come to these Meetings have done you wrong yet you ought not to avenge your selves but to overcome evil with good Rom. 12.19 21 Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine and I will repay saith the Lord. Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Much less should you for the offence of one man seek to be revenged of an Assembly of men As Haman when he had taken offence at Mordecai sought to be avenged of the whole race of the Jews which proved his overthrow Plea 12. We think may others say that some of these men are righteous persons and mean well but they disturb the peace of the Church and their preaching causeth division in the Church for by their means are Families divided and some go one way and some another And this makes us labour to suppress them because the good of the Church is to be preferred above the good of particular persons Ans 1. If you grant these men to be righteous men you had need take heed how you persecute them What Job said to his friends Job 19.28 But ye should say why persecute we him seeing the root of the matter is in him That you should say why persecute we these men seeing the root of the matter is in them seeing they are of the same faith with us and walk in the fear of God 2. If by the Church you understand the body of Christians who embrace the Doctrine of the Gospel and walk in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the Lord Jesus then these men are a great part of the Church and are not the disturbers of the Churches peace For whom do they molest whom do they persecute They are desirous to live at peace among themselves and to have peace with all men as much as in them is These Informers and their adherents are the disturbers of the Churches peace who persecute men professing Faith in Christ and walking in all the Ordinances of the Gospel for worshipping God If by the Church you mean the Pastors and Teachers of the Church these men do not molest the conformable Clergy in their executing their Ministerial office As for such of them as are sound in the Faith holy in their Lives faithful Preachers of God's holy Word They say the Blessing of the Lord be upon them and rejoyce to hear when they convert Souls to Christ And in this sense also Informers are the disturbers of the Church for their great design is to molest and persecute the Pastors and Teachers among the Non-conformists rather than any other persons 3. Great divisions arose in the Jewish Church upon the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ Families were divided upon his preaching some were for him others were against him Fathers against their children and children against their fathers Luk. 11.51 52 53. Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided three against two and two against three The Father shall be divided against the Son and the Son against the Father The Mother against the Daughter and the Daughter against her Mother The Mother-in-law against the Daughter-in-law and the Daughter-in-Law against the Mother-in-law Was Jesus Christ to be suppressed was his preaching to be blamed because of these divisions that followed upon it Far be it from any man to say or think so In like manner if divisions and distentions arise in Families and among Relations upon the preaching of the Ministers of Christ neither they are to be suppressed nor their Ministers to be blamed Yea it may be further added that the preaching of the Conformist Ministers also doth cause dissentions and divisions in Families and Parishes when many Families in one Parish will repair to hear the Ministers of another Parish and that in great numbers so that some Congregations where Ministers are eminent are thronged others scarce any hearers at all yea in the same Families in London and other places several in the same Family do repair to several conforming Ministers of other Parishes And some Persons of Quality zealous too for Uniformity do constantly desert their own Ministers to hear some other they better approve of taking all or the greatest part of their Families with them and for years together yet I suppose these Informers judg not themselves obliged out of their love of the Churches peace to prosecute these Ministers and their hearers the one for preaching and the other hearing Plea 13. We are convinced we have done evil but you should not have reproved us so