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
fact and practice to which I replyed you say the Court condemned me for matter of fact and practice be it so but I say that matter of fact and practice was but the manifestation of my judgment and conscience and I make account that man is void of judgment and conscience with respect unto God that hath not a fact and practice suitable thereunto and for the things contained in my Sentence they are rather collections which the Court was pleased to make and draw from my words than my words themselves nevertheless I do not say they were unduly collected for in truth if the Faith and order which I profess do stand by the word of God then the Faith and order which you profess must needs fall to the ground and if the way you walk in remain then the way that I walk in must vanish away they cannot both stand together to which they seem to assent therefore I told them that if they please to grant the motion under the Secretaries hand I would draw up the Faith and order which I hold as the sum of that I did deliver in open Court into three or four Conclusions which Conclusions I will stand by and defend untill he whom you shall appoint shall by the word of God remove me from them in case he shall remove me from them then the disputation is at an end but if not then I desire like liberty by the word of God to oppose the Faith and order which he and you profess thereby to try whether I may be an instrument in the hand of God to remove you from the same they told me the motion was very fair and the way like unto a disputant and thereupon concluded in my hearing and directed also their speech to me saying because the matter is weighty and we desire that what can may be spoken when the disputation shall be therefore would we take a longer time whereas therefore the time appointed was the next fift day by reason of the commencement which will be the next week and the meeting of the Elders we must defer it now untill the fift day come fortnight and so I told them to be brief I was their prisoner and should at-attend their pleasure so I returned with my keeper to prison again drew up the Conclusions which I was resolved through the strength of Christ to stand in defence of and through the importunity of one of the Magistrates the next morning very early I shewed them to him having a promise I should have my motion for a dispute granted under the Secretaries hand The Conclusions were as followeth The Testimony of Iohn Clarke a prisoner of Iesus Christ at Boston in the behalf of my Lord and of his people is as followeth 1 I Testifie that Iesus of Nazareth whom God hath raised from the dead is made both Lord and Christ this Iesus I say is the Christ in English the Anointed One hath a name above every name He is the Anointed Priest none to or with him in point of attonement The Anointed Prophet none to him in point of instruction The Anointed King who is gone unto his Father for his glorious Kingdom and shall ere long return again and that this Iesus Christ is also The Lord none to or with him by way of Commanding and ordering with respect to the worship of God the household of Faith which being purchased with his Blood as Priest instructed and nourished by his Spirit as Prophet do wait in his appointment as he is the Lord in hope of that glorious Kingdom which shall ere long appear 2 I Testifie that Baptism or dipping in Water is one of the Commandements of this Lord Iesus Christ and that a visible beleever or Disciple of Christ Iesus that is one that manifesteth repentance towards God and Faith in Iesus Christ is the only person that is to be Baptized or dipped with that visible Baptism or dipping of Iesus Christ in Water and also that visible person that is to walk in that visible order of his House and so to wait for his coming the second time in the form of a Lord and King with his glorious Kingdom according to promise and for his sending down in the time of his absence the holy Ghost or holy Spirit of Promise and all this according the last Will and Testament of that living Lord whose Will is not to be added to or taken from 3 I Testifie or Witness that every such believer in Christ Iesus that waiteth for his appearing may in point of liberty yea ought in point of duâ—y to improve that Talent his Lord hath given unto him and in the Congregation may either aske for information to himself or if he can may speak by way of Prophecie for the edification exhortation and comfort of the whole and out of the Congregation at all times upon all occasions and in all places as far as the jurisdiction of his Lord extends may yea ought to walk as a Child of light justifying wisdom with his ways and reproving folly with the unfruitfull works thereof provided all this be shown out of a good conversation as Iames speaks with meekness of wisdom 4 I Testifie that no such believer or Servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty much less Authority from his Lord to smite his fellow servant nor yet with outward force or arme of flesh to constrain or restrain his Conscience no nor yet his outward man for Conscience sake or worship of his God where injury is not offered to the person name or estate of others every man being such as shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ and must give an account of himself to God and therefore ought to be fully perswaded in his own mind for what he undertakes because he that doubteth is damned if he eat and so also if he act because he doth not eat or act in Faith and what is not of Faith is Sin These Conclusions being seen at least by one of the Magistrates notwithstanding the Message to the prison answer to my self in the Chamber promise by him that came for the Conclusions common report abroad that a disputation was granted the Court broke up and did nothing and the next second day following a Messenger was sent to the prison from the Magistrate with a release to the keeper which having received he speedily put me forth The words of the release follow To the Keeper of the prison BY Virtue hereof you are to release and set at liberty the Body of Mr. Iohn Clarke and this shall be your discharge for so doing Given under my hand the 11th of the 6th Month 1651. WILLIAM HIBBINS To be brief c. Vnderstanding that some friends had laid down the Money although contrary to my Counsell when formerly at severall times and by severall persons I was moved thereunto and perceiving now that the Countries expectation which was not a little raised touching a disputation was utterly frustrate and being
ILL NEWES FROM NEW-ENGLAND OR A Narative of New-Englands PERSECUTION WHERIN IS DECLARED That while old England is becoming new New-England is become Old Also four Proposals to the Honoured Parliament and Councel of State touching the way to Propagate the Gospel of Christ with small charge and great safety both in Old England and New Also four conclusions touching the faith and order of the Gospel of Christ out of his last Will and Testament confirmed and justified By JOHN CLARK Physician of Rode Island in America Revel 2. 25. Hold fast till I come 3. 11. Behod I come quickly 22. 20. Amen even so come Lord Jesus LONDON Printed by Henry Hills living in Fleet-Yard next door to the Rose and Crown in the year 1652. To the Right Honorable the House of PARLIAMENT and COUNCEL of STATE for the Commonwealth of ENGLAND The author humbly craves of that mighty Counseller that Prince of peace a large donation of the spirit of Counsell and of the spirit of courage with a suitable and happy success for the Peace Liberty and enlargement of these three Nations MAy it please you right Honorable in some of those few vacant hours which it pleaseth the most high whose rod and staff you are to afford unto you from those many weighty difficult and distractfull incombrances and affairs that do flow in and press upon you daily to cast your eye at least for recreation sake upon this Treatise and the rather because it contains in it matter of no small concernment as in it self so especially to your honoured selves for in the first part which is the narrative you may please to read a tragicall story wherein I hope your eye will not a litle affect your tender hearts to see such a discurteous entertainment of strangers and wayfaring-men that were passing by and tarried but for a night or two and that by their neighbours men professing the fear of the Lord as they also do who together for liberty of their consciences and worship of their God as their hearts were perswaded long since fled from the persecuting hands of the Lordly Bishops your adversaries and ours unto those utmost parts of the World to the extreme hazard of their lives the wasting of their estates and upon the point to the totall loss and deprivation of their neer and deer relations and the comforts thereof in this their native land and the rather to see this acted by that sword that hand which from your honored arm they are betrusted with and so to see your sword your power your hand misused therein In the second part which is the confirmation of my testimony by the word of God and testimony of Christ Jesus the Lord and especially in the later part thereof you that count it your greatest honour and highest preferment in this world to be servants of Christ who is indeed the Lord of Lords and King of Kings whose Sword-bearers you are as was also that Caesar although he knew it not you I say I hope shall find that he hath not required such things at your hands as generally they that have been his Sword-bearers before your selves have been apt to conceive and thereupon have been too deeply engaged in the shedding of much innocent bloud in this Land being also perswaded thereunto by their teachers who to maintain their superstitious humane invented religion and worship for filthy lucres sake it being the only curious art and craft by which they had their wealth and livings as those of old not having the two-edged sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to defend themselves and to maintain their craft against the poor illiterate and despised servants and witnesses of Jesus Christ have been forced to call for the sword of stell the power of the Magistrate to help to stop their mouthes to cut them off and so to take them out of their way and by casting a mist before their Rulers eyes they have still perswaded them That this is their office and duty to do and that hereby they did God best service with that sword with which they were betrusted whereas indeed they did but make their sword guilty of the blood of the innocent and thus were they taken off from attending upon the very thing for which this sword was put into their hands to attend upon their private and carnall interests and so were brought into a double transgression By whose errataes Right Honourable I hope the Lord will teach you to beware and by giving you a clear discerning of his mind and will in these more bright sunne-shining daies wherein the Earth begins to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea will give you to understand that as all power in earth is given to him so he to the glory of God his Father whose power and wisdome he is doth wisely manage the same by a two fold administration of power suitable to the two fold state or being of man whom in the earth and in the things thereof he hath appointed Lord that one may be called an earthly and outward administration which suits the outward man and all those outward and visible things in reference unto man that do belong thereto as he is Lord thereof and is managed by an outward visible sword of steel and by a carnall or audible voyce or word of him or them that holds it in their hand and to an outward and carnal end yet righteous just and good which being diligently attended to tends to the peace liberty and prosperity of a civil State Nation and Kingdom so far as it concerns the outward man and visible state thereof which end is the preservation of it self the whole and every particular part and person belonging thereunto safe in their person name and estate from him or them that would rise up visibly to oppress or wrong them in the same Thus in the general and to instance more particularly in case by the caution of a wholesome Law and just penalty annexed thereunto which by a carnall hand or way is presented to a carnall and visible eye or ear the Oppressour takes not warning and will not be deterred from offering violence to the person name or estate of his neighbour then by this power shall he be made responsible and be forced nolens volens so far as he is able to make it good and to restore in case any be impoverished or faln to decay in their outward man and estates by age sickness fire or by some other way or hand of GOD so far as their present strength extends by this power they are to be employed and where it fails to be relieved and that by an equall and just levy of their neigbours estates to be taken also by force in case there be not so much love and charity in them towards their poor distressed neighbours to constrain them thereunto and by the same way also to maintain itself and all other just undertakings
avoid a greater and further declares that the servant of the lord must nor strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach not to strike patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will according to which precepts of Christ we find the primitive Christians were meek and gentle and yet able by sound doctrine both to exhort convince the gainsayers who called not for carnall weapons to mannage their warfare but declared their weapons were mighty through God and either by the word and a good conversation wonne men to the acknowledgement of the truth as it is in Jesus or else left them wiâ—hout excuse together with the world unto the judgement of the great day of the Lord but now all men may see that your way is not only different from but contrary unto this precept of Christ and president of Christians and therefore cannot be esteemed any better than unchristian yet Antichristian Let not your adversary and mine Dear Countreymen fill your hearts with indignation and thoughts of revenge against him who in a faithful discharge of his conscience both towards God and you have made bold to deal plainly with you least my God to whom vengeance belongs repay it upon you and smite you with blindness of mind and hardness of heart that cannot repent but rather set before your eyes that memorable practice and worthy pattern of those noble Bereans and laying profits honor and prejudice aside if it be possible peruse my testimony and search the scriptures diligently to see whether the things contained therein be so or no if you find them so viz. confirmed and justifyed by the word of God and by the testimony of Christ Jesus the Lord then consider not I but the Lord from heaven calls upon you to break off your sins by repentance and let me hereby give you warning to take heed that you dispise not him that speaketh from heaven As touching the wrong and injury done to us you having thereby much more wronged your own souls in transgressing the very law and light of Nations doing as you would not be done unto it is in my heart to pitty you rather and to petition my Lord in heaven not to lay this sin to your charge than to complain against you or to petition your lords and ours here on earth for justice herein no no we have better learned Christ than so having also given up our hearts to be led by his spirit and to walk in his steps who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed his case to him that judgeth righteously and who knowes but that the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning hath been or may be ere long in your hearts whereby you may be made affectedly sensible that the cause is the same or very little differing from this A poor innocent traveller passeth along the Countrey upon his occasions a man having strength in his arm findeth him frames himself offended with him for no cause he hath given him and because he cannot draw him unto his party either to rob or to kill or to say amen to his practises he therefore binds him and casts him into a pit and declares himself resolute there to keep him till he hath his blood unless he will deliver him his purse the man either hath not a purse about him or a heart to deliver it and being unwilling either to part with his blood or that the other should be so deeply guilty in taking it from him he meekly and earnestly thrice moveth the strong man for a discourse and humbly entreats him that he would not seek by the strength of his arme but by the force of some arguments to convince his understanding and conscience and so to draw him as a man to his party but the strong man delaies him and so puts him off whereupon a good tender hearted Samaritan passing by and perceiving how the case stood and that the strong man would have his purse or his blood without any dispute being moved with compassion to redeem this innocent blood from the handof the strong man he delivers him his own purse and so the man is released Take it not ill that I have used so much plainess of speech for my studie is now to speak plainly and neither flatteringly nor invectively and to use plain dealing with all men although I verifie the Proverb and die a begger for as I told some of your selveâ— and that in publick I abhor dissimulation neither can I account him a wise man who doth not hate dissembling or that doth love to dissemble and therefore saith Solomon rebuke a wise man and he will love thee c. and David the King saith on this wife let the righteous smite me and it shall be a precious balm I know instruction is grievous to him that is out of the way but what saith the wise man he that hateth instruction shall die Consider I pray what hath been spoken and turn not away your eye nor your ear nor your heart from instruction least that which was said by the prophet of old Isa 9. 14 15. 16. be in you verified which to prevent is the humble and earnest request unto the fathers of mercies of Your loving friend and Couutreyman JOHN CLARK To the true Christian Reader THou maist herein Christian Reader see and peruse thy destiny in this present evill world which seems in a great measure to be subjected unto devils through which thou art to pass unto that purchased possession and promised inheritance of the Saints in light which is in that better world which is not subjected unto Angels but unto the Sonne of God himself thou maist herein also observe and take notice of the hand by whom from thy heavenly father thou art to receive that bitter cup which he drunk off when he was here below for thy sake chiefly was this treatise brought forth into the publick view I hope not to discourage thee but to strengthen thine heart that thou mightest not fear any of those things which thou shalt suffer either from men or devils for thy testimony that Jesus is the Christ it being that which will shortly appear the only prevailing and victorious truth in all the world for herein shalt thou also see that worthy saying lively accomplished If ye suffer for the name of Christ blessed are ye for the spirit of the Lord and of glory resteth upon you thou hast a worthy name called on thee My hearts desire and prayer to God on thy behalf therefore is that thou maist enjoy such a plentifull pouring forth of that holy spirit into thine heart that thereby thou maist be inabled to walk worthy of it and having so bright a beam of the Fathers glory in thy
soul it may so shine forth before the sons of men that they seeing thy good works may have cause administred to glorify our father which is in heaven It is not words now Christian although they were spoken with tongues of men and Angels when that worthy name is every where well spoken of but faith that works by love and love by works that will distinguish a heady from a hearty Christian Say not in thine heart that Christs Comands are low and his appointments carnall legal injunctions and at the best but neat for babes least hereby thine heart be declared to be vainly puft â—p in thy carnall or fleshly mind and to have too low and carnall conceits of Christ himself who is the injoyner appointer and commander thereof and shall ere long appear as Judge yea least hereby thou be declared ignorant or at the best forgetful of this one thing that it is the great design of God in Christ as to glorifie himself to admiration in poor sinful flesh so whilest he doth it to hide pride from man and therefore as he hath chosen not many wise mighty nor noble of this world but the foolish weak base despised nothings thereof so hath he suited his commands and appointments thereunto and intends through these foolish things so to cause his wisdome to shine forth as thereby to confound the wise through these weak things so to cause his power to appear as thereby to confound the things that are mighty and through these base dispised things that are not to bring to nought those noble glorious and excellent things of the world that are Thou mayst herein see gentle Reader that I have rather chosen to bear witness to the faith and order of our Lord and to shew unto the world but especially unto thee what is the mind of Christ in this time of his absence as to faith and obedience to shew I say rather what is truth which is but one than to bear witness against the ly which is so various knowing that the truth once established shall discover the falshood and light breaking forth shall scatter the darkness And whilest I lead thee forth to seek him whom thy soul loveth and longeth after who is also thy joy and thy Crown while I lead thee I say by the footsteps of those flocks that first trusted in Christ and were fed by such pastors according to his own heart as he gave them God forbid that thou shouldst be as one that wilt turn aside by the flocks of his companions and shouldst be found remaining either on the left side in a visible way of worship in deed but such as was neither appointed by Christ nor yet practised by them who first trusted in him or on the right in no visible way of worship or order at all either pretending that the outward court is given to the Gentiles and the holy City is by them to be troden under foot that the Church of Christ is now in the wilderness and the time of its recovery is not yet or else pretending that God is a spirit and so will in spirit be worshipped and not in this place or that in this way or that Well if thou beest in these waies misled I can no longer forbear in tenderness of spirit and compassionate bowels of love to stretch forth a helping hand thereby to try whether it be the good pleasure of God at this time to drop down a word of light and life and power into thine heart that thou mayest be there by awakned and quickned to be still saying within thy soul Lord what wilt thou have me to do so shalt thou hear such a saying as this Come out from among them Oh my people and be ye separate from them and touch no unsanctifyed thing and I will receive you and be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty and also such a saying as this Blessed are they that do his commands for they have right to the tree of life and shall enter in through those gates of pearl into that glorious City Rev. 22. 14. and know that these are the commandments of Jesus sci As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him and behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast yea hold fast till I come And such as may be under the later disceptions let me intreat thee to ponder these words in thine heart sci That prophecies although marvelous plain and easy to be understood cannot warrant a pure conscience to neglect much less to cast off the commandments and oppointments of Jesus neither can the spirit of Christ direct or incourage the heart of a Christian to cast off his lordship no no the spirit of Christ is hereby distinguished from that of Antichrist in that he shall unfainedly confess that Jesus is the Christ and that this Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and when he is come according to promise into the heart of a Christian he shall not speak of himself but as a messenger his office is to gloryfie Christ by taking of him and his and shewing it unto yea writing it in the heart of a Christian so that I dare boldly say there is none for the exaltation of Christ Jesus the lord according to his last will and testament and for the nourishing a lively hope in the heart of a Christian concerning his glorious return I say there is none to that holy spirit of promise who being also the spirit of truth shall guide the souls of the Saints to worship the father as in spirit so likewise in truth and therfore that spirit that speaks of himself and is so far from taking of Christs to exalt and gloryfie him according as he hath foretold and his father intended that he takes from Christ laies him low and diminisheth his glory that spirit cannot be the spirit of Christ or that holy spirit of promise and for asmuch as the spirit speaketh expresly that in these later daies there shall be seducing spirits that shall deceive if it were possible the very elect of God whose incounter will not be so much with flesh and blood but with wicked spirits in high places let me therfore exhort thee in the words of that beloved disciple of Christ beleive not every spirit but try the spirits and that by this rule whether they be of God or no bring them to the wholsome words of the holy Apostles Prophets and son of God ye erre saith Christ not knowing the scriptures and the power of God let it be thy care Christian therfore to search the Scriptures and therein to wait for the power and glory of the spirit of God And look to thy spirit for as immediately before Christs appearing in flesh Satan in a large measure possessed the bodies of men that by his casting them out his power in flesh might appear So before his coming again in glory I have grounds
did of paying the 30 l. in reference thereunto I told them moreover the Lord having manifested his love towards me in giving me repentance towards God and Faith in Iesus Christ and so to be baptized in water by a Messenger of Iesus into the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit wherein I have fellowship with him in his death buriall and resurrection I am now come to be baptized in afflictions by your hands that so I may have further fellowship with my Lord and am not ashamed of his sufferings for by his stripes am I healed And as the man began to lay the stroaks upon my back I said to the people though my Flesh should fail and my Spirit should fail yet God would not fail so it pleased the Lord to come in and so to fill my heart and tongue as a vessell full and with an audible voyce I brake forth praying unto the Lord not to say this Sin to their charge and telling the people That now I found he did not fail me and therefore now I should trust him for ever who failed me not for in truth as the stroaks fell upon me I had such a spirituall manifestation of Gods presence as the like thereto I never had nor felt nor can with fleshly tongue expresse and the outward pain was so removed from me that indeed I am not able to declare it to you it was so easie to me that I could well bear it yea and in a manner felt it not although it was grievous as the Spectators said the Man striking with all his strength yea spitting on his hand three times as many affirmed with a three-coarded whip giving me therewith thirty stroaks when he had loosed me from the Post having joyfulnesse in my heart and cheerfulnesse in my countenance as the Spectators observed I told the Magistrates you have struck me as with Roses and said moreover Although the Lord hath made it easie to me yet I pray God it may not be laid to your charge After this many came to me rejoycing to see the power of the Lord manifested in weak flesh but sinfull flesh takes occasion hereby to bring others in trouble informs the Magistrates hereof and so two more are apprehended as for contempt of authority there names were Iohn Hazell and Iohn Spur who came indeed and did shake me by the hand but did use no words of contempt or reproach unto any no man can prove that the first spoke any thing and for the second he only said thus Blessed be the Lord yet these two for taking me by the hand and thus saying after I had received my punishment were sentenced to pay 40 shilling or to be whipt Both were resolved against paying their Fine Neverthelesse after one or two dayes imprisonment one payed Iohn Spurs Fine and he was released and after six or seven dayes Imprisonment of Brother Hazell even the day when he should have suffered an other payd his and so he escaped and the next day went to visit a Friend about 6 miles from Boston where he the same day fell sick and within 10 dayes he ended this life when I was come to the Prison it pleased God to stir up the heart of an old acquaintance of mine who with much tendernesse like the good Samaritan poured oyl into my wounds and plaistered my sores but there was present information given what was done and inquiry made who was the Chirurgion and it was commonly reported he should be sent for but what was done I yet know not Now thus it hath pleased the Father of Mercies so to dispose of the matter that my Bonds Imprisonments have been no hinderance to the Gospel for before my return some submitted to the Lord and were baptized and divers were put upon the wayof enquiry And now being advised to make my escape by night because it was reported that there were Warrants forth for me I departed and the next day after while I was on my Iourney the Constable came to search at the house where I lodged so I escaped their hands and was by the good hand of my heavenly Father brought home again to my neer relations my wife and eight children the Brethren of our Town and Providence having taken pains to meet me 4 miles in the woods where we rejoyced together in the Lord. Thus have I given you as briefly as I can a true relation of things wherefore my Brethren rejoyce with me in the Lord and give all glory to him for he is worthy to whom be praise for evermore to whom I commit you put up my earnest prayers for you that by my late experience who have trusted in God and have not been deceived you may trust in him perfectly wherefore my dearly beloved Brethren trust in the Lord and you shall not be ashamed nor confounded so I also rest Yours in the bond of Charity Obediah Holmes Three things would be well minded in this relation 1 that God gave me Power to confess his name before the Sonnes of Men. 2 That he kept my tongue that I did not speak evill of men nor of Authority 3 That he gave strength to weak Flesh that it failed not This Tragedy being thus acted in the face of the Country must needs awaken and rouse up the minds and spirits of many cause sad thoughts to arise in their hearts and to flow forth at their mouthes as men offended to see Strangers professing Godliness so discourteously used for no Civill Transgression but meerly for Conscience and that by their hands who pretended that Liberty of Conscience was also the cause of their flight together with the other to the hazard of their lives by hard hearted cruell and savage Barbarians and other mischiefs which a vast and howling Wildernesse is apt to produce wherefore to stop their mouthes and to lull them asleep the old subtile Serpent as his custome ever hath been raised up a cloud of disgrace thinking thereby to darken the truth he profest and to obscure the glory that appeared in his sufferings giving out that he was but an Excommunicate and so an accursed person and that it was vehemently suspected that he was notoriously given to that filthy lust of uncleanness which God will judge and that the same was hinted in open Court and that by persons of no mean credit wherefore againe to resist the adversary who hath been a lyer from the beginning and thereby a destroyer and murderer and to deliver the Children of truth at least from his snare whereby they might be taken captive at his will he drew up and sent a letter unto the Governour of the Mathatusets Colony and desired it might be published so that the Sons of Men so far as the lye and slander might spread might be acquainted therewith The Letter followeth The 12 of the 7th M. 51. To the Honoured Governour Honoured Sir HOwever you may judge of me yet am I dayly waiting to stand before him who shall
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
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
who are such worshippers as he seekes for who as a Lord faithfull over his house before his departure gave order thereto commanded his Servants to watch and to hold fast till he come and in his absence being at the right hand of his Father is mindefull to shed abroad of that holy Spirit of Promise whereby the true worshippers shall be led from truth to truth untill they be brought into all truth And if the nature of the commanding and ordering power that suits both with the worship and with the worshippers which the Father of Spirits seeks for be also considered which is not a law of a carnall commandment seconded with carnall weapons or an arm of flesh but a spirituall law or as the Apostle cals it Rom. 8. a law of the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus spoken unto or rather written in the heart of a Christian by the Spirit of Christ by reason whereof he obeyes from the heart readily willingly and cheerfully that form of doctrine which is engraven and laid up therein Heb. 8. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 3. Rom. 6. 17. If this I say be considered that the worship is spirituall such as must begin in spring up and rise from the heart and the spirit and so be directed to the Father of spirits and so the commanding power that suits herewith must speak to the heart and spirit of a man then is there no Lord in this matter to Christ Jesus the Lord who speaks to the heart in the Spirit and his words are as commands from the head to the members which conveigh together spirit and life to obey them by reason of which his commands are not grievous for where the Spirit of this Lord is there is liberty and they by beholding the glory of the Lord are transformed into the same Image from glory unto glory by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. And that there is none with him he is the onely Lord and law-giver of this spirituall building and so of the spirits in this sense appears by such scriptures as say One is your Lord and law-giver James 4. 12. Ephes 4. 5. Mat. 23. 8. 10. and by such as say ye are bought with a price be ye not therefore the servants of men and the Apostles that had greater authority in this point than any men living yet they acknowledge they had not Dominion over mens faith and therefore declare this to be the express mind of God that the servants of this Lord must not strive as if they were Lords but be patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves or as the word imports that set themselves by covenant in opposition to that living Lord. And whereas it is declared in the testimony that this houshold of faith was purchased by his blood as Priest instructed and nourished by his Spirit as Prophet c. this will all evidently appear to be true Acts 20. 28. John 16. from the 7. to the 16. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11 12. Rom. 8. John 1. 2. 26 27. Rev. 2. 11. 17. 29. 2 Thes 14 15. 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 1. 7. And so is the first part of the testimony by the word of God confirmed and justified 2. I testifie that Baptism or dipping in water is one of the commands of this Lord Jesus Christ That this commandment of Jesus is by way of dipping and as it were by drowning overwhelming or burying in water and not by sprinkling with water appears many waies 1. In that although there be frequent mention made of that appointment of Christ in his Last Will and Testament yet is it never expressed by the word that may be rendred rantism or sprinkling but by the word that is rendred baptism or dipping 2. In that the word by which it is so frequently exprest doth in proper English signify to dip to plung under water and as it were to drown but yet so as with safety so that the party as to the manner may be drowned again and again see the instance of Naaman he dipp'd himself seven times in Jordan 2 Kings 5. 14. and to this sense of the word at least in that place both the Greek Latine and English Churches agree 3. In that the phrase in which there is mention made of such an appointment of Christ doth necessarily import such a thing and therefore when mention is made of baptizing there generally followeth that word the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is commonly translated in or into which suits with dipping and not the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies with and so suits with sprinkling And therefore it may be as well rendred I baptize you in water and he shall baptize you in the holy Spirit Mar. 1. 8. as it is rendred Iohn did baptize in the wilderness and in the River of Jordan verse 4 5. or that Iohn was in the Spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. and they were baptized in the cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10. 2. yea it may as well be rendred I baptize or dip you into water as it is rendred they were casting a net into the Sea Mar. 1. 16. for the words are the same and it would be an improper speech to say Iohn did baptise with the wilderness and they were casting a net with the sea 4. That this appointment of Christ is by way of dipping and not sprinkling appears in that for the resemblance and likeness hereunto the Israelites passing under the cloud and through the sea where the Aegyptians that were their Lords and commanders their pursuers and enemies that sought their destruction were drowned left behind and seen no more is by the holy Spirit called a baptism 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. they were baptized in the cloud c. Where observe it is not here rendred with the cloud and with the Sea as in the other place Mark 1. 8. with water because it suits with sprinkling although the word be the same but in the cloud and in the Sea which suits with dipping or overwhelming and so with the appointment of Christ they passing through the midst of the red or bloudy Sea on dry land which stood on both sides as a wall and being under the Cloud were as men in a carnall eie overwhelmed and drowned and yet truly saved and safe from their enemies 5. That this appointment of Christ was not by sprinkling but by dipping or putting the person into or under the water appears by Philips baptizing the Eunuch It is said They went both down into the water both Philip the baptizer and the Eunuch that was the person to be baptized and being there in the water Philip baptized or dipper him in that water as John did Jesus in the river of Jordan and then it is said as they descended or went down into the water so they ascended or went strait way up out of the water see Acts 8. 38 39. Mat. 3. 16. mark the expression And Jesus when he
that loved him and kept his commandments and that he intended the same unto other visible disciples that should love him and keep his commandments unto the end of the world will also appear for if the appointment of Christ sci the supper that went before and is exprest chapter the 13. and the prayer of Christ that followed after and is exprest chapter 17. did belong unto them that should believe through their word till he come again then this promise that is so often repeated between doth as well belong unto them as to these but the former is true See Iohn 17. 20. 1. Cor. 11. 26. therefore the later If the consequence be denied it will still be proved out of Christs own words See Iohn 7. 37 38. and the consideration even in reason of Christs exceeding love and tender care towards all his disciples that love him and keep his commandments and their sensible wants of the same supplies of the Spirit will clearly evince it 2. It will clearly appear out of the words of the Apostles of Christ See Iohns interpretation of these words of Christ Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he saith Iohn of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Spirit was not yet because Iesus was not yet glorified John 7. 29. See also what they all say with one mouth after they had received this holy Spirit with power whereby they were furnished as Apostles or Embassadors of him that had all power in heaven and earth in his hand to go forth with the embassage of peace into all Nations and could deliver the mind of their Lord unto them in their own language Acts 2. 38 39. Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Iesus for the remission of sins ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit for the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are a far off as many of all these as the Lord our God shall call sci to repentance from dead works to faith in Christ Iesus to this visible manifestation thereof by being baptised and so visibly planted into the death buriall and resurrection of Christ for the remission of sins 3. This will also appear by the enjoyments of those that first trusted in Christ and visibly manifested their faith and love in and to the Lord by keeping his commandments The Disciples which were also called Apostles waiting in the appointment of their Lord at Jerusalem received and were filled with that holy Spirit with power according to promise See Acts 1. 4. compared with 2. 2. So that great number that were about three or rather five thousand souls that believed through their word and were baptized in Jerusalem and waited in the appointments of the same Lord that is to say together steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer they also enjoied this holy Spirit according to promise See Acts 4. 31. The like may be found among the Saints in Samaria Acts 8. 17. in Ephesus Acts 19. And the same may be found among the Saints that thus put on Christ and walked in him among those that first trusted in him in all places See it in the Romans chap. 5. 5. and chap. 8. at large See it in the Corinthians Epistle 1. chap. 2. 10. 12. and 6. 11. 19. and ch 12. at large In the Galathians ch 3. 2. 4. 6. In the Ephesians chap. 1. 13. In the Philippians chap. 3. 3. In the Colossians chap. 1. 8. In the Thessalonians Ep. 1. chap. 1. 5 6. and chap. 5. 19. This promise is also found true in the litle children that Iohn writes to and is often repeated 1 Iohn 3. 24 4. 13. and in the 2. 27. he speaks unto them after this manner but the anointing speaking of this holy Spirit of promise which ye have received of him abideth in you and such is his supply that you need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And now litle Children abide in him c. And Iude telleth us that the very ground why some that had made a profession of the faith and order of Iesus caused divisions and offences contrary to that doctrine they had received and separated themselves was because they were sensuall not having this Spirit Iude 19 And as all this hath been proved by the last Will and Testament of that living Lord so is it also clear that his Will is not to be added to or taken from compare Gal. 3. 15. with Rev. 22. 18 19. which notwithstanding if any man shall attempt to do let him know this Lord is alive and will ere-long appear sufficiently able to avenge it 3. I testifie that every such servant of Christ Iesus may in point of liberty yea ought in point of duty to improve that talent which his Lord hath given unto him That it is their duty to improve the talent the Lord hath given unto them and that for that end it was also given will appear by those two instances of the Lord himself the first is Mat. 5. 13 14 15. Ye saith the Lord to his Disciples are the salt of the earth the light of the world c. neither do men light a candle and put it under a hushell but on a candlestick whereby he intimates that if it be far from the intention of men who are but weak and foolish in their intentions and actions to sight a candle which is for use and then to put it under a bushell and so make it useless then much further from the purpose and intention of God who is the father of lights to enlighten the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord and then to have that light concealed and with-held therefore it follows let your light saith the Lord so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven The other instance is in the 19 th chapter of Luke 11 12 13 14 15 16. to the 27. verse in which Parable is lively declared by the Lord 1. That that glorious Kingdome of God that shall certainly appear should not so immediatly appear as some thought it should for which end is the Parable spoken verse 11. and the first words of the Parable will prove the same thing for the Noble-man which is Christ Iesus the Lord must first go into a far counâ—ry to receive his Kingdome which is to the right hand of the Father there to sit untill all his enemies become his footstool and so return 2. Here is declared the order in which this Lord left this houshold when he went to receive his Kingdome he bestowed gifts or talents upon them and commands them as his servants in their severall places to occupy till he come
oppose themselVes which word signifieth a setting a mans self in an opposition to the truth in a more than an ordinary manner even by way of covenant or resolution of spirit yet are they still to be waiting with meekness upon them if God at any time will giVe them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth that they may recoVer themselVes out of the snares of the deVil who are taken captiVe by him at his will Another argument that there can be no warrant from Christ for such a practice as this is taken from such expressions of his wherein he shews his dislike thereof and it standeth thus 7. Arg. If Christ Jesus the Lord have sharply reproved and checked his servants when he hath espied such a spirit as this but breaking forth in them then can no servant of his have any countenance much less authority from him so to practise But the first is true he hath sharply reproved them when he espied such a spirit as this but breaking forth witness his words Luke 22. 24 25. c. Joh. 18. 10 11. Mat. 26. 51 52 53. 54. Luke 9. 46 47. 49 50. 52 53 54. 55 56. where it is said when the Samaritans perceived that Christs face was towards Ierusalem they did so envy him for Ierusalems sake which was the place of Gods worship that they would not receive him nor afford unto him such common curtesie as belonged unto strangers for which discurteous repulse of their Lord and master James and John in a preposterous zeal judged that they deserved to dy and thereupon moved the question to Christ in these words verse 55. Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them but what is the answer of Christ it is said he turned and rebuked them saying ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of They were scarce awar that they were hereunto moved by no other spirit than the spirit of Antichrist for saith he The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them and if he came into this world to save mens lives and not to destroy them and will have his Servants to learn of him meekness and mercy and to be as he was in this present evil world I say if he came to save mens lives even the rebellious then no servant of his can have any authority from him for such cases as these to destroy them The last Argument standeth thus 8. Arg. That which of it self is inconsistent with the civil peace liberty prosperity and safety of a Place Commonwealth or nation no servant of Christ Jesus can have liberty much less authority from his Lord to do But this outward forcing of men in matters of conscience towards God to believe as others believe and to practise and worship as others do cannot stand with the Peace Liberty Prosperity and safety of a Place Commonwealth or nation Therefore no servant of Christ can have any liberty much less authority so to do The first proposition can scarce be denyed if these things be considered sci That Christ Jesus the Lord is the Prince of Peace Isa 9 6 Heb 7. 2. and the more a man is made partaker of and led by the Spirit of the Lord which is the Spirit of Peace the more peaceable and quiet is he like to be towards all men with whom he hath to do for this Prince of Peace hath given express command unto all his Servants who are the Children of Peace in whose hearts his word stands with power as the word of a King to be at peace among themselves 1 Thes 5 13. To live in peace 2 Cor. 13. 11. To follow peace with all men Heb 12. 14. To seek peace and ensue it 1 Pet. 3. 11. To follow after those things that make for peace Rom. 14. 19. If it be possible as much as in them lyeth to have peace with all men Rom. 12. 16. Yea not to seek their own but every man anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10. 24. To seek the peace of the place where God hath bounded his habitation yea and to pray unto God for it and for the rulers thereof Jer. 29. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 2. By all which it doth evidently appear that that which of it â—elf cannot stand with the peace and prosperity of a place and nation that can no servant of Christ have by the authority of this Lord unless by a just judgement from him upon the rulers of this world for giving their power and sword to the beast thus to be abused and made drunk with the blood of the Saints which his tender heart cannot but avenge upon themselves and upon the Nations for their loving to have it so And as for the second Proposition which is this that this outward forcing of men in matters of conscience towards God to believe as others believe and to practise and worship not as themselves but as others are perswaded cannot stand with the peace liberty prosperity and safety of a Place Nation and Commonwealth this will as plainly appear in the examination of each particular thereof And first it cannot stand with the peace of a Commonwealth for as there could be no peace expected in the Israel of old so long as that harlot Jezabel who thirsted after innocent blood could at her pleasure obtain the seal and power of the King to effect her bloody design upon the servants of the Lord who withstood her Idolatrous Priests and that Idolatrous way and worship which they had set up so likewise as long as that spirituall Jezabell among those that account themselves the Israel of God who is seen in Rev. 17. 3. to ride upon that scarlet-coloured beast and to own her self as the City and spouse of that great King the King of Saints so long I say as she can by her glorious deckings and splendours so deceive and allure the Kings and Rulers of the earth to commit fornication with her and to give their sword and power to the beast that bears her up there can be no expectation of peace in the earth but still of wars and rumours of wars untill mens hearts fail them for so long as there is an outward force or power to be had to maintain and uphold the carnall interests and advantages of some upon religious accounts and to persecute others who for conscience sake towards God dare not yea cannot conform to their way What hopes are hereby begotten and nourished in some what jealousies suspicions and fears in others what revengfull desires in most yea what plottings and contrivings in all and as a fruit and effect hereof what riding running troublesome and tumultuous assemblings together and â—idings yea and outragious murderings and bloodshedings are hereby produced in a Nation to gain that power and sword to their party either to crush suppress or cause the other to conform or at the least and best to save themselves from being crushed suppressed or forced to