selfish which that there may be danger of we admonish or else give our thoughts may be from the minde of the Lord in this thing also That then our Christian friends and neighbours the Godly of the Parish yea one or two of these bodies may for the honour of Christ the Vindication of the Gospel yea and for the good and humbling of the guifted Christian brother with a great great deal of humility grave and godly exhortation call in and take back his Commission with a dehortation to exercise any more for the present yet after a full manifestation of his godly sorrow not for a week moneth scarce three or four let it be returned and when ever it is with a great deal of grave exhortation yea and prayer among your selves yea ordain none nor Ticket none without that nor let never none claim to or look upon himself as an absolute Minister but as a kind of assistant much lesse to meddle with many things quite out of their sphere as baptizing burying ministring the Sacrament or any such kind of works for these are without dispute the proper office of the Minister who hath the charge of the place and not of these who help onely of good will exercising not every day so constantly as the Minister better misse three Lords dayes than not hit one my meaning is not good and sound matter and now I think how they were served that went to cast out Divels Acts 19. 15 16. upon whom the evill-Spirits fell and cryed out against wounding tearing and sending them away naked and ashamed so say we haply a Ranter vain or ungodly man may attempt to imitate or do in vain glory but let all such take heed the beadel people or Church-wardens do not fall upon them nothing will preserve a man from mischief but sincerity in such a case therefore let all take heed what they attempt from the example of these vagabond Jews and how they do disturb any congregation or come with teares vain wanton notions or delusions of the devil to disturb our holy worship and in case such a man do come mark the sting or poyson of the adder and mildely give a hint of that the Justice will take course if he come too often but for once he may passe as he is but no more by no meanes But as I said but now Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites will storm and grieve exceedingly notwithstanding all these cautions and cry down for pride Schism faction new doctrine and I know not what yea a legion of lyes they will raise against it but this is one yea a thumper to cry out so unlesse it be in this sence they mean it hath been lying by a long time we do confesse yea and up by Antichrist but be it new or old it must be sold and broached every day an old suit or fashion long laid by is a new when put on again an old Antichristian Errour is the like when it is new broached but we are sure this Gospel-truth spurn'd at by the Ministers whilst they send a Post to Scotland for you know what and what it cost is no new thing but an old thing and that must not be despised nor the old customes of the Saints in the Primitive times too Take a bundle of Texts and weigh them at your leasure we are in haste too Acts 8. 4. 8. Acts 18. 28. Acts 17. 11. Acts 11. 19 20 21. Heb. 3. 13. Heb. 10. 24 25. Jud. 20. 1 Thess 5. 11. 14 19 20. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 2 Pet. 1. 20. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 9. James 5. 19. 20. Mal. 3. 16. Isaiah 2. 3. Joel 2. 28. 1 Cor. 14. 34. Col. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 2. 14 15 16. Phil. 1. 16. 17. Num. 11. 26. Mar. 9. 38 39. Surely some of these are to the purpose and never a one in the Biblâ— lookes with a full and broad face against us But to come to the old matter Well are you for the work or are you not You bondmen to the Ministers five to Mr. such a one and ten to Mr. such a one yea and it may be twice as many to another Oh ye captive daughters of Sion Isa 52. 2. Yea Sinah I had almost said the children of the bond-woman Gal. 4. 22 25. But the Lord make you free whose freemen you are if you be Believers have you never read that Text If the Son make you free you are free indeed John 8. 36. We know he hath yea we cry aloud Come out of her my people all kinde of Antichristian bondage and how fast are you in yea tyed by the leg to one Pew or one Pulpit daring scarce for your life misse one Sermon in a whole year of one mans Preaching when a hundred may be five are as good within a mile round here in the City but still you ly groaning under such a one and such a ones Cushion as it were where he beates the Law yea breakes your heart or at least puzles and fills your soul with doubts yea almost quite off from believing that your sins are pardoned which were pardoned long ago For the Lords sake do not sigh and cry if I have not all grace I have none all faith yea to remove mountains especially that of Repentance which they branch out fourty waies sometimes thirty of them in impossibilities hast thou a loathing of sin love and liking to Christ Faith in and on Christ to act and fetch comfort from Christ it is enough yea hast thou nothing of all this Believe thy sins pardoned and they are pardoned yea believe it to be so really and they are as sure as the Lord lives fetch strength from that wash thy face dip thy head back and belly in the blood of Christ the Fountain set open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in Zech. 14. 1. Yea dabble day and night thy soul there especially in your hot dayes of temptations and accusations yea in such dayes lay alwayes by your thoughts in the Fountain dipping and diving of your souls like the little dive dapper in the mean time put on thy beautifull garments Isa 42. 1. and come away and do not cry I am for Paul and I am for Apolos I am for Cephas 1 Cor. 3. 22. I am for Christ for so do many say dividing him but will you be for us and our old work you that say you are for Christ we are in his way and for his work and resolved upon it by the grace of God you are for Christ in one we for Christ in every man Yea to make him known to every man like Philip we would call Nathaniell John 1. 45. Run and tell yea Preach we was about to say with the woman of Samaria and with the Angel shew where men have laid by Christ and Religion too in these times yea where and when again he is risen in the souls of his and with Stephen witnesse these things almost with our blood I do not see Stephen now I
Spirit their hearts being warmed with the breath thereof might not they then add a word or two of their experience O how sweet would that be from the sence of Gods love so to do one hour before or after would fit us for or fasten those things which now too soon we loose thus might we prophesie how sweet and lovely would the Assemblies of the people be yea how primitive like then would all our deerest brethren return again never more to separate from us but would be as lamps and pillars in our Assemblies And why may not these Jewels and their Lustre shine as well there as where few resort O my Lord bring them forth that have lyen among the pots they will be as doves whose feathers are covered with yellow gold yea let the world see the gifts and graces of the sonnes of Sion more precious than choice silver say unto them upon whom the glory of the Lord is risen arise and shine for their feet are beautifull and their God will be admired yea then will Satan and his Kingdom fall like lightening before the Spirit of the Lord men will not disdain the Saints nor perish for want of knowledge as now they doe whilst they think they have as much as any not knowing what the Saints through grace doe then will the boules of the Temple be usefull indeed other men have laid them by but bring them you out that every one may drink from their experience the waters of life receive the bread of life for that is that we promise now to break and nothing of self further be it from us ever to broach schism faction treason or rebellion yea any thing more than one thing our Lord Jesus Christ his loves and loveliness yea nothing but faith Christ his righteousnesse healing and practicall points we promise to preach nothing else but these things and the humility of Christ for our example nor will we ever slight those stars that â—ed us first to him no no they that travelled with us and pointed out the Lamb of God before us shall never be forgotten if they will be quiet they are our Fathers and woâ—thâ—â—wel of double honor yea we will ever â—ow to tâ—em as Joseph did to Jacob. And now my Lord our old Friend and good Friend will you hear will you help us your â—â—llow members once again in this â—iâ—k of time why should others have the honour from you try and try us by whom you please yea set up such as may do it and the God of heaven set up you in the hearts of his My Lord we fear not the touch many will be â—â—t though most are not so in any measure leâ— them be unbyassed not all of the Cleargy and try us while they will they will find men enough we desire not to run before so sent by you or they nor then out of our calling to the charge of the Nation but here and there as Providence leads to witnesse for the Truth most in our Parishes where our walking is known O my Lord this were Christian liberty indeed this were to be freed from Antichrist to purpose Men talk as if after all we should go back again far be that from the Israel of God and as far be it from you to withhold your hand from this work of his give us this Jewell long lost make up this breach and give us liberty as in the dayes of old and then we will lift up our heads yea voices and sing together yea we will never more complain but sing the songs of Sion and her deliverance fully come and under God and Christ you shall have the glory yea the glory of all we are or have in this particular Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands so have you but Solomon built the Temple and so have you when these tryed stones are laid in every place yea you have then done more for Christ the Saints the World the Souls of men than all the Christian Kings and Princes that ever was none has had a heart nor none has had a hand for this nor none are in memory of Saints to purpose but you shall be for ever yea let our tongues cleave to the roofe of our mouthes if we forget your labour of love in this particular yea though we or some of us have railed at you yea prayed to blast you in your late Proceedings yet will we â—â—g you in our bosomes and say you are more righteous than thousands To wind up all you know our mindes consult not with â—â—esh and blood nor byassed men The Lord Jesus and his Spirit hold you close to the rule keep you waking night by night on your bed to weigh our Petition and if it be right hear us as ever he should hear you in your heart-sick-dying hour when you and this world must part O my Lord hear us we are his though all of his are not with us yet thousands are and why and how can be against us the Word and Spirit is for us yea God himself My sons and my daughters shall Prophesie be not you against us nâ—d none but you can hinder yea against him who hath been your salvation all along yea and them too which at your command have shed blood and lost blood life limbes and relations yea and all upon this account more than any Israel never fought with Amalek on so low account as pay nor we with our neighbours for vineyards shadows and titles no no let it never be said in Gath nor published in the streets of Askalum here or in other countries we destroyed towns cities fired houses spilt the blood of millions and sent souls to heâ—on so low account one valley ful of sculs and bones are more worth than these besides former vowes would be minded and in this the main is paid death would be minded and for this you may take comfort judgment would be minded and for this you may expect a Crown if for any work under heaven O my Lord to have a Crown from Christ with this saying Weldone and Welcome when Kings and Captains shall run to the rocks hills and mountains This is considerable may such considerations ever well in great ment hearts and flatterers far from all your Councels for if you should miscarry good had it been if you had never been or any thing but what you are The Name of Christ the honour of God the expectation of the Saints the eyes of all the nations round about are more on you than any man on earth the Lord God Almighty and the Prayers of his People lead you and your Councel in all wayes of well-doing LEt us now treat a little with the people of the Nation I mean common Protestants that do confesse Christ and that is all and me thinks we hear most of them rail laugh and jear others judging and condemning us for proud fooles and hypocrites and such as if â—et alone will spoil the
seems to be given us for this very purpose 1 Cor. 12. 6 7. again is it not Prophesied we shal be able so to do Joel 2. 1 Thes 4 8. Rom. 8. 16. 1 John 46. 13. Is not this Spirit that thus dwels in us a teaching Spirit as well as a pleading or a preaching Spirit as wel as a praying yea are not we bid to covet and desire that it may be so Minde those Texts wel and give a Sermon on one of them if you dare at White-Hall 1 Cor. 14. 1 5 30. but ye are all of you to shie this way yea I think scarce any of you good men that can freely say as Moses Num. 11. 29. I would all the Lords people were Prophets and with Paul I rejoice that Christ is preached though it be of ill will Phil. 1. 15 15. But you grieve although we preach Christ of good will judge us to be selfish proud and self-conceited the Lord pardon we do and in his presence professe what we do we do in love and obedience though you say in pride the Word of Christ which we preach thus in good will seems to be committed to our care and charge as well as yours Contend earnestly for the faith Jude 3. once delivered to the Saints that is the doctrine of the Scripture which we are to dispute pray and preach up you tell us of Corah Dathan Vzza's staying of the Ark 1 Chron. and would fain frighten us from the Work of God What things the people were forbidden they might not do but what we are commanded we may and must do and we are bid to build up one another pray with and for one another admonish and Prophesie to one another yea all Prophesie one by one 1 Cor. 14. 31. meaning not in an extraordinary way but in an ordinay way of opening Scriptures Prophesies and Promises to one another you tell and fright us with what men were forbidden to do we tell you of what we are bidden and commanded thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy brothers head but come ye and tell us what judgement did befall upon Apolos or Priscilla and Aquilla that preached unto him Acts 18. 26 28. Pray tell us if you can in the next the meaning of this Scripture 1 Cor. 14. 24. But you object and cry out this kinde of Doctrine and if all might preach will fill the Church with Errors from whence comes that Christ is of another mind Math. 22. 29. We are called not you sayes the Preachers to one place and people in an outward way they are so yea some to two or three but that we know no warrant for nor well which flock they are charged withall we are not with any not is it our duty to make it our whole businesse as it is yours and not to write newes make strife accuse us to or the Magistrates to us you say the Priests lips were to preserve knowledge now the Spirit is poured out upon the people breaths in and from the people this is a better help to us then the gift of tongues The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and that learning cannot 1 Cor. 2. 14. yea this Spirit leads us into all truth when men leads us by many times but here comes in the great one If ye preach ye will baptize in a little while No no we deny that and it may be are not for it as you are or the baptized Churches either more of Mr. Dells judgement the Spirit Baptism but we think some of us thinks so that believers may break bread together though it be most convenient for a Pastor and Preacher in office yea the dead may bury the dead and who will unlesse he be a fat hog or rich Saint yea the best Text in the Bible is scarce good enough for either this in practice you alow and now cryes some we will have no Preachers at all within a little while God forbid we should say so and yet will we bake brew and dresse meat for our selves yet do we not destroy the Trades nor your peculiar calling in all that we stand for nor do we ever intend to set it up more then he the profession of a Lawyer that studieth the Lrwes for the good of himself and some few friends or many for whom he freely pleads now and then but you like not that neither Well we have hinted at our judgement as well as we can in a sheet or two and what have we said to offend you ourself denying godly Pastors truly nothing we should think but now happily we may and yet we will hide our Fathers nakednesse with the mantle of modesty minding our distance you cry out for our affections we for our affliction yea all of us for our Liberty the truth is you rob us and chide us but loosers best may speak you cry out for honour we freely give you double our dutie it is and yours to be diligently in the Word of Christ withholding nothing of his minde from us Acts 20. 27. But however see you be John the Baptists self-denying men John 3 30. and such as give all your glorie to Christ owning his Members and the gifts of his Spirit every where and God will give you honour He that honours me him will my father honour John 12. 26. yea and all the Saints too Again would you honour us now and then in our meetings where we may erre and do what we please for all you we should honour you more in your Pulpits yea this condescension would bring the world to a love and liking of the Saints Assemblings Heb. 10. 25. which now they throw dirt on you not commending them so much as in your Pulpits but revile them too often you cry out of Errors more then needs many times yet too many are we do confesse but to put the Divel Pope Jesuites Anabaptists Antinomians together meaning Gospel Ministers I think as a great Presbyterian Minister lately did in his Prayer then cryed out the Lord confound the designes of them all or worse seems something bitter and why might not liberty be given to object in such a case without offence Sermon being ended you would weigh the more what you sometimes pray and preach yee too often read from a Paper and we grieve the lesse when we hear such kind of things but we will wind up all lest we should offend too much where we love honour Our request is in the name of Christ our Lord and yours that ye would be faithful in this controversal points and iâ— in truth our desires be according to the minde of God as certainly they are for the glory of his Name the exaltation of his Son and Spirit and against sin and Satans Kingdom wicked men divels and the works of darknesse yea if it be against ignorance the mother sin of the Nation whereby souls perish Hos 4 6. and go down to hell every hour in the year one where or
one for an Antinomian and the other for a Flyer Yea sometimes a Lyer to make up the number of the Hereticks because you for the present it may be do not see them yet trulie for my part I do love exceedingly to see a Preacher as well as hear him yet I must confesse they flye sometimes higer than I can well tell yet or see where they are or hear either what they say understandingly which I do not well like not dare not too hastily judge I know but in part Yea saith Paul we all know but in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. But when I do consider Christ and the Apostles most of which slew very low Yea preached according to the understanding and best advantage for the people that is a good rule but to flye to high is dangerous and unprofitable one may get a fall and the other two be dazled Yea stagger in his judgement and misled it may be in judgement from the Lord for want of love to plain truths 2 Thes 20. 11 12. and too much too high Disputes the fruit of spirituall pride so I like not men too high but as heavenly as they will in Emblems Divine things and Meditations Yea I say I love to hear men so Preach and they take us up like John in the Spirit Rev. 1. 10. or Paul in his rapture but these are still in New-England Old-England hath but few so many changes have been of late and every change distempers some Ministers halfe a year at least after Mr. Loves head how long before the Presbyterians settled right to the work of Preaching Christ up down self Yea are they yet at it especially the latter I do not know but I have heard a little But will you hear a fool and Friend gladly by way of advice Iob and David did so of you know whom will you lift up Christ more in Prayer Yea your selves and the Saints in what God hath done for us in a way of praises Eph. 1. 34. 56. as well as what we are by nature and that is bad enough in our selves yet in Christs righteousnesse we are still righteous Minde that however confesse no more then you are guilty and in that confession distinguish between men and men and this hint to in your preaching and I shall presume no more Lift him up there who is the true brazen Serpent Iohn 3. 14 15. for every eye to look on Spread upon the pole of the Crosse with his Crown of thornes fast nailed to the Law yea justice of God for satisfaction and so let his side run freely yea tell the world of his Speech Wâ—man behold thy son Iohn 19. 26. Yea sinner sinner thy Saviour for it is thee he calls as well as she and when ye have clearlie so done by right distinguishing between the Law and Gospel what he hath freely done for us Yea to the uttermost farthing and what he requires of us more then he hath given or promised to us and so ye give us the very man that once looked down from Mount Olives Luk 19. 41. with soul-longings for us Yea ye give us then the very names of Christ Jesus the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of of the world Iohn 1. 29. before Repentance and from thence gives right repentance never to be repented of world without end Amen Will ye try a little this Doctrine and give us this wine reserved for the latter age Iohn 2. 2. at least one cup full now and then and you will draw the hearts of all men more then you do unto Christ and your selves and off from all sin and sorrow yea our lives will be better and our stirrings quicker when you pour this oyl of gladenesse upon our heads and hearts And now you that have it come away to the old work and Petition for our Liberty to preach the Scapegoat Lev. 16 21. the Paschall Lamb Exod. 12. 21. the brazen Serpent but some a little scruple at this namely our Call if it be but so a little scruple come away never be too nice in a good Work for an honest heart 't is for thousands indeed it is so Oh but it is divelish and damnable saith many of our Brethren honest sincere and godly ones say and think so happily because they have been taught so that they have been the truth of it is too much but for these that thought so and was once of that judgement will you still maintain it therefore I hope not so again many see and will not see but are sinfully silent marry pray God some great Ministers be not so well when one comes t'other will the people yea both in time how many of the latter would not come to a meeting till they found the sweetnesse but then like some cattell having tasted sweet corn how did they run and cry come husband come wife let us go to such and such a place to day there is a very sweet meeting ten or twenty of them in a Parlour they begin and end with Prayer two or three speak but one at a time all to one point I am sure by the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 13. it was so sweet and did warm my very heart and soul saith one that hath tryed Well will ye try now you that are against the publick exercisings of the People Oh but I am not for that yet Why A private life is good but a publick Saint is best if a Private meeting of ten or twenty Believers and others be so sweet the latter saying nothing nor the former but about forgivenesse faith and Repentance how God pardoned them and how sweet it was what now they will do and how much through grace love again this God and that the Lord is gracious in himself in his Son and Promises he is good to all yea all his works saith one yea to Saints and the worst of sinners Yea saith a third or else I had been in hell believe you saith a fourth Saint to the Sinners then Yea you may believe now look unto him and be saved straight from that Text Look unto me all the ends of the earth and be saved Isa 45. 22. Leave and loath your sins after this home runnes the sinner and cryes God was amongst them makes restitution straight crying out with David Away from me all ye workers of iniquity Psal 6. 8. which another hearing of cryes this was good if it were so alwayes when they meet to Preach but they wrangle much fall out and judge one another very seldome we assure you aâ— our set meetings carried on by a knot of true lovers sober able Christians but from whence comes the Errours some cry we have none amongst us we answer for our selves in two or three meetings that we know but do hold the same truths with our Ministers in every particular Yea we are baptized into one and the same faith with them by the same Spirit through the same blood 1 Cor. 12. 13. Yea we