The Faithfull NARRATIVE OF The late Testimony and Demand made to Oliver Cromwel and his Powers on the Behalf of the LORDS PRISONERS In the Name of the Lord Jehovah Jesus Christ King of Saints and Nations Published by Faithful hands Members of Churches out of the original Copies to prevent mistakes and misreports thereupon To the Faithful Remnant of the Lamb who are in this Day of great Rebuke and Blasphemy ingaged against the BEAST and his GOVERNMENT especially to the New Non-Conforming Churches and Saints in City and Country commonly called by the Name of Fifth Monarchy-men Numb 16.5 Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near to him even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near to him therefore take you Censers c. Gen. 42.16 And ye shall be kept in Prison that your words may be proved Printed in the year 1654. To the little Remnant of the Lamb against the Beast and his Government Some may wonder what we mean the meanest of all the flock to be so publick and it may be our Dearest Brethren the Lords prisoners at Lambeth Windsor and elsewhere but they know Necessity by experience is the most absolute plea now up and a prevalent Argument to all parties interest and purposes good and bad we wonder the Heathens worship her for a Goddesse for she doth great things now adayes too in England but we leave the Heathenish Necessity or Court craft-Principle and to take up the Heavenly Necessity or Conscience-Principle which they explode They themselves who use to create necessities for themselves have created some for us too by their ordinary or rather extraordinary disease amongst them viz. the flux of words and running Fistula of Lyes or blasphemies of abominable savour Our faces blush whilst our hearts turn within us at the whorish Impudence and Imprudence of such politick State-Professours who with their Stage-Devotion dare blaspheme the name of Christ to make Lyes their Refuge as they do at this day We had interded this following Discourse for all us should have lain a while in silence had not some who thought us and this fast asleep sought to murder and cut the throat of the truth and of this Testimony with their notoriously false and oblique Reports but that they may see the Truth though like the two witnesses for three years and a half may lie for slain yet it shall rise again and stand upon its feet yea in such a manner with life from God as will put all the Time-servers to their trumps too and throw this self-seeking Generation of pitiful Muck-worms mercenary carnal and Court affected professours into a pannick fear and ague agony-fit ere long but in the interim Truth is sweet to us because it is Gods not ours and the more it is persecuted we entertain it and trust through grace to live and die with it because the Kings Christs image is upon it though Cesars be not nor will it take the grosse impression of the present Army for the metal is too good to take the stamp of Apostates Therefore with all tendernesse candidnesse and faithfulnesse without respect to any one man more than another and meerely for the poore-persecuted Truths-sake whose sighs and cryes and grones and tears by reason of those unsupportable injuries inhumane abuses and violences offered her have pierced our hearts and prevailed with us whether we will or no or rather we think we may say the spirit of Christ in us to this faithfull Publication those passages in Isa 59.14 and 13,14,15,16 being often repeated in our minds to wit viz None calleth for Justice nor any pleadeth for the truth they all trust in vanity and speak lies they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity they batch cockatrice egges and weave spiders webs c. In transgressing and Lying against the Lord and departing away from our God speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of Falshood and Judgement is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter yea the truth faileth and be that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey and the Lord saw it and it displeased him that there was no Judgement And he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessour therefore his arm brought salvation unto him and his righteousnesse it sustained him c. But besides other Reasons should we be longer silent the three following would fall foully upon us 1. For that some of Satans Surrogates the Court Pensioners and Pamphleters have let fly many filthy lyes and false reports about City and Country to possesse them with prejudicate apprehensions and mis-informations about us For it is Machiavils principle and Court policy as soon as their false reports are given against the truth by mercenary creatures to second the charge and make way for their Masters to fall upon the bones of the truths Abbettors and Fautors This we finde State-policy in all Histories and Ages and the practise of proud Tyrants Pedagogues and persecutors first creating lyes against the Saints and then bringing them into sufferings when once they had made them sufficiently odious so that no eye might pity them thus Isaiah was reported for a lyer Jeremiah a traitor Daniel a rebel Christ a blasphemer Paul a pestilent fellow the Apostles stirers up of sedition and preachers of new laws and doctrine and such as would subvert all Magistracy and Ministry laws and Customs and all then present This principle and practice is revived again under this Government Nero like to inrobe the faithfullest of the assertors of the truth and testimony of Jesus with Bear-skins then to bait them with their Mastiffs or Blood hounds like men that will report their dogs mad when they have a mind to hang them so doubtlesse the lyes raised against the poor Saints trampled upon and traduced now every where especially the Lords prisoners Mr. Feak M. Rogers and others c. are precursory to some base if not bloody designe against them Therefore it is they give out that they are railers lyers stirrers up of sedition and tumults enemies to Government Magistracy Ministry and Laws and Evill-doers and what not as Persecutors use to do of old What is pretended against Mr. Rogers may appear in what follows who refused to make a full or formal reply without it were in an open Court by a just and legall tryall according to honest and known laws Therefore and for no other reason as he declared to them in our hearing was it that he declined to Answer and not because he was non-plust not able or afraid to answer or the like as the Court-creatures who have made it their imployment for some dayes to blaze lyes about have most wickedly and untruly reported but the truth is they all seem to be given up over head and ears into strong lyes and delusions For
be as evil doers O.P. I cannot tell you then how to help it B. H. For my part I must declare against you and will venture my life if I be called to it with these our brethren that suffer B. Cr. As for those Articles we have heard them read against our bro. Ro. out of his Sermons preached at Tho. Apost and from what he prayed at Th. Apost Set aside but what is put in by your Informers which we wil take our Oathes that heard them all preached were never spoken by him only I say that excepted we will live and die with him upon those Articles will own him with our lives Yea said Mr. Ro. and I believe an hundred will that heard and writ them O. P. Well saith he I 'll send for some of you ere long but I have lost this time and have publike business upon me at this time I had rather have given 500 l. I tell you there wants brotherly love and the several sorts of Forms would cut the throats one of another should not I keep the peace Ro. Those you call Fifth Monarchy-men are driven by your Sword to love one another O.P. Why I tell you there be Anabaptists pointing at Mr. Kifsin and they would cut the throats of them that are not under their Forms so would the Presbyterians cut the throats of them that are not of their Forms and so would you Fifth Monarchy-men It is sit to keep all these Forms out of the Power Ro. Who made you my Lord a Judge of our Principles You speak evil of you know not what For that Fifth Monarchy-principle as you call it is of such a latitude as takes in all Saints all such as are sanctified in Christ Jesus without respect of what Form or Judgement he is But Judiciuns fit secundum vim intellectualis luminis He was interrupted O.P. What do you tell us of your Latine Ro. Why my Lord you are Chancellor of Oxford and can you not bear that Language B. C. My Lord we have great comfort by the Ministery of our brother Rogers and great miss of him and therefore we have demanded his Liberty and desire to know whether he shall be at liberty or no. O.P. I will take my own time you shall not know what I will do B. H. Then let us have liberty to hear him preach S. Dendy It cannot be my Lord for I have many prisoners and 't is dangerous * And yet for all S. Dendy's baseness to the poor persecuted people of God And his readiness to prevent the great mans answer he can let in as many as will come to the drunken profane prisoners plotters so that friends are glad to use their names if they know any of them that come to see Mr. Rogers Ro. Pray my Lord consider that place in Isa 49.24 25 26. for the Lord will deliver the lawful Captive in that day which is coming you can but have my blood at last and you had like to have had it already in the Prison ere this two of my children have died there since my imprisonment and I have been at Deaths-door B. H. It is unreasonable our brother Ro. should be kept prisoner so in such a place and at such a charge as is for him above 200 l. per an and we know no cause for it but his conscience Then S. Dendy was spoken to to answer for himself S. D. Now my Lord I see one of my Accusers I never demanded a peny of Mr. Ro. nor of my Aunt his wife who is one of Sir Robert Payne's daughters O.P. I knew her father very well S. D. But they have my Lord three rooms and it cannot be allowed Ro. No more room then one prisoner had before being divided into three little rooms and but one chimney in them All. The Plotter that went out before I came into them had them All. And for the Fees though you in person demanded them not yet your man old Measey did for you several times viz. 4 l. 4 s. per week which he did before witness as I can prove under their hands and he said I should not go out till the Sergeant had it And what besides I was to pay you I was not to know till I went out Mrs. Ro. said to Sergeant Dendy It 's true you have had but 5 l. yet of it O.P. Why he is your Nephew who was accounted one that loved the people of God Ro. So were others as well as he till this trial Mr. Cre. My Lord will you not give us the liberty to hear him in the Prison then seeing you will not let us hear him abroad O.P. Is that the liberty you sought for says he in a scoff Mr. Cr. Yes Sir and that which we demand But then the Great man would be gone and as he was going out Mr. Ro. desired him to remember he must be judged and the day of the Lord was neer and that he would ere long and those about him finde them that now he and they counted false Prophets in Windsor and Lambeth true Prophets and what they have said they should finde come to pass ere many yeers yet for that the righteous Jehovah who sitteth on high heareth all our prayers sighs groans and tears But away he went and would not hear As soon as we came out of the room Sergeant Dendy in the Gallery threatned what he would do and how he would send them further off and order them ere long Mr. Rogers receiving the threatning without impatience or one word of reply unto him That very night a strict Order was sent after him to Lambeth-prison that no more then six may come to see Mr. R. at a time no such Order being made for any of the other Prisoners who have of lend company as many as they will at a time And since that the Gaoler hath been so strict especially upon the Lords days according to his Orders from Whitehal that he will not suffer one brother to come in to see him or to pray with him that is sent from the Churches of Christ upon those days if he knows him to keep a holy rest with Mr. R. In the mean time the Contumelies Contempt and opprobrious abuses the members of Mr. Peak's Mr. Rogers's Mr. Raworth's and of some other Churches met with below in the yard during the foresaid Discourse with O. Cromwel But to pass over that and leave it to the Judge of heaven and earth who we are sure will not overpass it During this Discourse between Mr. R. and the Great man above the Brethren that were below in the yard had their share of reproaches and abuses For the members of the Churches of Christ who could not have access with Mr. Ro. were kept below and encompassed about with divers of the deboist Souldiers who when they heard us declare against those barbarous actions which the Guard so cruelly acted with their Swords against our naked brethren and friends those
sometimes they said he was too hold and plaid the Antick like Caple and at other times to contradict themselves sufficiently they said he was so pusillanimous that he stood and trembled before them and what not c. Now although it is notoriously known by us and others that they are all most grosse forged untruths and Court devices fetcht from the Father of lies who is now more busie than ever against the Lords faithfull ones to render them odious and obnoxious yet not with any desire to vindicate his or their persons for we commend them to the God of truth in whose eyes we and thousands we think we may say in England are perswaded they are very pretious their God who is the Saints refuge especially when they be in sufferings prisons persecutions or the like for them they must look to lie under the lash of all mens tongues almost and no wonder if Mr. Rogers do now more than ever by the great man himself as well as by his creatures since that day of his Appearance before him suffer so much But the great God that heareth prayers for him and his suffering brethren will doubtlesse deliver them avenge them of their Adversaries and judge righteously as Psal 37.6 to bring forth their righteousnesse as the light and their innocency as the noon day with a Daniels Answer cap. 6.2 My God bath sent his Angel and shut the Lyons mouths that they have not hurt me Forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me yet we say for the truths sake lest the testimony should suffer We shall and must Declare against that Generation of lyers and deceivers as Apostates use to be who go about and spread abroad false reports of the wayes and People of God by Letters messengers or Pamphlets purposely to poyson poore people with-all knowing the advantage they have by our forced silence seeing we are not suffered to print or any other wayes publish the truth for our selves If it were not lawfull to commit Fornication with the Moabites to draw them to the true Religion or if it be unlawfull to steal to relieve the poore it is much more unlawful by lies obloquies or blasphemies to win the poor people to their false way Wherefore in love to the Lord Jesus and this his blessed testimony now up we bring the truth of the whole Matter of the discourse to light whereat none we hope will be offended but those that love darknes rather than light because their deeds are evill John 3. For the honest Tradesman is content to have his Wares carried into the Sun from a dim shop-board 2. It is and hath been but now more than ever since the Court-glosses have been printed and published upon it the earnest desire expectation and indeed Call of many of the Saints to have as true a Narrative of the late Testimonies as we could publish but seeing as Jer. 9.3 saith None so valliant for the truth whileft the wicked Apostates proceed from evill to evill and knowing no other are so well accommodated to undertake it as some of us who were either ear witnesses or Writers hereof we reso've to publish it and therefore have compared the papers together that were taken in Characters and have given this accompt which we believe is as well taken as could be in such a crowd and among such interruptions confusions and disturbances we do not say to every individual word point or circumstance but in all the material passages to the best of our knowledge observation or remembrance 3. It is of some concernment to all the Remnant of the Womans seed in City and Country to know how far the Remnant in London with this Testimony of Jesus and Cause have gone and are ingaged and how high it is got up now and what kind of Esau-like Spirit it is that opposes it which you may see in the History following by the variety of passages providences and occurrences and who knows but it may a little warm them that are cold and enliven them that are dead and stir up them that are drowsie and comfort them that are drooping and unite them that are differing and incourage them that are fainting whether in Churches or out in the Countries to consider their work also at this day and what it is the Lord calls them to with their poor Brethren that now suffer in the three Nations for the Lord Jesus and his Cause against the Mighty left they also by their sleepinesse and silence incur the curse Judges 5.26 which God forbid for these and many other reasons are we stirred up to this Narrative seeing as Ahab did send for Michaiah 2 Chran 18. to see if he would say Go up and prosper as his own Prophets did say to him and as Ahab said v. 15. I adjure thee say nothing but the truth which when he said he would not suffer but said as v. 25. carry him back put this fellow in prison and feed him with the bread of affliction so also was Mr. Rogers remanded to his Bonds in Lambeth with more Severity than before too Neither are we without our Temptations in this little businesse for the Lamb some of which that have assaulted us arise from fear of giving offence but when we considered our Call that was soon quelled because offence is taken and not justly given by us herein seeing we are commanded by Gods word to remove the stumbling block of Lyes out of our Brothers way We had a holy Jealousie over our own spirit till we had tried them by Gods word and the Primitive practise of Saints Apostles Prophets and holy Men inspired by the Holy Ghost who ever spake and writ boldly in the name of the Lord for the Truth Jam. 5.10 and who are our example We consider how eagerly our enemies would gape for Advantage against us should they find the least mistake and possibly they will find many for as there is no pen so there is no man without Errataes yet for the Truths-sake so far as the Copies taken in short hand and our friends have agreed in one though we confesse it cannot be published so exactly as we could wish seeing we met with so much interruption as we said before the Lord knows we have been as faithful and impartial as we could befor our lives and we blesse our gracious Father we fear not what Flesh can do unto us as long as the Lord is with us and on our side and as long as we can claim protection from Jehovah our King by Covenant interest priviledge and propriety however some censure that sit at Stern as if we were ignorant of the Covenant of grace they shall find it other wise by the grace of our God ere it be long in the mean time an honest Jury man would rather have brought in an Ignoramus than an unjust and wicked verdict but we will wait with patience till the Lord appear to deliver us and till then we apply Psal 60.4 Thou hast
given a banner to them that fear thee that it may be displayed because of the truth Selah Besides we do not as the Court-Christians set our Diall by the Clocks of the time for so both would go false but rather set the Clocks that strike now adayes by the Dials of truth and according to the Testimony of good Consciences and then the Sunne that is now risen with glorious rayes lustre and appearance in this age will show us the time of the day and what we have to do like the Children of Issachar 1 Chron. 12.32 to keep all True and to make the Clocks and Dials to center in one period of hour and time As Christ our Sun appears we hope to appear with him and to rise with him and shine with him and sit with him on thrones to Judge those that have and do Judge us every day Jude 14 15. Rev. 20.4 though this be their day yet we are sure to have our day to Judge them and then that question they are so cranck in shall be put out of question viz. whether we are busie-bodies in other mens matters that Christ and his Messengers have nothing to do with or in Christs matters that all true Christians have and ought to have to do with all that are followers of the Lamb and for which matters of Christ and all Saints against the Beast our dear Brethren are so barbarously abused persecutâ—d plundered and imprisoned and for which we with them through the grace of our Lord Jesus are resolved to stand whether by life or by death And this we are sure of by experience however they unworthily censure us as a blind man would not believe there was a Sun because he saw it not though some effects might have convinced him so some effects we hope in the Lord shal lere long convince them that we suffer for the pure Testimony of a good conscience and meerly for Christ and his Interest and not for any man Men Thing or Interest whatsoever that is on Earth This conscience feasts us with very excellent viands from above which we believe no caterer in the Court can provide their Great Masters withal but theirs is like to have but sowr Sawce though it be out-landish-like as when Chirurgions open the dead bodies of Epicures they find many indigested crudities so will the Ancient of dayes ere long when he sits to anatomize dissect and rip up their Consciences find many a foul crudity viz. the sculs blood and bones of thousands of the Saints to stick there But the Lord have mercy upon them for the Plague is begun if they be not past recovery or true Repentance But if they be then the Righteous and Holy just God who is our God will appear against them and their interest speedily powerfully and effectually according to all the Faith Tears and Appeals of his poor Worm Jacob in whose hand we believe will be the New threshing Instrument visibly are long And then this contemptible testimony or course Barley-Cake of Truth will tumble from the Gideon Campe and smite down all their Tents according to the Faith and Prayer of Christ's and his poore Remnants despised Servants To do or to suffer to live or to die with them in this most glorious though clouded precious though Persecuted Cause of CHRIST JESUS Hur Horton Christopher Crayle Hugh Day Edward Grove John Pugh John Durden Samuel Bradley William Bragg William Medley Francis Young James Wilson Daniel Ingoll List up a Banner upon the high mountain exalt the voice unto them shake the hand that they may go into the Gates of the Nobles I have commanded my sanctified ones I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger even them that rejoyce in my Highnesse Isa 13.2,3 A faithfull Narrative to the faithful Remnant round the Nation the new Non-conformist-Churches and Saints in City and Countrey that go under the name of fifth Monarchy-men THE Hope we have of fair weather arises from the Rainbow in the Cloud though the Cloud be black the Sun is up and looks â—ull upon it which hath produced divers colours put the poore Saints hard upon faith grones and prayers to make up that tremendous Judgement and dreadful Thunderbolt that must fall out of this black Cloud and which begins to rattle already over the heads of the present Persecutors as Rev. 4. and the 5. From the throne of the Lamb goeth thunders and voyces so in Chapter 8 and the 5. The Angel cast the Censer for he was before the throne full of fire and incense viz. the Faith and Prayers of the poore persecuted Saints into the earth and there were voices and thunderings and lightnings and an Earthquake chap. 16.18 and 19.6 and it is well known the new Non-Conformists round the nation are at it day and night c. filling this Censer full and before the Throne giving the Lord no rest and though many have been as dead as dry bones yet they begin to gather Sinews apace now and are like may we speak it without Alaraming the New Court to be an exceeding great Army for the witnesses are warm and begin to stir and benummed senses by use get life apace so that the Remnant of the womans Seed are like to have their hands full Ere long and long they think it among them are those despised ones of the Lord that walk in fellowship with Mr. Rogers now prisoner for the Testimony of Jesus at Lambeth who after several solemn dayes and whole nights did find it a present duty incumbent upon them and preparative to future to go to Whitehall the revived Court and demand the Lords prisoners and bear their Testimony against these in present powers for their grosse sins and Apostacies which the whole Body agreed unto not one dissenting with a loud Suffrage of Joy and alacrity blessing the Lord that they should be honoured by the Lord Jesus as to be called to this Testimony for his suffering Truth and Saims at this day They sought the Lord earnestly two whole nights herein though the first night they were disturbed by some rude abusive Ruffians that seemed Zealots for their Protector they roughly handled scurrilously miscalled and abused some of the Brethren that they hurried them away from Prayer to prison for night-prayers are reputed dangerous and disturbful to the Court interest yet for all that they kept another night to have directions from the throne in the management of so high and noble a Message and that they might not in the least dishonour the dear name of the Lord Jehovah nor the cause and Kingdome of Jesus Christ that now suffers So after they found much of Gods presence and many sweet promises to apply and concluded unanimously upon the number of twelve which is the Lambs number against the Beast and the Root and square number of the hundred fourty four thousand in Rev. 14. to deliver the Message in trust to Oliver Cromwel in person in the name of the great
Jehovah and now that God alone might have the choice of the men another time was appointed to seek the Lord and then they all agreed to take their Call by Lot given in the name of the Lord so that after solemn looking up to heaven the Lot was given from the Lap Prov. 16.33 and the 18.18 and fell upon twelve but to observe the Lords wisdome those that they in their wisdome should probably and principally have pitched upon for parts utterance and abilities were by the Lords Lot put by yet this appearing so undeniably to be of God the same twelve were fully satisfied and accepted their Call afterward they agreed to go every one with his Bible in his hand upon the Message of the Church accordingly upon the 29 of the eleventh Moneth a solemn day of Prayer was kept and they were sent out in the name of the Lord Jesus the Contents of the Message with which they were intrusted is as followeth THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH To O. C. by the Twelve WE are sent unto you twelve of us in the name of our Lord Jesus The Message of the Twelve Brethren and of that Church Society whereof Mr. Rogers now prisoner for the Lord Jesus at Lambeth is overseer in the holy Ghost although we be poore despised worms and the weakest and unworthiest of the Lords Number or of the Body to which we are related and although we be not so able to speak as others of our Society might have been yet after much seeking the Lord to be with us and trusting in the strength and name of our Lord Christ by which we are come out this Day after the Seal of some promises upon our spirits in the strength of the anointing we are as well as the Lord shall enable us come to deliver our Message to you from the Lord and that First Because the Lot of the Lord is cast upon us The Reasons above others Secondly Because the Lord hath chosen the poore and most despised things to confound and appear against the wise and great ones of the world 1 Cor. 1.27 Thirdly Because we are bound to sympathise with the Saints in Bonds Heb. 13.3 in the defence of the Gospel Phil. 17.14 and the Apostle blames them that stood not by him in his bonds 1 Tim. 4.16 but we are resolved by the grace of our God to own and stand by these our Brethren the faithful Servants of the most High and true and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ who are now persecuted and imprisoned by you and your Powers Fourthly Because the Primitive Saints who had a Primitive spirit which we pray for and are in dayly expectation of spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jam. 5. and the 10. and so must we to you in the plainnesse foolishnesse and simplicity of the Gospel without any Politick studied or artificial frame of words or expressions after the wisdome of the world or the Princes of the world 1 Cor. 2.6.8 2 Cor. 2.17 therefore it is we dare not give flattering titles to any man whose breath is in his nostrils Job 32.21 22. nor come we to make our petition to man but to God we do in these matters of our Faith and Consciences Nota. for which we contend this day and for which our dear Brethren are cruelly imprisoned at Lambeth meaning our Brother Rogers and Windsor meaning Mr. Feak 1. Wherefore in the name of our Lord Jesus and of that whole Society who have intrusted us on this errand we are to DEMAND the Lords prisoners those prisoners of hope at Lambeth and Windsor as due to Christ and his Churches whom ye have so unchristianly rent and torn from us we meaning the Churches and neither we nor they know for what to this day but we are perswaded The Testimony In the prison Mr. Feak Mr. Rogers Mr. Spitle-house Col. Overton Col. Allured Adj. Gen. Allen. with many others it is for their Faith and Conscience in the truth and Testimony of Jesus Christ against the foul Apostacies and sins of the times in professours whether in Powers Priests Armies or others that have cast off the true Cause and Interest of Christ and have taken up the Creatures instead thereof which can never stand This demand we make according to Isa 42.22.2 Chron. 28.11 2. And lastly though we never yet did it in publick yet so long as you go on thus we dare not but joyn with our* suffering Brethren viz. in what prisons soever for their Consciences and this Cause of Christ and declare and testifie against you and the rest that adhere unto you whether in Power or out so long as you are the Enemies of Christ and his Cause at this day which we must do with the words of truth and sobriety Since that M. Gen. Harrison Col. Courtney Col. Rich. M. Chary imprisoned the 16 day of this Moneth besides all in other contries and Scotland those there that are like to lose their lives by bloody Trials all these with many others suffering at this day for with the Testimony of a good conscience against men that have betrayed the cause of Christ Others have been imprisoned as Mr. Vavasor Powel Mr. Jo. Simson Col. Okey c. for the Lord will rend you and all up by the Roots that are not plants of his own planting and the great God will appear ere long to confound and destroy this spirit of persecution injustice and Tyranny which the poore Non-Conforming Saints feel so sorely and we pray you consider that of Asa 2 Chron. 16. though a good man and a great General and Conquerour when once he forsook the Lord relied on an arm of Flesh and began to imprison the Lords Prophet the hand of God was against him and so on others and so will his wrath be upon you and those that belong to you if you go on thus and if God give you not a true and timely repentance of these great sins which cry day and night for vengeance against you and yours and so do thousands of the poore persecuted Saints however you are made to believe therefore we pray you see if you will yet keep the Captives of the Lord Jer. 50 33 but mark it v. 34. so Isa 29.20.21 Psal 102.17 20 21. Psal 37.32 33.34 Psal 79.11 and saith Christ What you did unto these you did unto me and Acts 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me so fee in Matth. 18.28 30 34. see v. 35. Isa 49 24 25. Mal. 2.11 12. Now to conclude the day of Christ is at hand which will set them free and will ere long call you and all about you to Judgment for all these things that you have done and suffered to be done against the Lord Jesus and all his Saints and for all the blood of the Saints that hath been shed against this Interest and these evil things which you have set up again to the Joy of the wicked the grief of the godly and
why came you with so many Ro. We were sent for and commanded and those that came are Christians and Church-members no wayes uncivil or disorâ—drly A.S. Well it s well it was no worse Ro. It was the Lord that made it so For so it was to to the late King and his court when his Messengers and Guard-men fell upon the Citizens with their swords at the gate there was his blood shed in whose name we came and he hath delivered us from your Fury and the rage of the sword for they struck with rage fury and high purpose to do more mischief than they did but it is Heb. 11. By faith they obtained promises escaped the edge of the sword c. and so-have we escaped Yours though some do bear the mark but the Lord Jesus will reward them when he comes And you see Gentlemen your sword cuts bluntly and doth little execution upon the poove fifth Monarchy men though they be but naked and unarmed and it may be this businesse will be ominous to you in this place A.S. We wonder to see so many women and what they meant Ro. And are ye so fearfull It may be it is true then what we hear that the barking of a dog lately running about the yard gave you a very great alarm seeing the sight of a few women hath frighted you so pitifully as to draw your swords upon them and hurt them alas poor hearts you are pitifully affrighted it seems what would you have done then at the sight of weapons if a few white aprons makes you flie to your swords and Halberds but by and by came a Gentleman Messenger to Mr. Rogers saying that his Lord was at leasure to speak with him but the Keeper at the doore suffered none to go in with him save whom they listed One of the Twelve that was sent for going in with Mr. Rogers a Guard-man standing by took him by the shoulders in a very Hostile manner and tore his cleak off his back and abused him but Mr. Rogers and three or four more went into the Chamber where their Great Master was to whom some of his Court-Sycophants had told such tales as they used to do to justifie themselves and complained first which is the Machiavillian Policy and Principle as if we had intended a tumult which was a thing our souls abhorred and a most impudent untruth for there was not one had a weapon or staffe with them or spake one uncivil word but after Mr. Rogers with three or four more were brought into the Room by Serjeant Dendy the Great man had with him two Gentlemen more who stood by the fire-side and a Pistol lay prepared at the Window where he himself at first was then he came to the fire-side in great Majesty without moving or shewing the least civility of a man though all stood bare to him and gave respect by and by he spake and bid one call in two or three more of the Church-Saciety or of the Twelve that had been with him before when the DEMAND was made whiles they were gone for them saith he O.C. I sent for some of you Mr. Rogers and some more of the Church but you bring with you about 250 men to make tumults and risings therefore send them away or I will not speak one word to which Mr. Rogers answered and to give him a civil respect said my Lord Ro. You are ruled much by informations which you take upon the reports of them about you whether true or fulse which brings the Lords people into so much trouble by you but there is no such matter O.P. Hi You will talk I see although it be nothing to purpose who speaks to you with that he turns to one of his Creatures saying What say you is there not so many Servant His Servant answered yes and it please your Highnesse there 's above 100. below and it is to be feared they might have made a Tumult Ro. If they must be believed they must yet this I may say I think there are not thirty men that belong to us and besides they are all peaceable Christians related to us in the Faith of the Gospel all unarmed apprehending your order and command to reach them and they are onely those with us as have been this day together seeking the face of the Lord and now according to your Order at four a clock attending here But by this time Company was coming in apace into the room The Room fills with the Courtiers at both doores but all were Court-Creatures to the number of fourscore or more as we conceive either of the Councel Army men Lawyers and Counsellours or of his Creatures that were his Ministers or new made Gentlemen or the like but not one of them related to Mr. Rogers or that Church-Society till at last with much adoe two or three more were crowded in of them but all the rest were left waiting below in the Yard abused scoffed hissed and whooted at by some of the Souldiers as will appear by and by O.P. I promised to send for you He begins his long Speech with manifest reproaching and manifold untruths for some of your friends came and spake sharply to me as it I had Apostated from the cause of Christ and persecuting godly Ministers naming Mr. Rogers and Mr. Feak and spake other things that were sharp enough you might have had patience in your words Now you have liberty to speak to those things but do not abuse your liberty you told me Mr. R. suffered son the Gospel I told you he suffered as a Railer s a Seducer and a Busie Body in other mens matters and a stirrer up of sedition which Rulers led by just principles might suppress I told you Mr. Rogers suffered justly and not for the Testimony of Jesus Christ and indeed in some degree it is Blasphemy to call suffering for evil doing suffering for the Gospel and if he suffers for Reailing and despising those that God hath set over us to say this his suffering â— for the Gospel is making Christ the Patron of such things but if it were suffering for the Gospel something might have been said yet not so much as saying uncharitably he suffered for evil-doing so that I say this is the thing in Scripture and if we shew you that you suffer for transgression then you abuse that Scripture which I have often thought on that it is to make a man an offendor for a word I wish it were better understood in the plainnesse of the spirit for to interpret that Scripture it was the evil of those times And is it not the evil of these Times so that he is condemned out of his own mouth as in Luk. 19.22 which was to he in wait for words on purpose to catch at words without actions and that is a finne but some words are actions and words are conjugall with actions for actions and words are as sharp as swords and such things I
est quin male interpretando possit depravari O.P. This will appear in the Informations that are upon the Table there what a rayler you are and therefore let them be read sayes he to some by him for there be many of them the Witnesses and the Evidences all are ready it will appeare easily and out of the Prison such Informations Evidences there are brought in let them be read Ro. Your Informations will not make it appear ere the more to just men I looked to have had a fair tryal or a Christian debate But this is otherwise seeing men that are hired or any other wayes basely suborned do inform against me as for them out of Prison it is a signe that your cause is not very good that needs such Informers as the Prisoners at Lambeth they are such as you your self have put in for plotting against you left they should cut your Throat and of whom you your self have said in your last Speech that they differed little from Beasts * Meaning now another Paper of informations of what was preached at Thomas Apostles that also lay upon the Table with the other out of Lambeth-prison At whose confidence Mr Rogers with admiration lifted up his eys hands and yet you can take their Informations against me yea drunkards swearers whoremongers Cavaliers Ranters any men that make nothing to lye swear drink curse and banne whore and blaspheme day and night and what not and yet these must inform against me to take away my Life these are but bad Evidences my Lord and besides were they honest men it were illegal O.P. Nay they are honest godly men that mourn over you and that are troubled for you that will witnesse these things against you Ro. I hardly believe honest men will accept of such an office to inform against the poor people of God and to seek the blood of any one of Christs little ones but I rather believe they are some of your hired men who seek for any stuffe to gratifie your Ears But might I but stand on even ground with equal freedome I would undertake to any unbiassed Christian to make it appear that the subject matter of our suffering for the truth and testimony of Jesus our infirmities excepted which the Lord knows are many and therefore we must overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of the Testimony Rev. 12. O.P. Nay but I know you well enough I know you and what your principle is too I know you that you never preached the Covenant of Grace yea I know it I have had some discourse with you formerly I know you are ignorant of the Covenant * This being spoken in such confusion of others the Great mans heat together he was hardly heard but onely of them who stood nigh and wrote One of his Courtiers made answer but he went on in his heat nay for all your lifting up your eyes it is so Ro. That is strange you should judge so my condition were uncomfortable then indeed if I did not know the Covenant of grace yea fruition whiles it may be some have a National disciplinary or barely intuitive knowledge there be many can testifie whether I am so ignorant or no of the Covenant of Christ who have been my hearers long ago it is for a branch yea a principal branch of the New Testament-Covenant that we are persecuted as Acts 2.30 viz. that part that God hath sworn unto to exalt Christ over all his enemies and to make him King over al Nations this Covenant of the Father to the Son makes us grapple with the Beast and contest so as we do with the Powers of the world though others are ignorant of the Covenant O.P. Nay I tell you I know you well enough and I know your principles though you are but a young man yet you have been in many places and are known well enough Ro. Yea I am so I hope known of Christ too and amongst other places I have been in the Field too against the common enemies that are now gotten so high again where I think I have done more for nothing in meere conscience for the Lord Christs sake never seeking wages as your mercenary men than any of your Colonels can say * Raising men arming himself and others ingaging in the field in England and Ireland spending his estate Killing his cattel for the Army freely exposing his person to great dangers freely O.P. You talk of that is nothing to the purpose Kiffen I cannot see my Lord there will be any danger to have those papers read we desired to hear how it appears that Mr. Ro. suffers as an Evil doer and if it please your Highnesse let those informations be read that are brought in there that we may hear how it appears as your Highnesse sayes O.P. Ah! so I say let them be read Ro. My Lord Which Gentleman was Mr. Kiffen who since with some of his Members hath slandered him behind his back that Gentleman spake very smoothly but we know now by experience the greatest Snares are couched under the smoothest words so there is a great Snares in his for he desires them to be read that they may judge therby whether I be an Evil-doer or not so that I thank the Gentleman for his charity he seems beforehand resolved to judge me according to them whther right or wrong true or false or whatever they be and whoever informs and whether they can be proved or no against me but I perceive by him he is some mercenary man that hath some dependence upon you and from such I look for no other But the most my Lord that can be said against me is but an evil speaker which by Gods assistance I trust in this matter shall never be proved against me neither and not an Evil doer for not withstanding your former words I can prove that the very heathens themselves abhorred to make words matter of fact as you do O.P. It is matter of fact you are questioned for Mark it out of his own mouth for speaking evil of Authority raising false accusations or if they were as Nero you are not to speak evil of them for what hath the Devil his Name for but because he is an accuser of the Brethren and it is not for your good deeds that you are punished for what saith Christ for which of my good deeds do you punish me and so you say but you shall hear if these be read whether it be for your good deeds or for evil-doing Ro. And as they answered Christ then so do you us it was not for his good deeds they would stone him but for his blasphemy and so pretended to do it legally for the Law would have a blasphemer stoned but that which they called blasphemy was indeed the truth and good and so it is now what you call evil is good and the Devil my Lord hath his name from calumniating slandering and lying and
his wrath upon these new Enemies and Persecutors Besides 2 2. in your own Declaration p. 7. of that 43 you say it is no resisting of Magistracie to side with just principles And is it not just to side with that Interest which the blood of so many thousands of the Saints hath sealed to in the three Nations and so many Declarations Vows and Engagements have been made for viz. for the Lambs and against this your Interest which we have all engaged prayed bled and fought against Now my Lord let the loud Cries of the blood shed against these things you have set up be heard and make restitution of that blood those lives tears bowels faith prayer limbs and skulls of us and our relations left in the fields and laid out against this kinde of Government whether in Civil or Ecclesiastical or else let us have what they were laid out for otherwise we must and will with the Lords help side with those just Principles that have been so sealed to and owned by the Lord. And this will be a most apparent defensive war as ever was in the world to defend what the blood and bones and estates of so many thousands of the Saints of God have bought at so high a rate which they are wronged for they never thought of setting up this And therefore I say my Lord if our God the Lord Jehovah do give his Call I am ready for one amongst the Lords remnant to side with just Principles in the strength of the Anointing whether it be pradicando pracando or praeliando by preaching praying or fighting Sir Gilb. P. Said you not praliando Yea says Mr. R. in the Spirit of the Lord for the Case was never so clear as now it is in the state of the Controversie For the Controversie is not now between man and man The state of the Controversie is between Christ O.P. Christs Government Mans. one Government of the world and another Government of the world or King and People but it is now between Christ and you my Lord Christs Government and yours and which of these two are the higher powers for us to side with and be obedient unto judge ye O.P. Ha! Why who denies the Case to be clearer now But I heard indeed This speech seemed to trouble them all it is some of your principles to be at it you long to be at it you want but an opportunity Ro. The remnant of the womans seed must be at it when they have the Call For I beseech you my Lord consider how neer it is to the End of the Beasts dominion the 42 months and what time of day it is with us now But Mr. Ro. was interrupted O.P. Talk not of that for I must tell you plainly An Ignoramus brought in very honestly they are things I understand not Ro. It seems my Lord so else surely you durst not lay violent hands upon us for the testimony and truth of the day as you do B. D. one of the 12 Why then do you imprison others for the light if you your self be so ignorant But then some of the Court-creatures pull'd him by the cloak and laid violent hands on him and call'd him stinking base fellow saying he knew not whom he spake to nor where he was giving him many uncivil words But afterward one of them said to him Ask for Mr. Ro. out of prison aâ—k for him and my Lord will let him out But B. D. answered No Sir we came not for that B. P. Great men are not always wise O.P. See! says he looking upon his Army-men Ro. They are not always wise with the wisdom of God though they may have much carnal policie subtilty and reason of State But the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head Which Mr. Ro. speaking with a high voice and great alacrity it made the Courtiers scoff at him as if he were a Mad-man O.P. Ha! and thus they talk of the Ministery and Commissioners for Approbation and say they are Antichristian * See your Ordinance March 20 1653. the ground is upon Patrons right to present to cure of souls the creator is your L P. Cromwel the matter men of corrupt principles and practices and most of them of the National Church the end is to fill Parish-cures and get Tythes all Antichristian Ro. Yea my Lord we do say so and they are so as to their standing upon a wrong un-Gospel foot of account and I will prove them and your Tryers I speak not as to their persons but as to their standing Antichristian for matter and form and rule by which they sit and end for which they sit O.P. You fix the name of Antichristian upon any thing Ro. Pray my Lord make no Law against that name let it not be treason to use the name Antichristian for that name will up yet higher and higher and many things that you think good and Christian will be found Antichristian ere long O.P. Being angry look'd on his Army-men See! said he and so all is Antichristian and Tythes are so too with you but I will prove they are not Ro. My Lord you were once of another minde and told me you 'd have them pull'd down and put into a Treasury O.P. Did I ever say so Ro. Yea that you did in the Coâ—k-pit the round place there and said moreover that the Poor should be maintained and put to work with what remained of them that we might have no begger in England O.P. Ha! there be many Gentlemen know that I have been for them and will maintain the justness of them Ro. But my Lord how can that be that the National Ministery is not Antichristian O.P. See now how you run It is not a National Ministery that is now established nor can you make it appear they are Antichristian Ro. Yea my Lord without any difficulty out of your own Law which hath constituted these Tryers and High-Court-Commissioners to establish a worldly Clergie O. P. I tell you you and you that you cannot for they ordain none Ro. No but if the Pope Prelate or Devil should ordain them they must approve of them settle them in their Parishes get them their Tythes and what not if they be but conformable to He is interrupted O.P. I tell you I tell you it is their grace they judge of and not for parts or learning Latine Greek or Hebrew Ro. And who made them judges of grace my Lord At most they can but judge of the fruits of grace and how dare they take upon them to be judges over Grace It is not you but the Lord Jesus that can make them such judges With that he turned away as very angry B. H. My Lord we are very much dissatisfied with what you have done against these prisoners of the Lord Jesus for so they are and we must count them so for you have given us no sat is faction at all in what you pretend them to
but reason and gratitude to his Great Master to possess all he can against the poor persecuted Saints in the behalf of him to whom he is so highly obliged above any one man almost in England for his large favors beneficial Patentees But ere long the Merchants who were made Rich by compliance with Babylon shall weep and wail and say Alas Alas Rev. 18.15 16. It is to be observed somewhat observable that very day the Sword was drawn twice at the Witnesses and Womans Seed The Providence is also admirable at that very juncture when Mr. R. and the Brethren were before him to maintain the Testimony and Demand made by the Twelve that on that very day many Assemblies of the Saints in several places being hard at the Throne the Lord should call out one unknown to any of us whole Meeting of the praying number being about 34 men to go to Whitehal and bear their Witness also The concurrence of the Testimony and the Demand is no less considerable seeing one had not the knowledge of the others Message that M.G. Harison Mr. Carew and the rest should second the aforesaid Twelve by a meer hand and call of God which they were obedient unto which is very exemplary and encouraging to all the Saints and Churches in England who are faithful to the Cause of Christ seeing so leading and calling a Providence The Demand and the Testimony is of a sudden gotten to a high pitch The Testimony up at a high pitch which doth mightily raise up the expectations of the believing remnant It is not meet for us to publish the matter of their Testimony being of the same nature with this Narrative neither can we do it so accurately and faithfully as we hope some others will The present work of the Day to gag the misreports thereupon for the quickning and strengthning them that are to follow us calling for the publication thereof without delay where-ever it lies And the rather for that Those choice servants of the Lord Jesus M.G. Harison Mr. Carew Mr. Courtney sent away with a Troop of horse to prison we know not whither the 22 day of the 12 month M.G. Harison Col. Rich Mr. Carew and Col. Courtney are so cruelly used for their Testimony and the Truths sake having no fact but their faith to charge them with and hurried away to Prison with a Troop of Horse and we know not whither So that the man must needs be wilfully blinde indeed now that will not see and say The Saints are under Persecution Therefore let not the good People of the Nation be so shamefully abused and deceived as they have been A word of Caution with lying Pamphlets and Informers whiles the Truth cannot must not date not be printed for fear of offending the men in Power and suffering a Prison or worse Of all beware of that Abominable Oracle the late Ironmonger but now Parish-Preacher * A man so base and scandalous as makes him horrible and his Name to stink among the Churches as very unfit matter to be a member of a Church but rather fit to be excommunicated exploded the society of all the Saints for bringing so foul reproach upon Religion which he hath formerly pretended to till he followed this Trade of Merchant for Lyes Walker his Weekly Proceedings whose forehead hath for many yeers been plated and brazened in the Trade and Art of Lying making it his Calling and his Living except the Tryers help him more easily to the Parish-Tythes This drives the poor man to so much pitiful soraping among the Court-Clerks for a few Lyes to sell every week at an easie rate that he and his family may live comfortably upon the lying slandering and traducing the Lords peculiar ones who are as the apple of his eyes How lamentably he hath abused Mr. Feak Mr. Rogers M.G. Overton and many others is well known and one day he must answer before the just Judge of all hearts with a wan countenance and woful conscience however he thinks to palliate it at present with a So 't was told me But as Solomon says Prov. 17. 4. A lyer giveth ear to a naughty tongue and the curse is threatned not onely to them that make but them that receive and report Lyes Rev. 21. Therefore Exod. 23.1 Put not thy hand to an unrighteous witness These things are published in meer love to the Truth and despised Saints of God for whose sake we are contented to become a reproach in the world and to suffer any thing by his Grace that man can inflict upon us so our dear Lord Jesus may but reign his Truth triumph and his Kingdom be exalted Amen Amen FINIS