and all you that practise and profess those things for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture your Religion is concluded not to be according to Scriptures and so no title or priviledge can any of you justly own of being upheld or maintained by the Protectors oath but as I have said for sprinkling of Infants and singing Davids experiences in rime and meeter c there is neither command nor president in Scriptures and therefore you that practise those things which I have mentioned for Religion are not of the true christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures which is to be protected Likewise all ye that persecutes by reproaches or revilings and cruelty or that causeth the people of God to be persecuted many of you there are in these Nations which professeth Religion yet are envious persons and persecutors of the innocent hereby it is manifest that you are not of that Religion which is according to Scriptures for the Saints never persecuted any but were themselves persecuted for righteousness sake so you are not to be protected in such exercise because it is not according but contrary to the Scriptures for you have no example from the Saints for professing and practising Religion and yet persecuting such as are of the true Religion whose consciences are truly exercised towards God and towards all men Now seeing that it is discovered in part who it is that are not of the true christian Religion according to the Scriptures it remains to be proved if there be any who it is that is of the true christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and who it is that is to be protected in their practise and exercise of Religion And as concerning the despised and rejected people called Quakers herein I shal speak for them as a Friend to them and a lover of their ways who is not ashamed of their practises in Religion and shall measure and try their practises in Religion whether it be according to Scripture and if it prove so to be that what they practise for Religion and holds forth for Doctrine is according to the Scriptures then why should not they own their right and priviledge to be upholden and maintained by the Protectors oath who hath sworn to uphold and maintain them and their Religion whose exercise in Religion is according to Scriptures being that same people is and hath been faithful subjects of this Commonwealth And first of all they dare not own themselves to be Christians nor to be members of Christ nor to have any right or title to the Kingdom of God but as they witness converting by the spirit of the Lord and are changed from death to life and from darknesse to light and from Satans power to the power of God through the operation of the same spirit and as in all their works and ways and exercises in Religion they are guided by the same spirit who leadeth them out of the World and out of all the vanities and evil works thereof and this is according to the Scriptures and their Religion herein is justified by the Scriptures who witnesseth That Christ is in them and that they have received him through faith and thereby are cleansed from all unrighteousnesse and have put off and are putting off the body of sin and death and walks with God in purity and holinesse being led by the spirit of God therein and with God they have peace being reconciled by Jesus Christ who is their salvation and they have no other and this is according to the Scriptures And againe as concerning their meetings and the manner thereof it is not contrary but according to the Scriptures for though they meet in many parts of these Nations by great numbers some in the open fields and some on the Mountains in some places and sometime without doors and sometime in houses all this practise is according to the Scriptures for we read Mat. 5.1 in the days of Christ That there were great multitudes of people that followed him and he went up into a Mountain and preached and taught them upon the Mountain and in Matt. 14. 14. we read that there was great multitudes that came out of the Cities unto Iesus into the Deserts he had compassion toward them and did good unto them and at that time there was many thousands met together as you may read and it seems stayed whole days together for they sate down on the grasse and eat together and then Iesus sent the multitudes away and in Mark 6. you may read how that multitudes came to Jesus out of the Cities into a desert place and Jesus began to teach them many things in that desert place for he had compassion on the multitude and in Luke 9. how the people again followed Jesus into a desert place and he preached unâ—o them the Kingâ—om of God Such meetings then was counted strange as such meetings are now when the people of God meets together by great numbers to preach and to hear the Kingdom of God preached but their meetings are according to the Scriptures for the people of God in generations past met in the same manner as the people of God called Quakers meets now for somtime Christ preached out of a * ship unto the people that stood on the sea shore * Paul kneeled down prayed among the Saints near the sea shore at his passing into the ship and we read Acts 2 that there was three thousand converted at one Sermon then there must needs be a great meeting and a great deal of people met together such meetings now are wondred at but such meetings are but according to Scripture so that this part of their practise in religion is agreeable to the Scriptures and the same as the saints practise was in ages past And as for the people of God meeting together sometime in the night-season to wait upon the Lord and sometimes sitting in silence waiting upon the Lord no words uttered amongst them but every one sitting silent before the Lord having received nothing from the Lord to speak one to another at which the people of the world do wonder and falsly judg it not to be a christian exercise but we read in the Scripture Job 2 that Job who was a christian for he was a just and perfect man he and his friends sate upon the ground seven days and seven nights and spake not a word one to another this would be a strange thing at this day to see practised And in Jer. 8.14 you may read where the Prophet Jeremiah exhorted the people to assemble themselves and said Let us enter into the defenced Cities and let us be silent there for the Lord our God hath put us to silence but such a practise now is thought strange by the people of the world who are not acquainted with the ways of God who are wise in their own eyes and knows not what
it is to wait upon the Lord in silence who never yet was put to silence in themselves by the Lord and you may read Ezek. 3 where the Prophet sate down amoâ—g the people of the Captivity and they were astonished seven days and at the end of seven days and not before the word of the Lord came to the Prophet so that you see it was the practise of the servants of the Lord oftentimes to sit and wait upon the Lord in silence though people wonder at such meetings now and we do not read that there was alwayes speaking among the Saints in the churches when they were met together but Acts 2. we read that the church was met together in a place and the Holy Ghost fell upon them and then they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance then it seems they had not spoken before though they had met together in a house and then they spoke the wonderful things of God and some that heard mocked and others said they were full of new Wine even as the people of the World do at this day when any of the people of the Lord are moved to speak as the spirit gives utterance so that sometime to sit in silence being met together to wait upon the Lord as many of the servants of the Lord do in this Nation is a practise of Religion and not contrary but according to the Scriptures for many of the servants and assemblies of the Lords people practised the same thing in ages past as the servants of the Lord do at this day so this practise is to be upholden and maintained because it is proved to be according to the Scriptures for the same thing was practised heretofore and we read Acts 20.7 that the church met in the night for Paul continued his sermon till midnight And as for their practise in speaking either man or woman as the spirit gives utterance this is according to the Scriptures though it be much wondred at and cryed against by the wise men and people of this age for we read Act. 2. that they spoke in their meeting as the spirit gave them utterance without studying before-hand what to say the Lord promised that sons and daughters should prophesie in Act. 21.9 we read of one that had four daughters that did prophesie divers other places in Scripture doth shew that women * laboured in the Gospel which doth prove that a woman speaking declaring the things of God is not contrary but according to the Scriptures and that any who are moved of the Lord may declare the things of God man or woman and the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another so that this practise in Religion is proved to be according to the Scriptures And as concerning their call to the Ministry some are called from their ordinary callings as from the Plough or from handicraft work or tradings or such like this is according to the Scriptures also for we read Matt. 4.18 19. where the disciples were called from their Nets and some were called from the receit of custom and we read Amos 7. that he was a Herdsman a gatherer of Sycamore fruit * Elisha was called from the Plough and some others were called from keeping of sheep So that their call to the Ministry and practise in the Ministry is according to the Scriptures for the servants of the Lord in former ages were called to the Ministry after the same manner so in that they do agree to the Scripture both in Ministry and ministring and so may own protection herein by the Protectors oath And as concerning their going up and down through the Countries and from City to City and from one Town to another and from one Nation to another this is according to the Scriptures though some seek occasion thereby against them and unjustly takes them as for Vagabonds and executes their envy upon them yet it was the Apostles practise as you may read in the Book of Acts where the Apostles travelled from Countrey to Countrey and from one City to another and though some of the servants of the Lord are moved now to speak and dispute in the Markets and reprove sin in the gates and in the streets and in the high-ways and threatning Gods judgements against the wicked all these things are according to the Scripture and their practise herein is justified by the Scriptures for we read Acts 17.17 that Paul disputed in the Synagogues with the Iews and with the devout persons and in the Market dayly with them that met with him and we read Jer. 7. that he was commanded to stand in the Gate of the Lords House and to speak to all that passed into it And Jer. 26. we read that he was commanded to stand in the Court of the Lords House without doors and to speak to all the Cities of Judah And we read in the Booke of Jonah how he was commanded to go through the streets and to reprove sin and to threaten Gods judgements against the wicked and these practises were strange in that generation as they are at this day unto the World who are not acquainted with the ways of God but all people may see though the servants of the Lord do practise these things now as they are moved their practise herein is according to the Scriptures for the servants of the Lord in former ages acted the same things so that in this practise the servants of the Lord ought not to be persecuted but protected and maintained in it and that by the Protectors oath because it is proved to be according to the Scriptures which he is sworn to maintain And as concerning their crying against such and declaring against them by word and writing that preach for hire and divines for money and seeks for their gain from their quarter and such who goes for gifts and rewards and hath sums of money by the year for preaching and though they deny such that acts those things to be Ministers of Christ this practise also is according to the Scriptures for we read Mich. 3. that he declared against such as preached for hire and divined for money and such were no Ministers of Christ And we read Isa. 56. that he declared against them that sought for their gain from their quarter which were greedy covetous men such as is many of the Teachers of England Again we read Matt. 23. where Christ declared against such did not own such to be any of his Ministers who were called of men Master who stood praying in the Synagogue and had the chief places in the Assemblies And we read in 2 Pet. 2. and in many other places where the Apostles declared against such and denyed such to be Ministers of Christ that preached for filthy lucre and took gifts and rewards for preaching and by feigned words made merchandize of souls who were
heady and high minded men as you may read 2 Tim. 3. chap. and such men were denyed to be Ministers of Christ by the Prophets Christ and his Apostles So that all people may see this practice of the servants of the Lord at this day who are moved to declare against such men that acts these things mentioned is perfectly according to the Scriptures for the servants of the Lord spoken of in Scripture did the very same things in this particular as is done at this day therefore for this practise they ought not to be persecuted as they have been but ought to be protected and maintained in it and that by the Protectors Oath who hath sworn to maintain that practice which is according to the Scripture and to declare against them that preach for hire and have great sums of money for preaching and that are called of men Master and that takes gifts and rewards of people for preaching I say to do thus is a practise which the Scripture gives a large example for and so it must needs be according to the Scriptures and ought to be protected in this Government Again as concerning their denying to respect persons or to bow with hat or knee in respect of worshipping any creature this also is according to the Scriptures though the people of the world who live in pride and vain customs are offended with them in this practise for we read that God commanded not to bow to any likeness Exod. 20. And we read James 2. the Apostle exhorts not to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons but condemns that practise of respecting such as are in goodly apparel and gay clothing and have gold Rings above a poor man in vile rayment and he saith plainly They that have respect to persons commits sin and we read that the Pharisees said of Christ he respected no mans person and he is our example And we read that the three children was cast into the fiery Fornace with indignation before the King being bound before him and cast into the Fornace Dan. 3. And we read that Paul and all the servants of God did thou Kings and Princes and Rulers and they spoke plainly to all men and durst not give flattering titles to any as you may read in Job 32. so that all people may see the practise in denying to respect persons and in speaking plainly without flattering Titles to any man denying to put off the Hat or bowing to men in gay clothing or giving place to such that wear Gold Rings and have goodly apparel before such as have vile raiment is justly according to the Scriptures though people stumble at such practises and the people of God may claim to be maintained in this practise of their Religion seeing it is proved to be commanded in Scriptures not to respect the person of any man and also it was the Saints practise and therefore herein they ought not to be condemned but â—ustified as being a practice in Religion agreeing with the Scriptures And as concerning their denying obedience to Magistrates in some causes this is according to the Scripture also for we read that the Rulers commanded the Apostles and straitly charged them to speak no more in the Name of Jesus yet the Apostles did not obey Magistrates herein neither did they cease to preach in the Name of Jesus and though Christ was commanded or besought to depart out of their coasts yet he did not obey their request and we read that the three children were commanded to worship the great Image yet they did not obey this command of the King So that all people may see it is lawful for the Saints to disobey commands of Kings Rulers where they command that to be done or spoken which God doth not but the contrary And I say again Where Kings or Rulers Parents or Masters doth command or require any thing of them that are under them which is not according to God in such causes subjects or people and children and servants are free and not required of the Lord to subject to any thing which is not justly according to him but yet we say That subiects and people and children and servants ought to be subject to them that have rule over them in all things which is according to God in truth and righteousness and by the Law of God all people are bound to obey those that have rule over them and not to disobey them in any thing which may stand with the exercise of a good conscience to God so that though the people of the Lord now do deny to depart out of a Town or place and though they will not cease to declare against sin and wickedness in Teachers and people though a Magistrate command it this is but according to the Scriptures for the Apostles went on boldly declaring the Name of the Lord after they were forbidden and thus the servants of the Lord doth now they freely declare the way of salvation and calls people to repent and reproves iniquity in â—ll sorts of people though wicked men command them to the contrary and falsly charges them that they are disobedient to Government and Authority though they are not no more then the servants of God and Apostles of Christ who in the same causes did the same things and the Lord hath commanded to cry aloud and not to spare but to tell people of their transgressions and therefore many of the Lords servants doth deny to be silent or to cease from declaring against sin though a Magistrate command it And Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and therefore many doth deny to swear upon any account in any place though the Magistrates do command it And the servants of the Lord doth deny to put off a Hat or to bow in respect of any mans person though a Magistrate command it for the Scripture doth say He that respects persons commits sin so that all people may see that what the servant of the Lord doth in these things are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for all these things were commanded practised by the Saints in former ages they said it was better to obey God then man and we ought to do it in all things and that according to the Scriptures too So that in all these practises in religion the Scriptures justifies them and beâ—rs witness to them and they might claim protection in the exercise of them by the Protectors oath but if they be not maintained but persecuted for the practise of these things then will the light in every mans conscience witness the oath is broken and not kept for it extends to uphold and maintain the practice of Religion which is according to the Scriptures as these is proved to be And as concerning their doctrines wch the world stumbles at yet their doctrines are according to the Scripture though they say Chr. is the light of the world lighteth every man or
these things And let no man blame me for I have but with an equal hand brought all sorts of people to the line of true judgement that they may know who is to be maintained and who is not in their Religion and practises thereof But and if that after all this the people of God be persecuted and violence be done to them and injustice and unrighteousness acted upon them in this Commonwealth as of late years hath been and yet it be suffered to be and none taken any notice to preserve and defend them whose Religion is according to Scripture which he is sworn to maintain then I leave it to the light in all mens consciences to judge what a condition such are in whose oath is not kept but broken for these things are of no less value then either breaking or keeping a mans own oath which solemnly hath been taken and this is not a light thing but to be seriously considered of both by Magistrates Teachers and people in this Commonwealth yet notwithstanding all this the people of God doth not boast in or trust unto the arm of flesh neither are any whit the more confident in their way though it be proved that they ought in justice to be upholden and maintained in what they profess and practise as aforesaid for their hope and confidence is onely in God who onely is sufficient to protect and uphold his people in all their ways and exercises and though all men do forget their own promises and oaths yet will not the Lord forget his chosen people to defend them from all their Enemies who hath again appeared to gather his people after the long and dark night of apostacy and his House and Tabernacle shall be exalted over all the Earth An Objection Now many may say seeing I challenge claim and affirm that this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scripture then they ask and say Hath there been no true Religion before this or hath all these Religions been false before and seeing this hath but newly appeared in the world was there no true Religion before and if there were any where was it and what was that Religion seeing there hath not been for many ages such a Religion as this is And after this manner doth many reason and object to themselves and raises to themselves stumblings and conceits themselves that our forefathers were of a good way and many of them sure were saved which was not of this Religion which did not profess and practice these things which is professed and practised by this people Answer Now unto all these I do answer and say That this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scriptures as is proved already seeing they profess and practice nothing for Religion but what the Scriptures doth justifie and shews the very examples of the same things but that God had a people in all ages and a feed that never bowed to Baal it s believed and such as did sincerely seek after God according to what they knew and they were accepted of God according to what was made manifest in that age and generation yet the testimony of truth it self and the way of the Lord it self for many generations hath not so clearly and purely been held forth as it is now in this age and generation for now the true light hath shined and the way of salvation is evidently made manifest as by many witnesses and evident tokens which may be given and was not so clearly for many ages past held forth and known And such who have been sincerely seeking after God though they knew not perfectly the way unto him neither had they such a pure testimony revealed to guide them as now is manifest yet such do now rejoice and owns the way of the Lord and the seed of God is refreshed in them and all causes of stumbling removed and the pure light of the Gospel is sprung forth more clear in this age then in any age for many generations for the Scripture sheweth that a dark night of Apostacy hath been over the whole world and the beast hath reigned and the false Prophet hath deceived many Nations and the whole World hath wondered after the beast for many ages and the beast hath made war with the Saints and hath had power to kill them and hath put a stop many times to the appearances of God till now at length he doth appear and the power of hell and death shall not stop it and they do say that they are come out of the Apostacy to the dawning of the day again and the same power of God and the same truth as was in the Apostles days and the same Ministry by the gift of the same Holy Ghost as was in the Apostles days is now witnessed and at the time of ignorance God winked but now the eye is opened and all is called to repentance so it will not excuse any man to plead how it was with our forefathers or to say Where was this Religion before these few years and such like for now the power of God it self is made manifest which brings into the true Religion and all that are of God heareth it and shall own it and shall receive the Testimony which is given It 's known that there are many thousands which hath not yet owned it in which there is true thirstings after God and a zeal for him and such are not condemned to be altogether out of Religion for such seeks his face and the day is neither clear nor dark to them in which they are and such shall own and submit to the Government of Christ and they that are not under the Government are not of the true Religion as I said This is the time of restauration and the Lord is bringing back again and a thorow reformation wil the Lord work in the Earth such as hath not been known in ages past There hath been a Seed sown which the Devil hath catched away but now the Seed shall grow and become the greatest of all herbs and the fowls of Heaven shall lodge in the Branches And this is a plain answer to all sober people for according to the Scriptures in the times of the Apostles the day of glorious light sprung forth and mighty was the power of God at that day but since hath darkness overshadowed all and Antichrist hath reigned and the whole world hath been made drunk with the wine of fornâ—cation which hath been in the hand of the whore who hath set upon the Beast and upon Nations and Peoples and the Gentiles hath trodden under foot the holy City of God for forty and two months but now is the time of restauration as hath been promised that the Lord is bringing back his people again and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and Christ alone must reign and rule and his Kingdom set up over the whole world And let no man be offended at what I have done for I have not reflected upon any mans person but on what he practiseth for Religion London the tenth Month 1657. The End * Mark 4.1 2. Luke 5 3. * Act 20 * Phil. 4.3 * 1 Kings 19.19
THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AGAIN DISCOVERED After the long and dark Night of Apostacy which hath overshadowed the whole World for many ages and the profession and practise thereof witnessed unto by the Scriptures And here all may see who it is of all these Sects and divers forms of Religion in these Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures in what they professe and practise and who it is that are not according thereunto for the line of true judgement is stretched upon all profession and a true search into and tryal thereof is made and hereby it is manifest who it is and what sort of people that may justly claim the benefit of the Protectors Oath to be protected thereby in their practises of Religion who hath bound himself to maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures c. This is written for the good of this Commonwealth and the information of all people in it By a friend to all people especially them that feares God and loves righteousness LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION Again discovered c. FOrasmuch as Oliver Cromwell called Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland chief Ruler according to man hath bound himself by an oath and sworn that he will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestan◠Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Old and new Testament of the Scriptures which oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who it is in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversities of judgements and many Assemblies and gatherings of people who are divers in their wayes in their practices and in their form of Religion in these Nations which doth all profess the Scriptures and that their form of Religion is accorco the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of life and salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under heaven given for salvation and they that believe in him and receive him they it is onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by his spirit and changed thereby from death to life and such hath unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this world but heirs of the Kindom of God and these may own and claim a title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of people and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to trial Dare you join issue with me in this matter to try your profession and practise of Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my heart to lay you all to the line of true judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your priviledge if your profession and practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors oath but if your profession and practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your practice of Religion And with this argument I shall try you all whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not according to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is truth and therefore all people come to trial and receive your judgement by this rule· And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his spirit to be changed into his image and the body of sin and death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the day of the Lord and in equity and righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this practice and doctrine is not according to the Scripture being it was never commanded nor any example for it in Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and ownes your title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that teach this for doctrine and practice it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures This I do affirm therefore stand you by for what you practise and professe there is neither command nor president in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a necessity is put upon you to make use of your knowledge if you would be protected in this Commonwealth in your practise of RELIGION likewise you sing and give to sing Davids Psalmes in rime and meeter professing it is to the glory and honor of God ye practice this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this practice and profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any president for this practice in the Scriptures in Gospel-times Therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot