Scripture-Learning and for the procuring of a more exact literal Translation of the Old-and New-Testament into our Mother-Tongue and for the more religious educating of Children in Families and in Schools and for the relieving of the Poor and for such other good Works and to enquire what may be further a Duty upon us towards the two and the ten Tribes of Judah and of Israel to help forward their Conversion as also what the Spirit has to say more particularly and especially to our Churches and to other Churches in this great Providential-day and such like publick-spirited Inquiries and all this for the promoting of the Honour of our LORD and of his Word Works and Cause the Purity and Peace of Churches and Salvation of Souls Thus through Grace and Mercy obtained from our LORD we discover and declare our readiness to joyn in with you in what is the work of our Day and Generation and so commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you and us up and to give us an Inheritance among all them who are Sanctified Shem Acher Now that Shem Acher's Ends towards the latter-day-Glory might be promoted and that Shem might prosecute so good a design in the use of all those lawful means which his Line could reach into in his place for the finishing of this part of his Testimony for Christ for the Word of Christ for the Law of his ten Words and the annexed Judicials and for the Seventh-day-Sabbath more especially whilst others were following of the King with Petition upon Petition subscribed with multitudes of Hands from Cities Towns and Counties By Shem's direction this following Address was put into the Hands of the King Honoured SIR THe Land doth tremble it is broken it shaketh the right Way and proper Method to heal its Breaches is plain and evident You have seen the Hand of the LORD stretched out against the Popish Plotters in a continued Discovery for many Months of their bloody Design If the LORD Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings would graciously give you a Heart for it and then put it into your Heart openly at the next Session of Parliament to declare that It is your full Purpose and firm Resolution in the Strength and Supplies of the Almighty God to set up the Laws of Christ in the Scriptures of Truth as the one and the only Rule of your Government for which you have their own Authority in express Words The Law of God is the Law of the Land Then will your Name be transmitted to Posterity in the English Chronicle with a Crown Royal upon it Those who honour Christ he will honour This from a mean Handmaid Elizabeth Hooker The Sabbath of my Mighty God make thou it Precious O my God of Deliverance A like Address was made by the same Advice and Hand to the King to the same Effect in answer to that loud awakening Call by that signal Blazing Star for the promoting of the same grand Design of exalting of Christ and of the Word of Christ And a third sometime after to the present Mayor of London for the like End As Paul's manner was accordingly Shem Acher in his place finding some Disciples of Christ at his first coming to live near London to do work for his LORD and for Souls they agreeing to desire him thereunto and expressing this desire to him that seeing they were a few scattered Sheep without a Shepherd not being fully then satisfied to join in Church Fellowship with any particular Church as so constituted and so walking in London they declaring their being satisfied in one another and in him that he would administer the LORD's Supper unto them which after Conference with them and divers of them having profited under his ministerial Labours and having been baptized by him accordingly he did at Bethgnal-Green in the year seventy four withal declaring both he and they that this was a providential Communion in all the Ordinances of Christ's new Spiritual House towards the latter-day-Glory so far as for the present according to our Scripture-Light they can regularly come at them and so long as the LORD should continue them somewhat near together in their Dwellings this was assented unto and agreed upon by those baptized Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers A little after this some difference in Judgment arising amongst them which Shem Acher foresaw and told it unto some a remnant of them who were more of one Mind agreed at a meeting in seventy five to own the LORD Jesus Christ to be the one and only LORD and Lawgiver to their Souls and Consciences and the Holy Scriptures of Truth as the one and only Rule of Faith Worship and Life according to which they were to judg of all their Cases Then did they pass into a Church For at that meeting upon this Agreement without any particular Church-Covenant about controverted Matter they did firmly lay all their Churchbottoming and building upon this Rock and Foundation even upon Christ and upon his Word A little before their thus passing into this Church State and Relation the two Sabbath Churches in the City desired his Labours at sometimes with them in the use and exercise of his Gifts which he consented to upon their importunity the LORD assisting him and prospering of his Labours upon the Hearts of several whose longings still encreased to enjoy more of his Ministerial Labours after that he had gathered some Disciples of Christ and was in a Church-way with them and had a distinct Meeting-place in the same City where he met with the Church and others who gave their Attendance at that Assembly where his service was accepted of the Saints so that they were mutually refreshed whereby they had in much experience a savoury taste of the Spirits of one another divers of the Brethren and Sisters of one of those two other Churches of Sabbath-keepers imparting some of their inmost Cases unto Shem Acher who has here upon this occasion a weighty Case to propound As to the Matter of Fact which is attested to be true by the whole Church who knew what doth follow with whom he doth walk Shem Acher doth suppose a Sister of another Sabbath-Church in the same City imparted this Case of her Soul unto him reporting to him that for some years she had been muâ—h oppressed in Heart distressed in Spirit broken and distempered in her bodily Constitution for want of that Spiritual Life and Liberty Purity and Peace Sweet and Satisfaction which she enjoyed not where she sat before but since she came under the Ministry of Shem her communicated Experience is that she has met with that Presence of the Holy good Spirit and of Grace sealed upon her Heart here to her Edification Comfort and Healing whereupon she desired to be in full Communion with Shem Acher and with the Friends in Church-Fellowship with him he laying this Gase in the several Circumstances of it to Heart the particulars whereof he
forth sooner he has much to say in answer if he would enlarge but in short some hints he has already given which carry forcibleness of right Words in them to the impartially intelligent and spiritually discerning and he hoped that the Experiences of many in this City upon whose Hearts the LORD had sealed to the Office of his Ministry might have put some timely stop to the further spreading of such defameings Besides it is evident to him being led far into the mystery and meaning of this Providence that this is the fittest season for the making of the present Apology and if either some will charge him with Vanity and Pride with Folly and Vain-boasting in writing so much upon his own Defence or if it have another effect than many are well aware off for the putting of separate Churches upon a further search into the Scriptures of Truth about the right constituting of Churches the lawful Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and some other weighty Ordinances spoken unto in this Paper it will much concern those who make the exception duly to ponder who is chargeable Whether the Apologist who in a Cause and Case so circumstanced doth make his honest Defence and just Plea or those unfriendly ones who have compelled him hereunto which advocating for Innocence so far as it is Innocence has Scripture-Warrant †Joh. 29. and 31. Chap. and elsewhere in that Book Acts 22. and 26. chap. 1 Cor. 4. 1. 5. and 2 Cor. 11. throughout and 12. 11 both in the Old and New Testament so that if he have been a Fool in glorying they are others who have necessitated him thereunto PAVL * Acts 19. 18. and 22. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 13. 17. He was baptized upon this eminent Conversion and clear Call to the Office and Work of the Ministry He being sent more to Preach the Gospel than to Baptize though this were in his Commission too They were not very many whom he did Baptize lest any should misjudge that he had baptized in his own Name which he doth expresly deny and disown He is called upon not to tarry but to arise and baptising to be baptized and wash away his Sins calling on the Name of the Lord whereupon he doth submit to this Baptismal Ordinance SHEM ACHER He having had such Calls and such clearings up of this Call to this Ministerial Office of which so large an Account has been given especially at those solemn Seasons of Fasting and Prayer when he set himself more in serious earnest to be satisfied concerning this his Call from Heaven by the Holy Spirits leaving some sealing Testimony thereof upon his Heart according to the Word at such a needful time when he was under some perplexing Doubts and distressing Fears about this Call Being thus prepared for it as is already rehearsed the Light of amongst some others two Truths and Duties of this Age were evidently made known unto him the one of the Seventh-day weekly Sabbath the other of perfecting Believers Baptism he doth leave others here whose Case at present is or hereafter may be more concerned in this Matter if it be not already perfected upon and in them to consider whether then if there be otherways a fittedness for and a Call to the Ministerial Function it may not be proper and useful to enter upon this Office with such * Heb. 6. 1 2. Mat. 3. 13 14 15 16 17. and 4. 1. 17. Act. 9. 18 20. aâ—d 26 16. 20. Exod. 29. 4. Leâ— 8. 6. perfecting of Baptism now they are grown Believers so were the Priests under the Old Testament which is mentioned not at all to reinforce any Old Testament Shadow Figure Type or Ceremony now under the present New Testament Administration of Grace so was Christ so were his Apostles so was Paul let the Spirit of God from his Word speak with Men's Hearts about this I forbear in this place to add any further Arguments for or Advantages by this The occasion of his passing into the Scripture-Path of the weekly seventh-day-Sabbath was this A near and dear Brother and Friend of his from the Country wrote this Case of Conscience to him whether the first day of the Week as commonly observed by almost all Christians or the seventh which is the last day of every Week in the weekly returns of it were indeed the weekly Sabbath according to God's Command or in words to the sâ—me effect for it is now about sixteen years since and he earnestly desired the Opinion and Judgment of Shem Acher upon this Case Upon the Receipt of this Letter he was somewhat startled at this new Proposal though he was not so fully satisfied for some years before about any word-Institution for observing the first day as a Sister in Sabbath-Fellowship converted under his Ministry a shining Ornament to her holy Profession whilst here below but now above with the LORD informed and reminded him that when she propounded the very same Case to him about six or seven years before he gave her a very faint unsatisfactory answer as if he scarce were then a cordial Favourer of that first day for tho he preached up Sabbath-Duties and Priviledges in that Town yet his Assistant was as one part of his Work to engage in the Controversy which was the limitted day At the first receipt of that Case he was full of other work and employ about his own and other Cases and laid it aside for near a Month the Brother whose Spirit was tender in this Case as in many other new Cases sent a second Letter with renewed importunity requiring and expecting a speedy Answer Upon this Shem Acher speaks to Jehovah Aelohim to Father Son and Holy Spirit to Christ God-Man in Prayer about it and then makes Scripture-Testimonies to be †Psal 119. 24. the Men of his Counsel and being under an Obligation to take the whole Scripture along with him for the resolving and determining of this Case and to lay aside all his former Apprehensions and no longer to parle with Humane Traditions Philosophical arguings Carnal reasonings or any other unscriptural Authorities he took his Bible which he has now had about forty years and to which he was well used and so could with the more readiness turn unto apt places beginning with the first Week of the created World and there he found that * Gen. 2. â— 2 3. the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath had Foundation both in Jehovah's Word and in Created Nature as being the only day of the whole Week on which the Creator and Redeemer rested which day he Blessed and which day he Sanctifyed for Sabbath-Purposes and Priviledges and not any other Day of the Week neither first second third fourth fifth nor sixth but only the seventh On he goes with his enquiry through the whole Book of Moses and finds the seventh day Sabbath †Exod. 16. 22. 30. reinforced and the neglect and profaneing thereof reproved before the solemn proclaiming of it
at Mount Sinai where the very next step in his Travails he hears * Exod. 19 and 20 chap. particularly chap. 20. vers 8 9 10 11. the trumpeting promulgation of this Kingly Law of the Seventh day Sabbath sounding loud in his Ear and Heart and still the further he passed on in the after Writings of Moses and of the Prophets the more he is led along in the Seventh-day-Sabbath-way till he came full home to the close of the Old Testament with this Seal put upon this Scripture-Canon or Rule by Jehovah himself †Mal 4. 4. Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant all and every both of the Commands for keeping holy of the weekly Sabbath day and of the Promises of Blessings and Sanctifyings of weekly Sabbath day to right Observers of it and also of the Threatnings denounced against Profaners of the weekly-Sabbath-day relating only to the seventh the last day of every week and to no other day of the week He was now in a short space of time the very same day of entering upon this enquiry got so far forwards in this way of the seventh-day Sabbath from that Light and Truth which Jehovah Aelohim sent forth from his word by his Holy Spirit that he forthwith concluded there was no either going back or stepping aside for him out of this Scripture-Path For if all the Old Testament were for it the New was not against it seeing if any had preached up the first or any other day except the seventh of the whole week at the beginning of the New Testament-dispensation of Grace those who were more * Acts 17. 1â—â— noble-raced Believers on and Disciples of Christ before the Writings of the Evangelists and Apostles who searched the Scriptures they then had whether the first-day-pretended-Sabbath-Doctrine were true or not they could not find that written Word which they then enjoyed had any such Institution at all in it but the weekly Sabbath's †Exod. 25. 11 16 21 22. 1 Kings 8. 9. Jam 2. 8 9 10 11 12. crowning honour was all through visible and legible upon the head of the seventh day only However he narrowly examined and diligently compared the whole New Testament Writings by the Evangelists and Apostles and there he soon discovered that the LORD Jesus Christ whose * 1 Pet. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Joh 2. 4 6. and 4. 17. Example he was to follow in all the Acts of Decalogical Obedience or Obedience to the Laws of the ten Words and whose exact perfect Holiness and Righteousness both of Nature Heart and Life was fully every way answering to all the demands of this Law which was to be both imputed to Believers for their Justification and conformed to by Believers in their Sanctification this Christ all his Life long in the weekly returns of the Sabbath kept the †Luk. 4. 16 31. 23 56. elsewhere seventh day Sabbath and no other day of the week as such to which the Gospels give abundant Testimony Now he begins to be more confirmed and wondereth how he could so much overlook so self-evidencing a Truth and Duty so long he converseth further with the Records of the Apostles whether their Doctrine and Practice did Harmonize and tune in the same Concord with this new * Ps 92. Title Jer. 6. 16. 17. 21 c. Song Psalm and Hymn of the true good old weekly seventh day Sabbath His only remaining work now left was to consult the Apostles Writings and therein he reads in plain legible Characters that as Christ's Custom Manner or constant practised Usage was so also was †Luke 4. 16. Acts 17. 2 3. 18. 4. Paul's the Expression is one and the same in the Greek to observe the seventh-day as the only weekly Sabbath day and that no other day in the whole week has both the Name and Nature of a weekly Sabbath-day given to it by the Holy Spirit but only the seventh day and that Obedience to these Laws of Christ is so often called for both * Mat. 5 6 7. chap. Joh. 14. 15. Luk. 10. 25 26 27 28. Rom. 4. 15. 5. 13. 13. 8 9 10. Jam. 2. 8 9 10 11 13. Heb. 5. 9. Rev. 12. 17. 14. 12. 22. 14 15 18 19. by Christ and his Apostles as an evidence of Love to Christ and of other Interest in him as a Saviour and that the new Testament Scripture was also closed up with Christ's Seal of Blessing to those who doing these his Commandments and of pronouncing a Sentence of Excommunication against any Man who should either add to or take from this written Word Will and Law of Christ The whole Scripture being thus profitable for this Doctrine and Duty of the weekly seventh day Sabbath Christ sate as one expecting an answer readily heartily whereupon Shem Acher was not disobedient to this heavenly Teaching by the Holy Spirit but resolves in the strength and supplies of the same good Spirit to set about the Practice of it and this State of the Question he sends to his enquiring Brother who also forthwith embraced the same Truth and reduced it to Practice And now lo a very formidable Sight stares him in the Face for he saw such an Army of Opposers not only profane but professing not only Foes but Friends all almost as one Man up in Arms against him as soon as it should take Air abroad for he was then the LORD's Prisoner and be known that it was his Principle †Ps 119. 165 and Practice He also foresaw that tho this was no * Stumbling-block at all to him neither any disturbance to his own great Peace yet many others would throw it as a Stone of Offence in their own and others ways to the troubling the Minds of young Ones In such Multitudes who promised so fairly and came on so towardly how many were likely to be much prejudiced against him and his former and after-Ministry And what was most terrible of all †Acts 28. 22. how evil tho injustly many were likely to speak against the Word and Ways of the LORD and to blaspheme Jehovah's fearful glorious and holy Name Christ still held him to former Terms of bringing All to an whole Christ and his whole Word and suitably the good Spirit framed his Heart to this holy Resolve Duty is mine the Issues and Successes of things are the LORD's and do belong to him He privately obsevred the Seventh-day-Sabbath for some time but with great Difficulties and sore Trials and distressing Hardships in the Prison He imparts the LORD's Teachings of him to one and then to another privately who gave place in them to this Word-Truth and Law and so unto some others as they were capable of receiving it And when four or five were hopefully gained over he could hold no longer and could not but speak the Truths and Things of Christ in a more open Declaration and publick Profession which being
understood by some Ministers and others two Ministers came to him in the Prison a little before the end of the sixth day with vehement earnest importunate desirings beseechings and entreatings and other arguings and charmings that he would forbear tho but one day the next day which was the seventh day to consult and consider of so weighty a matter in so great a change for one week Oh for one week longer His Answer was quick short full and resolved in the Strength of the LORD No he would not put it off one day more it was clear as the Light to him through the whole Scripture and if he should put away from him this Statute of Jehovah tho but for one day he knew not but that the Holy Spirits quicknings teachings and comfortings of him might withdraw and Convictions be darkened and deadned From this time tho Sufferings for Christ came on yet Consolations by Christ did abound and the Scriptures did look with a clearer Face such is also the Experience of many others who are upright-hearted walkers with Christ and thorow followers of Christ in this way of his Command The very next day therefore the seventh day he celebrated as the weekly Sabbath day openly witnessing to it and publickly declaring for it from the Word remembring * Joh. 18. 37. that of his LORD Christ To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth every one that is of the Truth heareth my Voice This was the saying of Christ himself a few hours before his Death Since that Shem never met with any Objection that could shake or stagger him but all wrought for his fuller Confirmation and Establishment In the next place his perfecting of Believers Baptism comes to be considered Convictions about this also did quickly spread in the Prison and from thence in other places Having no convenient Accommodations for Dipping under close Confinement he and two more took up Resolutions to pass under that Ordinance when the LORD should give his Prisoner Liberty when he was set free he and the other being at a time in London two Brethren and one Sister being throughly satisfied in each other took Boat and rowed down to Battersey near London and having discovered a convenient place of passing into the Thames River intended there to submit to this Appointment of their LORD the next Morning if not prevented or hindred There they kept Sabbath before the ending of which day somewhat providentially fell out by a difference in Judgment which did put a stop to that whole Action for that time Thus the LORD wisely ordered and graciously over-ruled this Affair for Good For he having before been wrought off from all other whatsoever to bring all entirely to an whole Christ and to his whole Word to Him and to it only had the fairer and fuller opportunity to consider before hand how it might be done in the purest way and to compare what he could meet with afterwards if it might tend to his clearer Inlightning or further Establishment that no one Mark of the Beast might be found upon him at Christ's coming to Glory Before he therefore writes downright to the Case for matter of Fact he will set down what both before and since he hath met with for an answer to this Question Who should be the Administrator and who is fittest for it There were divers of the Perswasion and Practice for Believers Baptism some who had been his Fellow Prisoners others of the same mind who gave him Christian Visits but his Spirit was not satisfied with any one of them For as for the Objection that has been made that a dead Man cannot bury himself as if therefore a Man could not baptize himself Such arguing from some Similitudes are often mistaken and misapplyed and recoil upon the Objecter As in this Case a grown Believer if in any circumstanced Case he have a sufficient Call to baptize himself yet is supposed to be not altogether dead but alive both in Nature and in Grace too and a living Person may do such an Action as may set out a dying burial and rising again Let a Swallow speak in this Case †See Swan's Spaeculum Mundi p. 408. History writes of this Bird that in the beginning of Autumn it gets among the Canes or Reeds where it sinks it self into the Waters thus dying and burying it self and at the beginning of the Spring it riseth up alive again Being in London and making enquiry there his disatisfaction grew on For upon search made concerning either a First-or-After-Administrator of this Ordinance he was informed either by printed Records or by credible Witnesses that the Administrator was Either a Self Baptizer such he knew not one lawfully authorized thereunto which yet he will not totally condemn especially if a Call can be cleared up thereunto from the LORD The Grounds and Reasons whereof are not fit to be brought in here particularly tho the discerning Reader may catch at Hints enough in what doth follow There are Hebrew words which do set out some such Washings that are in two Conjugations one of which Conjugations Hithpahel is always so and the other Passive in Niphal is often significantly * Such as Ruchatz and Hithrachatz Nibtal Nishtaph Shuttaph Heb. 9. 10. Lev. 15. 6 c. Gen. 17. 10 c. Rom. 4. 11. Col. 2. 1 2. In the Greek a Passive Verb has often an Active signification See for this Pasor's Greek Sacred Grammer of the New Testament p. 147 148 149. in many Scripture-Instances Thus also in the Latin there are divers Verbs which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as Passively do work Actively upon a Man's self See Danesius his Paralipomenae p. 78 79 80 81 82 83. In the Greek Words of the Middle Voice have often an Active signification sometimes a Passive now and then both 1 Cor. 10. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Plur. aor 1 Med. They baptising themselves were baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea Thus it was iâ—â—he Types which Moses sanctifying by the Word and Prayer the Israelites went in and under of themselves Thus Act. 22. 16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aor 1. Imper. Mood baptizing thy self be thou baptized Shem Acher will not say there was nothing at all of this self-baptising by Christ's appointment upon himself tho he resolves it into the Act of another of Christ himself upon him he being the princiipal Baptizer of him Act. 22. 16. The deeper research that Shem Acher doth make into this Scripture the more Note-worthyness doth he see in it There are two Verbs in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both of them relating to one and the same thing that is to Baptismal Washing and they are both of them of the same middle Voice of the same Imperative Mood derived from the same first Aorist of the same Number of the same Gender and of
being all private Brethren some private Brother or Brethren into the Ministerial Office and to send him or them forth to preach and to baptize neither could this quiet his thoughts or satisfy his spirit Or else some such one who however pretending to be called and sent forth by Men yet is not gifted graced and qualified according to the Requirements of Christ in his Word for such an honourable Office and weighty Work here also he was to seek and could not so acquiesce Or otherwise some such who say they were at their first passing under this Ordinance under an unavoidable necessity of doing somewhat this way beyond and besides the ordinary-stated-Scripture-Rule and Way which they hope the LORD did accept of they giving to him the best they had according to their then-understanding whereunto Shem Acher has only this to desire of such at present that they see well unto it their pleaded necessity be such an indispensible real urgent unavoidable necessity as the holy Scriptures do warrant and that they impose not that on him as a standing Rule to submit to and to walk by who is under other manner of Circumstances and doth derive all his Satisfaction from an higher and purer Spring And if that Necessity which they plead have led them into a private Path which is besides the ordinary beaten High-way of King Jesus in his Word they have need to bring forth somewhat extraordinary which may carry along with it true-and self-evidence What other way was there then yet left in this case but only this one to his satisfaction He having been before so quite taken off from all Men and all Creature-Authorities in these matters of Religion and having given up himself wholly and entirely to Christ as his one and only LORD and Lawgiver and to the Word of Christ as the one and only Rule of Faith Worship and Life and compleat Summary of all useful Arts and profitable Sciences and having had so many sealing Experiences of Christ's more immediate and extraordinary Teachings Callings Healings of Him by his holy Spirit from his Father in his Word and having passed before under a being baptized with the holy Spirit he with one more travelled from London to Salisbury where about the middle of the Day in the broad River of that City which runs with living water he received his being baptized as by the Hand of Christ himself in the Face of the Heavens and so passed under Waâ—er and baptized another and further also received Imposition †Act. 10. 41. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They were before-chosen and ordained of God to this Office of being Witnesses of Christ's Resurrection by his lifting up stretching out laying on of Hands It was God's Hand who thus set them apart The compound Word is afterwards used for Ordination of Ministers to their Office Acts 14 23. or stretching out by laying on of Hands as from this God Man from Christ tho sitting in the higher Heaven in his glorified Humanity Christ being the Author of this both Water and Spirit-Baptism and stretching out and laying-on of Hands The Reader or Hearer of this Narrative is desired to make a little stand in his thoughts and here to ponder a while upon this weighty Considerable In two grand parts of this Historical Declaration the LORD has graciously given unto Shem Acher somewhat of * 1 Cor. 2. 9 16. 12. 10 11. a Spirit of Discerning whereby to discern Spirits for the present and to foresee some of those Prophesied Methods which he will use to set in order the Affairs of his House towards and in the latter-day-Glory whereby Shem is enabled to trust Christ for Afterwards or Afternesses or what shall hereafter come to pass The holy Spirit working and distributing what Gift he will to whom he will These two Parts are his more than ordinary both Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and way and manner of his Perfecting of Baptism Both which being more immediately derived from ‖ Eph. 1. 20 23 2. 19. 22. 4. 7 16. Christ that Head Officer of the Church he has the advantage and opportunity of holding forth before others this as one of the great Truths of the * 2 Pet. 1. 12. present Age the way and means of Jehovah's bringing his People †Ezek. 43. 10 11 12. chap 44. throughout Psal 74. 9. to measure all Administrations according to the Prophetical Paâ—tern and promised Platform will be by raising up by gifting graceing calling and sending forth some extraordinary Messenger as from Heaven to open interpret apply and promote this revealed Mystery relating to the aâ—proaching Glory of the latter days Do not now over-hastily conclude that this is a rare Artifice and a witty Invention for Shem hereby to point out himself to be this special Prophet by a new Name which he assumes to himself as if the foregoing Prophets did direct as with a Finger to him as that Elijah the Prophet or one in the Spirit of that Elijah who was to come and to restore all things and so to take this glorious honour unto himself For he doth not cry up himsâ—lf to be this very Messenger tho Jehovah Aelohim may use and employ whom he pleaseth in this honourable Work and Shem is somewhat prepared in Heart by the Holy God Spirit greatly to rejoice and to give all the Glory to the LORD might he live to see in his day and time such a Gentile-Minister or Ministers as an Angel or Angels from * Ps 12. 6. Isa 34. 16. Rev. 11. 19. Heaven to come forth with the pure Word of God altogether freed from all corrupt humane Mixtures whatsoever either the very Original it self or an exact Copy word for word and being clothed with the Spirit may preach it abroad with Power and Success tho Shem as to this more eminent Honour were laid aside and might be priviledged with sitting at the Feet of such a one to receive words as from Christ by such an extraordinary Messenger But this is that which he has further to say in this matter that he takes it for a special Favour freely bestowed upon him that the LORD has revealed this inner Secret to him and has so far made use of him as to assert and revive the Doctrine and somewhat to prepare the way for the coming of Jehovah Christ in the conspicuous Appearance of his Personal Presence before which time he will by Voice direct and call and send some peculiar Officer or Officers of his as * Isa 4â— 6 7 8 9. 42 4 16 21. 1 Pet. 1. 23 24 25. a publick Cryer with this Royal Proclamation That this Christ as King of Kings and LORD of Lords is about to come to crown his Kingly Law his written Word and revealed Will therein as the one and the only living abiding Rule for all Churches and States to walk and to measure All by let the Scriptures in the Margin be noted well
to promote a Reformation He dipped all his Children This Mr. Slado her Grandfather had a considerable Estate in England which he sold and purchased somewhat in Ireland he had a numerous Progeny and they most of them have prospered well in this World and divers of them fear the LORD several of them are still living Whilst he lived in the City of Limerick in Ireland the Lecturers were entertained at his House Two of his Daughters were there married to Ministers One Mr. Town who married Gnezri-jah's Mother Shem Acher has heard was a Doctor of Divinity having Preferments in Ireland worth Two hundred pounds by the year he kept seven or eight Servants and well bred up a fruitful Family Her Father according to the Light of that day was zealous against Popery often exposing his Life to danger in defence of the Protestant Religion once the bloody Papists attempted to bury him alive but the LORD delivered him In the Irish Rebellion about forty years ago this Doctor with all his Family were persecuted he left his Estate for the Cause of Christ and after many wonderful deliverances in Ireland and at Sea during that Rebellion several of his Family came for England where the LORD took care of them but now they are scattered into several Countries Yet notwithstanding this just Defence made as to Men some do still go on with their defamings both of Shem Acher and of Gnezri-jah about this Matter who leave their Cause with the righteous Judg who knows how they both for several years have much endeavoured to sweeten the Lives of others and to promote Peace and Purity in the Churches tho ill requited by many whose unkindness have contributed much towards the breaking down of her Constitution and the sore distressing of her Spirit so that it is a wonderful Power and Preservation that both her Husband and she are yet alive What careful Thoughts Shem Acher has had for the Churches of the Holy Separation according to his Capacity Opportunity and Ability is known to the searcher of Hearts and there are some Friends who have been acquainted therewith tho hitherto he has been but little encouraged and cannot effect much but some Testimony thereof he has brought in this way by a Treatise of his published in seventy seven called All in One c. by the Visits which he has given to Sabbath-Churches and that Epistle of Love which he this Year sent to them for a Meâ—ting in London by Messengers for the promoting of such good Work and great Ends as were well worthy for the greatest Princes and ablest Ministers to countenance and prosecute had it been entertained and improved according to its just due value Which Epistle of Love was as followeth Shem Acher a Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ and the Friends in Church-Fellowship with him in London To all the Churches of Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith and the Testimony of Jesus Sendeth a Christian Salutation of Brotherly Love Mercy Grace Love Peace and Blessing be multiplyed to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ WE give thanks to God and the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ who has made known to you and to us his Holy Sabbath and hath so far favoured and honoured us as to use and own our open Confessing and obedient Witnessing of this and of any other Truth and Duty of the present Age whereunto he hath called us forth in his Wisdom and Strength who are but Foolish and Weak in our selves and we earnestly desire you to help together by Prayer with us that both you and we may walk worthy of God who hath thus called us unto his Kingdom and Glory and who has made King Jesus to be Preciousness and Honour to us and his Kingly Law to be Honourable and Glorious in our Esteem Both the Old and New Testament towards the close of each putting us upon a more particular and especial remembrance of Him and of his Law and pronouncing those to be the Blessed Ones who doing his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City There being divers exceeding great and precious Prophecies and Promises relating more peculiarly unto the Revivers and Observers of the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath which shall go a little before the Coming and Appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ in Glory when he will gather in the out-casts of Israel and do his other latter day-Glory-works For there shall be those of such Christian believing Sabbath-keepers who shall build all the old waste places who shall raise up the Foundations from Generation to Generation and who shall be called Menders of Breaches Restorers of Paths to Sabbatize in and the time drawing on Christ's Salvation being at hand to come and his Righteousness to be revealed so that we should look up and lift up our Heads because such our Redemption draweth near We therefore propound this unto your serious Consideration dear Brethren beloved in our LORD that by two or more Messengers from every such Church in England or by Letters and Messages from any of such Churches or of any particular Brethren in Holland New-England or elsewhere we may meet if our LORD will once or oftner upon weighty and urgent occasions and necessities every Year at London or elsewhere at such times as shall be agreed on to keep days of Fasting and of Thanksgiving together by the Prayers of Faith through the Mediation and Intercession of the great Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ to prevail with the Father for larger pourings out of his Spirit upon our selves and upon others for his special presence of Grace with us assisting and blessing of us in all Church-Administrations and at such a general Meeting by Messengers so as that thereby there may be begotten a better Understanding and a more unanimous Accord among our selves a more successful carrying on of Truth Love Peace and Holiness in our Churches a more exact bringing of all the Ordinances of Christ's New Spiritual House to the Laws and Orders of the Prophetical Pattern according to Scripture-Institution and that from cool considerate Conferences there may be given forth right statings of any other Questions that may come before us about which to give our advice mutually to one another by the Rules of the Word of God judging righteous Judgment according unto that without any lording it one over another but in all lowliness of Mind in Humility and Meekness being readily and thankfully made willing to receive further Scripture-Light from any whom our LORD shall use and honour to hold it forth before us and that then and there we may consult which way by a common stock to promote any good work for the maintenance of any Church-Officers for the training up of hopeful young or more aged Men sound and stedfast in the Faith in the Knowledg of the Original Tongue and of other
Church Affairs Thus â—aâ— Shem Acher given the History of his Life of his Call to the Ministry of his perfecting of Baptism of his Conversion of his Evidences of Grace of his Church-Affairs and somewhat of an History of some others who have opposed him this Historical Narrative he blesseth Jehovah Aelohim that still more or less he has been pressing onward and going forward as the growing-Light of his Age has been not declining nor going backward in Principle excepting somewhat in that void space of his time at the University but getting upward to come at the top of all having many a contrivement and endeavour to promote the greatest and the best Ends particularly those that do relate to the latter-day-Glory which in all the kinds and degrees thereof he knows not to have been so in the Heart and Mind of the most eminent Believer and excelling Saint alive on this Earth â— having been for many years through Grace and Mercy obtained from his LORD Shem Acher's State Frame and Acting to come up in some answering growing proportionedness to all the requirements of Christ's Mind and Will in the whole Scriptures that he might be a Man after Christ's own Heart who enabled thereunto by the Holy Spirit might fulfil all Christ's Wills Acts 13. 22. and might so serve his own Generation by the Will of God before he fall on sleep ver 36. standing perfect and compleat or filled up in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. Heb. 6. 1 2. and so may be able in some good measure to answer these Questions of his LORD and Judg What dost thou more Mat. 5. 47 48. what excelling what exceeding thing wherein goest thou beyond others What Grace what Grace what Grace which the English Version doth translate three times what Thank hast thou Luke 6. 32 33 34. that according to that Promise For so it should be rendred in the Future Tense ye shall therefore be Perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 pl. future 1 Indic ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sum Mat. 5. 48. he may be still at perfecting work as his Father who is in Heaven is perfect tho still he carry upon is Spirit and Heart a living Sence of somewhat wanting as to higher degrees yet he would in every thing be and do somewhat that doth excel Psal 16. 3. If any after all this will say That they have now one Charge more against Shem Acher than they had before in that he has so compared himself with Paul thereby ministring to the Pride and Selfishness of his own Heart Such should know and consider That as he must after a while give an account of his writing of this Narrative and of his Aims and Ends in so writing so also must they of their Judgings and Condemnings of Christ's Servant who has for many years been exercised with very humbling Providences and Cases to keep him lowly after the LORD's signal honourings of him As for his running Parallel with Paul the Title-Page in propounding of Paul for an example doth expresly give the Preheminence unto Paul and no farther use the comparing than as it doth run Parallel There is no difference between the highest and the lowest Saint but what the Grace of God has made and an †1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 21. 1 Joh. 2. 6. 4. 17. higher and incomparabler Example than that of Paul should every Believer especially every Minister be conformed unto even that of the LORD Jesus Christ himself Had there not been so many years Attempts and Endeavours by some to blast the Call of Shem Acher and thereby to hinder the Success of his Ministry to the troubling the Minds and discouraging the Hearts of several who were hopefully coming on towards Christ in his ways he had intended to have lodged this Historical Declaration within him and when he had died away into Glory to have made report of it to Heavenly Fellow-Citizens which then and there would have been more cleared up in divers Circumstances of it and in many more Particulars than are here mentioned Duty and Sin do stand sometimes within an Hairs Breadth one by another That may look like a Sin which is a Duty and like a Duty which is a Sin If others will count and censure this as Vain-glory in him it is known to many that he has been necessitated unto it The Searcher of Hearts doth know that Shem Acher hath been made willing that the Glory of these Holy Experiences and signal Honours should be ascribed in every part and in the whole of it unto Jehovah Aelohim whose rich Grace and free Love has been in all this unsearchably Rich and exceedingly Abundant This is that * Lev. 23. 37. 1 King 8. 59. 2 Chron. 8. 14. Ezra 3. 4. Eccles 3. 11. Word of the Day in the Day thereof which was brought upon his Spirit to declare unto others it being self-evident unto him that the LORD has put a Beauty upon this in thus timing of it in its own proper season the whole whereof is now delivered over unto the Holy Spirit to work this History and the choise experiences therein upon their Hearts into whose Hands before whose Eyes or unto whose Ears it may come as is good in his Sight and all is submitted to †Deut. 1. 16 17. Isa 8. 20. Joh. 7. 24. Scripture-Counsel-Number-Measure-and-Weight to Word-Rule-Tryal-Judgment-and-Determination By a Lover and Admirer of Christ and of his Word and Works * Col. 4. 18. 1 Cor 16. 21. 2 Thess 3. 17. Shem Acher POSTSCRIPT SHem Acher having been by a private Letter to a near and dear Friend advertised that he is at least by the strong jealousy of one or more suspected if not down-right charged and this before the Historical Declaration is Printed and Published to be guilty of two Evils the one of striving for Supremacy the other of not walking according to Gospel-Order and both these in reference to that part of the Narrative about receiving of a Member in some Cases out of one Church in the same City into another Church of the same City in the main of the same Gospel-Faith and Order Shem therefore to prevent or else remedy and remove any misapprehensions that may fill the Hearts and Minds of any Reader as also any stumbling-Blocks at which some unwary walkers may be offended doth openly and freely declare that as to the first of these which is striving for Supremacy tho the Seed of this as of every other Evil is in his Heart as in the Heart of every Son and Daughter of Adam as our Nature is corrupted which he doth apprehend was one of the first Sins both of the Apostate Angels and of Fallen Adam 1 Tim. 3. 6. Gen. 3. 5 22. For both the one and the other affected a Superiority and Self-Exaltation above and beyond that which was their Primitive conâ—reated Excellency he doth now upon this occasion publish to all those into whose Hands this Paper shall come