of the bare Subjection to the Ordinances as it was under the Law but upon the account of their Faith for saith the Apostle Ye Members of the Church of Galatia are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jefus which Faith working by love hath evidenced it self to be true by working you to obedience to Gods Ordinances for so many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ And as no uncircumcised person was to â—…at of the Passeover under the Law Exod. 12. 48. So of Christ our Passeover who is Sacrificed for us under this Gospel-dispensation 1 Corinth 5. 7. is no unbeliever to have Communion 2 Corinthians 6. 14. to 17. And as under the Law it was charged upon the Jews as a sin to bring the Uncircumcised into the material Temple Ezek. 44. 7 9. because Circumcision was the inducting Ordinance of Cod under that dispensation So also under a Gospel-dispensation we dare not administer that Inducting Ordinance of Baptism without Faith in God be firct begotten So that if persons shall require from us the Administration of that Ordinance we shall no more dare to do it than Philip who first would have an account of the Eunuch's faith before he Baptized him for so saith the Text Acts 8. 37. If thou Believest with all thy heart thou mayest who immediatly made a Confession of his Faith and this is according to the Commission of Christ Mark 16. vers. 15. which saith not that he that is Baptized but he that Believeth and is Baptized shall be saved So that it is a dangerous thing to make the strait Gate that leads to life wider than God hath made it Therefore know O King that thou art under that dispensation in which the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree and wherein every tree that brings not forth good fruit is to be hewen down and cast into the fire Mat. 3. 10. Under which persous are forbidden to plead their Birth-Priviledges V. 9. as that they are Children of Believing Parents or Sons and Daughters to Abraham but under that dispensation by which they are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Iesus as aforesaid who have actually manifested their faith by their obedience in their putting on of Christ by Baptism as that Church did Gal. 3. 26 27. Such as are chosen out of the world John 15. 19. John 17. 6 14. Separating themselves according to the requirements of God from false and Babylonish worship Revel. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 14 17. Being begotten to the faith Philemon 10. 1 Tim. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 2. Titus 1. 4. By the Preaching of the Word James 1. 18. 1 Cor. 4. 15. And quickned by the Spirit John 6. 63. Rom. 8. 11. Eph. 2. 1 5. Col. 2. 13. Being born again 1 John 4. 7. 1 John 5. 1. 1 John 3. 9. Not of corruptible séed but of incorrupâ—…ible 1 Pet. 1. 23. Not of flesh nor blood nor after the will of man but of God John 1. 13. Being born of water and the Spirit without which if we may believe our blessed Saviour himself John 3. 5. no man can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven the necessity whereof is fully laid down by the Apostle 1 Pet. 3. 20. who speaking of the preservation that Noah had by the Ark from that deluge of water Gen. 7. 17. The like figure whereunto even Baptism saith he doth now under this Gospel-dispensation save us not by washing away of the filth of the flesh but the answering a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as if the Apostle should have said it is not the washing the body in Water that is of this saving nature but it is the going into the Water in a Conscionable obedience to the Command of God to have our sins mystically washed away by Faith in the blood of Christ and so also saith the Apostle Acts 22. 16. And now why tarriest thou arise and be Baptized wash away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord and the same Apostle writing to Titus makes a clear discovery by what means God on their parts saved them Titus 3. 5. Who hath 〈◊〉 us saith he not by deeds of Righteousness that we have done but by the washing of Regeneration or as the old Translation renders it by the fountain of the new birth and renewing of the Holy Ghost by Water-work and Spirit-work the Spirit operating upon and working up a Soul conscionably to obey God in that holy though amongst men that much despised Ordinance of Water-baptism And thus the Apostle tels us by what means Christ hath clenfed his Church viz. with the washing of water by or according to the Word Eph. 5. 26. And thus some in the Church of the Corinthians who formerly were unrighteous even Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers Effeminate Abusers of themselves with man-kind Thieves and Robbers were by this Spirit and Water-work washed and clensed For so saith our Apostle 1 Cor. 6. 11. And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are Sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God So that a Church of Christ or House of God under a Gospel-dispensation is to be built up of lively stones a spirituall House an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices that will be acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Of which the building of the Material Temple was a Type for as the House which Solomon built 1 Kings 6. 7. was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither so that there was neither Hammer nor Ax nor any tool of Iron heard in the House when it was in building So in the gathering or building a Gospel-Church persons are to be fitted hewen and squared before they are laid into this Building they are to repent from dead works and to have Faith in God before they be Baptized that as that was a Material so this a spiritual House as those stoues were dead these lively as those stones so soon as they were laid into the building and the work finished they became a House fit to sacrifice in so these lively stones being brought together are fit presently actually to offer up spiritual Sacrifices such as God will accept they being in Jesus Christ first mystically by Faith and secondly actually by their Obedience and Faith and Obedience being Gods Twins we dare not in the least entertain so much as a thought to separate them So that O King if thou with Hezekiah wilt open the Door of the Lords House it is not a National but a Congregational Door thou art to open which is not to be compulsive but perswasive for so saith a true Gospel-Minister Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men 2 Cor. 5. 11. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God v. 20. Whence we may
note that a Gospel Minister is not to be like the General of an Army to frighten beat or fight men into faith but as an Ambassador to perswade and invite and gently to treat with and to entreat into the way of God the one being Diabolical but the other Evangelical and the way of Love being Gods Way this is one of the distinguishing Characters of a true Gospel-Minister whom the Love of Christ hath constrained which causeth men to look upon them to be Faâ—…naticks or mad men for so saith our Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 13. For whether we be besides our selves it is to God or whether we be sober it is for your Cause for the Love of Christ constraineth us And saith he in Chap. 12. 14. I will not be burthensom to you for I seek not yours but you and he gives this in as a Reason for saith he The Children ought not to lay up for the Parents but the Parents for the Children and I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love the less I am loved And such are made Over-seers of the Flock of God by the Holy Ghost Acts 20. 28. who feed it and take the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not of filthy lucre but of a ready mind 1 Pet. 5. 2. as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. Such are good Shepherds and not Hirelings who will lay down their life for the sheep John 10. 11. Whilst others being made Overseers by men instead of feeding the Flock feed upon the Flock as those careless Shepherds spoken of Ezek. 34. 2 3 4. against whom a Woe is pronounced Who feed themselves who eat the fat and cloath themselves with the Wool and kill them that are fed but feed not the Flock who strengthen not the diseased nor heal the sick nor bind up the broken nor bring again that which is driven away nor séek that which is lost but Rule them with cruelty as the Prophet saith Micah 3. 2 3. Who hate the good and love the evil who pluck off their skins from off them and their flesh from their bones who eat the flesh of my People and stay their skins from off them who break their bones and chop them in pieces as for the Pot and as flesh for the Chaldron v. 5. Who bite with their teeth and cry Peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they make War against him who are Hirelings and not true Shepherds who formerly if a fatter Benefice came in the way would not stay till the Wolf came but hearkned to that Call and left the Sheep to secure themselves from the Wolves if they would But such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ And no marvel saith our Apostle 2 Cor. 11. 13 14. For Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light ver. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed into the Ministers of Righteousness whose end shall be according to their works whilst the true Apostle is as frée to give as fréely he hath received who is ready to Preach the Word and to be instant in season and out of season and to reprove rebuke and exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine according to that good Advice 2 Tim. 4. 2. And thus O King having in some measure given thee the Character of a Gospel-Church and Ministry I shall now beg thee in Gods fear that thou have a care thou open the right Door open not the broad Gate that leads to destruction instead of that narrow way that leads to life Mat. 7. 13 14. If â—…hou incendest to do Gods Work have a care thou doest it in Gods Way And that I may the better perswade thee there unto I shall briefly lay before thee two or three Examples of Gods severity against those that have been careless therein Moses and Aaron the Servants of the Lord Numb. 20. who but for smiting the Rock when they should have spoken to it died in the Wilderness and were not suffered to carry Israel into the Land of Canaan as we may fully understand by comparing the eight verse with 11 12 23. to 29. with Numb. 27. 12. to 15. with Deut. 34. If Saul will save alive those which God will have destroyed Saul must deeply suffer for it 1 Sam. 15. but more of this anon And if Akan will take of the accursed things Akan must deeply suffer for saith the Text Joshua 7. 24 25. And Joshua said Why hast thou troubled us The Lord shall trouble thee this day and all Israel stoned him his Sons and his Daughters his Oxen and his Asses and his Sheep and burned them with fire The Lord give thee O King an understanding heart to consider things aright But to proceed Hezekiah doth not onely stir up the Priests and Levites to the Work of Reformation but also all Judah and Jerusalem and wrote Letters Chap. 30. 1. and made a Decree and made Proclamation that they must come up to Jerusalem to keep the Passeover unto the Lord for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written ver. 5. Whence we may note That in Hezekiah's Reformation he Reformed not according to what had been their custom of a long time nor to what his Father before him did but according as it was written according to the Law of God And this is that which makes the Work to thrive in his hands when he doth Gods Work in Gods Way Therefore let me beg thee O King as thou tenderest thine own good now thou art upon thy Reformation to take Hezekiah for thy Pattern have the Word of the Lord for thy Warrant see thou do it according to the written Law of God for such a Reformation onely will stand and thou with it But if thou do it according to the former customs and what thy Father did before thee thou sawest that fell and him with it for what is of man will come to nothing but if it be of God it cannot be overthrown Acts 5. 38 39. And know O King that much Knowledge and true Light hath broken forth within these twelve years and what men might do in Ignorance haply may be excusable which now cannot for so saith our Apostle Acts 17. 3. In the times of this Ignoraâ—…ce God winked at but now he Commands all men every where to repent And let no man despise my Speech in saying much knowledge and true Light is within these few years broken out if they shall I must answer them after the manner of Peter answering those scosfing Jewes in that then so much admired-at giving out of the Spirit Acts 2. 14 15. We are not Fannaticks or mad men as ye suppose in so saying but this is that which was spoken of by the Prophets Dan. 12. 4. Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall encrease for saith the Prophet Haba 2.
That we see by common Experience That they that are hunger-bit when they come to their full of Diet they run upon it with greediness like Israel of old 1 Sam. 14. 32. Who flew upon the Spoil and took Sheep and Oxen and Calves and slew them on the ground and the People did eat them with the Blood Which was contrary to the Law of God and which became their sin Even so hunger-bit Souls many times eat with that eagerness that they do not onely sin in their Excess but also Surfeit themselves to the loss of their lives This then may serve for a Use of Caution to thee O King that of a long time hast been a Stranger to this Land of thy Nativity and hast been forced to wander from one Kingdom to another Nation from one Language to another People in penury and want and now being come to three Kingdoms of thine own flowing with Milk and Honey and yet abounding in all manner of Excess of Riot let me Caution thee in the fear of the Lord that thou surfeit not thy self upon the profits nor pleasures thereof nor let thy Men of Valour neither Domestick nor Forreign that are lately come over to thy assistance cause thee to put thy confidence in an Arm of flesh lest thy heart be lifted up and so thou forget thy God to thine own ruine Neither surfeit thy self with too much blood-shed lest thou make thy self Blood-guilty and so God begin a new Inquisition but rather shew Pitty and Compassion Love and Lenity and rather Lament than Launce and rather Triumph over the killing thy Corruptions than thy Subjects and resolve to refer thy will to the Lord who saith Uengeance is mine and I will repay it Rom. 12. 19. I would here be understood in a good sence for I do not desire the Obstruction of the due Administration of Justice but that it may be so administred that Mercy may be intermixed therewith and also that Relenting and Sobriety and not Exaltation and Inhumanity be in the Execution For I know That it is an Ordinance of God For Magistrates are set up for the punishment of Evil doers Rom. 13. 3 4. For the Law is not made for the Righteous man but for the Lawless and Disobedient for the Ungodly and for Sinners for Unholy and Prophane for Murtherers of Fathers and Murtherers of Mothers for Man-slayers for Whoremongers and for them that defile themselves with man-kind for Man-stealers for Lyars and perjâ—…red persons or any thing else that is contrary to sound Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. 9 10. And seeing the Apostle saith That in many things we offend all James 3. 2. For if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 8. O then be perswaded to bring thy self to the Bar of Gods Justice and there Arraign Judge and condemn thy self for saith our Apostle 1 Cor. 13. 31. If we would Judge our selves we should not be Judged but when we are Judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the World And this O King is the readiest way I know of to render duely to God and to keep thy heart from being lifted up that so wrath fall not upon thee and thy Kingdoms I beseech thee then in the fear of the Great Jehovah consider what I say and the Lord in Mercy make thee Wise that as thou art an Heir to a Crown of gold here so thou mayest he made partaker of that Crown of Righteousness which never fadeth away which saith the Apostle The Lord the Righteous Judge shall give to 〈◊〉 at that day and not to 〈◊〉 onely but unto all them also that love his appearanâ—…e 2 Tim. 3. 8. And so O King let thy Soul in the singleness thereof Eccho with mine and say Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly A DECLARATION Of a small Society of BAPTIZED BELIEVERS undergoing the Name of FREE-WILLERS about the CITY of LONDON WE well knowing that we are and have been mis-represented to the People of this and other Nations as well by particular Letters from friend to friend as by publick Intelligence in Pamphlets and News-Books by which means we have been rendred odious in the eyes almost of all and as it were made a by-word and a hissing to all were notwithstanding willing according to the requirement of our Saviour Luke 21. 19. In our patience to possesse our Souls and silently to wait upon our God for a clearing of our innocency and the cleannesse of our hands in his eye-sight But lately having had a view of a Declaration dated the 12th of December last made by some Persons of the particular Judgment in which some others of another perswasion have joyned to the which in severall particulars we cannot in the least assent We therefore thought it our bounden Duty for the vindication of that Truth which we are in present profession and practice of as also fearing lest they having declared to publick view we by our silence should be looked upon either to be of the same Judgment with them in what they have declared or else guilty of all or some of those five Particulars they in that Declaration say the Baptists in general are charged withall have therefore set pen to paper and shall first give a particular of the said five Charges and then as in the presence of God lay down our real Judgments and Perswasions grounded upon Scripture record to those Charges by which it will be apparent that we are not guilty of them at all and that we differ from the said Declarers in point of Judgment and if we shall in any thing therein derogate from the minde of God we shall desire in the Spirit of love to be rectified by better Judgments from the word of truth and shall think our selves happy gainers in such a Christian reproof Say they we being mis-represented to the Nation 1. As such as are opposite to Magistracy 2. That we would destroy the Publick Ministry of the Nation who differ from us in some things about Religion 3. That we do countenance the People called Quakers in their irregular practice 4. That we do endeavour a toleration of all miscarriages in things Ecclesiastical and Civil under pretence of Liberty of Conscience 5. That we desire to murther and destroy those that differ from us in matters of Religion To the first we positively say that we are so far from opposing Magistracy as that it would be to us matter of great rejoycing to know who were our Magistrates But farr greater to see such set up who are men fearing God and hating covetousness that so 〈◊〉 might be duly executed without respect of persons and Judgment 〈◊〉 down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream that so there might be no more leading into captivity that complaining in our streets might have an end But for our parts to take a carnal weapon in our hands or use the least violence