their ministry of God to minister from him to the soules of the people are in preaching the word to be instant in season and out of season according to the charge given before the Lord as by the Scripture is plain And when is preaching the word out of season but when it is either forbidden by men 2 Tim. 4.1.2.3.4 or when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears as by the Scripture appears The Scriptures declare that the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall heap up to themselves Teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables and if that time be already come or be yet to come at such a time the Ministers of the gospel of Christ who have received their ministry of God are not to change their religion and turn away from the truth and worship of God like the Priests of this Priest turning time but the ministers of the gospel are to watch in all things and endure afflictions do the work of Evangelists and make full proof of their ministry as it appeareth 2 Tim. 4.1.2.3.4.5 Concerning the godly meetings of the Primitive Christians and Saints in Christ Jesus and people of God in former Ages We do not read in the Scriptures of truth that the people of God and true Christians did ever imprison fine and banish or sell one another for their religion and worship but we read that Haman did envie the good and welfare of the Jewes and said unto the King there is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy Kingdome and their lawes are divers from all people neither keep they the Kings lawes therefore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them if it please the King let it be written that they may be destroyed and I will pay ten thousand talents of Silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the businesse to bring it into the Kings treasuries and the King consented unto him and they were designed for destruction as by the Scripture is plain Ester 3.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15 But it pleased the Lord to let the King know the innocency of his people and how they were not so dangerous unto the welfare and safety of his Kingdome as Haman had informed him and the King changed his purpose revoked what he had signed against them and became under God a preserver of them and the King declared and said oftentimes fair speeches of those that are put in trust to manage their friends affairs hath caused many that are in authority to be pertakers of innocent blood and hath enwrapped them in remedilesse calamities beguiling with the falshood and deceipt of their lew'd disposition the Innocency goodnesse of Princes now ye may see this as we have declared not so much by antient Histories as yee may if yee search what hath been wickedly don of late through the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed in authority and we must take care for the time to come that our kingdome may be quiet and peaceable for all men both by changing our purposes and alwayes judging things that are evident with more equal proceeding See it in the Apocrypha as appeareth in the letter of Artaxerxes wherein he taxeth Haman and revoketh the decree procured by Haman to destroy the Jewes Ester 16 Chapter Would it not be good in the sight of God and very profitable to this Kingdome and commendable also if the King and the Parliament did under God take such a care for the time to come as that the Kingdome might be quiet and peaceable for all men both by repealing that law made against liberty of conscience and allowing an equal liberty to all men in the exercise of their consciences as to God-wards in matters of faith and salvation and alwaies by judging things that are evident with more equal proceeding There was a time in the dayes of the Prophet Malachi wherein the words of some were stout against the Lord Mal. 3 13. yet they would have excused themselves saying what have we spoken so much against the Lord to the which the Lord answered them by his Prophet saying Ye have said it is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance Mal. 3.14 and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord and they called the proud happy Mal. 3.15 and they that wrought wickednesse were set up and they that tempted God were delivered Then they that feared the Lord separated from the Iniquities of the time met often together and spoke one to another and the Lord was present in their assemblies after a spiritual manner Mal. 3.16 and did own them and their meetings for he both hearkned and heard them and a book of remembrance was written before the Lord for them that feared him and thought upon his name and the Lord made promise to such for their encouragement and comfort Mal. 3.17 and they shall be mine saith the Lord in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them that serveth me as a man spareth his san that serveth him then shall ye return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Mal. 3.16.17.18 When Christ Jesus was come in the dayes of his humiliation and were conversant amongst men after that John was cast into prison for preaching and performing the Office and duty of a Minister Math. 4.12.13.14.15.16.17 or delivering that message which he was sent about from the Lord to perform as a foreruuner of Christ then Christ Iesus himself began to preach and say Repent for the kingdome of Heaven is at hand and there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee and from Dicapolis Mat. 4.25 and from Judea and from Hierusalem and from beyond Jordan and seeing the multitude he went up into a mountain and when he was set he opened his mouth and taught them as you may read Mat 5.1.2 c. But if there had been a law made against meeting to the number of five or above and not in Parish Churches or Chappels and contrary to the common way of meeting preaching and hearing under pain of Imprisonment Fines and Banishment then Christ and the multitude must either not have met after that manner or else they might have suffered as his Saints and servants are like to do now but it is evident by the example of Christ that he never intended any such law to be made in such direct opposition to his example and practice and though the people came from many places and parts of the Country to that meeting with Jesus upon the mountain there was no danger to the safery and happinesse of the
of God now but for their obedience to the law and worship of their God according to the manifestation and perswasion of the spirit and word of God And when they wanted a Law to destroy Daniel by for his worship of God then all the Presidents of the Kingdome the Governours and the Princes the Counsellours and the Captaines Assembled together to the King Dan. 6.4.5.6.7.8.9 and consulted together to establish a Royal Statute and to make a firm decree and the King signed the same against liberty of conscience in matters of faith and religion to bind the conscience and force it from the worship of God for a certain time under pain of death or by being cast into the Lions den as by the Scripture is plain Now when Daniel knew that the law was made against liberty of conscience in point of religion and worship of God or the writing as aforesaid was sealed Dan. 6.10 he was faithful to God in disobeying such a Statute law against liberty of conscience rather then disobey God and offend his tender conscience as by the Scripture appeareth Dan. 6.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 c. And God did own and countenance Daniel in that thing by preserving of him forasmuch as innocency was found in Daniel before the Lord in so doing Dan. 6.22 Whereby it appears and remaines true that Daniel was innocent and justified in the sight of the Lord for disobeying the Statute or decree which was made against liberty of conscience in point of religion and worship of God And it is not unwarrantable or without Scripture example for the people of God to obey God rather then man in matters of Faith and Salvation when a law is made against Liberty of conscience in point of religion and worship of God as aforesaid The Priests were grieved at Peter and John because they taught the people Act. 4.1.2.3.4 and after the Priests and the Rulers had taken knowledge of Peter and John that they had been with Iesus they was unwilling that the truth should spread any further and to the intent that the truth might be suppressed and spread no further Act. 4.15.16.17 First they consulted together and said let us straitly threaten them that they henceforth speak to no man in this name as if Peter and John had been afraid of threatning to have left their Ministry like the Priests of this time And secondly Act. 4.18 they commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Iesus for the Priests would have none to be teachers but themselves and whom they appoint but Peter and John answered and said Act. 4.19.20.21.23 whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more then unto God judge yee for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard Act. 4. Whereby it is evident and remaines true that the people of God are to obey God in matters of faith and salvation though they be threatned and commanded to the contrary by men and it is right in the sight of God to obey God in such cases rather then the commands of men that are contrary to the mind of the Lord and it would be wrong to disobey God because of the threats of men as aforesaid and it was the principle and practice of the primitive Christians so to do and rather suffer by Priests Rulers and Magistrates for their obedience and faithfulnesse to God in matters of faith and salvation then to deny their testimony and comply with the sins of the times for any by ends and to avoid a suffering condition Concerning the Primitive Christians both Ministers and People The Ministers of the gospel in the primitive times were called in question about their doctrine and Ministry by the Priests Rulers and Magistrates and threatned and commanded to preach no more in the name of Jesus Act. 21.13 to the end Act. 22. 2 Cor. 6. Act. 4. which was indirect opposition to liberty of conscience granted and given by the Lord unto his Ministers in matters of faith and salvation but obstructed and denyed by Priests Rulers and Magistrates then who commanded them contrary to the commands of God in such cases but the Ministers of the gospel in the primitive times could not be subject to such commands of men as would have forc't conscience from performing its duty and service to God in matters of faith and salvation and they said in plain terms without any evasions we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard Act. 4.18.19.20 it was matter of conscience to them and they would rather suffer by men then disobey God and offend a good conscience to God-wards as aforesaid as by the Scripture is evident and plain The Ministers of the gospel and primitive Christians was no persecutors but were persecuted for said Paul to Timothie thou hast fully known my doctrine manner of life faith long suffering charity patience persecutions afflictions which came unto me at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured but out of them all the Lord delivered me yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. But evil and seducers shall wax worse and worse 1 Tim. 3 10.11.12 2 Tim. 3.13 So it appeares and is plain by the Scriptures that the godly were and are attended with persecutions both Ministers and people and that by reason of evill men and seducers which are and were persecutors The Ministers of the gospel in the primitive times were to continue in the things which they had learned of God and were assured of as by the Scripture appeareth 2. Tim. 3.14 So were the Primitive Christians to continue in the word and doctrine of Christ by which it might appear that they were disciples indeed and lovers of Iesus And said the Apostle stand fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the gospel and in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of Salvation and that of God for unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Philip. 1.27.28.29 Whereby it is evident and remaines true that the true Christians are not persecutors but are true believers in Christ and subjects unto him and a suffering condition is anexed to believing and as none can truly believe unto salvation but them to whom it is given so none can truly suffer for Christ and the Gospel but them to whom it is given and therefore they need not to be terrified by their adversaries for it is to the persecutors an evident token of perdition but to the true believers in Christ who are the true sufferers it is to the man evident token of salvation and that of God as by the Scripture is plain as aforesaid Phil. 1.27.28.29 The Ministers of the Gospel of Christ who have received
government though suspition might arise in the minds of some and be ready to judge it unsafe to suffer such meetings And it came to passe that when Jesus had finished these sayings he departed from Galilee Mat. 9.1.2 and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan and great multitudes followed him as by the Scripture is plain But if Christ was here now and did so he must be imprisoned and banished by a law and by that law the people might be kept from following Christ or else suffer imprisonment and banishment for following of him and that by such as pretends to be friends unto him But it is not every one that pretends love to him or saith Lord Lord that shall enter into the kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of the Father as Christ Iesus hath declared and said And Jesus came at another time nigh unto the Sea of Galilee and went up into a mountain and sate down and great multitudes came unto him Mat. 5.29.30 as by the Scripture is plain whereby it is evident and remaines true that there either was no law that prohibited such great meetings on mountaines and to keep the people back from following of Iesus after that manner or if there were any such lawes then in being they were not regarded by Christ and the followers of him in matters of faith and salvation And at another time Iesus entred into Capernaum and it was noised that he was in the house and straitway many were gathered together insomuch that there was no room to receive them no not so much as about the door and he preached the word unto them Mark 2.1.2 as you may read in the Scripture of truth But if Iesus was here now and did so might not he and the people be imprisoned and banished or sold for so doing consider well of it and let the Lord judge in this case And before Christs ascention being assembled together with his disciples and friends which were about the number of five he commanded them that they should not depart from Ierusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me Act. 1.1.2.3.4 And when they were come in they went up into an upper room where abode both Peter and Iames and Iohn and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew Iames the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Iudas the brother of Iames which were above the number of five and they did not disperse themselves into numbers under five but these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Iesus and with his brethren as you may read Act. 1.13.14 And if there had been such a law that they might not have met upon the account of religion from a parish Church to the number of five or above under pain of imprisonment and banishment as now Act. 1.3.4 Act. 1.13.14 they might either have disobeyed the commands of Christ or else have broken such a law as is directly against that command of the Lord Iesus as by the Scripture is evident And when the day of Penticost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and not dispersed into companies under the number of five as you may read Act. 2.1 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty winde and it filled the house where they were sitting Act. 2. 2. so that they were not met in a parish Church or Chappel but in a house and God mightily honoured their meeting for they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak as the spirit gave them utterance as by the Scripture is evident Ast. 2.1.2.3.4 And the Servants of Iesus did meet together in houses and in great numbers also or else how should there have been three thousand soules added unto them on one day as there was by the preaching of Peter Act. 2. And in private houses they met often and also in multitudes as by the Scripture appeareth and some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas Act. 17.4.5.6.7.8 and of the devout Greeks a great multitude and of the chief women not a few but the Iewes which believed not moved with envie took unto them certain lew'd fellowes of the baser sort and gathered a company and let all the City on an uproar and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people and they drew Jason and certain of the brethren unto the Rulers of the city crying these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also whom Iason hath received saying that there is another King one Iesus and they troubled the people and the Rulers of the city when they heard these things so you may see how the old envious professours and the baser sort of people did trouble the people and Rulers by haling out and abusing the primitive christians and reporting of them as aforesaid but the true christians did not persecute any but were persecuted as by the Scripture appeareth Act. 17.4.5.6.7.8 And after the uproar was ceased Paul called unto him the Disciples and embraced them and departed for to go into Macedonia Acts 20.1 And upon the first day of the week the Disciples came together and met neither in a Parish Church nor a Chappel Act. 20.8 but in a private house and Paul continued his Speech until midnight in the Chamber where they were gathered together Acts 20.7 8. Whereby it is evident and remains true that it was the practice of Christ and his Apostles to meet together in private houses and in great numbers and they never made any uproar nor abused any but they were abused and suffered as those do who follow their examples Eph. 5. Gal. 5.16.22 23 24 25. Heb. 10.22 23. and live in the Spirit as they did It was the practise of the primitive Christians to assemble themselves together and wait upon God in the way of his Worship and they were to hold fast their Profession without wavering because he was faithful that promised Heb. 10. though they were persecuted for meeting and worshipping contrary to the custome of the envious Jewes and contrary to the way and worship of the World as aforesaid Whereby it is evident and remains true that it is the duty of true Christians Saints and Believers in Christ Jesus to be true and faithful unto God in meeting together in the Way and Worship of God and mind their continuation with God in the same though they be attended with a suffering condition from men for so doing and as it is their duty to meet together as the Worshippers of God according to the manifestation and perswasions of God so it is a danger to neglect the same as by the Scripture is evident and plain Heb. 10.22 23.24,25 And as Preaching is not an Art of Nature but a spritual gift so none are required by the Lord to minister from
understood that they intended to make us so for continuance and perpetuity Then what Right have they to Excommunicate and Persecute us For if they cut off the Members of Christ either by Excommunication or Persecution do they not destroy Christ in his Members in so doing And is not that contrary to the Minde and Will of God and against the Innocency and true Intent of the Liturgie of the Church of England And doth not such proceedings beget a dislike and dis-esteem to them who so openly and manifestly erre from their owne Principles or Fundamentals in matters of Religion and Practise as aforesaid And for as much as the Bishops and Priests doe promise to People that by the Act of Baptisme so called they do Regenerate their Children and do thereby conclude them Regenerate saying Dearly Beloved Seeing this Childe is Regenerate and Borne again let us give Thanks Then if by that Act they do not Regenerate them they doe neither truly Baptize them nor Admit them into Church Fellowship Do not they therefore pretend to do that which they neither intend or really do not perform And is it not time for people to take notice of them For if no Priest in England can Regenerate any then no Priest in England can Baptize any who promise and pretend to Regenerate them by that Act as aforesaid and do not And seeing that by the Liturgie of the Church of England the Church is declared to be the Houshold and Family of God and by the Act that none may meet out of their owne Family above the number of five under pretence of Religion and Worship of God contrary to the Liturgie of the Church of England Then it seems that they who are of that Family and the whole Houshold and Family of God may meet together by that Act and not above five amongst them that are not of the Houshold and Family of God And the Liturgie of the Church of England doth plainly say that the whole Body of the Church is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God So that the Houshold and Family of God are under the Teachings Sanctification and Government of the Spirit of God And by the Act it seemes all such may meet together to Worship God and not above five joyn with them that are not Governed and Sanctified by the Spirit of God for they are not Members of the Church nor of the Houshold and Family of God who are not Governed and Sanctified by the Spirit of God because the whole Body of the Church is said to be Governed and Sanctified by the Spirit of God and that according to the Liturgie as aforesaid Is it not evident then or may it not be concluded that by the said Act there is a toleration given for all to meet together who are under the administration and teachings of God who are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God and then what will this be against the meeting of the Quakers and innocent people of God if rightly understood and not perverted because they are the onely people that meet together in point of religion and worship of God according to the Liturgie because they are under the administrations and teachings of God and are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God And doth it not remain true that those who are prohibited by the act to meet above the number of five contrary to the Liturgie of the Church of England under pretence of religion are such as are not of the houshold and family of God that is to say such as daily errs and goes astray from the wayes of God and are not governed and sanctified by the spirit of God as aforesaid Concerning Infants Baptisme And as concerning Baptisme if the thing thereby promised and pretended be not effected the end doth not answer the means as they call it or indeed the meanes doth not lead to the end so that it is more a pretence and shew or shadow then any thing of substance and as necessary unto salvation and when the means leads to the end or the end answers the means so that the Priests do make it appear that they really can and do regenerate people by that act of baptisme so called as they pretend then we shall beâ—â—â—â—â— them and bring children unto them to have that conferred upon them and in the mean time it is but resonable to be excused for not bringing little children unto them whilst that part is more pretence then real practice or substance and we judge it a reasonable thing to be freed and clearly acquitted from all Ecclesiastical censures and temporall punishments concerning the same and if you think otherwise let the Lord and all true experienced sound upright hearted Christians judge between you and us in this case Concerning the Sacrament so called Is there any true spirituall right or gospel authority whereby any should be punished by Ecclesiastical censures or temporal punishments for not receiving that as an Ordinance of Christ which the Scriptures no where makes mention off if you say no Then we say the Scripture nowhere makes mention of the word Sacrament in any place that we ever read of and if you can produce any place of Scripture that plainly makes mention of the word Sacrament when you have produced that Scripture we shall take it into due consideration and if you say there is no such Scripture to be produced but the word sacrament is a significant word and it signifies the receiving of Christ Iesus and of an inward and spiritual grace which are holy things if so then to receive Christ Iesus in spirit and the grace of God is to receive the signification of the word Sacrament and so effectually to receive the Sacrament or the thing signified which is the end of the sign and we have received and do receive Christ Iesus and the inward grace of the spirit of God and so in effect do receive the Sacrament or signification of the sign and ought to be freed from all Ecclesiastical censures and temporal punishments concerning the same 1. Then to meet together in point of Religion and worship of God with them that are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God is to come to the Church and that according to the Liturgie or common prayer book therefore such are to be tolerated and ought not to be molested or troubled but rather freed from all Ecclesiastical censures and temporal punishments concerning the same 2. To meet together to preach and pray and perform duty to God in point of Religion and worship of God is not to meet contrary to the practice of the Liturgie of the Church of England because they pretend to do the same therefore they who meet together in the fear wisdome and spirit of God to preach pray and perform duty to God in point of Religion as worshippers of him ought not to be molested disturbed or called in question for so doing THE END