Principles Formes and Practices Whereof are the Patriarchs and All the holy Men of old Peter Paul James John Policarpe Ignatius Justin Martir Chrysostome Wickliffe Waldus Luther and Zuinglius Calvin Oecolampadius and Corolostadius Beza Bullinger and Pareus Tindall Lambert Frith and Bilney Bradford Hooper Ridley Rogers Latimer Philpot and Alice Driver Hawks and Taylor Baines and Glover Brightman Cartwright Ames and Ainsworth Preston Perkins Brown and Sibs with Fenner Hooker Cotten Archer Burroughs Bolton and myriads more of Saints besides of all their severall Sorts of Judgements making up the Church of the First-borne Whereof we would bear an Image as near as may be as the Daughter that is like the Mother Zech. 9. 9. O Daughter of Jerusalem Zeph. 3. 14. Mica 4. 8. Gal. 4. 26 Now this Church shuts out none of the Saints though differing but sets them in in their proper places and that after the first Institution which is not of members of one or two kind or Forme onely but of MANY as 1 Cor. 10 17. The Blood of the New Testament was shed for MANY as his one Collective body And thus Eph. 4. 4 5. There is ONE BODY one Spirit one Hope c. Besides the Promise of restoring the Foundation of Many Generations Isa. 58. 12. is not upon this or that Forme but the New-Jerusalem-Foundation Rev. 21. 14 19 20. Eph. 2 20 21 whereon All are built whether Patriarchs Prophets Apostles or Christians of all sorts making up the Whole Church And after this Constitution are we in this Body and Vniting-worke large enough to receive not onely all Sorts of Saints alive but dead of all ages were they now alive as Heb. 12. 22 23. But ye are come to the Spirits of just men made perfect yea the Holy Angels too as our Sweet Associates in the Spirit of our Communion or rather Assistants and Ministring Spirits Heb. 1. 14. 12. 22. But ye are come unto Mount Sion and to an innumerable Company of Angels As EZRA wrote long since of the Last dayes saying Vnto whom I will give for Leaders Abraham Isaac and Jacob Amos Hosea Micab Joel Obadiah Nahum Habakkah Zephany Haggai Zachary and Malachy Which if true agrees with Rev. 11. 11. The SPIRIT of LIFE at the Rise of the two Witnesses which shall set them and Us upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and so into the same Spirit 13. For a Greater Increase and Grouth of Grace Eph. 2. 21. which is much killed and cooled by these Divisions to strengthen the Things that remaine and are ready to die Rev. 3. and more mutually to discharge our obligations each to other and to All Saints in this City compact Psal. 122. 1 2. of Watching Admonishing Prophecying and Assisting one another Mat. 18. 15. 1 Thes. 5. 14. 4. 18. 2 Thes. 3. 15. c. Seeing the Sweetest best and Spiritualest Nourishment comes in at the JOYNTS of the Body so as the VINE John 15. is nourished by the joynts too and the best Flowers doe grow out of joynts Hence if any be OUT OF JOYNT ye which are Spiriturall RESTORE or put into joynt again Gal. 6. 2. Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. From whence all the BODY by JOYNTS and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God and in this sence was it Acts 4. 33. That great GRACE was upon them All For this we are deeply sensible of in these Dividing times and Party Professions and Religions now up that we are apter to set a work each others Corruption and private spirit then grace or the Publick Spirit Wherefore as the labouring Bees doe bring all into ONE HIVE we hope it shall appear that the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY ONE of us of what judgement soever TO PROFIT withall in this one Body that is to bring every one into one Bank or Stock of Grace for the Publick and common grouth or Good of All 1 Cor. 12. 7. 2 Pet. 3. 18. Eph. 4. 7. Therefore to every one of us is given GRACE according to the measure of the gift of Christ 14. For a more Primitivelike-Love Concord and Indearednesse one to another then what we see amongst Professours as Acts 1. 14. 4. 32. 1 Thes 4. 9. And that to All Saints Col. 1. 4. Not onely ready to lay down our Lives with the Brethren but for the Brethren after the Will of God and Witnesse of Jesus 1 John 3. 16. 1 Pet. 1. 22. O it is Admirable to read but more to receive that Love which was among the Primitive Saints without respect to Judgements or Persons how often they ventur'd their Lives one for Another Like EPAPHRODITVS Phil. 2. 30. Who for the WORK of Christ was nigh VNTO DEATH not REGARDING HIS LIFE to supply YOVR LACK So Col. 1. 24. In my Sufferings FOR YOV And Phil. 1. 7 14. yea Rom. 16. 6. Who have for MY LIFE laid down their OWN NECKS Gal. 4. 15. Ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them me Yea how would they run to the Racks and Theaters and worst of Tortures if they heard but of any Brother ingaged for his Life Owning one another Justifying Visiting Rejoycing in and embracing one Another in the midst of the most horrid and exquisite Sufferings to the Admiration of HEATHENS Amazement of TIRANTS and mutuall encouragement of ONE ANOTHER Insomuch as those that saw them would wonder and say Ah see how Dearly they Love one another as the Jewes said of Christ John 11. 36. Behold how he loved him Nothing being able to quench such Love not Famine Plague nor Sword to keep them asunder as the Histories shew Much like our English-woman-Martir in Q Maries dayes that rejoyet at her heart to have her Foot in the same Hole of the Stocks where PHILPOT was before her Now untill this UNITING be we must look for Little of this Love but grieving discontent biting beating of one another and devouring rather One Party opposing Appearing against nick naming exasperating and exploding the other And thus it will and must be unlesse by this Blessed Worke there be an END put through the Crosse of Christ and his power to the Enmity and Discord which causes this Wherefore Phil. 2. 1 2. Let nothing be done through Strife or Vaine-glory 15. That more Amiablenesse and Beuty may appear in the Saints in Zion and in the Principles of the Kingdome by a Collective Body of Beauty then now does among the Dispersed DVST and STONES among them that are not fully separate from the mixture them that lie in HOLES or in HEAPS among the Durt for so her Beauty lies in the Dust Lam. 2. 14 15. but the Promise is of making her the Praise and BEAUTY of the Whole earth Isa. 62. 7. Psal. 50. 2. 48. 2. of giving her BEAUTY for Ashes Isa. 52. 1. 61. 3. and of making her Renown to goe forth among the Heathen
A REVIVING WORD FROM THE Quick and the Dead to the Scatter'd Dust of SION OR A Breathing of the Spirit of Life in a Few Dry Bones that begin to Rise and Rattle In and about this City of LONDON BY A Solemn DECLARATION FOR An IMMEDIATE UNITING of ALL SAINTS into ONE BODY upon the Growing Principles of Grace and Kingdome of our Lord Jesus in every Administration thereof SHEWING The Grounds of it Progresse in it Proposalls for it Motives to it And our yearning Invitation throughout the three Nations about this Pacificatory Primitive-like Enterprise To put us ALL as one Man into a Posture meet to Meet our Lord Jesus at his second coming in All the DEGREES and SERVICES thereof Hosea 6. 2 3. After two Dayes he will revive us in the third Day he will raise us up and We shall live in his sight Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as Morning and he shall come to us as the rain as the latter and as the former Raine 2 Chron. 30. 12. Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them One Heart 2 Chron. 11. 16. And after them out of All the Tribes such as set their hearts to seek the Lord came to Jerusalem LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle near the West end of Pauls 1657. A DECLARATION FOR UNITING-WORK OR Severall Judgements of the People of God that are agreed with one heart and as one man in the KINGDOME-WORK and Witnesse of our Lord Jesus patiently and piously waiting for the full Redemption of Sion and coming of Christ in the Exercise of his KINGLY GOVERNMENT AFTER divers years Patience and Expectation with continued cries to the MOST HIGH for help and light we are made deeply and to our very soules sensible of the great Reproach upon Religion the Dispersion and scattering of Saints of all Formes as well as out up and down in their holes and corners in these Nations and of the great disorder thereby amongst them as well as of the great Advantage which the Enemies of Christ and of his Kingdome have had by the weaknesses distances diversity of tongues and divisions of the People of God at this day who notwithstanding are of one heart faith and spirit in the maine And this chiefly in an undue lifting up of persons principles or judgements in a magnifying of Formes and Apprehensions one against another and not in a consistency together and in a management of the things of Christ partially or by parties and Factions and not joyntly to the great offence of good men prejudice and reproach of the Principles Cause and Name of Christ and his Kingdome Wherefore after Solemn seeking of the face of God crying and inquiring into his mind by Christ to know what Israel hath to doe lamenting and resenting the sad estate of Sion with the present condition of hundreds in and about this City of of the dust of Sion hurried and huffed about with divers winds of doctrines judgements and temptations to their great endangering and decaying of the power of Godlinesse and Brotherly love We have been we hope by a sweet and Fatherly hand of grace or clear Sanctuary-light at last and as a Return of the word of God and prayers lead into this knowledge and practice now incumbing and lead up into some serious Resolution or full purpose of heart for an Uniting together who are scattered ones in and about this City of London in a Religious or Christian body in imitation of the primitive spirit Act. 1. 14. to cleave unto the Lord and one to another these dividing and back sliding times Acts 11. 23. in the matters of our Faith worship of our God Kingdome and Cause of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Nor are we as we think without weighty moving Arguments or pressing grounds as in our own soules arising from the Crosse of Christ who in his own flesh hath abolished the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances Ephes. 2. 14 15 16. that he might reconcile all Jew and Gentile in one body having slaine the enmity so in the sight of all other sound Christians indulging us in and inducing them and all of us to this Primitive Gospel-practice or blessed work of Vniting and Consolidating throughout these Nations Some of which are as follow 1. The paralell of our present Condition these last three years with the dispersed Disciples in the three dayes of Christs sufferings Mark 14. 50. John 20. 10 Now what they did for the preservation of the Gospel and Religion in the Power purity and Spirituality thereof are we to doe But they Vnited or gathered together into one body out of their divers places and homes which the persecution had scattered them into for the preservation of the Gospell Luke 24. 33. John 20. 19. Acts 1. 4. that they did so is evident to all at the third day or time of the end That we must doe so is as clear a consequent whether it be the time of the end or no for this is a RULE to us in ordinary cases that which Saints have before done and the holy Spirit hath commended are we to doe that follow after in the like case besides Psal. 102 13 14. the Favouring of Sion begins by the gathering up of her Scattered and despised stones a poor scattered peeled people Isa. 51. 3. Saying This is ZION whom no man seeketh after Jer. 30. 17. 2. The GREAT PROMISE of the Father Luke 24. 49. Acts 1. 4. John 15. 26. Or The pouring out of the Spirit Joel 2. 28. which we waite for Now look in what Posture Christ put his Disciples for the pouring out of the holy Ghost in the first fruits are we his Disciples to wait in for the holy Ghost the latter fruits or the latter raine But in this way of Vniting Gathering and imbodying did he bid them waite for the First-fruits Mat. 28. 10 16. Luke 24. 49. Acts 1. 4. which accordingly they did Acts 1. 14 15. 2. 1 2. and so doe we Besides Ezek. 37. 7 8. the word of prophesie must FIRST gather and unite the dry bones bone to bone before they rise and this with substance sinews and nourishment then to them in that posture comes the great Promise of the Spirit Ezek. 37. 9. and life to set them on their feet v. 10. so v. 14. 17. and not before For should the Great Promise come before every one would desire it for himselfe and for the magnifying of his own FORME particular body Judgement or Division more then for the Publick work of Christ and of all sorts or then for maintaining the power of godlinesse and Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace amongst all men 3. The Great and constant expectations which we have of the opening of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony Rev. 15. 5. which hath been so long shut up in the purity
advantages which he hath to increase Divisions and foment Jealousies with the Reports which are made and Reproaches which are cast upon us and the Principles of Christs Kingdome the temptations and faintnesse of some of our dear Friends the backwardnesse of persons and yet forwardnesse of Parties ready to spring up and cause a farther suffering to the Name of God and Christ and all these in the absence and much through the Defect of this Primitive Practise of Loving INTELLIGENCE mutuall quickning and unanimous understanding undertaking and moving as ONE MAN in the matters of Christ and his Kingdome that concerne all alike And for want of a due knowledge of and faithfull inquiry after the welfare growth establishment and estate of one another round the Nations were it as far as from Jerusalem round about unto Illyricum Rom. 15. 19. For after the first pattern we should be continually sending out or receiving in 2 Cor. 8. 23. They are the MESSENGERS of the Churches ver. 19. Chosen to travell with us Phil. 2. 25 30. My Brother and companion in labours and fellow Souldier but your Messenger Acts 15. 26. To send unto you men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Verse 41. And he went through Syria and Silicia confirming the Churches Acts 16 5. And so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in number daily 24. And as the ultimate the very deep sence which is as a dagger in our very hearts to hear how the Lord is dishonored Christ contemned his Kingdome rejected his Spirit wounded and blasphemed and Sion crumbled into Dust and much more suffering then we say in the highest and weightiest matters of Religion since the vast breaches of Sion hath put us after earnest crying and inquiring upon this practice of Vniting though we be poor unworthy creatures For that the name of our God is dear unto us the Lord knows and we would faine be at least in a way that might more glorifie the Lord and his Christ then we can be or doe by these sad Divisions and confusions Not forgetting the honour which his Name hath had formerly when the Saints were Vnited and in all Ages when united in sufferings as under the Heathen and Popish powers when united in Testimony As the Separates and Puritans against the Prelates and their Hierarchy when united in Service and Actings as in the late Wars without so much as the Least stumbling or offending one another about their Different Forms or Judgements O how sweetly Vnited were they in the Work of Christ and of his People at that Day then might be said Behold how good and Pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together and Vnity Psal. 133. 1. What a Beauty and Glory was then upon the Name of God! yea how was he glorifyed in the eyes of All the Nations and of All the Enemies of his People as Rom. 15. 6. That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth Glorifie God! So Psal. 50. 2. Out of SION the Perfection of Beauty God hath shined So Isa. 60. 1 2. Arise Shine for thy Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee that is upon the Saints so Vnited Whereas whiles Divided the Name of God is Divided rent and torne apieces divers wayes and in sundry Manners to the Exceeding great Reproach of Religion Injury of Christ Decay of Grace and Dishonour of that most Holy Name These are some of those GROUNDS which we goe Upon and are Moved by with a Holy Fear as before the Lord to make a Deliberate and Sober Progresse into so Serious Publick and Necessary a Work as this is Now as we humbly think this is no longer to be Delayed so not rashly to be Vndertaken by Any that have a True Sence of Many Most or of All the aforesaid Incentives Nor can we doe the one or the other without Sin or Guilt In the Sence whereof we doe so heartily Commend it in the Name and Spirit of the Living God to the Christian Concurrence Love Care Practise and Incouragement of the most Cordiall Saints that are sincere Friends of Sion or our Dearly Beloved Brethren Scatter'd abroad in the Severall Cities and Counties of the three Nations that we All alike Deny our selves and so Move with a Sweet Large Indulging Comprehensive Spirit of Grace of Love and of a Sound Mind in the Kingdome of our Lord Jesus for the keeping in the quickning spirit the Growing Light the Christian correspondence and Primitive practises with the Power of Godlinesse and of Religion pure and undefiled amongst the people of God of their severall Formes and Differing Apprehensions Wherefore in a trembling awe and sence before God of their sins that have offended him by delaying Denying Excusing and putting of a Present Duty and that Publick on the ONE HAND Luke 14. 18. 24. Hag. 1. 2. 4. 2 King 12. 6 7. a great sin of this day Mat. 24. 48. 2 Pet. 3. 3. So on the other hand of them and that especially that have provoked him by sudden rash and imprepared falling upon it Eccles. 5. 1. as at Perez Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 10 12 and Beth shemech 1 Sam. 6. 19. c. doe we Goe Softly as it is said 1 King 21. 27. and fairely Waiting before we are fully fixt to hear what any one hath to say against This or what better EXPEDIENT Then this that we may close with may be found for the UNITITING of All Saints as ONE MAN for the Countenancing Incouraging and Carrying on the Interest and Cause of our Christ in his KINGLY GOVERNMENT amongst us Now conceiving it is the Saints work to fetch home THIS ARK into its placed prepared of God i. e. the Temple opened Rev. 11. 19. And there was seen in his Temple the ARK of his Testament c. in order unto it they must be prepared gathered Vnited Sanctified and put in order that goe about it 1 Chr. 15. 1 2 3 12 13. Sanctifie your selves ye and your Brethren that ye bring up the Ark of the Lord God unto the place that I have prepared for it which we hope to see as a Fruit of the third of the seventh in solemnity set apart And as 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek the Lord God of his Fathers though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of the Sanctuary But that we may hide nothing from them that inquire after our Progresse in this Matter that say as Cant. 1. 7. For why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flecks of thy Companies and as Cant. 6. 1. That we may seek him with thee as Nehemiah Chap. 2. 18. said Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good so Ezra 7. 9. 8. 18. We shall informe them of the Proposalls Assented to by this Particular Body not being bound up to the letter of them but in the sence waiting
of the mystery of Godlinesse which is without controversie Object 2. But the mysticall Church consisting of the elect in Christ Angels and men alive and dead borne and unborne c. cannot be properly â—alled Church-state instituted by Christ in the Gospel being constituted from Eternity in Gods Decree c. Answ. Yet the visible Church in Communion with them with Angels and Spirits of just men made perfect i. e. in a most sweete secret and invisible way is of Gospel institution Heb. 12. 22 23. Ephes 2. 19 20 21. and this is all that we affirm that our Communion must be of such a Nature and comprehensivenesse of Spirit as should not onely admit an Onenesse with them in Spirit but a walking with them on earth were they all alive amongst us under their diverse Administrations forms gifts and apprehensions Object 3. Some hold that the Church at Jerusalem was made up of many particular Churches and this you make your pattern Answ. Not in that sense nor do we hold so but we hold the Church at Jerusalem was but one particular Church having diverse sorts of Members and Meetings at some times and so it is our patterne and not as an universall visible Church for that we deny the universall Church being partly visible and partly invisible comprehending all times places and sorts in heaven and earth Answ 2. It is a great mistake to think the particular meetings of this Body are particular Churches for any one Church may have at some times severall meetings about several matters as Acts 12. 5. 12. 17. 20. 20. Gal. 2. 2 3. and yet be but one particular Church So it is here Notwithstanding in another consideration it seemes to some with as good Analogy and Property of speech consonancy and consistency of truth and Rule as now any Particular Church what ever may be called One and yet the members in particular or the families be many may the meetings too be many and it be said The Church that is at their house Rom. 16. 5. 1 Cor. 16. 19 Col. 4. 15. and the Church which is which meets at his house So Phile 2. So those of Caesars houshold yet in this sense that we speak they were but members of the Church So those that met in Maries house Act. 12. 5. 12. yet were but members of the Church at Jerusalem Now the reason is because two or three together in Christs name or the faithfull of some one Family or a meeting of brethren may be called a Church in one respect and not as they stand related in another Phil. 4. 22. and thus may we be said to be but ONE COLLECTIVELY and yet MORE THEN One if every meeting must be so interpreted DISTRIBUTIVELY wherein one may differ and be in his joynt from Another Though for our parts we cannot Understand it so as of many but of one BODY as 1 Cor. 12. 25. but now are they MANY and many sort of members yet but ONE BODY As SION may have many Gates wherein might be severall Assemblies as of one sort that sat in one gate and another sort in Another and yet be but ONE SION Psal. 84. 2. As the BODY hath many joynts members Arteries Sinewes Veines wherein every one Member from joynt to joynt may be lookt upon as distinct and yet as conjunct or a member of the WHOLE yet makes but one BODY Rom. 12. 4. As a CITY Psal. 122. 3 4. 46. 4. hath many houses Trades Streets Corporations and Societies wherein every one in it's own bounds may be called in a sense a Body yet makes but one City compact As an Army with Banners Cant 6. 4. 10. wherein every Company Regiment Colour Brigade and Wing is as it were an Army by it selfe yet makes but one in all as a Kingdome Joh 18. 36. Heb. 12. 28. Mat. 21. 43. may have many Families Cities Villages Shires Countries c. wherein every one by it's selfe may be said to be a little Kingdome and yet are all but one Kingdome And as Heaven Mal. 13. 11. 24. 31. wherein every firmament Element Planet Star and Constellation make up but one Heaven So is it with a true Church of Christ which is called a Body a City an Army a Kingdome and a Heaven in Scripture So the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 14. may be said to have twelve Foundations and in them the name of the twelve Apostles and the Lamb every particular member of different Sate vers. 19 20. as the Jasper and Saphire and Calcedony c. to be upon his own and proper Foundation wherein one differ from another as Paul from Peter c. and yet in another sense All have but one foundation 1 Gor. 3. 11. For other foundation can none lay then that which is Jesus Christ So that if any do understand us distributively as of MANY because of our severall meetings members or branches yet they must conclude us collectively All to be but ONE BODY or Church at last Object 4. But then you are like an Vniversall visible Church Answ 1. No no more then every particular Church was in the Primitive times who had their many meetings and different members as well as we 2. There is no such Church as we know of as universall VISIBLE But 3. That there is an universall Church we beleeve and that every particular Church of Christ should be as like to the Vniversall in Integrals and Parts as the Child is like the Parent or the Daughter the Mother we also beleeve and therefore the nearer and liker we are to the universal Church or mother of us All Gal. 4. 26. in Spirit grace and communion with All Saints visible and invisible the more thankâ—full are we to the Lord whose workmanship we are in Christ Jesus And yet we are but a poor despised Dust a particular visible Church that would faine look like the choice one of her Mother Cant. 6. 9. far short yet pressing after a more Likenesse indeed to the Vniversall consisting of All Saints Jew and Gentile past present and to come and more of the Nature and Spirit of the New Jerusalem But we believe that others are to follow after us and in this Principle too prefer'd before us whose shoes we are not worthy to untie We know not what Influences and Tendencies this may have thereto Obj. 5. But we fear you have no pattern from the Primitive times for such different and sundry Meetings besides the publick of the whole together were that clear we could be satisfied Answ 1. If there had not been left us a plain and direct Example for it as we find in some circumstances yet God hath left his Wisdome with the Church Eph. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 2. 7. a wisdome that is from above James 3. 17. in such Cases as tend to keep up good order Edifying and Discipline in the Body Rom. 14. 19.
and proper places of service and Exercise one without greiving molesting opposing oppressng or offending another and if the Lord doe give us or others more light in this Matter we would gladly receive it For 4. We must confesse as before that being but upon the Day-break and Dawning of this Businesse those that begin it must needs be short of them that are to succeed upon this Principle and this but in a sence a signe of the Day-opening or antecedanean to somewhat of more Life Loveliness and Lustre that others may be raised up into Yet it is our Duty and done with integrity and we doubt not but will be of great Vse for this season and have a singular Testimony from Heaven Wherefore 5. Have a care we beseech you in the Fear and Dread of the Heart searching God! and be well-advised Least ye reject your Work yea your present Work with the WAY Consider well with what Spirit doe ye reject it is there not prejudice or envy at Persons in it for so Johns Desciples did envy Christs and did not the Pharises so too As the Cardinall said of Reformation The Thing is good but that Luther a Raschall Frier should be the Man to put it upon us this is intollerable Or is there not offence at eminent ones holding off as John 7. 48 49. Have any of the Chiefe ones followed him onely this Ignorant people So 1 Cor. 1. 26. For ye see your calling Brethren how not many wise not many noble c. So Acts 28. 22. It is every where spoken against Or doe ye not decline the thing it selfe to delay and put that off and so pretend offence at the Way of it Or have ye in truth found out a more Excellent Way unto it then Declare it or else take heed how you reject this for God will not be Mocked Luke 14. 18. They all with one consent began to make Excuse I pray sayes the first have me Excused v. 29. and have me Excused They have good words Excuse us to our Lord we like the Thing he invites us too very well and we are for it and are Friends but yet we must be Excused Wherefore if it be our Duty to Vnite what mean we to dally or delay They that have refused the first step have not had the honour or the happinesse of the next As the Scribes and Pharises that would not goe with John could not goe with Jesus And if it be onely because thou waitest for a better Way possibly it may be revealed to this poor praying enquiring Body as well and as soon as unto Others be we ever so unlikely in your eyes and this we know that we are in this matter one step nearer to it then they that omit this their known Duty and thereby the great Commandment of Love Besides as Johns Disciples were one step nearer to Christ and his Call then the Jews were so they heard and had the first call to the next step who had taken that John 1. 37 38 39 40. And therefore we dare not omit our present Work or first step but rather take it in the Way to the Next and to that which is more Noble Wherefore if thou darest to put off this in pretence thou hast a better Way let us see thee then at this Work in thy Way or thou sinnest yet the more and so we leave it to thy conscience There is not one Objection more or Query that we can hear of materiall unlesse it be that the Angells and our Lord himself bid Mary call the Brethren together Mat. 28. Joh. 20. but to that we say We are not now under the Ministry of Angells but a more sure Word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1. 19. and a more Excellent Ministry Heb. 8. 6. Nor have we need of an Angell to tell us that which the word and Spirit of God with the clear Practice of All the Primitive Saints doe put us upon Luke 16. 31. If they hear not the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the Dead And yet to this we have the common call from the Saints Dead as well as Alive The Spirit which calls is Christs Vice-roy represents his Person supplies his Place offers his Power and is sent us in his stead untill he comes he is his Pleny-Potentiary to help and enable us as effectually in this matter as if our Lord in his own person were present with us And thus the Voyce that said to Jairus his Daughter Arise and to Lazarus Come forth we hope we have heard and felt in the Spirit and divine Nature of it inviting quickning and raising us as from the Dead to this Duty Yea he that saith Who is he that darkneth Counsell without Knowledge Job 38. 2. hath said unto us Goe thorough Goe thorough prepare your Way cast ye up cast up the high way Gather out the stones lift ye up a Standard Behold the Lord hath proclaimed it to the End of the World c. Isa. 62. 10 11 12. Cant. 3. 10. Isa. 40. 3. which End of the world is now upon us And thus in our poor measure having cleared or rather the Lord for us by a Light above us sweetly lead us as by the hand through these Objections we hope to the Satisfaction and contentment of many an honest heart which Sathan would have laid to have stumbled the Weak and blockt up the Way Now what Remaines brethren what remaines but that every one who is of a willing heart and Separate from the Defilements of these DAYES doe without Delay in their severall Cities and Countries set upon this WORK and present his Offering be it but a little Goats-haire to this Tabernacle-service Exod. 35. 21 26. And All the Women whose heart stird them up spun Goatshaire v. 29. Every man and every Woman whose heart made them willing to bring for ALL MANNER OF WORK not for one sort of Work onely Wherefore stop here a little Reader to Remember or Revise what hath been said upon this Subject Read them over againe and yet againe and then say Are they Truths or no Are they Arguments or not Doe the Motives move Are the Grounds good any of them What sayest thou Is it Duty to UNITE or not and is 't not of flat Necessity If thou sayst NO Certainly thou contradictest thine own conscience but if YEA then weigh but our words with the same Affections and Yearnings of Bowells over the Blood Wounds Shreds and Deaths and Dust of poor unpittied SION which some think incurable that they are SENT OUT unto you though some of them may be deemed Weak some Dubious Unseasonable and Unacceptable it may be yet sure we are so much hath been said and might be to the Proof Profit Verity Excellency Expectation Promise Priviledges Nature Nobility and Necessity of this Work at this juncture of time too as may leave you and others that will reject it one Day Speechlesse and
rattle by this Word of Prophecy Ezek. 37. Bone to bone and sinnew to sinnew and are gathering strength together with us in this worke that stagger not at the promise through unbeleese no more then Abraham did Rom. 4. 18 19 Who considered not this body now DEAD when he was about a hundred yeares old nor yet the deadnesse of Sarah's wombe Not considering so as to stagger the deadnesse of others nor as yet of our owne hearts knowing he is faithfull that hath promised Heb. 10. 24. and therefore holding fast without WAVERING These these shall drink of the brookes that are in the WAY Psal. 110. 7. and butter and hony shall they eate Isa. 7. 22. the Emannell Food vers. 15. that they may know how to chuse the good and refuse the evill Yea and as Mat. 13. 15 16 17. When Others eares are dull of hearing their eyes closed and hearts grown grosse and foggy with the flesh shall it be said But blessed are your eyes for they see and your eares for they heare Verily I say unto you many Prophets and righteous men have delivered to see those things which yee see and have not seene them and to heare those things which yee heare and have not heard them Wherefore our strong cryes and strugling prayers to the God of the Primitive Saints and Churches are for YOU and your spirituall growth with All the increasings of God! that ye may be out of your severall heaps and Formes so full of confusion whither Presbyterean Independent Baptized Sabbat Seekers or others that are Saints by calling and hold the foundation with us and would be orderly jointed gathered knit Joynted And All the whole building FITLY FRAMED and growing up together into ONE TEMPLE and one Tabernacle ONE Vine ONE Kingdome and City COMPACT An habitation for the Lord through the Spirit Ephes. 2. 21 22 ifit were but to make the wayes of Godlinesse more Amiable desireable delectable profitable safe and sweet unto us so UNITED But if after all this others can find in their hard hearts to stand off from us and withstand so hopefull and so noble and so necessary an ENTRANCE so holy so sweet and so good a MOTION so powerfull and so yearning an INVITATION from Christ and his Spirit Sion and Saints ALIVE and DEAD or so naturall and indeed unavoidable a Duty as this is We must leave it at their DOORE from this Day forward with All the Evils that shall ensue from the neglect hereof and them Also to that Day of Christ that in despight of all opposers shall perfect this Worke and raise up all the crums shreds and dust of Sion into ONE and yet for our parts blessing our God for opening our eyes and helping us hitherto to make an Essay we are we hope in his grace Resolved as bound in duty and clearly satisfied every one of us and as God shall enable us to proceed and waite upon him in this way for the Great promise and the Great coming as confirmed in the Faith and confident in the Lord and assured in his might and grace that he will own us eminently and visibly in as in his owne way and Will as in the present WORK for Christ and his Kingdome which consists of all these subjects to the praise of that rich grace that hath brought us together And if Any doe question it or say with Nathaniel John 1. 46. Can any good come out of Nazareth we need say no more but COME and SEE But to conclude this SOLEMN CALL to all the Scattered ones in the three Nations in so humble loving and indeared Faithfulnesse to you Our Brethren and Countrimen having stammered out a Few of our thoughts of heart What can We SAY or SIGH more in this this Matter but leave our tears prayers and invitations unto it at your Feet that the Lord who hath chosen Jerusalem would affect and move your hearts to wellcome it that comes unto you in the Name of the Lord Luke 19. 38. OREMEMBER how much the NAME of God and the very BEING of Religion is in danger and concerned in these Divisions Remember the Crosse and wounds of Christ which are set afresh bleeding by these Divisions and Dispersions Remember the Comfortable state of poore SION Sick at the very heart and ready to dye Oh Remember what a Name ye once have had in this Nation for profession and the Power of Godlinesse and now how it stinkes and what a SHAME ye are in all the world a SCORNE and a by word a hissing and Astonishment even to very Heathens O Remember not only how sew are converted but ah alas how many are confirmed in their wicked and false Wayes till this UNITING be even to the Papists Turks Atheists and prophane ones by the Abominations of Professours in England what a HEAD and HEART this last and lamentable APOSTACY hath hereby and what O what guilt of blood is brought upon these Nations Remember besides the Confusion of Tongues and Cup of Babylon which is given most to drinke of And whereby so many are fox't and enchanted that they doe they know not what And what Mercinary divelish and politick principles are assumed by Professours and Preachers at this day and what Persecution and Oppressions are upon Consciences O Remember how the Churches are some of them defiled Growth of grace hindred Worship polluted the fences of Separation pulled np the tender grapes spoiled Members and Teachers rent and torne from us and imprisoned at pleasure And yet Remember whilst there is life there is hope and O how wonderfully God hath appeared Prayers have been answered Brethren delivered Religion revived promises and engagements performed the Kingdome of Christ exilted and poore sinking Zion saved and God known to be their God even in the MIDDEST OF HIS PEOPLE when they were thus UNITED But now If so be your Consciences be seared your sences stopped your Foreheads brazened and your hearts hardned that nothing will move you neither in heaven nor on earth neither the LIVE nor the GRAVE if you care not what become of the Great name of God! the Cause of Christ his Gospel his Kingdome his Spirit his Churches his Servants his word and Ordinances in the purity of them If you think it not matter to see your Brethrens blood in the streets and their bodyes broyling and frying at the stake againe and think that Savour is the best and that smoke the sweetest If ye dare stand still and look on the other side Obad. 7. 11 12. in this day of strong and TWISTED CONFEDERACY and of casting Lots upon Jerusalem and of violence done to Jacob and of your Brethrens calamity without Remorse or Moving If ye dare to crucifie Christ afresh and tread his BLOOD under foot to cast out his Kingdome from amongst you and kill the hopes and expectations ye have had and we yet have of HIS DAY and REIGNE If ye dare to quit the Ground
whereon ye have powred out so many tears prayers streams of blood and loud Appeals into the ears and heart of Heaven And dare to faint before the Answer come If ye dare to keep up or not cast out the Bone of contention and the Reproach upon the Wayes of God by suffering the world or Any without Remorse to brand it for Dissembling Delusion most Hideous Hypocrisie mear state-Policy and Basenesse by the occasions lately given them and will doe nothing for the Recovery of them Or if ye dare to be at Defiance with the Judgements of the Lord that are at hand And to contemn and be carelesse of Christ and his second coming and can venture the CURSE thereof so as not to be in a posture meet to receive him when he comes If ye dare to stand at a distance from one another and dare abandon conscience and the communion of Saints If ye dare deny the Power for the Forme or oppose it with the Forme And dare Answer to the most high God for all the injuries that shall befall SION or the People of God after this through the Divisions Rents and confusions and the Neglect of this great indubitable and indispensible Duty of UNITING Or if ye dare to take upon you and yours the guilt of all the sins of these times and the evills of all these Heart-burnings hatred Envies Malice Persecutions and oppositions the present Worke Truth and Saints of Christ meet with And dare slight quench resist or despight the Holy-Ghost having so little of the Fear of the true and dreadfull God and dreadfull day in your hearts or eyes O if you dare or can doe All these things and wilfully reject this Grace or this Errand unto you and from hence forward say Pray have me EXCVSED or I cannot come I have some other businesse Then then tremble and Fear before the Lord Least all the EVILLS that arise from the Neglect hereof doe lie at your doores And we doubt not but the voice of JEHOVAH or the Lord himselfe will ere long speak so Roaringly out of SION Joel 3. 16. and Rousingly by his DISPENSATIONS as will make your hearts to Ake and your ears to tingle your knees to tremble and joynts to smite and your tongues to say O WHAT WRETCHES what wretches were we that we durst have been so bold and resolved to resist yea persist in this Disobedience and Despight to so Great and Good a Worke and all this that we might loll on in our security and stupidity But on the Contrary If conscience be awakened understanding inlightned and by the word and otherwayes ye be convinced that this is your Work If your hearts be affected your Affections hereby whetted and your Spirits Moved with us at the Sobs sighes and groans of poor Sion whom no man layeth to heart as he ought If you have but Rags for her wounds Balsome for her sores Handkerchiefs for her tears Cordialls for her Faintings If ye have any Pantings of heart Longings of soul and Workings of spirit after Christ the Redemption of his people the Reigne of his Saints and the Service of his Kingdome If any love unto his Government and Dominion If any Power of Godlinesse If any purity of holinesse If any Separating from and feelingly mourning over the horrid Idols and Evils of these times If any fervent Desires and Well-wishes to Sion in the WHOLE and not to rend or pull her a peices in PARTIES Then we pray and beseech you to Awake Arise and Rouse up upon your feete in this Work without delay whether in Churches or out and let us rather choose to be buried together in Ashes then be as we are Else what can keepe out the Incursions of Enemies and the inundation of temptations Else what will stoppe up the force and Source of Last Pride Ambition Covetuousnesse and Sins that hath broken in so violently upon the CHURCHES Or what can stay the Spirit of Persecution or Oppression upon our Consciences from making us Absolute Slaves and moulding us up to the Will of MAN Or elfe hanging heading chopping and burning our Bodies to Ashes if we refuse What else can keepe out the crafty Combination that is made against us from destroying us Else what can keep the kernell in the shell the power of Religion in the Forme yea in all Formes and Brotherly love ALIVE amongst us but this And what else can represse and repell the USURPING POWER from entring a foot if not a head amongst us on purpose to keepe out the Power and Prerogative of Christ and how else shall we be raised out of that Deadnesse Flatnesse Emptinesse Coldnesse and miserable Slumbring most Professours are rock't into Else what can cure or comfort ZION if her members that have been so miserably racked a sunder be not put into JOYNT and order and EXERCISE again Else what course can be taken to suppresse that eager Growing and Greedy Spirit of devouring one another For Formes judgements or partiall Oppinions Else what can impede that dangerous progresse and promoting of parties and factions venting and ventilating their private and ambiguous thoughts whose Religion lies most in their Opinions and Parties and how can we avoid those Busie Disputers that lay out their time their strength their zeale their knowledge their heat and their Interest and their very hearts about doubtfull Disputations Rom. 14. 1. needlesse Questions that gender strifes 1 Tim. 2 23. 1 Tim. 6. 3. 5. to the distraction of soules disturbance of Saints decay of true grace and heavenly life Whiles the WHOLE BODY becomes distempered and disordered yea and languishing with such unnaturall heats or hecticke Feavers What course can be taken to Recover hundreds out of the Snares of Satan soule imprisonments of spirits of Formes and else what what will become of the deepest heart groanes And grave groanes Faith Prayers and Patience of the choicest Saints that ever the earth bore that have so passionately longed to see such a Day Else how is it possible to avoide those present Noises among Professours in and out of CHURCHES Of sonnding brasse and tinkling Cymballs Else what ah what can we expect but the continuance and and Increase of Confusions Darknesse Disorders Dispensations Misunderstandings and sufferings so as All that we look upon for helpe shall fayle us and for helpers and Deliverers shall prove miserable comforters at last not being able to helpe us or themselves but passing by us and leave us bleeding But in a word What else is or can be our Next worke for all at once for GOD for CHRIST for SAINTS for MEN for the WHOLE NATION and for the WHOLE CREATION Or what can we doe or capacity be in for any thing or indeed Deliverance expect before THIS for as 2 Cor. 10. 6 having in a readynesse to revenge all disobedience when your OBEDIENCE is fulfilled But let that be done FIRST and the Rest followes as the Consequent doth the Antecedent And by this meanes we shall have as