hath made us accepted in the Beloved That we have redemption through the Beloved and this in his blood which redemption is the forgiveness of sins c. That he hath abounded in the riches of his grace towards us and this in all wisdom and prudence That he hath made known to us the mystery of his will That in Christ we have obtained an inheritance c. and such an inheritance That after we believed we were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise 2. But beside those blessings and other glorious priviledges which I partake of with all Saints the Lord hath enriched me with many precious Jewels in this present condition which I desire may be so used by me as to adorn the Gospel and to improve those new talents which are vouchsafed to me in this House of Bondage from day to day The mercy of contentation in this close imprisonment Phil. 4.11 I value at a very high rate before the Lord in mine acknowledgements of his loving kindness toward me The liberty and cheerfulness of my Spirit though the flesh be weak I am able to say with great joy Heb. 13.5 through rich grace That the Lord hath not left me nor forsaken me but hath given me Liberty in Bonds and Inlargement in Prison I can tell you in the power of an holy Triumph Although the Souldiers have attach'd my body and keep my outside in chains though they have barricado'd the way whereby the Saints were wont at first to come to visit me for the mutual comfort both of them and me yet blessed be my God and Father my spirit is out of their reach and the new and living way into the Holiest is kept open Heb. 10.20 and by the blood of Jesus I have boldness to enter into that within the veil Heb. 6.19 I cannot express the comfort of the visitations of the Father and the Son who according to Christ's engagement Ioh. 14.23 Do graciously gloriously come unto me and make their abode with me who am less then the least of all these mercies What shall I say I have a longing desire but it is not an inordinate lust after outward liberty to come and declare what God hath done for my soul and to teach and preach Jesus Christ publickly and from house to house Acts 5. last Let us therefore in the Name of the Lord joyne our forces and strive together in prayer that when I come I may come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel Rom. 15.29 32. That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God and may with you be refreshed even with you who through love in the Spirit have endeavoured to let loose and break in sunder those bonds wherewith I have been tied so many months And I am perswaded for I will not dissemble that this shutting and tying me up will render me by the power of God with me more fierce more fell and furious against the Kingdom of the Beast then I was before but it 's probable The Lord by his Spirit hath taught my hands to war and my fingers to fight the battels of the Lamb more skilfully then I did before I bless the Lord also and let his people say Amen Rom. 12.2 that I am still a Non-conformist to the world and the world-like-Church but am through the grace of God made more conformable to the image of his Son Rom. 8.29 and when Christ who is my life shall appear I also together with others shall appear with him in glory Colos 3.4 It often comes into my minde how David complains Reproach hath broken mine heart Indeed Psal 69.20 to be stigmatiz'd and set as upon a Theatre for a spectacle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 4.9 and set as upon a Theatre for a spectacle and to be gazed at is a very unwelcome condition to the nature of man but herein I am conformed to my Head also Heb. 6.6 It was reported during my first close imprisonment that I had forsaken Christ the Head and was under the ministration of evil Angles That I had a spirit of delusion c. Sometimes by some men I am a fool by others that I am a madman since my close confinement here I am against Magistracy as Magistracy poor fellow I cannot define what faith is But blessed for ever blessed be the Name of the Lord I can say in Paul's spirit None of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God By the ensuing Letters to that little Flock which I am over in the Lord my spirit and my designe may be discerned they are the Index of my very heart When Epistles are the true and genuine issue of the soul as these are of mine there is no difficulty in making an estimate of the Author of them especially when there 's no opportunity for the polishing and artificial adorning of them as in the writing of these there neither was nor well could be The first was written from neer the Council-chamber-door in the midst of company and in hast because I expected every moment to be fetcht in and I was willing to salute the Church from my bonds they being to meet in the afternoon of that day The next and all the others were according to the constant frame of my spirit at other times no artifice no premeditation or study I had no thought of this kinde of publication of them Soundness in the faith the power of godliness and the promoting of the present truth and work of Christ are those things which have lain next my heart for many yeers and if I speak or write to the Saints those things will certainly flow forth for that saying of Christ is truth Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and so the pen writeth if he be an honest-minded-man that guides it I should not have thus far appeared but for the manifestation of the truth and what error soever any one espies in those Letters I am ready to retract and correct upon any the least advertisement with light from the Oracles of God 2 Tim. 3.16 17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Scripture being divinely inspired is profitable for correction that the man of God may be perfect perfected to every good work I have great need of patience that after I have done and suffered the will of God I may inherit the promise Moreover to conclude I must not cast away my confidence for that also hath great recompence of reward We poor oppressed prisoners are fools for Christ's sake but ye are wise in Christ we are weak but ye are strong ye are honorable but we are despised This word I write to the dissatisfied Saints who are so apt to censure
pray for me This 1 day in the morning the 5 day of my most comfortable confinement 1653. An unworthy worm desirous to serve the Lord Jesus and all his Saints Christoph. Feake POSTSCRIPT I and my yoke-fellow salute every Saint in the Lord. My Wife a dear comfort to me desires the prayers of the Church particularly for her and we both desire you to bless the Lord joyntly for his wonderful goodness to us he is verily a God hearing prayer For the well-beloved CHURCH of Christ meeting in Colemanstreet Swan-Alley My dearly beloved in the Lord WHo in the Lord Jesus are builded together for an Habitation of God by the Spirit This is the fourth time I have in much affection written to you saluting you again in the Lord as a holy people peculiar to Christ our Head in the light and power of whose glorious Spirit you every one walking shall certainly come up to those attainments and enjoyments which will render you truly honorable in the eyes of your very adversaries Blessed be the name of our God for ever who hath translated us from death to life some time since who is also transforming us from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. Brethren know That the Messengers of the Church together with the loving Epistle which they brought with them were exceeding welcome and acceptable to the Lords Prisoner who was and is still filled with comfort from the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort yea I do not know of any one minute wherein dejectedness of Spirit hath been my portion yea on the contrary a cheerful lightsome frame and temper is my lot from my tender Father night and day My care for you which is my greatest exercise ending in faith and joyful confidence that the Lord is doing good to you as unto me and those that are approved will be made manifest in these trâ—ing times and seasons Wherefore I befeech you all again and again by the mercies of God by the meekness and gentleness of Christ that you walk very circumspectly in these evil daies that you set the Lord alwaies before you resolving in the sense and remembrance of those first loves that were mutually between the Lord and each of your souls at your first conversion and believing and when you were first sealed after that you believed by the holy Spirit of promise out of faithfulness and love to Christ to follow the Lamb on Mount Sion whithersoever he goeth first in paths of holiness then upon the Mountains of Israel in fresn green Pastures where He I say He leads you then to Prison through Fire through Water anywhere every-where the Lord being in the midst of you and with you Ah my dear brethren the Lord Jesus being with us bonds are not bonds reproach is not reproach enemies are no enemies death it self is not death My heart is inlarged I could wish my self among you that I might pour out my soul before you The Lord is good his mercy endureth for ever The brethren you sent to me have reported the presence of the Lord in the midst of you your purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord and to one another My counsel for the present is as followeth though they be the same things that I write over again now as before yet consider them Paul did so 1. Now that ye are come together in the name of the Lord Jesus let every member of the Congregation consider what they are obliged to Is it not to continue together with the Church walking in all the waies and Ordinances of Jesus Christ Did they not consent in the hearing of Angels and men to do their duties which are Commands of Christ as well as to receive of the priviledges of the Gospel Those that from respects of their particular spiritual profit do omit their duty as in the publick capacity of the members of the body of Christ without the consent of the whole upon Scripture-grounds will finde themselves in a snare ere they are aware 2. Being all together before the Lord as His peculiar people desire earnestly to know of him whether or no there be not some of your number whom he intends to set apart as a Teacher in the Congregation for the carrying on the work of the Lord in the Congregation and then if so to beg to know who he is if not to intreat him to furnish you with helps this way as it were from heaven that so you may not onely be edified among your selves but be â—eet like a golden Candlestick with burning and shining lights in it to give light to the dark world and so serve the Lord in your generation upon the best account 3. I desire you to consider that the more my coming among you is and shall be a fruit of your prayers in faith the more we shall all rejoyce together when we meet And therefore I desire you to spread my condition before the Lord that I am sent hither by an arbitrary power no accusers brought face to face no witnesses produced but in a private Juncto determined to commit me and Brother Simpson to this Castle In Order to the preservation of the peace and safety of the Nation these are the words of the Mittimus no crime laid to our charge their own fears and jealousies are the cause of this unrighteous dealing with us to rend and rear us violently from our Congregations and here not to suffer us to preach the Gospel to the poor people that they may be saved while they are eating and drinking and rising up to play Mr. Jenkins when he was banished by the old Parliament from London had free liberty to preach as often as he would The Lord beholds all these things and I write not this by way of complaint the Lord knoweth for my life is comfortable without intermission and the Lord hath sent me hither for some glorious end I am verily perswaded 4. I intreat you looking upon each other as the sons and daughters of the living God to grow in love in brotherly love in love in the Spirit to abound in love as the Apostle speaks toward each other and toward all men as by the rich grace of God I finde I do towards you and this you will finde that loving the Lord Jesus more dearly you will be the more tenderly affectioned each toward other This is the distinâ—uishing character of the Disciples of Christ this is the primitive Spirit and Philadelphia of all the Churches in Asia which signifieth brotherly love was not reproved but incouraged by Jesus Christ Oh! be you that Churches Sister 5. Beg in stead of all the rich glorious effusions of the Spirit of Christ that would render you a happy holy heavenly people a spiritual zealous faithful fruitful people I finde I finde Brethren that the excellent Spirit is rising returning revealing it self in the world though the world cannot will not receive it Walk in the Spirit live in the Spirit
bear up under that weight of glory which breaks in upon us when the most High condescends to visit any of our souls from the throne of his glory Oh! how are we even filled with wonderment at those enjoyments and attainments especially when we remember what we were in time past enemies in our mindes by wicked works full of unrighteousness or self-righteousness very vain foolish disobedient serving divers base lusts and pleasures Now for such wretches and vile base creatures as we were to be so graciously dealt withal to be admitted into the presence of the great Jehovah to partake of exceeding great precious promises of the divine nature of the holy Spirit to be sealed with it to the day of redemption and a thousand such priviledges what maner of love is this Oh! all ye Saints break forth in secret and open admirations wonder at these things as at the most rare and excellent objects that are in all the world What what are the pleasures and honours and pomp and powers of the children of men to that joy and peace which is in believing to those ravishing delights that are in the presence of the Lord and at his right hand for evermore Assuredly if the holy Spirit were fallen upon any of us in that spiritual glory that is expected we should indeed shine like lights in the world and hold forth the word of life most affectionately and effectually to the Saints and to the sinful sons of men we should be a blessing each of us in every place where we come Parents would adorn the Gospel Children would adorn the Gospel Pastors People would be Ornaments to the way of Christ and the want of that Spirit and the non-resting thereof upon us is the ground of all that unevenness in our walking of our unfruitfulness and barrenness in the Lords Orchard of our unusefulness in our generation As for my present condition I tell you again and I tell you rejoycing The Lord is good exceeding good I am filled with his company I am satisfied as with marrow and fatness I must praise him with joyful lips when I meditate in the night watches my meditations are very sweet It is best for me to be with God with his people and I shall be much with the Lord that I may again once more be with his hidden ones and his holy ones that rejoyce in his Highness I am departed for a season that I may return for a great space of time goodness and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life and I would gladly be a pillar in the house of my God and would go no more out And let me tell you I earnestly and I desire your help also beg and intreat that the Lord Jesus that the name of the city of my God which is the new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God and Christs new name may be written upon me I am looking out for my right to enter into that City which shall be called The Lord is There Brethren beloved of the Lord how is it with you and the daughters of Sion are you like the chariots of Aminadab a living lively people a zealous active people Tell me at this local distance how is it with you do you fear the Lord above many do you thrive and prosper as the primitive Saints used to prosper that were Saints indeed do you wrestle for me in good earnest for I trust this imprisonment shall turn to a good account through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ to that dear Saviour of yours and mine be excellent glory for ever His glorious grace be with every faithful heart Amen From my Quarters at Windsor-Castle this 15 of the 12 Moneth 1653. Your Shepherd in bonds Christoph Feake My dear friends and companions in the fellowship of the Gospel SEeing the good pleasure of the Lords goodness and the work of Faith is fulfilling in me the Lords unworthy prisoner the time appointed of the Father is not yet come I do not finde my spirit willing to accept of deliverance before the one and the other be fulfilled with power that the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in me and I in him according to the grace of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ Oh dear hearts it is given to me a poor silly worm despised of the people through the wonderful free grace of my God Not onely to believe which is no small token of the favour of God in Christ but also to suffer for his sake which seems to be an addition of his favour to those that have first believed Oh! who knows what it is to be sealed with the holy Spirit of promise but those that have a spiritual feeling of the mighty power thereof how good is it to draw nigh to God! I have often spoken of it and felt it but now it is glorious indeed to keep company with the Lord himself in his own holy place even the Holy of Holies My hearts desire for you all and every one is That you might be filled with all wisdom and spiritual understanding and by degrees come to all riches of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ for verily that is such a condition as makes a heaven on this side heaven Oh! the excellent glory sweetness and fulness of that estate but never I am perswaded did any of the Saints enjoy themselves and their God so richly and abundantly as the sincere Martyrs and sufferers for the Name of Christ and the Gospel because none have occasion so much as they all the world hate them and their persecutors especially therefore if the Lord also hid himself from them poor wretches they would be of all men most miserable Therefore further Christ is bound by the duty of his Office to look after Them to stand by Them to cherish and to nourish Them to countenance and incourage Them to fill them with his own fulness when the world hath emptied them and scorned them and imprisoned them and buffeted them and put them into the forms of traitors of hereticks of seditious ones c. If the Lord should not reveal his love yea if he should not crown them with loving kindness and tender mercies then That Temptation would rationally prevail It is in vain to serve God it is better to serve the lusts of men and our own It will urge further What profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances Is it not better to observe the Ordinances of the Kings of the earth of the Princes of the States and Protectors of the earth then otherwise and do as the most do as those do who are lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God But blessed be the Lord Jehovah my rock for ever I have no ground to be dissatisfied with my condition in this respect as if the Lord did keep at a
earthly things do indeavour so industriously to heap upon us The truth is The world knoweth us not because it knew not him it hateth us because it hated him And the news of his second coming is as troublesome to the Kings of the earth now in being whether they are the sons of ancient Kings as the Prophet speaks or late Usurpers and Tyrants as ever Herod was troubled at his first coming Mat. 2.3 and all Jerusalem with him Oh Beloved those appearances which are acceptable to the Saints are no waies welcome to the earthly powers those truths which are milk and honey to the children of Sion are gall and wormwood to the inhabitants of Babylon It 's no marvel nor urange at all that it is but a little little flock which will be found to remain faithful to that inward invisible pure spiritual interest of our dearest Lord which is now breaking forth through all these thick and tempestuous clouds Verily my Spirit is more and more heightned and quickned to look for most glorious and admirable vicissitudes Methinks my heart rejoyceth as if a cordial from heaven were conveyed to it to incourage me now in prison for this good old Cause Oh! what a pleasant sight to see the Whore of Babylon with the Kings of the earth with all her drunken Princes and her Wise men and her Captains and her Rulers and her Mighty men wearying themselves in new Counsels tiring out their Spirits in obviating the feared and suspected designes of the praying awakened Saints both in Cities and Countries Come dear Brethren this is not a season for you to be wearied and to faint in your mindes but let us look unto our Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God Brethren now it is a fit time for us to consider I say to consider the Apostle and high-Priest of our profession and to hold fast our profession let no man or devil get our Crown our very confidence hath great recompence of reward What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits unto me especially those blessings of the New-Testament-Ministration And what thanks can you render unto him who hath hitherto kept you by his mighty power from the present abominable apostacie Have you every one on a garment of fine linen white and clean which is the righteousness of the Saints And doth the Lord help you to keep your garments about you that no man see your nakedness then you shall walk with Christ in white when he comes for you are worthy But if on the contrary there should be a declining and departing from the living God in any degree through unbelief if there be a decay of love to the Father and a warm affection to the world and the great and the sweet things thereof in any of you in any among you what a sad consequence were that after all the open and professed declarations which have been observed by Angels and Men. But I hope better things though I thus write from that principle of Pastoral-love and care which the Lord hath put into me What shall I say methinks I am present with you in the midst of you observing what love peace gentleness sweetness of brotherly communion there is among you from the greatest to the least What inward spiritual joy manifest zeal what beauty of holiness what mutual edifying what praying in the holy Spirit what warm exhortations what gracious admonitions are stirring among you Yea but Brethren what if the Lord himself should suddenly come and stand in the midst where you are assembled together and view the posture of that little flock from which I am violently removed for a season for their tryal should he finde all things managed after his own heart would you be glad to see the Lord as the Disciples were John 20.19 20. read the place Might he not upbraid you with unbelief and hardness of heart should he finde nothing in you and among you worthy of admonition or reproof Tell me at this distance how could you behold him if you should see him in his glory and in his Fathers glory are you able to abide the day of his coming I fear there are very few Congregations of Saints in all the world that are tolerably prepared for the Bridegrooms coming Finally Beloved remember what I have spoken to you while I was among you from the word of the Lord the searcher of hearts knoweth I did and endeavoured to do all things for your edifying for the best advantage of your precious souls I was alwaies willing to bring forth out of my poor treasury things both new and old even such Truthes and Principles and Rules as I received of the Lord by the teachings of that holy unction and delivered unto you I kept back nothing that I could judge by the light of the Word and Spirit that it was profitable unto you and it was and is your part to search the Scriptures daily whether those things were and are so or not If I should see your faces no more if I were to be offered up I should not repent of what I have taught you and the poor sinful children of men whatever the Rulers of the darkness of this world do judge or say my heart doth not condemn me in the least all this time of banishments from the courts of the Lords house And blessed for ever be my Shield and Buckler I have great and sweet confidence towards him and the Lord being my Helper and Protector I do not for I have no cause to fear what man can do unto me The Lord make you and me faithful unto the death and fill us that are his in good earnest with joy and peace in believing onely let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one Spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel My fellow-prisoner saluteth you Brethren pray for us strive in prayer for us that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men in the time appointed of the Father Salute most the most holy lively heavenly active Saints in this crooked generation The Lord be with you Yours as and because your are Christs Christopher Feake Brethren Beloved and longed for in the Lord THe High and Mighty One whose name is Jehovah our righteousness be your Protector for ever O! that he would look down from the Habitation of his Holiness and of his Glory and smile and shine upon every one of you in the Beloved The Lord Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us when we were yet sinners and ungodly when we were yet enemies in our mindes by wicked works to whom be glory for ever Amen Verily it is good to be
faithful remembrancer at the glorious Throne of Grace CHRISTOPH FEAKE Dear Brethren Beloved in the Lord FOr whose best good and greatest happiness I would be content to endure through the strength of Christ whatever the Lord should be pleased to permit man to do unto me It may be the Lord is but beginning to accustome me to the yoake having hotter service yet behinde for me to be engaged in I confess I suffer trouble as an evil doer even unto bonds 2 Tim. 2.9 but my comfort is as was Paul's the word of God is not bound and Oh that I could speak the Apostles following words in his Spirit therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory As for my self I have no cause to complain but rather to magnifie the wisdom power and goodness of my God who in the riches of his Grace hath in some measure inabled me and counted me faithful putting me into the Ministery who naturally and from mine own inclination am very apt to slothfulness and negligence to dulness and luke-warmness insomuch that I wonder to consider how the Spirit of Christ hath from time to time over-powered my natural temper causing me with much effectualness of Grace to be in some degree laborious in his harvest-field the remembrance whereof is among other particulars a most sweet refreshment to my soul in this my banishment from his House and Temple for a time what his intent is in ordering me such a portion for the present will in time appear But in the mean season my care and sollicitousness for the Church is abundantly above the care of my self I am not sollicitous for mine own concernments being fully satisfied in the light of God that it is unspeakably for my good to be thus dealt withal by these men The great thoughtfulness of my heart is for you all who have in good earnest given your selves up to the Lord that you might in this curious juncture of time have your conversation as it becometh the Gospel And a true report of your holy loving stedfast walking with the Lord and one with another will be my great joy and rejoycing before the Lord Jesus both now and at his appearing Wherefore if it were the good will of God to give you all fresh and further discoveries of his minde how you ought to walk and to please him â—hile I am thus by force kept from among you what blessed occasions should I have to break forth here in blessing and praising the Lord abundantly in this behalf I desire exceedingly to rejoyce in the beholding your Order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ for I much fear lest by some means the Tempter should tempt you or some of you and so my labour be so far in vain as the temptation doth prevail And some of you may remember I forewarned you of this hour of temptation long before which I told you would try the strongest Christians so reputed but now plainly see if Ancient Professors among you be not very circumspect you may see that Scripture further fulfilled every day â—he first shall be last and the last shall be first Now by way of faithful advice in reference to Order and orderly walking I take it for a truth granted as which cannot with any colour be denied That those Saints who are come out of Babylon and brought to Sion and are become a peculiar people to the Lord and a particular body or corporation to Christ I say they ought to continue together in prayer supplication with one accord so they did Act. 1.14 and it is said Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples see Act. 2.42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers they that believed were together vers 44. and the Apostle Heb. 10.25 not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching These things are nâ—t proved to you but you are put in minde of this foundation-Truth in reference to discipline and worship for those things are to be transacted in the assemblings of the Saints as being for the glory of God and the edifuing of the Body But the thing wherein I would be helpful at this point of time is to propound waies for the practising of this rule of continuing and walking together 1. First Let the Elders and Brethren agree with one accord that the whole Church be gathered together in the naâ—e of Christ to consider after earnest prayer to that purpose how they may be kept together for this Hour of temptation will endanger the scaâ—tering of many Against that day which is appointed I shall prepare somewhat for direction 2. Let those that are unacquainted with their duty judging it to be their liberty without further waiting to provide for their spiritual feeding elsewhere let them I say know that if all should be of their minde what would become of the Churches of Christ Let them not have more respect to their particular private benefit though spiritual then to the glory work and business of Christ at least let them attend upon the Lord with the Church to obtain their desire with consent of the whole body and brotherly love requires this and let them give in their Arâ—uments distinctly that they may be weighed by Scripture It is the opinion indeed and practice of some if the Officer be absent to wander hither and thither and so fall into suares ere they are aware and there have been woful instances of this 3. Let not any debate proceed so far as to hinder edifying and engender strife but let there be care taken to prevent strife as men are careful to prevent the breaking in of waters The Lord hath blessed my endeavours this way hitherto and I have much comfort herein at this day 4. In debating any thing or case that is stated according to Scripture let the Brethren speak first that so if there be any light among them it may be noted and this will be looked upon as the enjoyment of that liberty that Christ hath given But if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God and briefly and distinctly to the point 5. Covet the best gifts those Brethren in whom most of the power and glory of the Spirit of Christ doth appear who are mighty in the Scriptures who are most lively spiritual and warming are to be desired and called upon and if there were none to speak to you from the word yet it were worth while to come together to pray in the Holy Ghost which is one blessed means for the quickning of our dull and sluggish hearts 6. If there be a desire to joyne with any of the Churches in the Ordinance of the Lords-supper consider with whom and when c. let there be mutual consent in brotherly love Oh! that the Spirit might lead you into all truth My great desire is That you may so walk as to glorifie the Lord abundantly This 3 day of the 12 Moneth 1653. Yours to love you to serve you to suffer for you CHRISTOPHER FEAKE
THE NEW Non-conformist Who having obtained help of GOD doth persist unto this very day WITNESSING Both to Small and GREAT Some of those Glorious Things WHICH The Apostles the Prophets Moses did say should come to pass OR The VOICE of A Careful Shepherd Crying From his Watch-tower at W.C. Unto his Little Flock at W.L. With a loud Voice Matth. 10.17 Matth. 7.15 Philip. 3.2 Tit. 1.12 BEWARE of Men Beware of Dogs Beware of Wolves and of other evil Beasts Joh. 10.11 12 13. The GOOD SHEPHERD giveth his life for the sheep But He that is an HIRELING and not the Shepherd whose own the sheep are not seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep The Hireling fleeth because he is an Hireling and careth not for the sheep Printed at London for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1654. A PREFACE To every Honest and Intelligent READER IT seemed good unto the Apostles and Elders Act. 15.23 〈◊〉 and Brethren at Jerusalem when they wrote to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia to recommend their beloved Barnabas and Paul with this short choice Character They are men which have hazarded their lives for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tradiderunt animas Bez. exposuerunt And verily they must not love the Lord Jesus at that ordinary rate which even the Bishops and the Deacons of the Churches generally content themselves withal at this day who do intend to adventure their lives in his Cause and for his Name against the present refined policies and practices of the Whorish Woman and her lovers the Kings of the earth with their Retinue It is a sad Symptome Mat. 24.12 when the love of many grows colder and colder at that point of time when the Lord expects as well he may if you knew all Christian friends it should grow hotter and hotter till it amounts to that degree and perfection of operation which is mentioned Rev. 11.5 If any One will hurt them who stand before the Lord of the whole earth fire proceedeth of out their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if ANY ONE will hurt them he must in this maner be killed I humbly conceive the Word of JEHOVAH is not in any of his servants hearts as A BURNING FIRE but they are also at the same time enflamed with love and zeal this multiplication of heat as I may so say causeth them like Ieremiah to be weary of forbearing Jer. 20.9 so that they cannot stay and contain themselves within those bounds of Mediocrity and Moderation which used to be cried up by the luke-warm generation of Preachers and Professors in all ages hitherto But the Scriptures must be fulfilled and therefore it 's not to be admired that there should be such an universal Apostacy and that those who had a Name to live Rev. 3.1 are now dead Wonder not I say Oh Little Remnant that there are so many fallen asleep but rather ponder the true reason why there are any kept awake For that most excellent old Doctrine which our Lord taught his Disciples in the daies of his flesh and accordingly after his ascension was very much practised hath been of late if you observe it almost utterly out of date I mean the Doctrine of self-denial and of forsaking all Relations Mat. 16.24 Luke 9.23 Liberty Goods good Name yea life it self for his sake and the Gospels How little is it preached now how much less is it practised But the reason is ready and upon record These are the last days and the Spirit speaketh plainly 2 Tim. 3.1 c. and without a Parable That in those days men shall be lovers of their own selves cevetous boasters proud blasphemers c. lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God yet having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof Observe whether very many in stead of denying themselves as Christ hath taught do not deny the power of godliness 2 Pet. 2.1 and the Lord that bought them as the world and lust perswade But hearken dear hearts and be cheerful yea be ye very joyful in believing that the Spirit of life and power from God shall ere it be long enter into a choice company Rev. 11. Ezek. 37.10 and they shall stand upon their feet and fear shall fall upon all those who see them for I know and am perswaded that there is at this present time a remnant according to the election of grace reserved by God to himself Rom. 11.4 5. notwithstanding the present Apostacy who have not bowed the knee either to the Beast or to his Image I wait to see this reserved remnant call'd out of their several holes and caves where they are hid from the world and from one another and so brought together even as so many dry bones bone to his bone c. to make a standing Army for the King of Saints in the time appointed of the Father Mine heart Judg. 5.9 a Deborah's was is towards the Governours of Israel that offer themselves willingly among the people bless ye the Lord. Oh! keep your garments clean and close about you and you shall walk with Christ in white for such are worthy How do I rejoyce in Spirit that I can in Spirit go thorow the grates of my Prison and pass thorow all the guards which are set to shut and keep me up from the society of the Saints and converse sweetly in a mystery with those beloved Brethren of mine whose faces I never saw in the flesh Methinks I hear A mystical Conference betwixt the prisoner and his Brethren who are one spirit with him in the present truth and work of God in the world Dan. 8.13 with Daniel one Saint speaking and another Saint saying unto that certain Saint which spake How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation to give both the Sanctuary the Host to be troden under foot Then methinks I hear a sweet voice from another Believer saying The Sanctuary shall be cleansed it shall be cleansed Amen say I from my watch-Tower the Lords Sanctuary hath need of cleansing Quest But where are the Instruments say others and who shall be imployed in this glorious work we thought the Son of David had had such Worthies come from New-England from Holland at the beginning of the late great revolution as would not onely have helped to maintain their own their Brethrens attainments but would also have advanced valiantly like undaunted Leaders of the Lords voluntiers 2 Tim. 2.3 upon the old carnal Church and its Clergie and as becomes good Souldiers of Jesus Christ would have endured any hardness rather then have given place by retreat or subjection though but for an hour Gal. 2.5 that so the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom might have prevailed in the
Brethren in the Lord my Joy and my Crown INdeed and in truth The high and glorious mysteries of the New Testament and the most sweet ministrations thereof are little understood by any of the Saints in this day Therefore we are so exceeding low in our Spirits in our Experiences in our Affections and Resolutions for our dear Lord Jesus But in the appointed season the return of our King from a far Country will amaze all those that would not have him to reign over them This salutation now is sent unto you to signifie to you that you are in my heart through rich grace to live and to die with you in this most noble and most honourable Cause of the Lord Jesus Christ both yours and mine Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus that ever he revealed his Son in such a poor silly inconsiderable worm as I am Oh the riches of his grace to intrust me with the preaching of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God I would not exchange mine imployment so sweet so comfortable for all the riches glory authority and pompous excellencies which the fourth kingdom can tempt the sons of the earth withal God is gloriously gracious in these dispensations of sufferings What a sweet night have I had Why should the Lord condescend to refresh the Spirit of a poor sinful very sinful creature in so transcendent a manner Be of good cheer wait on the Lord believe more pray more praise more do more love more abound in every good work more and more The God of Peace of Grace of Truth shall be with you Undoubtedly as I lately told you the Spirit of the Lord is rising he cannot be kept down by the Princes Powers Souldiers Politicians of the Earth Oh what confusions in Counsels What concussions in Kingdomes and Common-wealths what contestations among the professors in this City are at hand Great is Gospel-truth and shall and must prevail How can we forbear triumphing in the expectations of the downfal of mystical Babylon If the Lord crucifie us unto the world and the world unto us as I know he will and pour out his Spirit richly What may we not attempt for the interest of our dear Lord Remember The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver in the Hebrew Statute-maker the Lord is our King He will save us Your eminent growth in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is that rich blessing which living and dying I bequeath unto you and request for you A rise and shine O ye precious sons and daughters of Sion in the midst of this dark world as the stars in the firmament each of you in the families neighbourhood and companies where the Lord hath or shall dispose of you Believe it my dear hearts the Lord is coming keep close together love as brethren above all be exceeding careful to maintain on your part holy heavenly spiritual intimate communion with the Father with the Lord Jesus and with the Saints of the most High the fruits whereof will be joy in the Holy Ghost unspeakeable and most full of glory Amer and Amen Hallelujah Letter the first from White-Hal written while I was waiting on the Councel before I was called in Yours in the most sweet fellowship of the Gospel and at liberty whilst in bonds for they are easie ones hitherto CHRISTOPHER FEAKE POSTSCRIPT My Fellow-prisoner for Christ Mr. Powel saluteth the Congregation with dear affection For the well-beloved CHURCH of Christ meeting in Colemanstreet Swan-Ally My very dear hearts â—he sons and daughters of despised Sion THe most spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ be your portion yea the Lord Jesus himself with all his fulness and glory be still the lot of your inheritance and when the streams are at any time cut off the Lord shew you the Fountain which is Himself God blessed for ever Although my heavenly Father hath given me a Writ of ease for the present yet I am with you in Spirit and signifie to you my love in the Lord my time is not yet come it may be it must be the fruit of your fervent prayers I am cleerly convinced from a power invisible and invincible that this imprisonment is not unto death But for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby See John 11.4 I allude to that saying of Christ concerning Lazarus his sickness saith Christ This sickness is not unto death and yet afterward Jesus said plainly vers 14. Lazarus is dead did Christ speak untruth before when he said This sickness is not unto death No in no wise So although this imprisonment should be unto death which blessed be my Lord my God my Father I do nothing fear in the vulgar sence yet in a spiritual sence it is not but for the glory of God yea undoubtedly if I should be gathered to my Fathers by the Souldiers the Priests means in an unusual way I rejoyce in Spirit in the apprehensions of faith which the Lord vouchsafeth to me that out of my blood shall spring forth such a notable Spirit as will be the utter ruine of that cursed whore with all the powers on earth new and old that take her part paint her face and do her work Wherefore rouze up my dearest hearts in the might of your God and go on in the Name of your Captain-General and by your secret inward inâ—isible weapons wound this base upstart â—rivate interest under the fifth rib But in the midst of all your hâ—â—y â—eal for the service of your dear Lord forget noâ— I charge you and every of you before him that quickneth all things and witnessed a good confession before Pontâ—us Pilate that you do principally constantly zealously minde the inward work the intimate communion which the Saints use to have with the Father and the Son as being their present paradise on this side heaven Oh for the Lords sake every one of you Parents Children Masters Servants Young men Old Disciples Weak Strong Rich Poor Married Unmarried Oh! I say Be holy be humble be spiritual live in love walk in sweet peace Blessed be God I have such satisfaction of you generally that you are a holy people wholly separate to God and if there should be any close hypocrite among you pray the maske and vizard off that it may he known who hath not loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity but their own lusts secretly traded in A godly jealousie over you causeth me thus in true Gospel-affection to write unto you watching over you at this distance with thoughtfulness and carefulness in some small measure night and day that I might present you to Christ and He to his Father as beautiful and glorious a part of his spiritual kingdom as any other in this generation Oh! that it might be so Oh! that it might be so The Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit especially in your holy Assemblies Brethren all of you pray
writing and hearing of the sweet and precious Name of the Lord Jesus It is most pleasant to ponder and to meditate upon the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ When once we have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof when we are by means of walking with the holy One become spiritually minded then Oh then we suck sweetness out of bitterness and can turn water into wine then we finde meat in the eater then we enjoy liberty in bonds and life in death then we feel the Lord blessing when men are cursing Christianity is a mystery throughout yea the managing of the most easie and obvious affairs in the Churches of the Saints is to be in a mystery All your things are to be spiritually ordered It 's a most glorious sight to me to see every debate every consultation every resolution all your ordinary matters beautified and adorned with that holy gravity and seriousness of language gesture method with that sweetness of love humility mutual condescention with that meekness of wisdom in the Elders of attention and reception and consent in the Brethren that may render you amiable to the Lord Jesus and his elect Angels being in the midst of you formidable to wicked men and the evil Angels that observe you and watch for your halting and would rejoyce to espie among you any uncomliness or absurdity this would be an excellent means to help you to set the Lord alwaies before you to have fresh and new thoughts of Gods Omnipresence of Christs walking in the midst of the golden Candlesticks this used to over-awe my disorderly Spirit when I was among you I hope I shall learn as Timothy how to behave my self in the House of God which is the Church of the living God in this short time of banishment better then formerly I believe the Lord intends a manifold benefit by my absence to you and many others as well as to my own soul I rejoyce exceedingly in spirit to consider We do not live in the declining age of the Church but in that season when the Lord will adde abundantly more of his Spirit then in many generations formerly Wherefore let me beseech you to gird up the loyns of your minde put on your sandals walk climbe up to the top of Pisgah look over Jordan behold the Land of promise the Land of rest the Land flowing with milk and honey look beyond the downfal of Babylon the marriage-supper of the Lambe the great battel of Armageddon look beyond the victory over the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet to the binding of Satan look beyond the binding of Satan to the coming down of the new Jerusalem to the spiritual glory of the City whose name is Jehovah-Shammah to the peaceable reign of our Solomon there remaineth a rest for the people of God Believe and live to enter into that rest Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you the Lord make you all mighty in the Scriptures wiser then your teachers wiser then your enemies and then nevertheless the more humble and lowly and lovely in the possession of your attainments The Lord fill the great vessels and the small vessels brim-ful of grace and peace and truth and love and spiritual understanding in a word fill you with his Spirit as with new wine the Lord make you drunk with his Spirit Oh that every one in the Congregation had a high Spirit for Christ a mighty Spirit for Christ I would to the Lord you had each of you the Spirit of David's Worthies in a spiritual sence that a few of you even two or three of you were able to break through the host of the Philistines for our Davids sake Be of good comfort There is work to do for the Lords young Disciples that are in their first love and their love to their Saviour and his interest will be tried There is business also for the Lords old Disciples that have been tried already and have overcome let them continue faithful to the death and they shall receive a crown of life a crown of righteousness which the Lord is preparing for them that love his appearing Brethren I have received your Messengers with gladness and we do mutually refresh each other the Lord be with your Spirit I shall further enlarge my thoughts the next opportunity pray and strive in prayer for a poor worthless creature the Lord is good to me in abundance I long to appear with joy in the great Congregation From my captivity in Windsor the 15 of the 1 Moneth 1653 4. Your faithful Shepherd in bonds Christoph. Feake Dearly Beloved in the Lord Jesus THe desire of my Soul on your behalf is this That the Lord would so communicate himself to you that ye might be like the Saints at Rome in Pauls time full of goodness filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another and in that case I should rejoyce with you all abundantly for my chains and bonds would be lighter and easier to me by many degrees Whereas now I must ingenuously confess before the Lord and unto you that the care that cometh upon me daily because of you is more unto me then all the cruel mockings and scourgings with the tongue yea even then my bonds and imprisonment which I indure at this day The honour of our dear Lord is so much concerned in your walking and comunion together in your sweet gentle meek and holy behaviour in the ordering and managing of the affairs of Christs spiritual Kingdom through him set up by you that still at every turn you come into my thoughts How do they walk do they walk orderly do they please God do they edifie one another in love have the adversaries no cause to speak reproachfully hath their adversary the Devil no advantage to speak against them do they pray in the holy Spirit Is there a high and a mighty Spirit for God and for Christ and for his Cause in the midst of them Ah! Brethren I think with my self how shall I finde you when I come unto you again Have you increased with the increasings of God are you more and more strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man do you live by the faith of the Son of God I would to God I might finde you less luke-warm and more zealous for the Lord then when I left you more in the Spirit and less in the flesh and in self and in this world Do none of your eyes begin to dazzle at the glory and splendor of the Court as do the eyes of others Come Brethren a day in the Lords Courts is better then a thousand in any Princes Court upon the face of the Earth and for my part I had rather be a door-keeper or sit at the threshold of the Lords House then to dwell in the Tents or Palaces of wickedness It may be the Lord hath called me aside for a short space for this very purpose to tempt you