did of paying the 30 l. in reference thereunto I told them moreover the Lord having manifested his love towards me in giving me repentance towards God and Faith in Iesus Christ and so to be baptized in water by a Messenger of Iesus into the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit wherein I have fellowship with him in his death buriall and resurrection I am now come to be baptized in afflictions by your hands that so I may have further fellowship with my Lord and am not ashamed of his sufferings for by his stripes am I healed And as the man began to lay the stroaks upon my back I said to the people though my Flesh should fail and my Spirit should fail yet God would not fail so it pleased the Lord to come in and so to fill my heart and tongue as a vessell full and with an audible voyce I brake forth praying unto the Lord not to say this Sin to their charge and telling the people That now I found he did not fail me and therefore now I should trust him for ever who failed me not for in truth as the stroaks fell upon me I had such a spirituall manifestation of Gods presence as the like thereto I never had nor felt nor can with fleshly tongue expresse and the outward pain was so removed from me that indeed I am not able to declare it to you it was so easie to me that I could well bear it yea and in a manner felt it not although it was grievous as the Spectators said the Man striking with all his strength yea spitting on his hand three times as many affirmed with a three-coarded whip giving me therewith thirty stroaks when he had loosed me from the Post having joyfulnesse in my heart and cheerfulnesse in my countenance as the Spectators observed I told the Magistrates you have struck me as with Roses and said moreover Although the Lord hath made it easie to me yet I pray God it may not be laid to your charge After this many came to me rejoycing to see the power of the Lord manifested in weak flesh but sinfull flesh takes occasion hereby to bring others in trouble informs the Magistrates hereof and so two more are apprehended as for contempt of authority there names were Iohn Hazell and Iohn Spur who came indeed and did shake me by the hand but did use no words of contempt or reproach unto any no man can prove that the first spoke any thing and for the second he only said thus Blessed be the Lord yet these two for taking me by the hand and thus saying after I had received my punishment were sentenced to pay 40 shilling or to be whipt Both were resolved against paying their Fine Neverthelesse after one or two dayes imprisonment one payed Iohn Spurs Fine and he was released and after six or seven dayes Imprisonment of Brother Hazell even the day when he should have suffered an other payd his and so he escaped and the next day went to visit a Friend about 6 miles from Boston where he the same day fell sick and within 10 dayes he ended this life when I was come to the Prison it pleased God to stir up the heart of an old acquaintance of mine who with much tendernesse like the good Samaritan poured oyl into my wounds and plaistered my sores but there was present information given what was done and inquiry made who was the Chirurgion and it was commonly reported he should be sent for but what was done I yet know not Now thus it hath pleased the Father of Mercies so to dispose of the matter that my Bonds Imprisonments have been no hinderance to the Gospel for before my return some submitted to the Lord and were baptized and divers were put upon the wayof enquiry And now being advised to make my escape by night because it was reported that there were Warrants forth for me I departed and the next day after while I was on my Iourney the Constable came to search at the house where I lodged so I escaped their hands and was by the good hand of my heavenly Father brought home again to my neer relations my wife and eight children the Brethren of our Town and Providence having taken pains to meet me 4 miles in the woods where we rejoyced together in the Lord. Thus have I given you as briefly as I can a true relation of things wherefore my Brethren rejoyce with me in the Lord and give all glory to him for he is worthy to whom be praise for evermore to whom I commit you put up my earnest prayers for you that by my late experience who have trusted in God and have not been deceived you may trust in him perfectly wherefore my dearly beloved Brethren trust in the Lord and you shall not be ashamed nor confounded so I also rest Yours in the bond of Charity Obediah Holmes Three things would be well minded in this relation 1 that God gave me Power to confess his name before the Sonnes of Men. 2 That he kept my tongue that I did not speak evill of men nor of Authority 3 That he gave strength to weak Flesh that it failed not This Tragedy being thus acted in the face of the Country must needs awaken and rouse up the minds and spirits of many cause sad thoughts to arise in their hearts and to flow forth at their mouthes as men offended to see Strangers professing Godliness so discourteously used for no Civill Transgression but meerly for Conscience and that by their hands who pretended that Liberty of Conscience was also the cause of their flight together with the other to the hazard of their lives by hard hearted cruell and savage Barbarians and other mischiefs which a vast and howling Wildernesse is apt to produce wherefore to stop their mouthes and to lull them asleep the old subtile Serpent as his custome ever hath been raised up a cloud of disgrace thinking thereby to darken the truth he profest and to obscure the glory that appeared in his sufferings giving out that he was but an Excommunicate and so an accursed person and that it was vehemently suspected that he was notoriously given to that filthy lust of uncleanness which God will judge and that the same was hinted in open Court and that by persons of no mean credit wherefore againe to resist the adversary who hath been a lyer from the beginning and thereby a destroyer and murderer and to deliver the Children of truth at least from his snare whereby they might be taken captive at his will he drew up and sent a letter unto the Governour of the Mathatusets Colony and desired it might be published so that the Sons of Men so far as the lye and slander might spread might be acquainted therewith The Letter followeth The 12 of the 7th M. 51. To the Honoured Governour Honoured Sir HOwever you may judge of me yet am I dayly waiting to stand before him who shall
that loved him and kept his commandments and that he intended the same unto other visible disciples that should love him and keep his commandments unto the end of the world will also appear for if the appointment of Christ sci the supper that went before and is exprest chapter the 13. and the prayer of Christ that followed after and is exprest chapter 17. did belong unto them that should believe through their word till he come again then this promise that is so often repeated between doth as well belong unto them as to these but the former is true See Iohn 17. 20. 1. Cor. 11. 26. therefore the later If the consequence be denied it will still be proved out of Christs own words See Iohn 7. 37 38. and the consideration even in reason of Christs exceeding love and tender care towards all his disciples that love him and keep his commandments and their sensible wants of the same supplies of the Spirit will clearly evince it 2. It will clearly appear out of the words of the Apostles of Christ See Iohns interpretation of these words of Christ Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he saith Iohn of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Spirit was not yet because Iesus was not yet glorified John 7. 29. See also what they all say with one mouth after they had received this holy Spirit with power whereby they were furnished as Apostles or Embassadors of him that had all power in heaven and earth in his hand to go forth with the embassage of peace into all Nations and could deliver the mind of their Lord unto them in their own language Acts 2. 38 39. Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Iesus for the remission of sins ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit for the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are a far off as many of all these as the Lord our God shall call sci to repentance from dead works to faith in Christ Iesus to this visible manifestation thereof by being baptised and so visibly planted into the death buriall and resurrection of Christ for the remission of sins 3. This will also appear by the enjoyments of those that first trusted in Christ and visibly manifested their faith and love in and to the Lord by keeping his commandments The Disciples which were also called Apostles waiting in the appointment of their Lord at Jerusalem received and were filled with that holy Spirit with power according to promise See Acts 1. 4. compared with 2. 2. So that great number that were about three or rather five thousand souls that believed through their word and were baptized in Jerusalem and waited in the appointments of the same Lord that is to say together steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer they also enjoied this holy Spirit according to promise See Acts 4. 31. The like may be found among the Saints in Samaria Acts 8. 17. in Ephesus Acts 19. And the same may be found among the Saints that thus put on Christ and walked in him among those that first trusted in him in all places See it in the Romans chap. 5. 5. and chap. 8. at large See it in the Corinthians Epistle 1. chap. 2. 10. 12. and 6. 11. 19. and ch 12. at large In the Galathians ch 3. 2. 4. 6. In the Ephesians chap. 1. 13. In the Philippians chap. 3. 3. In the Colossians chap. 1. 8. In the Thessalonians Ep. 1. chap. 1. 5 6. and chap. 5. 19. This promise is also found true in the litle children that Iohn writes to and is often repeated 1 Iohn 3. 24 4. 13. and in the 2. 27. he speaks unto them after this manner but the anointing speaking of this holy Spirit of promise which ye have received of him abideth in you and such is his supply that you need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And now litle Children abide in him c. And Iude telleth us that the very ground why some that had made a profession of the faith and order of Iesus caused divisions and offences contrary to that doctrine they had received and separated themselves was because they were sensuall not having this Spirit Iude 19 And as all this hath been proved by the last Will and Testament of that living Lord so is it also clear that his Will is not to be added to or taken from compare Gal. 3. 15. with Rev. 22. 18 19. which notwithstanding if any man shall attempt to do let him know this Lord is alive and will ere-long appear sufficiently able to avenge it 3. I testifie that every such servant of Christ Iesus may in point of liberty yea ought in point of duty to improve that talent which his Lord hath given unto him That it is their duty to improve the talent the Lord hath given unto them and that for that end it was also given will appear by those two instances of the Lord himself the first is Mat. 5. 13 14 15. Ye saith the Lord to his Disciples are the salt of the earth the light of the world c. neither do men light a candle and put it under a hushell but on a candlestick whereby he intimates that if it be far from the intention of men who are but weak and foolish in their intentions and actions to sight a candle which is for use and then to put it under a bushell and so make it useless then much further from the purpose and intention of God who is the father of lights to enlighten the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord and then to have that light concealed and with-held therefore it follows let your light saith the Lord so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven The other instance is in the 19 th chapter of Luke 11 12 13 14 15 16. to the 27. verse in which Parable is lively declared by the Lord 1. That that glorious Kingdome of God that shall certainly appear should not so immediatly appear as some thought it should for which end is the Parable spoken verse 11. and the first words of the Parable will prove the same thing for the Noble-man which is Christ Iesus the Lord must first go into a far counâ—ry to receive his Kingdome which is to the right hand of the Father there to sit untill all his enemies become his footstool and so return 2. Here is declared the order in which this Lord left this houshold when he went to receive his Kingdome he bestowed gifts or talents upon them and commands them as his servants in their severall places to occupy till he come
soul it may so shine forth before the sons of men that they seeing thy good works may have cause administred to glorify our father which is in heaven It is not words now Christian although they were spoken with tongues of men and Angels when that worthy name is every where well spoken of but faith that works by love and love by works that will distinguish a heady from a hearty Christian Say not in thine heart that Christs Comands are low and his appointments carnall legal injunctions and at the best but neat for babes least hereby thine heart be declared to be vainly puft â—p in thy carnall or fleshly mind and to have too low and carnall conceits of Christ himself who is the injoyner appointer and commander thereof and shall ere long appear as Judge yea least hereby thou be declared ignorant or at the best forgetful of this one thing that it is the great design of God in Christ as to glorifie himself to admiration in poor sinful flesh so whilest he doth it to hide pride from man and therefore as he hath chosen not many wise mighty nor noble of this world but the foolish weak base despised nothings thereof so hath he suited his commands and appointments thereunto and intends through these foolish things so to cause his wisdome to shine forth as thereby to confound the wise through these weak things so to cause his power to appear as thereby to confound the things that are mighty and through these base dispised things that are not to bring to nought those noble glorious and excellent things of the world that are Thou mayst herein see gentle Reader that I have rather chosen to bear witness to the faith and order of our Lord and to shew unto the world but especially unto thee what is the mind of Christ in this time of his absence as to faith and obedience to shew I say rather what is truth which is but one than to bear witness against the ly which is so various knowing that the truth once established shall discover the falshood and light breaking forth shall scatter the darkness And whilest I lead thee forth to seek him whom thy soul loveth and longeth after who is also thy joy and thy Crown while I lead thee I say by the footsteps of those flocks that first trusted in Christ and were fed by such pastors according to his own heart as he gave them God forbid that thou shouldst be as one that wilt turn aside by the flocks of his companions and shouldst be found remaining either on the left side in a visible way of worship in deed but such as was neither appointed by Christ nor yet practised by them who first trusted in him or on the right in no visible way of worship or order at all either pretending that the outward court is given to the Gentiles and the holy City is by them to be troden under foot that the Church of Christ is now in the wilderness and the time of its recovery is not yet or else pretending that God is a spirit and so will in spirit be worshipped and not in this place or that in this way or that Well if thou beest in these waies misled I can no longer forbear in tenderness of spirit and compassionate bowels of love to stretch forth a helping hand thereby to try whether it be the good pleasure of God at this time to drop down a word of light and life and power into thine heart that thou mayest be there by awakned and quickned to be still saying within thy soul Lord what wilt thou have me to do so shalt thou hear such a saying as this Come out from among them Oh my people and be ye separate from them and touch no unsanctifyed thing and I will receive you and be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty and also such a saying as this Blessed are they that do his commands for they have right to the tree of life and shall enter in through those gates of pearl into that glorious City Rev. 22. 14. and know that these are the commandments of Jesus sci As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him and behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast yea hold fast till I come And such as may be under the later disceptions let me intreat thee to ponder these words in thine heart sci That prophecies although marvelous plain and easy to be understood cannot warrant a pure conscience to neglect much less to cast off the commandments and oppointments of Jesus neither can the spirit of Christ direct or incourage the heart of a Christian to cast off his lordship no no the spirit of Christ is hereby distinguished from that of Antichrist in that he shall unfainedly confess that Jesus is the Christ and that this Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and when he is come according to promise into the heart of a Christian he shall not speak of himself but as a messenger his office is to gloryfie Christ by taking of him and his and shewing it unto yea writing it in the heart of a Christian so that I dare boldly say there is none for the exaltation of Christ Jesus the lord according to his last will and testament and for the nourishing a lively hope in the heart of a Christian concerning his glorious return I say there is none to that holy spirit of promise who being also the spirit of truth shall guide the souls of the Saints to worship the father as in spirit so likewise in truth and therfore that spirit that speaks of himself and is so far from taking of Christs to exalt and gloryfie him according as he hath foretold and his father intended that he takes from Christ laies him low and diminisheth his glory that spirit cannot be the spirit of Christ or that holy spirit of promise and for asmuch as the spirit speaketh expresly that in these later daies there shall be seducing spirits that shall deceive if it were possible the very elect of God whose incounter will not be so much with flesh and blood but with wicked spirits in high places let me therfore exhort thee in the words of that beloved disciple of Christ beleive not every spirit but try the spirits and that by this rule whether they be of God or no bring them to the wholsome words of the holy Apostles Prophets and son of God ye erre saith Christ not knowing the scriptures and the power of God let it be thy care Christian therfore to search the Scriptures and therein to wait for the power and glory of the spirit of God And look to thy spirit for as immediately before Christs appearing in flesh Satan in a large measure possessed the bodies of men that by his casting them out his power in flesh might appear So before his coming again in glory I have grounds
fact and practice to which I replyed you say the Court condemned me for matter of fact and practice be it so but I say that matter of fact and practice was but the manifestation of my judgment and conscience and I make account that man is void of judgment and conscience with respect unto God that hath not a fact and practice suitable thereunto and for the things contained in my Sentence they are rather collections which the Court was pleased to make and draw from my words than my words themselves nevertheless I do not say they were unduly collected for in truth if the Faith and order which I profess do stand by the word of God then the Faith and order which you profess must needs fall to the ground and if the way you walk in remain then the way that I walk in must vanish away they cannot both stand together to which they seem to assent therefore I told them that if they please to grant the motion under the Secretaries hand I would draw up the Faith and order which I hold as the sum of that I did deliver in open Court into three or four Conclusions which Conclusions I will stand by and defend untill he whom you shall appoint shall by the word of God remove me from them in case he shall remove me from them then the disputation is at an end but if not then I desire like liberty by the word of God to oppose the Faith and order which he and you profess thereby to try whether I may be an instrument in the hand of God to remove you from the same they told me the motion was very fair and the way like unto a disputant and thereupon concluded in my hearing and directed also their speech to me saying because the matter is weighty and we desire that what can may be spoken when the disputation shall be therefore would we take a longer time whereas therefore the time appointed was the next fift day by reason of the commencement which will be the next week and the meeting of the Elders we must defer it now untill the fift day come fortnight and so I told them to be brief I was their prisoner and should at-attend their pleasure so I returned with my keeper to prison again drew up the Conclusions which I was resolved through the strength of Christ to stand in defence of and through the importunity of one of the Magistrates the next morning very early I shewed them to him having a promise I should have my motion for a dispute granted under the Secretaries hand The Conclusions were as followeth The Testimony of Iohn Clarke a prisoner of Iesus Christ at Boston in the behalf of my Lord and of his people is as followeth 1 I Testifie that Iesus of Nazareth whom God hath raised from the dead is made both Lord and Christ this Iesus I say is the Christ in English the Anointed One hath a name above every name He is the Anointed Priest none to or with him in point of attonement The Anointed Prophet none to him in point of instruction The Anointed King who is gone unto his Father for his glorious Kingdom and shall ere long return again and that this Iesus Christ is also The Lord none to or with him by way of Commanding and ordering with respect to the worship of God the household of Faith which being purchased with his Blood as Priest instructed and nourished by his Spirit as Prophet do wait in his appointment as he is the Lord in hope of that glorious Kingdom which shall ere long appear 2 I Testifie that Baptism or dipping in Water is one of the Commandements of this Lord Iesus Christ and that a visible beleever or Disciple of Christ Iesus that is one that manifesteth repentance towards God and Faith in Iesus Christ is the only person that is to be Baptized or dipped with that visible Baptism or dipping of Iesus Christ in Water and also that visible person that is to walk in that visible order of his House and so to wait for his coming the second time in the form of a Lord and King with his glorious Kingdom according to promise and for his sending down in the time of his absence the holy Ghost or holy Spirit of Promise and all this according the last Will and Testament of that living Lord whose Will is not to be added to or taken from 3 I Testifie or Witness that every such believer in Christ Iesus that waiteth for his appearing may in point of liberty yea ought in point of duâ—y to improve that Talent his Lord hath given unto him and in the Congregation may either aske for information to himself or if he can may speak by way of Prophecie for the edification exhortation and comfort of the whole and out of the Congregation at all times upon all occasions and in all places as far as the jurisdiction of his Lord extends may yea ought to walk as a Child of light justifying wisdom with his ways and reproving folly with the unfruitfull works thereof provided all this be shown out of a good conversation as Iames speaks with meekness of wisdom 4 I Testifie that no such believer or Servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty much less Authority from his Lord to smite his fellow servant nor yet with outward force or arme of flesh to constrain or restrain his Conscience no nor yet his outward man for Conscience sake or worship of his God where injury is not offered to the person name or estate of others every man being such as shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ and must give an account of himself to God and therefore ought to be fully perswaded in his own mind for what he undertakes because he that doubteth is damned if he eat and so also if he act because he doth not eat or act in Faith and what is not of Faith is Sin These Conclusions being seen at least by one of the Magistrates notwithstanding the Message to the prison answer to my self in the Chamber promise by him that came for the Conclusions common report abroad that a disputation was granted the Court broke up and did nothing and the next second day following a Messenger was sent to the prison from the Magistrate with a release to the keeper which having received he speedily put me forth The words of the release follow To the Keeper of the prison BY Virtue hereof you are to release and set at liberty the Body of Mr. Iohn Clarke and this shall be your discharge for so doing Given under my hand the 11th of the 6th Month 1651. WILLIAM HIBBINS To be brief c. Vnderstanding that some friends had laid down the Money although contrary to my Counsell when formerly at severall times and by severall persons I was moved thereunto and perceiving now that the Countries expectation which was not a little raised touching a disputation was utterly frustrate and being
golden Altar that is before the Throne and must be mingled and perfumed with much sweet incense out of the golden censer that is in the Angell of the Covenants hand and the smoke of the incense must ascend with their prayers before God out of the Angels hand Rev. 8. 3 4 so that in this point they are nothing yea lesse and worse than nothing but Christ is the very power of God in this point the substance of all those shadowes and what he did in reference to the work of attonement and reconciliation he doth it substantially and effectually both on Gods part and mans for he hath both natures in himself and by reason thereof is an apt Mediator fit to interpose between both to make reconciliation for he is declared to be the Son of God wholly without sin consecrated with an oath of God to be a Priest for that purpose for ever Heb. 7. 21. comp with 27. 28. who by the eternall spirit of God offered up himself without fault to God his Father the just for the unjust so that by one offering he hath consecrated for ever them that are sanctified so that there is no more need of offering for sin see Heb. 9. 4. comp with 10. 14. 18. and is now entred not into the Holy places made with hands but into Heaven to appear in the sight of God for those that beleeve through him and not with the blood of others but with his own blood whereby their consciences are purged from dead works to serve the true and the living God see Heb 9. 26. 14. yea and there remaineth and is set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the highest being the memediator of that better covenant even that which is established upon the best and absolute free promises which are to pardon their enmity and iniquity and to remember their sin no more to write his Lawes in their hearts and to be to them a God and to undertake that they shall be to him a people so that as God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them so in the ministry of reconciliation Christ is by his Spirit in man shedding abroad the love of God in his heart and thereby slaying his enmity by which means he is reconciled to God so that whom he blesseth being the High Priest and Captain of our salvation shall be blessed indeed see Acts 3. 26. By all which it doth appear to be a truth that there is none to him in point of attonement to make reconciliation between God and Man And now that there is none with him in that great work neither person nor service is also as evident God the Father hath designed him alone in that businesse that no Flesh might glory in his presence see Acts 4. 11. 12. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Colloss 1. 20. 1 Cor. 1. 29. And Paul tels the Galatians who were about to joyn circumcision and so works with Christ in this point of acceptance with God that then Christ should not profit them and that they were faln from grace see Gal. 5. 23. He is the Anointed Prophet none to him in point of Instruction That he is the Anointed Prophet or a Prophet Anointed with the Spirit of Prophecie above his fellow Prophets and a Teacher immediately sent from God from Heaven see Io. 9. 17. Luke 24. 19. Heb. 1. 9. Ioh. 3. 2. 13. 6. 38. 16. 28. And that there is no Prophet to him will evidently appear for all the other Prophets of God were such as did bear witness to him or were types of him yea Moses and Elias those two great Prophets lay themselves low that he may be exalted wherefore Deut. 18. 15. I saith the Lord by the hand of Moses will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee and will put my words in his mouth he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him and it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name I will require it of him And Ioh. 3. 30 31. He must increase saith Iohn the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elias and was saith Christ more than a Prophet so that among those that were borne of Women before him there was not a greater and I must decrease he that cometh from above saith he is above all he that is of the Earth is Earthly and speaketh of the Earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all and what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his Testimony he that hath received his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true for he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him and as these great Prophets thus witness to Christ so the voice that is heard from Heaven by Iames Cephas and Iohn do confirm their testimony that there is no Prophet to him for when upon the Mount Moses and Elias appeared talking with Christ and Peter would have three Tents or Tabernacles one for Christ one for Moses and another for Elias that so no doubt at some times and in some cases he might be hearkning to them immediataly upon the motion and as an evident manifestation of a dislike thereof they both vanished and a cloud overshadow'd them all and Christ being the Prophet only remaining there comes a voice out of the cloud which said This is my wel-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5 6 7. And now that there is none to him in point of instruction will also appear with respect both to the matter and efficacy 1 For the matter of instruction he that cometh from above being also in the bosome of the Father must needs be above all in his matter of instruction for what he hath heard and seen in the Fathers bosome that he Testifies and speaketh the very words of God yea declareth and maketh known God himself being the bright breaking-forth of the Fathers glory which was that which Moses that great Prophet did so much desire to behold and could not obtain it and hence it is that it is said his hearers were astonished at his Doctrine concluded no man ever spake like this man and the best of them knew not whether to go to better themselves forasmuch as he had the words of eternall life yea and that holy Spirit of promise which the Saints were and still are to receive was but to glorifie him to take of him and his words and to shew unto them the treasures of light and life and refreshment that is contained therein see for the proof of all this 1 Io. 17. 18. Io. 3. 31 32 34. Heb. 1. 3. Exo. 33. 18 27. Mat. 7. 28. Io. 7. 46. Io. 6. 68. Io. 14. 26. 16. 12 13 14. And as for excellency of matter so for efficacy
and powerfull instructing there is none to him in point of instruction for he it is in whose hand is the Key of David and he openeth the heart to understand the scriptures and to shew a lively experiment of his powerfull instructing when he was here upon Earth he past by the wise and learned Rabbies and called the illiterate and foolish Fishermen and to this day doth choose not many wise nor many learned but the poor foolish and despised ones that as a teacher he may shew his abilities thereby giving understanding to the simple speaking words of light and life and spirit to them and by them to confound the wise and learned and mighty yea he indeed is the light of the Gentiles which sate and still in a great measure sit in darkness and is that true light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World see 24 Luke 45. 1 Corinthians 1. 26 27. Iohn 6. 63. Acts 13. 47. Iohn 1. 9. And as he was the Prophet opening his Fathers Bosome and shewing the things that were past and present so the things also that were to come he tells them how many things he must suffer of the Elders and Chief Priests and Scribes and be killed and raised again the third day and therein foresheweth his Office of Priesthood he also foretells how after he is risen as a Lord he will set his House in order and so depart to his Father to receive his Kingdom and to return and what shall befall his Servants in the time of his absence by the reign and rage of the Beast and Spirit of Antichrist and what will be each ones portion at his return as appears in the book of the Revelation which is surrounded with blessings to him that readeth Chapter 1. 3. and curses to him that addeth to it or taketh from it Chapr last 18. 19. Wherefore seeing there is no Prophet or Teacher to Christ and his Spirit in point of instruction both for excellency of matter and efficacy in teaching it well suites with Christians to be still cleaving close to this Prophet and concluding with the Disciple that first trusted in him Whither shall we go thou hast the Words of Eternall life But to proceed he is The Anointed King who is gone unto his Father for his glorious Kingdom and shall ere long return again That Jesus of Nazareth is the Anointed King could not be hid in the day of his humiliation as appears Luke 23. 2 3. Chapter 19. 38. The Majesty of a King did to appear in that lowly and meek form while he rode upon an Asse that if the multitude of the Disciples had not confest him but had held their pâ—ace the stones would cry out yea and then his word had a powerfull efficacy like the word of a King among Men and Devils the winds and Seas so that he speaks but the word and the blind see the lame walk the deaf hear the dumb speak the dead are raised the Devills are cast out the poor receive the Gospell when he is at the weakest then is Pilate fore'd to confess that he is King of the Iews and to propagate this confession as far as Latin Greek and Hebrew will cary it this appears more evident since he was raised and sits as Lord at the right hand of the Father at least in the hearts and lives of his Servants by powring forth that Spirit or oyntment received Acts 2. 33 34 35 36. So that the Kings of Israel were but his types and the Kings of the Nations are but his Sword-bearers for he is King of Kings but most lively shall this truth be made manifest when all enemies shall become his footstool and he shall appear indeed in the form of a King with thousands of his Saints and ten thousand times ten thousand of the heavenly Hosts and shall in the powerfull word of a King command the Earth and the Sea to give up their Dead and both wicked men and Devills to go together into torment and they shall be tormented and the Saints to enter into the joy of their Lord and it shall be unspeakably glorious 25 Mat. 31. 32. Luke 9. 26. John 5. 28 29. And that he is gone unto his Father to receive his Kingdom and shall ere long return again will be made manifest by these scriptures Io. 20. 17. Lu. 19. 12 13. Heb. 9. last 2 Tim. 4. 1. Rev. last so that as certainly as he hath had a time for his Propheticall Office and for his Priestly so shall he have a time for his Kingly and as the dream of Nebuchadnezzer hath been found certain and the interpretation of Daniel sure concerning those four Monarchies or Kingdoms of men which should come to pass in the Earth so certain and sure it is that the day is aproaching that the God of Heaven will set up his Kingdom by that despised yet Corner-stone that was cut out without hands Dan. 2. 44. 45. That this Iesus Christ is also the Lord none to or with him c. That he is the Lord appears 2 Cor. 4. 5. We preach Christ Iesus the Lord saith Paul and Acts 10. 36. saith Peter he is Lord of all and hence it is that he is called Lord of Lords Rev. And that there is none to him by way of commanding and ordering with respect to the worship of God the household of Faith will evidently appear if the nature of the household of Faith the worship of God and the commanding and ordering power that suits therewith be considered with respect unto him For the nature of the household of Faith they are a company of faithfull ones that are bought with the price of his blood knit together in one by his Spirit founded wholly upon himself built up by him to be a holy habitation of God and therefore not in the least measure to be defiled with the inventions and commandements of men from whence it is that they are still with their ey fixt upon him whom they look upon to be as well the finisher as the author of their faith still in their hearts calling on him that hath bought them and saying Lord what wilt thou have me to doe and still standing upon their watch to harken what this Lord will speak for the voice of a stranger they will not hear so that by this it evidently appears that there is none that hath so much right unto this household of Faith by way of ordering it not yet freedom in it by way of commanding as hath Christ Iesus the Lord And from the nature of the worship which is spirituall to be performed by a spirituall worshipper and after or in that true manner that the Father of spirits hath appointed it will as evidently appear that there is none to him by way of commanding and ordering in this matter who is the only begotten of the Father came out of and yet is in his bosome and hath declared him the true way of his worship and
who are such worshippers as he seekes for who as a Lord faithfull over his house before his departure gave order thereto commanded his Servants to watch and to hold fast till he come and in his absence being at the right hand of his Father is mindefull to shed abroad of that holy Spirit of Promise whereby the true worshippers shall be led from truth to truth untill they be brought into all truth And if the nature of the commanding and ordering power that suits both with the worship and with the worshippers which the Father of Spirits seeks for be also considered which is not a law of a carnall commandment seconded with carnall weapons or an arm of flesh but a spirituall law or as the Apostle cals it Rom. 8. a law of the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus spoken unto or rather written in the heart of a Christian by the Spirit of Christ by reason whereof he obeyes from the heart readily willingly and cheerfully that form of doctrine which is engraven and laid up therein Heb. 8. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 3. Rom. 6. 17. If this I say be considered that the worship is spirituall such as must begin in spring up and rise from the heart and the spirit and so be directed to the Father of spirits and so the commanding power that suits herewith must speak to the heart and spirit of a man then is there no Lord in this matter to Christ Jesus the Lord who speaks to the heart in the Spirit and his words are as commands from the head to the members which conveigh together spirit and life to obey them by reason of which his commands are not grievous for where the Spirit of this Lord is there is liberty and they by beholding the glory of the Lord are transformed into the same Image from glory unto glory by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. And that there is none with him he is the onely Lord and law-giver of this spirituall building and so of the spirits in this sense appears by such scriptures as say One is your Lord and law-giver James 4. 12. Ephes 4. 5. Mat. 23. 8. 10. and by such as say ye are bought with a price be ye not therefore the servants of men and the Apostles that had greater authority in this point than any men living yet they acknowledge they had not Dominion over mens faith and therefore declare this to be the express mind of God that the servants of this Lord must not strive as if they were Lords but be patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves or as the word imports that set themselves by covenant in opposition to that living Lord. And whereas it is declared in the testimony that this houshold of faith was purchased by his blood as Priest instructed and nourished by his Spirit as Prophet c. this will all evidently appear to be true Acts 20. 28. John 16. from the 7. to the 16. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11 12. Rom. 8. John 1. 2. 26 27. Rev. 2. 11. 17. 29. 2 Thes 14 15. 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 1. 7. And so is the first part of the testimony by the word of God confirmed and justified 2. I testifie that Baptism or dipping in water is one of the commands of this Lord Jesus Christ That this commandment of Jesus is by way of dipping and as it were by drowning overwhelming or burying in water and not by sprinkling with water appears many waies 1. In that although there be frequent mention made of that appointment of Christ in his Last Will and Testament yet is it never expressed by the word that may be rendred rantism or sprinkling but by the word that is rendred baptism or dipping 2. In that the word by which it is so frequently exprest doth in proper English signify to dip to plung under water and as it were to drown but yet so as with safety so that the party as to the manner may be drowned again and again see the instance of Naaman he dipp'd himself seven times in Jordan 2 Kings 5. 14. and to this sense of the word at least in that place both the Greek Latine and English Churches agree 3. In that the phrase in which there is mention made of such an appointment of Christ doth necessarily import such a thing and therefore when mention is made of baptizing there generally followeth that word the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is commonly translated in or into which suits with dipping and not the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies with and so suits with sprinkling And therefore it may be as well rendred I baptize you in water and he shall baptize you in the holy Spirit Mar. 1. 8. as it is rendred Iohn did baptize in the wilderness and in the River of Jordan verse 4 5. or that Iohn was in the Spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. and they were baptized in the cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10. 2. yea it may as well be rendred I baptize or dip you into water as it is rendred they were casting a net into the Sea Mar. 1. 16. for the words are the same and it would be an improper speech to say Iohn did baptise with the wilderness and they were casting a net with the sea 4. That this appointment of Christ is by way of dipping and not sprinkling appears in that for the resemblance and likeness hereunto the Israelites passing under the cloud and through the sea where the Aegyptians that were their Lords and commanders their pursuers and enemies that sought their destruction were drowned left behind and seen no more is by the holy Spirit called a baptism 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. they were baptized in the cloud c. Where observe it is not here rendred with the cloud and with the Sea as in the other place Mark 1. 8. with water because it suits with sprinkling although the word be the same but in the cloud and in the Sea which suits with dipping or overwhelming and so with the appointment of Christ they passing through the midst of the red or bloudy Sea on dry land which stood on both sides as a wall and being under the Cloud were as men in a carnall eie overwhelmed and drowned and yet truly saved and safe from their enemies 5. That this appointment of Christ was not by sprinkling but by dipping or putting the person into or under the water appears by Philips baptizing the Eunuch It is said They went both down into the water both Philip the baptizer and the Eunuch that was the person to be baptized and being there in the water Philip baptized or dipper him in that water as John did Jesus in the river of Jordan and then it is said as they descended or went down into the water so they ascended or went strait way up out of the water see Acts 8. 38 39. Mat. 3. 16. mark the expression And Jesus when he
pre-suppose to have power over his spirit and conscience to cause it to conform likewise or else he cannot attain unto his Religious intent 2. This is but a forcing of servants and worshipers upon the Lord and I say at the best for it is more likely to force worshipers from him And this will cleerly appear because the true worshipers and such as the fathe seeks for are such as worship him in Spirit and in Truth See John 4. 23 24. who having received from Christ the Spirit of life and love have his word stand in their heart as the word of a King so that thereby they become a willing people to do him service and stand not in need of such outward force to compell them thereto they therefore that stand in need to be and therefore are by outward force compelled to the worship of God to the faith and order of the gospel of Christ they I say are such servants and worshipers as are forc'd upon the Lord whom he seeks not for This outward forcing men in the worship of God is the ready way to make men dissemblers and hypocrites before God and men which wise men abhor the truth of this will be thus demonstrated for if they be spirituall true and willing worshipers such as the Father seeks for then what need is there of a constraint or restraint such are a law of life to themselves but if they be not then what make they there before him who calls for the heart and wisheth men to look to their spirits for he is a Spirit and will be sanctified of all those that draw neer unto him See Prov. 23. 26. Mal. 2. 15 Rev. 10. 3 4. Then as they are forced upon the Lord against his will and without any warrant from him so are they also against their own and therefore although their bodies may be present and through fear of the stroke or hope of reward may seem to conform yet their hearts and minds not being changed and the strong holds thereof not being beaten down as by such carnall weapons they are never likely to be they I say are absent and far from the Lord so then while their hearts and confciences still cleave to their Idols and yet their bodies are caused to conform what is this but to make men dissemblers and hypocrites before God and man and that it is the way to put men upon the profaning the name of the Lord is also evident understand by name his attributes word ordinances worship they are all profaned by such a person that stands in need to be forc'd to Religion See Hag. 2. 13 for him to call upon the name of the Lord is to profane the name of the Lord for their prayers are abomination to him Gen. 4. 26. Prov. 28. 9. Isay 1. 13. And a calling the name of God or Christ upon such is counted by him a blaspheming his name See Rev. 2. 9. 13. 1. 5 6. and unto the wicked saith God Psal 50. 16. What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or to take my CoVenant in thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee By all which it doth evidently appear that the second proposition doth also stand firm A sixt argument against the forcing of men against their understandings and consciences is taken from the prohibition of Christ and stands thus 6. Arg. If Christ Iesus the Lord hath expresly forbidden his servants by such a force to seek to constrain or restrain another mans conscience or his outward man against his understanding and conscience in things appertaining to God although his understanding and conscience be cleerly discerned to be erronious and evil then can no servant of Christ Jesus have any liberty much less authority from him so to practise This cannot be denied But Christ Jesus the Lord hath expresly forbidden his servants so to practise and for the proof hereof take two or three instances Mat. 15. 14. where Christ speaking to his disciples touching the Pharisees who were blind guides seducers hypocrites strong opposers of Christ yet seemingly full of zeal and devotion and such as brought a vanity upon the worship of God and made his commandements of none effect by their traditions as appears V. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. of the same chapter yet V 14. saith Christ to his disciples let them alone they are blind leaders of the blind and so leaves them to that sad event which is their falling into the ditch or perishing together See the parable of rhe wheat and the tares Mat. 13. 24. interpreted by Christ himself V. 37 38. And he that soweth the good seed saith Christ is the Son os mâ—n The field is the world the good seed are the children of the Kingdome which being sown by the son of man must needs be meant faithful land sincere-hearted professors of the truth of the gospell But the tares saith he are the children of the wicked one and the enemy that soweth them is the deVill which being the children of the wicked one and sown by the devill after the children of the Kingdome must needs be meant such as crept in unawars and were sent in as Paul speaketh See Gal. 2. 4. to spie out the Saints liberties that they might bring them into bondage and so were formall Professors of Christ at the first but afterwards discovered to be Hereticks Schismaticks Apostats Blasphemers such as was Hymiâ—â—us Phyle us Alexander Demas and such false teachers as Peter speaks of 2 Pet. 2. 12. That should bring in damnable heresies eVen denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction whose pernicious wayes many should follow by reason of whom the way of truth should be evill spoken of but to go on the harVest saith Christ is the end of the world and the reapers are no other than the angels Now the question for our instruction in righteousness being made by the servants unto their Lord when the tares were discovered whether it was his will that they should go and gather them up and take them out of the field his first answer V. 29. is nay and the reason he renders is this lest while ye gather up the tares ye root up also the wheat with them And the next answer V. 30. is an express word of command that they should let both grow together in the field which is the world and untill the time of the harvest which is the end therof and then his purpose is to speak to the reapers which are not men but Angels to gather them up and bind them in bundles to burn them I shall produce but one instanee more to shew that our Lord Jesus forbids such a practice as this among his Disciples or servants 2. Tim. 2. 24 25 26. The serVant of the L Lord saith Paul in the word of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach not to strike patient in meekness instructing those that