many ten thousands of Believers as the Greek doth expresly affirm at Jerusalem tho the English Translation doth not so render it Act. 21. 17 20. And the more General Appellation of the Temple doth sometimes in some places include the Synagogues so was the Tabernacle called There were Synagogues in Damascus There were Churches in Judea and Galilee and Samaria There were several Preachers Prophets Teachers in Antioch a City of Syria too many to be confined only to one Congregation whom those of the Church in that City might hear as they most could profit especially was it thus in Jerusalem There were Synagogues at Salamis a City in Cyprus In every City of Judea they had their Synagogues where was Reading and Preaching every Sabbath Day There were Churches in Syria and in Cilicia At Corinth there was a Church and another at Cencrea which belonged to Corinth And this Church at Corinth the Believers and Saints in Church-fellowship there are highly commended by Paul for first giving up of themselves to the LORD Christ to be wholly his in all things to be ruled by his Will and Law and then under Him unto his faithful Ministers so far as these did guide them by the Scripture-Rule according to Christ's Will therein not only those Ministers of Christ who were more particularly related to some Church there not only to Apollos or some one or two more but also to Paul Cephas Barnabas Timothy Titus Sylvanus or any other such providentially teaching there they all doing the same work and being Workers together therein 1 Cor. 1. 12. 3. 4 9 22. 16. 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 6. 1. 5. 18 19 20. 8. 16 24. 12. 12 18. 2 Cor. 8. 5. There were more Ministers than one at Corinth is clear from 1 Cor. 14. 23-32 This with more of the like Collections from Scripture might be improved to great and good uses when the Churches shall be in a spirit and frame for it At present they thus argue from hence If Shem Acher and those with him have received into Church-fellowship this Sister according to the forementioned Precepts and Precedents by Scripture-Warrants and Rules Then neither She nor They c. But Shem Acher and those with him c. Therefore Thus have they made it appear by many solid Arguments that they have not done without great Causes and weighty Reasons what they have done in the Case of this Sister If any will be returning an Answer it is desired and expected that he would according to what he sees here before him first set down the Scriptures and then argue from those Scriptures They have brought in their Testimony for their LORD in this matter He having given Authority to his Officers for the Edification of his Churches and People and not for their Destruction They can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth They love the Truth and Peace they pursue Holiness and would have their All to be done in Love in that Love which is of God and is brotherly and unfeigned 2 Cor. 10. 8 10. 13. 8 11. Rom. 15. 4 7. Zech. 8. 19. Heb. 12. 14. 1 Cor. 16. 14. PAVL * 1 Tim. 1. 13 15. Act. 26. 9 10 11. 1 Tim. 14 15 16 17. Act. 9. chap. 22. chap. 26. Eph. 3. 7 8 9 10 17 18 19. 1 Cor. 15. 8 9 10. Consider well the History of the Acts of the Apostles and the several Epistles of Paul Eph. 3. 8. 2 Cor. 11. 12. chap. throughout 2 Cor. 4. 1 2. 1. 12. Heb. 13. 18. 1. Cor. 15. 10. 2. Cor. 12. 11 12. Phile. v. 9. Phil. 3. 7 21. 2 Tim. 4 6 7 8. He had sound good Evidences and Assurances of his happy State in saving sanctifying Grace Altho in the days of his Unregeneracy he had been one of the Prime of Sinners yet he lived to be one of the most eminent Exalters of free Grace and most serviceable Instruments in Christ's hand of any meer Man that ever lived yet he in great Humility acknowledged himself less than the least of all Saints O what a Name of Honour has he in Scripture-Records for his Doings and Sufferings for Christ How much did he commend himself to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God having this to be his rejoycing the Testimony of his own Conscience that in Simplicity and Sincerity according to God not in fleshly Wisdom but in the Grace of God he had had his Conversation in the World being confident that he had a good Conscience behaving himself well in all things Well nigh about one third part of the New Testament is an Historical Narration concerning him who tho he were so singularly eminent and so growingly excelling in edifying Gifts and in sanctifying Graces and in extraordinary usefulness even to old Age to the very last yet still forgetting those things that were behind he reached forth unto those things that were before pressing toward the Mark for the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus having his Citizenship in Heaven calling upon others to be Followers together of him and to mark them who walk so as they had him for an ensample so far as he followed Christ who when he had fought a good Fight finished his Course and kept the Faith passed triumphingly into Glory being well assured that there was laid up for him a Crown of Righteousness which the LORD the righteous Judg would give him at that day SHEM ACHER If towards the close of this Narrative any serious Enquirer do desire to be satisfied concerning his Spiritual State that no trouble may remain upon their Heart and Mind to hinder their profiting under his Ministry the God of all Mercy of all Grace and of all Consolation has treasured up much in the Heart of Shem Acher as matter of self-emptying and of Soul-humbling yet withal of exalting of Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and Holy Spirit of advancing of Christ that All-wonderful one God-Man How unsearchably rich has this Grace how admirably free has this Love been A Spiritual Discerner may gather much together by way of Evidence out of the foregoing History of Shem Acher's Life one more eminent Passage whereof he would here revive in the Memory because it has been one of the most eminent excelling Experiences of his whole Life when his more thorow Conversion by way of Spiritual Espousals had such clear full satisfactory self-Evidence in it as shines in his inner Man to this very hour altho he had somewhat of it before It is that shining Manifestation of those glorious Appearances of Father Son and Holy Spirit in the Heavenly Glory to Shem Acher's Spirit and of the LORD Jesus Christ as to his glorified Humanity and the seed of it in the North above this blew visible Expanse the opening of which Mystery may hold forth a Scripture-Light for the guiding of others in their turning to the LORD covenanting with him and being espousingly united to
forth sooner he has much to say in answer if he would enlarge but in short some hints he has already given which carry forcibleness of right Words in them to the impartially intelligent and spiritually discerning and he hoped that the Experiences of many in this City upon whose Hearts the LORD had sealed to the Office of his Ministry might have put some timely stop to the further spreading of such defameings Besides it is evident to him being led far into the mystery and meaning of this Providence that this is the fittest season for the making of the present Apology and if either some will charge him with Vanity and Pride with Folly and Vain-boasting in writing so much upon his own Defence or if it have another effect than many are well aware off for the putting of separate Churches upon a further search into the Scriptures of Truth about the right constituting of Churches the lawful Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and some other weighty Ordinances spoken unto in this Paper it will much concern those who make the exception duly to ponder who is chargeable Whether the Apologist who in a Cause and Case so circumstanced doth make his honest Defence and just Plea or those unfriendly ones who have compelled him hereunto which advocating for Innocence so far as it is Innocence has Scripture-Warrant †Joh. 29. and 31. Chap. and elsewhere in that Book Acts 22. and 26. chap. 1 Cor. 4. 1. 5. and 2 Cor. 11. throughout and 12. 11 both in the Old and New Testament so that if he have been a Fool in glorying they are others who have necessitated him thereunto PAVL * Acts 19. 18. and 22. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 13. 17. He was baptized upon this eminent Conversion and clear Call to the Office and Work of the Ministry He being sent more to Preach the Gospel than to Baptize though this were in his Commission too They were not very many whom he did Baptize lest any should misjudge that he had baptized in his own Name which he doth expresly deny and disown He is called upon not to tarry but to arise and baptising to be baptized and wash away his Sins calling on the Name of the Lord whereupon he doth submit to this Baptismal Ordinance SHEM ACHER He having had such Calls and such clearings up of this Call to this Ministerial Office of which so large an Account has been given especially at those solemn Seasons of Fasting and Prayer when he set himself more in serious earnest to be satisfied concerning this his Call from Heaven by the Holy Spirits leaving some sealing Testimony thereof upon his Heart according to the Word at such a needful time when he was under some perplexing Doubts and distressing Fears about this Call Being thus prepared for it as is already rehearsed the Light of amongst some others two Truths and Duties of this Age were evidently made known unto him the one of the Seventh-day weekly Sabbath the other of perfecting Believers Baptism he doth leave others here whose Case at present is or hereafter may be more concerned in this Matter if it be not already perfected upon and in them to consider whether then if there be otherways a fittedness for and a Call to the Ministerial Function it may not be proper and useful to enter upon this Office with such * Heb. 6. 1 2. Mat. 3. 13 14 15 16 17. and 4. 1. 17. Act. 9. 18 20. aâ—d 26 16. 20. Exod. 29. 4. Leâ— 8. 6. perfecting of Baptism now they are grown Believers so were the Priests under the Old Testament which is mentioned not at all to reinforce any Old Testament Shadow Figure Type or Ceremony now under the present New Testament Administration of Grace so was Christ so were his Apostles so was Paul let the Spirit of God from his Word speak with Men's Hearts about this I forbear in this place to add any further Arguments for or Advantages by this The occasion of his passing into the Scripture-Path of the weekly seventh-day-Sabbath was this A near and dear Brother and Friend of his from the Country wrote this Case of Conscience to him whether the first day of the Week as commonly observed by almost all Christians or the seventh which is the last day of every Week in the weekly returns of it were indeed the weekly Sabbath according to God's Command or in words to the sâ—me effect for it is now about sixteen years since and he earnestly desired the Opinion and Judgment of Shem Acher upon this Case Upon the Receipt of this Letter he was somewhat startled at this new Proposal though he was not so fully satisfied for some years before about any word-Institution for observing the first day as a Sister in Sabbath-Fellowship converted under his Ministry a shining Ornament to her holy Profession whilst here below but now above with the LORD informed and reminded him that when she propounded the very same Case to him about six or seven years before he gave her a very faint unsatisfactory answer as if he scarce were then a cordial Favourer of that first day for tho he preached up Sabbath-Duties and Priviledges in that Town yet his Assistant was as one part of his Work to engage in the Controversy which was the limitted day At the first receipt of that Case he was full of other work and employ about his own and other Cases and laid it aside for near a Month the Brother whose Spirit was tender in this Case as in many other new Cases sent a second Letter with renewed importunity requiring and expecting a speedy Answer Upon this Shem Acher speaks to Jehovah Aelohim to Father Son and Holy Spirit to Christ God-Man in Prayer about it and then makes Scripture-Testimonies to be †Psal 119. 24. the Men of his Counsel and being under an Obligation to take the whole Scripture along with him for the resolving and determining of this Case and to lay aside all his former Apprehensions and no longer to parle with Humane Traditions Philosophical arguings Carnal reasonings or any other unscriptural Authorities he took his Bible which he has now had about forty years and to which he was well used and so could with the more readiness turn unto apt places beginning with the first Week of the created World and there he found that * Gen. 2. â— 2 3. the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath had Foundation both in Jehovah's Word and in Created Nature as being the only day of the whole Week on which the Creator and Redeemer rested which day he Blessed and which day he Sanctifyed for Sabbath-Purposes and Priviledges and not any other Day of the Week neither first second third fourth fifth nor sixth but only the seventh On he goes with his enquiry through the whole Book of Moses and finds the seventh day Sabbath †Exod. 16. 22. 30. reinforced and the neglect and profaneing thereof reproved before the solemn proclaiming of it
Christ in two Generations had been utterly extinct However the Case was with Paul Shem Acher has been very unkindly and injuriously dealt withal about his Marriage with Gnezri-jah When he with some other Ministers had the Honour to be so many years the LORD's Prisoner at Dorchester it came upon and into the Heart of Gnezri-jah from the time of his and their first Confinement to be as a common Stewardess and Nurse to make and bring in Provision of Food and of other outward Necessaries for them her Spirit and Soul being much drawn forth in Compassion towards the LORD's suffering Servants in fellow-feeling of their Hardships and with great longings after the daily enjoyment of Communion with Father Son and holy Spirit by the LORD's Blessing upon his and others Ministerial Labours at which time â—ho she then had an aged Mother to maintain she did pinch and straiten her self in diet and other-ways to serve and be helpful unto those Ministers which was afterwards understood by Shem Acher and considered by him After some time the other Ministers having obtained their Liberty Shem Acher's Imprisonment was continued for several years all which time this Gnezri-jah was a succourer of him and did continue friendly faithful to him in all his Temptations and was very useful not only to him but also to many other of the Prisoners in divers cases When he was set free his Heart was engaged to preach the Gospel abroad and having need of help Gnezri-jah sometimes travelled with him This being envied and maligned by some to prevent or remove any occasion of Scandal or offence he declared unto some of the Church that he was willing to take Gnezri-jah to him for a Wife according to the Word she being every way the fittest for him she being a Sister in the same way of Church-Fellowship and a Virgin modest and chast many ways look'd upon as excelling almost all of her Sex in the whole Town of Dorchester for Humility Patience Mortifiedness Diligence Faithfulness Zeal and such Commendablenesses as these in the Judgment of all spiritual Discerners who had any intimate acquaintance with her and she having undergone so many Hardships and Difficulties for him and after so many years experience of her fittedness for such a Yoke-fellowship Shem Acher married her When this was made known the Tempter bestirred himself and set some upon opening of their mouths both against him and her that he had married one who had been a kind of Servant to him one much beneath him for Birth a poor Maid without a Portion which was so odiously and unjustly aggravated and spread abroad by some who should have been more friendly both he and she before then and since having been friendly unto them that his Ministry was in a great measure rendred much useless and successless in those Parts which purpose of Marriage a little after compleated together with the Advice of several of the Friends in Fellowship with him to publish a Treatise in the Defence of the Cause of the Seventh-Day-Sabbath was somewhat of the occasion both of his coming to and continuing near and in the City of London Thus must any thing a little colourable serve for a Charge against Shem Acher who has met with a passage in Clarks Lives where he makes mention of a Commendable Act of one Minister of Christ who having bin helped by a mean Handmaid a Virgin during his sore Imprisonment for the Gospel's sake when he was set at Liberty thought he could no other way so requite her as by marrying of her This is recorded to the praise of that Minister but if Shem Acher do the same it must be look'd upon by many as a Scandal and Crime in him As for a Portion he prizeth Grace at a very low rate who doth not really in a case of competition esteem and prefer it above and beyond many Bags of Earthly Treasure And altho Shem Acher might possibly have had several Thousands with another Woman where there was not such a suitableness in other respects yet it was a sweet sensible Evidence upon his Heart in his Conscience about that time that being closely held to that †Psal 119. 72 127. Scripture-term he readily complied with it and conformed to it in the strength and supplies of the holy Spirit The Law of thy mouth O Jehovah is better unto me than Thousands of Gold and of Silver Therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold Shem Acher having an Annuity of Fourscore pounds by the year setled upon him during his Life This provided Food convenient and other outward Necessaries for him and out of the rest he was ready to distribute out of the Decimation and otherwise to the Necessities of others proportionably as far as it would go so that now after twenty years or more enjoyment of that Annuity he has not laid up one shilling out of that Means if he die before Gnezri-jah what he has to leave her is mostly his Study of Books and some Houshold-stuff They have not wanted Conveniencies since they came together neither shall either of them want when they are parted asunder by Death for they have Bonds by gracious Covenant under the Hand and Seal of the faithful God to be cared and provided for But Shem Acher not having an Estate to settle any Jointure upon a Wife if she survived he never had any considerable Proffer made him neither did ever meet with any pure Virgin so every way a meet help for him The common corrupt practice amongst many of the Gentry being to settle almost all their Estate upon their Eldest Son which has brought a Curse upon and has bin the Ruin of many Antient and Honorable wealthy Families the LORD in the way his Providence frowning upon such an unscriptural distribution He allowing a * Deut. 21. 17. double portion of their Father's Goods to the First-born whereas younger-Brothers are often put off with some small Allowance to keep them alive This Shem Acher doth mention not at all out of discontent at his Allotment for he doth write as he hath long experienced that his Annuity is the wisest and best Portion and Provision for him it bringing in unto him a Competency and discharging him from Worldly Cares and Earthly Incumbrances all his labour about this being once a Quarter to receive Twenty pounds and to give an Acquittance Only he brings in here this Testimony against the fore-mentioned common corrupt Practice As for Gnezri-jah's Family and Relations An ancient Justice of Peace did declare that her Grandfather was one of the First who appeared for a Reformation against the Superstitions and other Corruptions of the Times to the endangering of his Liberty and Life and that he and a Kinsman of his did lend one hundred pounds to Mr. White of Dorchester for his encouragement who was one of the first and foremost and forwardest of all the Puritane-Ministers in the West publickly by Preaching and otherwise
Saints being injurious to the Christian Churches and a Blasphemer of God of Christ God-Man and of his Truths Worship Cause Ways and Disciples suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven and he fell to the Earth and heard a Voice saying unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And he said Who art thou LORD And the LORD said I am JESVS whom thou persecutest It is hard for thee to kick against the Goads And he trembling and astonished said LORD What wilt thou have me to do And the LORD said unto him Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do The History of this wonderful Work he is now ready to own and to declare before Princes Priests or People where he had a Call and Opportunity preaching up that Christian Doctrine and Discipleship which but a little before he endeavoured to persecute down counting all his former self-righteousness formalworshippings creature-advantages outward Church-priviledges vain affectation of human wisdom by Philosophic Studies to be as dung and as Dogs-meat for the excellency of the Knowledg of Christ Jesus his Lord for whom he suffered the loss of all things that he might win Christ and be found in him not having his own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith And now he lays aside his old human Set-Forms and prayed in the help of the interceding Spirit Framing of such arguing Requests within him as his present Case called for Thus he who had been one of the prime of Sinners is now become one of the greatest Exalâ—ers of the Father's rich Grace and free Love of Christ's Alsufficient Satisfaction and prevailing Intercession and of the holy Spirit 's powerful gracious working SHEM ACHER The way and manner of the holy Spirit 's working upon him hath been various at several times yet in a marvelous gracious manner even from his Childhood and in his Youth oftentimes by Terror now and then by Bands of Love He lay for many years under a spirit of bondage to Fear being very often frighted in terrible Dreams wherein he fell into deep Waters the Earth sliding away from under him whilst he endeavoured to climb up to the top of an Hill or Rock for safety which he was not able to do falling over Bridges into the Sea and down from thence into the Gulph and horrible Pit though at that time he little understood that thus was the positure of the Creation as to the lowest World The Devil many times seemed to be at hand running to lay hold on him though always he escaped yet so terrified as awakened him and left cold sweats upon him yet this kept him several years in aw and held him back from many Sins Once when he was tampering about one Sin which was preparing for another Sin though he did not then actually commit either the one or the other a Voice with power smote his heart as with a Thunder-bolt from Heaven What if God should strike thee dead and damned upon the place which quickly sent him to his private Chamber and set him about Praying Reading Confessing Humbling work and at other times he was put upon Fasting thinking with himself to conquer Corruptions and Temptations too much going forth in his own strength and depending upon Duties which yet Experience told him were all too weak in this Combat without help from Christ and his Spirit At other seasons there were sweet Allurings especially upon reading the History of Christ's Life Sufferings and Death which did very much melt him into Tears and kindly affect and winningly overcome the Heart Though he dare not say as one Minister told him concerning himself he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Self-Father or his own Spiritual Father his meaning being that he was his own Converter begotten and born by that Word which he preached to others If any would have Shem to name his Father He of and by whom he was born from Above was Abi-jah Jah my Father Abi Ael the mighty God my Father Abi-hu He and the Alone my Father He. As Shem has been in the lowest World in his Spirit in the Gulph and somewhat in Hell so also there have been two more remarkable passages at special seasons when his Heart was taken into nearer union to and closer fellowship with Christ in the uppermost World The one was when solemnly and seriously setting himself to enquire into the safety of his Spiritual Estate he was held strictly to these Terms That he must burn his Papers with his own Hand and his former Collections out of humane Authors of Philosophical Learning wherein much of that which was corrupt was heaped together amongst a little somewhat that was true and good and that he must begin as it it were Religion and all anew and take all from Christ and from his Word purely and only with a Promise That then he should be better taught and not lose any thing that was useful of what he knew before and should have a better and richer stock given in About which time it was clearly revealed to him and in him by a passage in an Author who so opened that word in 2 Tim. 3. 16. The whole Scripture which the English Translation doth render All Scripture that for the whole and every part of his Religion in all Doctrine and Duties he must take the whole Scripture along with him both Old and New Testament to be for him where-ever the holy Spirit doth take occasion to â—reat of any such particular subject-matter which Word-Rule in the harmoniousness and uniformness or oneness of it throughout has been of singular unexpressible usefulness to him ever since in this Age of growing Light This put him to a kind of offering up his Isaac But Jehovah his Aelohim framed his Heart to it and he readily answered the Call and sacrificed with his own hand in the Flames several years Labours of great value in the esteem of some for he had still an industrious mind trying many ways of heaping up Learning but was not set right till now And from that day to this he has found the LORD True and Good as his Word so that he can say to the praise of this God of all Grace and Mercy That scarce one week for many years has passed over him without some special Teachings the holy Spirit opening some Scripture or other before him and then opening the Eyes of his Understanding to take in the light and meaning thereof of which he has gathered much and it is laid up by him as his rich Treasure in and under Christ yea it is a very black night and dark day with him if there be any one such whole natural day in any one week wherein there is not somewhat of this All the Glory be to Jehovah Aelohim But how now what shall be done to carry on Preaching and Praying Work for he was a
Teacher of others who much needed to have been instructed himself though he had a great Name amongst Ministers and People The Forms of Prayer were gone the Fire had turned them into Ashes He had composed many of those Forms of his own upon several Cases with great variety most Hearers could scarce discern it to be a Form of humane composure but the LORD took him at his Word and he must now trust to the assistance and inworking of the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication who has not been thus far wanting when aright depended on About seventeen years since when the Act for Vniformity came forth and the Profession of Assent and Consent and Subscriptions were required the LORD soon stated the Case and resolved the Question upon Shem's Mind and Heart not so much as to touch that unclean Constitution of humanely invented Worship and so he has continued ever since a total thorow Nonconformist though Afflictions and Persecutions have abidden him from that time After this the LORD honoured him with somewhat of a Vision in the Spirit wherein two of the choicest Revelations were made manifest to him and in him For in a very dark evening whilst a Prisoner a little before his going to his Lodging he bowing his knees in Prayer was on a sudden taken up in his Spirit as if he had been actually in Heaven This was about fourteen years ago answering somewhat to that of Paul * 2 Cor. 12. 1 4. where he had a clear view of Christ in his Glorified Humanity by an Eye of Faith He sitting in the sides of the †Iob 23. 3 4 8 9. 26. 6 7. Psal 48. 1 2 3. 75. 6 7. Isa 14. 9 15. North which was as real to him as if he had conversed with Christ personally in the flesh and it is still so when he is in a right worshiping Frame being led to him as to the one Mediator and Advocate to carry on all his Affairs in the Court above The other was ‖ 2 Cor. 13. 14. 1 Joh. 1 3 7. Mat. 28. 19. John chap. 14 15 16 17. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Ps 11 7. Their Faces or His Faces His or their Aspects See Ainsworth in loc Numb 12. 8. Heb. 6. 19. 20. 10. 19 22. A Self-evidencing view of those Glorious Appearances of Father Son and holy Spirit and distinctness of Communion with each of these in their several subsistences shining forth in the Face of Jesus This sight covered his Spirit with such a shining Light and bright Glory that their faces viewing him was such an heavenly Manifestation of unveiled Aspects as dwells with him to this hour and is more or less in every solemn Duty of Instituted Worship a guiding of his Spirit into that within the Veil whither Jesus the Fore-runner is for him entred And this has been revealed to him to be his being baptised with the holy Spirit Mat. 3. 11. Act. 1. 5. 11. 16. This Object raised him into an higher way of Later-Day-Glory-hymnifying than his former way of singing by Mens Forms read out of a Book could reach unto And thus it is through continuance of special Favour with him to this day and will ever live with him for it espoused and somewhat married his whole Man Body Soul and Spirit to each of these Three in One Jehovah * Isa 54. 5. Psa 149. 2. Job 4. 17. 35. 10. Eccles 12. 1. as to his Husbands Creators and Makers To the Father as the Father to the Son as the Son to the holy Spirit as the holy Spirit Makers Husbands Creators PAVL * Act. 26. 16 17 18 19 20. Gal. 1. 1. Eph. 1. 1. 3. 7 8. Act. 9. 15. Ro. 11. 13. 1 Tim. 2. 7. Gal. 1. 16 17 18. He had such a Call to the Office and Work of the Ministry as was not common for he was an Apostle by the Will of God and not of Men neither by Men but by Jesus Christ neither was the Gospel which was preached of this Servant of Christ according to Man for he neither received it of Man neither was he taught but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ who at that very time when he so remarkably converted Paul called him hereunto saying to him Arise and stand upon thy feet for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose To make or ordain thee a Minister and a Witness both of those things which thou hast seen and of those things in which I will appear unto thee delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom I now send thee To open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God That they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them who are sanctified by Faith that is in me Whereupon he was not disobedient unto the heavenly Vision but shewed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do Works meet for Repentance This preaching Office he presently set about Immediatly he conferred not with Flesh and Blood neither went he up to Jerusalem to them that were Apostles before him being * 2 Cor. 11. 5. 12 11. Eph. 3 8. 1 Cor. 15. 8 9 10. 3. 5 6 7 22. nothing inferior to the chief of the Apostles yet calleth himself the least of the Apostles and an Abortive and pronounceth himself unworthy to be said to be an Apostle because he persecuted the Church of Christ He was but a Minister by whom many of the People believed yet appointed of God for those great Ends of bringing in of Sinners to Christ and of building them up in Christ that the LORD might have all the Glory for Paul was not any thing in and of himself The LORD wonderfully owning him and blessing of his Labours in such large-spreading and deep-rooted Conversions in planting of New-Testament-Churches and many other ways false Apostles and others envying and opposing of him do now call into * 1 Cor. 9. 1. 2 3. 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. question his Call to the Ministerial Office and Work whether it were lawful and right or not because it was not some way as theirs was which they would have imposed upon him to which he could not submit This puts him upon making of an †1 Cor 9. 3. Apology to defend and magnify his Office wherein if he were a Fool in glorying if any so thought or judged him it was chargeable on those who so compelled him thereunto that the Minds of young Converts might not be troubled nor the Work of the Gospel other ways hindred Those Arguments which among others he doth urge for the Proof of the Lawfulness of his Call were drawn from his being * Gal. 1. 15 16. So was Jeremiah ch 1. 5. So was John the Baptist Luk. 1. 15 16. So Christ and so Isaiah
say in Truth to the Glory of Jehovah the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that his Aelohim hath done wonderful things for and upon him and marvellous Works by him for and upon others as to healing Cures both upon Spirit Soul and Body and also as to the executing of very sore threatned Judgments against and upon divers of his implacable Adversaries whereof there be Witnesses as to what was open and publick the particulars whereof would make this Narrative too long only one Experience he shall impart which was a great secret of the LORD Christ's using him as his Administrator upon himself Having by much labour in his work in the forementioned Town about twenty years since broken his Strength which caused a Rupture he used such means for a Cure as the most skilful Physician and some others most experienced in such cases could help him to all which proved ineffectual whereupon his Thoughts were inwardly at work upon this Enquiry whether there were not some other way for his Cure to be sought after This was brought upon his Heart that * Jam. 5. the Ordinance of Anointing the Sick had not been used he was convinced of the need and use of this Ordinance of the standing preceptive and promising part of it but knew not whither to his satisfaction to go or send for a right Administrator the Ministers generally in those parts at that time eirher not having Light or Faith therein and some of them openly opposing of it hereupon a secret Voice whispers that as a Messenger from Christ he should administer it upon himself the case being so circumstanced which accordingly he did and felt the healing strengthning Effect of it quickly which has continued for many years so that he knows not but that †Joh. 3. 25 26 27. Sanative Virtue having been drawn down from Christ by a touching of him by the Hand of Faith in a way of believing on him and on his Word he is well healed though still under and for Christ he use apt means for the continuance of this great Mercy in order to Service all the praise be to him for his Mercy and for his Truth So that what John the Baptist said in the same case both as to his Baptism and Ministry A Man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven Shem Acher doth apply to his own Case who hath not in this Matter so far as the Resemblance here doth answer taken what is lawful and good but what has been given unto him thus from above In the Hypothesis or Supposition that one special Argument or Matter upon which John was then disputing those Words are referred to what went immediatly before relating to the Ministerial Office of Christ or of John or of both as to Teaching and Baptizing Both John the Minister and Christ the Master having received Gifts Graces and a Call from Heaven to exercise this honourable Function or delegated Employment they both having been owned and dignified with a Divine Testification from above which gave and confirmed them in their lawful Authority so to act Mat. 21. 25. John 1. 23. 3. 11 25 26 27 32 33. These right Words altho more generally laid down have great force of strong Reason and of convincing Argument in them to prove That a Man can receive nothing take nothing to himself as to such a Call and Office and the Execution thereof in a regular way and right manner by due Commission and warranting Authority except it were first given him from Heaven For tho legitimately to give and legitimately to receive are related to each other and so are together at once yet in order to give is first And therefore tho the Verb be in the Present Tense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Sing Praes Subj yet the Participle is in the past Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Partic. Nâ—ut Praet Pass Not any no Man of right good Conscience Heb. 5. 4. is to take this Honour to himself but he who is called of God ordained and appointed thereunto by his Word-Warrant Numb 16. 10. 1 King 13. 33. Luke 3. 2. Acts 23. 5. Not any taketh As to the matter of Right none can justly take none ought to take tho many as to matter of Fact have taken and do take without Gift from Jehovah Aelohim the great Lord over all It being a Function of Divine Institution and of special Favour of great Honour and of weighty Charge both ordinary and extraordinary Ministers must be able to prove their Call Heb. 5. 4. 3. 2. Jer 17. 16. Amos 7. 15. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 14. Ephes 4. 11. Exod. 28. 1. 2 Chron. 13. 9 10. 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. 1 Sam. 23. Where any have upon their own Heads set themselves a running or have been pushed forwards by others whom the Lord never sent it concerns them to consider how they will answer it And this is one Ground and Reason for this present * 1 Cor. 9. 3. Apology which is an Answer with a Defence as to Men's false chargings †1 Cor. 4. 1 2 3 4 5. wherein he can justify himself and plead his Office in their Day and Court though in some particular Circumstances of his Case the Searcher of Hearts and the Tryer of Reins can find matter enough against him for which to condemn him O how much Wisdom and Love has the righteous Judg manifested towards Shem Acher in that he has found out a way wherein to justify him from that wherein he can and doth comdemn himself He has patiently born the secret Artifices and open Attempts of some to defame him and to decry his Ministry for about these six years last past as being made willing to deny himself to take up his Cross dayly and so to follow Christ but having long observed that such do still trouble the minds of divers who have been hopefully coming on and do lay stumbling-blocks in the way for the hinderance of others whereby Gospel-work has been at a stand the Sabbath Cause wronged many Souls prejudiced and the Honour of our LORD at least darkned to say no more he doth now judg it high time having had several louder Calls thereunto of late to do publick and open right to this Cause and to some other after Causes and Cases where others have done it such publick and open wrong which is but an act of warrantable regular love towards himself and towards others and also an act of due Equity and of distributive Justice for the wiping off of unkind Calumnies and injurious Aspersions imputed and cast upon an honourable Office about which he hath been many and many a time * Prov. 18. 13 prejudged and condemned as also in other cases before his Matters of Fact and of Right have been known or he himself heard thus has his silence in this cause been misinterpreted a confession of Guilt If any ask why this had not been brought
being all private Brethren some private Brother or Brethren into the Ministerial Office and to send him or them forth to preach and to baptize neither could this quiet his thoughts or satisfy his spirit Or else some such one who however pretending to be called and sent forth by Men yet is not gifted graced and qualified according to the Requirements of Christ in his Word for such an honourable Office and weighty Work here also he was to seek and could not so acquiesce Or otherwise some such who say they were at their first passing under this Ordinance under an unavoidable necessity of doing somewhat this way beyond and besides the ordinary-stated-Scripture-Rule and Way which they hope the LORD did accept of they giving to him the best they had according to their then-understanding whereunto Shem Acher has only this to desire of such at present that they see well unto it their pleaded necessity be such an indispensible real urgent unavoidable necessity as the holy Scriptures do warrant and that they impose not that on him as a standing Rule to submit to and to walk by who is under other manner of Circumstances and doth derive all his Satisfaction from an higher and purer Spring And if that Necessity which they plead have led them into a private Path which is besides the ordinary beaten High-way of King Jesus in his Word they have need to bring forth somewhat extraordinary which may carry along with it true-and self-evidence What other way was there then yet left in this case but only this one to his satisfaction He having been before so quite taken off from all Men and all Creature-Authorities in these matters of Religion and having given up himself wholly and entirely to Christ as his one and only LORD and Lawgiver and to the Word of Christ as the one and only Rule of Faith Worship and Life and compleat Summary of all useful Arts and profitable Sciences and having had so many sealing Experiences of Christ's more immediate and extraordinary Teachings Callings Healings of Him by his holy Spirit from his Father in his Word and having passed before under a being baptized with the holy Spirit he with one more travelled from London to Salisbury where about the middle of the Day in the broad River of that City which runs with living water he received his being baptized as by the Hand of Christ himself in the Face of the Heavens and so passed under Waâ—er and baptized another and further also received Imposition †Act. 10. 41. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They were before-chosen and ordained of God to this Office of being Witnesses of Christ's Resurrection by his lifting up stretching out laying on of Hands It was God's Hand who thus set them apart The compound Word is afterwards used for Ordination of Ministers to their Office Acts 14 23. or stretching out by laying on of Hands as from this God Man from Christ tho sitting in the higher Heaven in his glorified Humanity Christ being the Author of this both Water and Spirit-Baptism and stretching out and laying-on of Hands The Reader or Hearer of this Narrative is desired to make a little stand in his thoughts and here to ponder a while upon this weighty Considerable In two grand parts of this Historical Declaration the LORD has graciously given unto Shem Acher somewhat of * 1 Cor. 2. 9 16. 12. 10 11. a Spirit of Discerning whereby to discern Spirits for the present and to foresee some of those Prophesied Methods which he will use to set in order the Affairs of his House towards and in the latter-day-Glory whereby Shem is enabled to trust Christ for Afterwards or Afternesses or what shall hereafter come to pass The holy Spirit working and distributing what Gift he will to whom he will These two Parts are his more than ordinary both Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and way and manner of his Perfecting of Baptism Both which being more immediately derived from ‖ Eph. 1. 20 23 2. 19. 22. 4. 7 16. Christ that Head Officer of the Church he has the advantage and opportunity of holding forth before others this as one of the great Truths of the * 2 Pet. 1. 12. present Age the way and means of Jehovah's bringing his People †Ezek. 43. 10 11 12. chap 44. throughout Psal 74. 9. to measure all Administrations according to the Prophetical Paâ—tern and promised Platform will be by raising up by gifting graceing calling and sending forth some extraordinary Messenger as from Heaven to open interpret apply and promote this revealed Mystery relating to the aâ—proaching Glory of the latter days Do not now over-hastily conclude that this is a rare Artifice and a witty Invention for Shem hereby to point out himself to be this special Prophet by a new Name which he assumes to himself as if the foregoing Prophets did direct as with a Finger to him as that Elijah the Prophet or one in the Spirit of that Elijah who was to come and to restore all things and so to take this glorious honour unto himself For he doth not cry up himsâ—lf to be this very Messenger tho Jehovah Aelohim may use and employ whom he pleaseth in this honourable Work and Shem is somewhat prepared in Heart by the Holy God Spirit greatly to rejoice and to give all the Glory to the LORD might he live to see in his day and time such a Gentile-Minister or Ministers as an Angel or Angels from * Ps 12. 6. Isa 34. 16. Rev. 11. 19. Heaven to come forth with the pure Word of God altogether freed from all corrupt humane Mixtures whatsoever either the very Original it self or an exact Copy word for word and being clothed with the Spirit may preach it abroad with Power and Success tho Shem as to this more eminent Honour were laid aside and might be priviledged with sitting at the Feet of such a one to receive words as from Christ by such an extraordinary Messenger But this is that which he has further to say in this matter that he takes it for a special Favour freely bestowed upon him that the LORD has revealed this inner Secret to him and has so far made use of him as to assert and revive the Doctrine and somewhat to prepare the way for the coming of Jehovah Christ in the conspicuous Appearance of his Personal Presence before which time he will by Voice direct and call and send some peculiar Officer or Officers of his as * Isa 4â— 6 7 8 9. 42 4 16 21. 1 Pet. 1. 23 24 25. a publick Cryer with this Royal Proclamation That this Christ as King of Kings and LORD of Lords is about to come to crown his Kingly Law his written Word and revealed Will therein as the one and the only living abiding Rule for all Churches and States to walk and to measure All by let the Scriptures in the Margin be noted well
These Cryers and Proclaimers are publick Officers to give open notice of some State or Church-Affair whereof the supream King Priest and Prophet the LORD Jesus Christ thinks good to advertize his Subjects as by sound of trumpeting Voice that all and every one who are concerned may have the certain knowledg and timely warning thereof It must be with such a vehement sound as is heard at a far distance that no one may pretend or plead Ignorance when within hearing with the Voice of one crying calling by Name those he meets and by express Word gathering a Convocation and Assembly reading some part of the Book and Law and Will of God preaching some Evangelical Word unto them who give the hearing For this Voice in the 6 7 8 ver of the 40th chap. of Isaiah is distinct from the foregoing Voice in the 3 4 ver which was more fulfilled in and by the Ministry of †Mal. 3. 1. Mat. 3. 3. Mar. 1. 2 3. Luk. 3. 2 5. Isa 52. 7 8. 60. 5 10 16 61. 4 5 6 9. 62 6. 66. 12 19 20 21. John the Baptist John delivered his Message faithfully both as to his Ministerial and Baptismal Office at the enterance of the New-Testament-Administration of Grace when Christ was coming shortly after in his state of Humiliation But some other or others will be called and sent forth about this latter and toward the latter-day-Glory a little before Christ's coming in the Clouds in his state of Exaltation as the 9 10 11 ver of the formentioned Chapter will evidence to a discerning considerate Reader when the Sioners shall be Evangalized and gathered into Church-Flocks unto a purer way than ever yet When the Jews shall be in a preparedness for this great turn and thereby made ready for the LORD at that time * Song 8. 8 9 10. as at the beginning of the New-Testament-Dispensation of Grace some Ministers from among the Jews were employed in converting and baptizing of the Gentiles so now in these later days some of the Gentile-Ministers may have the honour to be Instruments under Christ of converting and baptizing of the Jews And where can that People find a meet Administrator if the LORD do not more immediately send them some Prophet who can prove his Mission and Commission to be from on High They still requiring a Sign 1 Cor. 1. 22. For as for those few of their Brethren in this day who by outward Profession and Confession do own Christ to be the true Messiah already come in the Flesh Shem Acher never yet met with any of them he has conferred with about five or six of such who come forth with any thing extraordinary visible mark and gift upon them as to a being clothed with the Spirit And that Baptism which they have received at least some of them if not all has been from corrupt hands in a corrupt way And Shem doth bear good will towards that People praying for Jerusalem's Peace and for Sion's Purity seeking the good of her Sons and Daughters and having experienced the Truth and Goodness of that Promise more ways than one that such shall prosper who love her Besides there may be divers of the Gentiles who a little before God's thus favouring of Sion may be brought more throughly into a perfecting of their Baptism from among the Seekers non-Church-Men and several others upon some of whose Spirits this doth lye with pressing weight whither shall we go to meet with a lawfully-called-Ministry and a lawfully-constituted Church where is there a well-warranted heavenly attested-Administrator Shem in this doth speak out some of the Thoughts of such dissatisfied ones and he is so far ready with an answer which he can give to those who ask him a word concerning his Ministry and Baptism Whence is thy Ministry and Bapâ—ism and from whom thy Ministry and Baptism as to the perfecting of both it is from Heaven not from Earth from Christ more immediately and not so from Men. Here in the way let it be remembred that the reviving of the Seventh-day-Sabbath doth make way for the later-day-Glory-Conversions and Ingatherings of the Outcasts of Israel Isa 56. 1 8. And that the Prophecies and Promises of building the old waste places and of raising up the Foundations of many Generations and of being called the Repairer of the Breach the Restorer and Paths to Sabbatize is made over to such Revivers of the Seventh-day-Sabbath This great useful Truth is therefore not only received in the Principle but also closed with in the Practice by Shem Acher wherein he doth sweetly acquiesce to his own satisfaction whilst others do dispute preach and print to defend and justify their various Calls to both by Arguments mostly drawn from Men tho running down to them in a very corrupt Channel and if his LORD should say to his Servant Shem as once to * Chap. 12. v. 13 Isa 58. 12 13 14. 66. 21 22 23. Daniel And thou Shem Acher Go to the end and thou shalt rest and shalt stand in thy lot to the end of those days let it suffice thee that Jehovah thy Aelohim hath revealed this in thee and done this for thee but the larger pourings out of the Spirit and more signal ownings are reserved for some others yet even this is a special honour and the Glory be to him It is well worthy of an observable Remark in Scripture that besides the stated Ministry the LORD has sent forth special Prophets and Apostles upon urgent occasions Some of these were of another Education and Profession such as †Amos 1. 1. 7. 14 15. Acts 7 42. 15. 15. Amos who had been no Prophet nor Prophets Son but an Herdsman and a Gatherer of Fruit. Thus also * Mat. 4. 18 19 20. the Apostles in Christ's time were some of them poor plain Fishermen Jehovah communicated Himself and his Will unto such in extraordinary Revelations and confirmed their Office by miraculous attests from Heaven In other Instances he has dignified some with such special singular Employs in a Ministry not common †Acts 7. 22. Dan. 1. 4 17. Acts 22. 3 2 Cor. 12. 11. 1 Cor. 14. 18. who were skilled in great variety of Arts and Sciences especially in Scripture-Knowledges in which latter he blessed their Studies and Labours and encouraged their Diligence and Industry So it was with Moses Daniel Paul and others * Jer. 28 8. Luke 1. 70. 11. 50. Act. 3. 21. Prophets there have been in all the Ages of the Church besides the standing Ministry Before Moses there were Adam Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Afterwards there were Moses Joshuah Samuel David Solomon Nathan Gad Elijah Elisha Michajah Esaias Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Zecharias the Father of John the Baptist In the New Testament Simeon Agabus the good Apostles by Name particularly Peter John Paul
to promote a Reformation He dipped all his Children This Mr. Slado her Grandfather had a considerable Estate in England which he sold and purchased somewhat in Ireland he had a numerous Progeny and they most of them have prospered well in this World and divers of them fear the LORD several of them are still living Whilst he lived in the City of Limerick in Ireland the Lecturers were entertained at his House Two of his Daughters were there married to Ministers One Mr. Town who married Gnezri-jah's Mother Shem Acher has heard was a Doctor of Divinity having Preferments in Ireland worth Two hundred pounds by the year he kept seven or eight Servants and well bred up a fruitful Family Her Father according to the Light of that day was zealous against Popery often exposing his Life to danger in defence of the Protestant Religion once the bloody Papists attempted to bury him alive but the LORD delivered him In the Irish Rebellion about forty years ago this Doctor with all his Family were persecuted he left his Estate for the Cause of Christ and after many wonderful deliverances in Ireland and at Sea during that Rebellion several of his Family came for England where the LORD took care of them but now they are scattered into several Countries Yet notwithstanding this just Defence made as to Men some do still go on with their defamings both of Shem Acher and of Gnezri-jah about this Matter who leave their Cause with the righteous Judg who knows how they both for several years have much endeavoured to sweeten the Lives of others and to promote Peace and Purity in the Churches tho ill requited by many whose unkindness have contributed much towards the breaking down of her Constitution and the sore distressing of her Spirit so that it is a wonderful Power and Preservation that both her Husband and she are yet alive What careful Thoughts Shem Acher has had for the Churches of the Holy Separation according to his Capacity Opportunity and Ability is known to the searcher of Hearts and there are some Friends who have been acquainted therewith tho hitherto he has been but little encouraged and cannot effect much but some Testimony thereof he has brought in this way by a Treatise of his published in seventy seven called All in One c. by the Visits which he has given to Sabbath-Churches and that Epistle of Love which he this Year sent to them for a Meâ—ting in London by Messengers for the promoting of such good Work and great Ends as were well worthy for the greatest Princes and ablest Ministers to countenance and prosecute had it been entertained and improved according to its just due value Which Epistle of Love was as followeth Shem Acher a Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ and the Friends in Church-Fellowship with him in London To all the Churches of Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith and the Testimony of Jesus Sendeth a Christian Salutation of Brotherly Love Mercy Grace Love Peace and Blessing be multiplyed to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ WE give thanks to God and the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ who has made known to you and to us his Holy Sabbath and hath so far favoured and honoured us as to use and own our open Confessing and obedient Witnessing of this and of any other Truth and Duty of the present Age whereunto he hath called us forth in his Wisdom and Strength who are but Foolish and Weak in our selves and we earnestly desire you to help together by Prayer with us that both you and we may walk worthy of God who hath thus called us unto his Kingdom and Glory and who has made King Jesus to be Preciousness and Honour to us and his Kingly Law to be Honourable and Glorious in our Esteem Both the Old and New Testament towards the close of each putting us upon a more particular and especial remembrance of Him and of his Law and pronouncing those to be the Blessed Ones who doing his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City There being divers exceeding great and precious Prophecies and Promises relating more peculiarly unto the Revivers and Observers of the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath which shall go a little before the Coming and Appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ in Glory when he will gather in the out-casts of Israel and do his other latter day-Glory-works For there shall be those of such Christian believing Sabbath-keepers who shall build all the old waste places who shall raise up the Foundations from Generation to Generation and who shall be called Menders of Breaches Restorers of Paths to Sabbatize in and the time drawing on Christ's Salvation being at hand to come and his Righteousness to be revealed so that we should look up and lift up our Heads because such our Redemption draweth near We therefore propound this unto your serious Consideration dear Brethren beloved in our LORD that by two or more Messengers from every such Church in England or by Letters and Messages from any of such Churches or of any particular Brethren in Holland New-England or elsewhere we may meet if our LORD will once or oftner upon weighty and urgent occasions and necessities every Year at London or elsewhere at such times as shall be agreed on to keep days of Fasting and of Thanksgiving together by the Prayers of Faith through the Mediation and Intercession of the great Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ to prevail with the Father for larger pourings out of his Spirit upon our selves and upon others for his special presence of Grace with us assisting and blessing of us in all Church-Administrations and at such a general Meeting by Messengers so as that thereby there may be begotten a better Understanding and a more unanimous Accord among our selves a more successful carrying on of Truth Love Peace and Holiness in our Churches a more exact bringing of all the Ordinances of Christ's New Spiritual House to the Laws and Orders of the Prophetical Pattern according to Scripture-Institution and that from cool considerate Conferences there may be given forth right statings of any other Questions that may come before us about which to give our advice mutually to one another by the Rules of the Word of God judging righteous Judgment according unto that without any lording it one over another but in all lowliness of Mind in Humility and Meekness being readily and thankfully made willing to receive further Scripture-Light from any whom our LORD shall use and honour to hold it forth before us and that then and there we may consult which way by a common stock to promote any good work for the maintenance of any Church-Officers for the training up of hopeful young or more aged Men sound and stedfast in the Faith in the Knowledg of the Original Tongue and of other
is not willing to insist upon as being loth to exasperate the Spirits of any concerned imparted it to the Friends in Gospel-Fellowship who upon due consideration and serious deliberation unanimously received her into Church-Communion the healing comforting Effects whereof were quickly felt in her Spirit Soul and Body too through Grace Upon this Case as to the Matter of Right ariseth this Question Whether under these Circumstances either this Sister in so coming off from that former Church or the Church with Shem Acher in so receiving of her have sinned and transgressed the Laws and Rules of Christ That neither she nor they are under Guilt in this Matter Shem Acher and the Friends with him do give these following Scripture-Arguments and Reasons bottomed upon Scripture-Grounds and Testimonies One Argument is drawn from the Principal Efficient Cause of a Church who is Jehovah Aelohim He it is * Psal 100. 3 102. 18. 149 â—2 Isa 43. 1 7 15 21. 44. 2 21 24. 51. 13. 54. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Psal 47. 2. Acts 20. 28. Zech. 2. 8. Rev. 2. 1. Isa 27. 2 3. Deut. 32. 28. Isa 43. 1. 63. 16. Act. 20. 21. Gal. 1. 3. Eph. 5. 25 26 27 29 30. Col. 1. 14. Heb. 13. 20. Rev. 1 5 6 17 18 19 20. 5. 9. 14. 4. Prov. 9. 1. Mat. 16 18 19. Heb. 3. 3 4 6. who createth and maketh a Church He calleth it purchaseth iâ— He feeds it he loves it as the Apple of his Eye He walketh in the midst of it He protecteth it He doth all things for it He dwelleth there He formeth and frameth it He is the Father of it As the Father and his Son and Holy Spirit is thus to his Church so also is Christ the Mediator the Redeemer of his Church its Saviour Deliverer Purchaser Buyer Builder To this Jehovah Aelohim she has * 2 Cor. 8. 5. given up her self which is the Primary Chief and Special Relation on which all higher Church-Communion and Fellowship is firmly and principally founded it is to supersede and over-rule all secondary meaner commoner and subservient Relations on which all lower Brotherly and Sisterly Communion and Fellowship is more remotely subordinately and less principally founded No after-inconsiderate-Obligation to any People can take away a former higher Obligation whereby a right doth accrew to another especially this other being the Supreamest over all The Argument runs thus If Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and Holy Spirit if the LORD Jesus Christ God-Man who is the principal Efficient Cause of his Church who createth it and maketh it c. If he have this way evidently disposed of her where she may most and best honour and enjoy him in all Church-Ordinances and Church-Administrations according to Word-Rule she having thus given up her self to him in a primary chief and special Relation then neither she nor we are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and Holy Spirit the LORD Jesus Christ God-Man who is the Principal Efficient Cause of his Church who createth it and maketh it c. has this way evidently disposed of her where she may most and best honour and enjoy him in all Church-Ordinances and Church-Administrations according to the Word-Rule she having thus given up her self to him in a primary chief and special Relation And Therefore neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter Another drawn from the Instrumental Efficient Cause of the Church of God which is * 1 Pet. 1. 23 24 26. Col. 1. 2 7. Acts 2. 41 47 4. 4. 5. 14. 6. 1 7. 8. 4 12. 9. 31. â—1 21 24. 13 49. 14. 1. 16. 5. 17. 4 12 34. 18. 4 8. 19. 19 20. 20. 28. Mat. 24. 45. Joh. 21. 1â— 16 17. Act. 20 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 3. 1. Heb. 13. 7 17. 1 Pet. 51 5. both sound Doctrine grounded firmly upon the Word and faithfully Preached by which the Church is born and propagated and also the Minister or Ministers of Christ who preach this sound Doctrine and do administer in the Church who do feed the Church who oversee it who watch over it who rule and discipline it who pray for it and such like They argue thus If this Sister have put her self in the same City under such sound Doctrine grounded firmly upon the Word faithfully preached and under such a Ministry which is the instrumental Cause of a Church of Christ where she has wholesome Food more proper and suited to her Cases by which she is better nourished is every way more advantaged more profited better cared and provided for in all Spirituals as to a Church-State-and-Relation for Doctrine Worship Discipline and Conversation having all instituted Ordinances more fitted to her Spiritual State Frame Acting and Appetite her Soul-cases more directly spoken unto there being more of a sweet Spiritual Accord in Principles and other ways between her Spirit and the present Church with whom she walketh which she could not for several years so enjoy in the other Society then neither she nor they are undeâ— Guilt so far in this Matter But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Material Cause * Eph 1. 22. 4. 15 16. 5. 23. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Heb. 2. 15 16 17 18 4. 4. 15 16. Rom. 8 9 11 14. Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. Song of Songs throughout Isa 33. 22. Eph. 5. 23. Joh. 10. 14 Heb. 3 6. 10 21 â—2 or 11. 2. Eph 4 4 15 16. ver 11 12 13. Mat. 11. 20. 28. 18 19 20. The LORD Jesus Christ is the supream Head of his Church the material Cause of the Church of the same Nature partaker of the same Flesh and Blood with all the living Members of his Church made like him in all except Sin the same holy Spirit who is in Christ refideth in the Church and in all and every of the regenerated Members thereof who by this Spirit are united to Christ animated ensouled by this Spirit from this Christ doth flow all Spiritual Life and Motion to his Church he is by far more excellent than the Church he has the Empire and Government over the Church he gives Laws to the Church he is the Saviour of it he doth acknowledg it and is acknowledged by it he is indissolubly united to it by the strongest closest Bond no other besides him is Head of the Church he is the Husband of it he fitly joyns the Members of it together into one Body he doth gift the Church and its Officers he is always present with it having all Authority and Power in Heaven and on Earth given to him for these holy good Purposes It is here thus argued If Christ in all this have so framed inclined and led this Sister and accordingly she have in all this thus submiâ—ted unto Christ in the fittest and
best way where she according to her raised expectation has received more of the Holy Spirit and of influences from Christ as a living Member under this Church as the only Head and as the Supream Material Cause of the Church then neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Christ in all this c. Therefore This was drawn from the Material Cause of the Church Supream A further Argument shall be drawn †1 Cor. 6. 15 12. 27. Eph. 1. 22 23. 4 4 12. 5. 23. 30. Col. 1. 18 24. 2. 19. Joh. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 2. and the Titles of Paul ' s other Epistles to the Churches Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 4. 16. from the inferior Material Cause of a Church of Christ which are the Elect Believers and Saints who are the Members and the Body of Christ and have mutual care of and for one another Communion with one another and are jointly helpful to each other and do faithfully and friendâ—â—y discharge the Gospel Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one anotheâ— such as mutual considering of one another c. It is here thus argued If this Sister have joined her self there in Church-Fellowship with them amongst those whom she charitably hopes may be such living Fellow-Memberâ— in Christ with her more and better suited to her Spirit in such a Church-way of Spiritual Incorporation where she has more freedom and better agreement in her 〈…〉 an more Spiritual Communion more really expressed and acted helpfulness as to Spirituals more enjoyment of the Gospel-Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one another than in that Society where she was before and all this as the Inferior Material Cause of the Church then neither she non they c. But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Formal Cause of a Church of Christ The Formal Cause or Form or * Eph. 4. 3 4. Acts 2. 41 47. 4. 32. 9. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 27. 10 17. 1. 10 11. Phil. 2. 1 5. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. 3. 17. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Eph. 5. 32. that which doth give a spirited Life Being and Motion is the uniting Spirit of the LORD enlivening the Church-Body and that Union of Believers in the Spirit with Christ as the Head and with and another as Fellow-Members of the same Mystical Body The Argument thus presenteth it self to be considered If the Spirit of this Sister in Experience according to the Word both were before Admission and hath been and still is since her Admission amongst such more knit and united by the Holy Spirit in Holy Spiritual Union to Christ and to these Fellow-Members where she has more of spirited Life Being and Motion than when amongst those with whom she walked in Society withal before which was broken off and taken away from her as to the quickness and comfort oâ— it as to the former Church in whose fellowship she could not any longer to any good satisfaction continue and where she had little or no expectation after much proof and long waiting to have it otherwise as the Case was circumstanced she being now made more sensible that her Spirit doth more close with and is more one in Union and Communion with the Spirit of that Church in this Church-way of Ordinances with whom she is joined and all this as the Formal Cause or Form or that which doth give a Spirited Life Being and Motion to a Church then neither she nor they c. But the Spirit of this Sister c. And therefore From the Final Cause a strong Argument may be drawn and its right words are forcible †Isa 43. 7 21. Jer. 13 11. 14. 21 Eph. 5. 26 27. 4. 11 12 13 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 10. 16 17. Luke 12. 32. 1 Cor. 14. 3 26 40. 10. 16 17. 2 Cor. 13. 10 The Final Cause or the great End or Ends for which Jehovah Aelohim has formed his Church and for which Christ gave and delivered up himself in respect of him is his Glory the Honour of his Name in the World that it may be as a Throne of his Glory the purging and cleansing of his Church and People their enjoyment of Spiritual Priviledges and Benefits purchased by the Blood of Christ their nourishing growing more up into and further perfecting in Christ their receiving more of all Spiritual Supplies from Christ their mutual Edification being built up more and more in their most holy Faith their possessing of signed sealed witnessed delivered free gracious Grants from the Father through his Son by his Spirit in the word of his Truth of Grace and at the last their everlasting Happiness in a clear sight and full enjoyment of the Heavenly Glory in his Eternal Kingdom in the better Country In the mean time the giving and receiving of Spiritual Alms Bread and Wine to hungry thirsting Souls as necessary Provision in their Voyage whilst here in the way The Argument is thus formed If this Sister after long Experience and much waiting and earnest Praying could not attain the forementioned Ends of Church-Fellowship in that way wherein she walked before whereas since she passed into Church Communion with others the LORD has graciously given her to enjoy in growing Measures much of these desired Ends and some good Beginnings as she hopes of the filling up of these in the Heavenly Country where she longeth and waiteth prayeth and prepareth to be with her LORD in the most pure and Glorious Church then neither she nor they c. But this Sister after long Experience c. Therefore Two other Arguments may be drawn from the just Right and due Property of this Sister * 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Deut. 18. 6 7 8. The Gifts and Graces and Experiences of all the Faithful Ministers of Christ in the same City especially being one with Christ and his Word in the Faith and Order of the Gospel are a part of every Believers Portion there which they may use as their own especially when actually really more to their Ediâ—â—cation as Providence doth give opportunity From hence it is thus argued If this Sister in this have acted but as her just Right and due Property is to enjoy this part of her Spiritual Portion and if they have but done her Right in granting her what is her own as due unto her then neither she nor they c. But this Sister in this has acted c. Therefore Also from her lawful Liberty This Sister reserved a Liberty if she found in Experience that her continuing there were not to her Satisfaction and Edification that then it should be free to joyn her self to some other Church of the same Faith and Order in the main of 〈◊〉 Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers where she might be more to her Soul-profiting â— and †Rom. 13. 7 8. Prov. 3. 27
him for it is where seriously throughly and discerningly performed one of the most solemn Actions in this World As to a Covenanting with the LORD On the part of Jehovah * Deut. 29. 10 14. 30 1 2 3. 26. 16 19. Ps 110. 3. He sets his Faces before the convinced Sinner who is now about to turn unto him He shews his readiness to pass into a Covenant-State and Relation with the returning Sinner Jehovah makes gracious Offers and precious Promises to such a returning Soul upon certain equal Terms if it voluntarily by his enabling and making willing thereunto choose and approvingly agree to and readily close with those Terms He declares to such a Soul that it will be accursed if it either refuse this Offer or be falshearted in its profession of Assent and Consent to these Terms He raiseth up and establisheth the Soul in some great expectation of receiving some special Good from Jehovah He shews himself forward to take such a Soul to himself and to acknowledg such a one for one of his own peculiar People Jehovah engageth to be a God to such a Soul if the returning Sinner give in the supplies of the Holy Spirit unfeigned Assent and Consent to all this so equal a Proposal so every way for the covenanting Convert's Good He refers this reâ—urning Sinner as to what Jehovah hath spoken to his own Conscience for all this He confirms all these Offers and Promises to such a Soul by Oath Jehovah sits upon the Throne of his Grace expecting an answer from this returning Sinner unto all this On the returning Sinners part This Soul sets it self before the Faces of Jehovah Upon serious deliberation this returning Sinner is by a day of Christ's Power upon it made willingness voluntarily to choose and readily to like all the Terms of this Covenant of Grace This Soul passeth over actually into Covenant with Jehovah and acknowledgeth him for its God This covenanting Soul submits to the justness of the threatning Curse if the Soul be false-hearted unfaithful in this Covenant The Soul is made sensible of Jehovah's great Kindness in making so free and gracious an Offer to it The covenanting Convert doth present give and resign up his whole Self Body Soul and Spirit to this Jehovah to be wholly one of his altogether and only at his Command Will and Disposal The Soul believingly particularly applyeth this Jehovah to it self as its own God in Covenant This Soul takes this Jehovah at his own Saying being well persuaded that his Word so confirmed by his Promise and Oath which are two immutable things is true concerning all this and upon this Word bottometh its Faith and adventureth it Self its Salvation it s All. This covenanting Convert expecteth that Jehovah will make good all this and fulâ—â—l and acomplish it in a Scripture-way as his Word is The Soul is duly humbled under all this going out of it self off from all meer Creatures and away from all dependance on any Duty it doth perform to receive all its Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption from the Father freely through Christ purchasingly by the Holy Spirit in workingly giving all the Glory to Jehovah Aelohim resolving in his Strength to know keep and do all the Words of this Covenant Somewhat of the manner of Spiritual Espousing at that remarkable time of inward Vision and Revelation was thus Shâ—m Acher having a distinct view by an Eye of Faith in a more than ordinary way and manner of the Father as the Father of the Son as the Son of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit did orderly pass being helped from on High thereunto and assisted therein into a distinct mutualness of such solemn Contract between him and every one of these which took up some time in his particular application severally to each from that Scripture Isa 54. 5. Thy Husbands thy Maker Jehovah Aelohim so commending Himself his Beauty his Goodness his every-way Amiableness and Loveliness to Shem Acher's choise so utterly altogehter unworthy of such an unexpressible Favour in such a way of condescending Grace drawing Shem's Heart with such Bands of a Man and such Cords of Love in working and outcalling such answerable Affections from him towards each of them and so knitting and uniting his very Heart and Soul to every one as his Tongue cannot utter the whole of he had rather leave the rest to the admiring Meditations of experienced Believers who have in any good growing measures felt and enjoyed the same than to expose any more of this at present to publick view Only so it was that Jehovah himself approved of what then passed between him and Shem the sealing witness whereof was never wholly withdrawn since that time to this day but still abides and lives there tho he have been exercised with many humbling Providences buffeting Temptations boistrous Corruptions blasphemous Suggestions and distressing Cases since that signal Honour The LORD hath since that Contract all along provided for Shem as for one wedded to him and the espousing knot between them is declared indissoluble He doth not by this say that the LORD was never graciously at work upon his Heart before for he has brought in some other Testimonies for that in some choice Experiences before this more eminent Favour and Honour tho for several years in his younger time the work were more from a Spirit of Bondage to Fear as has also been expressed one time more especially when upon Fasting and Prayer as he remembers being under the Terrors of the LORD he was summoned to appear before the Bar of God's Justice to answer unto such Charges as were to be brought in against him which were so many so heinous and criminal that seeing himself before the actual passing of the Sentence condemned in the Court of the transgressed Law in the Court of Divine Justice and in the Court of his own guilty Conscience he was close and home put unto it Whether he would submit to the Sentence of the Judg were it for everlasting Condemnation by an Act of Justice or for Eternal Salvation by an Act of Grace and Mercy and whether he would acknowledg God to be just and righteous therein if he should condemn him by an irreversible Sentence to be deservedly miserable Those whoever were thus exercised cannot but apprehend what Horrours and Fears did now surprize and overwhelm Shem Acher yet was it not long before the Holy Spirit framed him to such a submission and acknowledgment which with Tears and broken Language he expressed and declared and so threw himself all along with his Mouth in the Dust as at the Feet of his Judg not knowing at first whether he should be struck dead and damned upon the place or not But the LORD quickly after pronouncing how justly Shem had deserved to be cursed for ever yet that Christ was made a Curse for him and presently an Act of Grace in the free and full forgiveness of his many and great
Sins was drawn up signed sealed and delivered received applyed and witnessed to his Soul the Crown of all be on the Head of the free Forgiver since which signal Pardon Shem has not that he remembers had almost any considerable fears of Hell at all to speak of at any time upon him Thus there is * Mat 18. 1 2 3 4. Luke 22. 31 32. Conversion after Conversion In all which Relation concerning his Conversion Covenanting Espousing to and with Jehovah Aelohim he doth not impose his Experiences as a Rule for others to measure the Truth and Soundness of their turning to the LORD by in all and every of the parts degrees and Circumstances of them provided that their Conversion be indeed true and serious sound and sincere according to Word-warrant and approbation it highly concerns them to see well to this and duly to examine themselves by Scripture-Rules about it that they do not deceive themselves If further Evidence be called for he can add these comprehensive Particulars That †Eccles 9 3. Gen 6. 5. Rom. 1 30. Mat. 15. 18 19 20. Mark 7. 21 22 23. there is no one Sin in the Seed of it in corrupt Nature or in the Thought of it at least in the Imagination which ever any of the Sons or Daughters of Adam on Earth or in Hell for the kind of it either thought spake or did recorded in the Word or communicated to him by the voluntary Confession of others which he has not had both some sight of some sense of and some hatred of yea some ways worse than ever he yet read or heard of by inventing of such evil things in the Phancy as he doth not know any other Man or Woman in the World did ever contrive This Universal both Original and Natural Corruption which has so defiled his whole Man in all and every of the parts of it being so direct a Contrariety and Enmity to and against that Holiness and Righteousness which is in God and in his Law having been Shem's Burden both Night and Day for many a long Year * Rom. 7. 17 25. 8. 2 3. 13. 14. 4. throughout 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. Dan. 9. 24. Rom. 3. 19 20 26 Isa 45. 24. Rev. 19. 8. Luke 7. 47. 1 Joh. 1. 9. Col. 2. 13. Isa 38. 17. Mic. 7. 18 19. Psal 103. 12. Isa 43. 25. Psal 32. 1 -5. Rom. 1. 17. Isa 45. 25. Jer. 23. 6. Tho he doth thank God through Christ Jesus his LORD that the Perfect and All sufficient Sanctification of Christ's Humane Nature and the through and perfect Obedience performed by Christ in the whole Course of his Life whilst conversant amongst-Men here on Earth is imputed unto him for Justification in the presence of God and has been so imputed he by Faith putting on the LORD Jesus Christ and being cloathed with his Righteousness whereby his Sins have been forgiven cast behind Jehovah's Back into the bottom of the Sea passed by forgotten and blotted out and not imputed Jehovah Christ being his Righteousness in which he doth stand righteous before the Judgment Seat of God That he knows not any one Saint either on Earth or in Heaven so far as we have Scripture-Records of these in the Word who experienced either edifying Gift or sanctifying Grace or priviledged Enjoyment or useful Serviceableness and such like which he doth not heartily approve of and which more or less he hath not both holily with submission †2 Cor. 5. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum Ambitione contendimus we ambitiously endeavour aspired after and some ways so far as he is concerned in his Place and Calling had some workings about it and by improving of Mystical Membership applied as his own That he knows nothing either in a whole Christ or in the whole Word of Christ of Holiness or of Righteousness which he would not have an universal growing Knowledg of and Conformity and Obedience to in all things in his whole Man That all these have been carried on for several years by a very sharp Contest and continued Conflict within more especially against the universal Corruption of his Nature which has very slily and sometimes fiercely assaulted him yet so as that tho there have been many a Foil and Fall in some particular Combates yet that the Issue of the Fights have been Victories Spoils and Triumphings This humble ingenuous Confession Shem Acher doth freely make of those secret Sins which no Man alive can so charge upon him which is one part of his Evidence whereby he doth conform to Christ's Mind * Ezek. 43. 10 11. Lev 5. 5 6. 22. 1 2 3 7. Prov. 28. 13. 1 Joh. 1. 9 10. Psal 32. 1â— 5. 1 â—im 1. 13. 1 Joh. 3. 21. 4. 17. Heb. 4. 16. in his Word where it is required where Promises are made to it where Examples are recorded of it and which will give him the more boldness in the Day of Judgment before the LORD the righteous Judg and before Angels and Men. For these Considerations have brought his Spirit to this self-shaming acknowledgment so that he can die with the more Peace of God in his Conscience when the Hour shall come That the LORD hath graciously in some ascending degree manifested to him and revealed in him that inward Mystery of a †1 Thess 5. 23. Joh. 3. 3. 4 5 6 7 8. Ezek. â—6 26 27. 1 Cor. 2. 10 16. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 5. 16 17 -25. Rom. 8. 1 -27. Eph. 2. 10 4. 4 5 6 15 16 22 23 24. 2 Pet. 1 3 4. New-Creature-Spirit in his regenerate State in Christ as distinct by a New Creation from his own natural constitutive Essential parts as a Man and from the Holy Spirit who was is the begetter of it by the immortal Seed of the Word and as contrary to that Evil Spirit Satan and to the Spirit of the World it being of that same Spirit which Christ as Mediatoral Head received without measure and is one of the highest Advances of a Believer in a growing and withal an humble frame to partake of the Divine Nature That * 1 Cor. 15. 10. Gal. 2. 20. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 1 Joh. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 13. 14. the Steps and Degrees of this Spiritual Growth have been more and more out of corrupt self off from idolized Creatures away from Duty-dependances into more and more of a State of Grace through and by that into a Life of and in Christ and through and by him into a Distinctness and Orderliness of Communion with the Father as the Father with the Son as the Son and with the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit and thence into a more raised Communion with Jehovah himself That all through †Gal. 1. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paul went to Jerusalem to visit Peter so to visit him as that he might know from him or declare to him the History oâ— Persons and of things especially of
Church Affairs Thus â—aâ— Shem Acher given the History of his Life of his Call to the Ministry of his perfecting of Baptism of his Conversion of his Evidences of Grace of his Church-Affairs and somewhat of an History of some others who have opposed him this Historical Narrative he blesseth Jehovah Aelohim that still more or less he has been pressing onward and going forward as the growing-Light of his Age has been not declining nor going backward in Principle excepting somewhat in that void space of his time at the University but getting upward to come at the top of all having many a contrivement and endeavour to promote the greatest and the best Ends particularly those that do relate to the latter-day-Glory which in all the kinds and degrees thereof he knows not to have been so in the Heart and Mind of the most eminent Believer and excelling Saint alive on this Earth â— having been for many years through Grace and Mercy obtained from his LORD Shem Acher's State Frame and Acting to come up in some answering growing proportionedness to all the requirements of Christ's Mind and Will in the whole Scriptures that he might be a Man after Christ's own Heart who enabled thereunto by the Holy Spirit might fulfil all Christ's Wills Acts 13. 22. and might so serve his own Generation by the Will of God before he fall on sleep ver 36. standing perfect and compleat or filled up in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. Heb. 6. 1 2. and so may be able in some good measure to answer these Questions of his LORD and Judg What dost thou more Mat. 5. 47 48. what excelling what exceeding thing wherein goest thou beyond others What Grace what Grace what Grace which the English Version doth translate three times what Thank hast thou Luke 6. 32 33 34. that according to that Promise For so it should be rendred in the Future Tense ye shall therefore be Perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 pl. future 1 Indic ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sum Mat. 5. 48. he may be still at perfecting work as his Father who is in Heaven is perfect tho still he carry upon is Spirit and Heart a living Sence of somewhat wanting as to higher degrees yet he would in every thing be and do somewhat that doth excel Psal 16. 3. If any after all this will say That they have now one Charge more against Shem Acher than they had before in that he has so compared himself with Paul thereby ministring to the Pride and Selfishness of his own Heart Such should know and consider That as he must after a while give an account of his writing of this Narrative and of his Aims and Ends in so writing so also must they of their Judgings and Condemnings of Christ's Servant who has for many years been exercised with very humbling Providences and Cases to keep him lowly after the LORD's signal honourings of him As for his running Parallel with Paul the Title-Page in propounding of Paul for an example doth expresly give the Preheminence unto Paul and no farther use the comparing than as it doth run Parallel There is no difference between the highest and the lowest Saint but what the Grace of God has made and an †1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 21. 1 Joh. 2. 6. 4. 17. higher and incomparabler Example than that of Paul should every Believer especially every Minister be conformed unto even that of the LORD Jesus Christ himself Had there not been so many years Attempts and Endeavours by some to blast the Call of Shem Acher and thereby to hinder the Success of his Ministry to the troubling the Minds and discouraging the Hearts of several who were hopefully coming on towards Christ in his ways he had intended to have lodged this Historical Declaration within him and when he had died away into Glory to have made report of it to Heavenly Fellow-Citizens which then and there would have been more cleared up in divers Circumstances of it and in many more Particulars than are here mentioned Duty and Sin do stand sometimes within an Hairs Breadth one by another That may look like a Sin which is a Duty and like a Duty which is a Sin If others will count and censure this as Vain-glory in him it is known to many that he has been necessitated unto it The Searcher of Hearts doth know that Shem Acher hath been made willing that the Glory of these Holy Experiences and signal Honours should be ascribed in every part and in the whole of it unto Jehovah Aelohim whose rich Grace and free Love has been in all this unsearchably Rich and exceedingly Abundant This is that * Lev. 23. 37. 1 King 8. 59. 2 Chron. 8. 14. Ezra 3. 4. Eccles 3. 11. Word of the Day in the Day thereof which was brought upon his Spirit to declare unto others it being self-evident unto him that the LORD has put a Beauty upon this in thus timing of it in its own proper season the whole whereof is now delivered over unto the Holy Spirit to work this History and the choise experiences therein upon their Hearts into whose Hands before whose Eyes or unto whose Ears it may come as is good in his Sight and all is submitted to †Deut. 1. 16 17. Isa 8. 20. Joh. 7. 24. Scripture-Counsel-Number-Measure-and-Weight to Word-Rule-Tryal-Judgment-and-Determination By a Lover and Admirer of Christ and of his Word and Works * Col. 4. 18. 1 Cor 16. 21. 2 Thess 3. 17. Shem Acher POSTSCRIPT SHem Acher having been by a private Letter to a near and dear Friend advertised that he is at least by the strong jealousy of one or more suspected if not down-right charged and this before the Historical Declaration is Printed and Published to be guilty of two Evils the one of striving for Supremacy the other of not walking according to Gospel-Order and both these in reference to that part of the Narrative about receiving of a Member in some Cases out of one Church in the same City into another Church of the same City in the main of the same Gospel-Faith and Order Shem therefore to prevent or else remedy and remove any misapprehensions that may fill the Hearts and Minds of any Reader as also any stumbling-Blocks at which some unwary walkers may be offended doth openly and freely declare that as to the first of these which is striving for Supremacy tho the Seed of this as of every other Evil is in his Heart as in the Heart of every Son and Daughter of Adam as our Nature is corrupted which he doth apprehend was one of the first Sins both of the Apostate Angels and of Fallen Adam 1 Tim. 3. 6. Gen. 3. 5 22. For both the one and the other affected a Superiority and Self-Exaltation above and beyond that which was their Primitive conâ—reated Excellency he doth now upon this occasion publish to all those into whose Hands this Paper shall come