and accordingly delivered in our Paper which was read by the Brother aforementioned though it was so late before he began that there was hardly time to read it thorough by day-light much less to debate it and open the Scriptures therein however before we departed they made us a promise that We should have full liberty another time to read it our selves deliberately and debate it with the Scriptures laid down for proof of what was there asserted We also promised them to come whensoever they should desire it And so We departed for that time continuing with one accord together in prayer and supplication expecting to hear from them according to promise but contrary hereunto in some Weeks after they sent for several Pastors and Members out of other Congregations without our consent to receive their Advice how to deal with us Their Names are as followeth Mr. Cockayn Mr. Jackson Mr. Roberts Mr. Jessey Mr. Hubbard Mr. Isles Mr. Knowles Mr. Highland Mr. Bradshaw Mr. Jacksen Chir. Mr Woolaston Mr. Barebone Mr. Taylor Having knowledge of this Meeting thorough the report of others We did appoint a time to seek the Lord to consider what might be our duty how far we should appear therein or whether we should appear or not and at last came to this issue That we should appoint several Brethren in the Name of the whole to go unto those Brethren above mentioned when they should meet with the other part of the Congregation and acquaint them with the Grounds and Reasons why we could not own them in the Work they were come about The Reasons are these 1 1. They meaning those from whom we were withdrawn had not performed their promise to us having declared when We were last vvith them That the Paper presented should be debated in the Church according to the Scriptures there inserted Which hath not yet been done though We promised to be with them whensoever they would send for us about it 2 2. We see no rule in Scripture that any Brethren from any Churches or others should be sent for to debate our Paper before it had been debated in the Church amongst us and the Scriptures in the Margent opened 3 3. We conceive it had been meet according to Scripture that We the Brethren and Sisters differing from them should have had cognizance and approbation of the persons so nominated to debate the matter in difference 4 4. Whether they have taken the consent of the h We would not be understood by these two Queries as if we did judge that in extraordinary cales particular Brethren out of Churches might not be sent for without the consent of their respective congregations to determine a Church-difference there being onely one occasional practice by the Church at Antioch to Jerusalem Act. 15 2. But that which we chiefly aim at as by the third and the close of the fifth Query will appear was their sending without our consent in the Name of the church when we our selves were a part likewise there was several persons there against whom we had just exceptions if it had then been meet to speak of it Moreover their case was ordinary not difficult to them for that most of the churches in the city more or less seem to us guilty of the same transgression and therefore we apprehend that such a practice was more binding to them then to us as our case at this time stands otherwise we desire to keepe strictly to every primitive practice that hath any such instructions for us Churches for the choice of those Brethren they have sent for If not What Scripture Rule they have to do so 5 5. Whether such a practise doth not savour of an arbitrary spirit amongst men much more among the Churches of Christ in calling several Brethren without the consent of the Churches to whom they belong which We cannot own lest we should betray the cause of Christ for which we contend into the hands of a few which will be a bad president for other Churches for the time to come The said Queries being laid before the Brethren aforementioned did so prevail with them as they not onely judged it unmeet but did wholly refuse to meddle with the matter in difference as the case then stood declaring It was but reasonable We should have a free debate of our Paper in the Congregation according to promise before any other means be used and so they departed for that time Within a short time after this a day and time was agreed upon between us and the other part of the Congregation from whom we were withdrawn to seek the Lord together and then to proceed to the debate of our Paper though that vvhich provoked them hereunto as We conceive was from the refusal of those Brethren they sent for to meddle therein as the case stood rather then their ovvn voluntary act But the day appointed being come the fore-part of it vvas spent in prayer opening our hearts before the Lord and each other hereby hoping such a spirit might be sound both in them and us as the debate would have been to the glory of God and the discovery of truth on either side but instead thereof so many grating expressions both in prayer and speaking vvere uttered by Mr. Sympson against us as vvas to the grief of most of us and the indisposing of some in a great measure unto the Work We were met about However about two in the Afternoon we proceeded to the debate of our Paper with some reasonable liberty though commonly interrupted by Mr. Sympson who when any thing came close upon the Souldiers would frequently be speaking in excusing of them and condemning us In the close of the day having got through our Paper We desired to have the result of the Congregation Whether by what was laid before them they did not judge the Souldiers to be guilty of those sins laid to their charge by us Whereupon Mr. Sympson stood up and spake in Words to this effect That he looked upon us as such who had made a rent in the Church and that there was a mark set upon us by the Holy Spirit being such as had made i We desire that Scripture Rom. 16.17 18. may be considered where those words spoken by Mr. Sympson are laid down and it will appear the Apostle was speaking of such persons as we are now separated from to wit such as serve not the Lord Jesus but their own bellies May we not truly say That worldy interest and self-advantage hath been the ground and root of this apostacy wherein the Souldiers are chief and to palliate so great wickedness are not good words and fair speeches the cover by which they deceive the hearts of the simple and give us leave humbly to ask what belly-advantage have we thereby Do we not rather hazard all that is near and dear unto us yea we are become the reproach of most professors having much evil laid to our charge through we trust
guilty of the great iniquity of this day which hath brought so great reproach unto the Name of the Lord even through the World but instead of inquiring and smiting upon the thigh saying What have I done your practice doth demonstrate that you say You have well done Further We desire you to remember That the same Evening after the debate our Paper the whole Church being there We desired their result to wit Whether our brethren the Souldiers by what was offered were not in a great measure guilty of she evil laid to their charge Whereupon our Brother Sympson spake to this purpose That the holy spirit had set a mark upon us for such as had made division and therfore declared that we were not persons fit to have a vote amongst them neither should there by any vote had there unless we would depart Which words though we cannot say he spake in the Name of the Church yet we are sure the major part were n It is the great fault of Church-members and other professors in this day and much discovers their darkness that they approve their hearts no more to God but are so much led whether right or wrong as their Pastor or some eminent member or person among them steers their course which low carnal frame of spirit the more the spirit of the Lord is poured forth will not onely stink in the Nostrils of his faithful people but be condemned and dye for the true spirit doth so redeem those who have it from the fear and favour of man to God as they will follow no man nor things let their pretence be never so high and glorious further then they follow and are for Christ according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 1â— 1 so silent that notwithstanding he spake so unadvisedly there was little spoken against it so that for peace sake it was judge meet to depart at that time without the result of the Congregation Next after this several Brethren in the Name of the whole withdrawn from you were sent to London-house to desire That since you would not admit us to have a vote with you we might by your selves have the sense of Paper to wit that which was first given in but you wholly refused to give us a hearing of what we had to say Since which several Brethren in the Name of the Whole were sent to Allhallows upon a first day in the Afternoon after breaking of bread to know your sense Whether those Words spoken by our Brother Sympson to wit That we were marked by the holy spirit for such as had made a rent in the Church and that he admonished us of our evil therein in their namo Likewise whether by their vote of communion with the Souldiers this were not to be taken into the vote to wit notwithstanding the evil laid to their charge to the former they said They did not remember any admention but to the latter your Brother Sympson said That we might know their mind by their practice to which they were generally silent none contradicting what our Brother Sympson had spoken whereupon those brethren took their leave and departed out of the Vestrey for the Message vvas only delivered to the brethren being fifty or sixty in number or thereabouts it not being thought meet so speak in publike first because many strangers were present Secondly We did desire to order it as might make most for peace After this upon further inquiry what our duty was yet to do notwithstanding so much means used to provoke you to jeanlousie and no fruit of it but hardness of heart and a further closing in with the present evil by your continued practise There were several Letters of our brother Sympsons presented to us Dated from Windsor Castle when he was a prisoner there it being judged that the Lord was eminently present with him as by the said Letters will appear Which Letters being read among us the Lord was pleased so generally to melt out hearts in the sense of that spirit of truth We judged then to be breathing in him but his present frame of heart compared with what it was then seeming to us as contrary as light to darkness It was thereupon concluded as a duty incumbent upon us to appoint several brethren in the Name of the Whole to take those Letters and in love and meekness to read them to our said brother to the end that if the Lord so please he might thereby consider from whence he is fallen and do his first works hoping also that he might thereby be brought to consider whether he had not missed of the Will of God in endeavouring not onely to excuse but as We judge to countenance our brethren the Souldiers in their evil Way But oh that which We desire to mention with grief and sorrow of heart instead of receiving us in love as We came unto him and giving us leave to open our hearts before him he absolutely refused not onely to pray with those brethren sent by us but also to entertain them in our Name as brethren or to admit any conference with them upon that account in regard that we were by him admonished in the Name of the Church of our evil in making a rent and division as he said And since that he said they had waited upon us to see if we would return and repent but we not returing they looked upon us as Heathens and Publicant and that he did so look upon us also And for the letters they were directed to the Church meaning your selves without us and that if they had any thing to question him about'them he would make answer unto them Vnto which this Answer in general was made That We humbly thought he spake an untruth in that We could not remember there was ever any such Admonition given us as yet much less had We any account that We vvere esteemed no other then Heathens and Publicans After the Brethren sent by us to him departed being much grieved that our love should be so returned upon us but so it was the Lord lay it not to his charge if it be his Will upon further seeking to the Lord what was our next Work it was thought meet That as We had been a long time waiting upon you by patience and much long-suffering as We judge our Weakness excepted having laid the sin of our Brethren before you by our selves and of your own evil in abetting them some more and some less but instead of returning from your evil you have fallen in with it more directly in o It seems they were not contented with their first vote in declaring communion with the Souldiers notwithstanding their evil though at our first coming off they disowned that by saying That they did onely declare a continuance of communion with them as Souldiers without respect to the evil laid no their charge But by revoteing communion with them they have plainly declared the evil laid to their charge to be no evil and so
comply with our Brethren lying under these sins be not a breach of the bond of love according to that in the Corinths Love rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth And whether it be the union and wisdom of the spirit to hold the bond of peace without purity according to that in James 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable c. So that our present practise seems unto us to be a pressing after that Grace of love in its true end according to the Scripture yea it is counted by the Lord a hating of our brother to see sin upon him and not to admonish him Lev. 19.17 and to withdraw from him in cafe that Admonition bring him not to such an acknowledgement of his sinne as to forsake it 9 9. Whether it be sufficient to excuse us at the great day of the Lord d The occasion of this query did arise from the great outcry made against us by the generality of them charging us with Schism and making division in the Church when our Lord saith that offenees will come but wo be to those by whom they do come And whether the crying evil of the Souldiers hath not justly given offence and Mr. Simpson and some others chiefly abetting of them hath not also added thereunto we leave unto the upright in heart to judge and whether it be not a popish principle and also they do not hereby condemn their own practice in seperating from the National church so called of England in saying There is no withdrawing from a Brother walking disorderly because the maior part of a congregation falls in with them And is it not the argument of the Church of Rome at this day who say we do withdraw from the Mother-church because the grand apostacy first sprang from a true Church in home who in number have all along been the maior part that Wee did cry out The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we when at the same time it will appeare that wee have those amongst us who do defile the Temple of the Lord to the view of the World for the Temple of God is holy and that you should rejoice in such defilement surely all such rejoycing is not good And whether our Lord Jesus by the Evangelist John doth not charge five of the seven Churches in the Revelation for complying with sin yea one of them for their lukewarmness is threatned to be spued out of his mouth as being a Church onely in Name and not in deed and one of the other two to wit Smyrna hath no sin laid to their charge but are exhorted to be faithful unto death and they shall receive a Crown of life for the Devil would cast some of them into prison Now we suppose that the Devil there it taken for some of his Instruments which makes out That their testimony was of such a publike nature that the power in being would take hold of them and yet it cannot be supposed but that they had their sins of weakness though nothing is laid to their charge in regard of their faithfulness to some present Truth 10 10. Whether sin in a Church of Christ we mean sinnes of scandal be not more dishonourable e If the incestuous persons sin or two or three Brethren committing the same or other sins be dishonorable to God then surely if the church whose duty it is to reprove cast out such from amongst them Matth. 18 17. com with 1 Cor. 5.13 should either be guilty of the same or own them that are so their sin would be so much more But to come more home to our present case see Numb chap. 14. chap. 16. where the lesser part of the congregation to wit Moses Aaron Caleb and Ioshua who were pressing on from Egypt to Canaan the work of God in that generation were counted faithful owned by him for that very cause but the greater part of the conregation who said Let us make a captain and return into Aegypt and would have stoned Moses and Aaron c. their sin was so dishonorable to God and did so provoke the eyes of his glory that their carkasses must fall and not see the good Land they were going into yea and their children after them wander in the Wilderness forty years And in Numb 16. The sin of the greater part of the congregation in joyning with Korah and the renowned men amongst them in opposition to the Spirit of the Lord in Moses c. upon the forementioned account see verse 13 14 was like wise so abominable in his fight that he bid Moses and Aaron ver 21 24 26. Separ te from them and also speak to the congregation to depart from the Tents of those wicked men and touch nothing of thews lest they be consumed in all their sins Then surely the wickedness of them in Power who have indeed made a Captain and are gone back to Aegypt and those that uphold them whilest they oppose and persecute the Lords spirit in his little Remnant who are pressing from Monarchy and Tyranny towards the promised Zion and Kingdom of Christ the work of God in this generation doth equal if not exceed the sin of that congregation of Korah his company it is as great an evil to touch with them or receive any of their things upon that account as dishonorable to God to stand by uphold them therein or for Churches or others to own them that do so as it was to have countenanced upheld or touch't with Korah and his company in that day to God then the like in a private brother or two or three Brethren And how can we be said to withdraw from every Brother that walks disorderly when we quietly sit down with the Church that owns them in their sin as we conceive and do break bread with and prophesie amongst them for we cannot see how this will hold before the Lord when we are to avoid every appearance of evil 11 11. Whether to acquiess in the judgement of a Church concerning sin though a restimony have been born against it be not something of the reliques of the man of sin and in process of time may not bring us under this Maxime To believe as the Church believes though we ought to be very tender and careful how we proceed in such a business that we be upright in heart before the Lord earnestly seeking to him for direction and counsel 12 12. Whether our Brethren that wear the Sword are not to be charged with Schism making a rent in the Church having through their just offence given to many Brethren and Sisters in the Congregation and many other choice Saints in the Nation made division amongst us and as we hear several others standing in the like quality with them have been f There was a mistake about the Souldiers mentionend in this query as cast our of two Congregations in VVales for so soon
it shall appear that it is groundlesly division and therefore we should have no vote with them neither should there be any vote in the Church except we would withdraw Which not a little grieved our spirits But notwithstanding so foul an aspersion we made little reply but waited to heare what others would say but a general silence continuing we concluded that the major part were of his mind Whereupon we departed and waited patiently for some time to see whether they would send us their thoughts about the Souldiers since they would not let us have a vote with them and least if should be laid aside which Mr. Sympson endeavoured all along to do We did by Messengers remind them several times likewise to know whether those Words then spoken by Mr. Sympson were the sense of the whole which they disown'd as being Mr. Sympsons Words alone but to the other We could get no return to this day as by our next Paper given in to them doth more at large appear Likewise before the delivery of the ensuing Paper having spent some particular time to seek the Lord for direction and counsel and also to enquire into his Will at this time it was judged a duty incumbent upon us to go to our Brother Sympson lay his evil before him in abetting the Souldiers and declining the Testimony of Christ he had suffered for in Windsor Castle as by several Letters from thence being read amongst us did appear some Copies whereof the Reader may peruse in the close of this Book and accordingly six Brethren in the Name of the whole were sent unto him and with all humility to intreat his hearing of what by them we had to say which accordingly they did but how unkindly they were received will appear by the eusuing Narrative being the substance of what then passed between him and them The 11th of the 9th Month 1656. A briefe account of some Passages between our Brother Sympson and the Brethren appointed by us to meet with him about some Letters he wrote to the Congreation during the time of his imprisonment in Windsor Castle it being apprehended he is very much fallen from the truths therein laid down to the great dishonour of the Gospel and the grief of many of the faithful in this day THE six Brethren appointed to this Work met at a Brothers House in Coloman-street the day abovementioned about two in the Afternoon to commend their present Work unto the Lord and desire his blessing upon them therein and then made their repair to our Brother Sympson where after a little waiting for the coming of our Brothers Shrimpton and Marsh who desired as the Brethren were informed to hear what should pass in relation to the Letters This motion was also made by Brother Powell being also present That before any progress be made there might be a word put up to the Lord for a blessing To which end another brother made answer That it would be necessary the naked ground of their coming should be first laid down that we might pray with understanding Which being done the Brethren sent by us declared their readiness to joyne therein Hereupon one of the Brethren proceeded to declare the ground of their coming to this effect That several of our Brother Sympsons Letters from Windsor Castle being presented to several Brethren who met at our Brother Caryes house intentionally upon another account but those Letters intervening we spent our time in perusing them which in the reading did so work upon their hearts that they throught meet to present unto the Brethren Sisters in whose Name they were then come the said Letters and to offer Whether some Brethren should not be chosen in the Name of the rest humbly to lay the matter contained in them before him that if it were the Will of the Lord he might be convinced wherein and how far he had declined the Cause and Interest of our Lord Jesus and be provoked to that old Spirit of Life and Zeal in testifying to so glorious a Cause and accordingly upon reading of them we were of one heart that the Brethren aforementioned in the Name of the whole be desired to lay them before him with as much love tenderness as could be and that we were also reproved in our own spirits as having missed of the Will of the Lord that we had it no more upon our hearts to beg mercy for him at the Throne of Grace that the Lord would restore unto him that primitive spirit for the cause of Christ that many of our hearts were broken on his behalf at the reading of his Letters After an account thus given it was offered that a Word should be spoken to the Lord in prayer before any discourse should be Our Brother Sympson then spake to this effect That having had some knowledge of their coming from some of us and the occasion of their coming from some others before their meeting here he had privately commended the business they were come about unto the Lord as he did suppose they also had done likewise he judged that if any of them should speak unto the Lord in prayer he could not freely joyne with them so neither if he should speak there might be that spoken wherein they could not freely joyn with him which being pre-considered be judged it most convenient to proceed to the work without prayer and thereupon spake further to this purpose That since they profest they had in all plainness declared the ground of their coming he would give them as plain an Answer which that he might the better do he should lay down his Answer under three heads 1. As to themselves and those whom they represented 2. As to the Church meaning those with whom he walked 3. As to the Letters about which our Brethren came As to the first They were to know that he could not have discoursed with them in regard that the Church had dealt with us and not onely declared their dissatisfaction of our withdrawing from them but also that he had in the Name of the Church admonished us of our evil therein that they had waited upon us a great while to the end we might repent and return but we persisting in our sin and refusing to hear the Church we were thereby cut off from the priviledges of the Church and therefore he could not look upon us as Brethren but as heathens and publicans and so to refuse discourse with them upon account of the Brotherhood according to that in Matth 18. Which though they might look upon as very harsh and a manifestation of little love yet it being the Rule of Christ in the Gospel he therefore was not to dispute the reason of it but rather to judge That obedience to the commands of Christ in this as well as in other things is the only rule of love and therefore did declare That the Church having so proceeded against us he could not entertain any debate with
them about those Letters Which brought in the third Head to which he spake to this effect That the Letters about which they came were directed to the Church meaning those with whom he walked and if he had written any thing therein contrary to sound dectrine or otherwise he must appeal unto the Church as Paul did from Agrippa to Caesar and if the Church thought meet upon perusal to call him to an account for any thing therein he should be ready to answer it before them but he could not give way to the debating of them by our Brethren for the reasons aforementioned besides he could not in this case bring himself under the judgement of his adversaries or Words to that purpose and thereby also give away the priviledges of the Church into the hands of such whom according to the Rule of the Gospel be must look upon as Heathens and Publicans but if they or any other would come in their own k Mr. Sympson did not mean by coming in our own Name to receive us as Brethren but as Heathens and Publicans Name he should be ready to discourse with them yet herein it was to be weighed whether the Church would give away so much of their priviledge as that any Letters directed to them should be questioned by any person without their consent at least After this our Brother Cary one of the six said It was somewhat strange to him that he could so considently assert an untruth to wit That we should lye under the Admonition of the Church when there was never any Admonition from those Brethren and Sisters from whom we were withdrawn much less from the Church Which the said Brother further made out thus That himself with some other Brethren were appointed in the Name of the Whole to go to the other part of the Congregation from whom We were withdrawn who went to Allhallows and met with a considerable number of those Brethren in the Vestrey to know of them Whether those Words spoken by Mr. Sympson that day our Paper was debated to wit That the Holy Spirit had set a mark upon us for such as had made division were the sense of the whole with them To which they answered It was not theirs and Mr. Sympson also said They were his own words After this our Brother Cary was silent and then our Brothers Marsh Shrimpton and Powell being present as aforsaid said They never remembred any such Admonition Mr. Sympson said It was so which he endeavoured to make out thus That the Brethren who were entrusted with the Government of the Church did agree that we should be admonished as having sinned in leaving the Congregation and turning out backs upon the Ordinances of Christ and that they had committed it to him to declare the same which he did at that time when brought in our paper containing the grounds of our withdrawing through at that time we were not admitted to read them the Church not disowning of it he looked upon it as an admonition of the Church After this other of our Brethren spake in few Words to this purpose That they were come as brethren and they hoped in much love and singleness of heart to discourse with him and to have laid down wherein we judged he had missed of the Will of God and declined the Cause of our Lord Christ comparing the present frame of heart he is in with what it was when he lay a prisoner in Windsor Castle when they could not but look upon him as having an excellent spirit for Christ but since he did refuse they would turn unto the Lord who would hear and mourn for him And so those Brethren departed returning the said account unto us Being thus unkindly yea may We not say unchristianly entertained by Mr. Sympson We still continued vvaiting upon the Lord in our estate of vvithdrawing our spirits being grieved by this carriage of his And after some time seeking the Lord and enquiring into his mind and Will We came to this conclusion as a present duty lying before us That in regard We did find no repentance in the Souldiers but rather hardness of heart as also Mr. Sympson hardened in his evil in excusing and abetting of them vvhich encouraged others to do the like and the rest vvho vvere some vvhat sensible of the evil amongst them much darkned in their understandings by reason thereof We should unanimously go unto them and lay before the Souldiers their ovvn evil and the evil of the rest as abetting of them in their degree and to admonish them in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ vvith as much brotherly love as the Lord should help us And that We might have the greater avve of the Lord upon our souls and be more orderly in this Work vve did agree to send unto the Brethren hereafter mentioned to intreat them in brotherly love and for the glory of God to accompany us as Witnesses therein vvhich was accordingly done and persons chosen from amongst us to speak unto them The Names of the brethren sent unto are these Mr. Cann Mr. Clark Col. Danvers Mr. Bland Mr. Barbone Mr. Waters Mr. Squibb Mr. Luxford Mr. Barret Mr. Ireten Having given notice to the other part of the Congregation the VVeek before our coming That vve intended upon the next first day after to come offer something to them All these brethren except Mr. Barbone who vvas not vvell being members of other Congregations and Societies came according to our request and accompanyed us to Lodon house upon the said first day of the VVeek in the Afternoon vvhere being come the said brethren vvere not vvillingly admitted but after our coming in vvith them one of our brethren stood up to acquaint them with the occasion of our coming at this time but Mr. Sympson and two or three more speaking together very confusedly cryed out No no we should not speake except those Brethren that came along with us would depart To which answer was made That we desired their company to testifie to the Truth of vvhat we had to say And then the brother vvhich spake first would have gone on but several of them cryed out together very confusedly as before to which vve replyed That having sought the Lord therein before our coming we could not give way thereunto but since they did refuse to hear vve vvould depart And in a short time after vve sent them the substance in VVriting of vvhat was then intended to be spoken A Copy whereof is as follows Dear Brethren and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ SInce your unkindness towards us the last l We mean that time wherein we intended to deliver this Admonicion by word of mouth and had testified thereunto according to the Rule of the Gospel Math. 18 16 17. time we vvere with you after some seeking unto the Lord vvhat might be our duty yet further this is gathered to be his mind and vvill That the substance of what was then
liberty of reading it some of the Chief amongst them saying That is ought first to be perused by the Brethren amongst them at their usuall meeting and if they thought meet then to have read it otherwise not or else if we would stay till the next fourth day of the week it was possible we might have liberty to read it our selves But this was not thought meet to be embraced but since they denied us the present reading of it to leave it with them to do therein as they should think fit onley a Brother stood up and declared It was our last testimony of Separation against those scandalous sins and evils which many amongst them are guilty of and that it was our prayer that the Lord would please to sanctifie it unto them After this the Brethren took their leave and departed And so ends this Narrative Signed in the Name and by the Appoinment of the greater Number of the Congregation who have separated from those now walking with Master John Sympson Humphry Hathorn John Seely John Portmans Caleb Ingold A Preambulatory Epistle to seven of the Letters which Master Sympson wrote to the Congregation whilest he was a Prisoner for Truth in Windsor Castle IT doth much concern every true Believer in such a day as this When darkness covereth the earth and gross darkness the people to be watching narrowly to their paths lest they turn aside from the holy Commandment delivered to them as many have sadly done in this day which is to be bewailed with a bitter Lamentation had we a suitable Spirit thereunto when the Father is dishonored Christ reproached and the Spirit blasphemed and all under a form of godliness were we Baptized into Jeremiahs Spirit we should in the sense of the back-stiding of Professors say Oh That I had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men that I might leave my people and go from them for they be all adulterous an assembly of Treacherous men they bend their tongues like a bow for lies but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth Jer. 9.2 3. Many of us have had no small Wrestling in our own Spirits whether these Letters of Mr. Sympsons should be published or no chusing rather to have silently Mourned over him in the sense of the loss of that Spirit he seemed to be anointed with whiles he Continued in Windsor Castle as by his following Letters dated from thence will appear But considering what a Noble and Honourable Testimony he hath born against the iniquity of this day and that from the Spirit of God as he profest and since that to be as highly professing on the other hand saying That it was his errour and evil drying down all his former professions visions as delusions and of flesh Which hath staggerd some as to the very Principles of Godliness Likewise considering how he is fallen in with the present Abominations he hath formerly so witnessed against Adding hereunto that he hath been the instrumental cause of our Breach and Separation by falling in with and pleading for the Souldiers and present Power Which had he not done for ought as we know they might have turned from their evil way and thereby the Congregation having purged out their old Leaven might have become a new and pure Lump to the glory of God and comfort of each other in this evill day Likewise his owning of the Tryers by sending to them as well as others for advice how there might be a proceeding against us for our withdrawing Also to take a Commission from the Person in Power to Preach at All-gate though he hath formerly declared very highly as well against the Tryers with their Practice as the present Power we humbly apprehend may so far silence any Persons as not to Judge any thing before the time lest they be found Judging their Brethren or the work they are upon without a thorow knowledge of the cause or Spirit leading thereunto Yea give us leave humbly to say That the sense of the former Courage Life and Zeal which was in him for the truth wherein we cannot but Judge that the Spirit of the Lord was eminently manifest in him as to the matter of his Testimony though as to the manner most of us in many things were not so well satisfied with it seemes unto us to be rather a provocation then a discouragement in this work for we do not hereby publish his failings but onely by his naked Letters without paraphrasing upon them give a taste of that Spirit which formerly appeared in him for Christ against Antichrist and all evil doers Psal 94.16 And let the Reader Judge though it seemed unto us much like that Spirit the Church is found in Rev. 12.1 Which every true member ought to be Clothed with being Clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feer All sublunary Creatures appeared nothing to him he seemed unto us like unto Paul Acts 20.24 Tell him of troubles likely to fall thorow his faithfulness to Christ and his despised Cause and none of these things move him Moreover we are provoked hereunto considering how much Life and Courage was Administred unto us in the hearing of them read which we trust upon perusal of them by others may be useful unto them as well as unto us And shall truth die for fear of displeasing a man or men that are gone off from the work of Christ in their generation surtly no yea we trust that the publishing of them may be to the reviving of his Spirit again that he may consider from whence he is fallen and do his first works and then we shall rejoyce it may appear that he is in the number of those mentioned Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them c. And we should much rejoyce if the Lord should make this way in any measure Instrumental to eat out that core of Apostacy which more gentle meanes though applied would not do or deliver the feet of any out of the snare who by reason of him are fallen from their own stedfastness however this is our rejoycing the Testimony of a good Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have been exercised herein and not out of malice strife or vain glory Signed in the Name and by the appointment of the greater Number of the Congregation who have separated from those now walking with Mr. John Sympson Humphry Hathorn John Portmans John Seely Caleb Ingold Here follows the Letters themselves JOhn a Prisoner not of Cromwel and his Council but of the Lord Jesus Christ unto the Saints and faithful Brethren which meet at the place which is known by the name of Great All-hallows London Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Blessed be the Name of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who dayly loads you with his loving kindness and tender mercies in Christ and for ever let his glorious goodness be
honoured who at all times and in all ages hath doth and will hear the prayers of his faithful ones in Christ we have cause mutually to rejoyce that God hath heard your prayers for my fellow Prisoner and me and that God hath heard our prayers for you At my meeting with you I shall see more of God in some of you then ever I saw though some may wither away and come to nothing and I am confident that you shall behold the Image of Christ more plainly in me then ever formerly you beheld it God doth still notwithstanding many infirmities in me shine upon the Soul of his unworthy Servant in the face of Jesus Christ I shall grow in grace my faith is quickned my repentance shall be encreased my love will abound to you to all Saints my hope shall be lively and my joy shall be full And I shall never be ashamed that I have given you an Alarm of Christs comming in the Spirit among his People I do yet by free grace glory that I shall receive more of the Spirit in gifts and graces then yet is given unto me Isa 45.11 God hath commanded me to ask him of things to come Christ hath perswaded me that this Prison is a Jerusalem where I must wait for the promise of the Father Acts 1.4 Pray therefore for me for your selves and for all Saints that they and we may be Baptized with the holy Spirit not many dayes hence The Spirit will return again unto believing Saints and the Churches of Christ according to the New Testament institution shall be the Schools of the Prophets Universities as now they stand upon an Antichristian foundation must be tumbled down Antichrist hath set up those Cages of unclean Birds that they who go thither may learn to sing the whores songs but not the songs of Zyon what the Spirit shall be to the Spiritual Church those places have been to the Carnal Church when Antichrist forced the Woman into the wildernesse and taught men to believe that the Spirit was not to be expected any more but that was to cease in his gifts and to supply the want of the Spirit which was in the true Church he laid the foundation of Universities and from them and not from the Churches and Spirit of Christ he taught Men to expect a Ministry But these Monastries must down Down with them sweet Jesus and lift up thy self in thy Spirit among the Congregations of thy Saints The Ministry likewise must down which stands upon a Popish foot and Antichrists foundation yea the best of Ministers must be thrown down so far as they stand upon an Antichristian Bottom though God will own what is of his own Spirit in them And God will most eminently appear against those sons of Hophnye and Phineas as he did against their fathers the Archbishops and Bishops 1 Sam 2.16 Who say unto the People as they did Nay but ye shall give it me now and if not I will take it by force The Judgement is gone forth from the Mouth of the Lord against them and all the Babylonish Protectors in the world shall not be able to defend them and to maintain them in the enjoyment of their Antichristian maintenance But Jehovah shall Arise and have mercy upon Zyon Psal 103.13 For the time to favour her yea the set time is come for thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favor the dust thereof The Spiritual Saints which are the stones of this Zyon begin to delight in one another and as they do abhor what is most glorious and seemingly Spiritual in Babylon so there is nothing so mean no outward Ordinance of Zyon so base and contemptible but they do honor it and thus they favor the Dust thereof Wherefore my Brethren if you are perswaded that this will be the work of God in this Generation night and day pray down those things Persons and Places which are Antichristian and yet standing in England Come out and be seperated from the wisdom and Spirit of the world and come up with me into the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Labor to practise the Lesson of self denial in opposing those Errours and sins which are pleaded for by the world and some Saints in these times as truths and vertues and so with Noah you shall be upright in your Generations Indeavour to know what are those truths which God will now bring forth to Light and not suffer them any longer to lie under the Cloud of Antichrist and resolve to overcome your enemies either by doing or suffering And not loving your lives unto the death give all diligence that you may be Christians in power and not in form onely disclaim your own strength every day value not a faith repentance love or hope of your own working it is not worth a rush But look up unto Jehovah to work all grace in you by the operation of God Pray for me that I may have a more glorious Mission and Commission from Christ to Baptize and Preach the Gospel Isaiah had a more glorious Call at the second time then he had at his first calling Isai 6.1 though to the glory of grace I do acknowledge that I have had a sufficient call yet for the exaltation of grace I beg a more glorious Call to Preach the Gospel Oh that I might Preach as one having Authority and not as Vniversity men Oh that I might have more of the Spirit that I might serve you better then ever I have done and might in some measure be enabled to requite you for those pledges and expences of love which I have received from you I am for many favors in the Spirit engaged unto you Particularly for your great gift of love which you sent the last week by some of our Brethren you have obliged me unto you beyond my desires and expectations The Lord knoweth that I sought no such thing from you directly or indirectly I was very well content to spend onely out of my own purse in this Prison but seeing God hath drawn you forth to express your love this way I am bound thankfully to accept your gift and do profess that if I know my own heart I am more taken with your love then with your gift or should be taken with it if it were a hundred thousand times more then it is and shall pray that my God may supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Windsor the 12th Moneth 4th day 1653. This is a true Copy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Brethren of the Lord Jesus SInce I did write unto you as the Lord did move Elijah to write unto Jehoram so I do apprehend that the Lord did stir me up to write unto the Lord General and contrary to my own resolutions the Lord did presse me to put my life into his hands by dealing
faithfully and plainly with him in setting his sins before him The Lord is still very gracious and favourable unto me Oh blesse the Lord with me for his unspeakable grace to me in accounting me worthy to suffer any thing for Christ in bearing witnesse against the sins of men which fight against his glory and interest when I consider what a base vil'd filthy Creature the Lord hath honoured in calling him to suffer any thing for him my soul is melted and humbled within me I do plainly perceive a plot of Divine Love in bringing me unto this place Jehovah is here fitting me for some other service I have not had such a constant uninterrupted Communion with God in glorious light love and joyes all the days of my life as I can remember as I have had since I came hither Oh how sweet is Communion with Christ in a prison I should be viler then the vildest upon earth if I did not prefer these Spiritual enjoyments before all the pleasures riches and honors of a thousand worlds I am now wrestling with God night and day for his Spirit for my self and all Saints O help me in your Prayers that I may not be ashamed for waiting upon him for his Spirit Of a truth the Spirit is at the door I shall receive him more gloriously then yet I have received him for the present the word of the Lord is precious there is no open vission 1 Sam. 3.4 God calleth to us as he did unto Samuel but we know not infallibly and in the Demonstration of the Spirit who it is that speaketh unless it be concerning our Salvations but he will speak and we shall know that it is he that speaketh in us Isa 52.6 He hath spoken unto us in as it were parables but he is shewing us plainly of the Father John 16.25 The Spirit will shew us things to come John 16.13 I am perswaded particularly concerning my self that I shall receive some gifts of the Spirit which I have not yet received If you shall desire to know the grounds of this perswasion I shall lay them down I am not afraid that they should be tried First I have a Spirit in this thing to teach me self denial I do plainly see that no strength or endeavors of my own will do any thing I must be dead unto them a faith of my own working will not remove a molehill power must be given in by Jesus Christ for the gloryfying of his Name Mark 6.7 Secondly I do expect Spiritual gifts by the Gospel and not by the Law Gal. 3.2 Though I have been a vile Creature yet the Lord Jesus Ascended that he might give gifts to the Rebellious Thirdly the grace of God will shine more gloriously in giving gifts unto me by so much as I have been vilder then other Saints before and since my Conversion Rom. 5.20 Fourthly I have faith according to the Scriptures that the word of the Lord will come unto some Saints to inform them concerning the work of their Generation as it did unto Isaiah Jeremiah Agabus and others Because God will do nothing but he will reveal it unto his Servants the Prophets Amos 3.6 Fifthly Many Saints do pray that God would fill me with his Spirit and do believe that God will hear their prayers for me and I do not doubt but it shall be unto me according to my Faith Sixthly I am commanded to Covet earnestly the best gifts which by grace I do and shall do by the help of your prayers 1 Cor. 12.31 Seventhly I am humbled for anything of flesh which might move me to desire the Spirit and I desire gifts in the Spirit upon this Account 1 Cor. 10.31 That the Father may be glorified in the Son Eightly I look upon Christ as powerful so that he is able as gracious so that he is willing as true so that he will be faithful in making good that promise John 14.13 14. Which I have by grace applied in this particular case Whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son If ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it Christ cannot be unfaithful John 14.15.16 Ninthly Christ saith If you love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever I believe therefore have I spoken saith the Psalmist Psal 116.10 So say I I do believe therefore have I written these things unto you And the God of bowels will never cover me with shame for making this profession of my faith in the bosomes of the Saints I have been sensibly present with you in the Spirit though I am in body absent from you And I hope that when God shall bring me again unto you that I shall come in the blessing of the fullness of the Gospel in the mean while I shall in the Spirit of grace make my supplications for you at the throne of grace that you may flourish in faith grow in love abound in lively hope and that the peace which Christ hath bequeathed his Disciples may be with you and shall beg your prayers for me night and day that the Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift comes may give the gifts and graces of the Spirit which I expect who by grace may subscribe my self Your Servant in Christ and a waiter in the Spirit for the Spirit John Sympson From Windsor the place of my great liberty and Imprisonment the 9th day of the 12th Moneth 1653. This is a true Copy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Dear Brethren WHen I resolved to write unto you I was thinking with my self unto what Churches of the seven Churches of Asia I might compare you If I had compared you to Smyrna and Philadelphia which are not reproved but commended by Iesus Christ you might have concluded that I did flatter you If I had compared you to Laodicea some might have thought that I had wronged them and therefore I think that I cannot more truly speak of you as a Church of Christ then by acknowledging that some of the good things for which some of those Churches are commended may be found amongst you and that some of the bad things for which some of those churches are blamed may be found among some of you I am perswaded that Christ hath somewhat against some of you Rev. 2.4 Because you have left and in part lost your first love which you had to Christ his Gospel and people The Lord awaken you and help you to recover that unfeigned repentance lively faith flaming affections and soul-ravishing hopes which once you had what have you found in the wayes of sin and the world which can countervail the loss of those sweet and heavenly enjoyments which once you had in God Return unto your first husband for then was it better with you then now Hosea 2.7
the Lambs company upon Mount Zion you will never be able to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Rev. 14.4 The very noise and rumout that Christ is going unto a Prison and that we shall not be able to keep Company with him and minde his Interest vigorously unless we are made willing to follow him into a Prison will make some recant and rather blasphemously Father the Issues and births of the Spirit in them upon the flesh then run the hazard of suffering persecution for the Truths concerning Christ and his Interest which they have declared But you will say Why do you send these lines unto us are we not all for Christ and his People their Cause and Interest I answer with Paul to Agrippa I wish that you were not almost but altogether all of you such as I am except those bonds I wish that you were all as really for the Cause of Christ and his people against all Antichristian Spirits whatsoever as you seemed to be when the Churches at the first met at All-hallows But know that men do easily deceive themselves in generals In general Papists carnal Protestants all Professors of Christianity are against Babylon and Antichrist the man of sin who professeth himself to be Christs Vicar will say that he were not worthy to live if he were not against every Antichristian Spirit And therefore come to particulars if you will not be deceived and deluded by your own hearts Again if you will not be deceived by the great Cheaters Jugglers Impostures your own hearts do not onely try your selves in particulars in which all men Saints and sinners agree and which you may agree with them in without suffering persecution but come to particulars in the profession of which you may suffer persecution The word of Christ in our generation may be a word for a while for which we may suffer Christ had never had any Martyrs if there had not been some raised in Spirit to hold forth something in opposition to the judgement of the powers of the world under which they lived It is an easie thing to Preach and maintain a thousand truths without suffering And it may be that Christ would have one truth preached and witnessed unto which will certainly bring persecution at the heels of it You may Preach and speak against ten thousand sins and not suffer the loss of one hair by it And yet there is one sin which Christ will have his People speak against which may cost them their lives which I could easily demonstrate but the messengers departure doth inforce me to break off abruptly The Lord preserve you in wayes of truth and peace and make you more willing to suffer with the Interest of Christ then to raign with a base beggerly and proud Interest of men which shall be the prayer of him who in the Spirit of truth can subscribe himself Your Brother and Christs Prisoner John Sympson Windsor 1. Moneth 25. day 1654. This is a true Coppy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Brethren in the Lord IF I am not mistaken concerning the time in which we live the next eminent work of God which will appear upon the stage will be the filling of his Temple with smoke from the glory of God and his power Rev. 15.19 And therefore it will not be an unseasonable word to stir you up to pray for the Accomplishing of it there will not be any great thing done beyond what you have seen with your eyes until the Angell of the Covenant come into his Temple to fill it with the glory of his Spirit surely the Spirit is upon his return to the Churches of Jesus Christ During the raign of the man of sin the Learned Impostures of the world with their Accademical Anointings have ecclipsed the glory of the Saints but when the promised Spirit of glory in Graces and gifts shall dwell among Sions Congregations the learned wisdom and policy of the carnall Church will be confounded As yet as I humbly conceive one vial hath not been poured forth But suddainly a great voice will be heard out of the Temple saying to the seven Angels Go your wayes and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth Rev. 16.1 As when the Temple of Solomon was Consecrated fire came down from Heaven and the glory of the Lord filled the house and the Priests could not enter into the Temple 2 Chron. 7.1 2. So Christ of whom Solomon was a Type is about to Consecrate his New Testament Temple which Antichrist hath profaned and polluted And suddenly the glory of Jehovah will fill his Churches fire will come down from heaven upon his beloved ones The Angel will fly thorow the midst of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel and the earth will be enlightned with his glory Hitherto onely some of Antichrists body hath been destroyed but then his Spirit will be confounded and destroyed It was the speech of Luther concerning King Harry the 8 th that he hated the body of Antichrist but loved and lived in his Spirit So there are many in these times who hate the body but love and live in the Spirit of the Whore The Spirit of the Whore is exalted in England and though few can see Spirits yet blessed be God there are some who have Eagles eyes and behold the Spirit of Christ and Antichrist combating upon the stage of England As blinde as I am who am not worthy to be accounted a spiritual Saint from Windsor Castle I descry and behold the Spirit of Babylon gotten upon the throne in England yea I behold a Beast risen in England with two horns like a Lamb but he speakes like a Dragon It was the speech of a Pope concerning an Archbishop of Canter bury That he was a Pope of another world Alterius orbis Papa Meaning of England I tell you the truth there is not onely a Pope of Rome but there is a Pope of another world but by faith I do behold his hornes dropped off And I pray to my God that that may happen unto him which befell the Caldean Lion Dan. 7.4 That his wings may be pluckt and he made to stand upon his feet and that a mans heart may be given unto him Oh that he might cease to be a beast and become a man If the Spirit of Antichrist be in the Pope and his Cardinals he is in this Beast and his Delegates The Lord Jesus hath set in his Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healing Helps Governments diversity of Tongues But this Beast by his Ecclesiastical Antichristian power hath set up Commissioners Patrons Parsons Vicars Curates and Lecturers The Lord Jesus doth make Ministers by the Unction of the Spirit But this Beast doth make Ministers by a Sealed Instrument The Lord Jesus hath appointed that his Ministers should live by the free contribution of the People But this Beast will