Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	scripture_n	word_n	write_v	7,633	5	6.1357	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53263	The old leaven purged out, or, The apostacy of this day further opened being a true and faithfull narrative of the orderly prooceedings [sic] and dealings of the lesser part of the congregation formerly walking with Mr. John Sympson, with and against severall souldiers of the army, who (being fallen in with the apostacy of this day, contrary to professed and declared principles, and the many out-goings of the Lord thereupon) are withdrawn and separated from, together with Mr. Sympson their chief abettor, and others, after neer two years labouring whilest while we were in the congregation, and neer two years more since : as also the true coppies of seven of the letters which Mr. Sympson wrote with his own hand, and sent to the congregation an answer to several objections that have been, or may be raised against printing and published the whole : all humbly presented to publique view, not in strife, vain-glory, or to be seen of men, but we hope out of conscience, to endeavor a recovering of the name of the Lord ...	Hathorn, Humphrey.	1658 (1658)	Wing O205; ESTC R32246	96,744	101

confess doth weigh in the ballane of truth yet this doth not prove that we ought to publish their sins by writing and therefore we would gladly hear what Scripture you have for the same Answer In case it appears that according to the nature of their sin and the capacity they stand in they cannot be rebuked before all but by publishing them by writing then we think it cannot be supposed but that it is our Gospel liberty so to do or otherwise as may most answer the end of the Scripture that their folly being manifest to all they may proceed no further else how came Pauls epistle about the Incestuous Person to be published surely none will Judge that the Apostle did write out of malice or revenge But further we desire more particularly that that Scripture in Isa 30.1 2. and 8. verses together with the Scriptures in the margent may be compared and it will appear that the sin of Israel in that day runs parallel as face answers to face in a glass with the sin of our day as if it were the very time he prophesied of In the first and second verses after he hath laid down their sin with the aggravations of it he is commanded in the eigh verse to write it in a table and note it in a book that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever And the sin of the Souldiers in this day seemes to run in a line with the sin of Israel in that day and without doubt the Propher by the Spirit of the Lord was directed to foresee our very day that what he then writ might be a word of Instruction for after ages For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning c. Rom. 5.4 Object The end of Pauls writing about the Incestuous person was not so much about publishing by writing the sin of such a person or persons in the like maner guilty but rather for direction unto the Churches how they ought to proceed against persons guilty of such gross sins Because a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump And for that Scripture in Isa though it be full unto the purpose for which it is urged yet we conceive he had an extraordinary command for it Also the Church of the Jews being National it was no more then a publishing their sin in the Church Answ We do grant as is laid down in the objection that one end of the Apostle was to give direction how brethren in Church relation guilty of grosse sins ought to be proceeded against yet this doth no ways weaken the other end the Apostle might have in leaving this Epistle upon record that if God may be glorified by it to publish by writing the sins of such persons for generations to come which being compared with that in the 30. of Isa aforementioned seemes unto us strongly to warrant such a practice And although it is urged in the Objection that what Isaiah writ was by an extraordinary Spirit and unto the Jews as a National Church So was all the Scripture writ with an extraordinary Spirit wherein are some things for our positive Rule and the rest as words of Instruction for the people of God in after ages that they might with that ordinary portion of the Spirit given forth unto them with the help of the Scripture be throughly furnished to every good work And for what is further urged That it was a Church Act they being a National Church That we conceive is a mistake or at least much shortning the scope of the Spirit thereby intended for in the 9. verse of that Chapter the Prophet is directed to write down their transgression not onely as a Church but as a Nation in these words This is a rebellious people there is their national state and in the next words lying Children there is their Church State so that we conceive this Scripture stands firm and unanswerable Object Was not Ham Noahs son reproved for uncovering his fathers nakedness though guilty of the sin of drunkennesse Gen. 9.22 And if they should be published this Scripture would reprove us for hath not Mr. Sympson been as a father unto us Answ Noahs sin was private committed in his cent Noahs sin was not Wilful but Ignorantly for he being the first that planted a vine as we read of was drunk with the wine not knowing the strength thereof Also Ham uncovered his fathers nakedness before fore he had humbly laid his evil before his father for else we conceive that if Noah had persevered to justifie himself after admonition once and again as the Souldiers and Mr. Sympson do and continue in their evil Ham would not then have been charged with uncovering his fathers nakednesse Now the sin of the Souldiers is a National sin in turning aside to the old Abominations after many out-goings of God to the pulling them down and solemn Declarations Ingagements and Promises to the Contrary And for Master Sympson We conceive that in publishing his Letters we rather cover then uncover him by holding forth to the view of all what and excellent Spirit was formerly in him for Christ and his Glory But further we meddle not neither in the Narrative preceding otherwise then in our proceeding against the Sonldiers he comes in as their Abettor Object Was not the sin of Judas in betraying Christ a publique sin yet we do not read that the Disciples ever made mention of him except it were in the choice of another Apostle to take his place and therefore we do conceive that although their sin be publique and they in a publique capacity yet it ought not to be published Answ This Objection seems unto us to have no weight in it in case it were so as you assert For Judas went and confessed his sin to the Chief Priests and Rulers and then destroyed himself as the just Judgment of God upon him for his great iniquity in Betraying our Lord Jesus And therefore not so needful to testifie against a person who was taken out of the world by so eminent a Judgment But yet we finde that as the Lord by his Spirit in his faithful ones hath Recorded and published the sins of Asa Jehu Hazael and other Rulers as also the sins of his own people in the old Testament So by the same Spirit hath the Disciples Recorded the sins of Judas in the New and to his perpetual infamy published him to the world as a covetous and treacherous person in betraying our Lord Jesus As also the sins of Demas and Alexander Likewise have the Apostles persevered in their ⋆ publique testimony against the Scribes and Pharises c. for continuing in and justifying of the sin of their forefathers in shedding of innocent blood And do not the Souldiers by their sin in upholding the Oppression Tyranny and Persecution of this day also justifie the former Oppressors Tyrants and Persecutors in their sin adding thereunto more and more to the

excusing of them and by his suddain starting such a question of Non-communion without serious consideration whereby many Brethren and Sisters were ensnared as they afterwards confessed and notwithstanding that truth had such hard usage from the beginning almost to that time yet we have since our withdrawing been waiting upon the Lord almost one whole year and half thereby bearing a more particular Testimony against their evil also by admonishing them twice according to the rule of the Gospel but no repentance as we can discern apprearing but rather hardness of heart and their sin every day more and more manifesting it self to the great dishonour of God and reproach of his Name We do therefore hereby declare That we can have no more fellowship and Communion with them then with Heathens and Publicans till the Lord shall give repentance unto life by acknowledging and forsaking their iniquity and do hereby humbly Testifie our separation from the accordingly Secondly That our Brother Sympson whose condition we desire to mourn for yet can but humbly testifie that he hath been for many moneths a secret opposer of those Brethren that prosecuted the cause of Christ against the evils of those Brethren of the Army and every day more and more did and doth stand by maintain and plead for them Nay more he is not afraid nor ashamed to plead for those very evils which he himself hath declared against openly and for which he for sometime suffered very boldly so that we can do no less then declare before the Lord Angels and men that he is now become guilty with the other Apostates to build again the things which he and they formerly destroyed and is become very skilful to cover the iniquity of this day which appeareth to all unbyast persons But least any should think that we had neglected our duty in not admonishing him privately before this publique testimony against him we answer That several Brethren had been with him privately upon that account Moreover we did at another time by several Brethren in the name of the whole apply our selves unto him intending particularly in love and due respects to have opened our hearts concerning his evil but in stead thereof he absolutely refused to give the least entertainment unto us as Brethren and Sisters or to hear any thing we should say unto him upon that account but looked upon us as Heathens and Publicans and thereupon refused so much as to pray with the Brethren who were sent by us Adding hereunto that thorow his pleading for and excusing of them he hath been the Instrumental Cause of this breach and separation and hardning the hearts of the Souldiers when some of them were in some measure convinced of their evil as we thought saying That if it were a sin to have Communion with them let it be charged upon himself and such as were satisfied with them as they should answer it at the day of the Lord Jesus For which and much more if needful at this time to declare We can have no more fellowship with him nor scarce so much as with those Brethren among you that wear the sword whose wickedness we have been so long contending against onely leaving him unto the Lord who can when he pleaseth convince him of his evil and give him grace to do his first works Thirdly That several other Brethren whom we could Name if need require have likewise much abetted excused and pleaded for this iniquity and particularly one of them who was formerly so convinced of the Soldiers evil as being the first person that put pen to paper to draw up Articles against them who said It was true but he thought it would not come to this And therefore we do judge it our duty also humbly to Testifie against them and separate from them as such who are greatly partakers of the Souldiers evil though it is possible that they may be much oversway'd in ther judgements by our Brother Sympson and cannot have Communion with them till such time that the Lord doth convince them of their evil and cause them to return from whence they are fallen and do their first works Fourthly That many other Brethren and Sisters though they have little to plead for the Souldiers as under those sins laid to their charge yet care not for inquiring into truth neither considering that Scripture 1 Cor. 5.6 Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump purge out therefore the old leaven that you may become a new lump But are willing to have their judgements byassed thorow affection to our Brother Sympson and so are willing to stand or fall in his bottom as we have just ground to fear and thereby become partakers of their evill deeds and if the Lord do not in time graciously awaken them out of this drowsie sleepy frame of Spirit we fear they may in time feel the sorrow of that Scripture Isa 9.16 For the Leaders of this people cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed And therefore hereby testifie and declare that we cannot hold Communion with them till the Lord shall discover unto them their evil therein Fifthly As for those Brethren and Sisters amongst you that groan and mourn under the sense of those crying abominations that our Brethren the Souldiers with their Abettors are guilty of we do desire to open our hearts to them with all bowels of tenderness and compassion declaring that although we can see no Scripture ground or bottom for their present practise and the rather when the Lord hath enabled their poor unworthy Brethren and Sisters though but a remnant to withdraw and separate from the evil doers whereby the decission is made And that Scripture Psal 26.4 5.6 Seems unto us a plain word of Instruction for them in these words I have not sate with vain persons neither will I go in with dissemblers I will wash my hands in innocency and so will I compass ●●●e Altar Whence the Spirit of the Lord seems to hint himself not innocent had he not refused Communion with dissemblers and vain persons without having respect whether they were the greater or the lesser number And how they can call that part of the Body a Church when those they joyn with are onely the disorderly walkers for those who bear the Testimony are withdrawn we do not well understand which is the more considerable when they are commanded to withdraw from every Brother that walks disorderly However we judge it our duty to continue our prayers for them and to spread their condition before the Lord in secret as if it were out own that he would enlighten and inform them in their duty and give them obedient hearts thereunto that the Lord would deliver their feet out of the snare and do hereby intreat exhort and desire them as they tender the glory of God and the comfort of their own Souls in the time of Tryal and Temptation to come out from amongst them and separate

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

mourn and grieve for you that if it were the Will of our heavenly Father you might be recovered out of the Snare and do trust many of you will but in case We should join with you before the least acknowledgement of your evil should not we return to you before you return unto the Lord and so come under the reproof of that Scripture Jer. 15.17 and that also in 2 Cor. 6 17 18. Yea Would it not rather be a grieving of the Spirit and making light of so precious an Ordinance as Prayer is Have We not some sad experience hereof already in that dya of Prayer kept with you when our first Paper was to be debated What contrariety of spirits did then appoar Were We not in the duty deeply judged and censured by one of the chief amongst you when We came to lay the matter in difference before the Lord If so little confort then sure less now Can two pray together except they be agreed We do therefore humbly apprehend before any such conjuction be that you will first inquire into the great evil amongst you and not to eat with such persons but in brotherly love to admonish them and then to waite and see whether the Lord will humble them in the sence thereof if this were done We know that the consequence on your part would be to lye low before the Lord for complying with them to this day and when you shall minifest repentance by such a Work then We should have joy and confort in joyning with you to be further humbled before the Lord and also to lie at the Lords and your feet as to any other thing you should desire of us for his Name sake for We hope it is not in our hearts to be lifted up above our Brethren but onely to be faithful unto the Lord in a day of so great Apostacy Now as to the second thing about seeking to the Lord for a right way what you and we ought to do for the healing of the breach between us This seems to turn the goodness of the Lord upon himself and to forget his loving kindness yea to deny that We have been in a right Way after so much seeking unto and waiting upon him for direction and counsel from time to time yea give us leave to say That we humbly judge the Lord hath led us in a right path to this day and hath made darkness light crooked things straight before as well as since our first withdrawing Moreover wholly to question the ground of our proceedings to this day would be also of great reproach and dishonour to the Name and Cause of our Lord Jesus Christ and pre-declare to any discerning eye that We are returned from whence We vvere withdrawn upon no solid substantial grounds To the third namely That if there were any other thing necessary to be added we might have our freedom This we conceive needs little return respect being had in our answer to the two former propositions Thus desiring a tender construction if it may be of what is here laid down as to your last Message and chiefly to eye the first part as it relates to the choice of persons for clearing of the difference between us We remain Dated the first day of the first Month 1657. Your poor unworthy Brethren Sisters mourning for you yet apprehending that as truth is with us so the Power of the Church rests in us Signed in the Name and by the appointment of the whole none contradicting John Proud Tho Cary Caleb Ingold John Sealey AFter the delivery of this Paper We continued waiting upon the Lord as formerly expecting a return as to the contents of the first part thereof relating to the choice of persons by us and them to hear the matter in difference which many of us did the more earnestly desire not onely for the further manifestation of truth but also to take off that scandal laid by them upon us That we were altogether Judges of our own cause and would not admit of the hearing of it by others but three months time expiring since the delivery of our said Paper or thereabouts and no return given unto us one Way or other it seemed to many of us that their silence was a flat denyal to our render to the first part of our said Paper which put us upon further inquiry into our duty and to that end a day was set apart to seek the Lord for advice and counsl and the greatest part whereof being spend upon that account we then came to enquire of each other what the Lord had set upon our hearts as our further duty and after some discourse about it came to this result That having made so many tenders unto those from whom we were withdrawn with so little effect we had hopes to obtain our reasonable desire from them and therefore judged it our duty to proceed to the work of separation And accordingly some Brethren were chosen out from amongst us to make a draught thereof as the Lord should direct them and yet hereby not to exclude any Message that might come in the mean time from the other part neither to be too sudden about it so that it was about five or six Weeks before the draught of separation was brought in but after it was presented and agreed upon it was questioned by some whether it should yet be given in for some reasons urged by them unto which it was answered by others That they conceived the Lord would be much glorified in the delivering of it in as the unanimous consent of the whole But some again stood up and said That they conceived this would most glorifie God at present to wit that we should revive the tender make in our foregoing Paper notwithstanding their by their practiso to this day But this was opposed again by others judging that it would be little effectual considering how we had been dealt withall from the first day of our withdrawing until now however it was ●udged meet this being our last step towards those from whom we were withdrawn to be very diligent and watchful least Satan should take advantage upon us at the last and the Lord thereby be dishonour to take the advice of some upright and grave brethren who were faithful unto the Lord in this day of apostacy and present our Paper of Separation unto them for advice and counsel so far as the Lord should administer unto them Which was accordingly concluded bernard upon and the Brethren aforementioned to wit Mr. Cann Coll. Danvers Mr. Squibb c who accompanyed us as Witnesses when we gave in our Admonition at London-House were sent unto and upon their Meeting the Paper of Separation was delivered unto them who received it and in brotherly love took the matter into consideration taking their times and seasons of meeting together spreading it several times before the Lord in prayer as we have been credibly informed upon their desire we did also diliver in

Promises and Prophesies and therefore should lift up our hears and rejoyce however if there were neither promise for this nor prophesie we should covet and endeavour after the best things and do speak as to purity in Magistracy and Governments as if none but who had the Spirit were fit to Act upon Christs account at this day And likewise hint as if themselves were a part or at least had the Spirit of the Stone which shall break and consume all other Kingdomes c. And as if the Call of the Little Parliament was a fruit of the Stones smiting quoting Dan. 2.44 With many other excellent good words relating to the Calling of the Jews and the glory that will be in that day See his speech to them either by it self or in pag. 56. to 63. of book called the Looking-glass Now what did this hold forth but that they would endeavour to bring things as near as might be before Christ comes to what they shall be when he is come Isa 32.1 2. Mich. 4.1 2. Psal 72. But all this as we have too just ground to fear and by what hath since appear'd was but to cover the designe of self Advancement For when those who were faithful in the Little Parliament came to do those good things and to take away all Antichristian and Oppressive Lawes and Customes that were and are yet remaining among us Several self intrested men among them and others easily led by them perceiving that if they went on it would go ill with be Lawyers Clergy and other Corrupt Intrests took Counsel together how they might dissolve that Parliament and in Order thereunto came to the Parliament House in a morning two hours sooner then usually and moved tho resigning their Power But some of the other party coming in opposing it they durst not venture to put it to the vote but with the Speaker rose up and went away leaving a considerable number behinde them who were soon after turn'd out by Collonel Goff Lieunant Collonel White and Musquetteers thereby putting a stop to the Work of God and the aforementioned Persons going to White-hall and signing a Paper whereby they pretended to resign their Power to the Man who is now in Power Is the foundation of this present Government and so of the Apostasie and Customs any ways intrenching upon the Consciences of the Lords people in their publike Worship Secondly To prevent making any such Lawes for the time to come Thirdly To pull down all lawes in any measure oppressing the bodies of the Lords people or any others that violence may be no more heard in our Land Fourthly to deliver the Spiritual Church of Christ from the like oppression of Body or Spirit in any of the Dominions of Antichrist Fifthly To execute the Judgements written upon the great Whore who is drunk with the blood of the Saints Sixthly That Christ might be King in these Nations and his Lawes our Rule to walk by Seventhly that Monarchy or the power in one single Person might be extirpated because opposing Christs Dominion and utterly inconsistent with Common Freedome Eighthly That men fearing God and hateing Covetousnesse might be in Authority and no other Now whether Treason be not comitted in all these respects at this day and our Brethren therby become Traytors in abetting thereto with their swords in their hands we shall leave unto the Lord who judgeth Righteously and one day will make it known when the thoughts of all men shall be revealed Secondly Covenant breaking and false Swearing there being many Engagements and Declarations of the Army wherof our Brethren were and now are Actual Members for removing the evil and establishing the good mentioned in the foregoing Head Thirdly Oppression of the Bodies and Consciences of the Lords People and others well affected in this Nation by Tythes Taxes and Illegal Imprisonments The Latter of which the Army formerly Declared so much against as being very Oppressive that any man should suffer Imprisonment without any Legall cause ⋆ See Looking-glass pag. 7. Say they that no man be kept in Prison above a moneth but in that space to be brought to Triall by a lawfull jury of his equalls or else be discarged of Course There are many the like expressions in other of their Declarations shewed for it and keeping them there at will and pleasure and how frequently this hath been practised since this last Apostacy and is still continued we leave to all unbyassed persons to judge Fourthly Persecution of Saints two of them having been jaylors to their Brethren and the rest standing by in the day of their Brothers Calamity and Justifying the Persecutors by saying It is possible a Saint may suffer for evil doing Fifthly Maintaining Antichristian Lawes by which the Saints of old have suffered and do now suffer though so much blood and treasure hath been spent for the abolishing of them Sixthly Hereby they are the cause of sadning and grieving the hearts of the Righteous whom the Lord would not have sadned though our Brother Kelzey was and herein is more particularly guilty above any of the rest as hath been plainly proved which at first he denied yet afterwards confest at Brother Sampsons house much more then could be proved against him not with any sense of his evill therein but said It was his Judgement and Conscience to do what he had done And Notwithstanding that many of us had been labouring to Convince them and inform the Brethren to whom the ruling part of the Congregation was committed of their evils upwards of a year and half before our withdrawing who at first joyned with us and were more ready to be active herein then our selves yet afterwards declined for no other reason as we know but because their sin being of a publique nature was like to receive more then an ordinary countenance and so the more difficult and hazardous if they with us should be found doing our duty impartially not fearing the faces of men but it being to our labor proved fruitlesse and those who before were forward in the work of the Lord now became backward and not onely so but many of them excusers and Abettors in a very great measure to the grief of many of our hearts However that we might keep in the Lords way it was after solemn waiting upon him judged our duty to bring their evils before the Church that so if possible they might thereby have been brought to the acknowledgement thereof And here we hoped that iniquity shold have bad it's mouth stopped and truth have had the preheminence in such a Congregation as this had been for so many years being like a Beacon on the top of a Mountain but instead thereof the greater part votes Communion with them notwithstanding their evil laid before them which is to be mention'd not with joy but with grief and sorrow of heart though we conceive that vote was chiefly occasioned by our Brother Sympson thorow his constant pleading for and

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