that may be presented for the preservation of the whole And this in brief is the sum of that administration of Christs power in earth so far as it meerly concerns the outward man with respect to others that may uphold it or molest it and is managed by that sword of steel which in reference unto him is called in scripture the rod of iron by which he rules the nations and breaks them to peeces like a Potters vessel and with this administration of his power on Earth Right Honourable hath he who is the Lord of Lords and shall ere long appear as King and Judge of all betrusted you in these three Nations having as a manifest token thereof put into your hand that iron rod and to admiration hath strengthened and upheld your arm for the subduing and ordering of the same There is yet besides this another administration of Christs power on Earth which compared with this may be truly termed heavenly and spirituall it being that which suiteth with and principally is exercised about the spirituall or hidden part of man to wit his spirit mind and conscience which is indeed the most naturall Lord and commander of the outward it and all things belonging thereunto being but naturally subject and readily obedient from which very consideration it is that it is more safe and also more honourable for the powers on earth to have one thousand souls to be subject to them for love and conscience sake than to have ten thousand times ten thousand bodies seemingly subject for wrath sake and for fear of revenge this spirit and great commander in man is such a sparkling beam from the Father of lights and spirits that it cannot be lorded over commanded or forced either by men devils or angels but onely leaving its first station wherein it came so neer to the light and glory of God it is now caused to possess death and darkness and by that means is in a capacity by men and devils to be deceived and so by perswasion to be mis-led This spirituall administration of Christs power in and over the spirits and consciences of men as it extends to all the inward and hidden motions and actings of the mind so to all the outward manifestations of its powerfull commands in the outward man in reference unto God and especially unto such as appertain to the visible worship and service of God who hath declared himself to be a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth and seeks such and onely such to worship him This spirituall administration so far as it concerns the outward man is managed not by a sword of Steel which cannot come neer or touch the spirit or mind of man but by the sword that proceeds out of the mouth of his servants the word of truth and especially as to the efficacy and to the inward man by the two-edged sword of the Spirit that spirituall law and light with which these candles of the Lord are enlightned and that by himself who is that light that enlightneth every man that comes into the world and this spirituall administration of Christs power on earth in and over the spirits minds and consciences of the sons of men and also over the outward man as to worship meerly is committed into the hands of the Spirit of Christ who is his vice-roy here on earth and is only able to deal with spirits by way of convincing converting transforming and as it were a-new creating of them and so to translate them out of the Kingdome of darkness in which they are by nature into the glorious â—iberty of the Saints in light Who is pleased also to make use of the mouths of his servants and through them as empty reeds and crooked rams-hornes to overturn the spirits and spirituall strong holds of men and devils and by them to convict avenge and execute the sentence written which upon such as manifest the emnity that is in their minds in the highest degree even against the holy Spirit himself the only sin unpardonable for all other sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven I say the written sentence that is to be executed upon such is anathema maranatha that is accursed with this intimation our Lord cometh leaving them untill he meet with them and otherwise than thus the servants of Christ cannot proceed having express command not to strive but to be patient apt to teach in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves to wait if God at anytime wil give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth Thus if it please the Father of lights to give you Right Honorable to distinguish between these two administrations of Christ's power here on earth and to leave that part to himself in the hand of his Spirit which cannot be conferred on others nor yet rightly managed but by the two-edged sword of that Spirit and wholly give up your selves to improve that part which belongs unto and well suits with that sword which you are now betrusted with it will much conduce to his glory your own praise and the peace and settlement of these three Nations over which the Lord hath set you And whereas Right Honorable it is in your hearts to propagate the Gospell of Jesus Christ the thing is excellent that is in your hearts and I hope the way to effect it is before you which is sith the Lord of hoasts hath said that works of this nature are carried on not by might nor by power but by his Spirit therefore to give way to his Spirit for the effecting thereof and to this end I humbly propose that your way to further this glorious design as to the might and power this Lord of Hoasts hath betrusted you with is 1. Not so much as to touch his Anointed and to do his Prophets no harm their ointment being the Spirit of prophecy and this Spirit of prophecy the testimony and witness of the Gospel of Jesus And 2. As obedient and dutifull servants to that Lord of Lords to suffer the Tares which being by the adversary sown after the Wheat must needs be ment erronious hereticall and antichristian persons professing the Gospel I say to let these tares alone in that part of the field or world over which the great Lord of the harvest hath placed your Honors sith it is his pleasure they shall there remain to the time of the harvest being the end of the world and that out of his tender respect to the Wheat lest in plucking up the tares though evidently discerned by his servants the Wheat should be rooted up also And 3. To the same end not to give your sword or power to the beast nor yet to suffer your power neither in these three nations nor yet in any forreign part of the world to be so misused by any to whom 't is committed as by vertue thereof out of an ignorant zeal and blind devotion pretending to pluck up the tares which yet is contrary to the express
sensible that it was an easy matter to lay the blame on me being a person condemned and also absent I drew up the former motion and added thereunto these words following VVHereas through the indulgency of tender hearted friends without my consont and contrary to my judgment the Sentence and Condemnation of the Court at Boston as is reported have been fully satisfied on my behalf and thereupon a Warrant hath been procured by which I am secluded the place of my imprisonment by reason whereof I see no other call for present but to my habitaetion and to those neer relations which God hath given me there yet lest the cause should hereby suffer which I profess is Christs I would hereby signifie that if yet it shall please the honoured Magistrates or generall Court of this Colony to grant my former request under their Secretaries hand I shall cheerfully imbrace it and upon your motion shall through the help of God come from the Iland to attend it and hereunto I have subscribed my name 11th 6. 51. John Clarke Both these the next morning I delivered to the keeper to deliver to the Magistrates who were to meet at the Commencement at Cambridge which being accordingly performed it was noised abroad the motion was granted and the writing was in Mr. Cottons hand who was thereby judged to be the man and best of all approved of by my self for that same purpose he being the inventor and suportor of that way in these parts wherein they walk and thereupon I took the thing for granted and to that purpose wrot to my friends who sent to visit me in the prison but upon the fift day a little before their Lecture at Boston I received a writing subscribed with five of the Magistrates hands which when I had perused and saw that they waved the motion and instead thereof laid two or three snares before me I drew up an Answer to their Writing being hopeless of a disputation desired the Iaylor to deliver it to the Magistrates took my leave of my friends and so departed to go towards the Iland having ten miles that night to travell Here followeth their Writing and my Answer also Mr. John Clarke VVE conceive you have mis-reported the Governours speech in saying you were challenged to dispute with some of our Elders whereas it was plainly exprest that if you would confer with any of them they were able to satisfie you neither were you able to maintain your practice to them by the word of God all which was intended for your information and conviction privately neither were you enjoyned to what you then were Counselled unto nevertheless if you are forward to dispute and that you will move it your self to the Court or the Magistrates about Boston we shall take order to appoint one who will be ready to Answer your motion you keeping close to the questions to be propounded by your self and a moderator shal be appointed also to attend upon that service whereas you desire you might be free in your dispute keeping close to the points to be disputed on without incurring damage by the Civill Iustice observing what hath been before written it is granted the day may be agreed if you yeeld the premisses 11th of the 6th 1651. Iohn Indâ—cott Governour Tho. Dudley Deputy Govern Rich. Bellingham William Hibbins Encrease Nowel My Answer followeth superscribed To the Honoured Governour of the Mathatusets and the rest of that Honorable Society these present Worthy Senators I Received a writing subscribed with 5 of your hands by way of answer to a twice-repeated motion of mine before you which was grounded as I conceive sufficiently upon the Governours words in open Court which writing of yours doth no way answer my expectation nor yet that motion which I made and whereas waving that grounded motion you are pleased to intimate That if I were forward to dispute and would move it my self to the Court or Magistrates about Boston you would appoint one to answer my motion c. Be pleased to understand That although I am not backward to maintain the Faith and Order of my Lord the King of Saints for which I have been Sentenced yet am I not in such a way so forward to dispute or move therein least inconvenience should thereby arise I shall rather once more repeat my former motion which if it shall please the Honoured General Court to accept and under their Secretaries hand shall grant a free dispute without molestation or interruption I shall be so well satisfied therewith that what is past I shall forget and upon your motion shall attend it Thus desiring the Father of Mercies not to lay that evill to your charge From Prison this 14. 6. 51. I remain your Well-wisher Iohn Clarke This Answer with the motion for a dispute upon these fair termes the third time repeated being a thing also generally desired and longed for was as I said before by me delivered to the Keeper and by him presented to the Magistrates and so to the General Court yet was there no answer returned what made the obstruction considering the equity of the Case the former consent and grant of the Magistrates and the peoples earnest desire thereof I know not neither will I too readily conclude lest it should â—avor of prejudice that it was either an apprehension it would be disgracefull first to Iudge and Condemn the persons and afterward to have the matter examined or else a fear and jealousie lest upon the examination thereof by the word of God which is a quick powerful divider asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the joynts marrow and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart their standing in reference to the worship of God should appear false and evill and the way by w ch they maintayn the same with a forcing of others thereto should appear far worse surely the standers by and such whose minds are dis-engaged in the businesse will aptly conclude and not without probable grounds that the utmost they can say for themselves and to stop the mouth of him that is contrary minded lyes in the Sword and power of the Magistrate which although it be a good Ordinance of God in this present evill World to restrain the oppressor and let the oppressed goe free and so approved and owned by Christ and all true Christians in case of wrong and wicked lewdnesse as Gallio expresseth it yet was it never appointed by Christ to whom all power not only in Earth but also in Heaven is committed and by whom all Earthly powers are to be judged in that day in which he shall judge the World in righteousnesse I say it was never appointed by Christ to inform and rectifie the minds and consciences of men in the worship of God in that great mystery of Godlinesse and in those mysticall matters concerning the Kingdom of Christ that being a matter that onely belongs to the Holy Spirit of Promise and to the
practise among those that first trusted in him have you for baptizing of infants who are declared to be but flesh and by nature the Children of wrath one as well as another for rantising and sprinkling them and not baptizing or dipping them for accepting such as were sprinkled with superstitious hallowed water and by the hand of as superstitious consecrated a ministery of Antichrist and for receiving of such as are sprinkled by your selves to the ordinance of baptism as you call it but yet to deny them communion in the Apostles doctrine and in breaking of bread And if you cannot find either precept from Christ or his Apostles or example among those that first trusted in Christ for none of these then will you be aâ— loss for the rest and neither find precept or president for your joining together or for your imitation of those that fiâ—st trusted in him in their ministery of continuance togegether in the Apostles doctrine and fellow ship and breaking of bread and prayer And touching your way to maintain it what have you a precept and president in the last will and testiment of Christ for such a gathering together with respect to the order of the Gospell of Christ in the name and by the leave of the Magistrate so as to make it a thing unlawful for the servants of Christ to do it without him by the civil sword to correct errour heresies and all false worships to constrain all Church-members and such also as are without and so cannot but by you be looked upon to be without faith without which it is impossible to please God outwardly and hypocritically to conform to your worship or to restrain them in like manner outwardly and hypocritically from enjoying their own when according to that rule to which is annexed the promise of peace to such as walk thereby the greatest Apostacies and Blasphemies that unpardonable fin it self not excepted were but punished with a delivery of the person that was guilty thereof unto Satan the God of this world that he might learn not to blaspheme the God of heaven and so to leave him to the coming of the Lord who shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance upon such and so much is signified by the word anathema Maranatha And I pray consider whether this be not to place the Magistrate too high or too low too high in case you make him the chief and upon the point the only Judge in spiritual things â—uch as appertain to the mystery of godliness that is so great and such as belong to the mystery of the Kingdome of Christ that is so wonderful so as to judge and determine what is truth and what is error and heresie what is the right way of the worship of God who being a spirit hath declared that he will be worshipped in spirit and in truth and what is not who are the worshippers he seeks for and who are such as his soul abhors and again too low in case you make him but the executioner only of other mens judgements which indeed is the ordinary practise And so I have done with the first argument the second stands thus 2. Arg. That order and way to maintain it which is not only different from but contrary unto the precept of Christ in his last will and testament and the practise of Christians that first trusted in him that order cannot be the order of the Gospel of Christ nor that way his way to maintain it But the order which you call the order of the Gospel of Christ and the way which you say is his way to maintain it is not only different from but contrary unto the precept of Christ and the practise of Christians that first trusted in him The first proposition it undeniable and the second will easily appear to be true if your order and that way by which you seek to maintain it be brought to and compared with the precept of Christ and his Apostles and the example of those churches that first trusted in him and first compare but your order with either precept or president and it will evidently appear not only to be differing from but contrary unto the order of the Gospel of Christ for according to the precept of Christ every creature to whom the Gospel was to be preached was by the preaching thereof to be made a disciple before he was to be baptised and then being so made and baptized he was to be taught to observe all things which Christ had commanded which was in reference to a sober righteous and godly conversation in the order of his house according to which precept was the practise of those that first trusted in him for they and they only that gladly received the word of salvation by Jesus Christ were baptized Acts 2 and they and all they that were baptized were joined without the leave of the Magistrate and continued together steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer but your joining together not at the command of the Lord but by the leave of the Magistrate and your continuing together in imitation of the first Churches and appointing a ministery before your selves be baptized and so visibly planted into the death of Christ as they were and your administring baptism as you call it to such as are not the true subjects thereof before they are taught or made disciples and after a false manner viz. by sprinkling which no way resembles the death burial or resurrection of Jesus Christ being that which his baptisme is appointed to do and your admitting some unto baptism as you own it which you refuse to admit unto breaking of bread and your receiving such to breaking of bread which yet were never baptized with the baptism appointed by Jesus Christ the Lord and your shutting out the exercise of the gift of prophecying which in the Church of Christ doth admirably tend to edification and your introducing a mixt confused way of singing which fills the ear rather with a loud sound of words than the heart with any thing that is truly edifying all which is not only differing from but contrary unto both precept and president and so cannot be the order of the Gospel of Christ and therefore is no better than disorder confusion and a part of that which in Scripture language is called Babell And compare that way by which you maintain it either with the precept of Christ or with the president of primitive Christians and it will as evidently appear not only to be different from but contrary unto them both for first the precept of Christ was to learn of him who was meek and lowly and to expect trouble and persecution from others and not to persecute neither to force the Jews that would not follow him nor yet to fire the Samaritans that would not receive him yea he expressely commands his Servants to let the rares alone with the wheat and suffers no small inconvenience thereby to
avoid a greater and further declares that the servant of the lord must nor strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach not to strike patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will according to which precepts of Christ we find the primitive Christians were meek and gentle and yet able by sound doctrine both to exhort convince the gainsayers who called not for carnall weapons to mannage their warfare but declared their weapons were mighty through God and either by the word and a good conversation wonne men to the acknowledgement of the truth as it is in Jesus or else left them wiâ—hout excuse together with the world unto the judgement of the great day of the Lord but now all men may see that your way is not only different from but contrary unto this precept of Christ and president of Christians and therefore cannot be esteemed any better than unchristian yet Antichristian Let not your adversary and mine Dear Countreymen fill your hearts with indignation and thoughts of revenge against him who in a faithful discharge of his conscience both towards God and you have made bold to deal plainly with you least my God to whom vengeance belongs repay it upon you and smite you with blindness of mind and hardness of heart that cannot repent but rather set before your eyes that memorable practice and worthy pattern of those noble Bereans and laying profits honor and prejudice aside if it be possible peruse my testimony and search the scriptures diligently to see whether the things contained therein be so or no if you find them so viz. confirmed and justifyed by the word of God and by the testimony of Christ Jesus the Lord then consider not I but the Lord from heaven calls upon you to break off your sins by repentance and let me hereby give you warning to take heed that you dispise not him that speaketh from heaven As touching the wrong and injury done to us you having thereby much more wronged your own souls in transgressing the very law and light of Nations doing as you would not be done unto it is in my heart to pitty you rather and to petition my Lord in heaven not to lay this sin to your charge than to complain against you or to petition your lords and ours here on earth for justice herein no no we have better learned Christ than so having also given up our hearts to be led by his spirit and to walk in his steps who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed his case to him that judgeth righteously and who knowes but that the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning hath been or may be ere long in your hearts whereby you may be made affectedly sensible that the cause is the same or very little differing from this A poor innocent traveller passeth along the Countrey upon his occasions a man having strength in his arm findeth him frames himself offended with him for no cause he hath given him and because he cannot draw him unto his party either to rob or to kill or to say amen to his practises he therefore binds him and casts him into a pit and declares himself resolute there to keep him till he hath his blood unless he will deliver him his purse the man either hath not a purse about him or a heart to deliver it and being unwilling either to part with his blood or that the other should be so deeply guilty in taking it from him he meekly and earnestly thrice moveth the strong man for a discourse and humbly entreats him that he would not seek by the strength of his arme but by the force of some arguments to convince his understanding and conscience and so to draw him as a man to his party but the strong man delaies him and so puts him off whereupon a good tender hearted Samaritan passing by and perceiving how the case stood and that the strong man would have his purse or his blood without any dispute being moved with compassion to redeem this innocent blood from the handof the strong man he delivers him his own purse and so the man is released Take it not ill that I have used so much plainess of speech for my studie is now to speak plainly and neither flatteringly nor invectively and to use plain dealing with all men although I verifie the Proverb and die a begger for as I told some of your selveâ— and that in publick I abhor dissimulation neither can I account him a wise man who doth not hate dissembling or that doth love to dissemble and therefore saith Solomon rebuke a wise man and he will love thee c. and David the King saith on this wife let the righteous smite me and it shall be a precious balm I know instruction is grievous to him that is out of the way but what saith the wise man he that hateth instruction shall die Consider I pray what hath been spoken and turn not away your eye nor your ear nor your heart from instruction least that which was said by the prophet of old Isa 9. 14 15. 16. be in you verified which to prevent is the humble and earnest request unto the fathers of mercies of Your loving friend and Couutreyman JOHN CLARK To the true Christian Reader THou maist herein Christian Reader see and peruse thy destiny in this present evill world which seems in a great measure to be subjected unto devils through which thou art to pass unto that purchased possession and promised inheritance of the Saints in light which is in that better world which is not subjected unto Angels but unto the Sonne of God himself thou maist herein also observe and take notice of the hand by whom from thy heavenly father thou art to receive that bitter cup which he drunk off when he was here below for thy sake chiefly was this treatise brought forth into the publick view I hope not to discourage thee but to strengthen thine heart that thou mightest not fear any of those things which thou shalt suffer either from men or devils for thy testimony that Jesus is the Christ it being that which will shortly appear the only prevailing and victorious truth in all the world for herein shalt thou also see that worthy saying lively accomplished If ye suffer for the name of Christ blessed are ye for the spirit of the Lord and of glory resteth upon you thou hast a worthy name called on thee My hearts desire and prayer to God on thy behalf therefore is that thou maist enjoy such a plentifull pouring forth of that holy spirit into thine heart that thereby thou maist be inabled to walk worthy of it and having so bright a beam of the Fathers glory in thy
soul it may so shine forth before the sons of men that they seeing thy good works may have cause administred to glorify our father which is in heaven It is not words now Christian although they were spoken with tongues of men and Angels when that worthy name is every where well spoken of but faith that works by love and love by works that will distinguish a heady from a hearty Christian Say not in thine heart that Christs Comands are low and his appointments carnall legal injunctions and at the best but neat for babes least hereby thine heart be declared to be vainly puft â—p in thy carnall or fleshly mind and to have too low and carnall conceits of Christ himself who is the injoyner appointer and commander thereof and shall ere long appear as Judge yea least hereby thou be declared ignorant or at the best forgetful of this one thing that it is the great design of God in Christ as to glorifie himself to admiration in poor sinful flesh so whilest he doth it to hide pride from man and therefore as he hath chosen not many wise mighty nor noble of this world but the foolish weak base despised nothings thereof so hath he suited his commands and appointments thereunto and intends through these foolish things so to cause his wisdome to shine forth as thereby to confound the wise through these weak things so to cause his power to appear as thereby to confound the things that are mighty and through these base dispised things that are not to bring to nought those noble glorious and excellent things of the world that are Thou mayst herein see gentle Reader that I have rather chosen to bear witness to the faith and order of our Lord and to shew unto the world but especially unto thee what is the mind of Christ in this time of his absence as to faith and obedience to shew I say rather what is truth which is but one than to bear witness against the ly which is so various knowing that the truth once established shall discover the falshood and light breaking forth shall scatter the darkness And whilest I lead thee forth to seek him whom thy soul loveth and longeth after who is also thy joy and thy Crown while I lead thee I say by the footsteps of those flocks that first trusted in Christ and were fed by such pastors according to his own heart as he gave them God forbid that thou shouldst be as one that wilt turn aside by the flocks of his companions and shouldst be found remaining either on the left side in a visible way of worship in deed but such as was neither appointed by Christ nor yet practised by them who first trusted in him or on the right in no visible way of worship or order at all either pretending that the outward court is given to the Gentiles and the holy City is by them to be troden under foot that the Church of Christ is now in the wilderness and the time of its recovery is not yet or else pretending that God is a spirit and so will in spirit be worshipped and not in this place or that in this way or that Well if thou beest in these waies misled I can no longer forbear in tenderness of spirit and compassionate bowels of love to stretch forth a helping hand thereby to try whether it be the good pleasure of God at this time to drop down a word of light and life and power into thine heart that thou mayest be there by awakned and quickned to be still saying within thy soul Lord what wilt thou have me to do so shalt thou hear such a saying as this Come out from among them Oh my people and be ye separate from them and touch no unsanctifyed thing and I will receive you and be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty and also such a saying as this Blessed are they that do his commands for they have right to the tree of life and shall enter in through those gates of pearl into that glorious City Rev. 22. 14. and know that these are the commandments of Jesus sci As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him and behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast yea hold fast till I come And such as may be under the later disceptions let me intreat thee to ponder these words in thine heart sci That prophecies although marvelous plain and easy to be understood cannot warrant a pure conscience to neglect much less to cast off the commandments and oppointments of Jesus neither can the spirit of Christ direct or incourage the heart of a Christian to cast off his lordship no no the spirit of Christ is hereby distinguished from that of Antichrist in that he shall unfainedly confess that Jesus is the Christ and that this Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and when he is come according to promise into the heart of a Christian he shall not speak of himself but as a messenger his office is to gloryfie Christ by taking of him and his and shewing it unto yea writing it in the heart of a Christian so that I dare boldly say there is none for the exaltation of Christ Jesus the lord according to his last will and testament and for the nourishing a lively hope in the heart of a Christian concerning his glorious return I say there is none to that holy spirit of promise who being also the spirit of truth shall guide the souls of the Saints to worship the father as in spirit so likewise in truth and therfore that spirit that speaks of himself and is so far from taking of Christs to exalt and gloryfie him according as he hath foretold and his father intended that he takes from Christ laies him low and diminisheth his glory that spirit cannot be the spirit of Christ or that holy spirit of promise and for asmuch as the spirit speaketh expresly that in these later daies there shall be seducing spirits that shall deceive if it were possible the very elect of God whose incounter will not be so much with flesh and blood but with wicked spirits in high places let me therfore exhort thee in the words of that beloved disciple of Christ beleive not every spirit but try the spirits and that by this rule whether they be of God or no bring them to the wholsome words of the holy Apostles Prophets and son of God ye erre saith Christ not knowing the scriptures and the power of God let it be thy care Christian therfore to search the Scriptures and therein to wait for the power and glory of the spirit of God And look to thy spirit for as immediately before Christs appearing in flesh Satan in a large measure possessed the bodies of men that by his casting them out his power in flesh might appear So before his coming again in glory I have grounds
my self requesting also M. Williams to go to Plymouth to know how the case stood so we did and the Magistrates thereof very lovingly gave us a meeting I then informed them of the cause of our coming unto them and desired them in a word of truth and faithfulness to inform us whether Sow-wames were within their Patent for we were now on the wing and were resolved through the help of Christ to get cleer of all and be of our selves and provided our way were cleer before us it were all one for us to go further off as to remain neer ac hand their answer was that Sow-wames was the garden of their Patent and the flour in the garden then I told them we could not desire it but requested further in the like word of truth and faithfulness to be informed whether they laid claim to the Ilands in the Naraganset Bay and that in particular called Acquedneck they all with a cheerfull countenanre made us this answer it was in their thoughts to have advised us thereto and if the provident hand of God should pitch us thereon they should look upon us as free and as loving neighbours and friends should be assistant unto us upon the main c. So we humbly thanked them and returned with that answer So it pleased the Lord by moving the hearts of the natives even the chiefest thereof to pitch us thereon and by other occurrences of providence which are too large here to relate So that having bought them off to their full satisfaction we have possessed the place ever since and notwithstanding the different understandings and consciences amongst us without-interruption we agree to maintain civil Justice and judgement neither are there such outrages committed mongst us as in other parts of the Country are frequently seen The Narrative declares 1. How those three strangers were apprehended imprisoned sentenced and for what 2. How the motion was made for a publique dispute often repeated and promised and yet disapointed 3. How two escaped and the third was cruelly handled 4. How two for taking him but by the hand after his punishment were apprehended imprisoned and sentenced to pay forty shillings or be whipped In their Testimony laid down in four conclusions is opened and proved In the First 1. That Jesus is the Christ i. e. the Anointed Priest Prophet and King of Saints 2. That Christ is also the Lord of his Church in point of ruling and ordering them with respect to the worship of God In the Second 1. That Baptism is one of the commandments of Christ and to continue till he come 2. that visible Believers are the proper subâ—ects thereof 3. That they are as well to wait for the promise of the Spirit as for the presence of Christ. In the Third That every believer ought to improve his talent both in and out of the Congregation In the Fourth That no servant of Jesus hath any authority from him to force upon others either the faith or order of the Gospel of Christ Wherin are produced 8 arguments against persecution for case of Conscience A Faithfull and True Relation of the Prosecution of Obediah Holmes John Crandall and John Clarke meerly for Conscience towards God by the principall Members of the Church or Common-wealth of the Mathatusets in New-England which rules over that part of the World whereby is shewn their discourteous Entertainment of Strangers how that Spirit by which they are led would order the whole World if either brought under them or should come in unto them Drawn forth by the aforesaid John Clarke not so much to answer the Importunity of Friends as to stop the mouthes and slanderous reports of such as are Enemies to the Cross of Christ Let him that readeth it consider which Church is most like the Church of Christ that Prince of Peace that meek and gentle Lamb that came into this World to save Mens lives not to destroy them the Persecuted or Persecuting IT came to pass that we three by the good hand of our God came into the Mathatusets Bay upon the 16 day of the 5th Moneth 51 and upon the 19th of the same upon occasion of businesse we came unto a Town in the same Bay called Lin where we lodged at a Blind-mans house neer two miles out of the Town by name William Witter who being baptized into Christ waits as we also doe for the Kingdom of God and the full consolation of the Israel of God Vpon the 20th day being the first day of the week not having freedom in our Spirits for want of a clear Call from God to goe unto the Publike Assemblie to declare there what was the mind and counsell of God concerning them I judged it was a thing suitable to consider what the counsell of God was concerning our selves and finding by sad experience that the hour of temptation spoken of was coming upon all the World in a more eminent way to try them that are upon the Earth I fell upon the consideration of that Word of Promise made to those that keep the Word of his Patience which present thoughts while in Conscience towards God and good will unto his Saints I was imparting to my Companions in the house where I lodged and to 4 or 5 Strangers that came in unexpected after I had begun opening and proving what is meant by the hour of Temptation what by the Word of his patience and their keeping it and how he that hath the Key of David being the Promiser will keep those that keep the word of his Patience from the hour of Temptation while I say I was yet speaking there comes into the house where we were two Constables who with their clamorous tongues made an interruption in my Discourse and more uncivilly disturbed us than the Pursivants of the old English Bishops were wont to doe telling us that they were come with Authority from the Magistrate to apprehend us I then desired to see the Authority by which they thâ—s proceeded whereupon they pluckt forth their Warrant and one of them with a trembling band as conscious he might have been better imployed read it to us The substance whereof was as followeth BY virtue hereof you are required to go to the house of William Witter and so to search from house to house for certain erronious persons being Strangers and them to apprehend and in safe custody to keep and to morrow morning by eight of the Clock to bring before me Robert Bridges When he had read the Warrant I told them Friends there shall not be I trust the least appearance of a resisting of that Authority by which you come unto us yet I tell you that by virtue hereof you are not so strictly tyed but if you please you may suffer us to make an end of what we have begun so may you be Witnesses either to or against the Faith and Order which we hold to which they answered they could not then said we notwithstanding the Warrant
Sword of that Spirit which is the Word not of man but of God to effect much lesse to conform their outward man contrary to their minds and consciences in the Worship of God and therefore that Sword and Power ought to take heed how they meddle herein lest they attempt to take the place enter upon the Throne and Kingdom of Christ either to force such as be conceived to be true Worshipers to the true Worship and service of God for it is written Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts And again In the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people much lesse to force such as are no Worshipers or false to that Worship which is true and yet much lesse to force false to that which is false or true to that which is false and hence it is that although the Kings of the Earth have been deceived and through the righteous judgment of God have given their power to the Beast to their own dishonor and detriment who have improved the same to bear up the Whore and to bear down and crush the Spouse of the Lamb so that Babel hath for a long time rejoyced and Sion hath mourned yet when the time appointed is come at the voyce of her King Sion shall deliver her self from the Daughter of Babel though all the powers of this World seek to withstand it neither shall the gates of Hell prevail against it for it is written concerning those that keep the Commandements of God and the Testimony of Iesus that they overcame him sâ—il that great Red-Dragon called the Devill and Satan who also gave his power to the Beast they overcame him I say by the Blood of that Lamb and by that word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Now touching Iohn Crandall aforesaid to whose charge they had also nothing to lay but his being with us owning the same Faith and Order of the Gospell and therefore refusing to stoop to that likenesse thereto which they had set up yet as is said they sentenced him to pay 5 pounds by the next Court of Assistants or else to be well whipt Whereupon the day following he inquired of the Keeper when that Court of Assistants would be being resolved not to chuse his punishment they being not able to make it appear by the Law of God or Man that he was a Transgressor so to be punished and being by him informed that it would be a quarter of a yeer before that time came and also that if he were so resolved he might put in Bail for his appearance at the time aforesaid and so depart he forthwith put in Bail and so departed to visit his Family being distant from thence threescore and ten miles He was no sooner at home but his Spirit was unsatisfied in what he had done in leaving us behind in the Prison though with our consent and counsell he did what he did whereupon leaving his Harvest upon the spoyl within a few dayes he returned to us again and tendered his person unto the Keeper who refused it saying Since your departure I perceive your Sentence is That you should not depart the Prison without either paying the money or putting in security for the payment of it wherefore now either you or your Surety must pay it To whom Brother Crandall replyed you informed me otherwise before I went and upon other termes I departed wherefore for my own part I am resolved I will not pay it and for my Surety he is at his liberty being no otherwise bound than for my appearance and here I am and am your Prisoner neverthelesse when I was released and turned out of Prison and could no longer upon that account there remain I counselled him to put the matter quite out of doubt wherefore he said to the Iaylor Let me know what I shall trust to for if you accept me upon the former account well I shall willingly tarry and remain your Prisoner but if not I shall now repair home with my Friend to my Family so after the Jaylor had advised with the Magistrate he friendly told him If he would promise to appear at the time appointed he would take his word become his Surety and he might be gone whereupon I being doubtfull though he was confident concerning the time there being an other Court between desired him to send us certain word to the Iland when that Court of Assistants would be so having his promise we thankfully accepted his kindnesse so departed And being at home we waited for a word from the Keeper for a return but the first word we heard touching that matter was that the Court was past which was that Court I suspected that Brother Holmes had had his tryal by cruel scourgings that the Iaylor being Brother Crandals Surety by reason of his non-appearance was constrained to pay the money hereupon not long after Brother Crandall went to Boston and charged the â—aylor with his mis-information and neglect of his promise and moreover declared that he had told him That being Innocent he would not make himself a Transgressor by chusing his punishment and therefore had resolved as he also knew not to pay them a penny and further he told him that there was no necessity he should lay down the money it being but through a mistake and he being but Surety when the Principall was present and was able through the strength of Christ to answer the penalty and thus having argued the case with the laylor he left him without any grounds of hope to have it repaid neverthelesse if advantage will be so strictly taken upon the Keepers mistake neither Conscience nor Equity will suffer us it appearing to be a meer mistake and no plotted thing not to suffer him to bear it and thus it appears how a second came off and escaped a scourging Now as concerning the third by name Obediah Holmes what is laid to his charge this Sentence under their Secretaries hand a Copy whereof is here under written will plainly expresse The Sentence of Obediah Holmes of Seacuck the 31 of the 5th M. 1651. FOrasmuch as you Obediah Holmes being come into this Iurisdiction about the 21 of the 5th M. did meet at one William Witters house at Lin and did hear privatly and at other times being an Excommunicate person did take upon you to Preach and to Baptize upon the Lords day or other dayes and being taken then by the Constable and comming afterward to the Assembly at Lin did in disrepect of the Ordinance of God and his Worship keep on your hat the Pastor being in Prayer insomuch that you would not give reverence in veiling your hat till it was forced off your head to the disturbance of the Congregation and professing against the Institution of the Church as not being according to the Gospell of Iesus Christ and that you the said Obediah Holmes did upon the day
Seat and cursed me saying The Curse of God or Iesus goe with thee so we were carried to the Prison where not long after I was deprived of my two loving Friends at whose departure the Adversary stept in took hold on my Spirit and troubled me for the space of an hour and then the Lord came in and sweetly releeved me causing me to look to himself so was I stayed and refreshed in the thoughts of my God and although during the time of my Imprisonment the Tempter was busie yet it pleased God so to stand at my right hand that the motions were but sudden and so vanished away and although there were that would have payd the money if I would accept it yet I durst not accept of deliverance in such a way and therefore my answer to them was that although I would acknowledge their love to a cup of cold Water yet could I not thank them for their money if they should pay it so the Court drew neer and the night before I should suffer according to my sentence it pleased God I rested and slept quietly in the morning many Friends came to visit me desiring me to take the refreshment of Wine and other Comforts but my resolution was not to drink Wine nor strong drink that day untill my punishment were over and the reason was lest in case I had more strength courage and boldnesse than ordinarily could be expected the VVorld should either say he is drunk with new VVine or else that the comfort and strength of the Creature hath carried him through but my course was this I desired Brother John Hazell to bear my Friends company and I betook my self to my Chamber where I might communicate with my God commit my self to him and beg strength from him I had no sooner sequestred my self and come into my Chamber but Sathan lets flie at me saying Remember thy self thy birth breeding and friends thy wife children name and credit but as this was sudden so there came in sweetly from the Lord as sudden an answer 't is for my Lord I must not deny him before the Sons of men for that is to set men above him but rather lose all yea wife children and mine own life also To this the tempter replies Oh! but that is the question is it for him and for him alone is it not rather for thy own or some others sake thou hast so professed and practised and now art loth to deny it is not pride and self in the bottom surely this temptation was strong and thereupon I made diligent search after the matter as formerly I had done and after a while there was even as it had been a voyce from Heaven in my very Soul bearing witnes with my Conscience that it was not for any mans case or sake in this world that so I had professed and practised but for my Lords case and sake and for him alone whereupon my Spirit was much refresht as also in the consideration of these three Scriptures which speak on this wise Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Although I walk through the valley and shadow of Death I will fear none evill thy rod and thy staff they shall comfort me And he that continueth to to the end the same shall be saved But then came in the consideration of the weaknesse of the Flesh to bear the strokes of a whip though the Spirit was willing and hereupon I was caused to pray earnestly unto the Lord that he would be pleased to give me a spirit of courage and boldnesse a tongue to speak for him and strength of body to suffer for his sake and not to shrink or yeeld to the stroaks or shed tears lest the adversaries of the truth should thereupon blaspheme and be hardned and the weak and feeble-hearted discouraged and for this I befought the Lord earnestly at length he satisfied my spirit to give up as my soul so my body to him and quietly to leave the whole disposing of the matter to him and so I addressed my self in as comely a manner as I could having such a Lord and Master to serve in this businesse And when I heard the voyce of my Keeper come for me even cheerfulnesse did come upon me and taking my Testament in my hand I went along with him to the place of execution and after common salutation there stood there stood by also one of the Magistrates by name Mr. Encrease Nowell who for a while kept silent and spoke not a word and so did I expecting the Governours presence but he came not But after a while Mr. Nowell bad the Executioner doe his Office then I desired to speak a few words but Mr. Nowell answered it is not now a time to speak whereupon I took leave and said Men Brethren Fathers and Countrey-men I beseech you give me leave to speak a few words and the rather because here are many Spectators to see me punished and I am to seal with my Blood if God give strength that which I hold and practise in reference to the Word of God and the testimony of Iesus that which I have to say in brief is this Although I confesse I am no Disputant yet seeing I am to seal what I hold with my Blood I am ready to defend it by the Word and to dispute that point with any that shall come forth to withstand it Mr. Nowell answered me now was no time to dispute then said I then I desire to give an account of the Faith and Order I hold and this I desired three times but in comes Mr. Flint and saith to the Executioner Fellow doe thine Office for this Fellow would but make a long Speech to delude the people so I being resolved to speak told the people That which I am to suffer for is for the Word of God and testimony of Iesus Christ No saith Mr. Nowell it is for your Error and going about to seduce the people to which I replyed not for Error for in all the time of my Imprisonment wherein I was left alone my Brethren being gone which of all your Ministers in all that time came to convince me of Error and when upon the Governours words a motion was made for a publick dispute and upon fair terms so often renewed and desired by hundreds what was the reason it was not granted Mr. Nowell told me it was his fault that went away and would not dispute but this the Writings will cleer at large still Mr. Flint calls to the man to doe his Office so before and in the time of his pulling off my cloathes I continued speaking telling them That I had so learned that for all Boston I would not give my bodie into their hands thus to be bruised upon another account yet upon this I would not give the hundredth part of a Wampon Peague to free it out of their hands and that I made as much Conscience of unbuttoning one button as I
golden Altar that is before the Throne and must be mingled and perfumed with much sweet incense out of the golden censer that is in the Angell of the Covenants hand and the smoke of the incense must ascend with their prayers before God out of the Angels hand Rev. 8. 3 4 so that in this point they are nothing yea lesse and worse than nothing but Christ is the very power of God in this point the substance of all those shadowes and what he did in reference to the work of attonement and reconciliation he doth it substantially and effectually both on Gods part and mans for he hath both natures in himself and by reason thereof is an apt Mediator fit to interpose between both to make reconciliation for he is declared to be the Son of God wholly without sin consecrated with an oath of God to be a Priest for that purpose for ever Heb. 7. 21. comp with 27. 28. who by the eternall spirit of God offered up himself without fault to God his Father the just for the unjust so that by one offering he hath consecrated for ever them that are sanctified so that there is no more need of offering for sin see Heb. 9. 4. comp with 10. 14. 18. and is now entred not into the Holy places made with hands but into Heaven to appear in the sight of God for those that beleeve through him and not with the blood of others but with his own blood whereby their consciences are purged from dead works to serve the true and the living God see Heb 9. 26. 14. yea and there remaineth and is set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the highest being the memediator of that better covenant even that which is established upon the best and absolute free promises which are to pardon their enmity and iniquity and to remember their sin no more to write his Lawes in their hearts and to be to them a God and to undertake that they shall be to him a people so that as God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them so in the ministry of reconciliation Christ is by his Spirit in man shedding abroad the love of God in his heart and thereby slaying his enmity by which means he is reconciled to God so that whom he blesseth being the High Priest and Captain of our salvation shall be blessed indeed see Acts 3. 26. By all which it doth appear to be a truth that there is none to him in point of attonement to make reconciliation between God and Man And now that there is none with him in that great work neither person nor service is also as evident God the Father hath designed him alone in that businesse that no Flesh might glory in his presence see Acts 4. 11. 12. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Colloss 1. 20. 1 Cor. 1. 29. And Paul tels the Galatians who were about to joyn circumcision and so works with Christ in this point of acceptance with God that then Christ should not profit them and that they were faln from grace see Gal. 5. 23. He is the Anointed Prophet none to him in point of Instruction That he is the Anointed Prophet or a Prophet Anointed with the Spirit of Prophecie above his fellow Prophets and a Teacher immediately sent from God from Heaven see Io. 9. 17. Luke 24. 19. Heb. 1. 9. Ioh. 3. 2. 13. 6. 38. 16. 28. And that there is no Prophet to him will evidently appear for all the other Prophets of God were such as did bear witness to him or were types of him yea Moses and Elias those two great Prophets lay themselves low that he may be exalted wherefore Deut. 18. 15. I saith the Lord by the hand of Moses will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee and will put my words in his mouth he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him and it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name I will require it of him And Ioh. 3. 30 31. He must increase saith Iohn the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elias and was saith Christ more than a Prophet so that among those that were borne of Women before him there was not a greater and I must decrease he that cometh from above saith he is above all he that is of the Earth is Earthly and speaketh of the Earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all and what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his Testimony he that hath received his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true for he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him and as these great Prophets thus witness to Christ so the voice that is heard from Heaven by Iames Cephas and Iohn do confirm their testimony that there is no Prophet to him for when upon the Mount Moses and Elias appeared talking with Christ and Peter would have three Tents or Tabernacles one for Christ one for Moses and another for Elias that so no doubt at some times and in some cases he might be hearkning to them immediataly upon the motion and as an evident manifestation of a dislike thereof they both vanished and a cloud overshadow'd them all and Christ being the Prophet only remaining there comes a voice out of the cloud which said This is my wel-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5 6 7. And now that there is none to him in point of instruction will also appear with respect both to the matter and efficacy 1 For the matter of instruction he that cometh from above being also in the bosome of the Father must needs be above all in his matter of instruction for what he hath heard and seen in the Fathers bosome that he Testifies and speaketh the very words of God yea declareth and maketh known God himself being the bright breaking-forth of the Fathers glory which was that which Moses that great Prophet did so much desire to behold and could not obtain it and hence it is that it is said his hearers were astonished at his Doctrine concluded no man ever spake like this man and the best of them knew not whether to go to better themselves forasmuch as he had the words of eternall life yea and that holy Spirit of promise which the Saints were and still are to receive was but to glorifie him to take of him and his words and to shew unto them the treasures of light and life and refreshment that is contained therein see for the proof of all this 1 Io. 17. 18. Io. 3. 31 32 34. Heb. 1. 3. Exo. 33. 18 27. Mat. 7. 28. Io. 7. 46. Io. 6. 68. Io. 14. 26. 16. 12 13 14. And as for excellency of matter so for efficacy