from_o they_o trust_v that_o the_o promise_n of_o grace_n mention_v 2_o cor._n 6.17_o 18._o in_o these_o word_n wherefore_o come_v out_o from_o among_o they_o and_o be_v you_o separate_v say_v the_o lord_n and_o touch_v not_o the_o unclean_a thing_n and_o i_o will_v receive_v you_o and_o be_v a_o father_n unto_o you_o and_o you_o shall_v be_v my_o son_n and_o daughter_n say_v the_o lord_n almighty_n we_o desire_v also_o for_o their_o and_o our_o encouragement_n to_o leave_v with_o they_o that_o scripture_n psal_n 9.4_o hos_fw-la 11.12_o to_o be_v they_o and_o our_o portion_n also_o but_o till_o then_o we_o do_v also_o hereby_o humble_o testify_v and_o declare_v that_o as_o they_o now_o stand_v we_o can_v have_v communion_n with_o they_o as_o otherwise_o in_o the_o uprightness_n of_o our_o heart_n we_o desire_v to_o have_v and_o shall_v much_o rejoice_v in_o be_v they_o clear_v from_o the_o evil_n of_o this_o day_n and_o withdraw_v from_o among_o those_o disorderly_a person_n till_o 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14.19_o 20._o compare_n châ—_n 16_o 41._o to_o 50_o ca._n 262_o which_o notable_o agree_v with_o matt._n 18.18_o 19_o whatsoever_o you_o shall_v bind_v on_o earth_n shall_v be_v bind_v in_o heaven_n etc._n etc._n again_o if_o two_o of_o you_o viz._n have_v the_o truth_n shall_v agree_v on_o earth_n as_o touch_v any_o thing_n they_o shall_v ask_v it_o shall_v be_v do_v unto_o they_o etc._n etc._n and_o upon_o this_o account_n chief_o it_o be_v that_o they_o have_v the_o power_n and_o this_o presence_n with_o they_o and_o not_o so_o much_o because_o the_o one_o be_v the_o leader_n and_o the_o other_o as_o it_o be_v the_o pastor_n of_o the_o congregation_n for_o if_o with_o the_o other_o they_o will_v have_v make_v a_o captain_n to_o return_v to_o egpt_n as_o also_o have_v stone_v caleb_n and_o joshua_n in_o all_o likelihood_n they_o have_v perish_v with_o they_o yea_o we_o find_v that_o because_o the_o do_v contrary_a to_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o lord_n at_o the_o water_n of_o meribah_n 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to_o the_o kingdom_n of_o christ_n and_o zion_n shall_v be_v fusil_v see_v revel_v 2.26_o 27._o revel_v 3.10_o 12_o 21._o in_o your_o poor_a unworthy_a brethren_n and_o sister_n in_o who_o name_n this_o come_v though_o the_o lesser_a number_n which_o we_o desire_v to_o mention_v with_o all_o humillty_n and_o not_o in_o vainglory_n know_v that_o we_o have_v no_o cause_n to_o be_v high_o mind_v but_o fear_v that_o such_o poor_a shrub_n as_o we_o shall_v stand_v when_o so_o many_o tall_a cedar_n fall_v it_o be_v no_o where_o record_v in_o scripture_n that_o the_o power_n of_o the_o church_n rest_v in_o the_o great_a number_n as_o under_o that_o denomination_n but_o in_o those_o who_o according_a to_o the_o command_n of_o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n do_v withdraw_v from_o every_o brother_n that_o walk_v disorderly_a be_v they_o the_o less_o or_o the_o great_a number_n for_o where_o truth_n be_v there_o be_v the_o true-church_n power_n according_a to_o that_o in_o matt._n 16.18_o 19_o in_o these_o word_n thou_o be_v poter_fw-it and_o upon_z this_o rock_n will_v i_o build_v my_o church_n and_o i_o will_v give_v unto_o thou_o the_o key_n of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n etc._n etc._n whence_o we_o desire_v to_o observe_v that_o although_o our_o lord_n jesus_n speak_v to_o peter_n as_o a_o single_a person_n yet_o lay_v the_o weight_n of_o the_o church_n upon_o he_o not_o as_o peter_n but_o upon_o the_o truth_n whereof_o he_o make_v so_o upright_a a_o confession_n whereby_o it_o seem_v plain_a unto_o we_o that_o where_o truth_n be_v not_o only_o in_o the_o judgement_n but_o practice_n there_o be_v the_o church_n with_o the_o key_n to_o wit_v its_o power_n and_o this_o our_o brother_n sympson_n have_v former_o declare_v say_v that_o he_o shall_v judge_v it_o his_o duty_n to_o join_v with_o a_o little_a number_n be_v they_o but_o 30_o or_o 40._o in_o number_n against_o 500_o be_v persuade_v that_o the_o key_n of_o the_o church_n be_v true_o there_o where_o the_o truth_n appear_v not_o only_o in_o the_o doctrine_n but_o practice_n and_o yet_o we_o will_v say_v that_o where_o the_o great_a number_n oppose_v the_o truth_n more_o caution_n be_v to_o be_v use_v more_o humility_n and_o brokenness_n of_o spirit_n manifest_v and_o much_o look_v up_o unto_o the_o lord_n to_o be_v guide_v aright_o by_o the_o seffer_n number_n wherein_o we_o must_v acknowledge_v we_o have_v be_v too_o remiss_a &_o desire_v to_o be_v humble_v before_o the_o lord_n for_o the_o same_o in_o the_o face_n of_o jesus_n christ_n thus_o desire_v that_o this_o out_o last_o testimony_n may_v be_v receive_v in_o love_n and_o be_v of_o that_o use_n and_o weight_n as_o to_o provoke_v you_o to_o a_o godly_a jealousy_n as_o paul_n epistle_n do_v the_o corinthian_n about_o the_o incestuous_a person_n that_o we_o may_v have_v cause_n to_o rejoice_v upon_o the_o same_o account_n as_o he_o have_v which_o can_v we_o once_o see_v we_o shall_v willing_o lie_v at_o your_o foot_n for_o truth_n sake_n and_o be_v more_o glad_a thereof_o then_o of_o our_o daily_a food_n till_o then_o we_o desire_v to_o mourn_v and_o pray_v for_o your_o return_n sign_v in_o the_o name_n and_o by_o the_o appointment_n of_o the_o whole_a john_n proud_a tho._n cary._n caleb_n ingold_n james_n chadwick_n humphrey_n hathorn_n john_n portman_n date_v the_o 1._o of_o the_o 7._o month_n 1657._o this_o paper_n be_v commit_v to_o the_o custody_n of_o six_o brethren_n choose_v from_o among_o we_o to_o present_v and_o deliver_v it_o according_a to_o direction_n and_o if_o it_o may_v be_v obtain_v that_o some_o one_o of_o the_o six_o may_v have_v liberty_n to_o read_v it_o in_o the_o presence_n of_o they_o all_o but_o when_o they_o come_v they_o be_v deny_v the_o
nothing_o of_o conscience_n to_o engage_v he_o we_o leave_v unto_o the_o lord_n and_o you_o to_o judge_v these_o thing_n still_o lie_v upon_o our_o heart_n we_o judge_v it_o our_o duty_n to_o present_v they_o unto_o you_o and_o lay_v they_o before_o you_o and_o with_o humility_n to_o offer_v these_o follow_a query_n as_o the_o ground_n and_o reason_n of_o our_o absence_n to_o this_o day_n 1_o 1._o whether_o there_o be_v not_o from_o what_o have_v be_v already_o offer_v ground_n to_o believe_v that_o our_o brethren_n be_v under_o sin_n and_o that_o scandalous_a though_o they_o excuse_v it_o by_o say_v it_o do_v not_o appear_v to_o be_v so_o to_o they_o 2_o 2._o whether_o it_o be_v not_o according_a to_o the_o rule_n to_o deal_v with_o a_o brother_n upon_o the_o account_n of_o sin_n commit_v y_o when_o we_o lay_v the_o soldier_n evil_a to_o their_o charge_n they_o excuse_v it_o say_v it_o do_v not_o appear_v to_o be_v so_o to_o they_o the_o incestuous_a person_n 1_o cor._n 5.5_o be_v to_o be_v deal_v withal_o for_o sin_n commit_v though_o his_o conviction_n be_v afterward_o the_o reason_n why_o they_o will_v not_o acknowledge_v their_o sin_n be_v because_o deut._n 16.19_o a_o gift_n blind_v the_o eye_n of_o the_o wise_a and_o pervert_v the_o word_n of_o the_o righteous_a and_o prov._n 17.8_o a_o gift_n be_v as_o a_o precious_a stone_n in_o the_o eye_n of_o he_o that_o have_v it_o wheresoever_o it_o turn_v it_o prosper_v imply_v if_o the_o heart_n desire_v gift_n it_o will_v be_v ready_a to_o serve_v their_o end_n who_o give_v they_o therefore_o prov._n 18.16_o it_o be_v say_v a_o man_n gift_n make_v room_n for_o he_o and_o bring_v he_o before_o great_a man_n and_o if_o they_o have_v such_o power_n upon_o they_o not_o wonder_n if_o they_o prevail_v upon_o our_o brethren_n so_o late_o raise_v up_o from_o a_o mean_a condition_n who_o while_o they_o be_v willing_a to_o receive_v their_o money_n will_v not_o acknowledge_v their_o serve_v of_o they_o to_o bean_n evil_a paul_n 1_o cor._n 5.2_o reprove_v the_o church_n for_o keep_v the_o incestuous_a person_n so_o long_o among_o they_o and_o yet_o the_o present_a church_n keep_v army-man_n and_o other_o among_o they_o though_o their_o sin_n be_v as_o plain_a as_o the_o incestuous_a person_n be_v whether_o he_o be_v convince_v of_o it_o or_o not_o such_o deal_n be_v in_o order_n to_o conviction_n but_o in_o case_n he_o shall_v be_v convince_v or_o not_o be_v convince_v yet_o if_o he_o do_v not_o forsake_v it_o by_o turn_v from_o his_o evil_a way_n the_o censure_n of_o the_o church_n be_v to_o pass_v upon_o he_o notwithstanding_o 3_o 3._o whether_o you_o have_v not_o in_o some_o degree_n miss_v of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n in_o receive_v they_o among_o you_o without_o so_o much_o as_o a_o word_n of_o z_o beside_o eph._n 5.11_o see_v psal_n 50.16_o 17_o 18._o comp_n with_o prov._n 24.24_o where_o you_o may_v find_v it_o be_v not_o only_o a_o consent_n to_o and_o a_o partake_n with_o evil_n but_o a_o say_n to_o the_o wicked_a thou_o be_v righteous_a when_o we_o see_v person_n commit_v sin_n and_o not_o reprove_v they_o and_o if_o what_o be_v say_v in_o prov._n 24.24_o be_v true_a he_o that_o say_v to_o the_o wicked_a thou_o be_v righteous_a he_o shall_v the_o people_n curse_n nation_n shall_v abhor_v he_o then_o sure_o not_o only_a the_o people_n of_o this_o but_o the_o nation_n abroad_o when_o they_o come_v to_o hear_v of_o the_o apostasy_n of_o the_o army_n and_o they_o in_o power_n from_o those_o good_a principle_n lead_v to_o the_o advancement_n of_o zion_n and_o the_o kingdom_n of_o christ_n former_o declare_v for_o which_o have_v they_o be_v pursue_v will_v have_v bring_v in_o so_o much_o good_a to_o the_o whole_a creation_n they_o will_v not_o only_o abhor_v they_o but_o also_o curse_v those_o godly_a people_n both_o in_o and_o out_o of_o church_n who_o instead_o of_o do_v their_o duty_n in_o reprove_v and_o withdraw_v from_o the_o the_o only_a mean_n to_o put_v a_o stop_n thereunto_o and_o to_o revive_v the_o work_n again_o do_v sit_v down_o with_o and_o strengthem_n therein_o whereby_o that_o good_a be_v keep_v from_o come_v to_o they_o admonition_n from_o the_o lord_n as_o be_v jealous_a of_o their_o soul_n lest_o sin_n though_o as_o they_o say_v unseen_a to_o they_o lie_v hide_v in_o their_o heart_n shall_v at_o last_o break_v forth_o in_o a_o great_a measure_n to_o the_o great_a dishonour_n of_o god_n 4_o 4._o whether_o you_o do_v not_o in_o a_o great_a measure_n bid_v they_o a_o psal_n 50.18_o compare_v with_o prov_n 24_o 25_o it_o be_v a_o partake_n with_o evil_a to_o approve_v of_o person_n that_o commit_v it_o see_v job_n 34_o 8_o compare_v with_o 2_o john_n chap_n 10_o verse_n â—â—_o god_n speed_n in_o their_o employment_n as_o they_o now_o stand_v and_o thereby_o become_v partaker_n of_o their_o evil_a deed_n 5_o 5._o whether_o our_o brethren_n do_v not_o by_o their_o continuance_n in_o these_o sin_n walk_v b_o 2_o thess_n 3_o 6_o disorderly_a walk_v be_v declare_v in_o five_o 8_o 11_o to_o be_v eat_v a_o man_n bread_n for_o nought_o or_o not_o answer_v the_o end_n for_o which_o that_o bread_n be_v give_v now_o our_o brethren_n receive_v pay_n and_o salary_n from_o the_o present_a power_n which_o be_v the_o bread_n extort_a by_o they_o from_o the_o people_n pretend_v for_o their_o good_a and_o yet_o employ_v it_o contrary_a thereunto_o as_o our_o experience_n can_v witness_v our_o brethren_n uphold_v they_o therein_o may_v true_o be_v say_v to_o eat_v the_o people_n bread_n for_o nought_o therefore_o verse_n 14_o of_o that_o chapter_n we_o be_v to_o note_v such_o disorderly_a person_n and_o have_v no_o fellowship_n with_o they_o that_o they_o may_v be_v ashamed_a and_o 1_o cor_n 5_o 11_o we_o be_v not_o to_o keep_v company_n or_o eat_v with_o a_o brother_n that_o be_v covetous_a or_o a_o extortioner_n &c_n &c_n and_o we_o conceive_v by_o what_o have_v be_v already_o and_o may_v be_v offer_v it_o do_v and_o will_v appear_v our_o brethren_n be_v herein_o guilty_a also_o see_v psal_n 26_o 4_o 5_o ti_fw-mi to_o this_o purpose_n disorderly_a if_o so_o whether_o we_o have_v not_o ground_n in_o scripture_n to_o withdraw_v from_o every_o brother_n that_o walk_v disorderly_a and_o for_o a_o time_n to_o absent_v ourselves_o from_o the_o church_n have_v vote_v communion_n with_o they_o notwithstanding_o their_o sin_n for_o it_o can_v be_v that_o we_o shall_v sit_v down_o with_o the_o c_o the_o reader_n may_v judge_v it_o a_o contradiction_n for_o we_o in_o this_o query_n to_o call_v they_o a_o church_n in_o distinction_n from_o ourselves_o and_o yet_o in_o the_o close_a of_o our_o follow_a paper_n to_o judge_v otherwise_o to_o which_o we_o answer_v that_o upon_o our_o first_o come_v off_o we_o be_v great_o in_o the_o dark_a but_o wait_v upon_o the_o lord_n for_o light_n and_o direction_n herein_o do_v afterward_o discern_v that_o where_o the_o major_a part_n fall_v in_o with_o scandalous_a sin_n the_o lesser_a part_n with_o draw_v from_o they_o upon_o that_o account_n the_o lord_n do_v look_v upon_o those_o who_o have_v the_o truth_n and_o purity_n on_o their_o side_n to_o have_v virtual_o the_o power_n of_o the_o church_n in_o they_o though_o the_o lesser_a number_n of_o which_o more_o may_v be_v see_v in_o our_o last_o paper_n church_n and_o not_o sit_v down_o with_o they_o as_o the_o case_n now_o stand_v our_o end_n be_v if_o the_o lord_n so_o please_v that_o the_o church_n may_v consider_v whether_o sin_n be_v not_o at_o their_o door_n in_o so_o vote_a communion_n with_o they_o 6_o 6._o whether_o we_o be_v not_o in_o the_o lord_n way_n 32._o desire_v to_o be_v resolve_v in_o these_o thing_n if_o out_o of_o the_o way_n as_o be_v suppose_v it_o be_v by_o meet_v together_o to_o seek_v the_o lord_n for_o counsel_n and_o direction_n not_o mix_v ourselves_o with_o other_o as_o be_v report_v or_o run_v into_o the_o world_n for_o our_o liberty_n to_o sin_n but_o open_v our_o heart_n before_o 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have_v direct_o justify_v they_o therein_o and_o that_o their_o evil_n who_o approve_v of_o and_o uphold_v the_o present_a apostasy_n may_v more_o plain_o appear_v see_v the_o follow_a scripture_n numb_a 27.3_o to_o 7._o the_o daughter_n of_o zelophead_n to_o clear_v their_o title_n to_o a_o portion_n of_o land_n they_o claim_v in_o right_a of_o their_o decease_a father_n in_o the_o land_n of_o canaan_n plead_v that_o he_o die_v in_o the_o wilderness_n in_o his_o own_o sin_n and_o be_v not_o in_o the_o company_n of_o korah_n and_o those_o with_o he_o who_o gather_v themselves_o together_o against_o the_o lord_n imply_v that_o if_o he_o have_v be_v among_o they_o and_o stand_v on_o their_o side_n when_o they_o oppose_v moses_n and_o aaron_n etc._n etc._n who_o be_v go_v to_o possess_v the_o land_n of_o canaan_n a_o type_n of_o the_o work_n of_o our_o day_n be_v great_a than_o any_o other_o of_o his_o sin_n and_o that_o which_o will_v have_v cut_v he_o and_o they_o off_o from_o such_o 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matter_n of_o circumcision_n neither_o be_v there_o any_o visible_a apostasy_n among_o the_o church_n at_o that_o day_n as_o now_o be_v else_o we_o conceive_v that_o the_o church_n at_o antioch_n will_v not_o have_v send_v unto_o they_o about_o it_o these_o reason_n be_v premise_v and_o the_o substance_n of_o our_o last_o paper_n relate_v hereunto_o consider_v we_o do_v humble_o declare_v that_o we_o can_v in_o no_o wise_n condescend_v to_o a_o debate_n upon_o those_o condition_n receive_v from_o you_o neither_o upon_o any_o other_o term_n then_o be_v mention_v in_o our_o last_o paper_n and_o upon_o which_o account_n we_o refuse_v at_o first_o not_o that_o we_o desire_v to_o stand_v upon_o term_n of_o advantage_n for_o ourselves_o be_v we_o not_o ground_o persuade_v the_o name_n and_o cause_n of_o christ_n we_o be_v engage_v in_o will_v very_o much_o suffer_v thereby_o thus_o desire_v to_o hear_v a_o return_n from_o you_o if_o a_o debate_n of_o the_o matter_n in_o difference_n be_v 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my_o hope_n shall_v be_v lively_a and_o my_o joy_n shall_v be_v full_a and_o i_o shall_v never_o be_v ashamed_a that_o i_o have_v give_v you_o a_o alarm_n of_o christ_n come_v in_o the_o spirit_n among_o his_o people_n i_o do_v yet_o by_o free_a grace_n glory_n that_o i_o shall_v receive_v more_o of_o the_o spirit_n in_o gift_n and_o grace_n than_o yet_o be_v give_v unto_o i_o isa_n 45.11_o god_n have_v command_v i_o to_o ask_v he_o of_o thing_n to_o come_v christ_n have_v persuade_v i_o that_o this_o prison_n be_v a_o jerusalem_n where_o i_o must_v wait_v for_o the_o promise_n of_o the_o father_n act_v 1.4_o pray_v therefore_o for_o i_o for_o yourselves_o and_o for_o all_o saint_n that_o they_o and_o we_o may_v be_v baptise_a with_o the_o holy_a spirit_n not_o many_o day_n hence_o the_o spirit_n will_v return_v again_o unto_o believe_v saint_n and_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n according_a to_o the_o new_a testament_n institution_n shall_v be_v the_o school_n of_o the_o prophet_n 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