these things And let no man blame me for I have but with an equal hand brought all sorts of people to the line of true judgement that they may know who is to be maintained and who is not in their Religion and practises thereof But and if that after all this the people of God be persecuted and violence be done to them and injustice and unrighteousness acted upon them in this Commonwealth as of late years hath been and yet it be suffered to be and none taken any notice to preserve and defend them whose Religion is according to Scripture which he is sworn to maintain then I leave it to the light in all mens consciences to judge what a condition such are in whose oath is not kept but broken for these things are of no less value then either breaking or keeping a mans own oath which solemnly hath been taken and this is not a light thing but to be seriously considered of both by Magistrates Teachers and people in this Commonwealth yet notwithstanding all this the people of God doth not boast in or trust unto the arm of flesh neither are any whit the more confident in their way though it be proved that they ought in justice to be upholden and maintained in what they profess and practise as aforesaid for their hope and confidence is onely in God who onely is sufficient to protect and uphold his people in all their ways and exercises and though all men do forget their own promises and oaths yet will not the Lord forget his chosen people to defend them from all their Enemies who hath again appeared to gather his people after the long and dark night of apostacy and his House and Tabernacle shall be exalted over all the Earth An Objection Now many may say seeing I challenge claim and affirm that this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scripture then they ask and say Hath there been no true Religion before this or hath all these Religions been false before and seeing this hath but newly appeared in the world was there no true Religion before and if there were any where was it and what was that Religion seeing there hath not been for many ages such a Religion as this is And after this manner doth many reason and object to themselves and raises to themselves stumblings and conceits themselves that our forefathers were of a good way and many of them sure were saved which was not of this Religion which did not profess and practice these things which is professed and practised by this people Answer Now unto all these I do answer and say That this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scriptures as is proved already seeing they profess and practice nothing for Religion but what the Scriptures doth justifie and shews the very examples of the same things but that God had a people in all ages and a feed that never bowed to Baal it s believed and such as did sincerely seek after God according to what they knew and they were accepted of God according to what was made manifest in that age and generation yet the testimony of truth it self and the way of the Lord it self for many generations hath not so clearly and purely been held forth as it is now in this age and generation for now the true light hath shined and the way of salvation is evidently made manifest as by many witnesses and evident tokens which may be given and was not so clearly for many ages past held forth and known And such who have been sincerely seeking after God though they knew not perfectly the way unto him neither had they such a pure testimony revealed to guide them as now is manifest yet such do now rejoice and owns the way of the Lord and the seed of God is refreshed in them and all causes of stumbling removed and the pure light of the Gospel is sprung forth more clear in this age then in any age for many generations for the Scripture sheweth that a dark night of Apostacy hath been over the whole world and the beast hath reigned and the false Prophet hath deceived many Nations and the whole World hath wondered after the beast for many ages and the beast hath made war with the Saints and hath had power to kill them and hath put a stop many times to the appearances of God till now at length he doth appear and the power of hell and death shall not stop it and they do say that they are come out of the Apostacy to the dawning of the day again and the same power of God and the same truth as was in the Apostles days and the same Ministry by the gift of the same Holy Ghost as was in the Apostles days is now witnessed and at the time of ignorance God winked but now the eye is opened and all is called to repentance so it will not excuse any man to plead how it was with our forefathers or to say Where was this Religion before these few years and such like for now the power of God it self is made manifest which brings into the true Religion and all that are of God heareth it and shall own it and shall receive the Testimony which is given It 's known that there are many thousands which hath not yet owned it in which there is true thirstings after God and a zeal for him and such are not condemned to be altogether out of Religion for such seeks his face and the day is neither clear nor dark to them in which they are and such shall own and submit to the Government of Christ and they that are not under the Government are not of the true Religion as I said This is the time of restauration and the Lord is bringing back again and a thorow reformation wil the Lord work in the Earth such as hath not been known in ages past There hath been a Seed sown which the Devil hath catched away but now the Seed shall grow and become the greatest of all herbs and the fowls of Heaven shall lodge in the Branches And this is a plain answer to all sober people for according to the Scriptures in the times of the Apostles the day of glorious light sprung forth and mighty was the power of God at that day but since hath darkness overshadowed all and Antichrist hath reigned and the whole world hath been made drunk with the wine of fornâ—cation which hath been in the hand of the whore who hath set upon the Beast and upon Nations and Peoples and the Gentiles hath trodden under foot the holy City of God for forty and two months but now is the time of restauration as hath been promised that the Lord is bringing back his people again and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and Christ alone must reign and rule and his Kingdom set up over the whole world And let no man be offended at what I have done for I have not reflected upon any mans person but on what he practiseth for Religion London the tenth Month 1657. The End * Mark 4.1 2. Luke 5 3. * Act 20 * Phil. 4.3 * 1 Kings 19.19
THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AGAIN DISCOVERED After the long and dark Night of Apostacy which hath overshadowed the whole World for many ages and the profession and practise thereof witnessed unto by the Scriptures And here all may see who it is of all these Sects and divers forms of Religion in these Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures in what they professe and practise and who it is that are not according thereunto for the line of true judgement is stretched upon all profession and a true search into and tryal thereof is made and hereby it is manifest who it is and what sort of people that may justly claim the benefit of the Protectors Oath to be protected thereby in their practises of Religion who hath bound himself to maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures c. This is written for the good of this Commonwealth and the information of all people in it By a friend to all people especially them that feares God and loves righteousness LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION Again discovered c. FOrasmuch as Oliver Cromwell called Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland chief Ruler according to man hath bound himself by an oath and sworn that he will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestan◠Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Old and new Testament of the Scriptures which oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who it is in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversities of judgements and many Assemblies and gatherings of people who are divers in their wayes in their practices and in their form of Religion in these Nations which doth all profess the Scriptures and that their form of Religion is accorco the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of life and salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under heaven given for salvation and they that believe in him and receive him they it is onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by his spirit and changed thereby from death to life and such hath unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this world but heirs of the Kindom of God and these may own and claim a title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of people and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to trial Dare you join issue with me in this matter to try your profession and practise of Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my heart to lay you all to the line of true judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your priviledge if your profession and practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors oath but if your profession and practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your practice of Religion And with this argument I shall try you all whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not according to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is truth and therefore all people come to trial and receive your judgement by this rule· And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his spirit to be changed into his image and the body of sin and death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the day of the Lord and in equity and righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this practice and doctrine is not according to the Scripture being it was never commanded nor any example for it in Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and ownes your title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that teach this for doctrine and practice it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures This I do affirm therefore stand you by for what you practise and professe there is neither command nor president in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a necessity is put upon you to make use of your knowledge if you would be protected in this Commonwealth in your practise of RELIGION likewise you sing and give to sing Davids Psalmes in rime and meeter professing it is to the glory and honor of God ye practice this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this practice and profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any president for this practice in the Scriptures in Gospel-times Therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot
and the Apostles and the same things are now come to pass and we do not strange at it for it is the chief Priests of England that doth most seek the persecution and causes the people of God to be persecuted by their complaining and petitioning to the Magistrates so that in all these things not onely what is practised and preached for Doctrine but also in what is suffered is perfectly according to the Scriptures and all people that are not blind may see that this Religion is in all things agreeable with the Scriptures both in what they do and in what they suffer so that this is given forth for the good information of the Protector and all Magistrates that they may hear the tryal of all things and may not falsly conjecture or suppose and thereupon give judgement without any true knowledge let them search the Scripture and try I hope the worst of men hath so much conscience that they will stand in awe of the breach of their own oaths and that they will perform unto the Lord and unto all men what they have firmly and not compell'd sworn to do and thus it may be hoped the woful persecution wil cease which is lamentable to be declared how the people of the Lord have sufferd in many things even them whose Religion is proved to be according to the Scriptures who practice nothing for Religion neither holds forth any thing for Doctrine but that which is perfectly agreeable to the Scriptures as all people hereby may understand which Religion the Protector hath sworn to maintain and uphold then who shall presume to persecute the people whose practise in Religion is proved to be the very same which his oath extends to maintain Surely no men will be so impudent or shew such rebellion to Government as to endeavour to break down and destroy that people whose Religion is proved to be justly that which he is by oath bound to maintain some heretofore before this Oath was taken might plead ignorance and say they knew not the mind of the Protector but now his mind is fully discovered and he doth not onely allow but also hath solemnly sworne to maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures and it is proved what people it is whose Religion is so and I say again That same people mentioned doth practice nothing neither holds forth any thing for Doctrine but it is either commanded or there is president for it in Scripture or agreeable thereto and therefore that same people is of the true Christian Religion which the Lord Protector hath bound himselfe to maintain by oath in the face of the whole Nations so that none of the Magistrates now can plead ignorance for as he is sworn to uphold the people of God in their Religion so are they bound to be true to him and the Government and to fulfil the good Laws and his oaths and enterprises so that I say again it may be hoped for the time to come for protection and to be maintained and no longer persecuted and destroyed in their persons and estates as formerly they have been if men regard their own oaths or there be any truth or sincerity in the heart of man and I say By this very oath mentioned might the people of God own and claim protection and defence in their way and practise of Religion which is so plainly proved to be according to the Scriptures though none of them desired such an oath for their protection or sought after it yet being voluntarily instituted and taken why may not they own the extent of it which reacheth to them more then to any besides as is clearly described and not for their own sakes altogether do they own the benefit of it but that he which hath taken it may be clear in the sight of the Lord in performing of his oath for his felicity and the increase and continuance of good Government they desire as much as their own protection and they would not have any man so wicked or the cause of perpetual infamy to be given to this Nation so much as that any thing should be destroyed or broken down which is sworn to be upheld and maintained in the Nation lest the Heathen Rulers rise in condemnation against the doers thereof These with many other arguments which might be produced presseth many to endeavour the fulfilling of the said oath for his own sake who hath taken it And that first of all by that oath the people of God may own protection in this Commonwealth because their Religion is according to the Scriptures c. Secondly That some people might also own protection in this Commonwealth in that the most of them if not all have been true and faithful subjects of this Commonwealth and hazarded lives and estates for the establishing of such a Government wherein the people of God might have full liberty for the exercise of their pure conscience Again they may own protection in this Commonwealth as being at this day a harmless and innocent people not being offensive to any mans person or estate or in any other thing except to sin and wickedness and the workers thereof and I say again That they do not desire any thing but the welfare and the encrease and the establishment of this present Government wherein it is according to God And this is written for the information of all sorts of people that they may know unto what sort of people the Protectors oath extends to uphold and maintain and as concerning all those whose practise in Religion and Doctrines are not according to Scripture but contrary to it as is manifest and so not to be maintained and upholdâ—n in their profession and practice of Religion by the Protectors oath yet it is not desired that such should be destroyed or overthrown or bound or imprisoned or any cruelty done to them though their practice be not according to Scriptures but it s desired that such may live in peace in the Commonwealth enjoying their Religion to themselves without any molestation from any ouâ—ward Law or outward power for many would not that any should be compelled to or from any exercises in Religion by an outward Law but let them defend themselves in their Religion from those who may be moved of the Lord to reprove them or declare against them or covince them so that many would have Religion to defend it self and that the Magistrates with their Laws may preserve the peace in the Commonwealth and mens persons and Estates and not their opinions and judgements and we would they may not limit or stint tender consciences for many may be of a tender conscience in those things wherein their consciences are not truly informed and such should not bee condemned to death but to bâ— won by sound doctrine and instructed by those who are called of God and so this is written that the whole Nation may understand the minde of the Lords servants in all