say in Truth to the Glory of Jehovah the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that his Aelohim hath done wonderful things for and upon him and marvellous Works by him for and upon others as to healing Cures both upon Spirit Soul and Body and also as to the executing of very sore threatned Judgments against and upon divers of his implacable Adversaries whereof there be Witnesses as to what was open and publick the particulars whereof would make this Narrative too long only one Experience he shall impart which was a great secret of the LORD Christ's using him as his Administrator upon himself Having by much labour in his work in the forementioned Town about twenty years since broken his Strength which caused a Rupture he used such means for a Cure as the most skilful Physician and some others most experienced in such cases could help him to all which proved ineffectual whereupon his Thoughts were inwardly at work upon this Enquiry whether there were not some other way for his Cure to be sought after This was brought upon his Heart that * Jam. 5. the Ordinance of Anointing the Sick had not been used he was convinced of the need and use of this Ordinance of the standing preceptive and promising part of it but knew not whither to his satisfaction to go or send for a right Administrator the Ministers generally in those parts at that time eirher not having Light or Faith therein and some of them openly opposing of it hereupon a secret Voice whispers that as a Messenger from Christ he should administer it upon himself the case being so circumstanced which accordingly he did and felt the healing strengthning Effect of it quickly which has continued for many years so that he knows not but that †Joh. 3. 25 26 27. Sanative Virtue having been drawn down from Christ by a touching of him by the Hand of Faith in a way of believing on him and on his Word he is well healed though still under and for Christ he use apt means for the continuance of this great Mercy in order to Service all the praise be to him for his Mercy and for his Truth So that what John the Baptist said in the same case both as to his Baptism and Ministry A Man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven Shem Acher doth apply to his own Case who hath not in this Matter so far as the Resemblance here doth answer taken what is lawful and good but what has been given unto him thus from above In the Hypothesis or Supposition that one special Argument or Matter upon which John was then disputing those Words are referred to what went immediatly before relating to the Ministerial Office of Christ or of John or of both as to Teaching and Baptizing Both John the Minister and Christ the Master having received Gifts Graces and a Call from Heaven to exercise this honourable Function or delegated Employment they both having been owned and dignified with a Divine Testification from above which gave and confirmed them in their lawful Authority so to act Mat. 21. 25. John 1. 23. 3. 11 25 26 27 32 33. These right Words altho more generally laid down have great force of strong Reason and of convincing Argument in them to prove That a Man can receive nothing take nothing to himself as to such a Call and Office and the Execution thereof in a regular way and right manner by due Commission and warranting Authority except it were first given him from Heaven For tho legitimately to give and legitimately to receive are related to each other and so are together at once yet in order to give is first And therefore tho the Verb be in the Present Tense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Sing Praes Subj yet the Participle is in the past Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Partic. Nâ—ut Praet Pass Not any no Man of right good Conscience Heb. 5. 4. is to take this Honour to himself but he who is called of God ordained and appointed thereunto by his Word-Warrant Numb 16. 10. 1 King 13. 33. Luke 3. 2. Acts 23. 5. Not any taketh As to the matter of Right none can justly take none ought to take tho many as to matter of Fact have taken and do take without Gift from Jehovah Aelohim the great Lord over all It being a Function of Divine Institution and of special Favour of great Honour and of weighty Charge both ordinary and extraordinary Ministers must be able to prove their Call Heb. 5. 4. 3. 2. Jer 17. 16. Amos 7. 15. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 14. Ephes 4. 11. Exod. 28. 1. 2 Chron. 13. 9 10. 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. 1 Sam. 23. Where any have upon their own Heads set themselves a running or have been pushed forwards by others whom the Lord never sent it concerns them to consider how they will answer it And this is one Ground and Reason for this present * 1 Cor. 9. 3. Apology which is an Answer with a Defence as to Men's false chargings †1 Cor. 4. 1 2 3 4 5. wherein he can justify himself and plead his Office in their Day and Court though in some particular Circumstances of his Case the Searcher of Hearts and the Tryer of Reins can find matter enough against him for which to condemn him O how much Wisdom and Love has the righteous Judg manifested towards Shem Acher in that he has found out a way wherein to justify him from that wherein he can and doth comdemn himself He has patiently born the secret Artifices and open Attempts of some to defame him and to decry his Ministry for about these six years last past as being made willing to deny himself to take up his Cross dayly and so to follow Christ but having long observed that such do still trouble the minds of divers who have been hopefully coming on and do lay stumbling-blocks in the way for the hinderance of others whereby Gospel-work has been at a stand the Sabbath Cause wronged many Souls prejudiced and the Honour of our LORD at least darkned to say no more he doth now judg it high time having had several louder Calls thereunto of late to do publick and open right to this Cause and to some other after Causes and Cases where others have done it such publick and open wrong which is but an act of warrantable regular love towards himself and towards others and also an act of due Equity and of distributive Justice for the wiping off of unkind Calumnies and injurious Aspersions imputed and cast upon an honourable Office about which he hath been many and many a time * Prov. 18. 13 prejudged and condemned as also in other cases before his Matters of Fact and of Right have been known or he himself heard thus has his silence in this cause been misinterpreted a confession of Guilt If any ask why this had not been brought
best way where she according to her raised expectation has received more of the Holy Spirit and of influences from Christ as a living Member under this Church as the only Head and as the Supream Material Cause of the Church then neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Christ in all this c. Therefore This was drawn from the Material Cause of the Church Supream A further Argument shall be drawn †1 Cor. 6. 15 12. 27. Eph. 1. 22 23. 4 4 12. 5. 23. 30. Col. 1. 18 24. 2. 19. Joh. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 2. and the Titles of Paul ' s other Epistles to the Churches Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 4. 16. from the inferior Material Cause of a Church of Christ which are the Elect Believers and Saints who are the Members and the Body of Christ and have mutual care of and for one another Communion with one another and are jointly helpful to each other and do faithfully and friendâ—â—y discharge the Gospel Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one anotheâ— such as mutual considering of one another c. It is here thus argued If this Sister have joined her self there in Church-Fellowship with them amongst those whom she charitably hopes may be such living Fellow-Memberâ— in Christ with her more and better suited to her Spirit in such a Church-way of Spiritual Incorporation where she has more freedom and better agreement in her 〈…〉 an more Spiritual Communion more really expressed and acted helpfulness as to Spirituals more enjoyment of the Gospel-Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one another than in that Society where she was before and all this as the Inferior Material Cause of the Church then neither she non they c. But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Formal Cause of a Church of Christ The Formal Cause or Form or * Eph. 4. 3 4. Acts 2. 41 47. 4. 32. 9. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 27. 10 17. 1. 10 11. Phil. 2. 1 5. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. 3. 17. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Eph. 5. 32. that which doth give a spirited Life Being and Motion is the uniting Spirit of the LORD enlivening the Church-Body and that Union of Believers in the Spirit with Christ as the Head and with and another as Fellow-Members of the same Mystical Body The Argument thus presenteth it self to be considered If the Spirit of this Sister in Experience according to the Word both were before Admission and hath been and still is since her Admission amongst such more knit and united by the Holy Spirit in Holy Spiritual Union to Christ and to these Fellow-Members where she has more of spirited Life Being and Motion than when amongst those with whom she walked in Society withal before which was broken off and taken away from her as to the quickness and comfort oâ— it as to the former Church in whose fellowship she could not any longer to any good satisfaction continue and where she had little or no expectation after much proof and long waiting to have it otherwise as the Case was circumstanced she being now made more sensible that her Spirit doth more close with and is more one in Union and Communion with the Spirit of that Church in this Church-way of Ordinances with whom she is joined and all this as the Formal Cause or Form or that which doth give a Spirited Life Being and Motion to a Church then neither she nor they c. But the Spirit of this Sister c. And therefore From the Final Cause a strong Argument may be drawn and its right words are forcible †Isa 43. 7 21. Jer. 13 11. 14. 21 Eph. 5. 26 27. 4. 11 12 13 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 10. 16 17. Luke 12. 32. 1 Cor. 14. 3 26 40. 10. 16 17. 2 Cor. 13. 10 The Final Cause or the great End or Ends for which Jehovah Aelohim has formed his Church and for which Christ gave and delivered up himself in respect of him is his Glory the Honour of his Name in the World that it may be as a Throne of his Glory the purging and cleansing of his Church and People their enjoyment of Spiritual Priviledges and Benefits purchased by the Blood of Christ their nourishing growing more up into and further perfecting in Christ their receiving more of all Spiritual Supplies from Christ their mutual Edification being built up more and more in their most holy Faith their possessing of signed sealed witnessed delivered free gracious Grants from the Father through his Son by his Spirit in the word of his Truth of Grace and at the last their everlasting Happiness in a clear sight and full enjoyment of the Heavenly Glory in his Eternal Kingdom in the better Country In the mean time the giving and receiving of Spiritual Alms Bread and Wine to hungry thirsting Souls as necessary Provision in their Voyage whilst here in the way The Argument is thus formed If this Sister after long Experience and much waiting and earnest Praying could not attain the forementioned Ends of Church-Fellowship in that way wherein she walked before whereas since she passed into Church Communion with others the LORD has graciously given her to enjoy in growing Measures much of these desired Ends and some good Beginnings as she hopes of the filling up of these in the Heavenly Country where she longeth and waiteth prayeth and prepareth to be with her LORD in the most pure and Glorious Church then neither she nor they c. But this Sister after long Experience c. Therefore Two other Arguments may be drawn from the just Right and due Property of this Sister * 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Deut. 18. 6 7 8. The Gifts and Graces and Experiences of all the Faithful Ministers of Christ in the same City especially being one with Christ and his Word in the Faith and Order of the Gospel are a part of every Believers Portion there which they may use as their own especially when actually really more to their Ediâ—â—cation as Providence doth give opportunity From hence it is thus argued If this Sister in this have acted but as her just Right and due Property is to enjoy this part of her Spiritual Portion and if they have but done her Right in granting her what is her own as due unto her then neither she nor they c. But this Sister in this has acted c. Therefore Also from her lawful Liberty This Sister reserved a Liberty if she found in Experience that her continuing there were not to her Satisfaction and Edification that then it should be free to joyn her self to some other Church of the same Faith and Order in the main of 〈◊〉 Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers where she might be more to her Soul-profiting â— and †Rom. 13. 7 8. Prov. 3. 27
at Mount Sinai where the very next step in his Travails he hears * Exod. 19 and 20 chap. particularly chap. 20. vers 8 9 10 11. the trumpeting promulgation of this Kingly Law of the Seventh day Sabbath sounding loud in his Ear and Heart and still the further he passed on in the after Writings of Moses and of the Prophets the more he is led along in the Seventh-day-Sabbath-way till he came full home to the close of the Old Testament with this Seal put upon this Scripture-Canon or Rule by Jehovah himself †Mal 4. 4. Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant all and every both of the Commands for keeping holy of the weekly Sabbath day and of the Promises of Blessings and Sanctifyings of weekly Sabbath day to right Observers of it and also of the Threatnings denounced against Profaners of the weekly-Sabbath-day relating only to the seventh the last day of every week and to no other day of the week He was now in a short space of time the very same day of entering upon this enquiry got so far forwards in this way of the seventh-day Sabbath from that Light and Truth which Jehovah Aelohim sent forth from his word by his Holy Spirit that he forthwith concluded there was no either going back or stepping aside for him out of this Scripture-Path For if all the Old Testament were for it the New was not against it seeing if any had preached up the first or any other day except the seventh of the whole week at the beginning of the New Testament-dispensation of Grace those who were more * Acts 17. 1â—â— noble-raced Believers on and Disciples of Christ before the Writings of the Evangelists and Apostles who searched the Scriptures they then had whether the first-day-pretended-Sabbath-Doctrine were true or not they could not find that written Word which they then enjoyed had any such Institution at all in it but the weekly Sabbath's †Exod. 25. 11 16 21 22. 1 Kings 8. 9. Jam 2. 8 9 10 11 12. crowning honour was all through visible and legible upon the head of the seventh day only However he narrowly examined and diligently compared the whole New Testament Writings by the Evangelists and Apostles and there he soon discovered that the LORD Jesus Christ whose * 1 Pet. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Joh 2. 4 6. and 4. 17. Example he was to follow in all the Acts of Decalogical Obedience or Obedience to the Laws of the ten Words and whose exact perfect Holiness and Righteousness both of Nature Heart and Life was fully every way answering to all the demands of this Law which was to be both imputed to Believers for their Justification and conformed to by Believers in their Sanctification this Christ all his Life long in the weekly returns of the Sabbath kept the †Luk. 4. 16 31. 23 56. elsewhere seventh day Sabbath and no other day of the week as such to which the Gospels give abundant Testimony Now he begins to be more confirmed and wondereth how he could so much overlook so self-evidencing a Truth and Duty so long he converseth further with the Records of the Apostles whether their Doctrine and Practice did Harmonize and tune in the same Concord with this new * Ps 92. Title Jer. 6. 16. 17. 21 c. Song Psalm and Hymn of the true good old weekly seventh day Sabbath His only remaining work now left was to consult the Apostles Writings and therein he reads in plain legible Characters that as Christ's Custom Manner or constant practised Usage was so also was †Luke 4. 16. Acts 17. 2 3. 18. 4. Paul's the Expression is one and the same in the Greek to observe the seventh-day as the only weekly Sabbath day and that no other day in the whole week has both the Name and Nature of a weekly Sabbath-day given to it by the Holy Spirit but only the seventh day and that Obedience to these Laws of Christ is so often called for both * Mat. 5 6 7. chap. Joh. 14. 15. Luk. 10. 25 26 27 28. Rom. 4. 15. 5. 13. 13. 8 9 10. Jam. 2. 8 9 10 11 13. Heb. 5. 9. Rev. 12. 17. 14. 12. 22. 14 15 18 19. by Christ and his Apostles as an evidence of Love to Christ and of other Interest in him as a Saviour and that the new Testament Scripture was also closed up with Christ's Seal of Blessing to those who doing these his Commandments and of pronouncing a Sentence of Excommunication against any Man who should either add to or take from this written Word Will and Law of Christ The whole Scripture being thus profitable for this Doctrine and Duty of the weekly seventh day Sabbath Christ sate as one expecting an answer readily heartily whereupon Shem Acher was not disobedient to this heavenly Teaching by the Holy Spirit but resolves in the strength and supplies of the same good Spirit to set about the Practice of it and this State of the Question he sends to his enquiring Brother who also forthwith embraced the same Truth and reduced it to Practice And now lo a very formidable Sight stares him in the Face for he saw such an Army of Opposers not only profane but professing not only Foes but Friends all almost as one Man up in Arms against him as soon as it should take Air abroad for he was then the LORD's Prisoner and be known that it was his Principle †Ps 119. 165 and Practice He also foresaw that tho this was no * Stumbling-block at all to him neither any disturbance to his own great Peace yet many others would throw it as a Stone of Offence in their own and others ways to the troubling the Minds of young Ones In such Multitudes who promised so fairly and came on so towardly how many were likely to be much prejudiced against him and his former and after-Ministry And what was most terrible of all †Acts 28. 22. how evil tho injustly many were likely to speak against the Word and Ways of the LORD and to blaspheme Jehovah's fearful glorious and holy Name Christ still held him to former Terms of bringing All to an whole Christ and his whole Word and suitably the good Spirit framed his Heart to this holy Resolve Duty is mine the Issues and Successes of things are the LORD's and do belong to him He privately obsevred the Seventh-day-Sabbath for some time but with great Difficulties and sore Trials and distressing Hardships in the Prison He imparts the LORD's Teachings of him to one and then to another privately who gave place in them to this Word-Truth and Law and so unto some others as they were capable of receiving it And when four or five were hopefully gained over he could hold no longer and could not but speak the Truths and Things of Christ in a more open Declaration and publick Profession which being
to promote a Reformation He dipped all his Children This Mr. Slado her Grandfather had a considerable Estate in England which he sold and purchased somewhat in Ireland he had a numerous Progeny and they most of them have prospered well in this World and divers of them fear the LORD several of them are still living Whilst he lived in the City of Limerick in Ireland the Lecturers were entertained at his House Two of his Daughters were there married to Ministers One Mr. Town who married Gnezri-jah's Mother Shem Acher has heard was a Doctor of Divinity having Preferments in Ireland worth Two hundred pounds by the year he kept seven or eight Servants and well bred up a fruitful Family Her Father according to the Light of that day was zealous against Popery often exposing his Life to danger in defence of the Protestant Religion once the bloody Papists attempted to bury him alive but the LORD delivered him In the Irish Rebellion about forty years ago this Doctor with all his Family were persecuted he left his Estate for the Cause of Christ and after many wonderful deliverances in Ireland and at Sea during that Rebellion several of his Family came for England where the LORD took care of them but now they are scattered into several Countries Yet notwithstanding this just Defence made as to Men some do still go on with their defamings both of Shem Acher and of Gnezri-jah about this Matter who leave their Cause with the righteous Judg who knows how they both for several years have much endeavoured to sweeten the Lives of others and to promote Peace and Purity in the Churches tho ill requited by many whose unkindness have contributed much towards the breaking down of her Constitution and the sore distressing of her Spirit so that it is a wonderful Power and Preservation that both her Husband and she are yet alive What careful Thoughts Shem Acher has had for the Churches of the Holy Separation according to his Capacity Opportunity and Ability is known to the searcher of Hearts and there are some Friends who have been acquainted therewith tho hitherto he has been but little encouraged and cannot effect much but some Testimony thereof he has brought in this way by a Treatise of his published in seventy seven called All in One c. by the Visits which he has given to Sabbath-Churches and that Epistle of Love which he this Year sent to them for a Meâ—ting in London by Messengers for the promoting of such good Work and great Ends as were well worthy for the greatest Princes and ablest Ministers to countenance and prosecute had it been entertained and improved according to its just due value Which Epistle of Love was as followeth Shem Acher a Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ and the Friends in Church-Fellowship with him in London To all the Churches of Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith and the Testimony of Jesus Sendeth a Christian Salutation of Brotherly Love Mercy Grace Love Peace and Blessing be multiplyed to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ WE give thanks to God and the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ who has made known to you and to us his Holy Sabbath and hath so far favoured and honoured us as to use and own our open Confessing and obedient Witnessing of this and of any other Truth and Duty of the present Age whereunto he hath called us forth in his Wisdom and Strength who are but Foolish and Weak in our selves and we earnestly desire you to help together by Prayer with us that both you and we may walk worthy of God who hath thus called us unto his Kingdom and Glory and who has made King Jesus to be Preciousness and Honour to us and his Kingly Law to be Honourable and Glorious in our Esteem Both the Old and New Testament towards the close of each putting us upon a more particular and especial remembrance of Him and of his Law and pronouncing those to be the Blessed Ones who doing his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City There being divers exceeding great and precious Prophecies and Promises relating more peculiarly unto the Revivers and Observers of the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath which shall go a little before the Coming and Appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ in Glory when he will gather in the out-casts of Israel and do his other latter day-Glory-works For there shall be those of such Christian believing Sabbath-keepers who shall build all the old waste places who shall raise up the Foundations from Generation to Generation and who shall be called Menders of Breaches Restorers of Paths to Sabbatize in and the time drawing on Christ's Salvation being at hand to come and his Righteousness to be revealed so that we should look up and lift up our Heads because such our Redemption draweth near We therefore propound this unto your serious Consideration dear Brethren beloved in our LORD that by two or more Messengers from every such Church in England or by Letters and Messages from any of such Churches or of any particular Brethren in Holland New-England or elsewhere we may meet if our LORD will once or oftner upon weighty and urgent occasions and necessities every Year at London or elsewhere at such times as shall be agreed on to keep days of Fasting and of Thanksgiving together by the Prayers of Faith through the Mediation and Intercession of the great Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ to prevail with the Father for larger pourings out of his Spirit upon our selves and upon others for his special presence of Grace with us assisting and blessing of us in all Church-Administrations and at such a general Meeting by Messengers so as that thereby there may be begotten a better Understanding and a more unanimous Accord among our selves a more successful carrying on of Truth Love Peace and Holiness in our Churches a more exact bringing of all the Ordinances of Christ's New Spiritual House to the Laws and Orders of the Prophetical Pattern according to Scripture-Institution and that from cool considerate Conferences there may be given forth right statings of any other Questions that may come before us about which to give our advice mutually to one another by the Rules of the Word of God judging righteous Judgment according unto that without any lording it one over another but in all lowliness of Mind in Humility and Meekness being readily and thankfully made willing to receive further Scripture-Light from any whom our LORD shall use and honour to hold it forth before us and that then and there we may consult which way by a common stock to promote any good work for the maintenance of any Church-Officers for the training up of hopeful young or more aged Men sound and stedfast in the Faith in the Knowledg of the Original Tongue and of other
as Gifted yea suppose him to have great common edifying Gifts who is thereby presently commissioned by Christ for the Ministerial Office seeing some such are notoriously scandalous Livers bitter Persecuters of the Saints open declared Enemies against the Power and Purity of right Worship and of other true good Religion against which they sharpen and set the edg of those Weapons of Knowledg which they have who whilst such are so far from being to be admitted Administrators of Church-Ordinances that they ought not to be admitted to or continued in a state of Church-Membership but should by the due regular exercise of Church Discipline be shut or thrust out from such Communion And here when he duly considers and seriously ponders ‖ 2 Tim. 3. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 11. 1 Sam. 9. 6 7. Lev. 21. throughout Ezek. 44. throughout 1 Tim. 3. throughout Tit. 1. 5 9. Rev. 1 2 3. cha 1 Pet. 5. 1 4. Tit. 2. 1. Acts 6. 2 4. what Men of God what chief Men among the People how holy how unblemished how unblameable how sober and vigilent how temperate how moderate how sound minded how wisely circumspect how modest how well behavoured how fitly attired and well adorned how hospitalish and harbourous in a courteous receiving and entertaining of Strangers how apt able fit apposite to teach well-habited and disposed for orderly-clear-convincing-teaching endued with a good Faculty of instructing and and of discipling of others how not given to Wine-bibbing or to Excess in any other Strong Drink which makes Drunk not an Ale-stake or common Tipler not one that loves tossing of Cups not a striker smiter or beater of others not one of ungoverned heat or of military Fierceness not filthily-gaining not covetously intent upon dishonest base gain how equal full of Equity in all things how courteous gentle patient how unbrawling either as to Speeches or Actions declining the offered occasions of sinful contendings no lover of Silver nor Idolizer of Money how well governing his own Family Houshold having his Children if the LORD give him any in Subjection under Discipline in good order faithful Children not refractory not obnoxious to the Sin of Luxury not one who is but newly ingraffed or implanted in Christian Profession in God's House such as ought to have a good Testimony from those that are without such a one as cannot justly be called into question or into Court for any manifest Crime what a Dispenser of God as his Steward not pertinaciously pleasing of himself not prone to anger not hasty not spirited for rage what a lover of goodness of good both Men Truths and Things how Just how Holy how Pious how Continent how firmly adhering to that faithful Word which is according to wholesom Doctrine that so he may be able also to exhort in Doctrine such as is healthful and sound and to convince such who are contradicting and gainsaying ones not attending to Jewish Fables or to Precepts of Men averse from the Truth or turning Truth away or turning from the Truth one speaking those things which do become sound Doctrine a Feeder of the Flock of God where he is a carefullywatchfully-overseeing one not forcedly but willingly freely with a prompt or ready Mind not imperiously domineering or lording it over those allotted to his Care and Charge being Exemplary to the Flock one who believeth and prepareth for the Appearing of the chief Pastor to receive and carry away an unfading Crown of Glory one who gives himself to Prayer and to the Word whose Wife must be one who is honest who proves constant no Calamniatrix not a devilish Slanderer or false Accuser no malicious Detracter one sober faithful in All what a Star what an Angel When these Qualifications and many more that might be added are brought and put together to measure as by a straight Rule many of those by who lay claim to this Office that doth put Shem Acher upon deep Sighing and makes him ask this Question in his Thoughts Where do the able faithful Ministers dwell He has had some signal Calls to this Office by Christ especially at three times one about fourteen years ago another about seventeen years since of both which an account has been given before for some other purpose and once before both these when with the former of these last two he did set himself by Fasting and Prayer to know the Mind of Christ whether he had indeed set him apart to this Office in all which times he had satisfying Answers and Signs fulfilled quickly after in some remarkable returns by eminent Conversions He has had such a sight of Christ in the North as was clear and evident to his Eye of Faith chiefly more at one Season mentioned before which was made so real to him and has more or less so continued for so many years Night and Day as doth leave it out of doubt with him in a degree as if he conversed with the Person of Christ himself so far as Shem Acher in this state of Imperfection has a Capacity of walking with an exalted Christ in his state of Glory As for the Sealings on Earth of his Commission received from Heaven in the Hearts of converted Sinners of edifyed Saints of comforted Souls he had rather others would speak and declare than himself however seeing somewhat may be expected from him as to this Parrallel he doth * 2 Cor. 2. 14. 17. give thanks unto God who especially for twenty years or more has caused him to triumph in Christ and has made manifest the favour of his Knowledg by him more or less in every place as he has travelled up and down with the blessing of the Gospel of Christ For besides some ownings of him and of his labours before whilst he lived in a little Parish when he was called to that Neighbour Town spoken of before there was as hopeful a budding and blowing of young ones there and in the Neighbourhood and he hopes much good brought forth to the praise of Grace in and by many there being yet alive several scores who can as he supposeth somewhat sensibly call to mind the Truth of this besides what the LORD hath done by him in two Counties during his Imprisonments for above nine years at which time some were begotten again in the bonds of the Gospel and also what good and gracious effects his preaching of the Gospel has brought forth by the Spirit and Blessing of God upon his Works since his Liberty in any other place particularly near and in London For †1 Thess 2. 19 20. what is his Hope or Joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even a converted edifyed comforted confirmed People in the Presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at his coming For these are his Glory and Joy As for a Miracle-working Power such as Paul had he doth not pretend to this either for all the Kinds or for those high Degrees and great Measures as Paul was honoured withal yet this he can