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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	scripture_n	speak_v	word_n	9,140	5	4.5911	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52677	An account from the children of light (to them that askes) in several particulars why we have been kept from joyning to, or worshipping in those formes at law, and formes of worships, that have been imposed upon us against our consciences, in these late years, for denying whereof, we have so deeply suffered, with our lives, liberties, and estates. : Also what we owne as to those things, and can be obedient to for conscience sake, according to truth, and the practise of the church of Christ, and the Scriptures.	Naylor, James, 1617?-1660.; Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.	1660 (1660)	Wing N256; ESTC R27517	31,099	57

Land might have become as Sodom and not one have known the Lord nor his word And as it was in the dayes of the false Prophets so hath it been since the dayes of the false ministry for which many have suffered since the dayes of the Apostles for testifying against such as have erred in Spirit forme and doctrine from Christ Jesus and his Apostles And this hath been from the indwelling power of Christ in them and his precious light shining in their hearts and consciences that they have thus been preserved and enabled to beare the testimony of Christ against false worships and worshippers and so it is at this day in all who keepe a pure Conscience towards God in all his word and worship that his true and spirituall worship might not be wholly lost out of the world Also if at any time their Kings or Rulers forgot God or Kings arose who knew not God and then would lay upon them Laws and Commands which was not just an● lawfull for them to doe then by the light of Christ in a pure Conscience they was enabled to withstand it even unto death As that of Mordecai and the Jews who would rather all be destroyed then bow to Hammons pride at the Kings command though Englands people would have said this is but a civill thing and duty and good manners and the like yet Gods Law in their Conscience they preferred above all that the King commanded contrary thereto yea life and all would they lose rather then defile their Conscience towards God or deny his Law there though no Law without had forbidden such a thing Yet in other cases did they appeare true and subject to the King for Mordecai's truth saved the Kings life not long before though from man he had little reward for it Likewise might be Instanced that of Daniels praying contrary to the decrees of the King his Counsell of Presidents and Princes and that of the three children against the fierce Command of Nebuchadnezzar in denying to worship at his will and pleasure likewise that of the Apostles when their Rulers and Priests also charged them straitly not to preach any more their answer before authoritie was we ought to obey God rather then men yea it would be too long to tell how many godly men and women upon the account of a pure Conscience not onely hazarded their lives but lost life and all for the testimony of a tender Conscience as might be instanced But this may be said for all That if they would but have denyed the law of God in their conscience and conformed to the wills of men and their laws not o●e of all the Prophets Apostles or all the holy men of God need to have suffered death or spoyle So now in that any of us by the same spirit of Christ and from his light and law in our Consciences are moved to goe testifie against false Prophets false worships and declare the way of truth to all people against them to their face And if Rulers have been so opposite to this as to make laws against it and to command us to bow and worship at their wills which for Conscience sake towards God we could not for which we have suffered the spoyling of goods long and heavie imprisonments shamefull usings and losse of lives also I say in this we have a cloud of witnesses even the Lord Jesus our Captaine and the whole body of Martyrs who have all gone before us in the selfe same obedience of faith and Spirit and have suffered the same or such like things from Rulers that knew not God and teachers that knew not God in their dayes and all of them in their dayes was counted offenders hereticks or dispisers of Authority or some such reproach was cast upon them by their accusers and persecuters for obeying the law of their God in their Consciences whom the Rulers of the darknesse of this world have not known nor can know till they beleeve his light in their own Consciences So it is not for new things nor strange opinions which was never in the world before for which we suffer though to the world they seeme new and strange but for the very same workes of the same Spirit of light and truth which hath often appeared in a poore contemptible people and hath as often received the same measure from them who professe him in words but in workes deny him by such have we suffered who read and preach the same in words which this eternall Spirit in us now worketh And with such who with words garnish the sepulchres of those whom their fathers slew are we counted great offenders for being found in the same way and practise and in obedience to the same Spirit in that measure as we have received it So we have this added to the testimony of a good Conscience towards God and towards men that we suffer not for evill doing though as evill doers to wit the practise of holy men and the Scriptures of truth which will owne us herein and stand on our parts against all our adversaries and accusers And t●is will be proved so when we come to particulars wherein we differ from the wayes and worships of these present times and for which we are so much hated and persecuted And we know that it will not be found harmfull to the bodyes estates or well-being of any Christian neighbourhood nor of any other people in the nations to practise those things wherein we differ in civill and temporall things nor hurtful to the soules of any In the things wherein we differ in religious or spirituall matters from the severall opinions and formes of worships that are or have been set up in these nations As we shall make it plainly appeare if either Spirit of truth or Scripture of truth or things equall may but be received on our part Now we shall mention some particulars in which we differ for Conscience sake from some of the formes traditions and commands of the men of this present age and the powers that have ruled therein under whom we have therefore suffered as evill doers And first as to those things which some calls civill ANd indeed it may be wondered at by any moderate people that in a nation called Christians any man should suffer so much as to be called an offender for some of the things which I must mention upon this account especially they being layd upon us by the spirit of Christ as matter of conscience and by a people so highly pretending for liberty of Conscience As it hath been layd upon us by the Spirit of Christ to use the same single language to all sorts of people which the Scriptures uses and all the holy men of God therein have ever used that is to say thou to any one person and you to more then one A language sound and true to God and man which the Spirit of God first spoke and gave to man and of man

received it againe without offence and never since gave to man any other forme of speech as we may read in the Scriptures of truth And in this we differ from some sorts of people and for it have ●uffered as great offenders and have undergone very grievous censures and long imprisonments divers of us though it hath been layd on our Consciences from the Lord yea the Scriptures also commands the forme of sound words to be holden fast now why those who professe the Scriptures for their rule should persecute us for using the language of it may be thought strange to the hearers thereof yet for this we suffer for a testimony against them Also it hath been layd upon us by the Lord to call men and women by their own names which their fathers have given to them to be knowne by amongst men And though in this we differ from some sorts of people who can give flattering titles to some people in stead of their names and reproachfully miscall others in stead of their names yet herein we are owned by the Scriptures of truth and the practise of all the holy men therein who never refused their own names to take a proud title but owned their names that God had given them And saith the Scriptures let me not give flattering titles to man for in so doing my maker would soone take me away And if you respect persons you commit sin and are convinced of the law as evill doers yet for this we have suffered also by this generation as evill doers and contemners of authoritie though we know that to call a man by his name contemnes not his authoritie nor doe we it for that end but in obedience to truth and for Conscience towards God Also that about our hats putting off which hath been so great an offence to many This also hath been layd upon our Consciences by the Lord and we dare not disobey him therein to please men though sometimes it hath been said to us that if we would but put off our hats we should not goe to prison others have said when we came before them for Judgement and Justice you shall have no Justice unlesse you put off your hats yea some have hazarded their lives hereon yet durst not disobey God herein though they have suffered long therefore and lost their rights for want of justice yet we have not dared to disobey our God herein but have valued our peace with him and a pure Conscience above all sufferings and profits herein Now this is beyond all the persecuters of old that men should suffer for their hats yea even Nebuchadnezzar in his greatest heate of persecution he made not that an offence to keepe on their hats more then their other garments but with their hats on as well as hose and shooes they was bound and cast into the fire nor doe we finde in all the Scriptures precept or practise of that thing yet for this we have deeply suffered in divers parts of this nation Thus would people and powers drive us from the obedience of our God in a pure Conscience and instead thereof cause us to worship a vaine Custome for which we have no warrant neither in Scripture nor good example but saith the Lord Ye shall keepe mine ordinances but the Customes of the people are vaine and abominable you shall not defile your selves therewith So we obey God rather then men and by men who professes God suffer for so doing This also hath been commanded us of the Lord and layd upon our Consciences not to sweare at ●ll upon any occasion whatsoever and because of this we have forborne to sweare when men have called us thereto whether to sweare at any change of government or what ever it hath been we may not sweare at all And for this we have deeply suffered also as cōtemners of the law though we have not despised government but have consented to what just thing was required of us in truth of heart without swearing And for this we have the expresse command of Christ Jesus who hath said Sweare not at all And his Apostles said Above all things my brethren sweare not least you fall into condemnation And we have also the practise of all the followers of Christ who was never knowne to use an oath since for to such as receive Christ there is the end of swearing and divers other things which before Christ came to end them was ordinances of God but Christ the Covenant everlasting hath ended all swearings of men whatsoever and forbidden they are in his name upon paine of condemnation Further in the time of Moses when swearing was in the Iews Church it was not to be forced upon them by any penalty but they might sweare or not sweare without any carnall punishment nor was it required of witnesses to sweare at all betwixt a man and his neighbour two witnesses was to establish the matter before the Iudge but I never read of those two required to sweare that was as to a mans owne particular onely in this case when a man had taken a pledge and it was stolen from him then an oath was to be taken of that man in his owne behalfe that he put not his hand to the stealeing of it and then he was not to repay it againe but if he would repay it he needed not sweare so he was not forced And except in this case onely I finde not an oath required by any Iudge in Moses law So these who make us offenders ●or denying to sweare are out of all the way of God in Moses time And in Christs time swearing is expressly forbidden at all even this in Moses time for faith Christ It hath been said by them of old time thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt performe unto the Lord thy oaths So here was Moses time and swearing to the Lord commanded in truth and this said Moses But saith Christ I say Sweare not at all and this is greater then Moses whose time is without end Further as to the administration of the Laws of these nations in these late yeares there we have seene many things which in our Conscience we cannot joyne to being shewed to us to be out of truth and equity and not helps but burthens to the nations Now as to our selves so many as walke in Christ Iesus we have one Judge and Law-giver appointed to us for that end by the father And we may not goe to Law one with another as men being come to Christ Iesus the end of lust pride and strife which we have found to be the Cause of fightings and sutes at Law and if any thing of that nature would arise in any of us by our Iudge and Law-giver it is judged and we are saved And it is layd upon us by the same Spirit of Christ not to sue any man at the Law nor to seeke to avenge our selves of such as seeke to wrong us

though persecuted But in all these we read not in all the Gospel worship of any Temple made with hands to bind men to nor Parish Churches nor preaching by the houre nor for so much a yeare nor that ever Minister of Christ tooke tyths nor their hearers gave them but confessed Christ come and a free Gospel and said ●oth the Priesthood that tooke tyths and the Law by which they received them was disanulled by the sufferings of Christ nor doe we read of sprinkling Infants and calling that baptizing them into the Church nor doe we read of their singing Davids words in a meeter nor praying in a forme nor a Clarke to lead the Psalme and say Amen And much more we might mention which was never used so in the true Church but is come to a forme since Popery came up the Scripture beares no testimony thereto as now these things are used and all that can be truely said for them is long custom but from plain Scriptures they cannot prove them Indeed we read in the Scriptures of truth of the Gospel preaching but it was not limitted to one house nor by a glasse but from house to house and Citie to Citie and that by the Spirit and their worship was in Spirit they prayed with the Spirit and they sung with the Spirit and h● that had a Psalme sung it with the Spirit and with understanding also And they worshipped and preached in fields and mountains and streets schooles and markets and they prayed by Sea-shores or in any place where God moved and led them by the Spirit of Iesus And all this we owne which the Scriptures testifies to in our measure And this is that we would have all brought to tryall and that worship owned which Christ and the Scriptures ownes and none forced against it by any meanes whatsoever which is come up since the Scriptures was written and the Apostles times And this motion is not unreasonable hurtfull or dangerous to any especially we may say in this Nation how can it be denyed wherein all other formes in words professe the Scriptures to be a rule for all to walk by And to you all ●his is our motion that the Scriptures may be heard what it saith without wresting and what sort of worship it testifies of let that have the name to be of God and then let none be forced from it and if you deny to be tryed in your faith and profession by that you have so long called your rule and touchstone and then reproach and persecute them that walke in it will not your own words judge you before men and shall not you walke under condemnation from God in your owne Consciences And thus in short have we shewed our desires and what we would have in this thing which might free every tender Conscience from oppression and the Magistrates of the Nations from the guilt thereof before God Will you call your selves Christian Magistrates and Christian Ministers and set your selves against what Christ hath wrought by the power of his Spirit and is now working and thinke you ●re doing him service when you are grieving his Spirit and persecuting him in his members for doing that to which he immediately leads them now as in the dayes of old Is not this in effect to say depart from our Nations we will have none of thy wayes nor shall any under our government or that will follow our teachings obey thy Spirit if we can stop them by our power is not this to withstand his appearance and resist the power that you professe to rule for Doe you not read in the Acts of the Apostles what labour and suffering they underwent to bring people out of carnall rudiments and ordinances of men and to bring them to the worship in spirit and truth alone both as to time place and order how did they run in hazard of their lives into Temples Synagogues and set places of worship to bring them out of Temples made with hands to worship where the Spirit should lead them without respect of places that so the words of the Lord Iesus might be fulfilled who had said Not in the Temple nor in the mountaine but in spirit and in truth should the Father be worshipped and did not Stephen lose his life for telling them that God that made the world dwelt not in Temples made with hands and Paul suffered fo● the same testimony and they told them the most high God could not be worshipped with mens hands nor carnall things but in s●irit ●nd in ●ruth And how often was they tumul●ed and beaten and their bloud shed for this test●mony against the beggerly rudiments 〈◊〉 ordinances of men both of Iewes who had their ordinances from the letter and ●●so the Gentiles who followed their customers That out of all carnall things they might bring them to follow God in spirit and therein alone to serve him And while you professe all this in words will you be the men that will deny the very same in workes and shall you be guiltlesse shall not both Iewes and Gentiles rise in Iudgement against you and condemne you who acts against knowledge Scriptures and your owne profession And is it not so with you Rulers and Teachers of this generation what force and cruelty hath been used to bring people back to your Idol temples made with hands there to worship and no where else and to repaire them and to bow to the customes of men there set up for which there is neither Scriptures nor example even too many to mention what imprisoning and ●ormenting of the spirituall worshippers of the living God hath there been in these last dayes for these things what sufferings have some gone through but for testifying against these traditious carnal saying the Church must be in God and that every one must come to be led by the spirit alone in all their whole worships and so give the kingdome leading of his people to the leading of Christ that spirit againe in all things pertaining to worship life and godlinesse hath not this been a dangerous thing in thi● age to beare this record of God in Christ 〈◊〉 to become his witnesse how ma●y 〈◊〉 lost their liberties their estates and 〈…〉 lives for this testimony in word 〈◊〉 ●●●c●ise which reconciles to God in all 〈◊〉 whole worship and yet the same is read and preached every first day among them that doe this to such as live the life thereof for Iesus sake these are not the workes of Christians indeed in the Apostles sence but of such as know not God nor the word of reconciliation have not How many have suffered in this age but for reproving sin in the gate cursing pride lying and swearing how have some been beaten puld and hailed and dragg'd through streets and channells and before Iudgement seats and to prisons for no other things how many have wofully suffered but for preaching repētance through streets towns and

estates and lives to see if they could provoke or drive us from his faith in our Consciences or tempt us any way to deny him and owne them in their wills And though we have dayly suffered thus under every severall power and people yet have we not ceased to warne them in love with much feare and plainnesse that if by any meanes they might have received his testimony and not have perished in their gain saying for our God in whom we trusted shewed it to us that they should not prosper nor be established without him his Spirit and anoynting to whom he hath given the government of all people that shall be blessed by him yea all the nations of them that are saved must walke in his light and receive his counsel for their stability and his resurrection for their glory and his anoynting for the strength of their kingdomes And this is the Cause why we have chused rather to suffer under every power that yet hath risen then to joyne in with them because we have not heard the voyce of the holy one in the midst of them neither hath his Spirit in them been the strength of their Counsells but they have sought to make flesh their arme and to strengthen their kingdome with flattery and deceit and not with truth and they have sought to make themselves dreadfull by violence and to rule with cruelty and not with the sword of God which is Judgement and Justice and have sought honour from men and not from the Lord and their Covering hath been vaine glory and not the Spirit of God So with the light of Christ we saw their foundation and their building and that they could not stand long in Gods sight and that all that joyned to them must fall with them and that the woes that are written of such must certainly overtake them And this is the Cause and no other thing why we have hitherto borne our testimony against them all even because they would not joyne to the Lord nor heare his voyce in their day but the more he called after them by the mouth of his servants the more they were ●ardned and the more provoked him to their own confusion so it hath not been prejudice to any mans person that hath kept us at a distance from them or their commands for we can truely say we have waited without prejudice if by any meanes we could but have seene any of them seeking the kingdome of God that therein they might have been established yea we have the witnesse of truth in us to this day how glad our soules have been before the Lord when we have but felt the least tendernesse in any of them arising ●rom the Spirit of Jesus or the least confession from his light in them And sometimes we have felt some tendernesse in some of them when they have been low little and in feare in which we have had some hope and gladnesse to heare the voyce of simplicity and truth though but brokenly so that we could then have said they was not f●r from the kingdome of God But turning away the eare from the Spirit of truth in them and consulting with fleshly wisdome and carnall reason likely to make wise and to accomplish their selfe ends how soone hath truth sallen in them and blindnesse and hardnesse of heart come over them againe worse then before which being shewed us of God we could not but deny them also to be of God Thus in generall an account is given to you that askes a reason why we have not yet owned any power that yet hath risen so as to joyne to them in all things Now to you who desire to know in what particulars we have differed from these governments that yet hath risen since we was a people we might say our lives practises and sufferings hath openly declared it through the most parts of these nations and in most and greatest of our differences Yet for the better satisfying of some that knows not so much as others and to take away all occasion of offence from all that would not oppose the way of truth if they knew it and to leave without excuse the wilfully ignorant and persecuters of the good old way of Christ I shall instance in some things and also shew our warrant for so doing both by Scripture and the practise of the holy men of God in their generation It being that so many are yet ignorant and unbeleeving concerning the present leadings of the Spirit of truth in them which is chiefe leader and corner stone in us by which we walke towards God and towards men in all these things And as to that first Though God hath laid it upon us as matter of Conscience to be subject to what outward government or governers soever he shall set up over us in outward things and also that with all willingnesse of mind a ready subjection be rendered at every just command not for fear onely but even for Conscience sake and that in all things we should seek the safety and honour and well-being of such governers to the utmost of our power even as we looke to account to God for it of whom the powers that be are ordained yet hath he begotten us unto himselfe alone and to the leadings of his own Spirit in all things concerning faith and worship as to matter manner time and place This is to be done and performed singly as to him in the leadings of Jesus and in the power of his Spirit alone else will he have no regard thereto And for this purpose hath he given the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to be our light and understanding and leader in all these things to which leadings and movings the father requires obedience in all things upon eternall condemnation in matters pertaining to our consciences That must be the throne of Christ alone and there will he sway the Scepter of eternall life and answer his people in all things and be their Saviour guide and lawgiver in all things that are just and holy So that is at any time their teachers have left the way of life and would l●ad people after them yet hath he through faith and a tender Conscience preserved a seed out of error to himselfe in such a day by which he hath reproved and made manifest the folly of such t●achers And to this the Scriptures doe fully testifie as in the dayes of the Prophets when they erred in vision and had not the word in them and so caused the people to erre through their lyes and through their lightnesse then had he men of enlightned Consciences to send to reprove their brutishnesse though otherwise they themselves was neither Prophets nor sons of Prophets but may be a heardman or a gatherer of siccomore fruite a plowman or a shepheard or some such which Englands pride would call mecannick fellows yet in these was the seed preserved else the

it is we live and bring forth to the praise of God and we are not our owne nor servants of men but we are bought with a price that we may serve him for ever by whom we are redeemed and by whom all men without respect of persons must eternally be judged or justified Therefore we say this is a priviledge that no man should be hindered of to wit the liberty of his Conscien●e towards his God but that an universall lib●●ty for all sorts of people to worship God according as Christ shall open mens eyes to see the truth and as he shall perswade their hearts by his Spirit seeing no man without Christ can doe any thing in this case acceptable to God neither can one man worship in the measure of another but in his owne measure as he receives of God in Christ Jesus faith and strength and Spirit for it must be in Spirit and of faith else it is sin in Gods sight what ever men thinke thereof And this is just and equall in the sight of God and all reasonable men and that which I know no understanding man or woman would be limitted in seeing all have immortall soules from God and to him alone must account for them and not to men That so every soule may stand and fall to his owne Master in this case seeing none can save his brother when he hath misled him nor account to God for him therefore he is no wise man in our eyes who will leave the light of Christ that once knows it to follow another mans opinion And seeing every man would have this libertie for himselfe why should he goe about to deny it to his brother how is that just or equall amongst men And how doth it answer the Law of Christ as Christians who hath commanded That all things whatsoever you would that men should doe unto you doe ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Now if you be not come so far in equitie as to answer the Law and the Prophets how will you answer Christ you that professe him in words And were it not that Nations and men were drunke and bewitched with the fornication of that Scarlet coloured whore they would foresee the danger of taking that upon them which belongs to Christ alone it being so many have been broken on the same Rock and reason it selfe might shew them how safe it is not to be too forward in things of that nature which God hath not called them to And also it being so much contrary to that just principle in man which would lead every man to do to another as he would be done unto And would teach every man that he ought to give up himselfe to his God in all spirituall matters And that so he should suffer every other creature also And seeing that there is no infallibilitie amongst ●en without the immediate manifestation of Christ Jesus his light and Spirit in them but that since men tooke that upon them even to sit as Lords and Judges over faith and conscience The Lord hath scattered them in this thing and confounded them into so many minds and judgements that he that is subject to follow every change in these latter dayes shall scarcely abide in one opinion a yeare to an end which things duely weighed might stay the hast of every reasonable man from forceing that upon the Conscience of another which himselfe is not infallible in and for which he must account to God for all soules that erre through him and so perish in gainsaying Gods witnesse And this would be wisdome with God first to search in themselves whether they have tha● Call from God himselfe to force any or they doe it to answer the desires of others or to hold up a tradition and so might they come to see what they serves and whether it will beare persecution or bloud-shedding at t●e day of Judgement And prove whether you have that which is infallible to force them to or it be but thought and opinion of your selves or others seeing its so common a thing for Rulers and Teachers to joyne in forceing people that are under them to erre and for which so many have been confounded and cast out and so that all might come to prove their worke and bring it to the light to see whether it be wrought in God and if he will owne it with his light which is pure in their Conscience which is an equall rule and try what power and Spirit it is that God hath made Lord King and Law-giver and Leader in all his worship and if they have not this then it is the old persecuter and murtherer which uses to set people on fire that know not God in Spirit And if you have that Spirit which God hath given the power to in his Church then its gentle drawing and powerfull without forceable imposing or killing nor doth he ever compell against faith and Conscience Now there be many particular things as to Gods worship and things thereto pertaining which the men of this age would impose upon us yea and force them upon great penalties which the Spirit of Christ doth not lay upon us as matters of faith or practise nor ever did o●daine them in any age nor command them to b● observed in his Church as men now impos●●hem but the contrary we find from the Spirit of Christ both in the oldness of letter and i● newness of life So these things we canno● bow ●o nor worship in for conscience sake ●onscience towards God conscience towards the holy men of God in the holy life and conscience towards the Scripture of truth for of all these we make conscience in their time and place in which God the Father of all hath brought them forth to serve him As men would impose upon our Consciences to come once a weeke to such a great house in their Parish which they call a parish Church and there we must observe what one man shall reade preach or pray for two or three houres that day by an usuall forme and this man will have a Clarke and he shall say Amen at the end of such a sentence or part of his prayer or speech and to this Church and to this worship must we be bound while we dwell in that parish And either the tythes of all we have or so much a yeare set maintenance must be payd to the man calling himselfe a Minister of Christ And so much a yeare to his Clarke for saying Amen after him in money and egges and the like And if this we doe constantly we may live peaceably by them and goe under the name of a good Christian and a religious man but if we faile in any of this but especially in that of tythes or wages then they call us heretickes and complaine of us to the Magistrate or sue us at Law till they have cast our bodyes into prisons and taken the

spoyle of our goods Now God having revealed his true worship to u● i● the light of Christ which is is in spi●it and truth and called us out of carnall things ●or which there is no Scripture we ●●nn● for Conscience sake worship any more therein Now neyther by the Spirit of Christ in us nor by letter of Scriptures without us nor by the example of all the holy men of God that hav● walked before us can we for Conscience sake owne nor uphold that for the true and spirituall worship of God in spirit and truth neither to repaire their house maintaine their Priest nor his Clarke as they would impose upon us Now some have said What would you have no Church Minister preaching praying nor none of this worship nor maintenance c. What would you have We say yes we own a Church ministring preaching praying and the maintenance that thereto belongs but we would have them to be of God and after his will in Christ Jesus and not after the will and traditions of men contrary both to God good men and the Scriptures of truth For we reade of a Church of Christ in Scriptures but it was in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ And we read of a ministry of Christ in Scripture made not of man neither by man but by the revelation of the Son of God in them And the Gospel or Ministry that they preached was not after man nor received of man neither was they taught it but by revelation of Jesus Chist And we read of a Maintenance they had which was to live of the Gospel And the spiritualls which they sowed freely without money or money-worth brought them forth fruits freely both in spirituall things and worship towards God and in carnall things towards their outward wants and as they planted so they eate And where the plant grew and the soule prospered till it could bring forth fruit freely there they need not to sue them and to take it by spoyle but of the world they looked for nought but persecution nor ever coveted or compelled any such thing from any creature no not where they had sowne and planted unlesse it grew in spirit and life to God they looked not to reape any thing but losse if that which they had sowne withered in the way therefore did they watch for the soule and not for tythes piggs and eggs and geese and sheaves c. but that the soule prospered towards God that was their prize And to make the Gospel without charge that was their reward if they did it freely and willingly but if not willingly then a necessitie was layd upon them and woe was their portion And these went on and prospered gathering Churches out of the world into God from place to place even where they was not sent for they went freely as they was moved of the holy Spirit And if anywhere they came was found worthy to receive them with them they might eate freely what was set before them where the Spirit was free but they did not seat themselves in a Towne or say this is my Parish and this is my hire so much a yeare but wandred to and fro having no certaine dwelling place nor was their bellyes any part of the bargain as to coming preaching staying or going as to any place And when they had gathered a Church into the Spirit and life of Christ Iesus which brought them to meete together then they did not Lord it over them in faith or conscience neither was they called their Masters but still servants for Christ sake nor did they get a glasse and set up and if any spoke in their time while they was speaking say they broke their peace and send them to prison but said all might prophesie that all might be edified and it was joy to them to heare any to speake by the Spirit either son or daughter and some might speake and some might judge of what was spoken And if any thing was revealed to him that stood by the first was to hold his peace and the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets Now this Church and its order we owne where ever we find it to be after God and in him but when we meete with a company of people that denyes all this And if any be moved in the Spirit eyther to speake while they are speaking or judge what they have spoken Then the teacher cryes away to prison with him and the people runs upon us all a heapes ready to pull us to pieces this we owne not nor doth Christ nor the Scriptures owne it to be his Church t●is is not the Spirit of the Prophets nor subject to the Prophets but the rude Spirit which tumul●ed upon the Apostles and Prophets of old So here is somewhat declared of the ministry we owne and his maintenance but of such a thing as a Clarke we read not in Scriptures neither name nor office And now let none thinke it strang● or an error in us to compare weigh and ●ry and prove things for we are christians have received the spirit that is of God that we may know the things that are given to us of God from things that are of the world And we may not receive every one for a Minister of Christ who tells us he is nor that for a Church that every one calls a Church nor that for worship which every one would impose upon us for things had need of trying and Spirits also and we hold fast that which is good Its true in the world there be many Churches and many heads Gods many and Lords many many faiths and many opinions but in Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 called to unity in all these things so 〈◊〉 we say with the Churches of Christ in ●cripture to us there is on● body one Spirit one 〈◊〉 one faith one baptisme one God and fathe● of all who is above all and through all and in us all And this one God in us is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit in truth so of us he requires truth and that we worship no other things nor bow to them though all men have not this faith but can follow any thing in their worship which is the fashion of the Nation where they live but this we are called out of And into that one worship we are come which is in spirit and truth for in that is the father worshipped and God hath sought us out of the many worships that are in the world in Spirit to worship him and Christ saith these are the true worshippers that so worship and ●nto this hath Christ led us and in it he ownes us in his Spirit and the Father ownes us and testifies to us in every enlightned conscience and in this we are come to the Spirits of just men and they owne us And the letter of Scriptures it ownes us also and in this we have peace

markets in the name of the Lord and by the Call of his holy Spirit How many hundreds have been imprisoned for preaching the everlasting Gospel of Jesus freely in Townes Temples streets and markets and from house to house which was the manner of Gods messengers in the name of his Son ever to doe and for which they suffered How many have had their cloaths rent off their backs and been shamefully beaten till they have been left for dead and afterward carried to prison for but asking a question or speaking a word in a Steplehouse while a man hath been speaking things doubtfull or not true though this was the way of old in which the servants of Christ walked and by which he gathered the Churches into God in Spirit and out of false worships And it was the manner of the Apostles to enter into Synagogues and places of worships both of Jewes and Gentiles on their Sabbath dayes and openly dispute there with them before their hearers and then whose hearts God touched lest their carnall worships and clave to Christ in spirit which is now become a greater offence to this generation then ever it was eyther to Jewes or Gentiles for I never read that simply for so disputing they either beat them or haled them to prison though they went sometimes three Sabbath dayes together into one Synagogue yea the fiery Jews who was set on mischiefe against that way yet this they could suffer in their Synagogue as is testified Acts 17.2 and saith the Scrip●ures this was his manner And in Acts●8 4 it is said he reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath day at Corinth where he continued a yeare and six months teaching the word of God among them vers. 11. Now hath not this been the great offence of these dayes yea I may say the chiefest crime which the servants of Jesus Christ hath suffered for in this age and none scarce eyther ruler or teacher is able to beare it once which they could beare a yeare and above among Iewes and heathens so that this way of Christ by which the Churches was gathered called in the Apostles time is become more abominable in the sight of those that cals themselves Christians then it was eyther to Iewes or heathens And when neither laws of Iewes Gentiles nor heathens that was made in times of popery would answer their wills against this then ha●e they made new Lawes of their owne against this practise which themselves read believe and preach and this we cannot owne that men should withstand that in workes which they professe in words and seeke to impose it upon others who serve God therein by the Spirit of Iesus and then call themselves Christians and say the Scriptures is their rule who cannot beare it in them that practise it in obedience to Christ Iesus And this is that we contend for in all our sufferings and actings in the simplicity of our hearts that our Lord and Master Iesus Christ may have his Prerogative Royall restored to him over his body the Church and every particular member thereof his Lordship and Mastership given to him alone of all his children from least to the greatest and that none else force it or require it from him but that his headship alone over his Church his leadings and the seate of his Iudgements in every redeemed soule and conscience ma● be restored to him and that he m●y have 〈◊〉 name and authority therein and that none may presume to take his authority to themselves while they give him faire words call him Lord Lord but neither doe his will in their own consciences nor suffer them that would This I say is that we seeke now at the hands of men that are called Christians which by his own bloud and by the precious suff●rings in many of his obedient servants of old he once purchased out of the hands of the old persecuters and gave it as inheritance to his seed after him to all generations to call him head and Lor● in the● and over them in all things pertaining to worship and conscience as the Scripture of truth is evident And this we say in his behalfe and in the power of his name where ever he sends us that though his adversary of old hath taken this his purchased possession from him and now sits where he ought not commandding in conscience over his subjects and creatures compelling and forceing to obey his traditions and law from a carnall precept or tradition of men yet we say the right is Christs alone and the whole kingdome of God in every conscience he hath purchased with his bloud and great sufferings of old therefore we say to all sorts of people looke to him and walke in his light all that looke to be saved for we say he is a great and mighty one who though he have been as one gone a far jorney for a time yet he is returned and hath seene how his deare servants have been entreated and his little children spoyled of their birth-right and cast out of their purchased possession and heavenly kingdome and now strangers rule over their tender consciences and s●●ke to defile them with adultery and Idolatry which is against their spirituall birth and breathing and himselfe robbed of his authoritie and Scepter of his everlasting Dominion for which he will tread nations in his wrath and people in his hot displeasure even for Z●on● sake the Citie of his glory and he will spoyle the spoyler and lead Captivity captive and so will he make way for his inheritance to come into their habitation of ●est And this we say to ●ll people GIVE VP feare God and gi●e glory to his Name for the houre of hi● Judgements is come and he will have dominion as of old and his purchased possession as in anc●ent dayes But especially to you who are called Christians and mention his name and call him Lord and profess the Scriptures in words which testifies of him his sufferings and his purchase through bloud and the eternall anoynting of the Father sworne unto him by an everlasting Covenant that he alone shall sit on the spirituall throne over the house of David for ever that he may with his spirituall leadings gather the out-casts of Israel and present to God all the precious among the people have you not read you professing Priests and Rulers that it is he alone that is the light of the world and that God hath given him for a witnesse to the people a leader and commander that its he that 's appointed for a light to them that sit in dakness and in the shadow of death to guide their feete in the way of peace did God ever set any at the right hand of power but he alone that he might make his foes his footstoole of whom he saith when he brings him into the world Let all the Angels of God worship him have you not read that it s he alone that purgeth the